Oct. 13, 2024

“LIVE BY FAITH, NOT BY SIGHT”

“GROW UP-ARE YOU MAKING SPIRITUAL PROGRESS?

HEBREWS 6:1-12 

*The Call To Spiritual Maturity:

1.  It Is A Call To Spiritual Progress.

Hebrews 6:1-3 “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.”

If we are going to make progress, we have to leave the childhood things behind and go forward in spiritual growth.

The phrase “let us go on…” vs.1 could be “let us be carried forward.” It is God who enables us to progress as we yield to Him, receive His Word, and act on it.

The writer lists six foundational truths of the Christian life, all of which, by the way, are also foundational to the Jewish faith. After all, our Christian faith is based on the Jewish faith:

John 4:22 “You worship what you do not know; we know what we worship, for salvation is of the Jews.”

The first two items, “repentance” and “faith” vs.1 are Godward and mark the invitation of the spiritual life. To “repent” means to change one’s mind.

Acts 5:31 “Him God has exalted to His right hand to be Prince and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins.”

Acts 11:18 “When they heard these things they became silent; and they glorified God, saying, “Then God has also granted to the Gentiles repentance to life.”

Then that person is able to exercise faith in God. Repentance and faith go together:

Acts 20:21 “testifying to Jews, and also to Greeks, repentance toward God and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.”

The next two items, “Baptism” and the “laying on of hands” vs.2, have to do with a person’s relationship to the local church. In the New Testament a person who repented and trusted Christ by faith was baptized and became a part of a local church:

Acts 2:41-47

The word “baptism” in vs.2 is plural and can be translated “washings” 

Hebrews 9:10 “concerned only with foods and drinks, various washings, and fleshly ordinances imposed until the time of reformation.”

While water itself can never cleanse sin, baptism is a symbol of spiritual cleansing as well as our identification with Christ in death, burial, and resurrection:

1 Peter 3:21 “There is also an antitype which now saves us, baptism (not the removal of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God), through the resurrection of Jesus Christ.”

Romans 6:1-4

The “laying on of hands…” vs.2 symbolizes the sharing of some blessings or the setting a part of a person for ministry:

Luke 24:50 “And He led them out as far as Bethany, and He lifted up His hands and blessed them.”

1 Timothy 4:14 “Do not neglect the gift that is in you, which was given to you by prophecy with the laying on of the hands of the eldership.”

The last two items, “the resurrection of the dead” vs.2

Acts 24:14-15

And the “eternal judgment” vs.2 have to do with the future:

Acts 17:30-31

The lesson of these first three verses is clear, the foundation has been laid, you know your ABC’s. Now move forward! Let God carry you along to maturity:

Hebrews 6:3 “And this we will do if God permits.”

2.   This Progress Does Not Affect Salvation.

Hebrews 6:4-6 “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.”

Paul gives a solemn warning about the tragic alternative to spiritual growth.

1 Corinthians 9:27 “But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified.”

“Disqualified” or “castaway”- disqualified from further use, this is used of impure silver that was unworthy to be used in making coins.

vs.4 “once enlightened” the once means enlightened once and for all.

Hebrews 10:32 “But recall the former days in which, after you were illuminated, you endured a great struggle with sufferings.”

2 Corinthians 4:4-6

vs.4 “..tasted the heavenly gift..”- is an understanding of the first concepts of salvation. Romans 6:23, John 4:10

“Taste”-carries the idea of experienced.

vs.4 “…and have become partakers of the Holy Spirit.” Is a reference to having received the gift of the Holy Spirit and then gives evidence of His work of transforming their lives. The fruit of the Spirit:

Galatians 5:22-23 

vs.5 “and have tasted the good word of God…”-refers to being instructed by Scripture and seeing it transform their character.

So what is the writer saying?

vs.6 “fall away..”- to stumble, to fall down, it is the same word used of our Lord when He went into the Garden of Gethsemane, fell on His face, and prayed.

Example of men who fell away: 

*Peter- Luke 22:32 “But I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail; and when you have returned to Me, strengthen your brethren.”

*John Mark- Acts 15:32-38, 2 Timothy 4:11 “Only Luke is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, for he is useful to me for ministry.”

Now neither Peter nor John Mark lost their salvation, but they certainly failed and they suffered loss for it.

Not growing does not cause you to lose your salvation, you just miss out on resting in Jesus.

3.   This Progress Results In Fruitfulness

Hebrews 6:7-10 “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 briers, 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, 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.”

This illustration of a field reminds us of our Lord’s parable of the sower: Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23, as well as Paul’s teaching about the fire testing our works: 1 Corinthians 3:6-23.

Note that the “thorns and briers” are burned, not the field. God never curses His own.

The crop of God’s blessing is pictured in vs.7 “…things that accompany salvation..” vs.9 Not every believer bears the same amount of fruit “some a hundred, some sixty, some thirty.” Matthew 13:23.

4.   This Progress Demands Diligent Effort.

Hebrews 6:11-12 “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.”

“Diligence” vs.11- means to continually exert oneself or to make every effort.

Proverbs 24:30-34 

Are you willing to heed the Word of God and do it?

Has the Holy Spirit of God been prompting you to turn away from some sin?