November 4, 2012
Evening Service

Chapter 6

 

Review:

1.     Chapter 4 finished up by saying;  Heb 4:14 KJVR  Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession.  Heb 4:15-16 KJVR  For we have not a high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.  (16)  Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

2.    The writer begins chapter 5 reminding the Hebrews of how Aaron, and his descendants were to possess this office.  And how he would offer sacrifices for the sins of the people, and himself.

3.     Then we are told no man takes this honor to himself, but he who is called by God, just as Aaron was.  The writer goes on and quotes Scripture to prove that Jesus was called by God, a priest forever after the order or Melchizedek. 

4.     We learned that though He was a Son, He learned obedience by the things which He suffered, and becoming perfect, He became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him.

5.     Chapter 5 closes by the writer telling the people that they are yet babes, and are still on the milk of the Word, telling them they still need someone to teach them of the principles of the oracles of God.

 

This is where he begins with chapter 6;

 

Heb 6:1-20 KJVR  Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation;  Now here are the foundational principles in the doctrine of Christ.   Keep in mind that the key issue here is authority.

 

And the four authorities are from John Baptist, Jesus, and the 12 Apostles, and the Apostle Paul.

1. of repentance from dead works,

·       Repentance from dead works were in all of their messages.

2. and of faith toward God,

·       Jesus rewarded those with faith, by healing them.

·       This writer gives us great insight on the importance of faith, when he says;  Heb 11:6 KJVR  But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

·       Peter said; Act 3:16 KJVR  And his name through faith in his name hath made this man strong, whom ye see and know: yea, the faith which is by him hath given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all.

3. (2)  Of the doctrine of baptisms,

·       John, and Jesus baptized while the law was still in effect.  It was a washing for cleansing according to the law.

·       However, the law is gone, and we are in the new covenant that Jesus spoke of when He instituted our communion service.  “This is my body and blood of the new covenant.”

·       Paul tells us very clearly in the Ephesian letter;  Eph 4:3-6 KJVR  Endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.  (4)  There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling;  (5)  One Lord, one faith, one baptism,  (6)  One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.

·       Paul explains this baptism in chapter 6 of the letter to the Romans.

·       When Jesus told His disciples that He would build His church and the gates of hell would not prevail against it, He turned the keys over to Peter.  This was authority.  Peter used these keys to open the door to salvation for the Jews in chapter 2 of the book of Acts, when he said, “repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ, for the remission of your sins, and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.”  The gift of God is eternal life, and the only way you can have eternal life is by possessing the abiding presence of Almighty God.  He alone possesses eternal life, and when you accept his offer of eternal life, He comes and makes His abode with you. 

THE WAGES OF SIN IS DEATH, BUT THE GIFT OF GOD IS ETERNAL LIFE.

• Then in the 10^th chapter of the book of Acts Peter opens the door to salvation for the gentiles at the house of Cornelius, the Centurion.
• And from this point on this is the one baptism that is recognized as Christian baptism.  Being baptized in the name ( authority ) of Jesus Christ, for the remission of your sins, in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.

4. and of laying on of hands,

·       This is an act of transferring a blessing, healing, or authority from those in authority.

·       The Apostles in Acts 6 lays hands on the first deacons.  James tells those that are sick to call for the elders of the church, and have them pray, and anoint them with oil, and you can’t anoint someone without laying hands on them.

·       And in Acts 8, Philip’s great revival, it tells of Peter, and John coming down and when they laid their hands on the newly baptized, they received the Holy Ghost.

5. and of resurrection of the dead,

·       This is certainly a tremendous truth in our faith.  Jesus rose from the dead, and Paul teaches us that He is coming back and receiving the church to Himself one day, and that there will be a great resurrection of all people.  The faithful, into the home that He has prepared for us, and the unfaithful will have their part in the lake of fire. 

6. and of eternal judgment.

·       We read of this last great judgment in Rev. 20;  it would help us all to read this occasionally.  We might not understand it all, but it will help us stay prepared.

 

As we continue, keep in mind that the writer is trying to convince these Hebrews to stay steadfast in their confession of faith, and not to go back into Judaism.   This Scripture is still very much debated.

(3)  And this will we do, if God permit.  (4)  For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost,  (5)  And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come,  (6)  If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame.  (7)  For the earth which drinketh in the rain that cometh oft upon it, and bringeth forth herbs meet for them by whom it is dressed, receiveth blessing from God:  (8)  But that which beareth thorns and briars is rejected, and is nigh unto cursing; whose end is to be burned. 

·       The serious results of turning our backs on God.  Look forward, never backwards.

(9)  But, beloved, we are persuaded better things of you, and things that accompany salvation, though we thus speak. 

·       He says, it’s a serious thing to go back on God, but I have faith in you.

(10)  For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labor of love, which ye have showed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister.  (11)  And we desire that every one of you do show the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end: 

·       Words of encouragement.

(12)  That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises. 

·       Don’t be lazy, be up and about the things of God.

(13)  For when God made promise to Abraham, because he could swear by no greater, he swore by himself,  (14)  Saying, Surely blessing I will bless thee, and multiplying I will multiply thee.  (15)  And so, after he had patiently endured, he obtained the promise.  (16)  For men verily swear by the greater: and an oath for confirmation is to them an end of all strife.  (17)  Wherein God, willing more abundantly to show unto the heirs of promise the immutability of his counsel, confirmed it by an oath:  (18)  That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us:  (19)  Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which entereth into that within the veil;  (20)  Whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made a high priest forever after the order of Melchizedek.

·       The writer is saying that Jesus has entered the Holy of Holies and is there interceding for us.