Infant or Mature

Introduction

Throughout my time sharing the love of Jesus I have discovered that people have different responses to Jesus.

The writer of Hebrews also noted this same issue. If you have your Bibles today (and I hope that you do), I want to encourage you to turn with me to Hebrews chapter 5, and we’ll begin reading with verse 11.

Hebrews 5:11–14 NIV84

We have much to say about this, but it is hard to explain because you are slow to learn. In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God’s word all over again. You need milk, not solid food! Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness. But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil.

Hebrews 5:11-

Much to Say

Verse 11 says that the author has much to say about who Jesus is. But there is a problem. His readers are “slow to learn.”

QUESTION: Are you slow to learn about the Lord Jesus?

The author goes on to say that by this time his readers “ought to be teachers.” Yet, rather than being teachers, his readers still need milk, not solid food!

Milk—the elementary teachings of God. We could say they are still learning the Biblical “ABC’s”.

Solid Food—experienced in applying the teachings on righteousness.

QUESTION: Spiritually, are you only drinking milk, or are you eating meat?

So what’s wrong with milk? After all we’re told that milk does a body good! Yet here the author says that those who live on milk are still little babies.

The Greek word translated “infant” means just that. It refers to a child who cannot yet speak!

SPIRITUAL BABIES

Need someone to teach them over and over again about the elementary truths or the ABC’s of God.

Here’s the problem is that spiritual babies are not acquainted with—in experienced

Spiritual babies are not acquainted with—inexperienced with—God’s teachings about righteousness.

SPIRITUALLY MATURE

Practice applying the teachings on righteousness.

By their constant application of these teachings the spiritually mature have the skill to distinguish between right and wrong.

Stop for a minute and take in what the author is working to communicate to the reader. The author wants us to understand that spiritual babies want the easy things of life. They are happy with going over and over the spiritual ABC’s.

That’s not the case for the spiritually mature. Instead, they willingly accept the tougher, and deeper sayings of God’s Word. These saying often are difficult for us to accept. Look with me at the first couple verses of chapter 6.

Hebrews 6:1-3

Hebrews 6:1–3 NIV84

Therefore let us leave the elementary teachings about Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again the foundation of repentance from acts that lead to death, and of faith in God, instruction about baptisms, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment. And God permitting, we will do so.

Moving On!

Let’s stop going over and over the ABC’s of Jesus!

Instead, let us become mature in our understanding!

We need to stop repeating our repenting from evil deeds and placing our faith in God. Salvation—putting us into a right relationship with God—never changes!

We don’t need more teachings about the foundations of the faith. These would include: teachings about baptism, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment.

Repenting Again

Hebrews 6:4–6 NIV84

It is impossible for those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, who have shared in the Holy Spirit, who have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the coming age, if they fall away, to be brought back to repentance, because to their loss they are crucifying the Son of God all over again and subjecting him to public disgrace.

Hebrews 6:4-

This is a tough passage to understand, and has caused a lot of controversy through the years. There are at least four different views:

1. Some say this passage teaches that we can lose our salvation. The problem with this view is that it contradicts the rest of God’s Word.

2. Some suggest the passage is a stern warning against a simple profession of faith (tasting) but not truly believing (New Scofield p. 1315).

3. Some teach that this passage is a hypothetical “if”. If a Christian could lose salvation there would be no way to come back to Jesus a second time (Ryrie Study Bible p. 1736).

4. Still other’s suggest this passage is a warning showing the danger of a believer—a true believer—turning his/her back on Jesus. When this happens there is a hardening of the heart. The harder the heart the more difficult (more impossible) it becomes for repentance ( a change of direction) to take place. Since there is a lack of repentance, and couple of things are suggested:

First, it is as though we crucify Jesus all over again—this time ONLY for me.

Secondly, my lack of repentance exposes Jesus to public disgrace today!

The ONLY view I totally reject is the first one. These last three are all fairly good conservative interpretations of this passage. So I’ll let you decide which one you accept.

Now look at verse 7.

Hebrews 6:7–8 NIV84

Land that drinks in the rain often falling on it and that produces a crop useful to those for whom it is farmed receives the blessing of God. But land that produces thorns and thistles is worthless and is in danger of being cursed. In the end it will be burned.

Hebrews 6:7-8

Good Crop/Bad Crop

Here the author gives us two kinds of “lands” or soils.

This land receives the rain when it falls and soaks it up. As it does it produces a useful crop for the farmer.

This land also receives the rain, but instead of producing a good crop, it produces thorns and thistles—so it is USELESS!

So we have two kinds of soils. The first kind produces the useful crop that is planted in it. Rain falls (hard times and problems) yet it produces a rich lush crop.

The second soil also receives rain (hard times and problems), but instead of producing a good crop that the farmer desires this soil produces a crop of thorns and thistles! NOTHING USEFUL! Don’t miss this. Because it is useless, the farmer will burn it off—indicating loss, and a lack of the farmer’s joy.

Now here’s the key! Both soils have the exact same opportunities. But the second soil refuses to take hold of the opportunities. So when problems come—and they will come—instead of holding onto Jesus they turn away and produce a useless life. So when Jesus comes this person will suffer loss and will experience God’s disappointment.

Hebrews 6:9–12 NIV84

Even though we speak like this, dear friends, we are confident of better things in your case—things that accompany salvation. God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people and continue to help them. We want each of you to show this same diligence to the very end, in order to make your hope sure. We do not want you to become lazy, but to imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised.

Hebrews 6:9-12

Not You?

The author says, he does not believe the warning does not apply to reader.

QUESTION: Which soil are you? You see, the real question is what happens when the rain falls. When you into trouble how do you react?

You see, the real question is what happens when the rain falls. When you into trouble how do you react?

This passage really serves to give the reader hope! You see, the author noted that this did NOT apply to them. So instead he wants them to experience the “better things”. That is the stronger things, or the superior things that come with salvation.

So what are the “better things” of salvation? The idea here is that those who continue serve Jesus and serve Him will see the God’s Kingdom (salvation ) and will experience God’s blessing.

You see, God offers us a future, but we must remain strong rather than going on our own.

When we come to verse 10, the author appeals to God’s character. First, God is not unjust. Next, God does not forget how hard we work for him, and the love for him (by caring for others).

The author has a great desire that we will keep on loving others as long as we live. This should give us hope—an expectation of reality.

Finally, in verse 12 he tells us that he does not want us to become lazy. This is the same word used back in 5:11 that is translated “slow.” The author does not want us to return to our slow and/or lazy ways. You see, when we stop loving and caring for others we end up becoming lazy in our spiritual lives.

So we are to keep loving and caring and follow the example of those who inherit the promises because of their faith and endurance. says, “You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will received what he has promised.”

QUESTION: How about you? Do you hold on? Are you persevering?

So What?

Are you slow to learn the things of the Jesus?

Are you happy with the ABC’s of God’s Word,

Or do you long for the solid food of God’s Word?

Remember, if you are happy with the ABC’s you are a spiritual “baby?”

Do you pursue the teachings about righteousness? Righteousness, helps us distinguish between good and evil!

Are you pursuing the deep truths of God?

Do you reach out with love and care to those around you? Helping them to see Jesus.

Or have you become lazy because you stopped loving and caring?