. . . in order that by two unchangeable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie . . . (NASB) Heb. 6:18   Is it “difficult” for God to lie or “impossible”? The conclusion is obvious. If it is impossible for God to lie, then it is impossible for those who finally abandon the faith to come back. The Spirit uses other words later in Hebrews.     For if we go on sinning willfully after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins . . . (NASB) Heb. 10:26         Illustration. The illustration of the watered ground in Heb. 6:7-8 implies that one or the other is true.      For ground that drinks the rain which often falls upon it and brings forth vegetation useful to those for whose sake it is also tilled, receives a blessing from God; but if it yields thorns and thistles, it is worthless and close to being cursed, and it ends up being burned. (NASB) Heb. 6:7-8   The ground is watered with two possible results. The ground either produces good plants or bad plants. The parable illustrates verses 4-6. The water symbolizes being “enlightened,” “tasting,” and “having been made partakers.” The land producing good plants symbolizes those who are real Christians. Land that produces thistles represents unbelievers. The parable implies one or the other is true and not both.       War’s End. These folks appear to be Christians.     But, beloved, we are convinced of better things concerning you, and things that accompany salvation, though we are speaking in this way. For God is not unjust so as to forget your work and the love which you have shown toward His name, in having ministered and in still ministering to the saints. And we desire that each one of you show the same diligence so as to realize the full assurance of hope until the end, that you may not be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises. (NASB) Heb. 6:9-12   We have just learned something new about these folks. They are active in the church. They have been ministering to other people out of a heart of love. We learned in Heb. 5:11-14 that they should have been teachers, but they did not want to know the tough meat of scripture. They wanted milk. They were struggling (Heb. 10:32-33) and are apparently impatient. Did they want God to give them relief now? The Holy Spirit calls them to imitate someone who will inherit the promises - Abraham, their father.       Pursue The Hope. The Holy Spirit calls them to show “diligence” to realize their hope (Heb. 6:11). The Greek word is SPOUDE which means “to make haste, eagerness, enthusiasm.” How were they to do this? Just as Abraham pursued the promise.     For when God made the promise to Abraham, since He could swear by no one greater, He swore by Himself, saying, “I WILL SURELY BLESS YOU, AND I WILL SURELY MULTIPLY YOU.” And thus, having patiently waited, he obtained the promise. (NASB) Heb. 6:13-15   Abraham did not give up after awhile, but continued to patiently trust God. These folks were patient and they were thinking about going back to Judaism. So the Spirit says, “Come on, be patient, pursue the hope.” Why? Because their hope is real!     For men swear by one greater than themselves, and with them an oath given as confirmation is an end of every dispute. In the same way God, desiring even more to show to the heirs of the promise the unchangeableness of His purpose, interposed with an oath, in order that by two unchangeable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we may have strong encouragement, we who have fled for refuge in laying hold of the hope set before us. (NASB) Heb. 6:16-18   The Spirit reminds them that God promised to bless Abraham (Gen. 12:1-2, 7) and then confirmed it with an oath (Gen. 22:16-17). Then He adds that since God cannot lie, we should be greatly encouraged. We can trust God. !         < Back    Next >
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