III. In other words, "This doesn't really apply to you. But the time is coming when God will wipe away tears from all eyes, yea, every tear; and this will be the rest of God. ( Hebrews 6:1a) Going beyond the basics. True affection is prudent for its object when peril is nigh, and delights to help effectively, instead of being indifferent whether the way of it wounds those whose good is sought. Some have thought this is the sin against the Holy Ghost, but without ground. There is everything one may say, save inward spiritual life in Christ, or the indwelling seal of it. 13 But exhort one another each day, as long as it is called Today, that none of you may become hardened by sins deception. Pythagoras divided his students into hoi ( G3588) manthanontes ( G3129) , the learners, and hoi ( G3588) teleioi ( G5046) , the mature. As then it is pointed out that there were formerly many portions, so also were there many modes in the prophetic communications of God. Judas is a glaring example of how corruption can occur from within, from an unbeliever. "Let's get out and build the church of Jesus Christ." Repentance from dead works, and faith towards God, are connected, and always go together; they are inseparable twins, the one cannot live without the other. The great mass of Christians now are totally ignorant of it. We may easily understand that every soul truly born of God would and must break forth into thanksgiving to hear of a deeper glory than he had first perceived in Christ, We must not look on the Lord according to our experience, if there has been simplicity in the way God has brought us to the perception of His glory; we must endeavour to put ourselves back, and consider the prejudices and difficulties of the Jew. Our faithour belief, our conviction in Jesuscomes from the written word of truth. Our text underscores the importance of confidence in our confession, that is in our confidence in the One in whom we have come to trust for our eternal salvation. In chapter 19, God warns the Israelites concerning those who would practice pagan means of communication with foreign deities: 9 When you enter the land the Lord your God is giving you, you must not learn the abhorrent practices of those nations. Yet so cautiously does he insinuate the obviously and necessarily practical character of that which was revealed of old, that at a first reading, nay, however often read perfunctorily, they might have no more perceived it than, I suppose, most of us must confess as to ourselves. 13 I tell you the truth, wherever this gospel is proclaimed in the whole world, what she has done will also be told in memory of her (Matthew 26:6-13, emphasis mine). If both of these are unobtainable, pour water three times upon the head of the candidate in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Repentance from dead works -- the works and ordinations of the law of Moses, the sacrifices, sabbaths, etc. You'd be so cold, callous and indifferent that you wouldn't even care if you did. First thing on my report I had to put how many people were saved, and if you don't have some in that box, then you're not going to look good to the bishop. Impossible that the Son should be shaken from His place on the throne of God: so is it that the least believer should come to any hurt whatever. They have disowned and shamed Christ by an action similar to that of the people who crucified him (4-6).Just as all the earth receives rain, so all who meet in the church receive Gods blessings. Mark the skill! (9,10) And encourages them to persevere in faith and holiness. He just had a big blowout with Laban, and now word is Esau is coming. Nothing could be asked or conceived more conclusive, as far as concerned His divine glory. He is proving the reality of this common relationship of the Sanctifier and the sanctified. It comes as we follow the Holy Spirit who leads and empowers us (Romans 8:14; Galatians 5:16). He looks at what was their proper testimony, not at that to which he had been separated extraordinarily. 8 But if it produces thorns and thistles, it is useless and about to be cursed; its fate is to be burned (Hebrews 6:4-8). He begins gently with their state of infantine feebleness; and then in the beginning of the following chapter he sets before them the awful picture of apostasy. It didnt take long for Jewish Christians to be excluded from the synagogues. Lord, where are you going?" The existence of laws in the natural realm, the moral law within people, and the sacred revelation all alike proclaim the justice of the universe; and if it is not so, life indeed becomes "a tale told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing" (Macbeth, Act V). Oh, that's difficult. Why impossible? He mentions repentance and faith, which include the fullness of the Gospel; for what else does Christ command his Apostles to preach, but repentance and faith? Now it is true that angels are sometimes called "sons of God," but God never singles out one and says, "Thou art my Son." But also He shows that the humiliation of the Saviour, in which He was made a little lower than the angels, was for an end that led up to this heavenly glory. We can understand, therefore, how active-minded men, who occupied themselves with the surface the method, the style, the unusual absence of the writer's name, and other peculiarities in the phenomena of this epistle, too readily hesitated to attribute it to Paul. You come and you get that shot and you get excited. At any rate, it is remarkable that these are the two occasions of this reproach from the apostle. Are souls who have never yet tasted that the Lord is gracious to be summoned to fear? And so Jesus addressed the issue of this thing of taking oaths of swearing, and people have carried that too far, too.People are concerned if I have to go to court and witness, "Do I swear before God I'm going to tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth?" and which entereth into that within the veil ( Hebrews 6:19 ); I come right into God's presence. Indeed Psalms 16:1-11 was the expression of all His course as man trust in life, trust in death, trust in resurrection. You've taken an oath to do it and you cannot back away. This, accordingly, is not His rest; it served as a sign and witness of it, but nothing more. In no way are the former messages of God forgotten in the days of their fathers. And we never took them beyond that state of spiritual infancy until we began to teach the Word of God. Not a word is said about His fellows until God Himself addresses Him as God. In our text in Hebrews 6:4-8, the pronouns are third person plural: those, them, and they. These folks are distinguished from the first person plural (we) or the second person plural (you) of the verses which precede and follow the troublesome words of verses 4-8. We live in anxiety. God has declared to you what He will do for you and then He took an oath saying, "I will." It is needless to attempt to show that faith in the true God is essential to salvation. Accordingly, while he intimates thus that all was but partial, being piecemeal and multiform, in the revelations from God to the fathers, he lets them know, in the next verse, that the same God had, in the last of these days, "spoken unto us in his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds." Here is yet another text which clearly identifies the false teachers in the church at Crete as promoters of Jewish-oriented error: 10 For there are many rebellious people, idle talkers, and deceivers, especially those with Jewish connections, 11 who must be silenced because they mislead whole families by teaching for dishonest gain what ought not to be taught. But when we read this passage we must remember that--it was written in an age of persecution: and in any such age apostasy is the supreme sin. And the doctrine of an inward baptism, that of the Spirit sprinkling the blood of Christ upon the soul, for justification, and the graces of the Spirit for sanctification. Now the apostle does not in any way make light of the grief by the way, nor forget that the pilgrimage in the desert is the type of our earthly circumstances. Let them do this with joy and not with complaints, for this would be no advantage for you (Hebrews 13:1-17, emphasis mine). 13 We must go out to him, then, outside the camp, bearing the abuse he experienced. Men were coming straight from heathendom and baptism was reception into the Church and confession of faith. The meaning is, you cannot be labouring and resting in the same sense and time, All must confess that when you rest, you cease from labour. You must erect a fuller faith on the basis you have already laid down.". So far from any angel approaching the glory of the Lord Jesus, it is God Himself who commands that all the angels shall worship Him. And, in my estimation, they sought to persuade others to think and act in a similar manner. He was old; Sarah was barren, the wandering was long; but Abraham never wavered from his hope and trust in the promise of God. For this reason rebuke them sharply that they may be healthy in the faith 14 and not pay attention to Jewish myths and commands of people who reject the truth. Perfectioni.e. ", That is interesting. (8-12) Jesus is superior to the angels because the Father Himself calls Him (and not any angel) God and LORD (Yahweh), as shown in Psalm 45:6-7 and 102:25-27 from the Septuagint. [Note: Bruce, p. No doubt it goes back to the picture of Jesus as the Light of the World, the Light that enlightens every man who comes into the world ( John 1:9; John 9:5). Repentance may be properly called the foundation of the work of God in the soul of man, because by it we forsake sin, and turn to God to find mercy. We may note a final thing. What the fulness of the truth that God was now making known to His people by Him? Able scholars have rejected this view, Bruce, for example, insisting that "baptisms" in this place has no reference whatever to that Christian ordinance that stands at the gateway of the church; but in matters of this kind, one must be on guard against the natural bias that flows from the theological position of the commentator. That which He has promised He is able also to perform. It is not in the least a question of a person individually born of God, and so sealed by the Holy Spirit. 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. When Jesus said swear not at all, in the context He was saying "Let your yes be a yes and let your no be a no. But the Christian is a man who here and now is tasting the blessedness of the age which is God's. In fact, it would appear that Judas was one of the most respected and trusted disciples, for it was he who was the treasurer for the group. Help there was not; means there could not be. And now (Hebrews 5:1-14) we enter upon the priesthood; for it is a priest that we want who stand already accepted by sacrifice. 9 No direct Jewish connection is specified here, but given the other warnings of the Pastoral Epistles, it seems likely that there was a connection. But as far as the Epistle to the Hebrews goes, we should never have learnt this side of the truth of God, or its appropriation to us; for we are only regarded in our actual place, that is, marching through the desert. But, as in other sad cases, the error is often combined with ample learning of the schools, though with lamentable lack of divine teaching even in foundation truth. Christ, being divine, built the house; Christ built all things. Let those that had heard of Christ return to the forms of Judaism, and what would become of them? Again, back to coming boldly to the throne of grace that we might find mercy and grace in our time of need. 4 For every creation of God is good and no food is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving. The time, the manner, and the only way in which such a truth could be known, was in the person of Christ; for He became not an angel but a man. Similar is the case as to Christianity; we have the first principles as the foundation, but the higher doctrine ought immediately to follow which is to complete the building. If it is up to me, oh yes, it is difficult. Them saved? There is the impossibility of this passage. (1 Corinthians 3:1-3). The case supposed is of persons, after the richest proof and privilege, turning aside apostates from Christ, in order to take up Judaism once more. And in this order too: first, Son (on earth);* next, the true Melchisedec (in heaven, as we shall find). Which hope we have as an anchor to our soul ( Hebrews 6:19 ). Genesis 12:7 tells us of the one made when he called him out of Ur and sent him into the unknown and to the promised land. How must they leave them? They are genuine believers. What it is meant to show is the terrible seriousness of choosing existence instead of loyalty to Christ. I labored for seventeen years and you changed my wages ten times. But let us examine what he says. Why live on such points? 7 Such women are always seeking instruction, yet never able to arrive at a knowledge of the truth. So the Jews f say. Oh, the anchor for our soul. There can be otherwise no efficacious because no righteous deliverance. 5:11-6:20 CHRISTIAN GROWTH AND PERSEVERANCE. In other words, those warned about in 6:4-8 appear to be outside the community of faith, while those warned in 10:26-31 seem to be believers. Further, the writer to the Hebrews says that when we fall away we make a mocking show of Christ. Down the Appian Way he fled for his life. We may see a similar hindrance every day. They were not to make it necessary to lay down again the very cornerstones, and the foundations of the edifice, but since these were laid already, they were to go on and build the superstructure and complete the edifice. Oh, I'm free because I didn't say the gold on the altar." This was, beyond doubt, the way in which His revelations had been gradually vouchsafed to His people. But mark the manner of the writer. 6 Suppose your own full brother, your son, your daughter, your beloved wife, or your closest friend should seduce you secretly and encourage you to go and serve other gods that neither you nor your ancestors have previously known, 7 the gods of the surrounding people (whether near you or far from you, from one end of the earth to the other). These Hebrew Christians have not matured into "full age" (5:14) and thus have not received the "strong meat" (5:12) because they are not able to "discern both good and evil" (5:14). By the Spirit's power it dispels the darkness of nature. Here is a refuge for all sinners who flee to the mercy of God, through the redemption of Christ, according to the covenant of grace, laying aside all other confidences. For since there is still jealousy and dissension among you, are you not influenced by the flesh and behaving like unregenerate people? The author says that his readers in their immaturity have the need for someone to teach them these elementary things once again, but he refuses to do so. 2. It consists in genuine sorrow for sin, and a purpose to turn from it; see the note on Matthew 3:2. That is something lesser. Christ Himself was infinitely more precious than even the church which He had loved so well, and for which He gave Himself. All is carried on in the full power of the Spirit of God, but with the nicest consideration of Jewish prejudices, and the most scrupulous care to bring every warrant for his doctrine from their own ancient yet little understood testimonies. His superiority as Son of God had been proved in the most masterly manner from their own scriptures in the first chapter. Repentance for dead works, if it be right, is repentance from dead works, a universal change of heart and life. 15 Therefore it is not surprising his servants also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness, whose end will correspond to their actions (2 Corinthians 11:13-15). "And of the angels he saith, Who maketh his angels spirits, and his ministers a flame of fire." Both of these are foundation-principles, which should be once well laid, but never pulled up, so as to need to be laid over again; we must not relapse into infidelity. They may be made partakers of the Holy Ghost, that is, of his extraordinary and miraculous gifts; they may have cast out devils in the name of Christ, and done many other mighty works. May there be that work of the Spirit in your life this week. 5 But the aim of our instruction is love that comes from a pure heart, a good conscience, and a sincere faith. Let's grow up.For years in my ministry I sought to be a preacher. But Johns Gospel gives us the inside scoop on what happened here: 1 Then, six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus lived, whom he had raised from the dead. My point in calling attention to these verses is to demonstrate that someone can become a part of the believing community and corrupt it from the inside. First Here is a description of the good ground: It drinketh in the rain that cometh often upon it. They need to see Jesus as their Savior, as the key to forgiveness of sin and acceptance by God. Julian wished to destroy Christianity and bring back the old gods. Some make a triple division, grouping the three successive pairs to represent man's personal relations, his social relations, and his connection with the unseen world.[1]. There can be no going back to the beginning in the Christian life: a Christian either continues to grow or he collapses. So he is reminding God of the promise.When you're under stress, when the pressure is on, when tomorrow is going to be one rough day, because your brother who is mad enough to kill you is on his way with two hundred men and all looks hopeless, it is good to remind yourself of the promises of God. Philo divided his students into three different classes--hoi ( G3588) archomenoi ( G756) , those just beginning, hoi prokoptontes ( G4298) , those making progress, and hoi ( G3588) teleiomenoi ( G5048) , those beginning to reach maturity. There are those who feel obliged to remain in an apostate church a church that has corporately fallen away from the faith with the hope of saving it, or some within it. It is true that when we fall away, we crucify Christ again. I'm going to kill you." What can look feebler, what more desperately pressed, than a man fleeing for refuge? Hence, invariably, you will find these two things correlative. But if you say, "Well, I don't want to come and I won't come," then it probably does apply to you. There is another reason also why the epistle to the Hebrews diverges very sensibly and materially from the rest of the writings of St. Paul, that it is not, strictly speaking, an exercise of apostleship at all, but of the writer (apostle though he were) as a teacher, and here a teacher clearly not of Gentiles, as he says elsewhere, but of Jews. And I've seen a lot of Christians that don't bear fruit. You have gone back to needing milk, not solid food. The apostle is not speaking of the falling away of mere professors, never convinced or influenced by the gospel. This is not at all the case with ordinary Gentile thought. Christianity from the beginning was a religion of immortality. Peter said, "If they would kill me, I would never deny You." (ii) He means something to do with life. The latter part of the Old Testament shows us how Israel got unsettled, and finally driven from their land; though it also predicts their future ingathering. Thus men, confident in their own resources, have dared to apply this description of priesthood to Christ. Hebrews 5:12, "the rudiments of the first principles of the oracles of God." Let us go on. Thus, take the text already referred to "To him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly" the popular misinterpretation sets people working to enter into rest for their conscience. 2 For people will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3 unloving, irreconcilable, slanderers, without self-control, savage, opposed to what is good, 4 treacherous, reckless, conceited, loving pleasure rather than loving God. Of course there is that among thorns; it grows up but it is choked and never bears fruit. The writer to the Hebrews goes on to say a tremendous thing. 8 Surely this abstinence from certain foods betrays a Jewish source. 2 Do not neglect hospitality, because through it some have entertained angels without knowing it. He would not linger around these elements in the discussion, nor would he have them linger at the threshold of the Christian doctrines. Oct 13, 1996 Scripture: Hebrews 6:4-8 John Piper Sermon The Full Assurance of Hope Feb 9, 1992 Scripture: Hebrews 6:9-11 John Piper Sermon Savoring God by Serving the Saints Feb 2, 1992 Christ is the object and ground of the believer's hope. 12 A certain one of them, in fact, one of their own prophets, said, Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons. 13 Such testimony is true. It is a repentance from dead works. You're His child. The translation project originally started as an attempt to provide an electronic version of a modern translation for electronic distribution over the Internet and on CD (compact disk). She has done a good service for me. Swear on the Bible I didn't do it." In the midst of warning of the danger of unbelief, the saints are encouraged to minister to one another because we have become partakers of Christ: 12 See to it, brothers and sisters, that none of you has an evil, unbelieving heart that forsakes the living God. This hope is to us like an anchor, safe and sure, and it enters with us into the inner court beyond the veil, where Jesus has already entered as a forerunner for us, when he became a High Priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek. Able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that you ask or think. He means to have all that love the Saviour like Him; and all that He purposes to do for the Saviour's honour, He has perfectly unfolded to us. I have not even the slightest qualm that I will not be with the Lord in His glorious kingdom. As I preached, the church never developed. 19 However, Gods solid foundation remains standing, bearing this seal: The Lord knows those who are his, and Everyone who confesses the name of the Lord must turn away from evil (1 Timothy 2:14-19, emphasis mine).9. So the taking of the oath, you take the oath by something greater than you. If those who through mistaken views of this passage, as well as of their own case, fear that there is no mercy for them, would attend to the account given of the nature of this sin, that it is a total and a willing renouncing of Christ, and his cause, and joining with his enemies, it would relieve them from wrong fears. Many thinkers have tried to find a way round this word impossible (adunaton, G102) . All the time he should be ridding himself of old faults and achieving new virtues. Now apostasy, sooner or later, must fall under that judgment. Repentance from dead works, that is, conversion and regeneration, repentance from a spiritually dead state and course; as if he had said, "Beware of destroying the life of grace in your souls; your minds were changed by conversion, and so were your lives. The NEW ENGLISH TRANSLATION, also known as THE NET BIBLE, is a completely new translation of the Bible, not a revision or an update of a previous English version. (c) They may be works which have no connection with character. The reference may be either to those actions which were sinful in their nature, or to those which related to the forms of religion, where there was no spiritual life. 14 But solid food is for the mature, whose perceptions are trained by practice to discern both good and evil. Peter said of the crucifixion of Christ that it was he "whom they slew and hanged on a tree" (Acts 5:30), thus reversing the chronological sequence. 1 Copyright 2008 by Robert L. Deffinbaugh. Our text cautions us to be careful who we choose as our leaders. Of Christ, then, he would deliver his last message to his brethren after the flesh as well as Spirit; and as he began preaching in the synagogues that He is the Son of God, (Acts 9:1-43) so here he begins his epistle to the Hebrews. These false teachers are likened to Jannes and Jambres, who opposed Moses (verses 8-9). We should not be always speaking about outward things; these have their places and use, but often take up too much attention and time, which might be better employed. "[3] Baptism is a precondition of forgiveness of sins (Acts 2:38; 22:16); it corresponds to the marriage ceremony as applied to Christ and his bride, the church (Ephesians 5:25-27); it is the initiatory rite by which one is admitted to the church which is the body of Christ (1Corinthians 12:13). 7 They want to be teachers of the law, but they do not understand what they are saying or the things they insist on so confidently. I said at the outset of this message that the correct interpretation of this text should affirm and encourage the faith of believers. But there is another name which never is employed in any sense save that which is supreme. They threatened to kill Moses and to appoint a new leader. [1.] Dead works may be those which defile a man and separate him from God. There was this present age (ho ( G3588) nun ( G3568) aion G165) , which was wholly bad; there was the age to come (ho ( G3588) mellon ( G3195) aion, G165) , which would be wholly good. (1) Therefore.--Since "for the time ye ought to be teachers," but have so perilously sunk down into the lower state of Christian knowledge and . As it is His righteousness, so will it be His rest. I cannot be moved. What is the consequence under the blessed guidance of the Spirit? One is struck, on reading the Bible, by the importance in it of personal names. Be a person of your word." He thereby cuts off, by the unquestionable facts of the Old Testament, that overweening self-complacency of the Jew, which would set Moses and Elias against hearing the Son of God. Christ plainly stated that all nations would appear simultaneously before him in judgment, that he should sit upon the throne of God and separate the wicked from the righteous as the shepherd divides the sheep from the goats (Matthew 25:31ff). He is dealing with them as much as possible on their own ground, though, of course, without compromise of his own. II. The apostle describes the dreadful case of such as fall away after having gone so far in the profession of the religion. I believe it is because this is the content that the false teachers are using to promote their Judaising agenda. It would seem that the kind of person who is described above is one who has heard the gospel, who has witnessed and perhaps even experienced its power, but who has not come to faith, and who after experiencing the gospel up close and personal, has rejected it. There is a new attitude to God, to men, to life, to self. Christ Himself was what made the assembly of God precious to him. These are some of the highest mysteries of celestial wisdom; nay, the very end of all religion, which we ought to bear in mind through the whole course of our life. And halting short of the full faith in Christ, they went back to the practices of Judaism, and thus, it was impossible to renew them unto repentance as they crucified the Son of God afresh, putting Him to open shame. The message of both passages is the same. It gave a man two worlds in which to live; it taught him that the best was yet to be and thereby made this world the training school for eternity. His attempt ended in defeat. As keeper of the money box, he used to steal what was put into it.) (2.) And yet when we come to chapter 10, we find the warning is addressed to those who deliberately go on sinning (verse 26). Wherefore leaving the doctrine of the first principles of Christ, let us press on unto perfection; not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God, of the teaching of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of the resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment. Surely the Scripture promises the thing; and the power of God can carry us on to the possession of it. This passage enables us to see what the Early Church regarded as basic Christianity. It never developed. But when you introduce God into the factor, the moment God is introduced into the factor, then you have to eliminate the word impossible. Outward infraction and inner rebellion met their retribution. The resurrection of the dead, that is, of dead bodies; and their re-union with their souls, to be eternal companions together in weal or woe, according as their state was towards God when they died, and the course of life they led in this world. This custom the Apostle mentions, because there was a short time fixed for catechumens, during which they were taught the doctrine of religion, as a master instructs his children in the alphabet, in order that he may afterwards advance them to higher things. "Faith toward God" comes from the written word of God. The second thing I must have is patience, because God doesn't always respond to my prayer the minute I pray. This is the way in which we Christians naturally think of Christ in that which is nearest to the sinner's need and God's answer of grace. That that resolution is right which is not only made in the sincerity of our hearts, but in a humble dependence upon God for strength, for assistance and righteousness, for acceptance, and for time and opportunity. Mark, again, the skill with which all is gradually approached how the inspired writer saps and mines their exorbitant (yet after all only earthly) pretensions, founded on the Aaronic priesthood. He found restoration and he became one of the pillars of the early church, an apostle, a leader of men. Reduce the glory of Christ, and you equally lower your judgment of the state of man. It was written about the year A.D. 100 and lays down the regulations for Christian Baptism. But I am here because You told me to be here. The earth is blessed. 4. Third, we must recognize the strong influence (and even control) devout Jews (believers and unbelievers) wielded in the church, and even amongst the apostles. Paul, who loved Israel and estimated their privileges more highly than themselves, (Romans 9:1-33) was the last man to deny or enfeeble it. For Himself, He came to suffer and die by wicked hands, but it was in the accomplishment of the will and purpose of God His Father. 1.Therefore, leaving, etc. They may taste of the heavenly gift, feel something of the efficacy of the Holy Spirit in his operations upon their souls, causing them to taste something of religion, and yet be like persons in the market, who taste of what they will not come up to the price of, and so but take a taste, and leave it. "For which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren." It is under such circumstances He pours out His plaint. None but Paul, I believe, would have been suited to bring in the heavenly portion. We know that the outcome of those described in verses 1-6 is not one which should attract us to follow them. I do not deny that God may deign to use anything in His service; but these men confide in their learning and their powers generally, instead of becoming fools that they may become wise, which is the truest learning according to God, if one may speak of "learning" in respect of that wisdom which comes down from the Father of lights. Jehovah raised Him up, and Jehovah cast Him down. At the same time, only in writing to the Hebrews could Paul have brought in the Old Testament hopes as he has done. These great things are spoken here of those who may fall away; yet it is not here said of them that they were truly converted, or that they were justified; there is more in true saving grace than in all that is here said of apostates. Temptation to Him was nothing but suffering: He suffered, being tempted, because there was that intrinsic holiness which repelled, but, at the same time, most acutely felt the temptation. Here observe, In order to their growth, Christians must leave the principles of the doctrine of Christ. As the great teacher of the believers from among the Jews, we have, after all, not Paul, but through him God Himself left to address His own, in the words, facts, ceremonies, offices, persons so long familiar to the chosen people. And he did the wisest thing you can do when you are under stress. "Yes, you did." His rest is not merely your rest. For some, when they had heard, did provoke: howbeit not all that came out of Egypt by Moses. Their misery is exemplified by a proper similitude, taken from the ground that after much cultivation brings forth nothing but briers and thorns; and therefore is nigh unto cursing, and its end is to be burned,Hebrews 6:8; Hebrews 6:8. The message is similar to his message to the Philippians: "I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus" (Philippians 3:14). They're there, but there is no fruit coming forth from their lives. Jew and Christian alike divided time into two ages. These foundations are six:--. Now hence observe, [1.] When formalists are converted, one of the first and the main exercises of their minds in conversion, consists in deep and genuine sorrow for their dependence on those forms. (95). Neither doesPsalms 2:1-12; Psalms 2:1-12 set forth His eternal Sonship, all-important a truth as it is, and clearly taught by John above all. The apostle does not yet draw all the consequences; but he lays down in these two chapters the twofold glory of Christ Son of God, Son of man; and following up the latter, he approaches that which fitted Him, on the score of sympathy, for the priesthood. In addition, anyone who wants to share the Bible with others can print unlimited copies and give them away free to others. Esrasmus held that it was to be taken in the sense of difficult almost to the point of impossibility. was it not with them that had sinned, whose carcases fell in the wilderness? It is my opinion that Hebrews 10:26-31 is not a reiteration of Hebrews 6:4-8. Jesus said, "Upon this rock I will build my church." Because his readers needed to be taken beyond the instruction given them by those who apparently wanted to keep them from growing spiritually, the author of Hebrews is determined to press ahead. Vincent is correct in his explanation of what Paul is saying: I propose that we together move forward to completion: I to the full exposition of the subject of Christs high-priesthood, and you to that maturity of discernment which becomes you. But in revealing truth the person whom God employs in that work is naturally brought before those addressed; and hence the apostle took particular care, even if he did not write an epistle, to put his name to it, introducing himself at the beginning through the amanuensis that he employed, and with scrupulous care adding his own name at the end of each epistle. See the accounts of the great commission in Matthew 28:18ff and Mark 16:15ff, and also the first sermon of the gospel age (Acts 2:38ff). No, it was to a man; for He was thus speaking of the Lord as Messiah here below; and this is what gives the emphasis of the passage. Hebrews 3:6; Hebrews 3:12-15; Hebrews 6:11-12; Hebrews 10:23-25). (1-8) The apostle expresses satisfaction, as to the most of them. [1] Brooke Foss Westcott, The Epistle to the Hebrews (Grand Rapids, Michigan: Wm. He came from God, and went to God. 12 For though you should in fact be teachers by this time, you need someone to teach you the beginning elements of Gods utterances. Once men thought of him as barring the door; now they think of the door to his presence as thrown wide open to all. One thing stands out here. You go and pick out a promise and it's great. 8 You must not give in to him or even listen to him; do not feel sympathy for him or spare him or cover up for him. This is one of the most terrible passages in scripture. There is a great practical truth here. She has kept it for the day of my burial. He moves beyond elementary instruction to that which should come next in their spiritual curriculum (6:1-3). "God" may be used in a subordinate sense. An angel might appear in whatever guise it pleased God; but, appear as He might, He was the representative of Jehovah. ESV so that you may not be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises. Let us go on unto perfection.-The original is very emphatic: . They may taste of the good word of God; they may have some relish of gospel doctrines, may hear the word with pleasure, may remember much of it, and talk well of it, and yet never be cast into the form and mould of it, nor have it dwelling richly in them. not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works: Having told these Hebrews what to do, that is "press on unto perfection," he now tells them what not to do, that is "not laying again the foundation." "But after he waited patiently he obtained the promise." Elohim has His representatives, who are, therefore, called gods. But, again, had he been writing according to his ordinary place, nothing was more strictly his line of testimony than to have dwelt on our hope that enters within the veil. 5 They will never follow a stranger, but will run away from him, because they do not recognize the strangers voice (John 10:3-5). Sin does not only break God's law; it breaks his heart. There is nothing to forbid the natural mind from being attracted by the delightful sweetness of the glad-tidings which Christianity proclaims. 16 They profess to know God but with their deeds they deny him, since they are detestable, disobedient, and unfit for any good deed (Titus 1:10-16, emphasis mine). Here, however, faith in God is particularly referred to. We shall note each of these. There are two interesting things implicit in this passage. 4 Marriage must be honored among all10 and the marriage bed kept undefiled,11 for God will judge sexually immoral people and adulterers. Let us go on - Let us advance to a higher state of knowledge and holiness. You cannot talk of reconciling sins. The word of God, which comes and searches, tries and deals with us, judging the thoughts and intents of the heart; and the priesthood of Christ, which converts and strengthens, and applies all that is needed here the grace and mercy of our God. But, again, they were "made partakers of the Holy Ghost." But he at least is going to get his word in, so he catches up with Jacob and he really tells him off. . I believe there are several prerequisites for a correct understanding of our passage. But how had God spoken then? They are atoned for; people are reconciled. (c) It was the sign of setting apart to some special office. The Christian has been enlightened. And the things that accompany salvation, are better things than ever any dissembler or apostate enjoyed. We must be very careful to follow those who are following Christ, for there are those who are on the path to destruction, and they would love to take others with them. So it is here shown that it "became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings. Do you have that strong consolation, comfort, assurance? For it is good for the heart to be strengthened by grace, not ritual meals, which have never benefited those who participated in them, Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they keep watch over your souls and will give an account for their work, First, this text encourages Christians by making a clear distinction between those who believe and those who do not, Secondly, our text holds believers corporately responsible for one another for discerning and dealing with unbelief, apostasy, and false teaching, I know the one in whom my faith is set and I am convinced that he is able to protect what has been entrusted to me until that day, If we know the Lord Jesus Christ, we should know His voice and thus be able to discern false teachers, Our text cautions us to be careful who we choose as our leaders. . He means to have a rest as worthy of Himself as the righteousness we are made in Christ is worthy of Himself now. Hebrews 6:12 Commentaries: so that you will not be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises. Sometimes in the Christian life we come to times which are arid; the Church services have nothing to say to us, the teaching that we do in Sunday school or the singing that we do in the choir or the service we give on a committee becomes a labour without joy. Out of such knowledge flow epic deductions which are of the utmost consequence to Christianity. It could not have been true of Him, had He not been a man; had He been simply God, to talk of trusting in God would have been altogether unnatural impossible. It is told that on his pocket Bible Cromwell had a motto written in Latin--qui cessat esse melior cessat esse bonus--he who ceases to be better ceases to be good. God, doubtless, rested from His works; but even God is never said then to have rested in His works. The writer to the Hebrews insists that the Christian possesses the greatest hope in the world. Just why a similar identification of the author with his readers in Hebrews 2:3 should be hailed as proof that the author was denying his own apostleship has never been explained. For the Jew life was ritual; if he observed the proper ceremonies at the right time, he was a good man. Your own hand must be the first to strike him, and then the hands of the whole community. But on the Hebrews he presses their excessive danger of abandoning Christ for religious traditions. The chain of scriptural testimony is carried out and confirmed with another and even more wondrous citation. For the earth which drinks in the rain that comes often upon it, and brings forth the vegetables that are fit for them by whom it is dressed [or for the people who planted the vegetables, the people who took care of the garden], receiveth the blessing from God: But that which bears thorns and briers is rejected, and is nigh unto cursing; whose end is to be burned ( Hebrews 6:7-8 ). So Laban is wanting to wipe him out, but he is fearful of God who said, "Don't you touch him." This certainly gives the appearance that those addressed are inside the community of faith. Nor would one gather from this epistle that its writer laboured among the Gentiles, nor even that there was a calling of Gentile believers in the Lord Jesus. In God's word we find the truth and the meaning of life. This is apparent in various epistles in the New Testament. Even great men like Peter and Barnabas6 folded under pressure from the pro-circumcision Jews who came from James. It took a sharp rebuke from Paul to correct the situation. Doctrine of Christ -- (See notes on Hebrews by R.W. 5. Laying on of hands, on persons passing solemnly from their initiated state by baptism to the confirmed state, by returning the answer of a good conscience towards God, and sitting down at the Lord's table. 1 But understand this, that in the last days difficult times will come. All of the problems, great and small, eventually fade into insignificance before the pressing question, "Is this universe just?" But now, under the Gospel dispensation, believing Jews, as these were to whom the apostle writes, were not to learn the doctrine of repentance from slain beasts, or to signify it in this way; since repentance and remission of sins were preached most clearly to them in the name of Christ: nor were they to lay again another part of this foundation, or a second article of the Jewish creed. In the early Church it always accompanied baptism and was the way in which the Holy Spirit was conveyed to the person newly baptized ( Acts 8:17; Acts 19:6). It was there, in fact, that Paul had himself first seen the Lord. No wonder such folks are not to be followed. But there is no essential difference. Hebrews 6:12. The writer proceeded to explain what the community of Christians that he addressed should do to change its dangerous condition. It is only when he comes to the Cross that his burden is rolled away. This leads us to the very important, but often misunderstood, Hebrews 4:1-16. Indeed such is the natural result. Objection to the view that the primary steps of Christian obedience, faith, repentance and baptism, are intended here springs from two things: (1) the order of their being mentioned (repentance first), and (2) the mention of plural baptisms. "Oh God, I don't have that much time left." . The father of the faithful, Abraham, idiomatically inferred it when he asked, "Shall not the judge of all the earth do right?" In writing to the Hebrew believers it is not so. Let them rather take heed that there be no oversight of Him on their part; none could justly put it to the account of God. 2 It is indeed unfortunate that the translators of the NIV saw fit to ignore the Greek term gar, which should be rendered for as it is in virtually all the best translations. "And Moses was faithful in all his house, as a servant, for a testimony of the things to be spoken after; but Christ, as Son over his house, whose house are we." Not so. This blasphemy would follow, if the foregoing words applied to Christ. Better, let us press onwards unto perfection. We love to put them on the walls of our house. In a vague general way, He speaks of all men as being His sons. Supposing a man had been the adversary of Messiah here below, there was still the opening for him of grace from on high. Adam was a son of God, angels were sons of God; but to which of the angels did God ever speak in such language as this? (a) Dead works may be deeds which bring death. As regards faith and baptism, the theology of the Protestant era has exaggerated faith and diminished baptism; but in the index of Christian fundamentals, one finds them securely embedded side by side in the foundation of the Christian theology. The emphasis is taken out of one place, and put into another, without the slightest reason. One cannot underestimate the amount of influence these Jews exercised within the church. Still, there they were, in their own sphere, representing God's authority, and are called gods, though clearly with a very subordinate force. . Gibbon then went on to list the factors which he called "the five following causes" which favored the rapid spread of Christianity; and the second on the list is "the doctrine of a future life, improved by every additional circumstance which could give weight and efficacy to that important truth. But Judas Iscariot, one of his disciples (the one who was going to betray him) said, 5 Why wasnt this oil sold for three hundred silver coins and the money given to the poor? 6 (Now Judas said this not because he was concerned about the poor, but because he was a thief. But there was one nearer and dearer to Paul than even the church. Let us go on to perfection: in a comparative sense, to a more perfect knowledge of things, which the clear revelation and ministry of the Gospel lead unto; and which the rites and ceremonies, types and figures of the law, never could: not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works; the Syriac version reads this by way of interrogation, "do ye lay again, c." and makes the third verse to be an answer to it: the phrase, "not laying again the foundation", is to be read in connection, not only with this article of repentance, but with each of the other five articles, the foundation of which is no more to be laid again than this: and not laying it again, either means not teaching it, and so refers to the apostle, and other ministers of the word, who should not insist upon the following things, at least not stick there, but go on to deliver things more sublime and grand or not hearing it, and so refers to the Hebrews, who should seek after a more perfect knowledge of evangelic truths than the following articles exhibited to them: and the several parts of this foundation, which; are not to be laid again ministerially, by preachers, or attended to by hearers, design either the first things, with which the Gospel dispensation was ushered in; or rather, and which I take to be the true sense, the general principles and practices of the Jews under the former dispensation; for these are not the six principles of the Christian religion, as they are commonly called, but so many articles of the Jewish creed; some of which were peculiar to the Jews, and others common to them, with us Christians: thus. Finally, I say, "Man, I swear on the Bible I'm going to do it." You may have slipped and fallen, but God won't forget you. 1 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, 2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising t. But on these I hope to enter, if the Lord will, on another occasion. Therefore it is not merely, as Gentiles are apt to suppose, the bringing of comfort into the heart, and the spirit filled with the consciousness of blessings from God and of His grace to us. And we know that it is impossible for God to lie, therefore, the result is that. The distressed condition of the Palestinian Christians . Some study will be given to this extremely interesting list of the foundation principles of the Christian religion: There are two categories here, first the plan of salvation, as it has been called, including faith, repentance and baptism, and pertaining largely to alien individuals, and secondly, certain doctrines that concern all people collectively. Even the sorcerer understood this basic point (Acts 8:18ff); and the possession of that information by such a person as Simon, after such a brief contact with the faith, proves both the fundamental or elementary nature of the doctrine, and its basic simplicity as well. Is not this also a part of the fundamental sub-structure of Christianity? The world which He had made did not know Him; His own people received Him not, neither would have Him. The principles - Margin: The word of the beginning of Christ. Tyndale renders it: let us leave the doctrine pertaining to the beginning of a Christian man. Coverdale, let us leave the doctrine pertaining to the beginning of a Christian life. On the word principles see the note on Hebrews 5:12. Moses ministered as servant, and was faithful in God's house; Christ as Son is over the house; "whose house are we, if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end.". Likewise, in ones spiritual life, if he continues laying the "foundation" (themelios), he is still a babe. The apostle has here stated what is the first element of the Christian religion. This doctrine too, in these days, is more honored by its neglect than by its faithful proclamation. 2. We must compare scriptures with scriptures.What do we know that the scripture teaches? I see these folks as being the source of much of the pressure and temptation to revert back to the law-works of unbelieving Judaism. "For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe. Why? Here is yet another encouragement for them to move forward, to press on for maturity. So also Christ glorified not himself to be made an high priest." Repentance from dead works. But the thorns and the briers, they're a curse, and they are going to be gathered and burned.And now, here Paul, or the writer, is sayingobviously I believe that Paul is the writer. Jehovah from above answers Jehovah below; He owns that the smitten Messiah is Jehovah of stability and unchangeableness equal with His own. No way, man. We have seen the highest external privileges not only the mind of man, as far as it could, enjoying the truth, but the power of the Holy Ghost making the man, at any rate, an instrument of power, even though it be to his own shame and deeper condemnation afterwards. What is the outcome of their life? He would not share their unbelief, their love of ease, their value for outward show, their dread of suffering; but he would reserve each folly for the most fitting moment. It would be folly so to judge of Grotius, for instance. He taught them the value of the living oracles that God had given them; for this is the beautiful characteristic here. And as He cannot lie; the destruction of the unbeliever, and the salvation of the believer, are alike certain. The judgment of those in Hebrews 6 is that they can never be renewed to repentance, while those in chapter 10 face terrifying judgment. This furnishes the first part of the doctrine on which the apostle insists. Such was the great boast of the Jews. "when he had by himself purged our sins." 8 But if it produces thorns and thistles, it is useless and about to be cursed; its fate is to be burned. "I am going back to Rome to be crucified again, this time in your stead." The great misery of apostates. (a) It was the sign of the transference of guilt. And under what circumstances? We are so impatient, aren't we? The next to it in dead weight, and in other respects more daringly dangerous, will be found to be philosophy. Those who rejected Christ in all the fulness of His grace, and in the height of glory in which God had set Him as man before them, those that rejected Him not merely on earth, but in heaven, what was there to fall back on? I do not speak now of God's forsaking Christ as the point of view in which He is looked at, though at the same general time. God did give to Sarah a son, as He promised He would, even when the likelihood of having a son became humanly totally impossible.Impossible is a word that we can use and talk about. This is not to be thought of in a material way. You've got to go by it. Hope has its degrees, as faith also. It must be consistent with the rest of the Book of Hebrews. By Judaiser, I am referring to those devout Jews who sought to retain as much as they could of their past traditions and practices and who likewise attempted to impose their Judaism on Gentile converts. So had He spoken in the prophets. He had not yet taken manhood, or made it part of His person. The men are gathered around the campfire, and the wagon master . And what is the answer from on high to the holy sufferer? In fact, it goes on into chapter 10. Most of the truly difficult problems connected with the life of faith, and with reference to the entire system of Christianity, are directly related to the doctrine of eternal judgment. The warning is against those who spring up in the church and then defile others. 1 Therefore let us leave the elementary doctrine of Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God, 2 and of instruction about washings, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment. For it is impossible [as to] those once enlightened, and that tasted the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Spirit, and that tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the age to come, and fell away, to renew [them] again to repentance, seeing they crucify for themselves and expose the Son of God.". So when God is introduced the word impossibility has to be deleted.Difficulty must always be measured by the capacity of the agent that is doing the work. The Greek there, indeed, is not the same as in this place, but the idea is evidently the same. Robert L. (Bob)Deffinbaugh graduated from Dallas Theological Seminary with his Th.M. No teacher would ever get anywhere if he had to lay the foundations all over again every time he began to teach. It shows that the candidate for baptism had to prepare not only his mind but also his spirit, for he had to fast beforehand. 1. We need not dwell long on these intervening chapters. God can renew them to repentance, but he seldom does it; and with men themselves it is impossible. 1 Now the Spirit explicitly says that in the later times some will desert the faith and occupy themselves with deceiving spirits and demonic teachings, 2 influenced by the hypocrisy of liars whose consciences are seared.
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