The Book of Hebrews Week 7 -The Point: The Hebrew people are getting scolded and then taught, in order to grow them up out of their complacency. -The Memory Verse (due today): Hebrews 5: The Assignment (due today): What does it mean to obey the Gospel? Finish this assignment by writing down a detailed explanation of how to lead someone to faith in Christ for Salvation.

Hebrews 5:12 Picking up from last week’s study, the writer is interrupting himself to scold the Hebrew people on where they are in their spiritual growth. Here’s the situation Enough time has passed, that the people of Israel should be teaching God’s truth to the world. Because they missed the truth or ignored it for so long they now need to be taught from the very beginning. Instead of growing into “adults” spiritually, pictured by eating solid food, they need someone to feed them milk.

Hebrews 5:13 There are some very crucial words in this verse! -Everyone = this is not most people but a bold statement that applies to all. -Only = helps us see that the diet of these people is only milk, nothing else. -Babe = this is the word for infant not a cute girl. Interesting note: When it comes to our own spiritual maturity this is a good gauge to help us know where we are. If we are only or mainly relying on others (including our pastors, parents, etc…) to feed us from God’s Word then we are still baby Christians. It’s when we begin to feed ourselves that we begin to reach a point of maturity.

Hebrews 5:14 The verse continues the thought about maturity in Christ. Solid food (harder concepts in God’s Word) call for study on your own. Use = 1838, hexis = habit, practice Senses = 145, aistheterion = an organ of perception, figuratively judgment Exercised = 1128, gumnazo = to train Discern 1253, diakrisis = judicial estimation, disputation

Hebrews 6:1-3 The lecture of how the Hebrews have not grown as they should is over. The writer chooses to move on from the elementary principles of Christ and onto heavier issues. The foundation of repentance from dead works Faith toward God Doctrine of baptisms Laying on of hands The resurrection of the dead Eternal judgment These are set aside by verse three, where he seems to say, “if God allows time, we’ll hit them later.”

Hebrews 6:4-6 One of the most important issues concerning salvation is, can a person lose it or not??? The writer feels this is very basic and foundational to correct growth in Christ, so he teaches very strongly about it here. What some people believe about losing salvation: If you lose it you can obtain it again (By coming back to God). It’s hard to know what “sin” or how many “sins” it takes to lose your salvation. It’s hard to find someone who believes they have ever lost their salvation themselves, but not very difficult to find someone who believes that others have or could. Verses 4 and 5 describe in many different word pictures a real relationship with Jesus Christ by faith. Enlightened – Eph. 1:18 Tasted of the heavenly gift –Eph. 2:9 Partakers of the Holy Spirit – Eph. 1:13 & 4:30 II Cor. 1:22 Tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come – Rev. 5:12-13

Hebrews 6:4-6… Verse 6 says “if they fall away” Right away people see that it is possible to lose someone’s salvation because it seems possible to fall away. We must read the entire verse! If someone were to fall away, they would never be able to be saved from their sins again. This flies in direct contrast to what many people believe about losing one’s salvation. The rest of the verse describes why it’s impossible for someone to be saved again if they fall away They would be crucifying for themselves the Son of God, putting Him to open shame. As if Jesus would be coming back to die again for their sins. (Incidentally, that He already paid for.) This closing phrase helps us to see that these few verses are hyperbole Hyperbole is a bold statement of truth that uses exaggeration to make a point.

Hebrews 6:4-6… This hyperbole helps us to see why it is impossible for someone to lose salvation. Jesus isn’t coming back to die again for sins His death was sufficient to forgive all the sin of the entire world! For anyone to suggest that a person could lose God’s salvation, is to question the sufficiency of Jesus sacrifice on the cross. Salvation was not received based upon our merit (Eph. 2:8-9) and it cannot be lost on our merit. God’s faithfulness is the foundation for the doctrine of eternal security. -II Tim. 2:11-13

Hebrews 6:4-6… These verses describe three truths concerning the Christian life. Verse 11 Describe in a picturesque way the salvation of a soul. Verse 12 Deals with our rewards based on if we live with Christ as Lord Verse 13 Settles the issue of security by placing all the responsibility on God’s character.

Hebrews 6:4-6… These verses describe three truths concerning the Christian life. Verse 11 Describe in a picturesque way the salvation of a soul. Verse 12 Deals with our rewards based on if we live with Christ as Lord Verse 13 Settles the issue of security by placing all the responsibility on God’s character.

Conclusions - The writer takes the Hebrew people back to the most basic of truths concerning salvation because they needed to go back to basics. -Due to false teaching many people then, and now, are deceived into thinking that somehow we hold the controls on salvation and that if we don’t live just right we can lose the free gift of God, sufficiently accomplished on the cross.

Challenge Never be deceived or manipulated to accept that a person can lose the salvation God gives as a free gift, received through faith. -The Assignment (due next week): Pretending that someone was to tell you that you could lose your salvation, use this passage to defend the truth about eternal security from God’s Word.