Hebrews 6—A Call to Maturity

Hebrews 6:1 Therefore let us leave the elementary teachings about Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith in God, instruction about baptisms, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment. And this we will do, if God permits.

The elementary teachings about Christ:

Repentance from dead works – Pharisees in Jesus' time created extensive, rigid oral traditions—often called "fences" around the law—that became nearly impossible for common people to follow. They prioritized these man-made, legalistic rules over the core tenets of mercy and justice, leading to charges of hypocrisy and oppressive, burdensome requirements that hindered, rather than helped, spiritual life. Their traditions often contradicted the actual commandments of God.

Good deeds alone do not lead to salvation. Strict legalism leads to pride and judgment. Even "spiritual" things like praying or giving are empty if they are performed as a means to an end. Having the right intention is pleasing to God.

Faith toward God – Faith is not just belief; it is a verb demonstrated through action. It means acting on what God says, even when emotions or circumstances suggest otherwise. Following God's voice even when you cannot see where you are going. They no longer trust themselves or their works to achieve a right standing before God.

Baptisms – In the Old Testament, many events served as types or prefigurations of baptism. Key examples include the creation waters, Noah's Flood (salvation through judgment), the Red Sea crossing (deliverance), and the Jordan crossing (entry into the Promised Land), just to name a few. In the New Testament there were a variety of baptisms: the baptism of John, the new covenant baptism of Jesus, and the baptism of the Spirit.

Laying on of hands – In the Old Testament, it was a symbolic act representing the transfer of authority, the passing of a blessing, or the identification with a sacrifice. In the New Testament, it also is used for healing the sick and receiving the Holy Spirit.

Resurrection of the dead – highlights the ultimate hope of life after death. This doctrine was denied by the Sadducees and ridiculed by philosophers in the New Testament. Jesus shamed them publicly by his victory over them on the cross.

Eternal judgment – Neglecting the message of salvation brought by Jesus is a grave matter with lasting consequences. All sin must be condemned by God. There is no escape from the terrible consequences. On the cross Christ paid the penalty of our sin with His own blood. He has saved us from the eternal consequences of sin. Those who believe are under God's grace.

The key to maturity is consistency, perseverance in doing those things we know will bring us closer to God, such as Bible reading/study, prayer, fellowship, service, and stewardship under the instruction of the Holy Spirit.

Hebrews 6:4 It is impossible for those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, who have shared in the Holy Spirit, who have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the coming age—and then have fallen away—to be restored to repentance, because they themselves are crucifying the Son of God all over again and subjecting Him to open shame.

Bible scholars, theologians, and commentators regard this set of scripture as one of the most difficult, debated, and misunderstood passages in the entire Bible. Clearly this is written to Jewish Christians who were under persecution and tempted to return to traditional Temple Judaism and animal sacrifices to avoid suffering, thus potentially abandoning their faith in Jesus as the final sacrifice. This passage is, therefore, a severe warning against apostasy (renouncing faith in Christ).

There are four common ways this passage is interpreted.

• Professing Unbelievers (Reformed View): This is about those who profess to be Christians but were never genuinely saved. They are "professing Christians" who participated in the community of faith but lacked saving faith and ultimately fell away.
  
  This view is hard to justify. It speaks of those who have been enlightened, possessing profound understanding, reaching a state of higher awareness and inner peace. Tasting the heavenly gift refers to salvation and all of the benefits it entails. To share in the Holy Spirit is to be sealed with the Holy Spirit. They tasted the goodness of the word of God finding genuine satisfaction in God's word, feeling that it is "sweeter than honey." The powers of the coming age denotes a genuine, firsthand experience of the spiritual realities that will characterize the future, rather than just a shallow sampling. This is a warning against believers falling away from the faith.
  
  
• Hypothetical Warning (Calvinist/Reformed View): In theological debates, some argue that warnings about falling away from faith are "hypothetical." They say that if a christian could lose his or her salvation they could lose their ability to repent. In the Greek language, the word "if" does not exist. It is more accurately rendered as "having fallen away," describing an actual, past action rather than a hypothetical future scenario.
  
  Jesus promises that no one can snatch believers out of His or the Father's hand. If a person is a true believer, as suggested in the scripture, they are securely sealed by the Holy Spirit.
  
  
• Lack of Christian Maturity: Failure to grow in maturity leads to a state where repentance becomes impossible.
  
  True Christians can experience periods of spiritual coldness, disobedience, and lack of maturity, resulting in divine discipline. Scripture consistently calls for the backslider to return, promising healing and restoration.
  
  
• Apostasy – Renouncing Faith in Christ: Repentance is not just as a feeling of remorse, but as a willful, conscious turning away from sin and turning toward God. Therefore, if a person remains unwilling to turn away from their sinful behavior or to submit to God, they cannot engage in the action of repentance. If a christian abandons their faith and act as though Christ's once-for-all sacrifice was insufficient and by denying him to be the Son of God, they justify the crucifixion of him on that account. They have rejected the only means of salvation.

Hebrews 6:7 For land that drinks in the rain often falling on it and that produces a crop useful to those for whom it is tended receives the blessing of God. But land that produces thorns and thistles is worthless, and its curse is imminent. In the end it will be burned.

The land that drinks refers to individuals who receive God's word and grace. Just as land requires cultivation to be fruitful, believers must engage in spiritual disciplines such as prayer, study, and fellowship to grow in their faith in order to receive God's blessing. Thorns and thistles represent unproductive and sinful behavior. The curse is judgment, indicating the fate of those who do not bear fruit, underscoring that God's final judgment is literal, thorough, and permanent.

A good crop indicates a mature, productive life. One that is useful represents the spiritual fruit produced by believers who absorb God's word and blessings. It represents the outward expression of an inward, saving faith, such as love, joy, and kindness. Teaching others and encouraging their growth is a key aspect of this productive, mature life.

Hebrews 6:9 Even though we speak like this, beloved, we are convinced of better things in your case—things that accompany salvation. For God is not unjust. He will not forget your work and the love you have shown for His name as you have ministered to the saints and continue to do so.

Even though the author has been cautioning his readers to stay firm in their faith, he encourages them. He believed their positive spiritual growth was evidence of their true salvation. He urged them to remain steadfast and avoid falling away, noting that God will remember and honor their hard work to bring Him glory and help others..

Hebrews 6:11 We want each of you to show this same diligence to the very end, in order to make your hope sure. Then you will not be sluggish, but will imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised.

The assurance of hope is rooted in the promises of God and the work of Christ. The phrase "to the very end" underscores the necessity of enduring faith. Believers are called to remain steadfast, reflecting the perseverance of Christ encourage one another in their spiritual journey, fostering a supportive faith community.

Hebrews 6:13 When God made His promise to Abraham, since He had no one greater to swear by, He swore by Himself, saying, "I will surely bless you and multiply your descendants." (Genesis 22:17) And so Abraham, after waiting patiently, obtained the promise.

God's promise to Abraham was that through his descendants, all nations would be blessed. Abraham waited patiently for 25 years before Isaac was born. God's promise include His redemptive plan through Abraham's lineage, ultimately leading to the coming of Jesus Christ. Although Abraham didn't live long enough to see the results, he was sure God would keep His promise, and He did.

Hebrews 6:16 Men swear by someone greater than themselves, and their oath serves as a confirmation to end all argument. So when God wanted to make the unchanging nature of His purpose very clear to the heirs of the promise, He guaranteed it with an oath. Thus by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled to take hold of the hope set before us may be strongly encouraged.

In ancient cultures, oaths were sworn by invoking a higher authority (like gods, heaven, or sacred objects) to guarantee the truthfulness of one's word. Since there is no one or no thing higher than God Himself, He swore by Himself to serve as a guarantee of sincerity. God's word is irrevocable. Two unchangeable things: 1) Every promise God makes, it will be fulfilled in His timing and 2) it is impossible for God to lie.

Hebrews 6:19 We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain, where Jesus our forerunner has entered on our behalf. He has become a high priest forever in the order of Melchizedek.

Hope is rooted in God's promises, specifically the certainty of salvation through Jesus. By prioritizing these promises over fleeting circumstances, we gain a secure anchor that prevents us from drifting away from our faith. In the Old Testament, God's presence dwelt behind the Temple curtain in the Holy of Holies (Exodus 25-40). Once a year on the Day of Atonement, the high priest would enter with a blood sacrifice in order to atone both for his sins and for the unintentional sins of the people. Instead of an earthly tent, Jesus entered the "greater and more perfect tabernacle" to secure permanent redemption to all believers. The veil that separated the Holy of Holies, that kept people away from God's Glory, has been torn and we now have access to Him through Jesus who is our High Priest.