Just Keep on Growing! -- Loyal OK Peace UCC

Hebrews 6:1-20

Therefore let us leave the elementary teachings about Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again the foundation of repentance from acts that lead to death, and of faith in God, instruction about baptisms, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment. And God permitting, we will do so.

It is impossible for those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, who have shared in the Holy Spirit, who have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the coming age, if they fall away, to be brought back to repentance, because to their loss they are crucifying the Son of God all over again and subjecting Him to public disgrace.

Land that drinks in the rain often falling on it and that produces a crop useful to those for whom it is farmed receives the blessing of God. But land that produces thorns and thistles is worthless and is in danger of being cursed. In the end it will be burned. Even though we speak like this, dear friends, we are confident of better things in your case--things that accompany salvation. God is not unjust; He will not forget your work and the love you have shown Him as you have helped His people and continue to help them. We want each of you to show this same diligence to the very end, in order to make your hope sure. We do not want you to become lazy, but to imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised.

When God made His promise to Abraham, since there was no one greater for Him to swear by, He swore by Himself, saying, "I will surely bless you and give you many descendants." And so after waiting patiently, Abraham received what was promised.

Men swear by someone greater than themselves, and the oath confirms what is said and puts an end to all argument. Because God wanted to make the unchanging nature of His purpose very clear to the heirs of what was promised, He confirmed it with an oath. God did this so that, by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled to take hold of the hope offered to us may be greatly encouraged. We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain, where Jesus, who went before us, has entered on our behalf. He has become a high priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek.

Do you ever feel like you are in a rut… a spiritual rut? It gets sort of boring, doesn’t it! God wants us to grow! Today I want to challenge us to look at spiritual growth – and take a look at our church and its ministry.

We need to ask ourselves if we really believe that we are doing all God has called us to do? Personally, I think that there is more that we can do… now I must admit that I spent several hours in a leadership seminar on church growth yesterday.

The phrase “elementary teaching about the Christ” refers to the basic teachings about Christ and our Christian faith. While these principles are definitely important, God expects us to move on to maturity. We need to stop wasting time and missing opportunities! Last week’s terrorism has alerted us to some of the problems we face.

“Dead works” refers to the things that people do in an attempt to earn their way to heaven. As you know, good works will not save us! We are saved by – and only by – receiving Jesus Christ as our personal Savior.

Hebrews 6:2 speaks of baptisms. There are several types of baptisms. For instance:

Without doubt, you have heard arguments about sprinkling versus immersion, and discussions for and against infant baptism. Let’s face it, as long as there are people living on earth there will be differences of opinions! Baptism does not save us – it is an act of obedience to God that tells others where we stand with God.

Hebrews 6:4-6 is a much-debated passage that has a variety of interpretations. For the record, I believe that if we backslide God is anxious to restore us. However, this verse talks about apostasy. The Greek term is translated “turn away.” Other possible definitions are: falling away; defection; rebellion; abandonment; withdrawal; turning away from what one has formerly turned to.

(1) Arminians hold that the people described in these verses are Christians who actually lose their salvation. If this is true, notice that the passage also teaches that it is impossible to be saved a second time.

(2) Some hold that the passage refers not to genuine believers but to those who only profess to be believers. Thus the phrases in verses 4-5 are understood to refer to experiences short of salvation (see verse 9). However, the "falling away" is from the knowledge of the truth, not personal possession of it.

(3) Others understand the passage to be a warning to genuine believers to urge them on in Christian growth and maturity. To "fall away" is impossible (since, according to this view, true believers are eternally secure), but the phrase is placed in the sentence to strengthen the warning. It is similar to saying something like this to a class of students: "It is impossible for a student, once enrolled in this course, if he turns the clock back, which cannot be done, to start the course over. Therefore, let all students go on to deeper knowledge." In this view the phrases in verses 4-5 are understood to refer to the conversion experience. Notice how the words "enlightened" (10:32), "taste" (2:9), and "partakers" ("share," 12:10) are used elsewhere in Hebrews of genuine experiences.

Hebrews 6:7-8 warns us of the danger of not going on to fruitful maturity. Failure to grow will result in loss of reward. 1 Corinthians 3:12-15 warns us that “If any man builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, his work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each man's work. If what he has built survives, he will receive his reward. If it is burned up, he will suffer loss; he himself will be saved, but only as one escaping through the flames.”

In verse 9 the author expresses a confidence, although he speaks severely, that they will do better than that! He believes that they will have fruit in their Christian life.

It is imperative that you and I be diligent – just as the Old Testament saints were. Abraham is known for his obedience, even though it led him away from a place he knew to a place… he knew not where! Abraham wasn’t sure where he would wind up. He simply knew that what God had promised, God would deliver! Therefore he is called the “father of faith.”

Verse 6:19, “within the veil” refers to being in the presence of God. Believers have as strong encouragement as Abraham had in his time, because Jesus has already entered into the presence of God and assures us of our entrance into heaven as well. Christ has gone ahead into heaven, and as our hope/anchor, though out of sight, He holds us secure, especially in times of storm.

We have to ask ourselves if we really believe all of this. Do you really believe that you are a child of God? Do you really see God as the divine power of the universe who still loves you and me enough to want to spend personal time with us?

Many people in the news have compared the events of last week to Pearl Harbor during World War II. A Japanese military leader is reported to have said then that he feared that what they had actually done was to awaken a sleeping giant. Hopefully that has happened the last few days. The events of September 11 are a sobering reminder of what can happen – but it should not send Christians into fearful panic. We know that our Redeemer lives!

Max Lucado, a pastor/writer from San Antonio, said that many people have said that they are looking forward to our return to “normal.” He said that if “normal” includes returning to religions fighting and not praying for and with each other, he wasn’t sure that he is ready to return to “normal.”