The writer of this letter was fully aware of the difficulties which these Hebrew believers were facing. Yet, he sought to encourage them to be faithful to the Lord Jesus Christ and not go back to their old way of worship. The writer wanted his readers to understand how much they had in the Lord Jesus Christ and how much God the Father had done for them.
The writer was also aware that many of them were babes instead of being spiritual mature. This fact was true even though they had been saved long enough to have matured. In this section, there is a call to spiritual progress. The foundation had been laid and accepted. They had the basics of the Christian faith and had been saved. Now it was time for them to allow God to carry them on to maturity.
The progress to maturity does not affect salvation. As they matured, they would not become "more saved" or "more secure in their salvation." This progress would result in fruitfulness. They were reminded that God was faithful to them as they matured and produced fruit. Hebrews 6:10 states,
"For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labor of love, which ye have shewed toward
His name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and so minister."
The progress to maturity demands diligent effort (Hebrews 6:11-12). While it is true that it is God who "carries us along" to maturity (Hebrews 6:1-3), 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). We must apply ourselves to the spiritual resources God has given us.
In this chapter, let us look at the basis for spiritual security. The writer did not want anyone to misinterpret his call to spiritual maturity. Therefore, he ended this section with a tremendous argument for the assurance of salvation. All of us believers are not making the spiritual progress that we should. But we should never fear that God will condemn us to hell. The writer gave three arguments for the certainty of salvation of the true believers.
GOD'S PROMISE
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Hebrews 6:13-15: 13For when God made promise to Abraham, because he could
swear by no greater, he sware by himself, 14Saying, Surely blessing I will bless
thee, and multiplying I will multiply thee. 15And so, after he had patiently
endured, he obtained the promise.
God's main promise to Abraham is recorded in Genesis 22:16-18. In spite of Abraham's failure and sins, God kept His promise and Isaac was born. Many of God's promises do not depend on our character but on His faithfulness.
Genesis 22:16-18: 16And said, By myself have I sworn, saith the LORD, for
because thou hast done this thing, and hast not withheld thy son, thine only son:
17That in blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed
as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which is upon the sea shore; and thy
seed shall possess the gate of his enemies; 18And in thy seed shall all the nations
of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed my voice.
The phrase "patiently endured" (Hebrews 6:15) is the exact opposite of "slothful" (Hebrews 6:12). The readers of this letter were being tempted to give up. Their abundance was running out. (See Hebrews 12:1, 2). "You will obtain and enjoy what God has promised if you diligently apply yourselves to the development of your spiritual life" is what the writer was teaching.
Hebrews 12:1, 2: 1Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud
of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us,
and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, 2Looking unto Jesus the
author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the
cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Today, we believers have more of God's promises than did Abraham. So, what is keeping us from making spiritual progress? We do not apply ourselves by faith. To return to the illustration of the farm, the farmer does not reap a harvest by sitting on the porch looking at the seed. He must get busy and plow, plant, weed, cultivate, and perhaps water the soil. The believer who neglects Church fellowship, ignore his Bible, does not obey the truths he understands, and forgets to pray is not going to be very fruitful and reap much of a harvest.
GOD'S OATH
Hebrews 6:16-18: 16For men verily swear by the greater: and an oath for
confirmation is to them an end of all strife. 17Wherein God, willing more
abundantly to shew unto the heirs of promise the immutability of his counsel,
confirmed it by an oath: 18That by two immutable things, in which it was
impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for
refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us:
God not only gave Abraham a promise, but He also confirmed that promise with an oath. When a witness takes an oath in court, he is confronted with the words 'So help me God." We call on the greater to witness for the lesser. None is greater than God, therefore He swore by Himself.
But God did not do this only for Abraham. God has also given His promise and oath to the "heirs of promise" (Verse l7). Abraham and his descendants are the first of these heirs (Hebrews 11:19), but all believers are included as "Abraham's spiritual seed (Galatians 3:29). Our assurance of salvation is 99
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guaranteed by God's promise and God's oath, "two immutable (unchangeable) things (Hebrews 6:18).
We have a "strong consolation" or great encouragement (paraklesis, a calling near, a summons to one's side, hence, an encouraging) concerning the hope set before us. Hebrews is a book of encouragement, not a book of discouragement.
Hebrews 11:19: 19Accounting that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead;
from whence also he received him in a figure.
Galatians 3:29: And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to
the promise.
The phrase "fled for refuge" (Hebrews 6:18) reminds us of the Old Testament "cities of refuge"
described in Numbers 35:5ff and Joshua 20. God appointed six cities, three on each side of the Jordan, into which a man could flee if he had accidentally killed someone. The elders of the city of refuge would investigate the case. If they determined that it was indeed manslaughter and not murder, they would permit the man to live in the city until the death of the high priest. Then he could return to his home. The members of the slain man's family could not avenge themselves so long as the man remained in the city.
We have fled to Jesus Christ, and He is our eternal refuge. As our High Priest, He will never die (Hebrews 7:23-25). Therefore, we have eternal salvation. No avenger can touch us because He has already died and is risen from the dead (Romans 8:31-34).
Hebrews 7:23-25: 23And they truly were many priests, because they were not
suffered to continue by reason of death: 24But this man, because he continueth
ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood. 25Wherefore he is able also to save them
to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make
intercession for them.
Romans 8:31-34: 31What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who
can be against us? 32He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for
us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things? 33Who shall lay
any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth. 34Who is he that
condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at
the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.
GOD'S SON
Hebrews 6:19-20: 19Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure
and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the veil; 20Whither the
forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made an high priest for ever after the
order of Melchisedec.
Our hope in Jesus Christ is like an anchor for the soul. The anchor was a popular symbol in the early church. At least sixty-six pictures of anchors have been found in the catacombs. Believers have but one anchor—Jesus Christ our hope (Colossians 1:3-5; 1 Timothy 1:1).
Colossians 1:3-5: 3We give thanks to God and the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
praying always for you, 4Since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus, and of the
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love which ye have to all the saints, 5For the hope which is laid up for you in
heaven, whereof ye heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel;
1 Timothy 1:1: Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the commandment of God our
Saviour, and Lord Jesus Christ, which is our hope;
The spiritual anchor is different from the material anchors on ships. We are anchored upward, to heaven—not downward. We are anchored, not to stand still, but to move ahead. Our anchor is sure (Greek asphale—not falling, immoveable, safe, secure). It cannot break. Our anchor is steadfast (Greek bebaios—firm, steady, steadfast). It cannot slip. No earthly anchor can give that kind of security.
The writer then clinches the argument. Our Saviour is our Forerunner Who has gone ahead to heaven so that we may one day follow (Hebrews 6:20). The Old Testament high priest was NOT
a forerunner, because no one could follow him into the holy of holies. But Jesus Christ has gone to heaven so that one day we may follow.
CONCLUSION
The message of this section is: Believers must go on to maturity, and God has made it possible for us to do so.
If we start to drift from the Word (Hebrews 2:1-4), then we may begin to doubt the Word (Hebrews 3:7-4:13). Before long, we could become dull toward the Word (Hebrews 5:11-6:20) and become lazy hearers.
The best way to keep from drifting is "to lay hold of the anchor."
Have you trusted Jesus Christ to be you personal Savior?
Are you growing spiritually? Do you know your security in Jesus?
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