BETTER THINGS

Summer 2013

HEBREWS 6:1-3 – PRESSING ON TO MATURITY

Two-fold exhortation Let us leave And go on

If they will understand the meaning of Christ’s priesthood and his sacrifice, this will be enough to keep them from apostasy They must decide: Is Aaron (and his

descendants) or Christ high priest? Who offers the real sacrifice for sins?

HEBREWS 6:1-3 – PRESSING ON TO MATURITY

Six basics that need no further emphasis Repentance from “dead works” Faith in God Washings (baptisms) Laying on of hands Resurrection of the dead Eternal judgment

HEBREWS 6:4-8 – A WARNING AGAINST APOSTASY

“Impossible” to bring some back to repentance Those “once enlightened”

Who have “tasted the heavenly gift” Have shared in the Holy Spirit Have “tasted the goodness of the word of God and

of the age to come” And have then “fallen away”

Why? They crucify again the Son of God They don’t just disbelieve Him, they denounce

and disgrace Him before the world

HEBREWS 6:4-8 – A WARNING AGAINST APOSTASY

Apostasy illustrated by two kinds of soil Well-watered and cultivated

Receives a blessing from God Worthless soil of “thorns and thistles”

Near to being cursed To be burned

Apostasy Not the same as “falling short”, but not

falling away It is to “deliberately” keep on sinning

“Wobbling” Christians need to face the peril of their situation

HEBREWS 6:9-12 – A WORD OF ENCOURAGEMENT

Confident of “better things” Things that accompany salvation

“beloved” Love and work go together

They had served the saints Such love toward others demonstrates an

active faith...the opposite of the apostate They have love. They have faith (to

some extent), they lack assurance and hope

HEBREWS 6:9-12 – A WORD OF ENCOURAGEMENT

They were “dull of hearing” (5:11), now he exhorts them not to be “sluggish” Imitators of those ... who inherit the

promises

HEBREWS 6:13-20 – STANDING ON GOD’S PROMISES

Promise Occurs 18 times in Hebrews “He who promised is faithful” (10:23)

Abraham “patiently waited” Genesis 22:17—promise that his offspring

would be numberless Genesis 12:2—great nation Genesis 21:1-7—25 years later Isaac was born Hebrews 11:13, 39-40

HEBREWS 6:13-20 – STANDING ON GOD’S PROMISES

Two unchangeable (immutable) things God’s word God’s irrevocable oath

Provides “strong encouragement” For those who have fled to Christ for refuge To “hold fast” to the hope set before us A “sure and steadfast anchor” A hope that enters into the inner place

behind the curtain” Where Jesus has gone

BETTER THINGS

Summer 2013