Chapter 6
A Warning
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.
The Apostle wants his readers to grow in Christ. When he says to go on to perfection he is wanting them to grow in their knowledge toward the perfection of the Holy Scriptures. As Christians we should all have a knowledge of regeneration (the new birth) from spiritual death to life, of faith and repentance, of baptism, of the laying on of hands, of the resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment. These are key fundamentals of the Christian faith. After learning those fundamentals it is important to continue to grow in the deeper doctrines of the faith. The author is willing to help with that training should God be willing.
4 For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, and have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, 6 If 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 some people who come to church, hear the gospel, partake of baptism and the Lord’s Supper, and might even make a profession of faith. However, it was a false profession. They heard the gospel, tasted how blessed it was, and by outward appearances they were Christians; however, they never really became saved. They never truly believed. Those who reject Christ after experiencing what the Lord did for us on this earth and seeing the benefits of being a disciple in His kingdom will not repent and come to Christ. They have rejected the Lord’s atonement of the cross and bring open shame to Him.
These verses do not teach that one can lose their salvation. The people these verses apply to have never truly gained their salvation. Scripture is abundantly clear. When we truly believe in Christ we have eternal life (John 3:16). It would not be eternal if it could be taken away. Also, no person, not even ourselves, can take us out of the hands of the Father and the Son once saved (John 10:27-30).
7 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 briars, it is rejected and near to being cursed, whose end is to be burned.
When the blessings of God and the gospel of salvation have been poured out on an individual who rejects that message, then that person will face eternal damnation in the lake of fire. That is why it is so important for a person to hear the gospel message of salvation in Jesus Christ and to turn to Him in faith, obedience, and discipleship.
Imitate Faithful Christians
9 But, beloved, we are confident of better things concerning you, yes, things that accompany salvation, though we speak in this manner.
The Apostle is saying here that he expects his Jewish readership will not be like those he has just referred to who rejected the gospel of Christ. He expects them to be saved in Christ.
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.
The God of heaven is not unjust. He will not forget their work and service of love they have shown in the name of Jesus Christ. God will not forget what we do for Him. This should be an encouragement to all of us who serve Christ. He never forgets what we do for Him and others.
11 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.
The Apostle wants to encourage his readers to stay the course in their relationship with Christ. They need to be diligent, faithful, and confident of the assurance of their salvation to the very end of life. He does not want them to become spiritually lazy as we all are from time to time. He wants his readers to imitate others who, because of their faith and patient living for Christ, have inherited the promise of eternal life.
God’s Promises Are Unchangeable
13 For when God made a promise to Abraham, because He could swear by no one greater, He swore by Himself, 14 saying, “Surely blessing I will bless you, and multiplying I will multiply you.” 15 And so, after he had patiently endured, he obtained the promise. 16 For men indeed swear by the greater, and an oath for confirmation is for them an end of all dispute.
God promised to bless Abraham by making a great nation through him and that all the families of the earth would be blessed through him. (Gen. 12:1-3) That promise was fulfilled in Jesus Christ who was a descendant of Abraham. Men, when they make an oath, swear by a greater authority than themselves which makes their commitment more binding. God swore this promise to Abraham by Himself as there was no one greater that God could swear by. Abraham had to wait patiently until he was about 100 years old to see the birth of his son Isaac. Patience is a virtue that many of us lack. We must remember that our time table is not God’s. His will and timing are always perfect for us even though we would prefer that our prayers be answered immediately. We must be patient to wait upon the Lord for our answers.
17 Thus God, determining to show more abundantly to the heirs of promise the immutability of His counsel, confirmed it by an oath, 18 that by two immutable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we might have strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold of the hope set before us.
God, wanting to show all Christians the promise of their inheritance of eternal life in Christ, confirmed this promise with an unchangeable oath. We can rest assured about His promise to believers because it is impossible for God to lie. This hope is of great comfort especially to those who have been persecuted for His name’s sake.
19 This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which enters the Presence behind the veil, 20 where the forerunner has entered for us, even Jesus, having become High Priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.
This hope of eternal life through faith in Jesus Christ is an unmovable anchor to our soul. Christ, at His crucifixion, tore down the veil or curtain of the temple separating man from God. Now we have open access to God through our High Priest Jesus Christ. He has entered for us into the Holy of Holies in the heavenly temple being a priest after the order of Melchizedek and not after the order of Levi or other human priesthood. .