Hebrews 6:1-8: Pursue Maturity
Hebrews - Jesus is Greater • Sermon • Submitted
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Introduction
Introduction
Scripture
Scripture
1 Therefore let us leave the elementary doctrine of Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God, 2 and of instruction about washings, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment. 3 And this we will do if God permits. 4 For it is impossible, in the case of those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, and have shared in the Holy Spirit, 5 and have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the age to come, 6 and then have fallen away, to restore them again to repentance, since they are crucifying once again the Son of God to their own harm and holding him up to contempt. 7 For land that has drunk the rain that often falls on it, and produces a crop useful to those for whose sake it is cultivated, receives a blessing from God. 8 But if it bears thorns and thistles, it is worthless and near to being cursed, and its end is to be burned.
Outline
Outline
Hebrews 1-2 - Jesus is Greater Than the Angels
Hebrews 1-2 - Jesus is Greater Than the Angels
Hebrews 1:1-4 - God has Spoken
Hebrews 1:5-14 - The Son is Superior to the Angels
Hebrews 2:1-4 - A Warning
Hebrews 2:5-9 - Lowliness to Crowning Glory
Hebrews 2:10-18 - Jesus has Delivered His Brothers
Hebrews 3:1-4:13 - Jesus is a Greater Rest
Hebrews 3:1-4:13 - Jesus is a Greater Rest
Hebrews 3:1-6 - Jesus is Worthy of More Glory Than Moses
Hebrews 3:7-19 - Disobedience After the Exodus
Hebrews 4:1-13 - A Sabbath Rest for God’s People
Hebrews 4:14-7:26 - Jesus is Greater than Melchizedek
Hebrews 4:14-7:26 - Jesus is Greater than Melchizedek
Hebrews 4:14-16 - Jesus is the Great High Priest
Hebrews 5:1-10 - Jesus is the High Priest After the Order of Melchizedek
Hebrews 5:11-6:20 - Warning and Exhortation
Hebrews 5:11-14 - Failure to Mature
Hebrews 6:1-8 - Pursue Maturity
Hebrews 6:1-3 - Pursue Maturity
Hebrews 6:4-6 - Avoid Apostasy
Hebrews 6:7-8 - Spiritual Growth vs. Spiritual Death
Purpose of Book
Purpose of Book
Christ, who has accomplished salvation through His atoning sacrifice, is greater than all things; therefore, persevere in true faith and encourage others to do likewise
Christ, who has accomplished salvation through His atoning sacrifice, is greater than all things; therefore, persevere in true faith and encourage others to do likewise
Main Point
Main Point
Let us build upon the elementary doctrine of Christianity and pursue maturity choosing spiritual growth over spiritual death
Let us build upon the elementary doctrine of Christianity and pursue maturity choosing spiritual growth over spiritual death
Warning Passage Interpretations
Warning Passage Interpretations
Apostasy - Christians can reject/lose salvation
Eternal gifts - Christians can miss out on eternal gifts
Non-Christians - Jews who were listening, but did not claim Jesus as Lord
Can’t reject/lose salvation - Not sure what this means, but I just know you can’t reject/lose salvation
Eschatological Warning - Persevere until the end and be found in Christ
Hebrews 6:1-3 - Pursue Maturity
Hebrews 6:1-3 - Pursue Maturity
1 Therefore let us leave the elementary doctrine of Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God, 2 and of instruction about washings, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment. 3 And this we will do if God permits.
Therefore
Therefore
Continuation of the warning in 5:11-14 urging them to advance in maturity
Let us leave the elementary doctrine of Christ and go on to maturity,
Let us leave the elementary doctrine of Christ and go on to maturity,
Let us leave
They had become lazy in their spiritual growth
Elementary doctrine of Christ
Wording that connects with Hebrews 5:12
They are not to abandon the elementary doctrine of Christ (milk), but to build/grow in spiritual maturity (solid food) in both theology and practice
Doctrine of Christ
Not laying again a foundation of
Not laying again a foundation of
Reiterating or repeatedly going over the same information
6 items in 3 couples detailing the Christian life from conversion to final judgment
Repentance from dead works and faith toward God,
Repentance from dead works and faith toward God,
Repentance
38 And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
19 “Therefore, O King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision, 20 but declared first to those in Damascus, then in Jerusalem and throughout all the region of Judea, and also to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, performing deeds in keeping with their repentance.
Dead works
20 For when you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness. 21 But what fruit were you getting at that time from the things of which you are now ashamed? For the end of those things is death. 22 But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the fruit you get leads to sanctification and its end, eternal life. 23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Faith
8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast.
In faith, we trust God to remain true to His promises
And of instruction about washings, the laying on of hands,
And of instruction about washings, the laying on of hands,
Washings
Laying on of hands
17 Then they laid their hands on them and they received the Holy Spirit. 18 Now when Simon saw that the Spirit was given through the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money, 19 saying, “Give me this power also, so that anyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit.”
17 So Ananias departed and entered the house. And laying his hands on him he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus who appeared to you on the road by which you came has sent me so that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” 18 And immediately something like scales fell from his eyes, and he regained his sight. Then he rose and was baptized; 19 and taking food, he was strengthened.
For some days he was with the disciples at Damascus.
The resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment.
The resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment.
1 “At that time shall arise Michael, the great prince who has charge of your people. And there shall be a time of trouble, such as never has been since there was a nation till that time. But at that time your people shall be delivered, everyone whose name shall be found written in the book. 2 And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.
25 “Truly, truly, I say to you, an hour is coming, and is now here, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live. 26 For as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son also to have life in himself. 27 And he has given him authority to execute judgment, because he is the Son of Man. 28 Do not marvel at this, for an hour is coming when all who are in the tombs will hear his voice 29 and come out, those who have done good to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil to the resurrection of judgment.
11 Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. From his presence earth and sky fled away, and no place was found for them. 12 And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Then another book was opened, which is the book of life. And the dead were judged by what was written in the books, according to what they had done. 13 And the sea gave up the dead who were in it, Death and Hades gave up the dead who were in them, and they were judged, each one of them, according to what they had done. 14 Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. 15 And if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.
And this we will do if God permits.
And this we will do if God permits.
The author realizes that it is only by the sovereign work of God that they will mature beyond the elementary doctrine of Christ
Though the audience is responsible to mature past milk there is a reality of being dependent upon God to create said growth
Hebrews 6:4-6 - Avoid Apostasy
Hebrews 6:4-6 - Avoid Apostasy
4 For it is impossible, in the case of those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, and have shared in the Holy Spirit, 5 and have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the age to come, 6 and then have fallen away, to restore them again to repentance, since they are crucifying once again the Son of God to their own harm and holding him up to contempt.
***This along with Hebrews 10:26-27 are the most troubling passages in the entire book***
***This along with Hebrews 10:26-27 are the most troubling passages in the entire book***
***This is one of the most disputed passages in all of the New Testament***
***This is one of the most disputed passages in all of the New Testament***
***Ante-Nicene Fathers all interpreted these individuals were Christians - 100-325AD***
***Ante-Nicene Fathers all interpreted these individuals were Christians - 100-325AD***
***Post-Nicene Fathers, save two - Basil and Gregory of Nyssa, interpreted these individuals were Christians - 325-451AD***
***Post-Nicene Fathers, save two - Basil and Gregory of Nyssa, interpreted these individuals were Christians - 325-451AD***
***What is the authorial intent behind these verses? A warning to persevere***
***What is the authorial intent behind these verses? A warning to persevere***
For it is impossible,
For it is impossible,
Literally impossible and is meant to be forceful
What is impossible?
vs 6. Restoring those who have fallen away
The Scripture is saying that it is impossible to restore an apostate
In the case of those
In the case of those
Those
Notice the switch in pronoun use in Hebrews 6:4-8 verses in contrast to the rest of the warning passage 5:11-6:12.
Impersonal rather than direct
Those
Who have once been enlightened,
Who have once been enlightened,
Once
Decisive moment and event that cannot be repeated
Enlightened
Salvific language
Passive - God is the initiator
Who have tasted the heavenly gift,
Who have tasted the heavenly gift,
Tasted
1 And he said to them, “Truly, I say to you, there are some standing here who will not taste death until they see the kingdom of God after it has come with power.”
52 The Jews said to him, “Now we know that you have a demon! Abraham died, as did the prophets, yet you say, ‘If anyone keeps my word, he will never taste death.’
9 But we see him who for a little while was made lower than the angels, namely Jesus, crowned with glory and honor because of the suffering of death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone.
Not simply taught, but have experienced it for themselves
And have shared in the Holy Spirit,
And have shared in the Holy Spirit,
Become partakers of the Holy Spirit
Reception of the Holy Spirit
And have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the age to come,
And have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the age to come,
Word of God - The Gospel
Powers of the age to come
Final fulfillment of the eschatological age
4 while God also bore witness by signs and wonders and various miracles and by gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to his will.
And then have fallen away,
And then have fallen away,
Apostasy
Intentionally and deliberately rebelled
Abandoned the gospel of Jesus Christ
How do we interpret these words?
Look to the previous warning passages
To restore them again to repentance,
To restore them again to repentance,
Here is the impossibility from vs. 4 and God is the implied subject
Since they are crucifying once again the Son of God to their own harm and holding him up to contempt.
Since they are crucifying once again the Son of God to their own harm and holding him up to contempt.
There rejection is similar to that of those who put Christ on the cross and mocked him
27 Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the governor’s headquarters, and they gathered the whole battalion before him. 28 And they stripped him and put a scarlet robe on him, 29 and twisting together a crown of thorns, they put it on his head and put a reed in his right hand. And kneeling before him, they mocked him, saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!” 30 And they spit on him and took the reed and struck him on the head. 31 And when they had mocked him, they stripped him of the robe and put his own clothes on him and led him away to crucify him.
In short, Jesus deserved to be crucified and the penalty of his death was justified and He did not save others from sin
Hebrews 6:7-8 - Spiritual Growth vs. Spiritual Death
Hebrews 6:7-8 - Spiritual Growth vs. Spiritual Death
7 For land that has drunk the rain that often falls on it, and produces a crop useful to those for whose sake it is cultivated, receives a blessing from God. 8 But if it bears thorns and thistles, it is worthless and near to being cursed, and its end is to be burned.
***Agricultural illustration expanding on the warning he is giving***
***Agricultural illustration expanding on the warning he is giving***
***The author is pulling A LOT from Deuteronomy and placing the warning in context with the Deuteronomy blessing/cursing covenantal context***
***The author is pulling A LOT from Deuteronomy and placing the warning in context with the Deuteronomy blessing/cursing covenantal context***
26 “See, I am setting before you today a blessing and a curse: 27 the blessing, if you obey the commandments of the Lord your God, which I command you today, 28 and the curse, if you do not obey the commandments of the Lord your God, but turn aside from the way that I am commanding you today, to go after other gods that you have not known.
For land that has drunk the rain that often falls on it, and produces a crop useful to those for whose sake it is cultivated, receives a blessing from God.
For land that has drunk the rain that often falls on it, and produces a crop useful to those for whose sake it is cultivated, receives a blessing from God.
For
Continuation of the argument in 6:4-6
Land
One piece - not two
Ran falls on it
Two possible outcomes to the warning - those who persevere in obedience vs. those who regress
Rain is not from humans, but from God
Those who respond positively to the warning, which he believes they will (vss. 9-12), will receive the eschatological blessing - eternal life - from the Lord
But if it bears thorns and thistles, it is worthless and near to being cursed, and its end is to be burned.
But if it bears thorns and thistles, it is worthless and near to being cursed, and its end is to be burned.
Thorns and thistles
17 And to Adam he said,
“Because you have listened to the voice of your wife
and have eaten of the tree
of which I commanded you,
‘You shall not eat of it,’
cursed is the ground because of you;
in pain you shall eat of it all the days of your life;
18 thorns and thistles it shall bring forth for you;
and you shall eat the plants of the field.
Worthless
Disqualified on the last day and will not be saved
Be burned
22 And the next generation, your children who rise up after you, and the foreigner who comes from a far land, will say, when they see the afflictions of that land and the sicknesses with which the Lord has made it sick— 23 the whole land burned out with brimstone and salt, nothing sown and nothing growing, where no plant can sprout, an overthrow like that of Sodom and Gomorrah, Admah, and Zeboiim, which the Lord overthrew in his anger and wrath— 24 all the nations will say, ‘Why has the Lord done thus to this land? What caused the heat of this great anger?’
Those who respond negatively to the warning, which he believes they will not (vss. 9-12), will receive the eschatological judgment - eternal death - from the Lord
Reflection
Reflection
Have you regressed to the point that you need to be taught again the basic elements of Christian doctrine - both theological and practical?
Does this vivid warning ring true to you?
Application
Application
Build upon the elementary doctrine of Christ and heed the warning given!
Main Point
Main Point
Let us build upon the elementary doctrine of Christianity and pursue maturity choosing spiritual growth over spiritual death
Let us build upon the elementary doctrine of Christianity and pursue maturity choosing spiritual growth over spiritual death