1. The Epistle to the Hebrews Lesson 7 Dangers of Immaturity and Apostasy Hebrews 5:11-- 6:8

2. The Danger of Immaturity Hebrews 5:11-14 Factors that lead to or indicate immaturity: Being “dull of hearing” (5:11; Matthew 13:14-15) Failing to use time wisely (5:12; Psalm 119:97; 148; Eph. 5:15-17) Constant diet of “milk,” lack of experience with “meat” (5:13; 2 Peter 3:16) Failure to apply or use what we learn (5:14; Psalm 119:104, 128) –Applying Scripture trains us to discern both good and evil.

3. Pressing on to Maturity Hebrews 6:1-3 The foundation should not need laying again! Repentance (Acts 2:38; 3:19) Faith (Romans 10:17; Hebrews 11:6) Doctrine of Baptisms –Cloud & sea (1 Corinthians 10:2) –John’s (Matthew 3:1-6; Acts 18:25-26; 19:1-5) –Holy Spirit (Matthew 3:11; Acts 1:4-5) –Into Christ for remission of sins (Acts 2:38; Ephesians 4:5)

4. Pressing on to Maturity Hebrews 6:1-3 The foundation should not need laying again! Laying on of hands –By the apostles to impart spiritual gifts (Acts 8:14-17) –To signify blessing (Acts 13:3; 1 Timothy 5:22) –To heal the sick (Acts 28:8) Resurrection of the dead (1 Cor. 15) Eternal Judgment (Acts 17:31; 24:25)

5. The Danger of Apostasy Hebrews 6:4-8 Apostasy occurs when we fail to continue to build on our foundation (cf. 6:1-3) Those under consideration had been saved. They… –Were once enlightened –Have tasted of the heavenly gift (Romans 6:23) –Became partakers of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:38) –Tasted the good word of God (James 1:21) –Tasted the powers of “the age to come” NOTE: “The age to come” was a phrase used at times by Jews to describe the coming age of the Messiah.

6. Interesting Commentary by Albert Barnes (Presbyterian Scholar) “It may be remarked respecting the various expressions used here (in) Hebrews 6:4-5 …that they are such as properly denote a renewed state. They obviously describe the condition of a Christian; and though it may be not certain that any one of them if taken by itself would prove that the person to whom it was applied was truly converted, yet taken together it is clear that they are designed to describe such a state. If they are not, it would be difficult to find any language which would be properly descriptive of the character of a sincere Christian. I regard the description here, therefore, as what is clearly designed to denote the state of those who were born again, and were the true children of God; and it seems plain to me that no other interpretation would have ever been thought of if this view had not seemed to conflict with the doctrine of the “perseverance of the saints.”

7. The Danger of Apostasy Hebrews 6:4-8 Those who fall away have turned their hearts against the Lord (6:6) –There is no uncertainty of this ever happening. “If” is meant in the sense of “when” (see NKJV marg.) The entire verse is considering a state of affairs in which falling away has occurred. –In choosing their path, those who fall “crucify again the Son of God and put Him to an open shame.” –It is impossible (v. 4) to renew them to repentance (v. 6) because they are rejecting their only means of salvation (cf. Hebrews 10:26-29)

8. The Danger of Apostasy Hebrews 6:4-8 The consistent teaching of Hebrews is that a believer can become an unbeliever and be lost (3:12-14; 4:1,11; 6:4-6; 10:26-29) God’s justice in condemning those who were once saved is clearly illustrated by farmland that is cultivated and blessed with rain, but only bears thorns and briers; Its “end is to be burned.” (6:7-8)