For it is impossible, in the case of those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, and have shared in the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the age to come, and then have fallen away, to restore them again to repentance, since they are crucifying once again the Son of God to their own harm and holding him up to contempt.

Hebrews 6

For it is impossible, in the case of those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, and have shared in the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the age to come, and then have fallen away, to restore them again to repentance, since they are crucifying once again the Son of God to their own harm and holding him up to contempt. Hebrews 6:4-6

I continue my study of Hebrews, assisted by the commentary Christ Centered Exposition: Exalting Jesus in Hebrews. This morning, I maintain my focus on Hebrews 6:1-8, as I lean on my commentary and explore what the commentary describes as the second division "The Danger of Irreversible Apostasy," which looks at Hebrews 6:4-8. Here, the commentary addresses what it refers to as "some of the most difficult verses in the entire New Testament."  Apostasy is often debated within the church and many worry whether they can lose their salvation.  The commentary explores several available scholarly interpretations for this text and ultimately describes apostates as those who left the faith, but "showed they were not truly part of the faith in the first place."  It goes on to offer that this text "is a caution for individuals who have tasted the things of Christ but have not become genuine Christians." Scripture references offered by the commentary that support how true believers cannot lose their salvation include John 5:24; Romans 8:39; 11:29; 1 Corinthians 1:6-8; Philippians 1:6; 2 Thessalonians 3:3.  Matthew 13:24-30 and the Parable of the Weeds is offered as a clear connection to this story and how the second and third soil best represent those who never had genuine faith and fall away.  The commentary wraps for this text by sharing an encouragement: "[h]appily, Hebrews does not end with this warning. The author assures believers that he had to write the warning for the unbelievers in the church needing to hear it. Pastorally, he is not seeking to put insecurity in the hearts of Christians. Believers who are faithfully following Christ’s commands can be confident in their salvation. If we seek assurance of our faith, we will find it by doing the things faithful Christians do. We will grow out of the elementary things and into maturity."

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me, keeps me, and who helps me stay on track with my faith and gives me Your Word, my church, my brothers and sisters in Christ, the Holy Spirit...all to stay on track and not fall away.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of such blessings.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

For it is impossible, in the case of those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, and have shared in the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the age to come, and then have fallen away, to restore them again to repentance, since they are crucifying once again the Son of God to their own harm and holding him up to contempt.

Hebrews 6

For it is impossible, in the case of those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, and have shared in the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the age to come, and then have fallen away, to restore them again to repentance, since they are crucifying once again the Son of God to their own harm and holding him up to contempt. Hebrews 6:4-6

I continue my study of Hebrews, assisted by the commentary Christ Centered Exposition: Exalting Jesus in Hebrews. My focus this morning is Hebrews 6:1-8, and my initial unaided observations of this text.  Hebrews 6 picks up from Hebrews 5:11-14 where the author exhorts the audience of Jewish believers to shake themselves from spiritual and moral sluggishness - they are urged to grow in their spiritual maturity.  This call is of course meant for all believers.  Do not allow yourself to be stuck in a spiritual rut where you are not growing in your relationship with God.  The remedy provided is "discernment trained by constant practice," and this is principally accomplished through daily time with God in study and prayer, but also through other spiritual disciplines such as corporate worship, service to God and others, etc.  Hebrews 6:1 continues with this exhortation, and it includes a stern warning to those who do not grow in their faith. This stern warning is described in v4-6.  Note the word "impossible" in v4.  If believers allow themselves to be taken off course from their faith journey, and they then allow themselves to be taken away from their faith (apostasy) by the Great Deceiver (Satan), then there is no turning back. An ominous warning indeed!  Believers stay on course!

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who keeps me on track - thank You God!  I am not deserving of Your grace, compassion, and patience.  My sin is great and it continues.  Please forgive me, and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

Keep me as the apple of your eye; hide me in the shadow of your wings from the wicked who are out to destroy me, from my mortal enemies who surround me.

Psalm 17

Keep me as the apple of your eye; hide me in the shadow of your wings from the wicked who are out to destroy me, from my mortal enemies who surround me. v8-9

Christians do indeed have enemies - there are certainly those who don't want us to practice our faith.  These may be other people, but Satan for sure is our enemy - see also 1 Peter 5:8-9.

Some quick digging this morning located this post - which is a keeper.  It is an excerpt from A.W. Tozer's book Rut, Rot, or Revival: The Problem of Change and Breaking Out of the Status Quo.  Tozer writes that Christians face yet another enemy, which is that of routine or what he calls rut - where we become predictable and we fail to push ourselves onward to where God is calling us - He certainly isn't telling us to stand still.  We are to grow.

Tozer uses Deuteronomy as an example of how God wants us to "move forward":

East of the Jordan in the territory of Moab, Moses began to expound this law, saying:

 

The Lord our God said to us at Horeb, “You have stayed long enough at this mountain. Break camp and advance into the hill country of the Amorites; go to all the neighboring peoples in the Arabah, in the mountains, in the western foothills, in the Negev and along the coast, to the land of the Canaanites and to Lebanon, as far as the great river, the Euphrates. See, I have given you this land. Go in and take possession of the land the Lord swore he would give to your fathers—to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob—and to their descendants after them.” Deuteronomy 1:5-8

Therefore let us move beyond the elementary teachings about Christ and be taken forward to maturity, not laying again the foundation of repentance from acts that lead to death, and of faith in God[.] Hebrews 6:1

 

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an amazing God who has seen me through dark valleys and mountain highs....both through change and stagnation.  You have never left me or forsaken me...nor will You ever.  Thank You Jesus.  I am not worth such love.  I get caught in routine.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome such sin, turn towards You, love You with all of my heart, soul and mind, and love others as You do.  Help me GROW in my faith, and CHANGE.  Please give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo. Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.