Hebrews 6:9-20

Hebrews 6:9-20

No disciple who takes seriously the danger of sin and the reality of a lost eternity will be nonchalant while reading Hebrews 5:11–6:8. The fear of God makes us look on our own lives, in view of this passage, with fear and trembling. But the spiritual life of the disciple is not a fragile thing but a vigorous one. It is not easily swept away. To comfort the disciples’ sensitivity of conscience, the author speaks words of encouragement. While it is possible for believers, for the love of sin, to walk away from the Savior, but the author is convinced of better things for these disciples. While they may have been immature in their faith, resulting in a lack of discernment, they have done well in the care for the saints. God ties us to Himself by many cords. While spiritual maturity and discernment may be the strongest, the acts of practical love and tangible mercy are by no means inconsequential. Some have argued that Christian benevolence ought to be our primary responsibility. That is a mistake. But God will use that and everything else He can to draw us to or back to Himself if we wander off.

The journey of the disciple is no easy trip, and our author uses the life of Abraham as an example of such a journey. He uses Abraham as our example for three reasons. First, Abraham would lead the conversation back to Melchizedek, who was the subject before the exhortation began. Second, Abraham received the promise from God. God’s oath-bound promise and His inability to lie are compelling reasons to believe what He says is true. And third, Abraham is an example of a person who exhibited two characteristics these disciples needed to remain faithful. These are characteristics we need as well. In verse 12 the author draws a contrast between sluggish, which can mean dull, blunt, or lazy, and those who inherit the promise. The contrast lies in two keywords, the characteristics Abraham displayed: faith and patience. Without faith and absolute confidence in God and the promise He has made, our patients will expire and we will give up. Without patience, the questions and struggles that challenge our faith will beat us down till we quit. Life as a disciple can be hard; without faith and patience, it is impossible.

“By Your grace, Lord, grant me faith and patience. AMEN”

Hebrews 6:1-8

Hebrews 6:1-8

The failure to develop the discernment of good and evil is an invitation to disaster. The author says it is time to move beyond the foundational issues of Christianity to a faith of discernment. He does not discount the importance of the foundations; indeed, he lists them, but the readers' lack of maturity will have disastrous results if they do not develop a deeper faith. The foundation or elementary teaching listed in this passage ought to be known and understood by every believer. But they are not the end destination. The author specifically listed six foundational points for us in verses 1 and 2. 

Then the author moves on to warn about the dangers of the shallow faith that never learns discernment. Verses 4-6 warned about the danger of falling from grace into apostasy. There are those who would doubt this possibility. However, the simple, straightforward reading of scripture is clear. We must avoid contorting scripture to suit our wants or preconceptions and instead conform our thinking to scripture. This falling away is not the result of a singular sin, nor of a specific type of sin. Rather, the grammar indicates a pattern or habit of sin that comes to identify or mark the person's life. In this ongoing habit or practice of sin, they are crucifying the Savior all over again. While actively sinning, there is no repentance in their lives. Any, indeed every, sin has the potential to move from an isolated incident to a pattern that causes us to desire that evil so completely that we would crucify Jesus for it. In such a state or condition, repentance is impossible. The lack of discernment between good and evil discussed at the end of chapter 5 makes us susceptible to sin that might mean our ruin. The importance of holiness and discernment in our lives cannot be overstated.

“Lord, help me grow in holiness and in sensitivity to any and every sin. AMEN”