Hebrews 06
6:1 Therefore we must progress beyond the elementary instructions about Christ and move on to maturity, not laying this foundation again: repentance from dead works and faith in God,
The author informed the Messianic believers that they were not mature believers. They needed to study Bible doctrine at a deeper level. The author listed six basics of the faith.
The first basic doctrine was belief in Christ. The second doctrine was the repentance from dead works. The third doctrine was faith in God.
6:2 teaching about baptisms, laying on of hands, resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment.
The fourth doctrine was baptism. The fifth doctrine was laying on of hands (which represents identification). The sixth doctrine was eternal security.
6:3 And this is what we intend to do, if God permits.
This is a first-class condition sentence. It should be translated as “This is what we intend to do, since God permits it.” It is God’s will that the Messianic believers do not return to Judaism. Instead, God wants them to mature in their Bible doctrine.
6:4 For it is impossible in the case of those who have once been enlightened, tasted the heavenly gift, become partakers of the Holy Spirit,
The Messianic believers had “once” been enlightened. This means that at one time in their life, they entered a knowledge of God’s truth.
They “tasted the heavenly gift.” This means that they received eternal life as a gift from God.
They “became partakers of the Holy Spirit.” This means that they were indwelled by the Holy Spirit at the moment of their salvation.
6:5 tasted the good word of God and the miracles of the coming age,
The Messianic believers “tasted the good word of God.” This means that they experienced blessings from God through the Word of God. They were able to understand the Word of God, because they were no longer natural men.
The Messianic believers experienced “the miracles of the coming age.” This means that they were introduced to the peace which they will enjoy during the eternal kingdom to come.
All of these five terms from verses 5-6 are never used of professing believers. These are all attributes of believers in Christ.
6:6 and then have committed apostasy, to renew them again to repentance, since they are crucifying the Son of God for themselves all over again and holding him up to contempt.
This is a very controversial verse which cannot be understood correctly, unless the student understands the preceding five chapters. Armenians will take this passage out of context and falsely teach that one can lose their salvation. They will usually quote this verse alone and out of context. Since most listeners do not understand the five preceding chapters, they fall for the false teaching of Arminianism.
In this verse, the author is not warning the Messianic believers that they were going to lose their salvation. The author has already used the Greek perfect tense verse to authenticate that their salvation is already a completed action of the past which extends into eternity. He is warning them that they are about to lapse into spiritual immaturity.
The Messianic Jews were experiencing extreme persecution from other Jews. They were losing their jobs, their property, and their social status in the community. They were executed from their synagogues. They lost fellowship with their families, friends, and business associates. To avoid this persecution, many of them wanted to return to Judaism temporarily, and then go back into the faith after the persecution ended.
The author informed these Messianic Jews that if they temporarily turned back to Judaism, then they would be committing apostasy. They would be telling the Jewish world that Jesus was not the Messiah. They would be confirming that the crucifixion of Jesus was the correct thing for the Jewish leaders to do, because Jesus was a criminal. They would be crucifying Jesus again, holding him in contempt. They would be casting their lot with Judaism, although secretly, they were still saved.
If the Messianic believers followed this path, then they may possibly be killed in the temple destruction of 70 A.D. Since the messianic Jews would rejoin these synagogues, they may lose their physical lives as well. They would never lose their eternal life, but they would commit the sin unto death. They would also lose the opportunity for spiritual growth. They may possibly die in the temple destruction as baby Christians who did nothing for the kingdom of God. They would keep their eternal life, but they would lose their spiritual growth and their physical life. They would also lose their eternal rewards in heaven.
Since it is impossible for the Messianic believers to lose their salvation, then it is not possible for them to give up their salvation and return to Judaism in an unsaved state. Therefore, they need to forget about turning to Judaism. Instead, they need to mature in their spiritual growth. They need to press on to maturity by studying and applying Bible doctrine.
6:7 For the ground that has soaked up the rain that frequently falls on it and yields useful vegetation for those who tend it receives a blessing from God.
When rain falls upon the earth, then crops are expected. When God poured His blessings on these Messianic believers, then He expected them to produce crops.
6:8 But if it produces thorns and thistles, it is useless and about to be cursed; its fate is to be burned.
If the Messianic Jews do not produce crops, then they will produce thorns and thistles. This makes them useless to the Kingdom of God. God will burn them up and throw them away. He will call them home via the sin unto death.
6:9 But in your case, dear friends, even though we speak like this, we are convinced of better things relating to salvation.
The author identified the Messianic believers as “friends,” meaning that they were fellow believers in Christ. The author spoke harshly to him, but he was convinced that they would not make the same mistake of Korah and his followers. He was confident that they would not return to Judaism. He was confident that they would not produce thorns and thistles which needed to be burned. He was confident that they would produce good fruit.
6:10 For God is not unjust so as to forget your work and the love you have demonstrated for his name, in having served and continuing to serve the saints.
God was not unjust. He had noticed that these Messianic believers had done some good things for the Kingdom of God. They had done good works for God out of their love for God. They had demonstrated to others the character of God. They had served God. They had also served the saints. These are all works of believers who were already saved. The author desired for them to stay out of Judaism and continue these works of righteousness.
6:11 But we passionately want each of you to demonstrate the same eagerness for the fulfillment of your hope until the end,
The author desired passionately that the Messianic believers continue their spiritual growth until its completion. He does not want them to regress. He wants them to press onward.
6:12 so that you may not be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and perseverance inherit the promises.
The author did not want the Messianic believers to remain sluggish, or dull of hearing. The author wanted these believers to mimic others who possessed great faith and perseverance in the promises of God.
6:13 Now when God made his promise to Abraham, since he could swear by no one greater, he swore by himself,
The author desired for the Messianic believers to believe the promises of God, just as Abraham believed.
6:14 saying, “Surely I will bless you greatly and multiply your descendants abundantly.”
The author quoted Genesis 22:16–17. God promised Abraham that he would multiply his descendants. They would number as the “sand on the seashore.” When these promises were made, Abraham and Sarai were past the age of childbearing and had no children. Abraham still believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.
6:15 And so by persevering, Abraham inherited the promise.
Abraham waited 25 years for Isaac. Abraham believed the promises of God, and so should these Messianic believers.
6:16 For people swear by something greater than themselves, and the oath serves as a confirmation to end all dispute.
Some men make an oath by swearing to the temple, the Bible, God, or something else greater than themselves. This swearing process to something greater is a confirmation that they will keep their word.
6:17 In the same way God wanted to demonstrate more clearly to the heirs of the promise that his purpose was unchangeable, and so he intervened with an oath,
God made an oath, but there is nothing greater than God. Therefore, God had to swear in His own name. His character is built around His ability to make a promise and keep it. Man does not keep his promises very well, but God keeps His word every single time without failure.
6:18 so that we who have found refuge in him may find strong encouragement to hold fast to the hope set before us through two unchangeable things, since it is impossible for God to lie.
Once God makes a promise, then the believer needs to make God his refuge and his place of security. God does not lie. He will keep everyone of his promises. He will keep the believer secure within his refuge.
6:19 We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, sure and steadfast, which reaches inside behind the curtain,
The Greek word for hope is ἐλπίδος (elpidos), meaning an assurance. The promises that God makes are the anchor which keeps one’s personality from drifting away and floating out lost to sea.
6:20 where Jesus our forerunner entered on our behalf, since he became a priest forever in the order of Melchizedek.
The author has encouraged the Messianic believers to stay out of Judaism and press on to spiritual maturity. Now that they understand their current spiritual position, the author is ready to teach a more meaty subject. In the next chapter, he will teach that Jesus was a High Priest from the order of Melchizedek.