February 8, 2009
Morning Service

Hebrews 6

LET US PRAY:

Review:

1.      We renew our minds in what is happening in this letter.  God is reasoning with the descendants of Abraham, the Hebrews, and also, anyone who has an ear to hear what the Spirit is saying.  He is showing the superiority of Christ in all that is Holy, and the things from God Almighty.

2.      In chapter 5 God speaks to us of the Priesthood.  He begins with Aaron, then Melchizedek, and then how that He spoke concerning the Messiah, Jesus of Nazareth, in Prophecy, and told that He was a Priest forever “after the order of Melchizedek.”  We will find out what the order of Melchizedek is in chapter 7.

3.      Chapter 5 closes with this thought;  Heb 5:9-14  And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him;  (10)  Called of God a high priest after the order of Melchizedek.  (11)  Of whom we have many things to say, and hard to be uttered, seeing ye are dull of hearing.  (12)  For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat.  (13)  For every one that useth milk is unskillfull in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe.  (14)  But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.

4.      We often wonder how Scripture pertains to us, but notice;  For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God;

• You ought to be teachers, and moving on to perfection, not having to be taught the first things in the Doctrine of Christ.
• What is moving on to perfection?  Moving into the realm of Love, Trust, Faithfulness, and Servitude.

 

The writer begins chapter six with the elementary principles of Christ.  This is basically where the milk drinkers dwell.  Christians, who continually argue, and fuss about these things.  Are they important, yes, very important, but we are to learn them, and then move on to perfection, Love, Trust, Faithfulness, and Servitude.

 

These topics are most definitely important, and we must look for the true teaching of them in where we worship.  The true teaching of them is found in the Word of God, and witnessed in the early church.

 

As we look at chapter six, I want to give all of you a nice big drink of Milk.  Got milk?  I want to build your faith on the principles, and then we will move on to perfection.

 

Heb 6:1-3  Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God,  (2)  Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment.  (3)  And this will we do, if God permit.

·         The writer feels he is running out of time.  As we are!  He says, he wants to leave the principles, and not discuss them at this time, but wants to talk about the things that lead to perfection;   “let us go on unto perfection;”

·         I thought this morning as I was preparing the study, how wonderful it is to see a new born baby, and watch it grow into maturity.  It is a very appropriate example.  And how it has to have the milk, and soft food to grow properly. 

·         This is the way it is with us.  When we first come to the Lord, we want to help others find the joy, and deliverance from fear of death, and a life of corruption, but we need to tell them right.

·         As we grow, and study the W0rd of God, we find that God has given the church a ministry ( Eph. 4 ) to help us to grow up into the full stature of Christ.  The primary purpose of this ministry is to point you to the Lamb of God, who will teach you all things that you need to know.  ( IJN. 2:27 )   

·         Hopefully we are on the road to perfection in our walk with God.  The crash course for perfection is what I have already stated;  Putting on Love; Learning to Trust God; Being Faithful in all we do; and being a Servant.

 

NOT LAYING AGAIN THE FOUNDATION;

• Most of us know the importance of a foundation.
• Jesus said concerning a foundation;  Luk 6:48  He ( who hears my words and does them ) is like a man which built a house, and digged deep, and laid the foundation on a rock: and when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently upon that house, and could not shake it: for it was founded upon a rock.    ( the solid foundation are the teachings of the Lord )
• Paul said;  Rom 15:20  Yea, so have I strived to preach the gospel, not where Christ was named, lest I should build upon another man's foundation:    ( The true teaching of the will of God is the solid foundation. )
• And again;  Eph 2:20  And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;

So the writer states that the first thing in this teaching of the doctrine of Christ is Repentance.

He states it as “repentance from dead works.” 

• Repentance has the same results under both covenants.  Old, and New. 

Repentance means;  To Repent - “To Turn” or “Return”:

The term שׁוּב, shūbh, is most generally employed to express the Scriptural idea of genuine repentance. It is used extensively by the prophets, and makes prominent the idea of a radical change in one's attitude toward sin and God. It implies a conscious, moral separation, and a personal decision to forsake sin and to enter into fellowship with God. It is employed extensively with reference to man's turning away from sin to righteousness (Deu_4:30; Neh_1:9; Psa_7:12; Jer_3:14). It quite often refers to God in His relation to man (Exo_32:12; Jos_7:26). It is employed to indicate the thorough spiritual change which God alone can effect (Psa_85:4). When the term is translated by “return” it has reference either to man, to God, or to God and man (1Sa_7:3; Psa_90:13 (both terms, nāḥam and shūbh; Isa_21:12; Isa_55:7). Both terms are also sometimes employed when the twofold idea of grief and altered relation is expressed, and are translated by “repent” and “return” (Eze_14:6; Hos_12:6; Jon_3:8).

• Repentance from dead works.  John the Baptist may have stated it the clearest.  While still under the O.T. laws, John told the people that came to him for baptism, “to bring works worthy of repentance, then he would baptize them.”  He actually tells them what is expected of each of them.  It was to turn from evil works, and do good works.
• Peter, who had been given the keys to the Kingdom, used them on Pentecost, and said, “Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the Name of Jesus Christ.”    Peter did not elaborate on Repentance, but they all knew what it meant.

 

So if we want to start a walk with God, this is the first thing we must do, REPENT. 

 

We must be sorry for our past life of unconcern, and sin, which is breaking God’s laws, and this will produce good works in our lives.  This will absolutely happen if we truly repent.  There will be a change!

 

Paul speaks of it in these words;  2Co 7:11  For behold this selfsame thing, that ye sorrowed after a godly sort, what carefulness it wrought in you, yea, what clearing of yourselves, yea, what indignation, yea, what fear, yea, what vehement desire, yea, what zeal, yea, what revenge! In all things ye have approved yourselves to be clear in this matter.

 

ARE YOU READY TO START A WALK WITH GOD THIS MORNING?  ARE YOU WILLING TO REPENT, AND TURN FROM AN UNGODLY WAY OF LIFE, AND BEGIN A NEW LIFE, BUILT UPON WALKING IN OBEDIENCE TO THE WORD OF GOD?

 

IF SO, WHY NOT STEP OUT AND COME TO THIS ALTAR OF PRAYER, GIVE YOUR HEART, AND LIFE TO GOD ALMIGHTY.  HE STANDS WITH OPEN ARMS WAITING TO RECEIVE YOU INTO HIS FAMILY.