November 27, 2022
Evening Service

As we continue in our study in Hebrews the writer in a way is writing this letter much like a lawyer would present his case before a jury.  He began with showing that Jesus truly is the “Son of God” showing His deity through scriptures.  He builds upon that foundation that Jesus likewise is the “Son of Man” being fully man and made a little lower than the angels for the time He was on earth.  The fact that Jesus now is the Perfect High Priest was the next level the writer laid out.  In chapter 5, he reveals that fact that Jesus’ priesthood had been ordained since the beginning of time making Him “the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him.”  It was at this point that the writer calls out the believers for their lack of maturity and growth in their faith.

Hebrews 5:11-14 of whom we have much to say, and hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing.  (12)  For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the first principles of the oracles of God; and you have come to need milk and not solid food.  (13)  For everyone who partakes only of milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, for he is a babe.  (14)  But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.

            This group of Jewish believers had not grown deep enough in their faith to be able to understand and accept the next level theology that the writer is speaking of.  It is much like when Sam and Caleb would begin to explain how my computer worked to me and I just stand by with this blank look saying “ok” over and over again.  The problem would be similar to what the writer is speaking of here, but only if I had completed three years of classes on the subject and still had the same blank look on my face.  These believers had ample time to build their faith, but had not been diligent to do so.  He compares it to a baby building himself up from milk to eating solid food.  They were several years old and still on the bottle!  This is what is referred to as we begin chapter 6.

 

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

The writer states that these believers should already have a basic understanding of all these things he lists here.  We have several times before done a study in depth on each one of these “elementary principles of Christ” from this pulpit and if you feel the need can look them up on our website.  These principles are building stones for us to “go on to perfection” and should be things we as believers have a good grasp on.  We must understand the importance of repentance and the what having faith in God means.  We should be able to grasp the teachings that explain baptisms, which signifies our joining into the Christian faith.  We should know that the passing of authority and blessings comes from the laying on of hands.  We know that there is a day coming where we will all dead and alive will face the judgment of God with eternal consequences.  These are all basic doctrines that we should know and be able to digest to grow deeper into our faith.  When we discuss them, it should not sound like a foreign language or “computer lingo” to us.  The writer here lists them and says perhaps he will get back to them at some time. 

He now turns his attention to the apostasy that he sees growing in the church that ought not to be there.  Apostasy occurs when a person hears the gospel message, makes a profession to being a Christian, and is identified with the church.  They then later abandon their profession of faith, denouncing it, and deserting the Christian fellowship and take their place as the enemies of the Lord.  This is a sin that is committed only by unbelievers who knowingly, willfully and maliciously turn against the Lord.  This was becoming commonplace among the Jews as they would join into the church seeming to accept Jesus as the Messiah only to later return to Judaism.  Let’s continue with the next verses with that knowledge under our belt and know that this is some “meat” of the Word that can be hard to understand.

 

Hebrews 6:4-8 For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted the heavenly gift, and have become partakers of the Holy Spirit, (5) and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come, (6) if they fall away, to renew them again to repentance, since they crucify again for themselves the Son of God, and put Him to an open shame.  (7)  For the earth which drinks in the rain that often comes upon it, and bears herbs useful for those by whom it is cultivated, receives blessing from God; (8) but if it bears thorns and briers, it is rejected and near to being cursed, whose end is to be burned.  

            At first this seems to be a very disappointing scripture saying that appears to say that anyone who was a believer and falls away from the Lord will find it impossible to return to a place of fellowship again.  We know, by the entirety of the scriptures, that this is not the correct explanation.  Notice in his description of this group of people that he says they were once enlightened, tasted of the heavenly gift, become partakers of the Holy Spirit and tasted of the word of God and the powers to come.  The words that matter are not present including born again, transformed, filled with the Spirit, and made new.  These apostates that the writer is speaking of participated in religious activities, but never full accepted a personal relationship with Jesus.  They place their toes in the water, but never dove in.  These never were true believers and never yielded themselves fully to be made new in Christ.  They simply played around with Christianity, never fully believing or trusting in the work of Christ upon the cross to wash away their sins.  The transformation of removing the old and putting on the new never occurs.  They are Christ followers in word only as God never received their heart and their lives never changed.  For those who play around with faith in Jesus and turn away to become enemies of Christ the writer says “it is impossible to renew them again to repentance.”  We however, if we know someone like this also will never give up trying to win them back because “all things are possible with God.”

            It is a different story, as we know, with a true believer who falls away from the Lord.  Though his fellowship is broken and he may not even resemble a believer, he never reaches the point where it is impossible to return.  I John 1:9 tells us that “if we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”  Through true confession and repentance, we can have our relationship with the Lord restored no matter how far we have drifted.  Discerning the difference here can be difficult, but trust the Holy Spirit to show you the truth.

 

Hebrews 6:10-12 For God is not unjust to forget your work and labor of love which you have shown toward His name, in that you have ministered to the saints, and do minister.  (11)  And we desire that each one of you show the same diligence to the full assurance of hope until the end, (12) that you do not become sluggish, but imitate those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.

The writer here states that God knows who are His by the works they are doing.  Just as we discussed this morning of being a “living sacrifice” offering ourselves to be used as “tools of righteousness in His hands.”  He warns us not to get “sluggish” but imitate those around us who patiently display their faith openly.  He now gives us the example of Abraham.

 

Hebrews 6:13-20 For when God made a promise to Abraham, because He could swear by no one greater, He swore by Himself, (14) saying, "SURELY BLESSING I WILL BLESS YOU, AND MULTIPLYING I WILL MULTIPLY YOU."  (15)  And so, after he had patiently endured, he obtained the promise.  (16)  For men indeed swear by the greater, and an oath for confirmation is for them an end of all dispute.  (17)  Thus God, determining to show more abundantly to the heirs of promise the immutability of His counsel, confirmed it by an oath, (18) that by two immutable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we might have strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold of the hope set before us.  (19)  This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which enters the Presence behind the veil, (20) where the forerunner has entered for us, even Jesus, having become High Priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.

            Abraham was promised a son and Isaac came 25 years later when he was almost 100 years old!  Talk about patient faith!  We must learn to trust God as Abraham did knowing that He is faithful to His Word.  The writer even tells us that because of the holy character of God it is impossible for Him to lie.  He only speaks truth and we can take “strong consolation” in that fact.  The hope that God is truthful to us and always is faithful to His promises gives a hope.  The writer here calls our hope “an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast.”  Jesus as our loving, compassionate, and understanding High Priest gives us comfort and hope that despite all our shortcomings we can still enjoy a relationship with our Creator, Savior and Friend.

 

Heavenly Father thank You for the hope we have in Jesus.  It is indeed an anchor of our soul holding steadfast despite the storms that rage around us.  May we be found faithful when You return.