Just The Facts
Hebrews 6
Emmanuel Christian Church 7.13.25
INTRODUCTION: We begin with the basics and move on to the
advanced- so it is in almost any inquiry of life. Sometimes, we revisit the
basics so as to “refresh” our understanding- that’s not a bad idea. On the
other hand, if we never move on from the basics (becoming comfortable in
knowing “just enough to get by”) that can be a real problem. It’s why
God’s Word, in the opening words of Hebrews chapter six says:
Hebrews 6:1 and go on to maturity…
Therefore let us leave the elementary teachings about Christ
PROPOSITION: God’s desire for each of us is that we would grow up.
Physically, it happens automatically and predictably. Spiritually- that’s a
whole other matter. Spiritual maturity requires our choice and our effort
to believe the facts as God has made them known in His Word.
In Hebrews chapter 6, we’ll be reminded of three “basics” of the
Christian faith and get answers to four of faith’s BIG QUESTIONS. We
begin with…
THE BASICS
Hebrews 6:1 Therefore let us leave the elementary teachings about Christ
and go on to maturity, not laying again the foundation of repentance from
acts that lead to death, and of faith in God, 2 instruction about baptisms,
the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment.
3 And God permitting, we will do so.
- Faith
- What is it?
Hebrews 11:1 what we do not see.
Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of
Hebrews 11:6 And without faith it is impossible to please God, because
anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he
rewards those who earnestly seek him.- Faith is a set of convictions:
- In the very existence of God.
- In the things and promises of God that cannot be seen.
- Faith is a set of actions driven by it’s convictions (that’s almost the
entire point of Hebrews 11!).
- Why is faith important? It is the ONLY means by which mankind has
ever been justified before God. Adam and Eve failed, Abraham
believed God and it was credited to him as “righteousness”!
- Repentance
- Literally, a change of mind that leads to a change of heart.
- It follows faith, and is proved by actions.
Luke 3:7 John said to the crowds coming out to be baptized by him, “You
brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? 8
Produce fruit in keeping with repentance.
- Baptism
- There are 3 baptisms recorded in the New Testament:
- John the Baptist’s baptism for the forgiveness of sin, BUT
expressly absent of the Holy Spirit. (Mark 1)
- Jesus’ baptism “in order to fulfill all righteousness”. NOT for the
forgiveness of sin! (Matthew 3:15)
- Christian Baptism- instituted on the Day of Pentecost as a
participation in the death, burial and RESURRECTION of Jesus for
the forgiveness of sin and the reception of the Holy Spirit. (Acts 2:38;
Romans 6) This was the direct fulfillment of John the Baptist’s
prophecy three years earlier, recorded in Mark 1:8.
APPLICATION: Faith and repentance are where we change our mind
about God. Baptism is where God changes His mind about us, cleansing
us of our sin and causing His very own Spirit to live in us - all made
possible through the saving power of Christ’s sacrifice on the Cross.
THE BIG QUESTIONS
- Can you lose your salvation? (Vs. 4-6)Hebrews 6:4 It is impossible for those who have once been enlightened,
who have tasted the heavenly gift, who have shared in the Holy Spirit, 5
who have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the
coming age, 6 if they fall away, to be brought back to repentance,
because to their loss they are crucifying the Son of God all over again and
subjecting him to public disgrace.
- Note the progression:
- Enlightened by the WORD
- Indwelled by the HOLY SPIRIT
- Fallen away (literally)
- Paul gives an example of two such former believers:
1 Timothy 1:18 Timothy, my son, I give you this instruction in keeping
with the prophecies once made about you, so that by following them you
may fight the good fight, 19 holding on to faith and a good conscience.
Some have rejected these and so have shipwrecked their faith. 20 Among
them are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I have handed over to Satan
to be taught not to blaspheme.
APPLICATION: If we have the free-will choice to accept the salvation of
Christ, we also have the free-will to walk away from that choice. God’s
Word warns us that such a choice is a one-way door that exits grace and
enters into judgment. Can you lose your salvation? ABSOLUTELY!
- Are good works necessary? (vs. 7-8)
Hebrews 6:7 Land that drinks in the rain often falling on it and that
produces a crop useful to those for whom it is farmed receives the
blessing of God. 8 But land that produces thorns and thistles is worthless
and is in danger of being cursed. In the end it will be burned.
- Jesus’ parable of the soils (Luke 8):
- God is the Sower of the Gospel seed.
- People are the soil. (Path, Rock, Thorns, Good soil)
- Most people (75% according to Jesus’ parable) fail to thrive and
produce.
- James links faith and works essentially TOGETHER:James 2:24 You see that a person is justified by what he does and not by
faith alone.
- Jesus Himself warns not simply against a lack of works, BUT of false
works that LOOK religious:
Matthew 7:21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the
kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in
heaven. 22 Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not
prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform
many miracles?’ 23 Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away
from me, you evildoers!’
APPLICATION: Are good works necessary? ABSOLUTELY!
- How important is perseverance? (vs. 9-12)
Hebrews 6:9 Even though we speak like this, dear friends, we are
confident of better things in your case — things that accompany salvation.
10 God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have
shown him as you have helped his people and continue to help them. 11
We want each of you to show this same diligence to the very end, in order
to make your hope sure. 12 We do not want you to become lazy, but to
imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been
promised.
- Remember the parable of the sower and the soils? 75% start the
journey of discipleship, only one out of four succeed. Why failure or
success is all about perseverance, “stick-to-it-ness”, or what the
Scripture simply calls faithfulness.
- Jesus gave several end-times prophecies. Listen to this one recorded in
Matthew’s Gospel. In it, Jesus warns against conditions in the spirit
realm, in the geo-political realm, and even within the Church- that have
the potential to cause YOU to give up on your faithful discipleship:
In the spirit realm:
Matthew 24:4 Jesus answered: “Watch out that no one deceives you. 5
For many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will
deceive many.In the geo-political realm:
Matthew 24:6 You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that
you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to
come. 7 Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom.
There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. 8 All these are
the beginning of birth pains.
In the Church:
Matthew 24:9 “Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to
death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me. 10 At that time
many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other,
11 and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. 12
Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold,
13 but he who stands firm to the end will be saved.
APPLICATION: How important is perseverance? YOU can’t live without it!
- Does God keep His promises? (vs. 13-20)
Hebrews 6:13 When God made his promise to Abraham, since there was
no one greater for him to swear by, he swore by himself, 14 saying, “I will
surely bless you and give you many descendants.” 15 And so after
waiting patiently, Abraham received what was promised. 16 Men swear
by someone greater than themselves, and the oath confirms what is said
and puts an end to all argument. 17 Because God wanted to make the
unchanging nature of his purpose very clear to the heirs of what was
promised, he confirmed it with an oath. 18 God did this so that, by two
unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have
fled to take hold of the hope offered to us may be greatly encouraged. 19
We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the
inner sanctuary behind the curtain, 20 where Jesus, who went before us,
has entered on our behalf. He has become a high priest forever, in the
order of Melchizedek.
APPLICATION: Does God keep His promises? Well, God answered that
question Himself: “YES! So help me ME!”
CONCLUSION: Just the facts: 3 BASICS, 4 BIG QUESTIONS. (Closing
song: “I’ll Live For Him” (#577).
