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 uring counseling sessions,
it is common for someone to say to me, “I am not sure
I am a Christian.” When I ask why they feel this way,
they usually start talking about habits of sin in their lives.
They feel this way because they know that Christians are supposed
to become spiritually mature. Most are not sure how, but they
see their sin and are doubting their salvation. The apostle
Peter reveals that this is a spiritual law or truth. When
we are growing spiritually, we are confident that we are Christians
(2 Peter 1:5-8). When we do not see spiritual growth, there
are reasons to doubt. These Hebrews were going backward spiritually
and so there was real reason to doubt they were Christians.
It is a warning to us. Patterns of sin are warning signs.
The Symptom.
The author of Hebrews told his readers that they would have
a difficult time understanding what he was going to say about
Melchizedek. That was their symptom. Their “disease”
was that they were “dull of hearing” or lazy when
it came to in-depth study of the Word. They were not really
interested in the deep, meaty things of scripture, but wanted
warm, simple, comfortable, encouragement from scripture. Apparently,
they did not want to study the Word but preferred to have
someone else teach them. They were on a diet of milk and not
solid spiritual food. The Spirit called them spiritual babes.
The Greek means spiritual preschoolers. They should have been
able to teach others, but instead they had gone backwards
spiritually. Now they needed someone to teach them the basics
all over again. It is a sad picture. The Holy Spirit makes
it clear that a knowledge of the Word is one necessary mark
of mature Christians. So the author of Hebrews is concerned
about them - very concerned.
Third Warning.
Their problem was revealed for all to see and for us to learn.
They had no desire to grow beyond the basics of the faith,
and as a result they did not even know the basic truths (Heb.
5:12). Here are the basic truths Hebrews is talking about.
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Therefore
leaving the elementary teaching about the Christ,
let us press on to maturity, not laying again a foundation
of repentance from dead works and of faith toward
God, of instruction about washings, and laying on
of hands, and the resurrection of the dead, and eternal
judgment. And this we shall do, if God permits. (NASB)
Heb. 6:1-3 |
They needed to be taught these again. This is a major reason
to doubt they were for real. Consequently, the author of Hebrews
gives them another warning - the third. Each warning (Heb.
2:1-4; 3:7-4:13) has been stronger and darker. This warning
is the strongest and darkest. The heart of the warning occurs
in Hebrews 6:4-6.
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For
in the case of those who have once been enlightened
and have tasted of the heavenly gift and have been
made partakers of the Holy Spirit, and have tasted
the good word of God and the powers of the age to
come . . . (NASB) Hebrews 6:4-5 |
Four Key Greek Words.
There are four important Greek words that we must understand
if we hope to unscramble the meaning of Hebrews 6:4-6. |
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