Sermon Tone Analysis

*Grow Up!*

*Hebrews 5:5-6:12 NIV*

 

Thesis - Christians need to grow up so they can understand and experience the full adequacy of Christ our high priest.

Sanctification Objective - To cause Christians to grow up.

"When are you going to grow up?"  "When are you going to act your age?"  Have you ever heard a frustrated parent ask a child these questions?

The Hebrews heard these questions, in an implied way, from a frustrated spiritual mentor.

The writer to the Hebrews was frustrated by their immaturity.

He wanted them to understand and experience the full adequacy of Christ as their high priest.

However, they were too immature to understand what he was presenting to them.

Let's look at the passage where the writers presentation and frustration collide.

Turn with me to Hebrews 5:5 and follow along as I read from there to 6:12.

(Read Hebrews 5:5-6:12, NIV.)

            Let's spend a few minutes looking to see ourselves in

 

I.

The description of the spiritually immature.

A.

They are /slow to learn/ (5:11).

1.  They are not /slow/ due to a lack of intellect.

a) The tone of the letter proves they had "smarts."

b) The writer wouldn't have been so frustrated if they were   

incapable of understanding (patience is easier with the mentally retarded).

2.  They are /slow/ due to a lack of attention and interest.

a) They were unwilling to understand and therefore unable.

b) Many today want to be told what to do instead of figuring things out for themselves.

B.

They are in need of remedial teaching (5:12).

1.  Due to their dullness

                        2.  They had time enough to become teachers and were babies                                         instead.

a) They were "unskillful" which means they were untested,                                                  lacking experience (5:13).

b) 1 Corinthians 3:1-2

                        3.  They were still learning the elementary principles - "ABC of God's                                Word" (Beck) (6:1-2).

a) Personal salvation

                                                1) Repentance from dead works

                                                2) Faith toward God

                                    b) Religious ritual

                                                1) Baptisms

                                                2) Laying on of hands

                                    c) Eschatology

                                                1) Resurrection of the dead

                                                2) Eternal judgment

            C.

They are unable to tell the difference between good and evil (5:14).

1.  Doctrinally and ethically

                        2.  Those who feed on the meat of the Word develop their senses.

a) /But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ./  2 Peter 3:18a

b) A lot of Christians today are like my kids were when they were little - they want their milk but not their meat.

D.

They lack confidence in the Lord's coming (6:11).

1.  "The display of confidence in the Lord's coming is a hallmark of                                   Christian maturity."

2.  Michelle Cameron

 

            We need to spend a few minutes now looking at what these verses have to say about

 

II.

The dangers for the spiritually immature

            A.

Loss of spiritual benefits for themselves and others

                        1.  Benefits (marks) of maturity

                                    a) Freedom from fear (1 John 4:17-18)

                                    b) Knowing God's good, perfect and acceptable will.

                                                1) Hebrews 5:14

2) /Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.

Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is —his good, pleasing and perfect will./

Romans 12: 2

c) Confidence - /Those who have served well gain an excellent standing and great assurance in their faith in Christ Jesus./ 

1 Timothy 3:13

                                    d) Knowing and exercising right priorities (John 11:9-10)

e) Opportunities for service - /And the things which you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable men who also be qualified to teach others./  2 Timothy 2:2

f) Liberty resulting from obedience - /Jesus replied, I tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave of sin./

John 8:34

2.  "Immature Christians not only hurt themselves, by robbing themselves of spiritual benefits which accompany maturity but they rob others also.

Christians should be 'teachers' (5:12), sharing their spiritual blessings with others both within and without the Church.

It is the entire Church that has been called to a teaching ministry, although some individuals have special gifts (Ephesians 4:11-12).

The Great Commission, includes the command, 'teach all nations' (Matthew 28:19)."

-Pfeiffer

3.  "Although he is concerned about the possibility of some in their midst apostasizing, his basic anxiety relates to their failure to reach maturity."

-/The Complete Biblical Library/              

            B.

Loss of spiritual life (apostasy)

                        1.  If Christians don't go on to maturity they can end up apostasizing                                (6:3-8).

                        2.

There are three ways used to get around this truth.

a) Some claim that those addressed here are not really Christians.

1) Why are five phrases used elsewhere in the Bible to describe Christians used here then?

                                                2) Why should the Christian readers of this epistle be                                                                        warned of something only unbelievers are concerned with?

3) Why should falling away from a fake and dead religious knowledge be such an unforgivable and irretrievable sin?

                                    b) Some claim that this is only a hypothetical situation.

1) "The writer is not willing to believe that these Hebrews have gone so far as apostasy (cf.

v. 9); therefore he describes a hypothetical situation, as impersonally and objectively as possible.

But while hypothetical as far as the argument is concerned, it is not the hypothesis of an impossibility, or of a possibility which is never reality; therefore the warning must be allowed to carry its full weight."

-R.S. Taylor

                                                2) Why this whole epistle if there is no real danger?

3) The illustration of 6:7, 8 proves the real possibility of apostasy.

4) There is no salvation for the apostate who knowingly, willingly, persistently rejects the light of Calvary.

(a) No Calvary - no way!

(b) Esau (Hebrews 12:16-17)

5) Apostasy differs from backsliding which is walking behind light instead of against it.

(a) It seems backsliding can lead to apostasy.

(b) David and Peter both proved it doesn't have to.

c) Some claim that while these verses are to Christians the loss is not of salvation but of fruitfulness in service.

1) How can a man who is continually crucifying the Son of God be a Christian?

2) How can a man who is continually exposing Christ to ridicule possess eternal life?

That's enough on the dangers of spiritual immaturity.