June 26, 2016
Morning Service

Heb. 6.

 

            So far in this letter the writer has shown us how much better the New Testament is, than the Old Law covenant.  Better promises, a better High Priest, just a better covenant all around.  He also has done this with warnings, telling us not to neglect so great a salvation.  We finished chapter 5 with this thought in mind:

Heb 5:12-14  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 unskilful 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.

 

Chapter six:

Heb 6:1-20  Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection;

·         Encouraging them that ought to be teachers to leave the principles, and go unto perfection.  The things of perfection are very interesting also, but they are for people who are weaned from the principles.

·         Now notice how he tells us what the principles, or first things, in the doctrine of Christ are.

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. 

1.       Repentance from dead works.

2.      Faith toward God.

3.      The doctrine of baptisms.

4.      The laying on of hands.

5.      The resurrection of the dead.

6.      And eternal judgment.

·         There is a proper teaching on each of these first things, or principles in the doctrine of Christ.  All of these topics should taught in the teachings of Christ.  And they will all be found in the writings of Jesus, and the New Testament writers.

·         These are the things that the writer says if we are still struggling with these, we are still on the milk, and not ready for the deep things of God.

 

Now I want us to see just how serious our learning, and understanding the things of God are.  And also our faithfulness to God, and His teachings.

 

(4)  For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost,  (5)  And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come,  (6)  If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame. 

·         This is a very scary statement.  It is saying that if someone has experienced the wonderful miracle of being born again, or experienced the new birth, that if they fall away from the church, or disciples of Christ, that it will be impossible to renew them to their former walk.

·         That should encourage every child of God to continuing doing our best to being faithful in what we know to be faithful in.

·         It definitely sounds to me like he’s talking about someone who has had the victory, and lost it.

·         Then he gives an example of what he means.

 

 

(7)  For the earth which drinketh in the rain that cometh oft upon it, and bringeth forth herbs meet for them by whom it is dressed, receiveth blessing from God:  (8)  But that which beareth thorns and briers is rejected, and is nigh unto cursing; whose end is to be burned. 

·         The rain falls on the just, and the unjust, but one is used for blessings, and the other to be burned up in the fire.

·         Our fruits are what determines who we are.  If we are producing the fruits of the Spirit found in Gal. Gal 5:22-23  But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,  (23)  Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

Then we will be a blessing.

·         But if we possess the fruits of thorns, and briars, found in the same chapter of Gal. 

Gal 5:19-21  Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,  (20)  Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,  (21)  Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. 

We will be burned in the fire.

THEN WORDS OF ENCOURAGEMENT:

(9)  But, beloved, we are persuaded better things of you, and things that accompany salvation, though we thus speak.  (10)  For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have shewed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister.  (11)  And we desire that every one of you do shew the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end: 

·         The writer is proud of these type of attributes in them, and brags on them.  But warns them not to be like the following people.

(12)  That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises. 

·         Don’t be lazy, and fall away from serving the living God, but follow the example of those that have faith, and patience, these are the ones who will inherit the promises.

·         The example of Abraham.

(13)  For when God made promise to Abraham, because he could swear by no greater, he sware by himself,  (14)  Saying, Surely blessing I will bless thee, and multiplying I will multiply thee.  (15)  And so, after he had patiently endured, he obtained the promise. 

·         God is faithful.  In order to receive the promises, we must be patient, and faithful.

(16)  For men verily swear by the greater: and an oath for confirmation is to them an end of all strife.  (17)  Wherein God, willing more abundantly to shew unto the heirs of promise the immutability of his counsel, confirmed it by an oath:  (18)  That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us:  (19)  Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the veil;  (20)  Whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made an high priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.

·         God cannot lie.  All the wonderful promises He has made to His followers will come to pass.  We must remain faithful, and steadfast, and we will receive the promises.

·         I love the expression, (fled for refuge).  That is exactly what I did when I called on the Lord.  I wanted to get out of the dreadful plight that serving the devil for 29 years had left me.  I knew God had something better, and I was willing to die for it, and that’s what I did.  I died to the world to lay hold on the great hope, that is an anchor to our souls, both sure and stedfast.

·         Jesus, being made a Priest forever, after the order of Melchisedec, has entered into the holy of holies to make intersession for me, and to forgive me of my sins.

The law could never do this for us, but the new covenant that God has made with mankind can.

 

ALMIGHTY GOD, WE STAND IN AWE OF YOU.   THANKING YOU FOR THIS WONDERFUL PLAN OF SALVATION THAT YOU HAVE MADE POSSIBLE FOR ALL MANKING.  AMEN.