Hebrews

Time to grow up.

Chapter Introduction

The writer of this letter had serious concerns that these Hebrews had never come to Christ the first time. Early on, the writer used the analogy of the Israelites coming to the edge of the Promised Land but failing to enter. Their unbelief kept them from entering. They wandered the wilderness and died, never entering God's rest. There was a definite line: on one side, rest; on the other, wilderness and the world. And we've used this and applied it to us and these Hebrews. 

There is a definite line. On one side, there is the Kingdom of God. That kingdom offers rest from our works and, after death, culminates in our entering an eternal rest. It's eternal fellowship with our creator. On the other side of the line, there is Hell, Sheol, or the pit. This is the picture of sin, destruction, work, toil, thorns, the godless world, and its ways. It is characterized by a separation from God.

We can’t know if these Hebrews were truly saved or not.  All we can know is if we are.  The question might occur to you: what if someone were writing about your spirituality?  What if they were speaking of your diet, of your commitment, dedication, and devotion to God?  Would there be sufficient evidence of God’s presence and work in our life?  Would others be able to see us working in our calling?  Don’t miss the point, we don’t need to prove ourselves to anyone.  Nor do we want to put on a show to prove our faith.  But there should be fruit of the spirit readily available as naturally occurring in the life of a disciple.  If you are planted by the streams of living waters, it will be evident.  

Hebrews 6:1-3

The writer references the elementary principles of 5:12, saying now that it’s time to leave the elementary principles and move on to spiritual maturity.  These elementary principles are simply the basics.  It's like the ABC's.  My grandson comes over and says his ABCs to Grandpa and Grandma.  He counts to 100 and he knows some basic addition.  He's doing really good and we're proud of him.  Now, if he graduates high school and is still showing off that he knows his ABCs and 123s and can add 4 plus 4, then we won't think it's so cute.  We'll think something is wrong.  In the same way, in the Christian faith, we have foundational things we've learned  -- the ABCs and 123s of the faith. 

• We know Jesus lived, died, and rose again on the third day. 
• We know He ascended and is seated at the right hand of God the Father until that day when the Father sends the son to receive the church unto Himself. 
• We know that Jesus paid the price for my sin on the cross so that I might receive his righteousness. 
• We know we receive forgiveness of sins from Christ alone. 
• We know we are saved by grace through faith. 

We know all these things, and like the ABCs, we don't set them aside and forget them. The call was to build on these principles. They are the foundation. We lay a foundation of basic principles, and once we know and understand them, we begin to build a life of faith upon them. 

The writer says let's go on to perfection.  This perfection is maturity; it's growing up and moving on; it's plowing forward.  We hold tightly to the basic principles.  They are important, and we don't stray outside the boundaries of those things, but we continue on and grow up.

For my grandson, 2+2 will always equal 4, and he will go on to bigger and better things: science and physics, calculus, and geometry. And if anyone ever says 2+2 is something other than 4, he'll call them on it because he never left the fundamentals. All he learns will be built on those basic truths of his youth. 

In Christ, we learn the basics of the faith.  Then we are expected to move on, to grow up.  Relearning the foundational beliefs of Christianity over and over again does not grow you. 

For these Hebrews, the foundations were established in what we see as Old Testament principles.  We read the Old Testament with the full knowledge of Jesus.  Because we have that knowledge, we can see Jesus in the Old Testament.  The Old Testament laws and prophets were all showing the way, leading the way, and preparing the way for Jesus Christ.  These were the signs.  These men grew up with these signs.  Eventually, they made their way to Jesus, the real thing.

In the second half of verse one and into verse two, the writer discusses six foundational principles that these men were familiar with. These principles were taught as the basics when someone converted to Judaism. These principles need not be thrown away but carried into Christianity and built upon. 

• Repentance from dead works
  • The Old Testament prophets preached repentance and faith in God.  The Jews knew Abraham was saved by faith because he believed in the promises of God.
• Faith in God
  • We repeatedly see lessons on trust.  It was displayed in obedience, walking by faith.
• Baptism
  • Baptism was a ceremonial washing in the law, something these Jews learned early on.
• Laying on of hands
  • Laying on of hands was done to identify with the sacrifice that was about to die for your sins. 
• The resurrection of the dead
  • Resurrection was the promise of life after death.  David knew he would see his son again.  Job knew there was a day coming.
• Eternal judgments. 
  • The consequences of sin.  Daniel envisioned the arena of judgment, some to eternal life, others to eternal death.

These 6 foundational things are common to Christianity and the Old Testament law.  They are a common ground between the two.  For these Hebrews, these 6 things were part of their past when they lived under the law. 

When these Hebrews became Christians, these foundational things were further clarified and defined, not thrown out.  Standing in the light of Christ, repentance, faith, baptism, laying on of hands, resurrection, and judgment all have a clearer understanding.  Yet, these Hebrews seemed to want to run back to the old ways as if these things were some common ground.  To abandon the new understanding of these foundational things for the old is like saying I don't like using letters to spell words; I just want to say my ABCs and be happy.  The writer is saying you can't go lay that foundation again.  It's time to move on and grow up.

Verse three adds a caveat.  We do grow in our faith by the hand of God, by His amazing work in our lives.  Our part is to yield to his work.  It’s His transformation of a wretch into a Christ-like child of God.

Hebrews 6:4-6

This is the third of five clear warnings in Hebrews. When the scripture uses the word “impossible” in relation to salvation issues, the stakes are high. This should get everyone’s attention. 

If we set aside the qualifiers of the second part of verse four and all of verse five, we can see the sentence clearly:

For it is impossible… 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.  

There are many varied opinions on this passage.  In context, we were just talking about these Hebrews appearing to pull away to return to the elementary things.  By all appearances, they had previously named Christ as Lord.  If so, then those six foundational principles had a Christian application.  They couldn't go back without consequence.  It sounds as though turning back was turning away from Jesus.  Once done, they could no longer be renewed to repentance.  That seems to be the plain and simple meaning of this verse.

Many teachers and scholars argue that there is another meaning.  We should consider those teachings, but we should also be careful not to stray from the plain meaning.  The basis of some of the arguments is the threat it poses against the “once saved, always saved belief” of many.   They would say the temptation to turn back reveals they were never saved.  This may be true and happens frequently.  However, we can’t exegete scripture to uphold our tradition.  We must form doctrine and beliefs based on good exegete of God’s word.  Let’s examine our thoughts and beliefs, making sure we know where they come from.  Hold fast to God’s word, and hold lightly to man’s traditions. 

It is impossible for those who were once enlightened.  Enlightened means coming into the light and having a profound truth revealed to you.  It is impossible for those who were once enlightened and those who have tasted the heavenly gift.  Those who have tasted are those who have had the full and complete experience.  It might also be a reflection back on those who experienced the receiving of manna from heaven and were nourished by it.  Partakers of the Holy Spirit would aptly describe believers but could also reflect those following the leading of God in the exodus.

By all indications, these Hebrews were Christians. Early in this book, they are called brethren and partakers of the heavenly calling.  The writer of this letter is not trying to evangelize them as if they were unbelievers.  He is trying to correct them.  Their doctrine needed to be corrected. They had a low view of God. Now, they were not just running off in a ditch, but they were threatening to turn completely away.

Let me remind you of a couple of verses.

I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me. I do not set aside the grace of God; for if righteousness comes through the law, then Christ died in vain.”

(Galatians 2:20-21)

Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” (John 3:3)

As believers, these Hebrews were crucified with Christ and born again into the newness of life.  To walk away from the newness of life to pursue the righteousness of the law was to turn their back on new life, to put their new life to death.  It would be like them saying Christ didn't die for their sins, so He must have died in vain, and the resurrection was for nothing.  If they did turn away and they denied Christ then they could not be brought back to repentance.  To do so would be like crucifying Christ again after you already denied Him.  You can't be re-crucified with Christ.  You can't be born again, again.  And there is salvation by no other means.  That's the ultimate message of the writer to these men.  He wanted them to understand all the consequences of what they were considering.

A born-again believer seeking God and growing in holiness cannot accidentally lose their salvation, and no one can take it from them. The scriptures support the idea that you can throw your salvation away. We keep coming back to the question: Can a real, born-again believer really, truly fall away? If a person understands the enormity of who Christ is and what He did in light of the deep depravity, sinful nature, and consequences, how could they walk away? 

Often, those who have backslidden or fallen away weren't in Christ to start with. If we are living for Christ, then how could such a selfish decision enter our thoughts anyway?

In Matthew 13, the parable of the sower, we see that some of the seeds fell on stony places, where there was little earth, and they immediately sprang up because there was no depth of earth.

But when the sun was up they were scorched, and because they had no root they withered away. (Matthew 13:6)

Jesus explained this passage this way:

But he who received the seed on stony places, this is he who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy; yet he has no root in himself, but endures only for a while. For when tribulation or persecution arises because of the word, immediately he stumbles. (Matthew 13:20-21)

I believe the Bible says that we can fall away or be driven away by persecution or fear. And that is another big thing that theologians debate. What is falling away? What is denial? Betrayal? Apostasy? How do we define these things, and which of them is turning from the Lord and which isn't?

At this point, you might take a look at the differences between Peter and Judas.  Jesus called them both, and they both followed him.  They were called Disciples of Christ.  Jesus washed both their feet at the Last Supper.  Jesus called Peter Satan and Satan entered Judas.  Judas betrayed Jesus for 30 pieces of silver.  Peter denied Jesus 3 times to save his own skin.  Peter realized he sinned and was restored to Christ.  Peter clearly didn't cross the line where it was impossible for him to be renewed in repentance.  We can say Peter denied Christ with his mouth, but in his heart, we know he believed Jesus was Lord.  Peter had said to Jesus, you are the Christ the son of the Living God.  Peter had walked on the water.  He had seen the glory of God on the transfiguration.  Peter seemed to be a bumbling boob that we can all identify with.  But there was a relationship with the Lord.  Maybe we can accuse Peter of not having much depth, but we can credit his faith with having direction.

And the Lord said, “Simon, Simon! Indeed, Satan has asked for you, that he may sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail; and when you have returned to Me, strengthen your brethren.”  (Luke 22:31-32)

Peter went on to say:

“Lord, I am ready to go with You, both to prison and to death.”
³⁴ Then He said, “I tell you, Peter, the rooster shall not crow this day before you will deny three times that you know Me.”

Maybe Peter's faith remained intact because of the prayer of Jesus. 

We don't know much about Judas. Temptation made him a thief. It seems as though greed led him to betrayal, and guilt drove him over the edge. If he had faith, would he have been driven to suicide? Did his betrayal cost him his salvation? We really don't know.

Let me ask you this: Why does it matter? Why is it important? Is it not our sinful nature that wants the answer to the question? If we knew exactly where the line was, wouldn't most men dance with their tiptoes just over the line? I've seen many people who hold tightly to the belief that they can't lose their salvation and use it as a freedom to live in sin. Their lives don't look like renewed lives at all.

If you take anything away from this lesson, then please take this.  For hundreds of years, men have been studying this verse and the bible, and they go to war over their positions.  You and I aren't going to figure it out because I believe the Lord doesn't want us to figure it out.  I believe the Lord wants our position to be this.  We are to enter all the way in.  We are to be so far over the line it's not a concern.  We are to pursue Jesus Christ with all our life, all our words, all our thoughts, all our works.  That's not happening if we are concerned with how close we can dance to the line without consequences.

Go back to verse 1:

Therefore, leaving the discussion of the elementary principles of Christ, let us go on to perfection.

We should be running deeper, pushing onward, growing in maturity, and not being anywhere near the line.  I don't take my salvation for granted.  I did nothing to deserve it.  I can't do anything to keep it, yet I'm still going to hold on to it with all I have.  I don't take my salvation for granted.  If there is such a thing as losing my salvation, I'm convinced it won't happen and can't happen if I am growing in holiness and righteousness in the Lord.  Those conscious of what is behind and who, by faith, long for what is ahead and are running boldly to Jesus Christ do not have to worry about losing their salvation.  No person will lose their salvation in pursuit of the Lord.  No one walking by faith with their eyes on Christ, hating their sin, and longing to see Jesus needs to be concerned.

Those who are looking for a line to back up to, those who are distancing themselves from Jesus, and those who long for the things behind them as these Hebrews were need to be concerned.  Right at the end of Luke chapter 9, Jesus is talking about the cost of discipleship, and he says, “No one, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.”  Looking back is facing the wrong way.  You can't plow straight when looking back.  To plow straight, you set your eyes on the horizon.  My grandpa taught me that.

From that time many of His disciples went back and walked with Him no more.  Then Jesus said to the twelve, “Do you also want to go away?”
But Simon Peter answered Him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. ⁶⁹ Also we have come to believe and know that You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” (John 6:66-69)

There is no going back, only forward.  Let's go on to perfection as the writer of Hebrews said.  Jesus has the words of eternal life.  He is the Christ and the Son of the living God.

Hebrews 6:7-8

The blessing of rain falls on the land. The expectation is that the land will then bear herbs useful to the farmer.  But when the land gives nothing in return after it has been blessed by rain, if it only brings thorns and briers, which represent sin, then it is rejected.  Its end is to be burned by the farmer.  These Christians had been given a great gift of salvation.  It was a gift that couldn't be earned or bought in any way.  When that gift is received, there is an expected response.  That response was to bear fruit, to the glory of God.  Not a life characterized by sin, by thorns and briers.

The blessing of the fallen rain was given. In time, in maturity, there should be fruit that comes through that life. For those who received the blessing but bore no fruit, they were in danger. This sounds very much like Jesus' words in John 15.

¹ “I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. ² Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit. ³ You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. ⁴ Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me.

⁵ “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. ⁶ If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned. (John 15:1-6)

As we look at this call to maturity, the indication of that maturity is fruitfulness.  The life of a Christian is characterized by works.  We don't work to keep our salvation. That's not what this says.  It does say if you are saved by grace and understand what an amazing thing He's done for you, and if you are crucified in Christ and live in Him and no longer live for yourself and your own selfish desires, then there will be fruit that comes from that.  Our life is lived for the glory of God and not the glory of ourselves.  And that causes us to serve, love, care for, have compassion, and give to others.  We pray, cry, and sacrifice for and with others.

Galatians 5 says there is a war going on in each of us.  The spirit wars against the flesh.  The results of the flesh lead to adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like.  These are the fruitless works of the flesh.  These things are the thorns and briers.  Many lives are characterized by these very things.  These fruitless works come from serving ourselves.  Some folks live their entire life in the thorns and briers, never coming to maturity.

The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.  Paul listed these things in Galatians 5, and he said to walk in the spirit, and that walk will be evident by the fruit it bears.  Every life in Christ should bear fruit.  These are very real works born out of the fruit of the Spirit that bring glory to God. 

So the land that bore no fruit was of no value and it would be burned.

Hebrews 6:9-12

After several verses that may seem rather harsh, we see the love and compassion come through in this verse. The motive for those tough verses wasn't to beat these believers up or berate them. It was to bring them to maturity, and in maturity, there is salvation security. What the writer wrote was written in love for their growth. 

The writer calls these Hebrews beloved.  He is confident that they were brought to salvation for bigger things, better things, things that accompany salvation.  That is to say fruit.  They had received a great blessing, and the writer was confident in their fruit. 

“Though we speak in this manner” is like saying, though we said some harsh things that needed to be said, we want you to be encouraged.  God didn't call them to fall away.  God had not abandoned them or forgotten them in their circumstances.

It's easy to forget that God sees all our work. God would be unjust if he forgot our work and labor of love. He's not unjust; He sees it all. The lives of these Hebrews were fruitful when they ministered to the saints in the past and present. This ministry is one of service (diakonos, deacon). 

The Hebrews are called to have that same diligence all the way to the end.  It's easy to be diligent when things are going well.  But life happens.  We can't allow the things of this world to make us sluggish in our desire for the full assurance of hope.  We have an amazing promise of inheritance.  It's going to be beyond our wildest imagination for all eternity, and we can't forget that.

Something happened to cause the Hebres to begin to fall away.  There had been fruit in their life in a way the writer was aware of.  What was the weakness in their life that stunted their growth, stopped their walk, and halted their progress toward maturity in Christ?  The root cause seems to be persecution.  It may be they got away from the word of God, stopped praying, didn't worship, maybe they had distanced themselves from the other saints.  We don't really know.  However, I contend that if it could happen to these Hebrews, it could happen to us.  This should serve as a call to move on and keep growing.  To go on to perfection.  Is there fruit coming from the blessing God’s given you?

These Hebrews may have grown sluggish, losing their full assurance of hope.  In their day-to-day life, they stopped thinking of what was ahead of them.  The worries of this world overcame and overshadowed the hope of an eternal future.  Surely, there was someone in their life they could look to.  Surely, there were people of faith who were faithful and pressed on to the end.  They needed to look to those people who were examples in their lives who had inherited the promises.  As God was faithful to remember, they were called to do the same.

I have men in my life that I look up to.  They went through some stuff in life and with determination and courage, they pressed on.  They lived with an unwavering commitment through things I'll probably never have to endure.  They pressed on.  These are my examples, the people I imitate and emulate. 

These Hebrews are called on to imitate those who, through faith and patience, pressed on to the inheritance.  The Lord puts people before each one of us who become an example to us.  We are to identify them, watch them, imitate what they did, and press on, not become sluggish.  Don't let the world and the flesh drag you down.  Then, remember, as you mature, you become the one who others will look to.  You must become an example for someone else.  You must become the one who presses on through difficult times and, through faith and patience, inherits the promises.  So others can look up to you.

It would be so easy to become discouraged in our faith, thinking that God has forgotten us and that we aren’t doing big enough things to warrant his Grace.  But grace is a gift that can’t be earned.  God wants us to be diligent in our faith and not get lazy so we can inherit the promises of God.

Hebrews 6:13-18

In verse 12, the writer said to imitate those who, through faith and patience, inherit the promises. Now, he holds Abraham up as an example of one of those people. God made a promise to Abraham. A promise is only as good as the one giving it. No promise could be better than a promise from God.

This quote in verse 14 is significant because Abraham was promised that a nation would come from him.  And the immediate fulfillment of that promise was Isaac, his son.  Yet, this verse comes from the passage where God told Abraham to sacrifice Isaac.  The promise was, "Surely blessing I will bless you, and multiplying I will multiply you,” yet God said for him to offer his son.  Abraham didn't understand how that would work.  But he was faithful.  He knew the promise was good, as God's promises always are.

Earlier, it was established that if the saint could fall away, it would be impossible for them to be renewed in repentance. Now, the writer is offering arguments for finding security in salvation. The first argument is that God promised it. We can find rest and comfort knowing that whatever happens in this life is only for a season because God's promise is sure.

God gave two things that cannot be changed, and it's impossible for Him to lie.  These two immutable things are God's promise and His oath.  We live in a world where people break promises and go back on their word all the time.  It's hard for us to completely grasp the weight of God's promises and his oath.  God's unchanging character is a strong consolation.  His promise and oath are sure.  And everyone can flee to that refuge.

In court, we swear an oath, "I swear to tell the whole truth and nothing but the truth, so help me God."  This is like saying, my testimony may not be believed on my word alone but everyone would believe my testimony if God were here with me.  This oath is from a lesser to the greater.  For us an oath is permission to the greater to hold the lesser accountable for their words while the lesser uses the weight of the greater behind their words.  When this happens, the words of the lesser have the impact of the greater.  And, as verse 16 says, an oath for confirmation is the end of any dispute.

Because swearing an oath is a confirmation, God confirms his promise by an oath.  God's oath is to Himself.  There is no greater oath.  It is more reliable and believable than any oath.  Because God can't lie because he gave us a promise and because he swore an oath, we are consoled in our affliction.  And we can flee to the refuge of God.

In the Old Testament, God instituted what is called the city of refuge.  If you want to look it up, you can read about it in Numbers 35 and Joshua 20.  God set up six cities, three on each side of the Jordan.  If a man accidentally killed someone, he could run to these cities and find refuge and safety from the avenger.  The High Priest would investigate the incident.  If it was found that the man did not commit murder, then he could remain in the city until the death of the High Priest.  Then he could return home.  This refuge was a safe harbor to escape, a place to find peace when there was nowhere else, a place to hide in a world that had turned hostile toward you. 

For those who have suffered, as these Hebrews we are reading about, Jesus was that refuge they needed and desired in their soul.  There was no consolation in running back to the elementary things, returning to a system of dead works or inferior priests.

We have a hope set before us.  That promise is true and unchanging, just as the God who gave it is true and unchanging.  We lay hold of that hope.  When our world comes crashing in on us, when accusations are made, when charges are brought, when the avenger is after us, we don't run back to spiritual immaturity.  Instead, we flee to our place of refuge in Jesus Christ.  In Jesus, there is refuge for all men.  And it's not just the innocent but even for the guilty.  And it's not just till the High Priest dies because Jesus is our High Priest, and he already died, and he overcame death.  So, our refuge in Him is eternal.

In the face of persecution or affliction or accusations from Satan or oppression, depression, or whatever the world or this life throws at you.  We have the promise of God and the oath of God that we can find eternal rest and refuge in Him.

I like being anchored to something solid. Our world is changing and shifting fast. So many people are chasing after the winds of power and popularity, and they never capture those winds. All the world offers is an empty promise.

Jesus is the anchor of our soul.  He enters into the presence behind the veil.  He is the forerunner.  The word means he leads the pack.  He goes before with the knowledge and expectation that others are coming behind him.  He is our High Priest representing us before God the Father in the Holy of Holies.  And that hope is both sure and steadfast.  It's not something to be taken lightly.  And it's not something you walk away from. 

God is unchanging; the same yesterday, today, and forever.  We need faith in God because He is a reward for those who diligently seek him.  Do we have faith that He can do what he promises?  Are we patient?  Knowing our time in this life passes so quickly.  Are we willing to wait on Him?  Are we willing to be long suffering in Him?  God cannot lie. His promises are reliable.  We can cling to them.  Our hope is in Him.  He is the anchor for our soul, firm & secure. 

In Christian maturity, we learn patience and perseverance.  We grow past the elementary things, and we don't run away every time life gets hard.  We press on, following our example and becoming an example ourselves.  We continue in the Lord, not running back to the wilderness but standing fast in this life in our circumstances in whatever we face, knowing that the promise and oath of God are sure.  God wants us to have assurance, not live life on the line, wondering and wavering. 

Is your life characterized by the fruit it bears to the glory of God, or is it characterized by thorns and briers? If you are stuck in the briers and thorns of sin, Jesus is calling you out to a different life. He is calling you to maturity. He is offering to be the anchor of your soul.

Amen.

© 2011 Doug Ford, Updated and revised 2019, 2024