Hebrews 6

1-12 The Peril of Falling Away

• Therefore (because so many of you are still immature), we must leave behind basic teachings:
  • repentance and faith
  • resurrection
  • laying on of hands
  • eternal judgment
• It is impossible to restore those who have
  • once been enlightened
  • tasted the heavenly gift
  • shared the Holy Spirit
  • tasted the goodness of the Word of God
  • tasted the powers of the age to come
• …and then fallen away, because they are
  • again crucifying Christ
  • holding Christ up to contempt

Note: This is evidence that even the sincerest Christian – one who has recognized all the blessings in Christ – is not immune to falling away from him. We must not only encourage one another to remain faithful; we must also not become arrogant about our own faithfulness. We must continue to grow in knowledge and in good work, for that is how we exercise our faith. Just as in the physical world, if we never use our muscles, they atrophy.

• Rain-soaked ground that produces fruit is blessed, but if it produces thorns, it will be burned up.
• This is hard talk, but we are confident of better things of you, for God has seen your work, love and service.
• Show the same diligence to persevere to the end; imitate those who through faith and patience inherit the promise.

13-20 The Certainty of God’s Promise

• God swore (before himself) to Abraham that he would bless him and multiply him.
• Abraham endured and received the promise.
• When we swear by something greater than ourselves, it’s taken as confirmation of what we say.
• We can hope in God’s promise, because 1) he never lies; 2) he guaranteed it with an oath. God condescended to our practice by backing up his promise to Abraham with an oath.
• Our hope
  • is a sure anchor of the soul
  • enters the most holy place because Jesus has gone there before us as a high priest after the order of Melchizedek.