Hebrews chapter 6 God's Oath" God brings immutable truth!
Hebrews Chapter 6 “God’s Oath”
Hebrews 6:1 Therefore, leaving the discussion of the elementary principles of Christ, let us go on to perfection, not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God, 2 of the doctrine of baptisms, of laying on of hands, of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment. 3 And this we will do if God permits.
Last lesson we covered these first few verses with chapter 5. The word of maturity is the word of righteousness and how Christ indeed rules with the scepter of righteousness. The righteousness that is from God is found exclusively through faith in Jesus Christ!
Hebrews 6:4 For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted the heavenly gift, and have become partakers of the Holy Spirit, 5 and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come, 6 if they fall away, to renew them again to repentance, since they crucify again for themselves the Son of God, and put Him to an open shame.
The most precious thing we possess is our confession of faith in Jesus our Messiah. This falling away is not a mere sinfully act in the life of the believer. It is an abandonment of faith in Jesus the Messiah. Notice it is only those who have been partakers of the Holy Spirit, they have tasted the heavenly gift and the word of God that can fall away. This is a forfeit of the rights and privileges found in the covenant of grace.
2 Peter 2:19 While they promise them liberty, they themselves are slaves of corruption; for by whom a person is overcome, by him also he is brought into bondage. 20 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 them and overcome, the latter end is worse for them than the beginning. 21 For it would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than having known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered to them. 22 But it has happened to them according to the true proverb: "A dog returns to his own vomit," and, "a sow, having washed, to her wallowing in the mire.“
Notice the Holy Spirit's careful wording here in the book of Peter while speaking of the act of falling away. It is more than getting entangled in the pollutants of the world; it is being entangled and overcome; it is a departure from faith in the Messiah. It would have been better to have not known the way of righteousness. Sober, but the warning is clear.
Hebrews 6:7 For the earth which drinks in the rain that often comes upon it, and bears herbs useful for those by whom it is cultivated, receives blessing from God; 8 but if it bears thorns and briars, it is rejected and near to being cursed, whose end is to be burned. 9 But, beloved, we are confident of better things concerning you, yes, things that accompany salvation, though we speak in this manner. 10 For God is not unjust to forget your work and labor of love which you have shown toward His name, in that you have ministered to the saints, and do minister. 11 And we desire that each one of you show the same diligence to the full assurance of hope until the end, 12 that you do not become sluggish, but imitate those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.
The thorns and briars will be burned! I love the “but” of verse 9. Beloved we are confident of better things concerning you, yes, things that accompany salvation. I have often said I believe in eternal security found exclusively in Jesus Christ; however I do not accept the mantra of once saved always saved. There is a continuing in the faith; Jesus called it enduring to the end. It not about continuing in good works; it is about keeping the object of your faith exclusively in Jesus Christ the Messiah!
Romans 11:19 You will say then, "Branches were broken off that I might be grafted in.“ 20 Well said. Because of unbelief they were broken off, and you stand by faith. Do not be haughty, but fear. 21 For if God did not spare the natural branches, He may not spare you either. 22 Therefore consider the goodness and severity of God: on those who fell, severity; but toward you, goodness, if you continue in His goodness. Otherwise you also will be cut off.
You stand by faith; consider the goodness and severity of God. On those who fell severity; but toward you goodness, if you continue in His goodness. Otherwise you also will be cut off. The danger of walking in sin is the hardness of the heart; hardness of heart can give birth to walking away from the faith by which we stand.
Hebrews 6:10 For God is not unjust to forget your work and labor of love which you have shown toward His name, in that you have ministered to the saints, and do minister. 11 And we desire that each one of you show the same diligence to the full assurance of hope until the end, 12 that you do not become sluggish, but imitate those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.
God remembers and is mindful every labor of love which you have shown toward His name. Cling to the love of Jesus! Show diligence to the full assurance of hope until the end; yes, it is an eternal security! Heed the warning do not become sluggish but imitate those who those who through faith and patience inherit the promises! Fellowship with those who are in pursuit of relationship with God.
Colossians 1:21 And you, who once were alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now He has reconciled 22 in the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy, and blameless, and above reproach in His sight; 23 if indeed you continue in the faith, grounded and steadfast, and are not moved away from the hope of the gospel which you heard, which was preached to every creature under heaven, of which I, Paul , became a minister.
Jesus indeed presents us holy, and blameless, and above reproach in His sight. However there is an “if” there and we must not ignore the fullness of the truth presented. We must continue in the faith! If the object of your faith remains in Jesus Christ the Messiah you will not be moved away from the hope of the gospel.
Hebrews 6:13 For when God made a promise to Abraham, because He could swear by no one greater, He swore by Himself, 14 saying, "Surely blessing I will bless you, and multiplying I will multiply you.“ 15 And so, after he had patiently endured, he obtained the promise. 16 For men indeed swear by the greater, and an oath for confirmation is for them an end of all dispute. 17 Thus God, determining to show more abundantly to the heirs of promise the immutability of His counsel, confirmed it by an oath,
God swore an oath by Himself! Based upon the strength of who God is He speaks a word of promise. Let their be an end to the dispute in your own heart; God wants to convince you His promises are true and can not be muted! Think about the depth of the goodness of this truth, God made a determination to convince you His word is truth! He is God and could have said here is truth, take it or leave it! His goodness says he wants “to show more abundantly to the heirs of promise the immutability of His counsel, and confirmed it by an oath.” Are you in covenant with God? He wants to show you the strength of His word and the immutability of it.
Immutable: Not subject or susceptible to change!
2 Corinthians 1:20 For all the promises of God in Him are Yes, and in Him Amen, to the glory of God through us.
For all the promises of God in Him are Yes, and in Him Amen, to the glory of God through us.
Hebrews 6:18 that by two immutable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we might have strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold of the hope set before us.
There are two immutable truths that the object of your faith can always rest in! The first is it is impossible for God to lie! Let it bring you strong consolation; let His truth be your hope and assurance.
Hebrews 6:19 This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which enters the Presence behind the veil, 20 where the forerunner has entered for us, even Jesus, having become High Priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.
The second immutable truth is Jesus Christ is your forerunner! Jesus tore the veil of separation between God and man! Jesus made every provision as your forerunner. Who is this God/ Man that humbled Himself to be our forerunner? This immutable truth is almost to good to be true. But only almost because it is immutable truth. Jesus made provision as our High Priest and now we are expected in the throne room of grace.
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