Theme of Hebrews By persevering faith, we can have partnership with God’s King-Priest Son!

Hebrews 5:11-14 In other words… The writer wants to explain important truth to them, but they have remained spiritually immature, so it is difficult and dangerous for them. The reason is their lack of use of the truth they have. Using truth and moving to deeper truths enable us to make mature moral choices.

Hebrews 6:1-3 In other words… The answer isn’t to continue to go over the same stuff, but to move on with learning and use. We can’t adequately face trial without the right level of maturity. Moving on is possible with God’s help. The writer now explains what can happen to those who do not move on.

Hebrews 6:4-6 In other words… There are believers who walk a long way down the Christian path, yet fall away. There is nothing people can do or say to them to restore them to the path to maturity. They’ve heard all the basics and can’t appreciate anything more.

Hebrews 6:4-8 In other words… To these Christians, Jesus is no longer special and their departure shames Him. They end being disapproved by God and headed for certain temporal judgment. Their only hope is restoration from God.

Hebrews 5:11-6:8 In other words… Extreme sin forces an extreme response.

About Hebrews Who = Believers When = The world to come Why = To encourage them to rule with Christ How = By staying faithful

A slow drift from not listening Hebrews 2:1-4 – Warning #1 A slow drift from not listening

Hebrews 3 – Warning #2 They chose to not act on what was true, their hearts hardened, and they did not believe.

The Word is relevant and powerful. Hebrews 4 – Warning #3 The Word is relevant and powerful. It can help you find your issues and work with your Great High Priest to deliver.

Jesus is fully capable of leading you to victory Hebrews 5 – Warning #4 Jesus is fully capable of leading you to victory

Six things that make this easier They need to learn an important truth, but they’re too immature to understand it Going over the same things won’t help They need to go on to maturity ( Main idea)

Six things that make this easier Growth occurs when God enables us Falling away = from the path to maturity and the faith Fire is NOT eternal (hell)

Hebrews 5:12-13 For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you have need again for someone to teach you the elementary principles of the oracles of God, and you have come to need milk and not solid food. For everyone who partakes only of milk is not accustomed to the word of righteousness, for he is an infant.

These are not professing Christians who are not truly saved. Hebrews 5:12-13 These are not professing Christians who are not truly saved. These are immature believers, spiritual infants.

It’s dangerous to remain a spiritual infant. Hebrews 5:12-13 It’s dangerous to remain a spiritual infant.

What you have is true. The basics don’t need to be revisited. Hebrews 5:12-13 What you have is true. The basics don’t need to be revisited.

Hebrews 5:14 (NASB) But solid food is for the mature, who because of practice have their senses trained to discern good and evil.

Hebrews 5:12-13 It isn’t necessarily a lack of information that hurts an immature believer.

Life moves on and so must we. Hebrews 5:12-13 He hasn’t learned to use the “word of righteousness” effectively and lacks the skill that maturity brings to make good moral choices. Life moves on and so must we.

Six things that make this easier They need to learn an important truth, but they’re too immature to understand it They need to go on to maturity ( Main idea)

Hebrews 6:1-2 Therefore leaving the elementary teaching about the Christ, let us press on to maturity, not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God, of instruction about washings and laying on of hands, and the resurrection of the dead and eternal judgment.

You don’t need to go back, you need to go on! Hebrews 6:1-2 You don’t need to go back, you need to go on! Part of the concern may have involved the readers wanting to lay a new doctrinal foundation.

We can’t encounter an adult world with the character of an infant. Hebrews 6:1-2 We can’t encounter an adult world with the character of an infant.

Hebrews 6:1-2 The main clause that explains this whole section is “let us go on to maturity”.

Six things that make this easier They need to learn an important truth, but they’re too immature to understand it Going over the same things won’t help They need to go on to maturity ( Main idea)

Six things that make this easier Growth occurs when God enables

And this we will do, if God permits. Hebrews 6:1-3 Therefore leaving the elementary teaching about the Christ, let us press on to maturity… And this we will do, if God permits.

“let us press on to maturity… Hebrews 6:1-3 “let us press on to maturity… And this we will do, if God permits.” “For…”

Growth only occurs when God enables. Hebrews 6:3 Growth only occurs when God enables.

Six things that make this easier They need to learn an important truth, but they’re too immature to understand it Going over the same things won’t help They need to go on to maturity ( Main idea)

Six things that make this easier Growth occurs when God enables Falling away = from the path to maturity and the faith

Hebrews 6:4-5  For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted the heavenly gift, and have become partakers of the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come,

Hebrews 6:4-5 – “Once enlightened” Heb. 10:32 “But recall the former days in which, after you were illuminated, you endured a great struggle with sufferings”

Hebrews 6:4-5 – “Once enlightened” 2 Cor. 4:3-4 But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them. 

Hebrews 6:4-5 – “Once enlightened” 2 Cor. 4:6 For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. 

Hebrews 6:4-5 – “Once enlightened” God causes the “lights to come on” when we believe.

Hebrews 6:4-5 – “Tasted the heavenly gift” “Tasted” Heb. 2:9 = “experienced” “Heavenly gift” Rom. 6:23; Eph. 2:8-9 = Eternal Life

Hebrews 6:4-5 – “Partakers” “Partners; close business associates” Bottom-line: These are not only believers; they had walked with God!

Hebrews 6:4-5 – “Once enlightened” Not only can believers fall away, but those who were once growing disciples can and do! But, remember… The eternal realities fixed by God are not changed by temporal actions

This might be called “Relational Truth” vs. “Fellowship Truth” In Christ, I am eternally Eternal truth Perfect In Christ Complete Forgiven In time, I am being… Truth in time Perfected Completed In time Forgiven This might be called “Relational Truth” vs. “Fellowship Truth”

Hebrews 6:4-6 – Suggested (not hypothetical)  For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened… (who have fallen away), to renew them again to repentance, since they crucify again for themselves the Son of God, and put Him to an open shame.

Hebrews 6:4-5 – “Fallen away” In context, from what? The path to maturity!

This is a doctrinal and moral issue. Hebrews 6:6 This is a doctrinal and moral issue. What we believe has practical effects on our lives!

Summary of the Progression of Defection They chose to not believe, then… Their hearts hardened, then… They remained immature, then… They did not believe, then… Their lives reflected it, then… They ended up being judged.

“Crucified to themselves” Hebrews 6:6 “Crucified to themselves” In the lives of many believers who go through this process, Jesus is no longer special.

“Crucified to themselves” Hebrews 6:6 “Crucified to themselves” When He becomes common to them, their lives reflect it and they put Him to “open shame”.

Six things that make this easier They need to learn an important truth, but they’re too immature to understand it Going over the same things won’t help They need to go on to maturity ( Main idea)

Six things that make this easier Growth occurs when God enables us Falling away = from the path to maturity and the faith Fire is NOT eternal (hell)

Hebrews 6:7-8  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; but if it bears thorns and briers, it is rejected and near to being cursed, whose end is to be burned.

“To be disapproved after testing” Hebrews 6:7 “Worthless” “To be disapproved after testing” Notice the common language from Gen. 3.

Hebrews 6:8 “Burned” By far the most common use of this is as a metaphor for temporal judgment. Ezek. 15

The language in both verses is figurative. Hell is not! Hebrews 6:7-8 The language in both verses is figurative. Hell is not!

Any farmer knows why fields are burned. Hebrews 6:7-8 Any farmer knows why fields are burned. Fields are burned in hope, not simply destruction!

Judgment may be a certainty, but finality is not! Hebrews 6:7-8 Judgment may be a certainty, but finality is not!

Extreme sin forces an extreme response. Hebrews 6 Extreme sin forces an extreme response.

We can’t encounter an adult world with the character of an infant. Hebrews 6:1-2 We can’t encounter an adult world with the character of an infant.

Theme of Hebrews By persevering faith, we can have partnership with God’s King-Priest Son!