Grow UpHebrew 5:11 – 6:12

Lou Di Lorenzo 5th June 2011

Scripture Reading – Hebrews 5:11-6:12

Warning Against Falling Away11We have much to say about this, but it is hard to explain because you are slow to learn.

12In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God’s word all over again. You need milk, not solid food!

Scripture Reading – Hebrews 5:11-6:12

13Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness. 14But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil.

Scripture Reading – Hebrews 5:11-6:12

Hebrews 61Therefore let us leave the elementary teachings about Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again the foundation of repentance from acts that lead to death, and of faith in God, 2instruction about baptisms, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment. 3And God permitting, we will do so.

Scripture Reading – Hebrews 5:11-6:12

4It is impossible for those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, who have shared in the Holy Spirit, 5who have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the coming age, 6if they fall away, to be brought back to repentance, because to their loss they are crucifying the Son of God all over again and subjecting him to public disgrace.

Scripture Reading – Hebrews 5:11-6:12

7Land that drinks in the rain often falling on it and that produces a crop useful to those for whom it is farmed receives the blessing of God.

8But land that produces thorns and thistles is worthless and is in danger of being cursed. In the end it will be burned.

Scripture Reading – Hebrews 5:11-6:12

9Even though we speak like this, dear friends, we are confident of better things in your case—things that accompany salvation.

10God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people and continue to help them.

Scripture Reading – Hebrews 5:11-6:12

11We want each of you to show this same diligence to the very end, in order to make your hope sure.

12We do not want you to become lazy, but to imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised.

Grow UpHebrew 5:11 – 6:12

Lou Di Lorenzo 5th June 2011

Hebrews 5:11-6:12 – Warning Passage

3rd of 5 Warning passages in Hebrews Most extensive and harsh

Bible warns because of real danger Warnings send us back to Jesus

Hebrews On Baby Food

They had not grown up Milk is pre-digested nourishment What’s good for babies will kill

adults

To teach is to know with conviction

“If you do something for someone that they can do for

themselves. They never grow up.” Howard Hendricks

Scripture Reading – Hebrews 6:4-6

4It is impossible for those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, who have shared in the Holy Spirit, 5who have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the coming age, 6if they fall away, to be brought back to repentance, because to their loss they are crucifying the Son of God all over again and subjecting him to public disgrace.

3 Main Views On Apostasy

“Falling Away” or Apostasy - Abandoning one’s faith. Deliberately turning away from the faith you once had.

1. Were saved, and are still saved2. Were saved, but are no longer

saved3. Never saved in the first place

Were Saved And Are Still Saved

Only loss of heavenly rewards (2 Cor 5:10) or backsliding

Problem Speaks of significant

consequences Cannot be brought back to

repentance

Were Saved But Are No Longer Saved

Lost salvation due to sin or relinquished their salvation

Relinquish – By own free will; turn away from JesusProblem

Salvation is a work of God Once saved, always saved Jesus’ work on the cross totally

sufficient

Eternal Security We Have in Christ

John 5:24 “I tell you the truth, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life.

John 10: 27-29 27My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. 28I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand. 29My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand.”

Eternal Security We Have in Christ

Ephesians 2:8-9 8For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9not by works, so that no one can boast. Philippians 1:4-6 4In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy 5because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, 6being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.

Never Saved In The First Place

Some form of Christianity but not real thing

Problem 5 ways the person described – Verses 4-

5 Have once been enlightened Have tasted the heavenly gift (Jesus) Have shared in the Holy Spirit Have tasted goodness of word of God Have tasted the powers of coming age

Fruitful Land – Fruitless Land Only the fruitful are confident of being saved “Those who persevere - are the true saints.”

F.F. Bruce

1 John 2:19 They went out from us, but they did not really belong to us. For if they had belonged to us, they would have

remained with us; but their going showed that none of them belonged to us.

Application – Grow Up

Salvation doesn’t take work, maturity does

“There are two paths a person could be on: either going towards Christ or away from him. There is no middle ground of ‘saved but not progressing.’” Michael Burer

Application – Spiritual Maturity Understand God’s word What do you do - with what you know Realises own sinfulness – Humility Struggles over issues with the Holy Spirit Able & willing to teach others Discernment – courage to

be different Involvement in

discipleship & mentoring