HEBREWS 6 By Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com
Will someone answer this question?
I don’t quit understand Heb. 6: 4-6. I have read it in several versions, the message may seem a little clearer to me, but I think I am still unsure, because if we messed up we can still get forgiveness.
?????
I. STUDY LESSON ON HEBREWS 6.
A. Let us find the key somewhere to unlock this deep, hard to understand scripture. We not only have to understand what this section of verses say --- we also have to have a clear understanding of what these verses do not say.
The mysteries of the Bible need to be clearly understood.
The verses in Hebrews 6 offer a good question and I shall answer it with my own study, and I hope to clear up this hard area to a deeper understanding.
B. I have been asked about this area of Hebrews more than any other.
Often times a backslider returns to the Lord and our enemy takes these verses and beats them over their head ... to make them think that they cannot fall and get up. This is totally against the very nature of God.
God’s nature is LOVE and in love forgiveness is freely offered.
C. Let us study what these verses say and WHAT THEY DO NOT SAY.
I have done great research into this area as I had a friend think he could not return to the Lord after he back slid.
First let us identify the verses in question.
Hebrews 6:1 Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from
dead works, and of faith toward God,
2 Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment. 3 And this will we do, if God permit.
4 For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost,
5 And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come,
6 If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame.
II. THINK ABOUT WORKS:
We must first understand the phrase:
Heb. 6:1 --- not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God,
A. As we consider works, we must also realize there is more to works than just works. There is the motive behind works and what we do?
Why do I do what I do?
Why don’t we do?
B. There are several areas of works:
1. Religious works --- A POOR FOUNDATION THAT IS DEAD!
So all works of a religious nature can be laying a dead foundation that takes much investment and gives little returns.
--- having a form of godliness but denying the power thereof (II Tim. 3:5)
Religious works can be doing something good but for the sake of ritual or habitual action.
Religion can become a god of tradition and forms.
This kind of work is done for applause, long prayers on street corners, demanding the high honor seats, etc.
There is a pure and undefiled religious worship that pleases God.
But people seem to get wrapped up in tradition and religious practice and miss what is pure religion.
James 1:27 Pure religion is to visit and help the widows and orphans, or those that cannot help them self. It is also keeping yourself unspotted
from worldly things.
Religious works can be self-feeding and cause a person to ease their conscience and fail to find what God has planned.
So religious works can be that foundation from DEAD WORKS...
that a man does his works but not with a pure heart and attitude.
Religious works while dead can keep us so busy that we never find the real purpose of works.
2. THERE IS A DANGEROUS FOUNDATION AREA OF WORKS --- LET US CALL THIS SECOND AREA --- THE WORKS OF THE FLESH.
Gal. 5:19 --- 21 --- There are at least 17 works of the flesh easily identified.
Any work that the goal is pleasing the flesh, the works that fill human desires, the works that fulfill sensual pleasure (pertaining to the 5 senses) are laying the foundation of dead works.
1 John 2:16 --- Lust of the flesh, lust of the eyes, pride of life --- THE WORLD AND THE THINGS OF THE WORLD ARE ENEMIES OF GOD AND HIS WORD.
Deeds done for social events by an un-regenerated man may be good works, but they are dangerous because fleshly works tend to bypass church, the cross,
and repentance. Men claim they have many good works but they are independent of Jesus and are just dead works.
Many social clubs and organizations build a history of works, they are good works --- but they have nothing to do with FAITH TOWARD GOD.
Thus all these works are built on shaky ground?
WORKS OF THE FLESH are built on the deeds of man operating within the world’s systems. These works tend to be political and exclusive in nature.
Any man in sin that performs work to gratify his good feelings and recognition of fellowmen is operating in a self-rewarding system that honors the flesh and
bypasses the plan of God --- could be laying a foundation on DEAD WORKS.
Again, dead works bypass and avoid God’s ways and the name of Jesus Christ.
Many evil, wicked things can be hid in doing ONE’S WORK BY THE FLESH.
There are some good social clubs that have many wicked skeletons in their closets.
Good churches can fall in this WORKS AREA, they have good programs, they have many activities, but none are leading to the salvation by the blood of the lamb.
Any area of works that bypass God, the church, and Jesus are building upon a foundation of dead works.
3. BIBLIICALLY SPEAKING THERE IS A DANGEROUS AREA TO FOCUS ONE’S WORKS --- WE SHALL CALL THIS THIRD AREA DEAD WORKS.
Any works that are attempted by a means of promotion and advancement of individuals are what we would call DEAD WORKS.
Jesus warned of seniority systems based on merit. Jesus told us His system was built on a SERVANT’S HEART, and if we would be great --- be the minister.
Dead works are doing things to earn you bonus points with the Creator.
God works by GRACE, UNMERITED FAVOR, not by works.
To institute systems based on moral and ceremonial forms to win God’s favor and God’s delight will never suffice. We can never be justified by the works of
the law or by deeds. Dead works are often built on legalistic, judgmental systems. Any system of works that tries to earn placement by more and more
work is self defeating. These are poor foundations of vanity, useless, dead works.
4. NOW LET US COME TO A LIVING WORD OF GOD ---
THERE ARE GOOD WORKS.
Good works always begin with good, proper godly motives.
People that know God in a personal life changing way do good works.
Good works always bring glory to God and edify other believers.
Good works will not save you, you do good works because you are saved!
There is no other way to do good works than to do them by grace and mercy.
Good works are the foundation on which the church is built.
There is no jealousy or applause seeking in good works, for often the right hand knows not what the left hand has done.
We will go on to perfection and having living works if we operate in this realm of the spirit. We can have no confidence in the flesh!
III. WE MUST UNDERSTAND THE AREAS OF WORKS TO UNDERSTAND THE NEXT FEW VERSES.
Hebrews 6:4 For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost,
5 And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, 6 If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they
crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame.
A. LET US UNDERSTAND WHAT PAUL IS NOT SAYING...
PAUL IS NOT SAYING IF A CHRISTIAN SINS HE CANNOT BE FORGIVEN.
B. LET US LOOK AT DAVID --- DAVID WAS THE SECOND KING APPOINTED BY SAMUEL. David was a good man, but he failed his God. David did not go to battle and while at home he fell into sexual sin. This sexual sin gave birth to an illegitimate son. To complicate David’s sin more he sent an order to have the husband killed. Now, it is very clear David failed the Lord, but
it is also clear that God forgave David and restored all to him.
Psalms 51 is the greatest chapter in the Bible dealing with real repentance.
Acts 13:22 And when he had removed Saul, he raised up unto them David to be their king; to whom also he gave testimony, and said, I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after mine own heart, which shall fulfil all my will.
C. God’s very nature of love restores a failed man, and calls David a man after His own heart.
D. God clearly dealt with Jonah to go to Nineveh. --- In out and out rebellion Jonah heads toward Tarshish.
Jonah 3:1 And the word of the Lord came unto Jonah the second time, saying, WE CLEARLY SEE THAT GOD IS THE GOD OF THE SECOND CHANCE.
God loved Jonah and God forgave Jonah.
It is God’s very nature to restore those that have made poor choices.
A forgiving God has a message, he forgives His people when they come to Him in a repentant attitude.
E. LET US THINK ABOUT A THIRD CASE STUDY IN A BACKSLIDDEN CHRISTIAN FINDING MERCY AND GRACE ---
Simon Peter failed the Lord.
Peter said I shall never fail the Lord.
If everyone fails the Lord, I shall never fail HIM! I MEAN IT!
Peter denied Jesus, ONCE, TWICE, THREE TIMES.
Peter is twice cold, and the burning fire could not warm his cold heart.
Peter heard the message a rooster preached to him.
Peter looked up and saw the eyes of his Master.
Peter found mercy and compassion in his Master’s eyes.
Peter starts crying, he is sorry, he regrets his words and his behavior.
Jesus loves Peter and forgives him and restores him in great mercy.
Peter stands on the day of Pentecost and preaches boldly a sermon entitled WHAT MEANETH THIS?
Peter was a changed man. He got up and tried again.
F. THOMAS WALKED WITH JESUS AND SAW MANY MIRACLES, YET
HE DOUBTED THE MESSAGE OF BELIEVERS THAT WITNESSED JESUS AT THE PRAYER MEETING. John 20:16...
In love and mercy --- 8 days later Jesus gives Thomas another chance to believe.
In love and mercy Jesus says: Thomas reach your hands out here...
Have faith! Jesus did not dump Thomas because he doubted.
G. RECALL THE STORY OF THE PRODIGAL SON? LUKE 15
He was safe at home, and he left the safety of home for the wasting of riotous living, but the Father was standing on the hill to welcome home his son. He did not come home as a slave, the Father gave him a ring, a robe, and shoes. In Biblical times slaves did not wear shoes. So the shoes are a silent testimony,
SON --- YOU MAY HAVE FALLEN BUT YOU ARE HOME AGAIN.
H.CI TELL YOU WITH GREAT CONFIDENCE AND FAITH: ANY FALLEN CHRISTIAN CAN GET UP AND REPENT AND BE RESTORED TO TOTAL FELLOWSHIP WITH GOD THROUGH CHRIST JESUS.
Jesus did not die for perfect people, Jesus died to bring us salvation through grace.
IV. OK, PAUL, WHAT ARE YOU SAYING TO US IN HEBREWS 6?
PAUL IS WARNING YOU AND ME THAT WE CANNOT BE SAVED BY WORKS AND RELIGIOUS TRADITION AND DEEDS. PAUL SAYS: YOU CANNOT BE SAVED BY WORKS ALONE!
A. PAUL’S WORDS DECLARE WE MUST BE MORE THAN PROFESSORS, WE MUST BE POSSESSORS.
My friend, talk is cheap, we must get up.
B. WHAT PAUL IS SAYING AND WARNING US ABOUT IS THAT IT IS POSSIBLE TO HAVE ALL THE EXTERNAL SIGNS OF BEING A SON OF GOD, WITHOUT REALLY COMMITTING THE INTERNAL ISSUES.
I call this whitewashing verses washing white.
Matthew 7:21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? 23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
24 Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:
Matthew illustrates this point with a discussion of some that have fallen away and did not renew their repentance. These were full gospel believers, they prayed, they prophesied, they cast out devils and DID MANY WONDERFUL WORKS --- THEY WERE IMPRESSIVE BY OUR RELIGIOUS STANDARDS, BUT THEY --- AND THEIR WORKS DID NOT IMPRESS JESUS --- SIMPLY --- JESUS NEVER KNEW THEM.
V. WE MUST BRING UP ONE MORE BIBLE CHARACTER TO UNDERSTAND PAUL’S MYSTERIOUS POINT --- ESAU ---
Esau underestimated the worth of his birthright and sold it to Jacob.
Esau in anger and to punish his Mom and Dad married strange women.
Esau tended to blame his brother, his Dad, and his Mother instead of accepting that it was his choices.
Hebrews 12:16 Lest there be any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright. 17 For ye know how that afterward, when he would have inherited the blessing, he was rejected: for he found no place of repentance, though he sought it carefully with tears.
Paul sees that Esau was not broken and contrite.
Can we understand the difference in I am sorry or I am sorry I got caught?
Real, honest, deep hearted repentance is important to God.
If we grow and stay in an effective relationship with God we must taste the good word of God and grow.
Esau rejected God, God did not like Esau’s
decisions and choices. There was no change in Esau’s heart as in David’s, Peter’s, Jonah’s and others.
VI. IT IS GOD’S NATURE TO LOVE AND FORGIVE ALL THAT SIN AND FALL SHORT OF HIS GLORY. DO WE DEMONSTRATE EVIDENCE TO OUR FELLOW MAN AND TO GOD THAT WE HAVE REPENTED?
If you find yourself in the pig pen, get up, wash off and head toward the Father.
The Father is waiting for your soon return.
Don’t allow the enemy to twist and distort the meaning of Hebrews chapter 6 to try and exclude you.
Repent, come home, the Father is waiting to accept you, to restore you, and to lead you home, --- together forever.
His servant, Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com
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