From the diary of a faithful scribbler, before plunging
into further intricate topic about Christ, the author makes it clear that the
spiritual condition of his audience made it hard to explain to them more
intricate topics. Their ears were dull, (5:11), that is, they were not
interested in God’s word, v. 1b. Earlier, we mentioned that drifting away from
God is not a sudden thing rather it is a gradual process. It involves becoming dull/disinterested
in God’s word. “By this time you ought to be teachers…,” v. 12. They should
have matured but instead they had become retard Christians; unskilled in the
word of righteousness, v. 12-14.
Marks of a
mature Christian
1. They
have an ability to discern between good and evil, v.14. “… by reason of use
have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil, (v.14. KJV).
o
They’ve tasted that the LORD is gracious;
good, (1 Peter 2:3; Ps 34:8).
o
Their ears can hear what the Spirit says
to the church; and live, (Rev 2:7); Give ear and come to me; listen, that you may live.”
(Isaiah 55:3).
o
Their eyes are opened to see and
understand the wondrous things in God’s law, (Psalm 119:18; Eph 1:18).
o
They have a sense of feeling/sensitivity,
(Phil 4:18-19 AMP).
o
They know that they’re a pleasing aroma
of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing, (2 Cor
2:15; Songs of Songs 1:3).
2. They’re
not content with elementary teachings, they move on to maturity, (6:1).
3. They
have steadfast faith in Jesus, (6:1-11).
o
They do not let discouragement set in
and cause them to backslide.
Essential nature
of maturity, (6:1-3)
- As
we have seen, spiritual condition matters a lot. If you are to mature in
Christ, it is necessary to be interested in God’s word, (Ch. 5:11).
- You
must be intentional to move beyond the elementary teachings into maturity,
(Ch. 6:1). “Not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works
and of faith toward God, of the doctrine of baptisms, of laying on of
hands, of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment,” (v.1b-2). The
author wants these Christians to proceed from safe common grounds to maturity
as God enables them, v. 3. Certainly, the above basics are the foundation
upon which you must build upon, reaching to maturity (go on to perfection)
in Christ, (6:1).
Danger and the
tragic consequences of falling away, (6:4-8)
-
The impossibility of repentance for
those who have fallen away after receiving blessing from God, v.4.
-
Four things here, a person may: have been
enlightened, (v. 4); have tasted the heavenly gift; have tasted the good word
of the Lord, (v. 5); and may have tasted the powers of the age to come, (v. 5). If this person falls away from Christ and the above
goodness, consequently, it is tantamount to crucifying Jesus all over
again, v. 4-6. Certainly, if you depart from Jesus, there is no hope! The Hebrew
church had experienced God’s blessing of salvation, but seemingly, they were
tempted to slip back to Judaism, to do that would be crucifying Christ again.
-
The tragic consequences, v.7-8):
§ Rejection
§ Impending
curse
§ Ultimately,
eternal judgment-burning.
Be encouraged:
- There is certainty of better things that have to do with
salvation, (v. 9).
- God
hasn’t forgotten about you! (v. 10). “For God is not unjust to
forget your work and labor of love….”
- Be
diligent in faith, hope and patience, (v.11-12).
- Do
not lose sight of the certainty of God’s promises, (v.13-18). God’s
promises are reliable
- Ultimately,
we will enter into God’s glory, (v. 19-20).
Yours
faithfully,
NzakuNashipae
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