HEBREWS 6:1-6 (BIBLE STUDY)

Pastor Sherard

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Hebrews 6:1 ESV

Therefore let us leave the elementary doctrine of Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God,

Hebrews 6:2 ESV

and of instruction about washings, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment.

Hebrews 6:3 ESV

And this we will do if God permits.

Hebrews 6:4 ESV

For it is impossible, in the case of those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, and have shared in the Holy Spirit,

heb 6 2

Hebrews 6:5 ESV

and have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the age to come,

Hebrews 6:6 ESV

and then have fallen away, to restore them again to repentance, since they are crucifying once again the Son of God to their own harm and holding him up to contempt.

1-8 It warns us not to claim allegiance to Christ without actually possessing this allegiance, urging us to repent of actions which lead to death (vv. 1–8).

9-12 It points out evidence of real salvation, calling us to continue in our commitment (vv. 9–12).

13-20 It provides encouragement to those who genuinely profess faith in Christ, encouraging us to endure patiently in receiving the promises just as Abraham had (vv. 13–20).

(ESV)

1 Therefore

· Pointing back to 5:11ff (immaturity) there is the call and the seeming sense that the only appropriate act for those who are immature is to do two things:

THOSE WHO ARE SPIRITUALLY IMMATURE ARE CALLED TO DO TWO THINGS:

1. Let us leave elementary doctrines (principles) of Christ

§ Implication: you cannot mature unless and until you leave that which continues to produce and nurture immaturity: basic, elementary principles of Christ.

§ NOTE: it is not false teaching that is the reason for their immaturity: it is staying infantile when they should be teenagers

· They are reading and hearing the Bible but are unskilled in it

Hebrews 5:13 ESV

for everyone who lives on milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, since he is a child.

· Adam and Eve

Their responsibility in guarding the garden was centered around their maturity which was centered around their handling of God’s Word

Defeating and ruling over the serpent was likely to be done by remembering and trusting God’s Word (Beale, 34)

§ Defeating and ruling over the serpant was likely to be done by remembering and trusting God’s Word (Beale, 34)

§ SO…Immature people have these truths about them

a. They live in a constant state of not REMEMBERING they Word (they forget the Word:

James 1:22–23 ESV

But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror.

James 1:22–24 ESV

But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like.

James 1:22 ESV

But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.

James 1:24 ESV

For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like.

b. Therefore they are always Trusting the word, philosophy etc of this world which is captive by the devil

2 Corinthians 4:4 ESV

In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.

(2 cor 4 4

)

c. Their garden is always and easily invaded by the enemy and sin

TO LEAVE BEHIND LITERALLY MEANS TO LEAVE IT.

TO LEAVE BEHIND THE BASIC DOCTRINES OF CHRIST MEANS

· You don’t have all of your life to focus on the basic doctrines of Christ

- You don’t have all of your life to focus on the basic doctrines of Christ

You are called to be fruitful in your life for the glory of the Lord and this DEMANDS growth and maturity

- You are called to be fruitful in your life for the glory of the Lord and this DEMANDS growth and maturity

· (ILLUSTRATION) 1st Grade school teachers

o They don’t have time to keep informing you of the alphabet: they have to move you on to develop the necessary skills to get you ready for 2nd grade

o SO… They teach you and instruct you in such a way that you can “leave it behind” and move on to something else

o BUT…do you every “leave the alphabet alone?” No, you need it for the next level.

o SO… leaving behind the basic doctrines of Christ does not mean forget them. It means that we should learn them so well that we can begin to build on them as foundations for our growth and maturity in the Lord

o BUT…if I don’t take the time to learn the alphabet I will never be able to develop sentences or to even think clear enough to be mature.

2. And go on to maturity)

§ Meaning of Maturity: contextually 5:14

Hebrews 5:14 ESV

But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil.

Implication of Going on to Maturity

- Maturity will not come without practice (Habit) AND…

- Habit indicates that one has a goal and then develops and executes a plan, without deviation, to achieve that goal

o We understand this in everyday life: planning for a trip, hurricane, retirement planning etc…BUT we do not think this way about our spiritual lives BUT WE MUST

§ “If you fail to plan you plan to fail”

QUESTION: If maturity involves Remembering and Trusting what God says… WHAT IS YOUR PLAN FOR REMEMBERING AND TRUSTING?

If maturity involves Remembering and Trusting what God says… WHAT IS YOUR PLAN (YOUR HABITUS) FOR REMEBERING AND TRUSTING?

- If maturity involves Remembering and Trusting what God says… WHAT IS YOUR PLAN FOR REMEMBERING AND TRUSTING?

THEOLOGY OF HABIT

Habit is simply creating order in our lives so that we can have Christ formed in us in all aspects of our lives

Habit is, therefore, creating order in our lives for godliness

We do this because…

God is a God of order

For God is not a God of confusion but of peace. As in all the churches of the saints,

Godliness is the fruit of regimented discipline

discipline

1 Timothy 4:7 ESV

Have nothing to do with irreverent, silly myths. Rather train yourself for godliness;

(ESV)

7 Have nothing to do with irreverent, silly myths. Rather train yourself for godliness;

not laying again a foundation of

repentance from dead works and of faith toward God,

1. Couplet 1: Repentance and faith

a. Repentance from dead works

i. change of mind that results in no longer performing “acts that lead to death.”

ii. Repentance, then, is an activity that involves the mind and thinking of a person—a complete turnabout in the life of the believer.

iii. No longer does he show an interest in activities that lead to his destruction. He now shuns the effects of sin that bring about death (, ; ; ).

Romans 5:12 ESV

Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned—

Romans 5:21 ESV

so that, as sin reigned in death, grace also might reign through righteousness leading to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Romans 6:23 ESV

For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

3. For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

For sin, seizing an opportunity through the commandment, deceived me and through it killed me.

Romans 7:11 ESV

For sin, seizing an opportunity through the commandment, deceived me and through it killed me.

4. For sin, seizing an opportunity through the commandment, deceived me and through it killed me.

Kistemaker, S. J., & Hendriksen, W. (1953–2001). Exposition of Hebrews (Vol. 15, p. 153). Grand Rapids: Baker Book House.

HERE’S THE POINT:

If we need to keep having this conversation and if we need to keep repenting for the same things (outright defiant sin) then we are immature.

A KEY WORD ABOUT IMMATURITY HERE

1. At every growth level there is an initial level of immaturity (A 50 year old man starting a new job)

2. So, at every growth level in Christ there is the initial stage of immaturity – we are learning the lay of the land so to speak. BUT… knowing this we need to fight for growth

b. FAITH TOWARDS GOD

i. Full commitment to Christ as the source of blessing, salvation and growth in God

ii. In contrast to working for the favor of God and feeling a sense of God’s rejection due to being tripped up by sin (this is a mark of immature thinking)

1. Living in constant or continual fear (BUT)

Hebrews 2:14 ESV

Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil,

Hebrews 2:15 ESV

and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery.

a. Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, 15 and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery.

Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, 15 and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery.

There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love.

1 John 4:18 ESV

There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love.

2 and of instruction about washings, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment.

3 And this we will do if God permits.

4 For it is impossible, in the case of those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, and have shared in the Holy Spirit,

5 and have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the age to come,

6 and then have fallen away, to restore them again to repentance, since they are crucifying once again the Son of God to their own harm and holding him up to contempt.

WHAT DO THESE VERSES MEAN?

1. WHAT THEY DO NOT MEAN:

They do not mean that a believer in Christ can ever be outside of Christ (or as popularly stated- “Lose their salvation”).

a. Biblical evidence to the contrary

John 6:39–40 ESV

And this is the will of him who sent me, that I should lose nothing of all that he has given me, but raise it up on the last day. For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.”

My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. 28 I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. 29 My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand.

John 10:27–29 ESV

My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand.

For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable.

Romans 11:29 ESV

For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable.

Philippians 1:6 ESV

And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.

iv.

1 Peter 1:5 ESV

who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

2. WHAT THESE VERSES MEAN

a. For It is IMPOSSIBLE

i. “an absolute fact that cannot be changed (A Biblical Theological Introduction p423)

ALL OF THESE THINGS MENTIONED BELOW ARE PAST TENSE

b. those who have once been enlightened: Those who have had a knowledge of God and Jesus

i. Those who have had a knowledge of God and Jesus

c. Tasted the heavenly gift: Those who have responded to Jesus: Attended service, was baptized, became active in the life of the church; partook of the Lord’s supper: THEY HAVE TASTED THE HEAVENLY GIFT

i. Those who have responded to Jesus: Attended service, was baptized, became active in the life of the church; partook of the Lord’s supper: THEY HAVE TASTED THE HEAVENLY GIFT

d. And have shared in the Holy Spirit: They have experienced the expressions of the Spirit’s giftings in the context of the local church. They have been loved, cared for and have themselves been able to give something to someone thereby participating in the life of the church

i. They have experienced the expressions of the Spirit’s giftings in the context of the local church. They have been loved, cared for and have themselves been able to give something to someone thereby participating in the life of the church

e. and have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the age to come: They have had a sense of joy and happiness in the Word and excitement about the coming of Christ

i. have had a sense of joy and happiness in the Word and excitement about the coming of Christ

NOW, LETS GO BACK:

· It is impossible

1. a matter of fact that those who have been this close (listed above)

· If such a person falls away (Apostasy)

REMEMBER: ALL OF THESE THINGS MENTIONED ABOVE ARE PAST TENSE

SOME PRINCIPLES TO CONSIDER

1. You should never validate your salvation on the basis of feelings

2. Genuine faith will always have present marks of engagement with God

3. If there is no present and constant practice of faith there will be no present engagements with the Lord

4. If you do not have present marks with God

a. It’s not the Lord (Same yesterday, today and forever)

b. It is us:

- Drifting

Hebrews 2:1 ESV

Therefore we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, lest we drift away from it.

- Falling away

Hebrews 3:12 ESV

Take care, brothers, lest there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away from the living God.

The Scriptures offer encouragement to the weakest believer, but they declare alarming warnings to those who carelessly presume that they are on God’s side. It is possible for an individual to approach the Word of God without any relish for its message.

It is possible for a person to have something resembling Christian experience without genuinely knowing Christ. The readers of Hebrews were looking, sounding, and seeming to be like believers; but they were urged to show the reality of their faith by enduring in their commitment to Jesus.

Lea, T. D. (1999). Hebrews, James (Vol. 10, p. 111). Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman Publishers.

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