A New Stirring Of A Thirst For God! by Swan Song   I perceive that there is a new stirring of a thirst for God, among His people. I believe that the Lord is INTENTIONALLY stirring His people ANEW; specifically to prepare them to face the coming days, spiritually, mentally, & physically.   Times are a changing, & changing fast! The new, faster_than_ever_before, pace of living, requires that NEW measures be picked up & used by the body of Christ. I discern through the study of Biblical & Church History, that there are times that the Lord RESTORES unto His people, things which were LOST; spiritually, emotionally, & physically.   With the approach of a rising, & devastating “monster”, creeping onto the horizon, the Church needs every armament, with which it can prepare itself! “Closer to Jesus’ “Closer to Jesus”, is what seems to be constantly repeated into my spiritual ear.   As Believers, we are God’s children. When a danger presents itself to children, where is the first place they think to run? To someone they trust; preferably, to their trusted parents, or parent.   That is exactly where we think to run to, when our lives, or anything else, is threatened. We run straight to our Heavenly parent; to our Heavenly Father. The Lord IS the High Tower, our Sword, our Shield, our Savior, & our Buckler! He IS the One whom we trust, as Psalm 91 so eloquently points out.   So many things, way beyond much of our ability to comprehend, are so rapidly occurring, behind the scenes, hidden away from prying eyes. Things done covertly, & in secret, with the direct purpose to harm humankind, existing behind their every thought & action.   God has so abundantly warned us of a very dramatic shift that would occur in humanity, specifically, toward the nearing of the latter days. Many have already quite astutely perceived that these times are upon us now.   God has spoken in His Word, regarding the increase of evil, imaginations becoming more evil, & the searing-over, or deadening of human consciences.   We were told of a people who would seek the type of truth, which would only tickle their ears.   We were forewarned of a mass of people who would be calling good; evil, & calling evil; good. This is being done. Sadly.   What are we to do?   We were told to Be ready. To prepare. To be alert. To be sober. To be watching. To be praying. To be loving the Lord, & others.   And to be fellowshipping with fellow Believers, even more, as we saw the “day” approaching. The evil “day”, of which the Apostle Paul warned us about in Ephesians 6.   We were told to stand. We were told to not shrink back. We were told not to faint.   We were told rather, to “look up, for our redemption draws nigh”! We were told that in this world, we would have much tribulation, but to be of good cheer, for Jesus Christ has overcome the world!   In the seriousness of the time & season in which we live, it is far past time, to heed ALL OF these warnings, of which Our Dear Lord has so generously warned us about, way ahead of time.   The writings in the Scriptures, are thousands of years old. Yet their timely warnings come echoing out of history, to arrive in our day, & our time, to caution us about what lies directly ahead.   As humankind exerts extra effort to run so swiftly to do evil, our Lord runs even faster, for His Word, to perform it! And He moves speedily, to perform His Word, which will never return to Him, void!   What does this mean to us?   It means that, most assuredly, the Lord will carry out, & follow through with every plan He has made, for His Kingdom’s sake, & for His name’s sake.   That also means that He has a very specific plan for each & every one of us. A plan for our good, & not for our harm. A plan to prosper us. A spiritual, mental, & physical plan. A plan for us to feast during famine, & fast during feasting.   In other words, the Lord’s desires are for us to constantly have our mind focused on His Kingdom, & not upon our own. He told us over two thousand years ago, that if we would seek His Kingdom, & His Righteousness FIRST, that all of these things {food, clothing, etc}, would be added unto us.   King David declared that SURELY, goodness & mercy would FOLLOW him, all the days of His life. His confidence rested in the Lord. And we are told by the Apostles, to NOT throw off our confidence in the Lord.   It would be Oh, so wise, to heed all of these blessed Scriptures!   We may so often, ask ourselves: “Why am I here?” “What is my purpose?”   Indeed, a Believer SHOULD ask themselves these questions!   For our Lord DOES have a plan. For each of us. An important plan. We are to be an influence. We are to have an impact. On the people, & situations that go on around us.   How?   First of all, we may pray. At any time. About all of the things that go on around us. We are blessed to be able to pray for the LOST, first of all. Who else, other than a Believer, would even know to do that, or how? We also have the blessing of sharing our testimonies, & sharing the Gospel, with other spiritually-seeking hearts, around us.   Influence.   Impact.   Are you beginning to see?! Oh, what a joy it IS, to be able to be such a blessing to others, indeed! Praise the Lord!   How else may we be of good benefit, here on earth?   We can pray for one another. As we are admonished to do so, in the Scriptures. Again, think of Ephesians 6! We are to pray for saints everywhere! Glory! What an honor! What a privilege! Blessed be the name of the Lord!   We may pray, not only for ourselves, but also for others. What we might think to pray for ourselves, others may need, too! We just add them in. So easy!   We can pray for extra blessings in the areas of: Finances, Healing, Relationships, Work environments & security, Families & their friends, The Church, Education for Believers, Spiritual enlightenment, The Gospel to go forth, Gospel laborers/missionaries to go forth, Sustenance for missionaries & their families & work, and the list goes on, & is endless!   We can pray for the sad to be cheered, & for bad people to choose good, & choose Jesus!   We can pray for: Our neighbors, The postman, The landlord, Movie stars, The dry cleaner people, Our hairdresser, Educators, Firemen, Political figures, Heads of nations, Our grocer, Believers imprisoned for their faith, The homeless, The hungry, The mentally ill, & for our Christian Leaders!   The ideas for things to pray about is absolutely astonishing!! Someone once said: “There are ACRES on the subject of prayer, which have yet, to be discovered”. I really like the way they put that!   The things I just listed, are merely a BEGINNING, of how we can be of a good benefit to others! There are ever so many other ways!   There is volunteer work, etc. These things simply need to be checked out. Calls can be made, & new discoveries of ways in which we might be very needed, which WE NEVER KNEW, just MIGHT find themselves coming skimming to the surface! And we will have found, yet another glorious way in which to be of benefit to so many others around us!   And may it Ever be First & Foremost in our minds, that the PERISHING & DYING clamor constantly around us.   And so often, they are spiritually hungry in a very quiet & unobvious way.   May we never neglect the deepest need of all; of CARING for their soul!!!   Jesus wouldn’t have it any other way! After all, He IS the Head of the Church, & first initiated that great, & clarion call: The Great Commission!!!   May we return to our great & glorious commission of reaching out to the desperately, spiritually dying, who lay thrashing deep within, all about us!!   May there be a great return to the highways & byways of this fastly fading, green earth, to ONCE MORE…. REACH THE PERISHING~~~~   To end this communication, I will simply say that sometimes the Lord creates a deeper spiritual thirst deep inside of us, & stirs us to come scampering closer to His side, not only to Bless, Nurture, Guide, & Protect us, but also, that we may become stronger.   So that we may be a Brighter Blessing to those He has placed around us.      ~Yours Truly~ ~In Jesus’ Forever Love~ ~Swan Song~             ©2008~Writings by Amber~ (~Swan Song~)

NOTES taken from the Video AMERICA’S GODLY HERITAGE by DAVID BARTON

http://www.biblebb.com/files/HERITAGE.HTM

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The Tragedy of Rejecting Salvation

The Tragedy of Rejecting Full Revelation–Part 2

by
John MacArthur
All Rights Reserved

http://www.biblebb.com/files/MAC/sg1613.htm

(A copy of this message on cassette tape may be obtained by calling 1-800-55-GRACE)
Hebrews 6:1-8 Tape GC 1613

Introduction

Hebrews 5:10–6:12 discusses the issue of spiritual maturity. It contains the third parenthetical warning in the book of Hebrews to Jewish people who were intellectually convinced of the gospel, but who had never made a real commitment to Jesus Christ.

These Hebrews knew the truth, believed it, and were even following some patterns consistent with Christianity. But they were not true Christians. They were warned periodically throughout the book of Hebrews that simply believing things about Christ without a commitment to Him was not sufficient for salvation (cf. James 2:19). They were warned after having heard the gospel and becoming so familiar with it without receiving it that they would find themselves falling away into a hardhearted unbelief. It would then be impossible for them to be saved.

The contrast in Hebrews 5:10–6:12 is not between a mature Christian and an immature one, but between a true Christian and a false one. The term “babe” in Hebrews 5:13 describes an unbeliever–a Jewish person who was hanging on to the ABC’s of the Old Covenant. The mature person talked about in verse 14 is one who grows up by putting his faith in Jesus Christ and accepting the fuller revelation in the New Testament.

Those who were still hanging on to the Old Covenant were warned that if they continued to neglect true salvation, they were in danger of being lost forever. This passage has special significance to anyone who comes to the edge of salvation. People can go to church for years and hear the gospel over and over again, yet never really make a commitment to obey Jesus Christ.

Review

I. THE WARNING TO NON-CHRISTIANS [5:10--6:8]

A. The Problem (5:10-14)

1. Dullness Prevents Understanding (vv. 10-11)

a) Understanding the priesthood of Melchizedek

The problem the writer of Hebrews dealt with in verses 10-11 was his readers lack of understanding concerning the priesthood of Melchizedek. He says, “Of whom [Melchizedek] we have many things to say, and hard to be uttered, seeing ye are dull of hearing” (v. 11).

b) Understanding the problems with dull hearing

The phrase “dull of hearing” means “slow,” “sluggish,” or “stupid.” The writer was saying that his audience was spiritually immature and therefore, could not comprehend the deeper truths concerning the Melchizedekian Priesthood. They had become neglectful of the truth they had received (2:1), hardened their hearts (3:15), and now had become sluggish in their thinking. They were now in danger of being eternally lost because of their unbelief (6:6).

c) Understanding the cause of dull hearing

2. Dullness Prevents Teaching (v. 12)

a) The time involved

Considering the length of time and the amount of information they had had, these Jewish people could have been teachers of New Covenant truths and yet they themselves needed to be taught. They were still acquainting themselves with the elemental principles of the Old Testament. Like slow seminary students, they needed a good remedial course in Old Testament.

b) The terms involved (see p. xx-xx)

The author says they needed to be taught again “the first principles of the oracles of God” (v. 12). He was referring to the law and promises of the Old Testament. They were such a state of spiritual lethargy, the writer could not only not teach them the New Covenant, but he also had to go back and teach them the Old Covenant again so they could discover the accurate meaning of the New.

c) The task involved

d) The truth involved

3. Dullness Prevents Righteousness (vv. 13-14)

a) Understanding the problem

(1) Their lack of experience in righteousness

(2) Their lack of discernment in spiritual matters

b) Understanding the word “babe”

Lesson

B. The Solution [6:1-8]

1. The need for maturity (v. 1a)

“Therefore, leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection.”

Understanding the word “leaving” and the phrase “go on unto perfection” is the crux in interpreting Hebrews 6:1-8. They are the first step these Jewish people need to make if they are to become spiritually mature. They had to sever once and for all their ties with the Old Covenant–Judaism–and accept Jesus Christ as Savior. They needed to do it immediately, without further hesitation. If the writer was talking only to Christians who needed to mature spiritually, he wouldn’t be able to demand instant spirituality because there is no such thing. He was speaking to Jewish people who needed to gain the maturity that salvation brings with the reception of the New Covenant. He is not talking about the process of sanctification, but the instantaneous miracle of salvation. The maturity talked about here is that of leaving the ABC’s of the Old Covenant to come to the full revelation in the New Testament.

a) Separation

The Greek word for “leaving” is aphiemi which means “to forsake,” “put away,” “disregard,” or “put off.” It refers to a total detachment from a previous location or position. It does not mean to build on or add something. It refers to cutting something off or moving away from something. The preposition at the beginning of the word, aph implies separation. The basic idea means separation from an original condition. The Expositor’s Greek Testament translates Hebrews 6:1, “Let us abandon [give up] the elementary teaching about Christ” (W. Robertson Nicoll, ed. vol. 4 [Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1974 reprint], p. 293). Henry Alford comments, “Therefore … leaving (as behind, and done with; in order to go on to another thing)” (The Greek Testament, vol. 4 [Chicago: Moody, 1958], p. 104).

(1) Matthew 13:36–Matthew said, “Then Jesus sent the multitude away, and went into the house; and his disciples came unto him, saying, Explain unto us the parable of the tares of the field.” The point to see in the passage is that the same preposition is used as Jesus sent them away from one place to another.

(2) Mark 4:36–Mark said, “When they had sent away the multitude, they took him even as he was in the boat.” The same Greek construction is indicated with preposition. He doesn’t say to build up something, but leave here and go somewhere else.

(3) 1 Corinthians 7:11–Paul said, “But and if she depart, let her remain unmarried, or be reconciled to her husband; and let not the husband put away his wife.” The phrase “put away” is the same word in Hebrews 6:1, aphiemi, which in this context refers to divorce. This passage can have no other meaning than separation. It is wrong to leave a marriage, but it is mandatory to leave Judaism for Christ. The unbelieving Jewish person must separate himself from his old traditions before he can be saved.

(4) Matthew 9:2–Jesus said, “Son, be of good cheer; thy sins be forgiven [aphiemi] thee.” He essentially was saying “Thy sins be separated from thee.” Aphiemi is often used in this sense (cf. Rom. 4:7; James 5:15).

(5) Matthew 15:14–Jesus said, “Let them alone; they are blind leaders of the blind.” Aphiemi is used here to speak of separating oneself from false teachers.

(6) Mark 1:20–Mark said, “Straightway he called them; and they left their father, Zebedee in the boat with the hired servants, and went after him.” Aphiemi here refers to James’ and John’s leaving their father to follow Jesus. As far as their life’s work was concerned, they abandoned–completely separated themselves–their father and his fishing business.

The key in understanding the book of Hebrews is not that these Hebrews are simply adding Jesus to their sinful activity. You need to drop your sinful life-style and pursue Christ. Hebrew 6:1 must refer to an unbeliever because at no time does the Word of God ever command Christians to drop the basics of Christianity and go on to something else. In fact, we’re clearly told not to do that (cf. Gal. 1:6-9, 1 Tim. 4:1). It specifically refers to unbelievers who need to drop the Old Covenant and move on to Christ. Our author is commanding the Hebrews to abandon the shadows, types, pictures, and sacrifices of the Old Testament and come to the reality of Jesus Christ in the New Covenant.

Hebrews 6:1 can be translated this way: “Therefore, finally moving on from the basics principles behind the teaching of the Messiah, let’s go on to maturity.” The Greek translation is literally, “Leaving the beginning teaching of Messiah.” They were to leave the pictures and types in the Old Testament that pointed to the coming of Messiah because He had already come!

b) Salvation

The writer of Hebrews urges his readers to “go on to perfection.” The meaning of the word “perfection” is “maturity.” The only way this maturity would come about is through a relationship with Jesus Christ. Hebrews 7:11 says, “If, therefore, perfection were by the Levitical priesthood, what further need was there that another priest should rise after the order of Melchizedek?” The writer is saying that if you could be mature by the Old Covenant, you wouldn’t need Christ. The term “perfection” thus refers to the need to mature from the basics of the Old Covenant to the richness and fullness of the New.

The writer is not asking his Christian readers to grow up. He is asking his Jewish readers to drop the Old Covenant and accept the New. The same idea is seen in Hebrews 7:19: “The law made nothing perfect, but the bringing in of a better hope did.” That better hope is none other than our Lord Jesus Christ Himself, who is perfection incarnate. Hebrews 10:14 says, “By one offering he hath perfected forever them that are sanctified.” The writer is telling his Jewish audience to go on to perfection–to the full maturity of a relationship with the Messiah.

2. The need for a new foundation (vv. 1b-2)

“Not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God, of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgement.”

The foundation concerning the Messiah was originally laid with pictures and types, but now, the writer says, the reality is here. He gives six features of the Old Testament covenantal foundation. Many people have assigned these passages to Christians, saying they should rid themselves of these basics of the Christian life and grow up to more mature doctrines. But it could not mean that because he was specifically speaking to Jewish people who would be the only ones who could best understand these Old Testament concepts.

a) “repentance from dead works”

This phrase simply refers to turning away from evil deeds. The writer says in Hebrews 9:13, “If the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh, how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?”

The Old Testament taught that a man should repent and turn from his evil works, for they bring about death. Ezekiel 18:4 says, “The soul that sinneth, it shall die.” The New Testament contains a similar concept: “The wages of sin is death” (Rom. 6:23). The Old Testament contained only the first half of repentance–toward God. All men knew was to turn away from their evil works, and turn toward God. But in the New Testament, repentance toward God is linked with faith in Jesus Christ. When John the Baptist came preaching, and even in Jesus’ own early ministry, the message was “Repent for the Kingdom is at hand” (Matt. 3:2; 4:17). Only repentance was preached. The doctrine became more mature and complete in Jesus Christ.

(1) Acts 20:21–Paul said, “Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.” You must not only repent, but also place your faith in Jesus Christ. That is why Jesus said in John 14:6, “No man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” Acts 4:12 reiterates the same message: “Neither is there salvation in any other; for there is no other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.”

(2) Acts 26:19-20–Paul said, “O King Agrippa, I was not disobedient unto the heavenly vision, but showed first unto them at Damascus, and at Jerusalem, and throughout all the borders of Judaea, and then to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, and do works fit for repentance.” Later in verse 23, Paul said, “That Christ should suffer… and should rise from the dead, and should show light unto the people, and to the Gentiles.” In the New Covenant, whenever men were commanded to repent and turn toward God, it was with a view toward faith in Jesus Christ. The doctrine of repentance from dead works is made full by the doctrine of repentance toward God through faith in Christ. A person, no matter how sincerely he seeks, who does not repent of his sins and turns to faith in Jesus Christ, will never reach God. Jesus Christ is the only way God has provided to Himself (cf. John 5:23).

b) “faith toward God”

(1) Acts 2:38–Peter said, “Repent, and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins.” Repentance comes by faith in Christ; the two concepts are tied together.

(2) Acts 11:17-18–Peter said, “Forasmuch, then, as God gave them the same gift as he did unto us, who believed on the Lord Jesus Christ, what was I, that I could withstand God? When they heard these things, they held their peace, and glorified God, saying, then hath God also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life.” Repentance only comes through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. The only faith that is acceptable to God is faith in His Son.

The Old Testament taught repentance from dead works and faith toward God. The New Testament teaches repentance toward God and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, who is the only way to God. The Jewish people the writer addresses in this epistle believed in God, but they were not saved. Their repentance from evil deeds and faith toward God–no matter how sincere it might have been– could not bring them to God without Christ.

c) “the doctrine of baptisms”

This translation from the King James Version misleading. In Hebrews 9:10, the same Greek word (baptismos) is translated, “washings,” so it should be translated the same way here. It is not the usual Greek word for baptism, which is baptizo. It may been that the translators of the Authorized Version assumed this passage was addressed to Christians, in which case the word “baptisms” might have been appropriate. The use of baptismosbaptizo is another strong indication that the passage is not addressed to Christians. The word baptismos means “washings” and it refers to the Old Testament washings (cf. Hebrews 9:10). Every Jewish home had a basin by the entrance for family and visitors to use for their many ceremonial cleansings. The writer of Hebrews is encouraging them to drop their doctrines of ceremonial cleansing and come to true cleansing. rather than

(1) Ezekiel 36:25-26–Through the prophet God said, “I [will] sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean; from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you. A new heart also will I give you, and a new Spirit will I put within you.” God Himself predicted that there would come a day when man would be spiritually cleansed. Cleansings would no longer be physical, symbolic, and temporary. Rather the one final cleansing would be spiritual, real, and permanent.

(2) Titus 3:5–Paul told Titus, “Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Spirit.” The Jewish people needed to abandon the external washings and pursue the real washing that comes in our hearts by faith in Christ.

(3) John 3:5–Jesus told Nicodemus, “Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the Kingdom of God.” Jesus was talking about salvation. That is the internal cleansing of which Ezekiel spoke. It would be the only frame of reference Nicodemus could have for understanding Christ’s statement since he was the preeminent teacher in Israel (cf. John 3:1). He couldn’t have understood that phrase to mean Christian baptism at all because there was no such thing as Christian baptism at that time.

d) “laying on of hands”

This laying on of hands has nothing to do with the apostolic practices (e.g. Acts 5:18, 6:6, 8:17; 1 Tim. 4:14). Under the Old Covenant, the person who brought an animal sacrifice had to put his hands on it to signify his identification with that sacrifice (Lev. 1:4; 3:8, 13). The writer of Hebrews is saying to forget about the laying on of hands with animal sacrifices, and instead lay hold of Christ by faith. Our identification with Jesus Christ doesn’t come by putting our hands on his physical body, but by being baptized by the Holy Spirit into the spiritual Body of Christ (1 Cor. 12:13).

e) “resurrection of the dead”

(1) In the Old Testament

The Old Testament doctrine of resurrection is not clear or complete. We simply learn that men will live after death, and there will be reward for the good and punishment for evil.

(a) Job 19:25-27–Job said, “I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth; and though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God, whom I shall see for myself … though my heart be consumed within me.” He knew he would have a restored body.

(b) Daniel 12:2–An angel told Daniel, “Many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life and some to shame and everlasting contempt.”

(2) In the New Testament

However, the full doctrine concerning the subject of resurrection blooms in the New Testament.

(a) John 11:25–Jesus said, “I am the resurrection and the life.” In its fullness, the doctrine of resurrection finds itself in the person of Jesus Christ.

(b) 1 Corinthians 15–An entire chapter is devoted to specific details about the resurrection of our bodies.

(c) 1 John 3:2–”It doth not yet appear what we shall be, but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.”

Why should anyone be content with trying to understand the resurrection from the limited and vague teachings of the Old Testament? The writer of Hebrews is saying that the Jewish people need to come to the full revelation about resurrection truth in the New Testament.

f) “eternal judgement”

(1) In the Old Testament

Ecclesiastes 12:14 says, “God shall bring every work into judgement, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.” We can learn little more than that concerning final judgement in the Old Testament. But in the New Testament, we are told a great deal about eternal judgement.

(2) In the New Testament

(a) Romans 8:1–Paul said, “There is, therefore, now no condemnation to them who are in Christ Jesus.” Believers will not be condemned in the final judgement.

(b) 1 Corinthians 3:12-15–Paul also said, “Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble–Every man’s work shall be made manifest; for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall test every man’s work of what sort it is. If any man’s work abide which he hath built upon it, he shall receive a reward. If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss; but he himself shall be saved, yet as by fire.” We will stand before the Lord and have our work judged–for reward or for the lack of them–but we ourselves will not be judged.

(c) Matthew 25:46–Matthew said, “These [goats] shall go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into life eternal.” We also know what is going to happen to unbelievers in the judgment of sheep and goats.

(d) Revelation 20:11-12–John said, “I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away, and there was found no place for them. And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God, and the books were opened; and another book was opened, which is the book of life. And the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.” This is the judgement of the great white throne.

(e) John 5:22–Jesus said, “The father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgement unto the Son.” We know this and much more about judgement from the New Testament.

The point of Hebrews 6:1-2 is that unbelieving Jewish people should go beyond the elementary principles of the Old Covenant and grasp the mature and perfect reality of the New. The Holy Spirit is calling them to leave the ABC’s of repentance from dead works for the New Testament teaching of repentance toward God and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. They’re to leave the ABC’s of faith toward God for faith in the Person of our Lord Jesus Christ. They’re to leave the ABC’s of ceremonial washings for the cleansing of the soul by the Word. They’re to leave the ABC’s of laying hands on the sacrifice for laying hold of the lamb of God by faith, to leave the ABC’s of the resurrection of the dead for the full and glorious resurrection unto life. And, they’re to leave the ABC’s of eternal judgment for the full truth of judgment and rewards as revealed in the New Covenant.

The Old Testament is incomplete. It is true, it is of God, and it was a necessary part of His revelation and His plan of salvation, but it is partial revelation only and is not sufficient. Judaism is no longer a valid expression of worship or of obedience to God. It must be abandoned.

3. The need for power (v. 3)

“This will we do, if God permit.”

Interpreting this verse is difficult, despite its brevity. It can be seen from two different angles.

a) The writer’s perspective

Some interpreters believe the word “we” refers to the writer of Hebrews himself as if he were saying, “I will go on and teach you what you need to know if God permits me.”

b) The Lord’s perspective

Other interpreters believe the writer is simply identify himself with those to whom he writes, as if to say, “You will go on to maturity if God permits.”

I believe both interpretations could be correct. They are not mutually exclusive and are consistent with the rest of Hebrews. Both service (the writer going on to teach) and salvation (the readers going on to maturity in Christ) must be energized by the Holy Spirit if they are to be effective and fruitful. The need for divine enablement is the point of verse 3.

Paul said in 2 Corinthians 3:5, “Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think anything as of ourselves, but our sufficiency is of God.” Perhaps in a similar vein of humility the writer of Hebrews was acknowledging that he really had no right to teach spiritual maturity to the Hebrews unless God directed him to. James said, “Come now, ye that say, Today or tomorrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain; whereas ye know not what shall be on the next day. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away. For ye ought to say, if the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that” (James 4:13-15). Applying this perhaps to the unbeliever, James was saying that whatever you do is subject to the sovereignty of God. By teacher and seeker alike, God’s sovereignty should be recognized (John 6:44).

4. The need for remembrance (vv. 4-5)

“For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the age to come, if they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance, seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame.”

That is a very serious warning. You had better come to Christ, for if you fall away, after having been exposed to the truth, it will be impossible for you to be saved. Some have used this passage to prove that you can lose your salvation. But it is not even addressed to Christians. Those who believe you can lose your salvation have problems with this passage because if it teaches that, then it also teaches that you can’t get it back again. Another problem with that view is the multiplicity of other passages in the New Testament that teach the security of salvation (e.g. John 10:27-29, Rom. 5:1-11, Rom. 8:35-38, Phil. 1:6, and 1 Pet. 1:3). The writer of Hebrews is speaking to those on the verge of making a commitment to Christ.

The gospel was preached to the Hebrew readers by the apostles. Chapter 2:4 that says they saw the signs, wonders, miracles, and gifts of the Spirit. The Hebrew audience had accepted the gospel intellectually, but were close to walking away and returning to Judaism. They were therefore close to being eternally lost because there is other alternative: You either go on to full knowledge in Christ, or you are lost forever. Hebrews 6:4-5 is a classic definition of apostasy.

Because of the seriousness of this passage, many have tried to change the wording to read, it is difficult to repent. But the word is not difficult; it is “impossible” (Gk. adunaton) The same word occurs in 6:18, 10:4, and 11:6 which all require the translation “impossible.” When you come to the point of being convinced about who Christ is–maybe even being a faithful church member–without making the commitment to Him, you are in danger of falling away. And if that is true of you, it is impossible for you to be saved. That is the teaching of the Word of God.

The Hebrews who were being addressed here had five great advantages. They are summarized in verses 4-5:

a) They had been enlightened

To understand what the passage is saying, you must understand what it is not saying. It makes no reference whatsoever to salvation. There is no mention of justification, sanctification, the new birth, regeneration, or being born again. None of the normal terminology for salvation is used in this passage. And no term used in this passage is used elsewhere in the New Testament to refer to salvation.

The term “once enlightened” means “to have come to an intellectual perception of truth.” It is used in the Septuagint (the Greek translation of the Hebrew Old Testament) to refer to someone who has been given light by knowledge or teaching. It simply means to be mentally aware or to have been instructed in something. It carries no connotation of acceptance or rejection, belief or disbelief.

(1) Matthew 4:16– “The people who sat in darkness saw great light.” Jesus fulfilled the prophecy in Isaiah 42:6-7. It does not mean that all the people of Galilee were saved. They were enlightened by having seen Christ and His miracles, but as we know the gospel records, everyone did not believe as a result. The light of the glorious gospel had broken in on their darkness, and their lives could never be the same again. The same thing had happened to those whom the author of Hebrews addresses.

(2) John 1:9–John said Christ “was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.” Not all who saw and heard that light were saved. Seeing God’s light and accepting it are not the same. Many men have factual information concerning Christ, but not all believe. The lives of all who saw Jesus were permanently affected by the indelible impression He made on them, yet most did not believe in Him (cf. John 12:37-40).

(3) 2 Peter 2:20–Peter said, “For if, after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in it, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning.” It is better for you know nothing, than to know the gospel, ignore it, and then finally walk away after having been enlightened.

The same thing had happened to the Jews being addressed in Hebrews 6:1-8. They were enlightened but not saved. They were in danger of losing all opportunity of being saved. They were in danger of becoming apostates because of their continual unbelief. The light that was given to save them could easily become a judgment against them.

b) They had tasted the heavenly gift

There are several things this particular phrase could refer to. The Holy Spirit is spoken of in Scripture as a heavenly gift, but since He is mentioned in the next verse, that is probably not a reference to Him. Another heavenly gift mentioned in Scripture is salvation (Eph. 2:8). Christ Himself is called the unspeakable gift in 2 Corinthians 9:15. Neither, however was yet received by the Hebrew audience in view in verse 4. It does not say they feasted on the heavenly gift, lived by it, or ate it. They merely tasted it.

(1) John 4:10–Speaking to the woman at the well, “Jesus answered, and said unto her, If thou knewest the gift of God [salvation], and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink, thou wouldest have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water.” He went on to say that all those who drink living water are truly saved. Tasting is not drinking. Tasting is simply receiving a small portion of something to decide whether you want to drink it. If it does not taste good, you do not continue to drink. But drinking in living water–committing yourself after your first taste–that is salvation.

(2) John 6:32, 53–In talking to the Pharisees “Jesus said, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Moses gave you not that bread from heaven; but my Father giveth you the true bread from heaven…. Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you.” Jesus was saying that eternal life comes from eating–not simply tasting–God’s gift of salvation in Christ.

One of the presalvation ministries of the Holy Spirit is to enable the unsaved to have a taste of the blessings of salvation. But tasting is not the same as eating. The Holy Spirit will give us a taste, but He will not make us eat. The Spirit of God placed the blessing of salvation on the lips of the Hebrews, but they had not yet eaten. The tasting had come from what they saw and heard, as many today have seen the transforming power of Christ and heard the gospel.

c) They were partakers of the Holy Spirit

The Greek word for “partakers” is metochous, which refers to an association. It does not mean these Hebrews possessed the Holy Spirit; it simply means they were around when the Holy Spirit was at work. The same word is used to speak of fellow fishermen in Luke 5:7 and of Christ in relation to the angels in Hebrews 1:9. It refers to a common sharing in certain activities or events.

The term can refer to Christians, as in Hebrews 3:1, but it can also refer to non-Christians. It is possible to have an association with the Holy Spirit–to have a share in what He does–and not be saved. The Hebrews heard the Word of God, with God bearing witness with diverse miracles and gifts of the Holy Spirit (Heb. 2:4). They actually took part in what the Holy Spirit was doing. However, the Bible never speaks of Christians being associated with the Holy Spirit. It speaks of the Holy Spirit being within them.

This is seen in the Old Testament economy, for at that time the Holy Spirit worked through a person without permanently indwelling the believer. Like perhaps most of the multitudes that Jesus miraculously healed and fed, the Hebrews partook of the Holy Spirit’s power and blessings, but they did not have His indwelling. They did not possess the Holy Spirit, nor did the Holy Spirit possess them.

You Cannot Buy the Holy Spirit

Many people would like to benefit from the blessings and miracles of the Holy Spirit without making a commitment to Him. A man named Simon Magus in Acts 8:9-25 wanted to buy the Holy Spirit. He wanted the power of the Holy Spirit but was not saved. The text says, “There was a certain man, called Simon, who previously in the same city used sorcery, and bewitched the people of Samaria, giving out that himself was some great one, to whom they all gave heed, from the least to the greatest, saying, this man is the great power of God. And to him they had regard, because that for a long time he had bewitched them with sorceries. But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women. Then Simon himself believed also; and when he was baptized, he continued with Philip, and was amazed, beholding the miracles and signs which were done” (vv. 9-13). Verses 18-20 say, “When Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles’ hands the Holy Spirit was given, he offered them money, saying, Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy Spirit. But Peter said unto him, Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money.”

Revival had happened in Samaria and this sorcerer had “believed”–the kind of belief akin to Jesus’ so-called disciples in John 6:66 which says, “From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him.” John 8:31 says, “Then said Jesus to those Jews who believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed.” Believing is only the beginning. Simon believed in Christ intellectually, but only to buy the Holy Spirit’s power for his own ends. He was even baptized by the disciples as a believer, but was not saved. Peter didn’t rebuke him as a fellow Christian for he said, “Repent, therefore, of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee; for I perceive that thou art in the gall of bitterness, and in the bond of iniquity.” Simon was partaking in what the Holy Spirit was doing but he was not for real. You cannot buy the Holy Spirit’s power; you must commit your life in obedience to God and allow the Holy Spirit to work through you.

d) They had tasted the good word of God

The Hebrews even had the opportunity to taste the words (Gk. rhema) of God. logos, not rhema is most often used to refer to God’s Word, but rhema best fits the context of the passage. The Hebrews had actually heard and been taught the very speeches (rhema) concerning God and Christ. They were regular attenders in the assembly of the church. As with His heavenly gifts, they had heard God’s utterances and sampled them, tasted them, without actually eating–obeying it truths. They could not say with the prophet Jeremiah, “Thy words were found, and I did eat them, and thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of my heart” (Jer. 15:16). They never let the words of God become an actual part of their lives.

Herod Antipas was much like these Hebrews. He enjoyed hearing John the Baptist preach, which included accusations directly against him (Mark 6:20). Herod was perplexed but fascinated by that dynamic preacher. He liked to sample the message of God. But when it came time for a decision, he forsook God’s man and God’s message. Although reluctantly, he agreed to have John beheaded. His taste of God’s Word only brought him greater guilt.

The Hebrews had tasted the good Word of God. Every man must taste the Word of God before he accepts it. King David himself said, “O taste and see that the Lord is good (Ps. 34:8, NASB). The problem is stopping with the tasting. At first to the Hebrews, the first preaching of the gospel was sweet, and tasted so good. But as it lingered in their mouth, they grew dull and became sluggish and indifferent. They did not chew or swallow it, much less digest it. Their spiritual taste buds became insensitive and unresponsive.

e) They had tasted the powers of the age to come

The age to come is the future kingdom of God. The Hebrews had been exposed to the same miraculous power that will come when Jesus brings in His earthly kingdom. They had tasted it, witnessing sign, wonders, and miracles. The more they saw, the more their guilt increased. They were like those who saw Jesus Himself perform miracles. It is hard to understand the hatred and unbelief of those who saw Lazarus risen from the dead (John 11:1-44), and the blind, deaf, and dumb healed (Matt. 4:23). They will all stand guilty before God at the great white throne judgment because they saw but did not believe.

The author of Hebrews is saying “You have had the whole Old Testament revelation with all its basic elements. And in this age, you’ve been enlightened, tasted of the gift of salvation, partook of what the Spirit was doing in your midst, tasted the good speeches and utterances concerning God and saw miracle upon miracle. But you’re in danger if you don’t repent.”

5. The need for a response (v. 6)

“If they shall fall away, [it is impossible] to renew them again unto repentance.”

a) The apostasy

The Greek word for “fall away” is parapesontas and is only used here in the New Testament. Summarized, the warning is: “You had better come to Christ now, for if you fall, away it will be impossible for you to come again to the point of repentance.” The Hebrews were at the best possible point of repentance–full knowledge. To fall back from that would be fatal. That class of people is defined in Hebrews 3:12 as those who “[depart] from the living God” (cf. 2 Pet. 2:20- 22).

b) The attitude

Many who say this warning passage is dealing with Christians base their assumptions on the word “renew” in verse 6. The word means “to restore” or “to bring back to an original condition.” What was the Hebrews’ original condition? They had heard the gospel and were excited about it. They had moved away from Judaism right to the edge of Christianity. They had even moved toward repentance, but had turned back to their old ways. There was nothing else God could do. If they fell away now, they did so with an evil heart of unbelief in spite of full revelation. They would be departing from the living God and there was no hope they would ever be restored to the place where repentance would be a natural response.

c) The action

What kept the Hebrews from being repentant? They had crucified “to themselves the Son of God afresh and put Him to an open shame” (v. 6). They couldn’t repent because as far as they were concerned, the Son of God deserved to be crucified. Regardless of what they might have professed openly and publicly, they took their stand with the crucifiers. The word translated “afresh” simply means “to lift up in crucifixion.” The Hebrews were lifting up Jesus Christ for crucifixion.

With all the evidence possible, they decided that Christ was not the true Messiah. They had turned and gone back to Judaism. To them Jesus was an impostor and deceiver who got exactly what was coming to Him. By putting Him “to an open shame,” they were declaring openly that Jesus was guilty as charged.

Salvation to an apostate becomes impossible, for when he rejects full revelation, he is incurably anti-God and deserves the hottest of hell. He takes his place with Judas, who walked and talked with God incarnate, yet finally rejected Him. Hebrews 10:29 says, “How much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, with which he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace?”

It is dangerously self-deceptive for a person to think he is safe by staying on the sidelines or by thinking himself tolerant of the gospel simply because he does not outwardly oppose it. If you don’t come to Jesus Christ, you eventually will go away from Him. It may not be, and often is not, a conscious decision against Christ. But it is a decision and it is against Christ. And when you finally reject Christ, you again place Him on the cross and put the Lord forever out of your reach.

6. The need for an illustration [vv. 7-8]

The writer closes the passage with an illustration describing those who ultimately the Messiah: “The earth, which drinketh in the rain that cometh often upon it, and bringeth forth herbs fit for them by whom it is tilled, receiveth blessing from God; but that which beareth thorns and briers is rejected, and is near unto cursing, whose end is to be burned” (vv. 7-8). This illustration shows that verses 1-6 are directed toward unbelievers. The writer is saying that all who hear the gospel are like the earth. The gospel seed is planted and some of the growth is beautiful, good, and productive. That represents the goodness and blessings of God. At other times though, with the same message, some growth is false, spurious, and unproductive (v. 8). It has come from the same ground and the same water, but has become worthless. Thorns and briers are the result. It has rejected the life offered it and becomes good only for burning. The picture shows that as God’s gracious gospel falls on men, it brings forth fruit with some, but with others, it brings forth thorns. I pray to God that when the rain of the gospel of Jesus Christ falls on you, it brings forth fruit so that you may truly be saved.

Focusing on the Facts

1. What were the Jewish people warned about repeatedly in the book of Hebrews (see p. 1)?

2.The term _________ in Hebrews 5:13 describes _____ ___________ (see p. 1).

3.True or false: People can go to church for years and hear the gospel over and over again, even being faithful church members, and never really make a commitment to Jesus Christ (see p. 1).

4.What is the progression for those who ultimately reject salvation (see p. 2)?

5.Understanding the word __________ and the phrase _________ _____ _______ is the crux in interpreting Hebrews 6:1-8 (see pp. 3-4)?

6.What is the key issue in Hebrews 6:1 (see p. 5)?

7.What is the writer of Hebrews commanding the Jewish people to do (see p. 5)?

8.What did the writer mean when he asked his readers to “go on to perfection” (see p. 5)?

9.What does the “repentance from dead works” refer to? How does it from the concept of repentance in the New Testament? Support your answer with Scripture (see pp. 6-7).

10.What is the second Old Testament doctrine that the writer speaks of and how does it differ from the New Testament doctrine (see p. 7)?

11.Explain the difference between baptisms and washings (see pp. 7-8).

12.How is the term “laying on of hands” in Hebrews 6:2 different from the apostolic practice (see p. 8)?

13.How does the Old Testament describe the resurrection of the dead? Explain how the New Testament helps to clarify the doctrine of resurrection (see pp. 8-9).

14.What does the Old Testament tell us about eternal judgement? What light does the New Testament shed on the subject (see pp. 9-10)?

15.The point of Hebrews 6:1-2 is that ______________ Jewish people should completely let go of the elementary symbols of the Old Covenant and take hold of the __________ and perfect reality of the _______ (see p. 9).

16.True or False: The Old Testament is complete. The New Testament is simply an added feature of the Old Testament saying basically the same thing (see p. 10).

17.From what two perspectives can verse 3 be taken? Explain them (see pp. 10-11).

18.Can a person, lose his salvation? Support your answer with Scripture (see p. 11).

19.Hebrews 6:4-5 is a classic definition of _______________ (see p. 11).

20.Explain what it means to be enlightened about the gospel, giving examples from Scripture (see pp. 12-13).

21.What does it mean to have “tasted of the heavenly gift?” Explain your answer with biblical examples (see p. 13).

22.Must someone who is a “partaker of the Holy Spirit” be a Christian? Explain (see pp. 13-14).

23.What do the phrases, “tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come” refer to (see pp. 15-16)?

24.What does the word “renew” signify in verse 6 (see pp. 16-17)?

25.By neglecting to respond to Christ, what were the Hebrews in actuality doing (Heb. 6:6; see p. 17)?

26. What is the point of the illustration in verses 7-8 (see pp. 17-18)?

Pondering the Principles

1.Maturity is something everyone should desire. It is not option for the Christian. There is no such thing as remaining static in the Christian life. You are either progressing or regressing. Are you maturing in your Christian life? Are you in a state of progression or regression? The apostle Paul called us to examine ourselves in 2 Corinthians 13:5. Study the following lists to see if they describe the pattern of your life: 1 Cor. 6:9-10, Gal. 5:19-21, and Rev. 21:8. If they do, confess your sin to God and ask for His forgiveness.

2.Many people do not understand what repentance means. After having read the lesson, describe in your own words what repentance means. Explain how the Old Testament concept differs from that in the New. After you have come up with a good working definition, look up 2 Corinthians 7:9-10 and describe the difference between sorrow or guilt and true repentance. Then ask yourself this: Am I truly repentant over my sinfulness or am I just sorrowful? If you said you were sorrowful, repent right now to God over your sinfulness. Ask Him to give you a new heart and make you the kind of person He wants you to be.

3.One of the most sorrowful passages in the Bible is Hebrews 6:4-6. It describes those who had been given full revelation from God, yet still continued to reject Him. Do you know someone who knows the reality of the gospel of Christ, yet continues to reject it by failing to make a definite commitment to Christ? Share Hebrews 6:4-6 with him explaining the seriousness of what he is doing. Share with him that unless he acts soon, it may be impossible for him to come to Christ and he will therefore be forever damned.

Added to the John MacArthur “Study Guide” Collection by:

The Tragedy of Rejecting Salvation

The Tragedy of Rejecting Full Revelation–Part 1
by
John MacArthur
All Rights Reserved
http://www.biblebb.com/files/MAC/sg1612.htm
(A copy of this message on cassette tape may be obtained by calling 1-800-55-GRACE)
Hebrews 5:10-14 Tape GC 1612

Introduction

A. The Content

Hebrews 5:10–6:1-12 is a difficult passage of Scripture to interpret. Through the years there have been many conflicting views, even among those who would call themselves evangelical.
This portion of Scripture deals with spiritual maturity. The first section [5:10–6:8] is addressed to unbelievers, and the second (6:9-12) to believers. The theme of the epistle to the Hebrews is the immeasurable superiority of Christianity over Judaism.

B. The Crowd

The epistle to the Hebrews was needed because a small community of Jewish people had been led to Christ by some of the apostles and prophets of the first century church. In addition were some that were convinced about Christ, but had neglected to make a commitment to Him for fear of reprisal from their Jewish friends.

1. The possessors of salvation

The writer of Hebrews affirms that the believers had done the right thing in responding to Christ. He encourages them not to go back to Jewish legalism with all its trappings.

2. The professors of salvation

Some people in the community were intellectually convinced and had believed the facts concerning Christ, but had never made a commitment to Him. They were not unlike those in Matthew 7:21- 23 of whom Jesus said, “Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven, but he that doeth the will of my Father, who is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? And in thy name have cast out demons? And in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you; depart from me, ye that work iniquity.” Someday they will stand at the Judgement Seat, having known all the information about Christ yet failing to commit their lives to Him. To this group the writer of Hebrews says, “Come all the way to salvation. Don’t just stand there and neglect the most important thing of all: receiving Jesus Christ. Don’t come to the edge of Christianity only to rush out again because of your lack of commitment.”

3. The predecessors to salvation

The writer also addresses in Jewish people who were being exposed to the New Covenant for the first time. They had not yet heard the reality of the gospel of Christ.

C. The Contrast

Throughout the book of Hebrews, the many comparisons and contrasts are basically between Christianity and Judaism. That is the key element in having a proper interpretation of this epistle.

1. The significance of the New Covenant

The Holy Spirit is not contrasting two kinds of Christians–the immature versus the mature–rather the contrast is between the substance–Christ–and the shadow–the Old Covenant: the pattern as opposed to the reality, the visible as opposed to the invisible, and the type as opposed to the antitype. The Old Testament is a picture of what is fulfilled in Christ in the New Testament. The central theme of the book of Hebrews is the superiority of the New Covenant to the Old, that is, of Christianity to Judaism.

2. The superiority of the Lord Jesus Christ

One fact of the New Covenant is that it has a better mediator– the Lord Jesus Christ. The Old Covenant was mediated by angels in some cases, and also by certain men of God, such as Moses and Aaron. The New Covenant, however, comes through Jesus Christ and is better than angels and prophets, including Moses, Joshua, Aaron, Melchizedek–anything and everyone. The writer of Hebrews is encouraging fellow Jews to go from Judaism to the New Covenant, which is Christianity. Judaism is the picture that points to the Messiah, Christ Himself. Since Jesus is the perfect fulfillment of all the pictures and types in the Old Covenant, the Jewish people should not cling to the shadow, but to the reality behind it. The book of Hebrews, therefore, compares and contrasts the two parts of God’s revelation that the division in our Bibles reflects.

D. The Counsel

Hebrews 5:10–6:12 is the third parenthetical warning given to Jews who were intellectually convinced only. Interspersed throughout the book of Hebrews are several warnings to those who were on the edge of decision, but had not yet come to faith in Christ. These warnings can also be seen as encouragement and counsel to Jewish people who had trusted Christ, but were tempted to turn back into Judaism because of doubts, criticism, and persecution. But the main thrust is to unbelievers.

1. The first warning

The first warning is about neglecting the gospel of Christ. The writer says in chapter 2, “We ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip. For if the word spoken by angels was steadfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompense of reward, How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation, which at first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him, God also bearing them witness, both with signs and wonders, and with diverse miracles and gifts of the Holy Spirit, according to his own will” (vv. 1-4)?

2. The second warning

The second warning is about hardening one’s heart to the gospel. Hebrews 3:7-12 says, “As the Holy Spirit saith, Today if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts, as in the provocation, in the day of trial in the wilderness, when your fathers put me to the test, proved me, and saw my works forty years. Wherefore, I was grieved with that generation, and said, They do always err in their heart, and they have not known my ways. So I swore in my wrath, They shall not enter into my rest. Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God.”

3. The third warning

The third great warning is in Hebrews 5:10–6:12. It concerns the issue of spiritual maturity, focusing on the danger of staying with the elemental truths and promises of the Old Covenant, even though it had been superseded by the New. It is a warning to those who have made a shallow profession of faith, but are not true believers.

E. The Changeover

The third warning follows the same pattern as the first two. The only difference is that the writer is exhorting his readers to grow up to the mature truths of the New Covenant. It was time for them to no longer involve themselves with the shadow of the Old Covenant, for they were in danger of eternal judgement. The warning is not for one who is a baby Christian as opposed to a more mature Christian, but for one who is still locked in Judaism as opposed to one who has come to full faith in Christ. Each warning passage in Hebrews is directed to those who are on the edge of a decision for Christ, but could also be applied to a Christian who needs encouragement to continue in his knowledge of the blessings of the New Covenant.

1. The appeal

There are, of course, many exhortations in the New Testament for immature Christians to grow up. Throughout the history of the church, there has been need for such counsel, but that is not what the writer of Hebrews is primarily trying to convey. The appeal is primarily evangelistic. It is not a call for a Christian to grow in the faith, but for an unbeliever to come into the faith–into the mature truths and blessings of the New Covenant. This is the same maturity or perfection described in Hebrews 10:1, 14, which uses the Greek word teleioo in the context of salvation, not Christian growth.

2. The approach

Judaism is the ABC’s of Christianity. The Old Covenant is the spiritual alphabet on which the New Covenant is built. You do not use an encyclopedia to start teaching children to read. You use pictures and visual objects to explain what needs to be learned. Later you will begin to teach them truths from the foundational pictures you’ve built on. The Old Testament is God’s elementary, foundational teaching. He has since moved on to the reality, which is Christ Himself (Col. 2:16-17 NASB). All the feasts, sacrifices, and ceremonies pictured in the Old Testament pointed to the reality of Christ. The issue the writer of Hebrews was dealing with was that many of his readers had professed a belief in Christ, but were still clinging to the elemental patterns of Judaism. They were in great danger of reaching a point beyond salvation. The writer is pleading for them to leave the pictures, the milk, and the baby food of the Old Testament, and come to the fulfilled realities and solid food of the New Testament. He wanted them to leave Judaism and come to Christ.
Lesson

I. THE WARNING TO NON-CHRISTIANS [5:10–6:8]

“[Christ is] called of God an high priest after the order of Melchizedek. Of whom we have many things to say, and hard to be uttered, seeing ye are dull of hearing. For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again the first principles of the oracles of God, and are become such as have need of milk, and not of solid food. For everyone that useth milk is unskillful in the word of righteousness; for he is a babe. But solid food belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil. Therefore, leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection, not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God, of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgement. And this we will do, if God permit. For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Spirit, And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the age to come, if they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance, seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame. For the earth, which drinketh in the rain that cometh often upon it, and bringeth forth herbs fit for them by whom it is tilled, receiveth blessing from God; but that which beareth thorns and briers is rejected, and is near unto cursing, whose end is to be burned.”

A. The Problem (vv. 10-14)

1. Dullness Prevents Understanding (vv. 10-11)

Before the readers of Hebrews could fully understand the significance of Jesus’ priesthood being like Melchizedek’s, they needed to get beyond their limited, immature understanding of God. The Holy Spirit’s desire in the heart of this epistle is to emphasize the priesthood of Jesus Christ. His reasoning is clear: Because of the centrality of the priesthood in the Judaistic system, it is important for the Jewish people to know that the great high priest in the New Covenant is Christ Himself (Heb. 4:14). To prove that Christianity is greater than Judaism, the writer shows that Jesus is a greater priest than Aaron, who was the greatest high priest in the Levitical system. Not only is Jesus greater than Aaron, but He is also of an entirely different order: the order of Melchizedek.

a) Understanding the priesthood of Melchizedek

Verse 10 says that Christ is “called of God an high priest after the order of Melchizedek.” Melchizedek first appears in Genesis 14. The only other information about him appears in Psalm 110 and Hebrews 5–7. The writer of Hebrews endeavors to explain the relationship between Jesus and Melchizedek, but is unable to because of his readers were “dull of hearing” (v. 11). Their dullness of hearing was spiritual lethargy. The relation of Melchizedek and the priesthood to Christ is rich and meaningful, and important to the flow of the book, but it cannot be understood by unbelievers, even ones who intelligently accept the gospel (1 Cor. 2:14-15).

b) Understanding the problems with dull hearing

The Greek word for “dull” is nothros, which is made up of the Greek words for no and push. When used of a person it generally refers to someone who is intellectually numb or thick. In this context it refers to spiritual dullness in terms of apprehending the truth.
When a person is spiritually dull, he is difficult to teach. You must be keen, alert, and awake in order to apprehend rich, deep truth. Because of their lack of commitment, those who were intellectually convinced only had been lulled to sleep by neglect, and that had hardened their hearts. The more someone hears the gospel without making a commitment to Christ, the more hardened and sluggish he will become toward it.
Although this passage is not addressed to believers, the same principle applies: When we do not trust or act on any part of God’s truth that we know, we become hardened to it and less likely to benefit from it. That can happen to a preacher or a teacher who does not bother to teach the deeper, and sometimes harder, truths of Scripture–or is afraid to do so. Paul was able to say that he did not fail to declare the whole counsel, or will, of God (Acts 20:27). No faithful servant of God will accommodate his teaching for the dull, lazy Christian.

c) Understanding the cause of dull hearing

The implication of verse 11 is that those who were dull of hearing were not always like that. They had been alert, interested, and perhaps even eager to learn more of the gospel. They did not start that way; Their dullness was a gradual process. They were no doubt part of the group mentioned in 6:4 as having “once been enlightened” and had “tasted of the heavenly gift.” They had come to the edge of salvation, but they began to neglect the gospel (2:1-4), hardening their hearts (3:15-19) and, tragically, in danger of falling away (6:6-11). The Holy Spirit had been leading them step-by-step to faith in Jesus Christ, but they began to neglect His work in their lives (6:4). With their Judaistic friends pulling on them, they arrived at a settled state of spiritual stupidity.

2. Dullness Prevents Teaching (v. 12)

The writer says in verses 12, “For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again the first principles of the oracles of God, and are become such as have need of milk, and not of solid food.”

a) The time involved

The phrase “for the time” gives us the backdrop for understanding these verses. Because of the length of time they had received instruction on New Testament truth, these Jewish readers should have known enough to be teaching it themselves. Not only were they not teaching it, but they also had never truly accepted it, or committed themselves to its transforming power. They had the truth in a factual and superficial way, but the truth did not have them.
There are many professing Christians–even well-known theologians–who know Scripture and the biblical languages very well, but they do not accept or apply what it means. Because of the time they have spent studying the Word of God, they ought to be excellent teachers, but instead, they do not even comprehend the fundamentals. They may attempt to teach the Word of Christ, but they do not even know the Christ behind the word.
The apostles had labored long and hard among those who were intellectually convinced but not saved. The truth was in their grasps as Hebrews 6:4 suggests: “Those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the age to come.” They had received full revelation from God, yet ultimately chose against Him.

A Spiritually Sluggish Young Girl

Some time ago I spoke at a Christian youth conference on the subject of choosing the right mate. After one of the sessions a young girl came to me and asked if we could talk about her relationship with her boyfriend. As we sat on the chapel steps, she began telling me that her boyfriend tried to convince her that whatever someone does–be it premarital sex or anything else–is all right as long as no one gets hurt. After some questioning, I found out that her boyfriend was 21, yet she was only 14. When I reminded her of what God says about sex outside of marriage, she hung her head and said, “I know that. I need to be saved.” She also revealed that she had not only been raised in the church, but also that her dad was a pastor. I replied, “Then you know how to be saved.” “No,” she responded, “I’ve heard my father preach on it, but I don’t understand it.” She was a picture of spiritual sluggishness, for she had heard the gospel all her life, but she had rejected Jesus Christ for so long that her senses were dulled by sin. The gospel became so unclear to her that she could no longer understand it. She thought her father’s sermons were boring and made no sense. It was not that there was something wrong with the message; it was that she was indifferent to the Word of God. I carefully delineated the gospel to her, and then we prayed together and she confessed Christ as her Lord and Savior.

b) The terms involved

(1) “the first principles”

Because they had become spiritually listless, those who were informed but unbelieving needed to be taught again the basics of Scripture (v. 12). The Greek word for “principles” is stoicheia, which means “elementary principles” or “that which comes first.” It is used to speak of the elementary letters of an alphabet, the basic elements of the earth, the basics of geometric proof, or the elementary principles in philosophy. Since verse 12 says “first principles,” it is referring to the first in a series or the very beginning of something.

(2) “the oracles of God”

The writer of Hebrews is exhorting these unbelieving Jewish people of their need to be taught the basics. The phrase “oracles of God” in verse 12 does not refer to the gospel. Because this was a Jewish audience, the oracles of God to them would be God’s laws as revealed by Him in the Old Testament. And having been entrusted with the oracles of God was very meaningful and a great advantage to the Jewish people.

(a) Romans 3:1-2–Paul said, “What advantage, then, hath the Jew? … Much every way, chiefly because unto them were committed the oracles of God.” This is a direct reference to the Jewish heritage of receiving the Old Testament law.

(b) Acts 7:38–Stephen said of Moses, “This is he that was … in the wilderness with the angel who spoke to him [Moses] in Mount Sinai, and with our fathers, who received the living oracles to give unto us.”

(c) 2 Samuel 16:23–Scripture says this about David’s former adviser: “The counsel of Ahithophel, which he counseled in those days, was as if a man had inquired at the oracle of God.”
It was the basic principles of Old Testament Law that the Jewish readers needed to remember. They were getting considerable exposure to the New Covenant, but had apparently forgotten the Old. They needed a teacher to instruct them again into the meaning of their own law. They needed to move from the picture and bring Christ into focus. The elementary principles or picture-truths were the ordinances, ceremonies, sacrifices, holy days, and washings–all foreshadowing the person of Christ. The Hebrews could not recognize Him unless they understood the pictures.

c) The tasks involved

(1) Getting the big picture

The New Testament goes beyond the ABC’s of the Old Testament. The writer is calling for his Jewish audience to gain a more mature knowledge based on God’s revealed Word. This is Paul’s argument in Galatians 3:23-25: “Before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed. Wherefore, the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. But after faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster.” “Schoolmaster” refers to the law’s function as a tutor to lead us to Christ. Under the New Covenant, we’re not under the schoolmaster [law] any more. Since Christ has arrived, the shadow is replaced with the substance, the picturebook is replaced with great writings we can read.

(2) Showing faith

All that the Hebrews knew of the truths of God should have lead to a response of faith, but instead they were holding to old Judaistic patterns and would not let go. They had been taught to the point of being able to be teachers themselves, but because of their rejection and continual hardheartedness, they had become spiritually sluggish and needed to be reminded the basic elements of their own Scriptures. They had to relearn the alphabet! How could the writer of Hebrews speak of Christ, the high priest after the order of Melchizedek, when they couldn’t begin to understand it (vv. 10-11)?

(3) Understanding the basics

Paul said in Romans 2:17-21: “If thou art called a Jew, and resteth in the law, and makest thy boast of God, and knowest his will, and approvest the things that are more excellent, being instructed out of the law, and art confident that thou thyself art a guide of the blind, a light of them who are in darkness, an instructor of the foolish, a teacher of babes, who hast the form of knowledge and of the truth in the law–thou, therefore, who teachest another, teachest thou not thyself?” The Jewish people had prided themselves in that they were great teachers, but in Hebrews 5:12 the Holy Spirit says they themselves needed to go back to kindergarten.

d) The truth involved

The writer of Hebrews ends verse 12 by saying they had “become such as have need of milk, and not of solid food.” It is characteristic of a baby that he can handle only milk. He does not come to need milk; he is born with that need. The only person who comes to need milk–to need baby food– is one who has reverted back to childhood. Instead of becoming more mature, these people were slipping back into spiritual infancy. If you aren’t progressing, then you are regressing. It is so easy for people to hear the gospel time and time again until it becomes commonplace and they gradually turn their backs on Christ.

3. Dullness Prevents Righteousness (vv. 13-14)

a) Understanding the problem

(1) Their lack of experience in righteousness

The writer of Hebrews says in verse 13, “Everyone that useth milk is unskillful in the word of righteousness; for he is a babe.” The word for “unskillful” is the Greek word apeiros, which means “without experience.” The a at the beginning of the word is called an alpha privitive and is used to negate the meaning of the word following it. These Jewish readers were without experience in righteousness, and were therefore unprepared to receive true knowledge of God. Those who fail to go beyond the elemental things (milk) have not really experienced true righteousness.
A spiritual babe is not accustomed to deeper truths. He cannot digest them any more than an infant can digest a steak. One who constantly lives on nothing else but the Old Testament is going to find himself lacking in righteousness. A spiritual child could get some meaning out of the pictures and types of the Old Testament but not the full picture unless he also studied the word of righteousness, which is in the New Testament. Verse 13 cannot refer to a Christian because a Christian has been made righteous in Christ (2 Cor. 5:21). The term “babe” never refers to a new Christian in the New Testament, only to those who are immature.

(2) Their lack of discernment in spiritual matters

The writer of Hebrews goes on to say, “Solid food belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil” (v. 14). The contrast here is simple: A baby will stick almost anything into its mouth, for it is unable to discern what is good or bad. Likewise, one who continues to feed only on God’s elementary revelations is not going to grow or have adequate discernment. The mature adult, on the other hand, has developed considerable discernment about what is right and wrong, true and false, helpful and harmful, righteous and unrighteous.
The unsaved Hebrews were sluggish and dull of hearing, unable to discern that true righteousness comes only through Jesus Christ. Jesus told the Jewish leaders of His day to “search the Scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life; and they are they which testify of me” (John 5:39). The readers of the book of Hebrews needed to go past the elementary principles of the Old Covenant and develop an understanding of Christ and the New Covenant. Maturity comes through exercise, alertness, and awareness.

b) Understanding the word “babe”

The writer uses the word “babe” in verse 13 to refer only to one who is without spiritual knowledge. The term does not necessarily imply salvation. Many have used the term “babe in Christ” to refer to someone who is a new Christian. It may be true that some are new in Christ–hence a babe–but the Scriptures never use the term in that context. Instead it refers to immature believers.

(1) Romans 2:19-21–Paul chastised the Jewish teachers of his day, saying “Art [thou] confident that thou thyself art … an instructor of the foolish, a teacher of babes, who hast the form of knowledge and of the truth in the law–thou, therefore, who teachest another, teachest thou not thyself?” In Jewish culture, a babe was anyone who was uninstructed. This passage is simply describing an individual who was ignorant in his knowledge of God. The term “babe” could be used as an analogy for someone who is a new Christian, but the writers of Scripture didn’t choose to use it as such. It is used to talk about immature Christians, not new ones.

(2) 1 Corinthians 3:1-2–Paul said to the Corinthians, “I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ. I have fed you with milk, and not with solid food; for to this time ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able.” For one and half years, the apostle Paul had taught the Corinthians. Now he was writing them as much as five years later, so they were believers for approximately six years at the time. Paul’s assessment of these believers was not that they were new Christians, but carnal ones. The Corinthian problem was not their infancy but disobedience, including divisions, envying, and strife. He could not feed them with solid food but with milk. The difference between the Corinthians and those to whom the writer of Hebrews spoke was the term “babes in Christ” (emphasis added).

(3) 1 Peter 2:2–Peter did speak to believers when he said, “As newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that ye may grow by it.” This is not a contradiction to Paul’s statement in 1 Corinthians 3:1. He is simply using the same metaphor in a different way. This reference is simply describing what every dependent child needs: nourishment. While Paul says to move on from the milk, Peter says to desire the pure milk of the word. Paul uses the metaphor of a baby and milk in one way and Peter uses it in another. Peter uses the Greek word brephos, which refers to a newborn, while Paul uses the Greek word nepios, which refers to someone who is childish, unskilled, or simple.
The writer of Hebrews uses nepios in verse 13 to refer to someone who is spiritually ignorant of the New Covenant. He was encouraging his Jewish audience to leave Judaism and arrive at the truth of Christianity.

(4) Ephesians 4:13-14–Paul said, “Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; that we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine.” Here, Paul uses the Greek word teknon which refers to an infant or a small child. It does refer to Christians in this passage but uses a completely different word than Hebrews 5:13.

(5) Galatians 4:3–Paul also said, “We, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world.” This clearly refers to our former unregenerate state. Before you were saved, you were a babe and were under the slavery of the world’s evil system.
The New Testament uses three different words to communicate the term “babe.” You cannot say that since it is used sometimes to refer to Christians, that it refers to Christians at all points (cf. Gal. 4:3). Hebrews 5:13 refers to unsaved Jewish people who were enlightened about Christ, but had not yet received Him. The writer goes on to warn them in 6:4-6 that they were in danger of being eternally lost.

Conclusion

Because the writer of Hebrews goes on to explain the significance of Melchizedek in chapter 7, he obviously expects his readers to mature spiritually before they read this part of his message. Dr. Charles Feinberg, one of my old seminary professors, used to say that Judaism is the infancy the Jewish person must leave to go on to the maturity of faith in the New Covenant Messiah. Don’t come to the edge of salvation and harden your heart toward Jesus Christ. Come to Christ while there is still time and the excitement is still there. And the message for the Christian is this: If it’s intolerable for someone who is convinced of the truth to be ignorant, how much more intolerable is it for someone who not only knows the truth but also trusts in the Son of God to be spiritually immature!

Focusing on the Facts

1. Who is being addressed in Hebrews 5:10–6:12 (see p. 1)?
2.What is the theme of the epistle to the Hebrews (see p. 1)?
3.List three types of people the writer of Hebrews is concerned with (see pp. 1-2).
4.Throughout the book of Hebrews, the many comparisons and contrasts are basically between _____________ and ____________ (see p. 2).
5.True or False: The Holy Spirit is contrasting two kinds of Christians in the book of Hebrews: mature Christians verses immature ones who are struggling with their faith.
6.Who is the mediator of the New Covenant? Who was the Old Covenant mediated by (see p. 2)?
7.Describe the warnings given in the book of Hebrews. Is there any difference between the warnings? Explain your answer (see p. 3).
8.What is meant by the term Old Covenant (see p. 4)?
9.The Holy Spirit’s desire in the heart of this epistle is to emphasize the __________________ of Jesus Christ (see p. 5).
10.True or false: The more someone hears the gospel without making a commitment to Christ, the more hardened he will become toward it (see p. 6).
11.Although Hebrews 5:10–6:8 is not addressed to believers, does it have any application for believers? Explain (see. p. 6).
12.What should have been the response of the Jewish people who had been under the instruction of New Testament truth (Hebrews 5:12; see p. 7).
13.Explain what is meant by the term “the oracles of God” (see p. 8).
14.Is verse 13 referring to a Christian? Explain your answer (see p. 10).
15.True or false: You can be a Christian without being made righteous positionally, in Christ (see p. 10).
16.How does the writer of Hebrews use the word “babe” in verse 13 (see p. 11)?
17.How does Scripture use the word “babe”? Explain your answer from the passages given (see pp. 11-12).
18.What does the author of Hebrews warn his Jewish readers about in 6:4-6 (see p. 12)?
19. What is the message for Christians in Hebrews 5:10-14 (see p. 12)?

Pondering the Principles

1. Hebrews 5:10–6:12 is a warning to those who had made a shallow profession of faith in Christ but were unwilling to submit their lives to Him. Believing in Christ involves more than just an acknowledgement of various facts about him; it is committing your life in obedience to Him because of who He is and what He did. John 8:31-32 says, “Then said Jesus to those Jews who believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; and ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” Look up the following verses, which define how a person is saved, and ask God to let you know for sure whether you are really saved: Ephesians 2:8-10 Titus 3:5, and 2 Thessalonians 1:7-9.

2. First John 3:10 says, “By this the children of God and the children of the devil are obvious: anyone who does not practice righteousness is not of God” (NASB). As a Christian, your life ought to be marked by righteous behavior. Does righteousness characterize your life? Do you desire to live in daily obedience to God? If not, you are, as were the first readers of Hebrews, in danger of self-deception. Verbally inviting Christ into your life does not make you a Christian; Committing your entire life in obedience to Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior does. Read Titus 1:16 and Hebrews 12:14 and ask Jesus Christ to give you a new heart and make you the kind of person He wants you to be.

Added to the John MacArthur “Study Guide” Collection by:
Tony Capoccia
Bible Bulletin Board
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Email: tony@biblebb.com
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