[Linux4christians] B7 - Friday - Hebrews 6

[dcolburn at bibleseven.com]

    Friday


      Hebrews 6


6:1 Therefore we must progress beyond the elementary instructions about 
Christ and move on to maturity, not laying this foundation again: 
repentance from dead works and faith in God,

6:2 teaching about baptisms, laying on of hands, resurrection of the 
dead, and eternal judgment.

6:3 And this is what we intend to do, if God permits.

6:4 For it is impossible in the case of those who have once been 
enlightened, tasted the heavenly gift, become partakers of the Holy Spirit,

6:5 tasted the good word of God and the miracles of the coming age,

6:6 and then have committed apostasy, to renew them again to repentance, 
since they are crucifying the Son of God for themselves all over again 
and holding him up to contempt.

6:7 For the ground that has soaked up the rain that frequently falls on 
it and yields useful vegetation for those who tend it receives a 
blessing from God.

6:8 But if it produces thorns and thistles, it is useless and about to 
be cursed; its fate is to be burned.

6:9 But in your case, dear friends, even though we speak like this, we 
are convinced of better things relating to salvation.

6:10 For God is not unjust so as to forget your work and the love you 
have demonstrated for his name, in having served and continuing to serve 
the saints.

6:11 But we passionately want each of you to demonstrate the same 
eagerness for the fulfillment of your hope until the end,

6:12 so that you may not be sluggish, but imitators of those who through 
faith and perseverance inherit the promises.

6:13 Now when God made his promise to Abraham, since he could swear by 
no one greater, he swore by himself,

6:14 saying, "/*Surely I will bless you greatly and multiply your 
descendants abundantly*/."

6:15 And so by persevering, Abraham inherited the promise.

6:16 For people swear by something greater than themselves, and the oath 
serves as a confirmation to end all dispute.

6:17 In the same way God wanted to demonstrate more clearly to the heirs 
of the promise that his purpose was unchangeable, and so he intervened 
with an oath,

6:18 so that we who have found refuge in him may find strong 
encouragement to hold fast to the hope set before us through two 
unchangeable things, since it is impossible for God to lie.

6:19 We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, sure and steadfast, 
which reaches inside behind the curtain,

6:20 where Jesus our forerunner entered on our behalf, since he became 
/*a priest forever in the order of Melchizedek*/.




      Prayer



Lord, You teach us the essentials of Your Gospel so as to lead us to 
salvation, then you expect us to trust You and move-ahead to maturity 
and service. May I challenge fellow believers to never look back, rather 
pressing-ahead, never doubting what is the foundation of our faith.



      Summary & Commentary


The author of Hebrews challenged believers to mature, that it was not 
useful to revisit "... the elementary instructions about Christ".


Anyone who was still questioning such teachings was either unsaved or 
very immature -- definitely not appropriate for leadership.


Hebrews warned that "... it is impossible in the case of ... (those who) 
... have committed apostasy, to renew them again to repentance, since 
they are crucifying the Son of God for themselves all over again and 
holding him up to contempt."


[Note: Beginning at the conclusion of this argument, the text appears to 
say that one who denies the finality of forgiveness (and of salvation by 
faith, not works) also denies ones own salvation, since the consequence 
of such a philosophy would be the need for Christ to be as an OT 
sacrifice - only a temporary covering for each specific event of sin.]


The elements of their experience with Christ which they had rejected 
included:

"... once have been enlightened" [Heard the gospel.]

"... tasted the heavenly gift" [Been in the presence of Jesus through 
His Holy Spirit.]


"... become partakers of the Holy Spirit" [Observed the power of the 
Holy Spirit to heal, observed the miraculous "signs and wonders", 
experienced the exceptional love among the truly saved who were 
submitted to and indwelt by the Holy Spirit, may even have themselves 
been "touched" by the power of the Holy Spirit - as was the experience 
of the OT saints whom the Holy Spirit touched on occasion.]


"... tasted the good Word of God" [Were among those who participating in 
discipleship, even though they were not themselves truly saved.]


"... and the miracles of the coming age" [Observed the salvation of 
others and the prophesies unfolding.]


[Note: The reason why the fallen angels cannot be saved is that they 
were in the presence of the Lord God, they had full-knowledge, and still 
rebelled.]


Hebrews is quick to remind the faithful that the promise of God is 
secure, yet it encourages them to be equally passionate with those who 
brought them the "... good Word of God" and who discipled them and to 
"... not be sluggish".


Hebrews reminded Jewish readers that "... when God made His promise to 
Abraham, since He could swear by no one greater, he swore by Himself ... 
the oath serves as a confirmation ... His promise was unchangeable ... 
we have found refuge in Him ... since it is impossible for God to lie."


Chapter 6 concluded "We have had this hope as an anchor for the soul, 
sure and steadfast, where Jesus our forerunner entered on our behalf, 
since He became a priest forever in the order of Melchizedek."



      Interaction


        Consider

"... when God made His promise to Abraham, since He could swear by no 
one greater, he swore by Himself ... the oath serves as a confirmation 
... His promise was unchangeable ... we have found refuge in Him ... 
since it is impossible for God to lie."


        Discuss

How might your fellowship do a more-effective job of moving believers 
decisively-past "... the elementary instructions about Christ" and on to 
greater maturity and service?


        Reflect

The text of Hebrews appears to say that without the finality of 
forgiveness and imparted-righteousness Christ must be only an OT 
sacrifice, a temporary covering for a specific sins, over and over again.


        Share

When have you observed believers who have become so "sluggish" in their 
faith such that they required the teaching of the most elementary 
principles of the gospel over and over and never seemed to mature? What 
was the solution, and if none was applied, what was the result?



      Faith in Action


        Prayer:

Ask the Holy Spirit to review your spiritual maturity and to reveal any 
place where you may have grown "sluggish".



        Action:

Today I will partner with a fellow believer in prayer and action in 
order to to move toward maturity and away from any uncertainty about the 
"... elementary instructions about Christ" as described in Hebrews 6.


        Be Specific ______________________________________________________



    Saturday's text will be:


      Hebrews 7



-- 

Draw nearer to the Lord and He will bless you,
David M. Colburn, DMin. MaCo
Have an Ultrafidian.com Day!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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Teacher's Verse: John 7:16
Personal Site: bibleseven.com
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1Cor. 15:22 "For just as in Adam all die,
so also in Christ all will be made alive."
Savannah-Statesboro needs a Bible College/Seminary!
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