Hebrews

Joyce Webb  2018

Chapter 6 

Vs. 1  Let us stop talking about the beginning teachings of Christ,  and let us move on to more mature understandings.

We do not need to go over again   about the need to repent of sin  and putting your faith in Christ.

We do not need to go over    again   the teaching about baptism,  laying hands on people to pray for blessings   and healing.

We do not need to go over again about   how the dead will be resurrected   some to eternal life and some to eternal hell.

Let us move on to deeper understandings  about walking with the Lord.

Vs. 4  Those people   who have come to understand the things of God,   those people who have “tasted”  or experienced the heavenly gift of salvation and who have shared an experience in the Holy Spirit,

And have heard   and learned of the Word of God,  and have learned of the powers of the world to come.

If these people   fall away   from these teachings,    if they    fall away from faith     they have rejected Jesus  and what he has done on the cross.

To know these things     to have experienced these things   in their spirits   and to now  turn away from it      it is like they are putting nails in Jesus’ hands   and crucifying him     once again.

They are putting  shame on Jesus.

Paul said that it is impossible to renew that person again to repentance.

(Matthew  12: 31     Speaks about blasphemy against the Holy Spirit.    This is a sin that will never be forgiven.

II Peter  2: 20,  21,  22   Speaks of those who have become believers   and then turned away from the truth—–saying it would have been better for them to have never known the truth     than to know it and turn away from it.

They will be judged much harder    than those who never knew the truth.

Once a person knows the truth    and has experienced the forgiveness of God    and the filling of the Holy Spirit     and the they turn away from it     this makes for a difficult    and “impossible”   thing for them   to come back into faith again.

There are those who do turn away from the faith    and have later   realized their mistake      and have come back to the faith.

Maybe Paul is talking about   those who blaspheme  or   curse    against the Holy Spirit.     This sin can not be forgiven.

For any one who    once believed on Christ   then they made their heart hard against Christ    and  turned away from him—–it will be much harder for them to return to Christ and faith.

A person    makes his heart    hard against the Holy Spirit   when the Holy Spirit is talking to him     puts himself in a dangerous place.

It is the Holy Spirit that calls us  to God.   It is the Holy Spirit   that brings us into a relationship with God.

To make our hearts   hard against him     is a dangerous thing to do.)

Vs. 7, 8   When the ground   receives the rain that falls    and grows plants that are good to eat and use,  God blesses this.

When the ground   grows thorns   and thistles —–the farmer   will burn the field.

(This seems to say    those who live right  and obey God’s rules,  will receive blessing

Those who do wrong  and ignore God   will receive judgment of burning—in hell.)

Vs. 9  Paul says to them    I expect better things from you.

(As believers knowing the truth,  Paul expects them to grow in the Spirit and show acts  of  a mature Christian.)

Vs. 10   God will not forget your good works    that you have done to others.

Vs. 11  We hope that all of you will continue to grow in the Spirit and do more good works.

Vs. 12   Do not become lazy in spiritual things.  Keep the faith   and with patience  walk in faith    so that in the end you receive the promise of God.

Vs. 13  God made a promise to Abraham.  God swore by his own name   because there was no greater power to swear by.

Vs. 14  God promised Abraham to bless him   and to “multiply” him   or give him many children, grandchildren, etc.

Vs. 15  Abraham had to walk in faith    believing God’s promise   for a long time    because the promise of a son    did not come for many years.

Vs. 16  When people make a promise   they swear by a name greater than their own    for that person to hold them to their promise.

Vs. 17  God made a promise    by his own name    since no one is greater than he.   He will keep his promise.   He will not change his mind.

We have his promise    and his oath by his name.  God can not lie.  Numbers  23: 19

So we can go to God for safety.   We can rest in knowing that he will keep his promise.

Vs. 19  This hope   is an “anchor”  for our soul.   It is sure.  It will hold fast and sure.

Vs. 20  We can go behind the curtain  and entered into heaven   we can entered into the presence of God.

(Remember   that in the  temple    there was a veil or curtain   and behind it was a small room that held the Ark of the Covenant  or  Promise, Oath.

It was the special very Holy Place where God’s Spirit  and Presence was.

The High Priest went into this small room    once a year to take a special sacrifice for sin for the people.)

Paul is saying     because Christ is our High Priest   after the order of Melchisedec     Christ has already offered himself   as a sacrifice for our sin.

Christ has now gone back into heaven.  He is waiting for us there.