One of the things which the writer of this book desired for his readers was that they become spiritually mature. So far in this letter, we have noted that the writer has called attention to their lack of spiritual growth. In Chapter 2, he spoke of their drifting from the Word of God. In Chapters 3 and 4, he spoke of their doubting the Word of God. In Chapter 5:11-14, we looked at marks of spiritual immaturity. The writer pointed out that they were dull of hearing and hard to teach.
Dullness toward the Word of God is a mark of spiritual immaturity. The Hebrew believers were also lacking the ability to share the Word of God. They had been saved long enough and had been taught the truth and ought to be teachers. But instead, they needed to be taught the basic doctrines of the Christian faith. Therefore, they had become such that need a baby food diet and were unskillful in the word of righteousness.
In this section, the writer speaks about their dullness to the Word of God. In this chapter, we will look at the call to spiritual maturity. When a person is saved, he is a babe in Christ. But God wants him to grow and to mature. No one can escape coming into the world as a baby, because that is the only way to get here. But it is tragic when a baby fails to grow and mature. No matter how much parents and grandparents love to hold and cuddle a baby, it is their desire that the baby grow up and enjoy a full life as a mature adult. God has the same desire for His Children. That is why we are urged to "go on to maturity."
IT IS A CALL TO SPIRITUAL PROGRESS
89
HEBREWS GOD’S PLAN FOR SPIRITUAL MATURITY
Hebrews 6:1-3: 1Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us
go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead
works, and of faith toward God, 2Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of
hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment. 3And this will
we do, if God permit.
If we are going to make progress, we have to leave the childhood things behind and go forward in spiritual growth.
1 Peter 2:1-3, "Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies,
and envies, and all evil speakings, As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of
the Word, that ye may grow thereby: If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is
gracious."
2 Peter 3:18, "But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
To Him be glory both now and for ever."
The term "leaving" speaks of a literal moving of an object from the vicinity of another. It contemplates an alteration in state from the viewpoint of the original situation. It means to move on from this point.
The phrase "let us go on" means 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 "principles of the doctrine of Christ" or the
"word of the beginning of Christ" had been accepted. Now they need to move forward to full growth.
Ephesians 4:13-15 : 13Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the
knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature
of the fulness of Christ: 14That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and
fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and
cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; 15But speaking the truth
in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:
Do not lay the foundation again (Verses l, 2). Note three things. The foundation which these Hebrew believers had is about to be described. The laying of the foundation at the first was approved. The exhortation is not to be occupied with relaying the foundation but to press forward toward maturity.
The foundation
The writer lists six foundational truths of the Christian life. Repentance from dead works. Their consciences were to be cleansed by Christ's blood from dead works (Hebrews 9:13, 14; Deuteronomy 6:24, 25; Galatians 3:11, 12; Romans 4:6; Romans 10:2-4).
Hebrews 9:13, 14: 13For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an
90
HEBREWS GOD’S PLAN FOR SPIRITUAL MATURITY
heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh: 14How
much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered
himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the
living God?
Deuteronomy 6:24, 25: 24And the LORD commanded us to do all these statutes,
to fear the LORD our God, for our good always, that he might preserve us alive,
as it is at this day. 25And it shall be our righteousness, if we observe to do all
these commandments before the LORD our God, as he hath commanded us.
Galatians 3:11, 12: 11But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God,
it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith. 12And the law is not of faith: but,
The man that doeth them shall live in them.
Romans 4:6: Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto
whom God imputeth righteousness without works,
Romans 10:2-4: 2For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not
according to knowledge. 3For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and
going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves
unto the righteousness of God. 4For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness
to every one that believeth.
Faith toward God
To turn away from all ordinances and works and to rely upon God would have seemed presumption to them. Yet the Word of the beginning of Christ had taught them just that. This was because of the Sacrifice of Jesus Christ (Acts 20:21; 1 Peter 1:18-21; Galatians 3:24-26).
Acts 20:21: Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward
God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.
1 Peter 1:18-21: 18Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with
corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by
tradition from your fathers; 19But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb
without blemish and without spot: 20Who verily was foreordained before the
foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you, 21Who by
him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that
your faith and hope might be in God.
Galatians 3:24-26: 24Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto
Christ, that we might be justified by faith. 25But after that faith is come, we are
no longer under a schoolmaster. 26For ye are all the children of God by faith in
Christ Jesus.
Doctrine or teaching of baptisms
91
HEBREWS GOD’S PLAN FOR SPIRITUAL MATURITY
Those baptisms are John's baptism and Christian baptism. In Hebrews 9:10, the term translated
"baptisms" is translated "washings". When they trusted the Lord Jesus Christ, they left all of the Old Testament washings behind because they were fulfilled by Jesus Christ.
Laying on of hands
It was connected with the Old Testament sacrifices, the receiving of the Holy Spirit in the transition stage of the early Church, ordination, and bodily healing (a sign gift).
Resurrection of the dead
The history of the Hebrews held a belief of the resurrection of the dead, (Isaiah 26:19; Daniel 12:2; Job 19:25; John 11:21-26).
Isaiah 26:19: Thy dead men shall live, together with my dead body shall they arise.
Awake and sing, ye that dwell in dust: for thy dew is as the dew of herbs, and the
earth shall cast out the dead.
Daniel 12:2: And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake,
some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.
Job 19:25: For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the
latter day upon the earth:
John 11:21-26: 21Then said Martha unto Jesus, Lord, if thou hadst been here,
my brother had not died. 22But I know, that even now, whatsoever thou wilt ask
of God, God will give it thee. 23Jesus saith unto her, Thy brother shall rise again.
24Martha saith unto him, I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at
the last day. 25Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that
believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: 26And whosoever liveth
and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?
Eternal judgment
Judgment is spoken of throughout the Bible (Daniel 12:2, 3; John 5:24-29).
Daniel 12:2, 3: 2And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake,
some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt. 3And they
that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn
many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever.
John 5:24-29: 24Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and
believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into
condemnation; but is passed from death unto life. 25Verily, verily, I say unto you,
The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of
God: and they that hear shall live. 26For as the Father hath life in himself; so
92
HEBREWS GOD’S PLAN FOR SPIRITUAL MATURITY
hath he given to the Son to have life in himself; 27And hath given him authority
to execute judgment also, because he is the Son of man. 28Marvel not at this: for
the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice,
29And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life;
and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.
The lesson in Hebrews 6:1-3 is clear. The foundation has been laid. You know your ABC's of the faith: Now it is time to move forward! Let God carry you along to maturity. These are also foundation to the Jewish faith. After all, our Christian faith is based on the Jewish faith and is a fulfillment of it (John 4:22-24; Luke 24:44-47).
John 4:22-24: 22Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for
salvation is of the Jews. 23But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true
worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh
such to worship him. 24God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship
him in spirit and in truth.
Luke 24:44-47: 44And he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto
you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written
in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me.
45Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the
scriptures, 46And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ
to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day: 47And that repentance and
remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning
at Jerusalem.
If the readers of this letter went back to Judaism in order to escape persecution, they would only be abandoning the perfect for the imperfect, the mature for the immature.
THIS PROGRESS DOES NOT AFFECT SALVATION
Hebrews 6:4-6 : 4For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and
have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost,
5And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, 6If
they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to
themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame.
There are several views regarding these verses. Let us note some of them.
One view is that the writer is warning his readers against the sin of apostasy, willfully turning one's back on Jesus Christ and returning to the old life. According to this view, such a person would lose his salvation and be lost forever. Those who teach that a person can lose his salvation also teach that such a person can be restored. But this passage (Hebrews 6:4-6) teaches the opposite. These verses show that "For it is impossible...to renew them again to repentance." In other words, if this refers to apostasy, once a saved person turns his back on Christ, he cannot be restored to salvation.
Therefore, he is lost forever.
93
HEBREWS GOD’S PLAN FOR SPIRITUAL MATURITY
Another view claims that the people addressed were not true believers. This view states that the readers had cooperated with the Holy Spirit up to a point, but they were not actually born again.
This view holds that they had tasted of the heavenly gift which gave them an impression of its character and quality. These Hebrews were like the spies at Kadesh-barnea who saw the land and had the very fruit in their hands and yet wanted to turn back (Numbers 13, 14; Hebrews 4:1-13).
One of the pre-salvation ministries of the Spirit is to enable the unsaved, who come under the hearing of the Gospel, to have a certain appreciation of the blessedness of salvation. This view teaches that the Hebrews became participators in the Holy Spirit insofar as an unsaved person can do so, name in the sense that they listened as He led them step by step toward the act of faith. He had led them into the act of repentance. The next step would be that of faith. If they did not make that step, they would not be saved or brought to that point again.
A third view is that this sin (whatever it is) could be committed only by the Hebrew Christians in the first century, while the temple services were occurring. If so, then why did the writer connect this exhortation with the heavenly priesthood of our Lord Jesus Christ and the importance of spiritual maturity? If what he wrote about cannot happen today, what is the motivation behind the exhortation?
It is probable that the writer is describing a hypothetical case to prove his point that a true believer cannot lose his salvation. His statement in Verse 9 seems to support this interpretation. "But,
beloved, we are persuaded better things of you, and things that accompany salvation, thou we
thus speak." His argument runs like this: "Let's suppose that you do not go on to maturity, does this mean that you will go back to condemnation, that is, that you will lose your salvation.
Impossible!
If you can lose your salvation: It would be impossible to get it back again. This would disgrace Jesus Christ. He would have to be crucified again for you, and this could never happen. Remember the writer is talking about spiritual maturity, not salvation. The writer was speaking of fruit of salvation, not the root of salvation (1 Corinthians 3:11-15; 1 John 1:7).
1 Corinthians 3:11-15: 11For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid,
which is Jesus Christ. 12Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver,
precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; 13Every man's work shall be made manifest:
for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall
try every man's work of what sort it is. 14If any man's work abide which he hath
built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. 15If any man's work shall be burned,
he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.
1 John 1:7: But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship
one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.
NOTE SOME OF THE WORDS IN VERSES 4-6.
➢ Once (hapaz)— once for all. See Hebrews 9:26-28; 10:2, 10; 12:26-27.
➢ Enlightened (photisthentas—aorist Passive participle) having been enlightened.
94
HEBREWS GOD’S PLAN FOR SPIRITUAL MATURITY
➢ Have tasted (geusamenous—aor. Middle participle) having tasted for themselves, experience, partake of. Verses 4, 5. See Hebrews 2:9. Do not confuse the English word taste with this word. The English word means to test or take a small amount.
➢ Heavenly gift—salvation through Jesus Christ.
➢ Partakers (metochous) having in association with another; as substantive, a sharer with another. This word is translated "fellows" in Hebrews 1:9, partakers in Hebrews 3:1, and Hebrews 12:8.
➢ Were made (genethentas—aorist Passive participle) having been made.
➢ Shall fall away (parapesontas—aorist 2 Active participle) having fallen away. Not a future tense.
THIS PROGRESS RESULTS IN FRITFULNESS
Verses 7-10: 7For the earth which drinketh in the rain that cometh oft upon it,
and bringeth forth herbs meet for them by whom it is dressed, receiveth blessing
from God: 8But that which beareth thorns and briers is rejected, and is nigh unto
cursing; whose end is to be burned. 9But, beloved, we are persuaded better things
of you, and things that accompany salvation, though we thus speak. 10For God
is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have shewed
toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister.
The illustration
The writer used an illustration of a field to remind his readers of our Lord's parable of the Sower (Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23) as well as the teaching about the fire testing our works (1 Corinthians 3:11-15). A field proves its worth by bearing fruit, as a true believer, as he makes spiritual progress, bears fruit to the glory of God. Note that the "thorns and briars" are burned, not the field. God never curses His own! Not all who hear the Gospel believe and are saved.
Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23: 1The same day went Jesus out of the house, and sat by
the sea side. 2And great multitudes were gathered together unto him, so that he
went into a ship, and sat; and the whole multitude stood on the shore. 3And he
spake many things unto them in parables, saying, Behold, a sower went forth to
sow; 4And when he sowed, some seeds fell by the way side, and the fowls came
and devoured them up: 5Some fell upon stony places, where they had not much
earth: and forthwith they sprung up, because they had no deepness of earth:
6And when the sun was up, they were scorched; and because they had no root,
they withered away. 7And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprung up,
and choked them: 8But other fell into good ground, and brought forth fruit, some
an hundredfold, some sixtyfold, some thirtyfold. 9Who hath ears to hear, let him
hear….18Hear ye therefore the parable of the sower. 19When any one heareth
the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not, then cometh the wicked one,
95
HEBREWS GOD’S PLAN FOR SPIRITUAL MATURITY
and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart. This is he which received
seed by the way side. 20But he that received the seed into stony places, the same
is he that heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it; 21Yet hath he not root
in himself, but dureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth
because of the word, by and by he is offended. 22He also that received seed among
the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the
deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful. 23But he
that received seed into the good ground is he that heareth the word, and
understandeth it; which also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some an
hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.
1 Corinthians 3:11-15: 11For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid,
which is Jesus Christ. 12Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver,
precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; 13Every man's work shall be made manifest:
for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall
try every man's work of what sort it is. 14If any man's work abide which he hath
built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. 15If any man's work shall be burned,
he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.
The crop of God's blessing pictured in Hebrews 6:7 is called "things that accompany salvation" in Verse 9. Not every believer bears the same amount of fruit, but every believer bears some kind of fruit as proof that he is a child of God. Some produce 30, 60, and 100 fold. This the fruit of Christian character and conduct produced by the Spirit as we mature in Christ. See Galatians 5:22-26.
Galatians 5:22-26: 22But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering,
gentleness, goodness, faith, 23Meekness, temperance: against such there is no
law. 24And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and
lusts. 25If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. 26Let us not be
desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another.
The writer listed some of the fruit that he knew had been produced in their lives (Verse 10): Their and labor of love, their ministry to the saints, and their continuing ministry to the saints (1
Thessalonians 1:3-10; Revelation 2:2).
1 Thessalonians 1:3-10: 3Remembering without ceasing your work of faith, and
labour of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, in the sight of God
and our Father; 4Knowing, brethren beloved, your election of God. 5For our
gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost,
and in much assurance; as ye know what manner of men we were among you for
your sake. 6And ye became followers of us, and of the Lord, having received the
word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Ghost: 7So that ye were ensamples
to all that believe in Macedonia and Achaia. 8For from you sounded out the word
of the Lord not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place your faith
to God-ward is spread abroad; so that we need not to speak any thing. 9For they
themselves shew of us what manner of entering in we had unto you, and how ye
96
HEBREWS GOD’S PLAN FOR SPIRITUAL MATURITY
turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God; 10And to wait for his
Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us
from the wrath to come.
Revelation 2:2: I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience, and how thou
canst not bear them which are evil: and thou hast tried them which say they are
apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars:
These were some of the "things that accompany salvation." But the writer was concerned that they would rest on their achievements and not press on to full maturity and the enjoyment of God's rich inheritance (Philippians 3:12-15).
Philippians 3:12-15: 12Not as though I had already attained, either were already
perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am
apprehended of Christ Jesus. 13Brethren, I count not myself to have
apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind,
and reaching forth unto those things which are before, 14I press toward the mark
for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. 15Let us therefore, as
many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded,
God shall reveal even this unto you.
THIS PROGRESS DEMANDS DILIGENT EFFORT
Verses 11-12: 11And we desire that every one of you do shew the same diligence
to the full assurance of hope unto the end: 12That ye be not slothful, but followers
of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises.
While it is true that it is God who "carries us along" to maturity (Hebrews 6: l-3), it is also true that the believer must do his part. We must not be lazy ("slothful," the same word as "dull" in Hebrews 5:7) but apply ourselves to the spiritual resources God has given us.
We have the promise from God. We should exercise faith and patience and claim these promises for ourselves. Like Caleb and Joshua, we must believe God's promise and we must want to go in and claim the land.
Conclusion
It is not a sin to be spiritually immature if you have been recently saved. It is the will of God that each believer grow and mature spiritually. If we drift from the Word and doubt the Word, then we are not far from being dull to hearing the Word of God. Becoming spiritual does not affect our position of salvation, but it does affect our practice of our salvation. When we begin to mature, there will be evidence in the form of spiritual fruit.
God is calling every believer to spiritual maturity. What will you do with that call?
97
HEBREWS GOD’S PLAN FOR SPIRITUAL MATURITY