In this chapter the writer digresses to scold his readers for slowing down in their spiritual life; they may even be turning around, backtracking, in their walk with God and their Messiah.
Hebrews 6:1-3
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.
This is a clear call to stepping up to more serious growth as a Christian and not hanging out at the "Jesus Saves" introductory level of spiritual understanding. The readers are called to move on to maturity in (1) faith in God, (2) instruction about baptisms (?!), (3) laying on of hands, (4) resurrection of the dead, (5) Eternal judgment.
Although the writer hopes to eventually move on, he/she has to digress too far, apparently, to cover some of this. How I would like to know what was going to be said about "the laying on of hands" or "instructions on baptisms"! Was the writer prevented by immature Christians from continuing in these instructions? Or did God have a better plan and not intend for these more esoteric discussions to appear here?
Instructions on baptisms could also be "cleansing rites".
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.
This is a clear call to stepping up to more serious growth as a Christian and not hanging out at the "Jesus Saves" introductory level of spiritual understanding. The readers are called to move on to maturity in (1) faith in God, (2) instruction about baptisms (?!), (3) laying on of hands, (4) resurrection of the dead, (5) Eternal judgment.
Although the writer hopes to eventually move on, he/she has to digress too far, apparently, to cover some of this. How I would like to know what was going to be said about "the laying on of hands" or "instructions on baptisms"! Was the writer prevented by immature Christians from continuing in these instructions? Or did God have a better plan and not intend for these more esoteric discussions to appear here?
Instructions on baptisms could also be "cleansing rites".
Footnote on "acts that lead to death" in verse 1: could be translated "from useless rituals".
Hebrews 6:4-8
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.
A strange instruction about turning back. (I need a C. S. Lewis quote from some novel which I can't find -- an evil individual has a moment of enlightenment, a perception that his view is completely wrong and that God is waiting, ready to redeem, yet at the last moment the individual shakes his head and moves on....)
This is a problem passage. Some say it teaches one can lose their salvation. If so, it then teaches that the salvation is lost forever. I think it warns a group of people of the dangers of faking it.
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.
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.
A strange instruction about turning back. (I need a C. S. Lewis quote from some novel which I can't find -- an evil individual has a moment of enlightenment, a perception that his view is completely wrong and that God is waiting, ready to redeem, yet at the last moment the individual shakes his head and moves on....)
This is a problem passage. Some say it teaches one can lose their salvation. If so, it then teaches that the salvation is lost forever. I think it warns a group of people of the dangers of faking it.
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.
Hebrews 6:9-12
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.
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.
The passage is now upbeat and encouraging, as if the writer knows his readers, at some deeper level, have been serious about their faith and need to be merely reminded.
Hebrews 6:13-20
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.
Hebrews
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.
What are the two unchangeable things?
Hebrews
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.
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.
The quote is from Genesis 22:17. This is =an apparent tangent? A strange argument... that God needs to swear by Himself?!
Hebrews
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.
What are the two unchangeable things?
Hebrews
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.
We are encouraged to follow Jesus into the inner sanctuary, "behind the curtain."
In the next post we go on to a serious conversation about Melchizedek. (Yes, Melchizedek!)
It is interesting to note some of the things the author thinks are "elementary." A lot of evangelicals practically dismiss these things as useless doctrine or theology. but this writer treats them as elementary, something every true believer should know well and affirm.
ReplyDeletecomments: the CS Lewis quote you want is from The Great Divorce, or at least one of them is. There may be something in the Chronicles of Narnia too. But the one I think of is the actor with the little bitty flea-sized person holding his leash--the flea is the real person, not the actor, who almost gives up the role when his glorified wife confronts him with the truth. But then he falls back into the lie and essentially disappears into the actor.
ReplyDeleteOn these warning passages in Hebrews, I think they and similar passages in the NT that some take as indicating loss of salvation actually point to the reality that salvation is _not_ just a one-time walking up the sawdust trail, after which that transaction is done and you move on. Salvation is the whole of a person's Christian life, and if someone makes a fatal choice to fall away at some point, he reveals that the whole experience to that point was a sham all along. I often say I do not believe in eternal security. I believe in the perseverance of the saints. There is an apparent similarity between these two, because both affirm that the elect will ultimately not fall away. But the difference as it has been lived out for generations among evangelicals is that the former--eternal security--treats salvation as an episodic transaction like buying a car. Once you have it, you have it, only in this case you can never sell it again. Perseverance of the saints says what you have entered into in salvation is fundamentally different than a transaction. It is a covenant relationship. God is the one who initiated, God who worked the miracle of New Birth, God who sustains sanctification by grace, God who brings us to perfection in the resurrection. Go Calvin!
Yes, yes, The Great Divorce! I have a copy -- I have to find the right passage.
ReplyDeleteI think I am beginning to understand your "perseverance" thing. :-)