- yesterday
The Friends of Israel Gospel Ministry
For God is not unjust to forget your work and labour of love which you have shown toward His name, in that you have ministered to the saints, and do minister. And we desire that each one of you show the same diligence to the full assurance of hope until the end, that you do not become sluggish, but imitate those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.
Hebrews 6:10-12
#churchleadership #faith #israel #jesus #Messiah #salvation
https://lightforthelastdays.co.uk/articles/jesus-and-judaism/hebrews-6/
For God is not unjust to forget your work and labour of love which you have shown toward His name, in that you have ministered to the saints, and do minister. And we desire that each one of you show the same diligence to the full assurance of hope until the end, that you do not become sluggish, but imitate those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.
Hebrews 6:10-12
#churchleadership #faith #israel #jesus #Messiah #salvation
https://lightforthelastdays.co.uk/articles/jesus-and-judaism/hebrews-6/
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LearningTranscript
00:00Let's turn to God's Word, and it's been interesting that we've had a focus on Hebrews this morning,
00:06and I'd like to speak from Hebrews and focus on chapter 6.
00:12But just before we come to chapter 6, a little bit of background.
00:15We've mentioned, I'm sure, this before, but the letter to the Hebrews was written to prove the superiority of Christ.
00:22It was written to encourage Jewish believers in the Messiah to grow in spiritual maturity.
00:29Living as a Jewish believer in Jesus in the early days of the church wasn't easy.
00:34Any Jew who professed to be a Christian was considered unclean, would have been expelled from the synagogue,
00:39and that caused concern or even fear.
00:42We have examples there in John chapter 9 and verse 22, when the parents of the boy-born bind feared the Jews,
00:49for the Jews had agreed already that if anyone confessed that he was Christ,
00:52this is confessing Jesus is the Christ, he will be put out of the synagogue.
00:56And in John chapter 12, verse 42, many of the rulers believed in Jesus,
01:01but because of the Pharisees, they did not confess him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue.
01:07If you were put out of the synagogue back in those days, it would mean disinheritance,
01:11excommunication, loss of employment, dispossession,
01:14sometimes perhaps even mental harassment or mockery, maybe martyrdom, for example, Stephen.
01:21Persecution and imprisonment.
01:22Remember, Paul travelled to Damascus and also around the country to round up the believers in Jesus,
01:28to put them in prison.
01:30And as a result of this, many considered slipping back into familiar routines,
01:34trying to live, if you will, a hybrid faith.
01:38And it was in this letter that the writer encourages them to patiently endure and grow in maturity in Christ.
01:46He does that by showing how and why following Christ is better than being under the law.
01:51There's five warnings in the book of Hebrews,
01:54and these describe what will be forfeited by failing to become mature,
02:01and to walk by faith in patient endurance.
02:03And it's the third warning, the danger of immaturity as a believer,
02:08that is my subject for this morning.
02:11We've already, I think, mentioned about how we need to be mature, so it's quite apt.
02:16But before we go into God's word, let's just give this to the Lord again.
02:18Father, we thank you so much for the privilege of meeting together,
02:23in fellowship one with another, in your name, in your presence,
02:27drawn to you by your Holy Spirit that indwells us, Lord.
02:32Thank you that you've given us your word,
02:35and it's through your word that we can draw nearer to you,
02:38we can learn more about you,
02:40we can become more mature in our faith,
02:44that we can live our lives more and more as an example of who you are in this earth, Lord,
02:52on this earth, to others.
02:55As we read your word this morning,
02:56I pray that you would help me to be faithful to your word.
02:59Your word's not my words, Lord.
03:00Lord, your truth, not my truth.
03:03Open our hearts and minds to receive your word,
03:06and pray you will bless the public reading of your word to our hearts this morning,
03:10in Jesus' name.
03:11Amen.
03:13So if you've got your Bibles, let's turn, beginning with Hebrews chapter 5,
03:17just a quick run through here.
03:19In verse 11, the writer begins by saying that he still has much that he wants to tell these Hebrew believers,
03:26but there's a barrier to their understanding.
03:29And in verses 11 through 14 of chapter 5,
03:32he identifies that barrier as immaturity.
03:36And he gives in those few verses four examples.
03:39In verse 11, he says it's due to dullness of hearing the word.
03:43In verse 12, it's an inability to share the word.
03:47Again, in verse 12, it's a case of them remaining on a diet of milk, of baby food.
03:53And in verse 13, they lack the skill to use or apply the word.
03:57That's what immaturity produces.
04:01The challenges to any of those apply to you or to me today.
04:05So let's examine them in more details.
04:10Let's look first of all at the dullness of hearing the word.
04:13In verse 11, if anybody was to ask us perhaps first thing this morning how we were feeling,
04:20we would probably say nothros.
04:23Why?
04:25Because in verse 11, the word translated dull is the Greek word nothros.
04:30You see it again in chapter 6 and verse 12, where it's translated as slothful or sluggish.
04:36That's sometimes how we all feel first thing in the morning, isn't it?
04:39Sluggish.
04:41In Hebrews chapter 2 and verses 1 through 4,
04:44the Hebrew believers were already dull of hearing.
04:47They'd started to drift away from the word.
04:50And in chapter 3 and verse 7 and through to verse 13 of chapter 4,
04:55they were beginning to doubt the word and become disobedient.
04:58But if we look at what dull of hearing means,
05:02it means essentially not being able to fully hear or act on the word,
05:07finding it even sometimes difficult to read the word.
05:11Brothers and sisters, do you ever find it difficult to read God's word?
05:14Don't put your hands up.
05:16I know I do, and I'm sure many, if not all of us, find it difficult sometimes.
05:22Psalm 119 verse 105 reminds us, though,
05:25that God's word is a lamp unto our feet, isn't it?
05:28It's a light unto our path, and it's his word that keeps us from stumbling
05:32as we walk along life's path.
05:35And so one thing we need to resolve is that we're not dull of hearing,
05:39that we apply ourselves to reading God's word
05:44so that it can illuminate us on that path through life.
05:47But if there's dull of hearing or dullness of hearing,
05:52that leads us to a second problem,
05:55and that's the inability or being unable to share the word.
06:01Verse 12a of chapter 5 says,
06:03For when the time ye ought to be teachers,
06:06ye have need that one teach you again,
06:08which be the first principles of the oracles of God.
06:10You see, these believers should have been mature enough by this time to teach
06:15or to share the word, to help others to grow in their faith,
06:18but they still needed to be taught the basics of their faith.
06:232 Timothy 2 verse 24 tells us that
06:25all servants of the Lord must be ready to teach.
06:30Are you ready to teach?
06:31A lot of you will say, I'm not called to be a teacher.
06:35And I'd agree with you, but what do teachers do?
06:39Do they not just share what they've already learned with others?
06:43You go to school, how does the teacher know what to teach you?
06:47They're sharing what they've already learned.
06:49And so shouldn't we be able to share what we've learned from reading God's word?
06:54In other words, mature children, start again,
06:58braining gear, mature Christians should be teaching new Christians the basics.
07:04So it's a job for all of us, isn't it?
07:06The third problem that you've identified is
07:09having the need of milk and not strong meat.
07:13Well, milk here is referring to the very basics of the gospel,
07:16that which Christ accomplished here on earth.
07:20But strong meat, on the other hand, means understanding the whole word of God
07:23and how each and every part of scripture fits neatly together,
07:26how history points to the future,
07:28how events of the past paint a picture of that which is to come.
07:34And that requires conscious and continuing effort.
07:39You know, meat is vital if we're to truly know God and his purposes.
07:43We can only grow in maturity through studying the word.
07:47And that's only possible with the indwelling of the Holy Spirit,
07:50which by God's grace was given to each of us who are believers in Christ in full measure.
07:55When we became believers, it was given to us at the instant of our salvation.
08:00But of course, we'll never be fully mature until we're with Christ in glory.
08:04When we stand in glory, we shall see his face.
08:08But we must always strive to grow in maturity by continual study,
08:13making the effort to understand the whole counsel of God
08:16through his eternal and invaluable word.
08:21And then there's a fourth example,
08:22that of being unskillful in using and applying the word.
08:26Since they were unable to digest anything but milk,
08:29the writer goes on to say in verse 14
08:31that strong meat belongs to them that are of full age,
08:34even those who, by reason of use,
08:36have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.
08:40Full age, that's maturity, full age, maturity.
08:45It enables us to exercise our senses,
08:47to grow in knowledge of the world.
08:51Isaiah 28 says something about this in verses 9 through 13.
08:56In fact, I'll read verses 9 and 10.
08:58Whom shall he teach knowledge?
09:01And whom shall he make to understand doctrine?
09:04Them that are weaned from the milk and drawn from the breasts.
09:07For precept must be upon precept,
09:10precept upon precept,
09:12line upon line,
09:13line upon line,
09:14here a little, there a little.
09:16We need to grow and move away from the milk.
09:21See, if you think about it,
09:22a baby can't discern what's healthy to eat
09:24and what's not healthy.
09:27And there's a tendency for them to put anything into their mouth,
09:30whether it's good or bad.
09:33But you know, that principle is also true of the immature believer.
09:37An immature believer will accept anything and everything
09:40spoken by preachers and teachers,
09:42whether it's from the pulpit,
09:44and don't take my word for it,
09:45check it through the word,
09:47whether from the pulpit,
09:48whether it's on TV,
09:49on those so-called Christian channels,
09:51or it's on YouTube,
09:52or Facebook,
09:53or Instagram.
09:55They can't discern what is of God
09:57and what is not of God,
09:59between that which is truth
10:00and that which is error,
10:02even perhaps between what is good
10:04and what is evil.
10:06Ephesians chapter 4 and verse 14 and 15
10:09urges that we henceforth be no more children,
10:12tossed to and fro,
10:13and carried about with every wind of doctrine
10:16by the slate of men
10:17and cunning craftiness,
10:19whereby they lie in wait to deceive.
10:21But speaking the truth in love
10:23may grow up into him in all things,
10:25which is the head,
10:26even Christ.
10:27So just as we progress from babes
10:31through infancy to adulthood
10:33in our own lives,
10:34so we must also progress
10:35in our spiritual lives.
10:39It's not God's will or purpose, indeed,
10:42that we stand still in our faith
10:43once we've been saved.
10:45He encourages and challenges
10:47and commands us even to grow
10:48and continue growing toward maturity.
10:53You know, each of us,
10:53and that's me included,
10:56each of us must decide
10:57whether we're satisfied
10:58whether we are in our spiritual life
11:00or whether we need to continue moving on,
11:03to be challenged,
11:05to grow in maturity,
11:06to gain more wisdom and understanding.
11:10Proverbs tells us,
11:11does it not,
11:12in chapter 1, verse 7,
11:13that the fear of the Lord
11:14is the beginning of knowledge,
11:16but fools despise wisdom and instruction.
11:19And in verse 10 of chapter 9 in Proverbs,
11:21the fear of the Lord
11:22is the beginning of wisdom,
11:24and the knowledge of the holy
11:25is understanding.
11:28And so having now explained
11:29their immaturity,
11:30the writer goes on
11:31to urge his readers
11:32to progress to spiritual maturity.
11:35And so this is where
11:36we now come to chapter 6.
11:38Chapter 6 is one of those chapters
11:41that we can only understand
11:42what the writer is saying
11:44if we're careful not to take
11:46these verses in isolation.
11:48Scripture always interprets Scripture,
11:50and so these verses
11:51must conform to other biblical truths.
11:55Furthermore, we have to remember
11:56that Hebrews was written
11:57to Jewish believers
11:58who were considering a return
12:00to an outward form of Judaism
12:02in order to expect persecution.
12:05And the context
12:06is that of encouragement
12:07to progress from immaturity
12:09to maturity.
12:10And so with that purpose
12:11and context in mind,
12:12let's turn to chapter 6 of Hebrews.
12:16Just reading the first two verses
12:17to begin with,
12:18therefore,
12:19leaving the principles
12:21of the doctrine of Christ,
12:22let us go on unto perfection,
12:24not laying again
12:25the foundation of repentance
12:27from dead works
12:28and of faith to all God,
12:30of the doctrine of baptisms
12:31and of laying on of hands,
12:33and of resurrection of the dead,
12:34and of eternal judgment.
12:36Notice how verse 1 begins
12:39with the word therefore.
12:40When we see the word therefore,
12:42we need to ask our question.
12:44What's it there for?
12:45Well, it's there
12:46to emphasize the importance
12:48of what's already been said.
12:51And for us to go on to perfection
12:53or completion or maturity
12:55and not forget
12:55what's already been taught
12:57and understood,
12:58not needing to go back
13:00and relearn those basic truths.
13:02In other words,
13:02it's progression
13:04and not regression.
13:07That phrase,
13:07let us go on,
13:08actually implies
13:09a determined action.
13:12A baby relies on its parents
13:13for absolutely everything
13:14and it's incapable
13:15of progressing independently.
13:17But here in chapter 6
13:19and verses 1 and 2,
13:21the readers are urged
13:22to become independent
13:23to grow in perfection
13:25or maturity.
13:28But how are we
13:29to actually understand
13:30these verses?
13:31They actually refer
13:32to things related
13:33to Pharisaic Judaism.
13:36Firstly,
13:36the repentance
13:38from dead works
13:39means turning around,
13:40changing one's mind
13:42from dead works
13:43of the law,
13:44works that would be
13:45burnt up like wood,
13:46hay and stubble.
13:47That's what repentance means.
13:48It means turn around,
13:50turn and go
13:51in a different direction.
13:53Secondly,
13:53we have that word baptisms.
13:55Well,
13:57in the Old Testament,
13:59the Hebrew Scriptures,
14:00repeated ceremonial washing
14:01from defilement
14:03was required
14:03by the Levitical system
14:05and that's
14:06ceremonial washing.
14:08But the Greek word here
14:10in this verse
14:11is baptismos.
14:12It's a plural word.
14:13You'll only find it
14:14elsewhere in the New Testament
14:16in chapter 9,
14:17verse 10 of Hebrews
14:18and again in Mark
14:19chapter 7,
14:20verses 4 and 8.
14:21And in each of those cases,
14:23the context,
14:24and that's the important thing,
14:25the context is simply
14:26washing in the sense
14:29of repeated washings
14:30to make something clean.
14:31It's not the one-off act
14:33of being baptised
14:34as a believer.
14:35That's the Greek word
14:36baptisma,
14:37which is a singular action,
14:39a one-time action.
14:40It's a subtle
14:41but it's an important difference
14:42which we don't always see
14:44when we read the English.
14:46Thirdly,
14:46there's the laying on of hands
14:48which refers to the practice
14:49of transferring sin
14:50to the sacrificial scapegoat.
14:54Fourthly,
14:54the resurrection of the dead
14:55and eternal judgment.
14:57Well,
14:57resurrection is actually taught
14:59as a fact
14:59in Isaiah chapter 26,
15:01verse 19,
15:02again in Daniel 12,
15:04verse 2,
15:04and perhaps the most
15:05clear one that we know
15:07is in Job,
15:09in chapter 19,
15:10verses 25 and 6,
15:12when Job says,
15:12for I know
15:13that my Redeemer liveth
15:15and that he shall stand
15:16at the latter day
15:17upon the earth
15:18and though after my skin
15:20worms destroy this body,
15:22yet how in my flesh
15:25shall I see God?
15:27Job was absolutely
15:28100% certain
15:30that one day
15:31he would be resurrected
15:32and see God.
15:35So resurrection's a fact,
15:37it's not to be doubted.
15:39Eternal judgment,
15:40well that's taught
15:40in Psalm chapter 1,
15:41verses 5 and 6.
15:43Therefore the ungodly
15:44shall not stand
15:45in the judgment,
15:46nor sinners
15:47in the congregation
15:47of the righteous.
15:49For the Lord knoweth
15:50the way of the righteous,
15:51but the way of the ungodly
15:53shall perish.
15:54It's unbelievers
15:56who will be judged
15:57and perish for eternity,
15:59not believers.
16:01And returning to
16:02what's just been said,
16:03the writer then says
16:04in verse 3 of chapter 6,
16:06and this we will do
16:07if God permits.
16:10Well the first thing
16:11I want you to notice here
16:12is there's a change
16:13in pronoun.
16:14Notice how the writer
16:15puts we.
16:16He's including himself here.
16:18And this is referring to
16:20progression to maturity.
16:22And so the writer here
16:23is confident that both
16:24he and they
16:26will leave these things
16:28behind and progress
16:29to maturity.
16:30And then we see this
16:30phrase,
16:31if God permits.
16:32Now,
16:34this isn't suggesting
16:35that God might not
16:37permit.
16:38If you think about it,
16:39that would be against
16:40his sovereign will.
16:43Instead,
16:43it expresses the need
16:44for complete dependence
16:45on God.
16:46If we choose
16:48to press on
16:49to maturity,
16:50we must realize
16:51it can only happen
16:52at God's pleasure.
16:53However,
16:54we can be certain
16:55that it will
16:55please God
16:56to permit this
16:58if we desire it
16:59to happen.
17:00Let me just use
17:01William MacDonald's words
17:02to explain this.
17:03He says,
17:04they shouldn't go back
17:05to these,
17:05that's the old ways,
17:06but rather press on
17:07to the fuller revelation
17:08they now have in Christ.
17:10Their urge to pass
17:11from shadow to substance,
17:12from type to anti-type,
17:14from the dead forms
17:15of the religion
17:15of their ancestors
17:16to the living realities
17:18of Christ.
17:19You know,
17:19that's a lesson
17:20for all of us,
17:20isn't it?
17:21We need to progress
17:22on to that
17:23living reality
17:25of Christ
17:25in our lives.
17:27But if we're
17:28to progress
17:29to something,
17:30we have to leave
17:31something behind,
17:32don't we?
17:33In order to go home
17:34for your lunch today,
17:36you've got to leave
17:37behind this meeting,
17:39haven't you?
17:41It would be in the past
17:42when you go
17:42and have your lunch.
17:43I hope you're going
17:44to go and have your lunch
17:45after the meeting.
17:46So what are we
17:49prepared to leave
17:50behind?
17:51That's a challenge
17:52for all of us.
17:52What are we prepared
17:53to leave behind
17:54so that we can grow
17:56in our own
17:57maturity of faith?
17:58Is there anything
17:59holding us back?
18:01Think about it.
18:02Pray about it.
18:04Seek the Lord
18:05and ask him
18:05to show us
18:06these things.
18:09And as we move on
18:10to the following verses,
18:12we need to remember
18:13that in order
18:13to escape persecution
18:14by their fellow Jews
18:15because of their faith
18:16in Jesus,
18:18these Hebrew believers
18:19wanted to return
18:20to an outward form
18:21of Judaism,
18:22something which the writer
18:23is encouraging them
18:24not to do.
18:25But if we think about that,
18:26they reacted just like
18:27their forefathers did
18:28when the Lord
18:30led them out of Egypt.
18:32If you think about
18:35what happened
18:36very quickly
18:36after coming out
18:37of Egypt
18:37into the wanderings,
18:41they faced hardship,
18:42didn't they?
18:42And what was
18:43the first thing
18:44they said?
18:44Let's go back
18:45to Egypt.
18:46Did you bring us here
18:47just so that we
18:48could be killed?
18:49Let's go back
18:49to Egypt.
18:51In Hebrews chapter 3
18:52and verses 7 and 11,
18:53and I encourage you
18:54to read the first
18:56few chapters
18:56of Hebrews here,
18:58the writer recalls
18:59that at Kadesh Barnea
19:00there was a rebellion.
19:02If you remember,
19:04spies were sent out
19:05to the promised land
19:05and when they returned
19:07they came back
19:09with a not-too-good report
19:12and effectively
19:13there was a rebellion
19:15and that resulted
19:18in the generation
19:19of that day
19:20being denied entry
19:21to the promised rest
19:22in Canaan.
19:23And both the Kadesh Barnea
19:25generation
19:25and these first century
19:27Hebrew believers
19:27have got something
19:28in common.
19:29They all had a fear
19:31which led to disobedience
19:33and that had a consequence.
19:36For the Kadesh Barnea
19:37generation
19:38the fear was the giants.
19:41They were disobedient
19:42because they didn't
19:43occupy Canaan
19:43as the Lord had instructed
19:45them to
19:45and the consequence
19:46was the loss of blessings
19:47that they would have received
19:49had they entered
19:50to the promised land.
19:51For the Hebrews
19:52the fear
19:54was the unbelieving Jews.
19:56The disobedience
19:57was that they wanted
19:58to go back into Judaism
19:59and the consequence
20:00would be
20:01a loss of maturity.
20:03And that would lead
20:04to divine discipline
20:05and a loss of blessings.
20:07And it's actually
20:08this paradigm
20:09which provides us
20:10with the key
20:11to understanding
20:11the next few verses
20:12verses 4 through 6.
20:16For it's impossible
20:17for those who were
20:18once enlightened
20:19and have tasted
20:19of the heavenly gift
20:20and were made partakers
20:21of the Holy Ghost
20:22and have tasted
20:24the good word of God
20:25and the powers
20:25of the world to come
20:26if they should fall away
20:28to renew them again
20:30unto repentance
20:31seeing they crucified
20:32themselves
20:33the Son of God
20:34afresh
20:34and put him
20:35to an open shame.
20:38Now I want to say up front
20:39that along with chapter 10
20:40of Hebrews
20:41and verses 26 through 39
20:43these verses
20:44cause believers
20:45more worry and concern
20:46than perhaps
20:47any other verses
20:47in the scriptures.
20:49Why is that?
20:51Well David Guzik
20:52in his Enduring Word
20:53commentary offers this.
20:54He says
20:54Satan knows scripture
20:56and this passage
20:57has rightly been called
20:58one of the devil's
20:59favourite passages
21:00for its ability
21:01to be taken out
21:02of context
21:03for condemning
21:04the struggling believer.
21:06This is where maturity
21:07is important to us.
21:08These verses are often
21:09quoted as proof
21:10in fact
21:11that it's possible
21:12to lose
21:13one's salvation.
21:15But that's only
21:16because they're
21:17misunderstood
21:17and misapplied.
21:19To understand them
21:20properly
21:21we've got to read them
21:22in the context
21:23of the whole letter
21:24and indeed
21:25the rest of scripture.
21:26So let's look at
21:26those verses
21:27a little bit more carefully.
21:29Let me begin by saying
21:30there's different approaches
21:31to this passage
21:32so let's just look
21:33at those for a minute.
21:34The first approach
21:35is that the writer
21:35is warning
21:36against apostasy
21:38in other words
21:38knowingly turning
21:39one's back on Christ
21:40and adherents
21:41to this view
21:42say that these people
21:43are forever lost
21:44and cannot be restored.
21:46Well
21:46against that view
21:48is the fact
21:49that the Greek word
21:49used here
21:50is parapipto
21:51which literally means
21:52to fall aside
21:53or fall by the wayside.
21:55Doesn't mean lose.
21:57Equally
21:57if we could lose
21:58our salvation
21:59if you think about it
22:01salvation would
22:02depend on you and I
22:04and not God
22:05not the keeping power
22:07of God.
22:09But alongside that
22:10there are many passages
22:11in scripture
22:12that indicate
22:12that a believer
22:13cannot lose
22:14their salvation
22:14and we'll examine
22:15one later
22:16when we come to
22:17verses 13 through 20.
22:19That's the first view.
22:20The second view
22:21suggests that salvation
22:22can be lost
22:23and then regained
22:24but verses 4 through 6
22:26tell us this can't happen.
22:27It's impossible
22:28to put Jesus
22:29back on the cross.
22:32Why?
22:33How often did Jesus
22:34die for our sins?
22:37Once.
22:38Are you sure about that?
22:39Hallelujah.
22:40He died once
22:41and for all
22:42didn't he?
22:42Not just for all
22:43but for the whole world
22:44we heard this morning
22:44didn't we?
22:45That's the second view.
22:48The third view
22:48claims that the passage
22:49refers to those
22:50who are not true believers
22:51suggesting they'd only
22:52received the Holy Spirit
22:53up to the point of salvation
22:55but had not been saved
22:56but again
22:57the text proves
22:58otherwise.
23:00That phrase
23:00once enlightened
23:01has the opposite
23:02sense of meaning
23:03to the way it appears
23:05in a simple reading.
23:07The same Greek verb
23:08here for enlightened
23:09appears in
23:10chapter 32
23:11sorry
23:13verse 32
23:14of chapter 10
23:15in Hebrews
23:15where it refers
23:17to those
23:17who have been
23:18illuminated
23:19or enlightened.
23:21The verb is
23:21fotitzo.
23:22In other words
23:23it's not a temporary
23:24enlightenment
23:24but enlightenment
23:26once for all
23:27it's a completed act
23:28and 2 Corinthians
23:304 verse 6
23:31gives us an explanation
23:32for this.
23:33We read there
23:33that God
23:34who commanded
23:35the light
23:35to shine out
23:36of darkness
23:36has shined
23:37in our hearts
23:38to give the light
23:39the fotismos
23:39to give the light
23:41of the knowledge
23:41of the glory
23:42of God
23:42in the face
23:43of Jesus Christ.
23:45Dwight Pentecost
23:46notes that
23:47that word
23:47enlightened
23:48is never used
23:50in the New Testament
23:51of an empty
23:51profession
23:52but always
23:53of an actual
23:54experience.
23:57But then the
23:57argument goes on
23:58to say
23:59they'd only
23:59tasted
24:00the good word
24:01of God
24:02and the powers
24:02of the world
24:03to come.
24:04In other words
24:05in believing
24:07this third view
24:08it's just that
24:09they've sampled
24:09and not fully
24:10understood.
24:10But again
24:12if we look
24:12at scripture
24:13in more detail
24:13we get more
24:14insight to how
24:15we should be
24:16interpreting this.
24:18There's 15
24:19instances in the
24:20New Testament
24:21of this word.
24:22Forgive me
24:23Kathy if you're
24:24listening to this
24:25forgive me.
24:26The Greek word
24:27is
24:27that means
24:30to taste
24:31or by implication
24:32to eat
24:33or experience.
24:35One example
24:36of this
24:36we can see
24:37actually in
24:37Hebrews chapter 2
24:38verse 9
24:39where it's
24:39used of
24:40Jesus
24:40who should
24:41taste
24:42death
24:42for every
24:43man.
24:44Are we
24:44to suggest
24:46here that
24:46Jesus only
24:47sampled
24:47death
24:48or was
24:49his death
24:50a complete
24:51and finished
24:52act?
24:53And since
24:54taste carries
24:55the meaning
24:55of experience
24:56it must
24:57mean that
24:57these believers
24:59had fully
24:59experienced
25:00the gift
25:01of salvation
25:01and the
25:02power of
25:02God.
25:02In other
25:02words
25:03they were
25:03truly
25:04saved.
25:06So what
25:07does
25:07partakers
25:08of the
25:08Holy Spirit
25:09mean?
25:09Did they
25:10just go
25:10along with
25:11the experience
25:11for a short
25:12while and
25:12change their
25:13minds?
25:13Well on
25:14the contrary.
25:16In
25:16Hebrews 3
25:16verse 1
25:17and again
25:18in verse 14
25:18we read
25:19that they
25:19were
25:19partakers
25:20or participants
25:21of the
25:22heavenly
25:22calling
25:22and of
25:23Christ.
25:24So we
25:24think about
25:25it
25:25what's
25:26a partaker?
25:27Is it
25:28someone who's
25:28just an
25:29onlooker?
25:29Someone who
25:30just samples
25:31something?
25:32Or is it
25:33someone who's
25:33taking part
25:34fully in
25:35an activity
25:35or an
25:36experience?
25:38Are you
25:38all partaking
25:39this morning
25:40of our
25:41meeting
25:41together?
25:43Or are you
25:43just pretending?
25:44Is it not
25:45really being
25:46here?
25:48Scripture
25:49proves that
25:50they were
25:50in fact
25:51taking part
25:52fully.
25:53They were
25:53true believers.
25:54You see here
25:55the writer's
25:55using a
25:56hypothetical
25:56argument.
25:57What he's
25:57really saying
25:57is that if
25:58it were
25:58possible for
26:00them to
26:00fall away
26:00from
26:00salvation
26:01it would
26:02mean that
26:02to regain
26:03that which
26:03they'd
26:04fallen away
26:04from
26:05Christ would
26:06have to
26:06be crucified
26:06again.
26:07He'd have
26:08to be put
26:08back on
26:08the cross
26:09and that
26:09would put
26:09him to
26:10open shame.
26:11But that's
26:12impossible
26:13isn't it?
26:13Because how
26:14often did
26:14Christ die
26:15for our
26:15sins?
26:16You don't
26:17sound very
26:18convinced.
26:19Once.
26:20Once for
26:21our sins.
26:22Romans 6
26:23verses 9
26:24and 10.
26:24Knowing that
26:25Christ being
26:25raised from
26:26the dead
26:26dieth no
26:27more.
26:28Death hath
26:29no more
26:29dominion over
26:30him for
26:31in that
26:31he died
26:31he died
26:32unto
26:32sin
26:33once.
26:35Couldn't
26:36you know
26:36your word.
26:37Since it's
26:38impossible to
26:39fall away
26:39from salvation
26:40it's impossible
26:41to be renewed
26:42unto repentance.
26:44And the
26:44fact that the
26:44writer had
26:45no doubt
26:46whatsoever
26:46that they
26:47could or
26:47would lose
26:48their salvation
26:48we can see
26:49in verse 9
26:50of chapter 6
26:51when he says
26:52but beloved
26:53we are persuaded
26:55better things
26:55of you
26:56and things
26:57which accompany
26:57salvation
26:58though we
26:58speak less.
27:00And so
27:00again it's
27:01vital that
27:02we read
27:02this in
27:02its full
27:03context.
27:03It's really
27:04warning of
27:05the dangers
27:06of regression
27:06and failing
27:08to proceed
27:08toward maturity.
27:09It's not
27:10giving in
27:11any way
27:12shape or
27:12form a
27:14suggestion
27:14or a
27:14warning of
27:15losing your
27:16assured
27:16salvation.
27:18And so
27:18I hope that
27:19helps to
27:19explain.
27:21Moving on
27:22to verses
27:227 and 8
27:23in chapter 6
27:24these verses
27:25illustrate the
27:26truth that's
27:26been presented
27:27so far by
27:28comparing how
27:29the blessing
27:30of rain
27:30falls on
27:31two different
27:31areas.
27:33Verses 7
27:34and 8
27:34For the earth
27:35which drinketh
27:35in the rain
27:36that cometh
27:36oft upon it
27:37and bringeth
27:38forth herbs
27:39to meet
27:39for them
27:40by whom
27:40it was
27:40dressed
27:41receiveth
27:41blessing
27:42from God
27:43but that
27:44which beareth
27:44thorns
27:45and briars
27:45is rejected
27:46and nigh
27:47unto cursing
27:47whose end
27:48is to be
27:49burned.
27:50And so
27:50the rain
27:50that same
27:51rain is
27:52falling on
27:53two different
27:53areas.
27:54You know
27:54the rain
27:54that fell
27:55this morning
27:55didn't just
27:56fall on
27:56Bridge Lane
27:56it fell
27:58over the
27:58whole of
27:58Temple
27:59Fortune
27:59didn't it?
28:01And on
28:02one area
28:03the rain
28:03is producing
28:03herbs
28:04that are
28:04useful
28:04for those
28:05that grew
28:05them
28:05and on
28:06the other
28:06it's just
28:07useless
28:08thorns
28:08and briars
28:09that grow.
28:11Same rain
28:11different fruit
28:13and in the
28:14same way
28:14God pours out
28:15his blessings
28:16on all
28:17who believe
28:17but we don't
28:19all bear
28:19the same
28:20amount of
28:20fruit
28:20do we?
28:21So here's
28:22another
28:23challenge
28:23for all
28:24of us
28:24how are
28:25we using
28:25God's
28:25blessings?
28:27Are we
28:27producing
28:28good fruit
28:28that will
28:29last
28:29or thorns
28:30and briars
28:31that are
28:31fit for
28:31nothing but
28:32burning?
28:33Do we
28:33behave like
28:34the children
28:35of Israel
28:35by grumbling
28:36and complaining
28:37and wanting
28:37to return
28:38to Egypt
28:38to the
28:38ways of
28:39this world?
28:40Or do
28:41we behave
28:42like the
28:42Hebrew
28:42believers
28:43who wanted
28:43to return
28:44to an
28:44outward
28:44form of
28:45Judaism
28:45to escape
28:46the
28:47persecution
28:48and therefore
28:49condemn
28:49themselves
28:49to a
28:50state of
28:51immaturity?
28:53Or do
28:53we persevere
28:54toward
28:55maturity
28:55despite those
28:56times of
28:57testing
28:57and persecution?
29:00Do we
29:01produce much
29:01fruit or
29:02little?
29:03Do we
29:03produce good
29:03fruit or
29:04not such
29:05good fruit?
29:06You see
29:06we have a
29:07choice
29:07don't we?
29:07We can
29:08choose to
29:08persevere
29:09to maturity
29:09or we
29:10can choose
29:11to remain
29:12immature.
29:12Well so
29:16far the
29:16writer and
29:16I'm speaking
29:18here from
29:18the word
29:19has spoken
29:20strongly.
29:21He's given
29:21a stern
29:21warning but
29:22if we come
29:22on to
29:23verses 9
29:23and 10
29:24of chapter
29:246 we
29:24see how
29:25he remains
29:26confident
29:26that his
29:27readers will
29:27not fall
29:28prey to
29:28that temptation
29:29that he
29:30described in
29:31the preceding
29:31verses but
29:32they will
29:32indeed continue
29:33to progress
29:34toward that
29:35goal of
29:36maturity.
29:37Once again
29:38verse 9
29:38begins with
29:39that lovely
29:39word but
29:40but beloved
29:42we are
29:44persuaded
29:44better things
29:45of you and
29:46things that
29:46accompany salvation
29:47though we
29:47thus speak
29:48for God
29:49is not
29:49unrighteous to
29:50forget your
29:50work and
29:51labour of
29:51love which
29:51he have
29:52showed toward
29:52his name
29:53in that
29:54ye have
29:54ministered to
29:54the saints
29:55and do
29:56minister.
29:57You see
29:57here the
29:57writer's got
29:58confidence in
29:59their salvation
30:00and that this
30:02will produce
30:02good fruit.
30:04God won't
30:04forget their
30:05obedience and
30:06their works
30:06and labours
30:07and how they
30:07ministered to
30:08the saints
30:09and the
30:10writer goes
30:10on in
30:11verse 11
30:11he says
30:12and we
30:12desire that
30:14every one
30:14of you do
30:15show the
30:15same diligence
30:16to the full
30:17assurance of
30:17hope and
30:18to the end
30:18and that
30:19ye be not
30:20slothful
30:21here's that
30:21word
30:21nothros
30:22again
30:22be not
30:23slothful
30:24but followers
30:25of them
30:26who through
30:26faith and
30:27patience
30:27inherit the
30:28promises.
30:30You see
30:30this the
30:31writer's
30:32desire desiring
30:33that they
30:33his readers
30:34continue diligently
30:36in their
30:36pursuit of
30:37maturity and
30:38he warns
30:38them not to
30:39become sluggish
30:40or slothful
30:41David Guzik
30:44again in his
30:44enduring word
30:45commentary says
30:46this he says
30:46the idea is
30:47that we should
30:48not let
30:48discouragement
30:49make us
30:50sluggish
30:50leading to
30:51the sense
30:52that we
30:52may as
30:52well give
30:53up
30:53first we
30:55lose the
30:55desire to
30:56press on
30:56then we
30:57lose the
30:58desire to
30:58go on
30:59first we
31:00lose the
31:00desire to
31:01press on
31:01then we
31:02lose the
31:03desire to
31:04go on
31:04interesting
31:06thought isn't
31:07it
31:07and then
31:09in the
31:09final verses
31:10the writer
31:11looks to
31:13Abraham
31:13and uses
31:14Abraham to
31:15illustrate how
31:15through faith
31:16and patient
31:16endurance
31:17and his
31:18example we
31:19can be
31:19assured of
31:20reaching that
31:21goal of
31:22maturity
31:22in verses
31:2413 and 14
31:25of chapter 6
31:26in Hebrews
31:26God promises
31:27to make a
31:28great nation of
31:29Abraham and
31:29his descendants
31:30he's repeating
31:31what was already
31:32said in
31:32Genesis
31:32but he
31:35says this
31:35promise couldn't
31:36possibly come
31:36to pass until
31:37Abraham had
31:38a son
31:38and in
31:40verse 15
31:40of chapter 6
31:41he goes on
31:42to say that
31:43after he
31:43that's Abraham
31:44had patiently
31:45endured he
31:46obtained the
31:46promise
31:47now we know
31:48that Abraham
31:49needed both
31:50faith and
31:51patient endurance
31:52to wait for
31:54God to
31:54fulfill his
31:55promise but
31:55he never saw
31:56the outworking
31:56of that promise
31:57did he
31:57because that
31:58only began
31:59after Isaac's
32:00son Jacob
32:01was born
32:01and it was
32:02when he was
32:03100 years
32:04old that
32:04Isaac was
32:05born and
32:07it was through
32:08Jacob and
32:09his offspring
32:09that the
32:10promised covenant
32:11would be
32:11continued
32:12in chapter 15
32:14verse 2
32:14Abraham was
32:15even impatient
32:16for God
32:16if you remember
32:17he couldn't
32:18wait for God
32:18to fulfill
32:19his promise
32:19and so he
32:20offered his
32:20servant Eliezer
32:21as the one
32:22through whom
32:23the promise
32:23would be
32:24fulfilled
32:24but the
32:26Lord rejected
32:26Eliezer
32:27if you remember
32:28in Genesis
32:28chapter 15
32:29verse 4
32:30saying
32:30Eliezer
32:31won't be
32:32your heir
32:32but he
32:33that shall
32:33come forth
32:34from your
32:34own bowels
32:35will be
32:35your heir
32:35patience
32:37endurance
32:38is the
32:39opposite
32:39of
32:40slothfulness
32:41Abraham
32:43was patient
32:43he endured
32:44returning to
32:47our text
32:48in verses
32:4816 and
32:4918 of
32:49chapter 6
32:50we read
32:50that God
32:51didn't just
32:51give a promise
32:52to Abraham
32:53he confirmed
32:54it with an
32:55oath
32:55which he
32:56swore by
32:57himself
32:57by two
32:59immutable
32:59things
33:00his promise
33:01confirmed
33:02by his
33:03oath
33:03in which
33:04it was
33:04impossible
33:05for God
33:06to lie
33:07God
33:08as we
33:08know
33:09can neither
33:09break his
33:10promise
33:10nor his
33:11oath
33:11can he
33:11God
33:12is a
33:13faithful
33:13God
33:13and verse
33:1518 tells
33:15us that
33:16it was
33:16because of
33:16this earth
33:17that we
33:17might have
33:18a strong
33:18consolation
33:19we might
33:19have a
33:20strong
33:20encouragement
33:21who have
33:22fled for
33:22refuge
33:23to lay
33:23hold upon
33:24the hope
33:24set before
33:26us
33:26what's
33:28that hope
33:29well look
33:30at verses
33:3119 and
33:3120 of
33:32chapter 6
33:33which hope
33:34we have
33:34as an
33:35anchor of
33:35the soul
33:36both sure
33:36and steadfast
33:37and which
33:38entereth
33:38into that
33:39within the
33:39veil
33:39whether the
33:40forerunner
33:41is for us
33:42entered
33:42even Jesus
33:43made an
33:43high priest
33:44forever
33:44after the
33:45order of
33:45Melchizedek
33:47you know
33:49we sing a
33:50wonderful song
33:50don't we
33:51as believers
33:51we have a
33:53hope that
33:53is steadfast
33:54and certain
33:54gone through
33:56the curtain
33:56and touching
33:57the throne
33:57we have a
33:59priest who
33:59is there
34:00interceding
34:00pouring his
34:02grace on
34:03our lives
34:03day by
34:04day
34:04I'm sure
34:05everyone here
34:05is familiar
34:06with that
34:07and so
34:08our hope
34:09is secured
34:11in Jesus
34:12the anchor
34:13of our soul
34:14who through
34:15his once for
34:15all death
34:16on the cross
34:16became our
34:17eternal high
34:18priest after
34:18the order
34:19of Melchizedek
34:19and enabled
34:21us to enter
34:21through the
34:22veil into
34:23the holy
34:23of holies
34:24and it's
34:25upon this
34:26hope and
34:26promise that
34:27we dearly
34:28beloved are
34:29urged to
34:29take refuge
34:30the hope
34:31that we
34:31have within
34:32us is the
34:33anchor of
34:34our soul
34:34it's both
34:35sure and
34:36steadfast
34:37it cannot
34:38be moved
34:38or changed
34:40you know
34:41if you think
34:42about it
34:42ships have
34:42got anchors
34:43but that
34:44anchor holds
34:45them down
34:45doesn't it
34:46into one
34:46place
34:47they don't
34:47move from
34:48that
34:48but which
34:50way is our
34:51anchor pointing
34:51if christ is
34:53our anchor
34:54it's pointing
34:54heavenward
34:55isn't it
34:55and if our
34:57anchor is
34:58pointing heavenward
34:58it's the lord
34:59then can draw
35:00us up closer
35:01to him
35:02day by day
35:03as we draw
35:04nearer to
35:05him
35:05is your
35:09anchor holding
35:09you back
35:10or is your
35:11anchor drawing
35:12you nearer
35:13toward christ
35:14that's true
35:17for all of
35:17us isn't
35:18it
35:18there's many
35:18things that
35:19can hold
35:19us back
35:19if we
35:20continually
35:21call them
35:22to remembrance
35:23and we
35:23fail to give
35:24them to the
35:25lord
35:25brian mentioned
35:27that i think
35:27in his prayer
35:28today that we
35:28should be
35:29continually
35:29seeking what
35:31we're not
35:31doing right
35:32and putting
35:33it before the
35:34lord confessing
35:35our sins
35:35you know if
35:39you think
35:40about it
35:40again no
35:41athlete rings
35:41a race by
35:42looking over
35:42their shoulder
35:43do they
35:43i often
35:45quote this
35:46if you
35:46remember from
35:47school days
35:47when you
35:47were running
35:48the relay
35:49race what
35:49did the
35:49teacher say
35:50don't look
35:51back just
35:52hold the
35:53baton and
35:53let the
35:54other person
35:54take it
35:55from you
35:55because if
35:56you look
35:56back what
35:57happens you
35:58drop the
35:58baton you
35:59lose the
35:59race
35:59if you're
36:02running a
36:03race and
36:03you look
36:03over your
36:04shoulder the
36:04first thing
36:04you're going
36:05to do is
36:05trip and
36:05fall
36:06if you're
36:07navigating a
36:08ship and
36:09you don't
36:09keep your
36:09eye fixed on
36:10the landmark
36:10ahead you're
36:11going to
36:11steer a
36:11wrong course
36:12aren't
36:12you
36:12life's
36:15often like
36:15an obstacle
36:16race isn't
36:16it we're
36:17constantly
36:17trying to
36:18overcome
36:18hurdles and
36:19things that
36:20get in our
36:20way but we
36:22must run the
36:23race of life
36:24with patient
36:25endurance and
36:26run it knowing
36:27in our hearts
36:28that we don't
36:29run alone and
36:30that's the
36:30important part
36:31isn't it we
36:31don't run this
36:32race alone
36:33so as we
36:55come to a
36:55close this
36:55morning
36:56brothers and
36:58sisters let's
36:58resolve to lay
36:59aside everything
36:59that holds
37:00us back and
37:01press on
37:02toward that
37:03prize of
37:03christ's high
37:04calling move
37:07on towards
37:08spiritual maturity
37:09day by day
37:09every day let's
37:10become more
37:11mature in
37:12christ you
37:15know what we've
37:15shared this
37:16morning i hope
37:17you can see that
37:18hebrews is a
37:19letter of
37:19encouragement not
37:20discouragement not
37:22only we do have do
37:23we have that firm
37:23promise and guarantee
37:24of eternal life
37:25through faith in
37:26christ but also
37:27the security that
37:28he is our
37:29eternal refuge
37:30and we can be
37:32assured that
37:32because of his
37:33death and
37:33resurrection eternal
37:35salvation is
37:36secure i know
37:39most of you here but
37:40not all of you i
37:41certainly don't know
37:42those that are
37:43watching online
37:44today but the
37:46question is have
37:48you fully accepted
37:49christ as your
37:50savior have you
37:52got that blessed
37:52assurance of
37:53eternal salvation
37:54are you anchored in
37:56christ alone by
37:58faith alone well
38:00if anyone's in
38:01doubt today if
38:01you're here don't
38:03leave before you
38:04speak to tony or
38:05kuan if you're
38:06online i'm sure
38:07that tony or
38:08kuan will be
38:08pleased to help
38:09you the letter
38:13to the hebrews
38:14one of
38:14encouragement if
38:15we read it in
38:16its context may
38:18the lord bless his
38:19word to us this
38:19morning father we
38:21thank you for your
38:21word we thank you
38:22that you reveal
38:24yourself to us
38:24through your word
38:25we thank you that
38:26we do indeed have
38:27that blessed
38:27assurance that
38:28hope that you
38:30are our faithful
38:30high priest of the
38:31order of melchizedek
38:32into seeding on our
38:33behalf and that we
38:36can be assured of
38:37eternal salvation if
38:41we would but believe
38:42and trust in you and
38:43you alone thank you
38:45lord jesus in
38:46it's in jesus name that
38:48we offer this to god
38:49the father amen
38:51our final hymn from
38:54isaiah number 249 in
38:59mission praise how
39:01lovely on the mountains
39:02are the feet of those
39:04who bring good news
39:06just like me in the
39:15morning i've got to
39:15warm up
39:16o'clock in the
39:23o'clock in the
39:29d
39:29o'clock in the
42:31Our God reigns.
42:36Our God reigns.
42:40Our God reigns.
42:43Our God reigns.
42:51Our God reigns.
42:52Hallelujah and amen.
42:55You know, we see the world around us and we see the nations rising up against Israel.
43:01We see the enemies of the Lord all around, but it's our God who reigns.
43:09You know, we talked about there the nations, didn't we?
43:13And how he one day will judge the nations that are judging his people.
43:19Father, we thank you again for the words that we've just sung that you do indeed reign.
43:25We thank you that you will one day completely restore Zion and your people Israel.
43:33And they call out to you Baruch Habab Hashem Adonai on that glorious day.
43:39Blessed is he that comes in the name of the Lord.
43:43And you return that second time to defeat the armies of Antichrist, those who stand against you and your people.
43:51Father, we long for that day, but we thank you that you've given us that blessed hope of one day being with you for eternity.
44:04And until that time, help us, Lord, in our daily walk with you to continually look to you, to have that urge within ourselves to become more mature each day.
44:14Help us, Lord, to study your word.
44:17Help me, Lord, because I know sometimes I find it difficult to apply myself to reading.
44:22Help us to always be ready to read your word.
44:25Give it an excitement, Lord.
44:27That joy that comes from reading your truth.
44:32That light to our path and lamp to our feet.
44:38And Father, as we go from here this morning, I pray that also you would help us always to be ready to share that hope that we have within us.
44:46As your word says.
44:49With meekness and fear, with those that don't know you.
44:53Give us the right words to say, Lord.
44:56Help us to be good ambassadors, good witnesses, to reflect your glory in our lives.
45:01And again, we pray, Lord, as we leave this place, that you would bless us and keep us and make your face shine upon us.
45:11Be gracious to us.
45:12Lift up your countenance upon us and give us your peace, the peace that passes all understanding.
45:18In Jesus name.
45:20Amen.
45:21Amen.
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