Sermon Tone Analysis

heb 6 2

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

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:

b.

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

(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

·

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

(ESV)

7 Have nothing to do with irreverent, silly myths.

Rather train yourself for godliness;

not laying again a foundation of

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 (, ; ; ).

2.

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.

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)

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.

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.