2. God’s Amazing Plan
Hebrews 6:1-20
pg 1867
pg 1187

3. Hebrews 6:1-3
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. Hebrews 6:4-6
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.

5. Hebrews 6:7-8
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.
What are we to make of these verses? In particular verses 4-6. [click]

6. Hebrews 6:4-6
Possible Interpretations...
The author is not referring to professing believers, but merely people associated closely with Christians. Since they were falling away, they were in danger of losing the opportunity to be saved.
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.
Possible Interpretations...
The author is referring to genuine believers, but “impossible” doesn’t mean “not possible.” He really means “difficult.”
These verses are some of the most contested verses in the NT and provide a hermeneutical challenge for sure!!
Here are some possible interpretations...[click 4x]
There are others as well! What is the author meaning here??
Let’s consider some important rules for proper interpretation. These are true for interpreting any ancient document claiming to be factual truth...
Possible Interpretations...
The author is referring to genuine believers who are losing their salvation as a result of falling away and thus cannot be resaved.
Possible Interpretations...
The author is referring to genuine believes, but only those who habitually fall away and then repent. God gets tired and reaches the point of saying, “Enough.” 6

7. Interpretation Rules Context of the book Audience Immediate Context
Interpret the difficult in scripture in light of the clear

8. Book Context & Audience
Written to persuade Jewish believers not to be led astray by...
...fear (12:3)
...the love of money (13:5)
...false teaching (13:9)
Historically, persecution was breaking out against the Jewish church. So, we have jewish members of the Christian church who were going back to Judaism to alleviate persecution. These choices were being motivated by fear, love of money, and buying into false teaching.
Thought was this, “I’ll just go back to my old ways for a while until this persecution passes, then I’ll repent & return to Christianity. God will forgive my falling away and I’ll be saved again. 8

9. Immediate Context Verses 5:11-14
They have become dull (sluggish/lazy) of hearing
They should be teachers, but still need someone to teach them
They should be moving on to “meat,” but instead they still need “milk”
They need to put into practice what they already know
Hebrews 6:1
Therefore let us leave the elementary doctrine of Christ and go on to maturity...
You gain a sense here of the author’s desire that they be maturing.
We saw this in chapter 4 as well where he stressed that they continue to move forward into God’s Sabbath Rest...a state of maturity for the believer in this lifetime! [click]
We see this same thing immediately here in 6:1. [click]
We’re beginning to see a theme here for Hebrews...[click]
Theme for Hebrews:
Pressing on to maturity! 9

10. Quick Review Written to Jewish believers
Considering going to back to Judaism to alleviate persecution
Author is writing to persuade them to move on to maturity

11. Hebrews 6:1-3
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.
To move on to maturity, we need to leave certain things behind!

12. Things to leave behind Things dealing with Conversion
not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works
not laying again a foundation of faith toward God
Dead Works - following the sacrificial systems as a means of worshipping God.
Faith toward God - believing in Jesus all over again! They already know these things. They are elementary!!

13. Things to leave behind Things dealing with Ceremonial Elements
not laying again a foundation of instruction about washings
not laying again a foundation of instruction about the laying on of hands
Washings: Baptism/cleansing rites in Judaism
Laying on of Hands: OT to receive blessing, appointment to office, identification with (animal for the sacrifice of sin)

14. Things to leave behind Things dealing with Judgment
not laying again a foundation of instruction about the resurrection of the dead
not laying again a foundation of instruction about eternal judgment
The author considers all of these to be elementary things that need to be left behind so that the Jewish believers can move on to maturity!
Principle here: we need to leave some things behind so we can move on to maturity!!!
The same is true for believers today...We need to leave behind some things so that we are able to move on to maturity.... 14

15. Things we need to leave behind...
The emotionalism of a previous spiritual experience
The comfort of “us four and no more”
A hope/dream/possession that glorifies self vs. something that accomplishes God’s plan
Besetting sin that you return to for escape, comfort, etc.
These all keep us from advancing forward in God’s plan for maturity.
We MUST leave these behind....v3 [click]

16. Hebrews 6:1-3
3 And this [leaving things behind to advance to maturity] we will do if God [and He does] permits.
Three Greek conditions
1 - if (and it’s not true) “Go ahead, pick up that car if you’re so strong.”
2 - if (and it might be true, with some doubt) “If Bill finishes on time, we can eat lunch at noon today.”
3 - if (and it is true, without any doubt) That’s what this verse is saying.
You must also choose to leave them behind. When you do, God will permit you to advance to maturity!
With this in mind, the author then makes a point in verses 4-6. 16

17. Hebrews 6:4-6 (NASB, mod)
4 [It is impossible] for in the case of those who have once been enlightened and have tasted of the heavenly gift and have been made partakers of the Holy Spirit, 5 and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come, 6 and then have fallen away, [] to renew them again to repentance, since they again crucify to themselves the Son of God and put Him to open shame.
Once been enlightened - They believed & were regenerated. God opened up their minds to believe
Tasted the heavenly gift - Had a real experience of receiving God’s blessing of salvation. A real conscious enjoyment of the blessings. Look at verse 2:9 - “Jesus tasted death for everyone.” Not a sip or a small tasting, but experienced in totality death for all!
Partakers in the Holy Spirit - the Spirit was in the person, they received the HS
Tasted the goodness of the Word of God - Personal experience with the transformational power of God’s Word
Powers of the age to come - Experienced real birth and the position over
definitely signifies real, genuine, authentic believers!
Now he says, “Something is impossible for them...”
“To renew them again to repentance.” Two options here....let’s look: 17

18. Impossible to renew to repentance (2 options)
Satan’s Kingdom
God’s Kingdom
enlightened
repentance
faith in God
Fall away - means you lose your salvation because you rejected Jesus and went back to your old ways (for the Jews, it was going back to Judaism). 1
fall away
impossible to go back
Lose salvation with no hope of getting it back.

19. Impossible to renew to repentance (2 options)
Satan’s Kingdom
God’s Kingdom
enlightened
repentance
faith in God
Fall away - means you go back to your old ways of living, but you don’t loose your salvation.
Therefore, it’s impossible to renew your repentance (salvation experience) because you’ve never lost it in the first place!
It’s impossible to go back because you’ve never left!
Recall: we need to interpret the unclear or difficult in light of the clear. So, let’s put these two options up against some other scriptures..... 2
fall away
impossible to go back
Since it’s impossible to lose your salvation, it’s impossible to re-experience salvation repentance. 19

20. Impossible to renew to repentance (2 options)
Romans 8:38-39
For I am sure that neither death nor life...nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
You can lose salvation with no hope of getting it back. 1
Ephesians 1:13-14
13 In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, 14 who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.
Hebrews 10:14
For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified.
So...this passage is not about losing your salvation, it’s about the fact that you can’t lose it!! And since you can’t, you should move on toward maturity!!
The author gives two reasons why it can’t be lost...
John 3:16
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.
Since it’s impossible to lose your salvation, it’s impossible to re-experience salvation repentance. 2

21. Why it’s impossible to lose your salvation
It would show that Jesus’ death was inadequate to cover all sin (put Christ to open shame)
It would require Christ to be crucified again.

22. Hebrews 6:4-6
Possible Interpretations...
The author is not referring to professing believers, but merely people associated closely with Christians. Since they were falling away, they were in danger of losing the opportunity to be saved.
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.
Most Plausible Interpretation...
The author is referring to genuine Jewish believers who are going back to Judaism. It’s impossible for them to experience salvation repentance again because they never lost their salvation in the first place!
Possible Interpretations...
The author is referring to genuine believers, but “impossible” doesn’t mean “not possible.” He really means “difficult.”
Since they never lost it in the first place, they can either stay where they are at and be in danger of a negative judgment or they can move on toward the things of maturity as the next verses will show!
He ends this section with a metaphor meant to warn what is to come for those believers who return to and continue in their old ways instead of moving on to maturity!!
Possible Interpretations...
The author is referring to genuine believers who are losing their salvation as a result of falling away and thus cannot be resaved.
Possible Interpretations...
The author is referring to genuine believers, but only those who habitually fall away and then repent. God gets tired and reaches the point of saying, “Enough.” 22

23. Hebrews 6:7-8
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.
[explain]
Land - people
Rain - God’s provisions
Crop - actions/motivations
Blessing/Curse - believer Judgment
Those who move on to maturity will receive a reward at the Believer Judgment.
Those who neglect the provisions that God has offered will suffer loss.
Paul makes this very clear in 1 Corinthians 3: Let’s turn there and read it.... 23

24. Summary of 6:1-8
Since a genuine believer cannot lose his salvation even if he returns to his old ways, he should instead use the provisions God has given him to move on toward maturity!!
The believer that uses these provisions to produce good fruit will receive an eternal reward.
The believer that ignore these provisions will suffer loss (but will be saved).
So we see, it is God’s desire for us to move on to maturity using his provisions.
Verses 9-20 talk about Man’s Part in this maturing process and God’s Part.
Let’s look at Man’s Part first... 24

25. Hebrews 6:9-12
9 Though we speak in this way, yet in your case, beloved, we feel sure of better things—things that belong to salvation. 10 For God is not unjust so as to overlook your work and the love that you have shown for his name in serving the saints, as you still do.
Here the author gives an encouragement to those who remained faithful...

26. Hebrews 6:9-12
11 And we desire each one of you to show the same earnestness to have the full assurance of hope until the end, 12 so that you may not be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.
Man’s part in moving on to maturity...
To remain steadfast,
To keep on keeping on
To remain faithful with patience...
This is exceedingly challenging in our culture where almost everything is fast paced. We want what we want and we’re used to getting it NOW! No so with maturity! It is off in the distance...it’s something we must work towards, exerting effort, trusting that God is at work EVEN WHEN WE CAN’T SEE IT! And that He is using all the circumstances in our lives (good and more than likely the bad) to bring about his plan!
We must be sure not to lose hope, not to throw in the towel, not to become lazy, but to endure in grace toward ourselves, trusting that God is at work!
Let’s look at God’s Part in all this...
Reward Passages:
Inherit the promise of reaching maturity! (6:1) in this lifetime and Rewards in the next lifetime. (Mt 5:12; 6:2-6, 16-18; 10:42; Luke 6:23, 35; 1 Cor 3:14; Col 3:24; 2 Tim 4:8; Heb 10:35; 11:6; 11:26; James 1:12; 1 Peter 5:4; 2 John 1:8; Rev 2:10; 3:11; Rev 11:18) 26

27. Hebrews 6:13-20
13 For when God made a promise to Abraham, since he had no one greater by whom to swear, he swore by himself, 14 saying, “Surely I will bless you and multiply you.” 15 And thus Abraham, having patiently waited, obtained the promise.
Using an example again from their Jewish history:
Abraham was 75 years old when God made the promise to Abraham that he would have a son.
Abraham was 100 years old when he obtained the promise!
The point here is this: God is a promise keeper even though it may seem to take a long time on our part!! 27

28. Hebrews 6:13-20
16 For people swear by something greater than themselves, and in all their disputes an oath is final for confirmation. 17 So when God desired to show more convincingly to the heirs of the promise the unchangeable character of his purpose, he guaranteed it with an oath,

29. Hebrews 6:13-20
18 so that by two unchangeable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled for refuge might have strong encouragement to hold fast to the hope set before us.
Author is pointing back to two things in their history:
1) the promise that God made to Abraham that his descendants would be more numerous than the stars (Gen 15)
2) the oath that God made to Abraham to fulfill the promise.
These Jews were living proof that God indeed fulfilled that promise for they themselves were the offspring of Abraham living in the land that God had promised!
As God made promises to the Jews, he also made promises to believers in Jesus. Here are a couple that the author of Hebrews may have had in mind: 29

30. Hebrews 6:13-20
John 3:16
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.
18 so that by two unchangeable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled for refuge might have strong encouragement to hold fast to the hope set before us.
Matthew 11:28-29
28 Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”
John 10:27-29
27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. 28 I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. 29 My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father's hand.
Two basic promises:
1) God promises eternal salvation to all who believe. This is not up for grabs. It is SURE!
2) God promises to give rest in this lifetime to those who continue to pursue Jesus!
In addition, we have something else... 30

31. Hebrews 6:13-20
19 We have this as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters into the inner place behind the curtain, 20 where Jesus has gone as a forerunner on our behalf, having become a high priest forever after the order of Melchizedek.
Jesus is the hope, anchor, and forerunner - meaning he is the one of which we fill follow behind! Since it was true of Jesus, it will also be true of the followers of Jesus! 31

32. Hebrews 6 God desires for his people to press on to maturity (1-2)
You can make the choice to walk away from God, but you can’t re-experience salvation because you never lost it (4-6)
You can forfeit your eternal rewards, but not your salvation (7-8)

33. Hebrews 6
Since you can’t lose your salvation, remain steadfast and faithful. (9-12)
God promises to bring you to maturity & then on into eternity with Him just like He did with Jesus, our forerunner, our hope, and our anchor for our souls! (13-20)
[GOSPEL HERE!!]
What is your “anchor?” What do you turn to when life gets hard?
There are many things we put in place of Jesus and God’s promises that we depend on for significance, for identity, for security, for stability. 33

34. What’s your “anchor?” Your abilities Your schedule
Other people (boyfriend, girlfriend, wife, husband, children, parents, pastor, boss, etc.)
Career
Hobbies
Possessions
Besetting sins (addictions)
What do you turn to instead of Jesus, the only dependable, immoveable anchor?
Mine lately is my schedule!!
We are called to Press into Jesus, He is the only sure Hope and secure anchor for this life and the next life!!
We do this through reading & studying the Bible, through private and corporate prayer to God, through participation with His Body in a gathering like this and in House Church where the Word is taught, through confessing to Him when PRESS hard into other things and NOT JESUS. 34

35. Comments/Questions?

36. Corporate Prayer