Hebrews chapter 6

We need to grow into an active ministry to other people. Can we lose our eternal salvation? God’s promises are certain.

 


 

FROM SPIRITUAL INFANCY TO ACTIVE MINISTRY, CONTINUED

 

VERSE 1. Therefore leaving the teaching of the first principles of Christ, let’s press on to perfection—not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works, of faith toward God,

leaving the teaching of the first principles. We are to grow beyond a life where we are takers. We need to go beyond just showing up and being given basic teachings for beginners.

Those things are meant for a brand new Christian. Those things are like spiritual “milk” for baby Christians.

repentance from dead works. That is, trusting Christ for our eternal salvation instead of trying to earn it by our own religious works.

faith toward God. Eternal salvation involves coming to faith in God.

Hebrews 5:13. For everyone who lives on milk is not experienced in the word of righteousness, for he is a baby.

 

VERSE 2. of the teaching of baptisms, of laying on of hands, of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment.

the teaching of baptisms. When a non-Christian comes to faith in Christ, they normally get baptized.

laying on of hands. This probably refers to elders praying for a sick person.

resurrection of the dead. This is, of course, a key teaching.

eternal judgment. This is, of course, a key teaching.

These are important teachings. They lay the foundation for growth as a believer. They are like milk for babies.

A brand new Christian, or a believer whose faith has been recently awakened, needs these teachings.

However, it is normal and healthy for that believer to grow beyond these and want solid food.

Hebrews 5:13. For everyone who lives on milk is not experienced in the word of righteousness, for he is a baby.

 

VERSE 3. This will we do, if God permits.

if God permits. Lots of us plan for the future. But we don’t even know what will happen tomorrow. We should say “God-willing” and speak tentatively of our future. Read  more »

 

CAN WE LOSE OUR ETERNAL SALVATION?

 

VERSE 4. For concerning those who were once enlightened and tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Spirit,

those who were once enlightened. That is, people who had faith in Jesus Christ. They were saved.

tasted of the heavenly gift. They had received Jesus Christ into their hearts and lives.

made partakers of the Holy Spirit. They had been baptized in the Holy Spirit.

The Lord Jesus says whoever commits blasphemy against the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven. What is this Unforgivable Sin, and how can we avoid doing it? Read more »

 

VERSE 5. and tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come,

tasted the good word of God. They were students of the Scriptures. They were into the Bible.

the powers of the age to come. They had received ministry Gifts of the Holy Spirit, and put them into practice.

The Lord Jesus says whoever commits blasphemy against the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven. What is this Unforgivable Sin, and how can we avoid doing it? Read more »

 

VERSE 6. and then fell away, it is impossible to renew them again to repentance; seeing they crucify the Son of God for themselves again, and put him to open shame.

and then fell away. Did they loose their eternal salvation?

impossible to renew them again to repentance. The Lord Jesus says whoever commits blasphemy against the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven. What is this Unforgivable Sin, and how can we avoid doing it? Read more »

 

VERSE 7. For the land which has drunk the rain that comes often on it and produces a crop suitable for them for whose sake it is also tilled, receives blessing from God;

produces a crop. If we are being spiritually fruitful, we will …

receives blessing from God. We will be blessed.

 

VERSE 8. but if it bears thorns and thistles, it is rejected and near being cursed, whose end is to be burned.

if it bears thorns and thistles. If we are NOT being spiritually fruitful, then …

rejected and near being cursed. We will not be blessed. Instead, we will lose what we have.

Matthew 25:29. For to everyone who has will be given, and he will have abundance, but from him who doesn’t have, even that which he has will be taken away.

 

VERSE 9. But, beloved, we are persuaded of better things for you, and things that accompany salvation, even though we speak like this.

 

VERSE 10. For God is not unrighteous, so as to forget your work and the labor of love which you showed toward his name, in that you served the saints, and still do serve them.

NIV translation. 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.

This verse is fantastic! Would you consider memorizing it? More great verses to memorize from the Letter to the Hebrews and from the entire Bible.

your work and the labor of love. The things you do by faith are worth it!

Sirach 44:10. But these were men of mercy, Whose righteous deeds have not been forgotten.

 

VERSE 11. We desire that each one of you may show the same diligence to the fullness of hope even to the end,

even to the end. Walking with Jesus Christ is a lifelong project.

 

VERSE 12. that you won’t be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and perseverance inherited the promises.

won’t be sluggish. Many professing Christians are complacent in their faith. They are lukewarm. They need to find a way to get re-excited about Jesus Christ.

Revelation 3:15-16. I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were cold or hot. 16 So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will vomit you out of my mouth.

 

GOD’S PROMISES ARE CERTAIN

 

VERSE 13. For when God made a promise to Abraham, since he could swear by no one greater, he swore by himself,

 

VERSE 14. saying, “Surely blessing I will bless you, and multiplying I will multiply you.”

blessing I will bless you. God the Father promised blessings to Abraham.

multiplying I will multiply you. The blessing was that Abraham’s seed would be multiplied. Through his offspring, Abraham would become a great nation.

 

VERSE 15. Thus, having patiently endured, he obtained the promise.

having patiently endured. Abraham waited patiently for many years, when he and Sarah had no offspring.

he obtained the promise. Finally, Isaac was born.

 

VERSE 16. For men indeed swear by a greater one, and in every dispute of theirs the oath is final for confirmation.

 

VERSE 17. In this way God, being determined to show more abundantly to the heirs of the promise the immutability of his counsel, interposed with an oath,

the immutability of his counsel. God’s promises are not “yes” but then “no.” Rather, they are stable and consistent. They do not depend on our own faithfulness, but rather on the nature of God.

 

VERSE 18. that by two immutable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we may have a strong encouragement, who have fled for refuge to take hold of the hope set before us.

it is impossible for God to lie. We are accustomed to people lying. However, God does not lie:

Numbers 23:19. God is not a man, that he should lie, nor a son of man, that he should repent. Has he said, and will he not do it? Or has he spoken, and will he not make it good?

 

VERSE 19. This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, a hope both sure and steadfast and entering into that which is within the veil;

an anchor of the soul. Our hope in God’s promises is an anchor to keep us rooted!

 

VERSE 20. where as a forerunner Jesus entered for us, having become a high priest forever after the order of Melchizedek.

 


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HEBREWS

CHAPTERS: 01, 02, 03, 04, 05, 06, 07, 08, 09, 10, 11, 12, 13

RESOURCES: Summary, Outline, Memorize

Unless otherwise noted, all Bible quotations on this page are from the World English Bible and the World Messianic Edition. These translations have no copyright restrictions. They are in the Public Domain.