Sermon Tone Analysis

We’re in the 3rd of 5 Warning Passages in the Book of Hebrews

This Warning Passage Spans From Hebrews 5:11-6:12

The Author is Warning Against Spiritual Laziness and Immaturity

They Ought to Be Teachers By this Point…

But They Still Need to Be Retaught the Basics of Christianity

They are Like Infants Who Only Drink Milk Instead of Eating Solid Food

Hebrews 6:1–8 (NLT)

So let us stop going over the basic teachings about Christ again and again.

Let us go on instead and become mature in our understanding.

Surely we don’t need to start again with the fundamental importance of repenting from evil deeds and placing our faith in God.

You don’t need further instruction about baptisms, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment.

And so, God willing, we will move forward to further understanding.

For it is impossible to bring back to repentance those who were once enlightened—those who have experienced the good things of heaven and shared in the Holy Spirit, who have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the power of the age to come—and who then turn away from God.

It is impossible to bring such people back to repentance; by rejecting the Son of God, they themselves are nailing him to the cross once again and holding him up to public shame.

When the ground soaks up the falling rain and bears a good crop for the farmer, it has God’s blessing.

But if a field bears thorns and thistles, it is useless.

The farmer will soon condemn that field and burn it.

Hebrews 6:1 (NASB95)

Therefore leaving the elementary teaching about the Christ, let us press on to maturity, not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God,

In Order to Press On to Maturity…

We Must Leave the Basics and Stop Laying the Foundations Over and Over

This is What it Takes to Become Mature and Be Capable Discerning Right From Wrong

These 6 Doctrines of Christianity are Foundational Teachings

They are Things a Person Needs to Know in Order to Become a Christian

This is Not Exhaustive List, But it Covers a Lot of Bases

The 1st Mentioned Elementary/Foundational Teaching of the Gospel is…

Repentance From Dead Works

One Greek Dictionary Described Repentance Like This:

“a change of self (heart and mind) that abandons former dispositions and results in a new self, new behavior, and regret over former behavior and dispositions.”

Hebrews 6:1 (NASB95)

Therefore leaving the elementary teaching about the Christ, let us press on to maturity, not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God,

The 2nd Mentioned Elementary/Foundational Teaching of the Gospel is…

Faith Toward God

Repentance is From Dead Works

Faith is Toward God

Faith Toward God is Fully Trusting and Obeying Him

Hebrews 6:2 (NASB95)

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

The 3rd Mentioned Elementary/Foundational Teaching of the Gospel is…

Teaching About Washings/Baptisms

Washings/Baptisms is Plural Here

That Makes This a Little More Difficult to Interpret than if it Were Singular

Maybe the Key to Understanding What is Meant By “Baptisms”…

Lies with Remembering Who the Audience is

The Audience are Christians, But They Come From a Jewish Background

Jewish People Had Various Purity Washings They Would Take Part in

Converts to the Jewish Religion Would Be Baptized as a Part of Their Conversion

John had His Own Baptism of Repentance that the Earliest Converts to Christ Would Submit to

And Those Who Place Their Faith in Christ After His Resurrection are Baptized into Christ…

Joining Jesus in His Death, Burial, and Resurrection…

And Becoming a Citizen in His Kingdom

Any or All of These Could Be Included in the Foundational Teachings that They Were Continuing to Lay Down

But I Believe Baptism into Christ is at the Forefront of What the Author is Referring to

Just Like Repentance and Faith, Baptism was a Foundational/Elementary Teaching of the Gospel

It Needs to Be Built Upon

If a Community of Christians Talk About Baptism Every Time They Assemble…

That’s a Community of Christians Who are Continuing to Lay Down the Foundation

Baptism is Not the Roof of the House, it’s the Foundation

Part of the Modern Church’s Discipleship and Immaturity Problem…

Is Viewing Baptism as the Finish Line Instead of the Start of the Race

The 4th Mentioned Elementary/Foundational Teaching of the Gospel is…

Laying On of Hands

The Laying On of Hands Had 3 Purposes in the New Testament:

1.) To Give Authority to Another

When Choosing the 7 Ministers to Take Care of the Hellenistic Widows

Acts 6:1–6 (NASB95)

Now at this time while the disciples were increasing in number, a complaint arose on the part of the Hellenistic Jews against the native Hebrews, because their widows were being overlooked in the daily serving of food.

So the twelve summoned the congregation of the disciples and said, “It is not desirable for us to neglect the word of God in order to serve tables.

Therefore, brethren, select from among you seven men of good reputation, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we may put in charge of this task.

But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.”

The statement found approval with the whole congregation; and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, and Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas and Nicolas, a proselyte from Antioch.

And these they brought before the apostles; and after praying, they laid their hands on them.

Also When Paul and Barnabas Were Sent On Their First Missionary Journey

Acts 13:2–3 (NASB95)

While they were ministering to the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.”

Then, when they had fasted and prayed and laid their hands on them, they sent them away.

2.) To Miraculously Heal People

Jesus and His Apostles Laid Their Hands On Many People, Resulting in Their Healing

3.) To Miraculously Pass a Gift of the Holy Spirit From an Apostle to Another Christian After Their Baptism

This is Probably What is Being Referred to Here…

Since it was Listed After Baptism in this List

This is a Foundational/Elementary Teaching of the Gospel

Gifts From the Holy Spirit are Not Passed On to Us Today After Baptism

But We Still Receive the Holy Spirit Upon Being Baptized

Understanding the Purpose of Receiving the Holy Spirit is Elementary

On Sunday Mornings, We are About to Start Discussing the Holy Spirit in Bible Class

If You are Interested in that, Be Here for Bible Class on Sunday Mornings

Hebrews 6:2 (NASB95)

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

The 5th Mentioned Elementary/Foundational Teaching of the Gospel is…

The Resurrection From the Dead

“Dead” is Plural

This Tells Us that He is Not Just Referring to Jesus’ Resurrection

He is Referring to the Resurrection of All the Dead When Jesus Returns

Our Resurrection From the Dead at the End of the Age…

Is a Foundational/Elementary Teaching of the Gospel

As I’ve Said Many Times, Resurrection Has Been a Terribly Neglected and Misunderstood Topic in My Experience

But in the First Century, it was a Foundational Doctrine

Throughout the New Testament, We Find that it was the Primary Hope of the Early Church

The 6th Mentioned Elementary/Foundational Teaching of the Gospel is…