Religion Without Christ
Hebrews 6:1-3
Purpose: To call religious people to trust fully in Christ.
Aim: I want the listener to be fully surrendered to the Gospel.
INTRODUCTION: “Retro” styles are now in. Wikipedia defines “Retro” this way: “Retro is a term used to describe aspects of modern culture which are consciously derivative or imitative of those trends, modes, fashions, or attitudes of the recent past which have or had come to be seen as unfashionable.” [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Retro] In other words, Retro means being old-fashioned without calling it old fashion.
Some of the Jews who read the book of Hebrews want to be “retro” in their religion. They said they accepted Christ as their Messiah, but they wanted to stick with the outdated ceremonies that only pointed to the coming Messiah. They had not fully submitted to Christ as their only hope. They wanted Christ PLUS their “retro” religion.
Why were the early Jewish converts tempted to stay with the old Jewish religion? There are at least three reasons why Jewish Christians were tempted to continue practicing Jewish rituals:
1. The beautiful temple vs. the harsh lifestyle of believers. Many of the Jews were able to worship in beautiful synagogues while the Christians met in ordinary homes.
2. Christians were persecuted.
3. Relationships. They had unsaved friends and relatives in the Temple.
REVIEW:
5:10-6:8 I. A Warning to Those Who Claim to Know Christ
Vs.10-14 A. Beware of acting like an unbeliever
Vs.10-11 1. Unbelievers are lazy learners “you have become dull of hearing”
Vs.12 2. Unbelievers avoid the Great Commission “you ought to be teachers”
Vs.13-14 3. Unbelievers neglect God’s grace “word of righteousness”
Vs.13 a. God’s grace changes a person “he is an infant”
Vs.14 b. God’s grace brings discernment “discern good and evil”
LESSON:
➔6:1-3 B. Beware of religion without Christ
Following Christ is much more than just SAYING we are following Christ.
William Booth, a Methodist preacher who started the Salvation Army in England in the middle 1800’s was once asked what dangers he thought lay ahead for Christianity. He replied, “In answer to your inquiry, I consider that the chief dangers which confront the coming century will be ✔ religion without the Holy Spirit, ✔ Christianity without Christ, ✔ forgiveness without repentance, ✔ salvation without regeneration, ✔ politics without God, and ✔ heaven without hell.”
What a prophet! That is exactly where we find ourselves today. How can we make sure that Christ really is in our religion?
➔Vs.1a 1. Forsake the symbols about Christ “leaving the elementary teaching”
LEAVING means to “give up,” or “to leave behind and be done with, in order to go on to something else.”[Wuest, K. S. (1997, c1984). Wuest’s word studies from the Greek New Testament : For the English reader (Heb 6:1). Grand Rapids: Eerdmans.]
So, what are we supposed to leave? ELEMENTARY TEACHING literally, “the word of the beginning of the Christ [or Messiah].” Contrast that with what we learned last week. In chapter 5 verse 13 we learned that goal was to accept “the word of righteousness.” In other words, we must be willing to stop depending on anything other than Christ and His work on the Cross to provide our forgiveness.
“As in building a house one must never leave the foundation: yet to be always laboring in ‘laying the foundation’ would be ridiculous” – John Calvin. [Jamieson, R., Fausset, A., & and Brown, D. (1997). Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (electronic ed.) (Heb 6:1). Oak Harbor: Logos Research Systems, Inc.]
The aorist tense speaks of a once for all action. We could translate, ✔ “Therefore, having abandoned once for all the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on to perfection.” [Wuest, K. S. (1997, c1984). Wuest’s word studies from the Greek New Testament : For the English reader (Heb 6:1). Grand Rapids: Eerdmans.]
Just adding Jesus to your lifestyle is not salvation. We must turn away from our sinful lifestyles in order to pursue Christ. Some people say that this verse refers to Christians who need to grow up. But, we know that this passage is referring to an unsaved person because a Christian is NEVER told to move away from the basics of Christianity. Remember that the most important thing to Paul was the cross. Galatians 6:14 But may it never be that I would boast, except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ,. . . .(NAU)
➔Vs.1b 2. Focus on the perfection that’s in Christ “press on to maturity”
MATURITY or PERFECTION refers to salvation.
Hebrews 7:11 Now if perfection was through the Levitical priesthood (for on the basis of it the people received the Law), what further need was there for another priest to arise according to the order of Melchizedek, and not be designated according to the order of Aaron?(NAU)
Hebrews 7:19 (for the Law made nothing perfect), and on the other hand there is a bringing in of a better hope, through which we draw near to God.(NAU)
Only Christ’s sacrifice is perfect. Hebrews 10:12 but He, having offered one sacrifice for sins for all time, sat down at the right hand of God,(NAU)
The writer is not telling them to grow up, he is telling them to come to Christ.
Another reason we know that the writer is talking about unsaved people is because perfection is described as something that is done TO us, not something that WE do.
PRESS ON TO MATURITY or PERFECTION The verb is passive, so as to indicate “let us be carried to salvation.” That is not a matter of learners being carried by teachers, but both being carried forward by God. [MacArthur, J. J. (1997, c1997). The MacArthur Study Bible (electronic ed.) (Heb 6:1). Nashville: Word Pub.]
➔Vs.1c 3. Receive the person of Christ “faith toward God”
REPENTANCE This OT form of repentance is the turning away from evil deeds that bring death (cf. Ezek. 18:4; Rom. 6:23) and turning to God. [MacArthur, J. J. (1997, c1997). The MacArthur Study Bible (electronic ed.) (Heb 6:1). Nashville: Word Pub.]
The NT, on the other hand, shows that repentance and faith is only through Christ.
Acts 20:21 solemnly testifying to both Jews and Greeks of repentance toward God and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ.(NAU)
Acts 2:38 Peter said to them, “Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; . . . .(NAU)
John 14:6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me. (NAU)
DEAD WORKS Only Christ can cleanse us from dead works. Hebrews 9:13-14 13 For if the blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkling those who have been defiled sanctify for the cleansing of the flesh, 14 how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without blemish to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?(NAU)
Acts 4:12 “And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved.”(NAU)
➔Vs.2a 4. Trust the purity that’s in Christ “washings”
Every Jewish home had a basin of water by the front door for ceremonial cleansings.
This is the same word used in Hebrews 9:10 since they relate only to food and drink and various washings, regulations for the body imposed until a time of reformation.(NAU)
Real cleansing, though, comes only from Christ through the Holy Spirit. Titus 3:5 He [Christ] saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit,(NAU)
Inner WASHING is required, not ceremonial washing. Far too many people believe that God will accept them if they just work hard at keeping their lives clean.
Outward cleansing does nothing for the inward sinfulness. Hebrews 9:6-10 6 Now when these things have been so prepared, the priests are continually entering the outer tabernacle performing the divine worship, 7 but into the second, only the high priest enters once a year, not without taking blood, which he offers for himself and for the sins of the people committed in ignorance. 8 The Holy Spirit is signifying this, that the way into the holy place has not yet been disclosed while the outer tabernacle is still standing, 9 which is a symbol for the present time. Accordingly both gifts and sacrifices are offered which cannot make the worshiper perfect in conscience, 10 since they relate only to food and drink and various washings, regulations for the body imposed until a time of reformation.(NAU)
➔Vs.2b 5. Accept the substitution of Christ “laying on of hands”
LAYING ON OF HANDS Under the Old Covenant, the person who brought a sacrifice placed his hands on it to symbolize his identification with it as a substitute sacrifice for sin (Lev. 1:4; 3:8,13; 16:21). [MacArthur, J. J. (1997, c1997). The MacArthur Study Bible (electronic ed.) (Heb 6:1). Nashville: Word Pub.]
It takes humility to admit that we are sinners and that someone else must die in our place before we can find forgiveness. William Booth said, “The greatness of a man’s power is the measure of his surrender.” Not only do we need to surrender our pride, we must surrender our lives to the work of Christ.
Sins were NEVER really placed on an animal sacrifice in the OT. It was just a symbol. Leviticus 1:4 ‘He shall lay his hand on the head of the burnt offering, that it may be accepted for him to make atonement on his behalf.(NAU)
Only Christ can forgive sin. 2 Corinthians 5:21 He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.(NAU)
✔ 1 Peter 2:24 and He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness; for by His wounds you were healed.(NAU)
➔Vs.2c 6. Rely on the power of Christ “resurrection of the dead”
The resurrection of the dead is taught in the OT, but it is not fully explained. Job 19:25-27 25 “As for me, I know that my Redeemer lives, And at the last He will take His stand on the earth. 26 “Even after my skin is destroyed, Yet from my flesh I shall see God; 27 Whom I myself shall behold, And whom my eyes will see and not another. My heart faints within me!(NAU) Psalm 17:15 As for me, I shall behold Your face in righteousness; I will be satisfied with Your likeness when I awake.(NAU)
The Pharisees believed in the resurrection from the dead (Acts 23:8) but were still spiritually dead (Matthew 23:27 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs which on the outside appear beautiful, but inside they are full of dead men’s bones and all uncleanness.(NAU)
It is significant that all of the doctrines listed in vv. 1,2 can be associated with the Pharisees, who were attracted to and sometimes associated with Jesus (Luke 7:36–50; 13:31; 14:1; John 3:1).
Paul was a Pharisee before his conversion (Phil. 3:5). The Pharisees were products of the pursuit of righteousness by works of the law rather than by faith (Rom. 9:30–32; 10:1–3). A portion of the Hebrews to whom this epistle was written may have been Pharisees.[MacArthur, J. J. (1997, c1997). The MacArthur Study Bible (electronic ed.) (Heb 6:1). Nashville: Word Pub.]
Resurrection is ONLY through Christ. 2 Timothy 1:10 but now has been revealed by the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel,(NAU)
John 11:25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me will live even if he dies,(NAU)
➔Vs.2d 7. Acknowledge that the judge is Christ “eternal judgment”
The OT taught that God judges man. Ecclesiastes 12:14 For God will bring every act to judgment, everything which is hidden, whether it is good or evil.(NAU)
The NT makes it clear that Christ is the judge of the earth. John 5:22 “For not even the Father judges anyone, but He has given all judgment to the Son,(NAU)
If Jesus is the judge, then He is the only one who can declare us “not guilty.”
Revelation 20:11-12 11 Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat upon it, from whose presence earth and heaven fled away, and no place was found for them. 12 And I saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne, and books were opened; and another book was opened, which is the book of life; and the dead were judged from the things which were written in the books, according to their deeds.(NAU) Revelation chapter 21:5-6 makes it clear that the one sitting on this throne is Jesus Christ.
➔Vs.3 8. Admit that forgiveness is all God’s work “if God permits”
I believe that the word THIS refers back to verse one. “press on to maturity.” So, the writer is saying, “be carried on to perfection if God permits.”
Salvation in Christ is God’s work, NOT our work. Philippians 2:13 for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.(NAU)
2 Corinthians 3:5 Not that we are adequate in ourselves to consider anything as coming from ourselves, but our adequacy is from God,(NAU)
CONCLUSION: The writer of Hebrews was concerned that some of his readers believed in the basic truths about God, but they didn’t really have a relationship with Jesus Christ, the one they said they believed in.
Jim Elliot, a missionary who was later murdered by the Auca Indians in South America said, ✔ “To believe is to act as though a thing were so. Mere saying a thing is so is no proof of my believing it.”
Have you surrendered your sinful life to Christ and asked for His forgiveness? If not, you can now.
If you have surrendered your life to Christ, what are you doing to share that good news with others?
William Booth, who labored for many years to share the gospel with the down-and-outers. in England said,
“While women weep, as they do now, I’ll fight;
while children go hungry, as they do now I’ll fight;
while men go to prison, in and out, in and out, as they do now, I’ll fight; while there is a drunkard left, while there is a poor lost girl upon the streets, while there remains one dark soul without the light of God, I’ll fight, I’ll fight to the very end!”
William Booth also said, ✔ “We must wake ourselves up! Or somebody else will take our place, and bear our cross, and thereby rob us of our crown.”
Either you love Jesus Christ or you don’t. Do you long to learn more about Christ? Do you lean on Jesus Christ daily to help you live your life? Do you thank Jesus often for dying on the Cross for you? These are ways to see if we really love Christ.
