HEBREWS HEB6

Be sure where you stand Heb 5:11-6:20

Introduction: The frequent warnings in Hebrews characterise the writer’s concern for his Jewish readers. It’s not enough for them to have a deep interest, even an apparent commitment, there must be `fruit’ which demonstrates the effect of total faith in the Lord Jesus Himself. For those who truly believe, God’s promise provides unshakeable security.

The following four-point structure shows the writer’s progression of thought:

1. The readers are not growing as they should (5:11-6:3)

Milk is good for babies: see 1 Pet 2:2. What kind of lives were these believers just emerging from? (1 Pet 2:2).

Perhaps the Hebrew readers were rather like the Corinthians, what was their problem?

(1 Cor 3:1-4).

Does the kind of teaching programme we have help to safeguard against this problem? What does the success of the teaching programme ultimately depend on: good teaching, the Spirit’s activity, hungry and obedient believers? Where is the lack likely to be? What practical action is possible?

Why does the writer emphasise `righteousness’ (13), and how does this relate to vs. 14? Is there a similar link in 1 Pet 2:1,2?

What does the world take notice of in believers?

Think about the `elementary teachings’ of 6:1,2 (`laying on of hands’ was apparently a sequel to baptism in the early church, when the believer was received into the fellowship and the elders sought for him the Lord’s anointing for service, etc 1 Tim 4:14, 2 Tim 1:6)

What kind of `foundation’ (6:1) laying programme have we got for young believers?

2. Some people, having made an initial response, are in danger of reverting to Judaism (6:4-6)

This is a difficult passage. Questions to answer are: What is meant by `enlightened’ (4), `fall away’ (6), `impossible….to be brought back to repentance’.

A valid principle for Bible interpretation is: always understand the difficult/obscure passages in the light of the clear. So in answer to the question: `Does the passage teach that the believers can be lost?’, we must ask, `What does the rest of scripture clearly teach about this?’ Check, therefore, passages like John 5:24; 10:27,28; Phil. 1:6; Col. 1:13 etc.

Against this background – that true believers are secure for ever – we must seek to understand vs. 4-6. The Commentary for Today and the Tyndale Commentary on Hebrews are good.

Do you know examples of 6:4-6? Sometimes at campaigns people make an apparently enthusiastic response, but a few months later, for various reasons, have absolutely no interest or are actively opposed to the Lord.

What light does Mark 4:16,17 shed on this?

A quote from Daily Notes: `It is possible for a person to live within the magnetic field of Holy Spirit power and yet remain radically unchanged at heart, and even turn on the Lord he or she once professed’ (6).

The people have `tasted’ or `shared’ in much (4-6), but the crucial words `faith’, `love’, `obedience’ and `salvation’ are missing; i.e. no faith or fruit. And that seems to be the crucial point Hebrews is making:

3. The fruit in our lives shows where we really stand (7-12)

Note the two types of land in vs 7,8 which typify two types of people. Who are those in vs. 7? Who are those in vs. 8? Verse 8 refers back to vs 4-6. The fruit of the new life is missing (Gal 5:22,23) but the fruit of the old cursed life remains (Gen 3:17,18; Gal 5:19-21).

Fruit reveals the life within: the Lord Jesus looked for the fruit of obedience (Matt. 7:21-27); Paul for love (1 Cor 13:1), Peter for a steady maturing character (2 Pet 1:3-11).

The writer of Hebrews is sure his readers are not in the verses 4-6 category (9-12). What evidence of fruit do they exhibit? (10, see 10:32-34).

What was the danger for them? (12) How does that relate back to 5:11-13?

*Note: True believers can backslide: fellowship, joy etc, can be lost, but their salvation is secure and they can be restored. Think about 1 Cor 3:11-15.

Now there is a final encouragement:

4. To those whose faith is real God’s promise provides unshakeable security (13-20).

Why was Abraham a good choice as an example to the true believers? (13-15)

See Rom 4:13-25.

What did Abraham have to do in faith? (6:15, see 6:12)

Why is God’s promise of salvation absolutely sure? (16-18)

What is the hope offered us? (18) What’s the hope likened to? (19)

Where is it embedded? (19) Who is holding the anchor firm, ensuring our destination? (20).

In this role what is the point of his being a high priest `for ever’? (20)

Postscript: The subject is `Be sure where you stand’. Having studied the passage, what grounds have you for feeling safe?