Sermon #27                                                       Hebrews Notes

 

          Title:            Let Us Go On!

          Text:            Hebrews 5:11-6:3

          Readings:     Rex Bartley – Bob Poncer

          Subject:       Perseverance in Grace

          Date:            Tuesday Evening – August 22, 2000[1]

          Tape #         V-98b

          Introduction:

 

          You will find the title of my message tonight in Hebrews 6:1. – Let Us Go On!

 

·        (Hebrews 6:1)  "Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God."

 

          I am aware that Hebrews 6 is one of the most controversial chapters in the New Testament. Heretics frequently point to the opening verses of this chapter and use them to try to prove that saved men and women may be lost again, that those who are the objects of God’s grace today may be the objects of his wrath tomorrow. Of course, that is both nonsense and blasphemy. The gifts and callings of God are without repentance. His mercy, love, and grace are unchangeable. His salvation is forever. He gives eternal life to whom he will, and declares that those to whom eternal life is given in Christ are saved forever. – “I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish!

 

          This is also a chapter about which faithful men, men who believe and preach the gospel of God’s free and sovereign grace in Christ, are often in disagreement. It is not my intention tonight to explore or settle those conflicts of interpretation. I will gladly leave that task to those who enjoy such things.

 

          The fact is, this is a very instructive, encouraging passage of Scripture. If you will read the entire passage carefully, beginning at chapter 5 verse 11, you will see that the Spirit of God has reasons for giving us the instruction found in these verses.

 

·        (Hebrews 5:11-14)  "Of whom we have many things to say, and hard to be uttered, seeing ye are dull of hearing. (12) For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat. (13) For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe. (14) But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil."

 

·        (Hebrews 6:1-3)  "Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God, (2) Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment. (3) And this will we do, if God permit."

 

1.    These things are written to encourage us to persevere in the faith of Christ, to continue looking to, trusting, following, and obeying Christ.

 

·        This was a time of great apostasy.

·        We, too, live in a day of overwhelming apostasy (2 Thess. 2; Rev. 20).

 

2.    The Holy Spirit here encourages believers to grow in the grace and knowledge of Christ.

 

·        We do not grow in acceptance with God; but we must grow in grace.

·        We do not grow in our position of favor before God; but we must grow in the knowledge of Christ.

 

3.    And this passage of Inspiration is intended to encourage those who are still babes in Christ to “go on unto perfection,” maturity in the things of God. – The passage is designed to encourage us to seek spiritual maturity, seeking to be strong, well-established, well-grounded, useful believers.

 

Proposition:         In this portion of Holy Scripture, the Spirit of God teaches us that the righteous shall, indeed, hold on his way, and that he will grow and bear fruit by the grace of God (Job 17:9).

 

·        (Job 17:9)  "The righteous also shall hold on his way, and he that hath clean hands shall be stronger and stronger."

 

I.     A Word of Concern (Heb. 5:11-14)

 

          When men and women who should be instruments of usefulness to others are often spiritually immature. They are like babies and small children, must be constantly instructed in elementary principles of the faith. This is what we see in the latter part of chapter five.

 

·        (Hebrews 5:11-14)  "Of whom we have many things to say, and hard to be uttered, seeing ye are dull of hearing. (12) For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat. (13) For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe. (14) But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil."

 

          Paul had many things yet to say about Christ, our great Melchisdec. There were so many great treasures to be revealed, so many great truths to be taught, so many great mysteries to be unfolded; but it was difficult for him to plunge into the great, wonders of Christ’s work as our Priest before God and the great mysteries of his Person, because there were many among the Hebrew believers who were still babes, “dull of hearing,” immature. If he gave them strong meat, he knew that they would choke on it. Therefore, before moving on to weightier matters (as he does in chapter 7), the Holy Spirit inspired Paul to reprove those who continue in immaturity and urge them to grow up.

 

A.  Those who have been believers for a long time ought to mature in the things of God; but many remain babes (v. 12).

 

·        (Hebrews 5:12)  "For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat."

 

          Immaturity is acceptable in children; but immature adults are an embarrassment to their families and repulsive to others. Paul is here saying, “Brethren, it’s time for you to grow up. Stop acting like children.”

 

1.     Babies require milk, “first principles,” abc blocks, and coloring books.

 

2.     Mature believers  need and feed upon the strong meat of the Word.

 

B.  Being unstable in the Word of righteousness, spiritual babies must be spoon fed, lest they be tossed to and fro with every wind of doctrine (vv. 13-14).

 

·        (Hebrews 5:13-14)  "For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe. (14) But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil."

 

1.    Incapable of discerning good and evil (doctrinal good and evil), such infantile men and women must be constantly given the abcs of the gospel, the first principles of divine truth.

 

2.    As long as you are satisfied with such spiritual immaturity, you both rob yourself of great joy and blessedness, and remain unprofitable in the kingdom of God.

 

3.    Babies have childish minds, behave in childish ways, are greatly affected by childish toys, and have provide no real usefulness to others.

 

II.  A Word of Exhortation (Heb. 6:1-2)

 

·        (Hebrews 6:1-2)  "Therefore(lest we remain in a state of spiritual immaturity and uselessness) leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection (maturity as the sons and daughters of God); not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God, (2) Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment."

 

          Be sure you understand what Paul is telling us here. He is not telling us that we are to…

·        lose the first principles.

·        forget the first principles.

·        deny the first principles.

·        or cease to preach the first principles.

Rather, we are to build upon them. We lay these first principles in our hearts as the foundation of all that we are and have in Christ. Then, we go on to build upon that foundation.

 

          What are these “first principles of the doctrine of Christ”? The Holy Spirit here identifies six specific things as first principles. They are…

 

A.  Repentance from dead works” – (Phil. 3:4-8)

 

·        (Philippians 3:4-8)  "Though I might also have confidence in the flesh. If any other man thinketh that he hath whereof he might trust in the flesh, I more: (5) Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee; (6) Concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless. (7) But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. (8) Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,"

 

Nothing in my hands I bring.

Simply to Thy cross I cling;

Naked, come to Thee for dress;

Helpless, look to Thee for grace!

 

          George Whitefield said, “No man has truly repented until he has repented of…

·        his sin –

·        his sins –

·        and his righteousness!”

 

B.  Faith toward God” (Rom. 4:23-5:1)

 

          I believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God.” This is the faith of God’s elect, the confession of every true believer.

 

·        (Romans 4:23-25)  "Now it was not written for his sake alone, that it was imputed to him; (24) But for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead; (25) Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification."

 

·        (Romans 5:1)  "Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ."

 

C.  The doctrine of baptisms

 

1.    Baptism in the Holy Spirit at Pentecost (Acts 2)

2.    Believer’s Baptism – One Baptism (Rom. 6:4-6)

 

·        (Romans 6:4-6)  "Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. (5) For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection: (6) Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin."

 

D.  Laying on of hands

 

1.    This refers to that special power given to the Apostles of Christ, by which they conveyed to others the apostolic gifts of the Spirit (Acts 8:17; 1 Tim. 4:14).

2.    In the early church, when deacons and preachers were ordained, the presbyters laid hands upon them (Acts 6:6; 13:3).

3.    Paul warned Timothy to exercise great caution in laying hands upon men (1 Tim. 3:13-18).

 

E.   Resurrection of the dead” (1 Thess. 4:13-18)

 

·        Christ is coming again.

·        There will be a general resurrection.

 

F.   After the resurrection, “Eternal judgment” (Acts 17:31; Rev. 20:11-12)

 

          These are “the first principles of the doctrine of Christ.” This is where we begin in Christ. We must always continue to believe, preach, and rejoice in these things. But, do we need to prove them over and over again to those who claim to believe them, to those who say they have experienced them? Certainly not. “Let us go on!” I want to show you more. I want you to know and experience more. We want to go on to maturity.

 

·        In The Knowledge Of Christ

·        In The Love And Unity Of Christ

·        In Conformity To Christ

 

III. A Word Of Hope (Heb. 6:3)

 

          Look at verse 3 for a minute.

 

·        (Hebrews 6:3)  "And this will we do, if God permit."

 

          Paul is saying, “By the will of God, by the grace of God, we will, as the children of God, go on to maturity in Christ.” When he says, “this will we do,” the Apostle is saying…

 

A.  We will lay the foundation.

B.  We will build upon the foundation, growing in spiritual maturity, in faith, hope, and love.

C.  We will persevere in the faith of Christ by the grace of God (Phil. 1:6).

 

          We will go on, for it is impossible for a true believer to do otherwise. We must either go on or go back; and it is impossible for the child of God to go back! It is impossible for a true believer not to grow up in Christ.

 

1.    The Son of God keeps his own (John 10:27-28).

 

·        (John 10:27-28)  "My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: (28) And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand."

 

2.    Christ nourishes his body (Eph. 5:25-27).

 

·        (Ephesians 5:25-27)  "Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; (26) That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, (27) That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish."

 

3.    Our heavenly Father graciously causes his sons and daughters to grow up and makes them fruitful (John 15:1-6).

 

          He has four great tools by which he accomplishes this great end.

 

1.    The Chastening Rod (Heb. 12:5-12)

2.    The Shepherd’s Rod

3.    The Pruning Knife

 

·        (John 15:1-6)  "I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. (2) Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit. (3) Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you. (4) Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. (5) I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. (6) If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned."

 

4.    The Ministry of the Word (Eph. 4:11-16; Heb. 13:7, 17)

 

·        (Ephesians 4:11-16)  "And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; (12) For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: (13) Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: (14) That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; (15) But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: (16) From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love."

 

·        (Hebrews 13:7)  "Remember them which have the rule over you, who have spoken unto you the word of God: whose faith follow, considering the end of their conversation."

 

·        (Hebrews 13:17)  "Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you."



[1] Sermon #1013 – Preached at Danville 03/01/92 and Roadtown, Tortola 02/26/92