Category: Hebrews 06

Jesus is Best in Every Way

On By TimIn Daily Walk, Eternal Security, Hebrews 06Leave a comment

This is what is being taught in the book of Hebrews. It teaches of the superiority of the new covenant in Jesus. It relies on a familiarity with the Torah and the commands set forth there.

Therefore, leaving the elementary principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on to maturity, not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God, of instruction about washings, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment. This we will do if God permits.

Hebrews 6:1–3 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

In other words…

Therefore, since Jesus is better let’s be moving forward and not forsaking those Old Testament things that were the foreshadows of Jesus. These are called here the elementary principles of the doctrine of Christ. Let us go on that is keep going–pressing forward – on to maturity. That is, let us be carried to salvation.

Don’t lay again a foundation for yourselves of those foreshadows, the ordinances that pointed forward to Jesus. These were commands of repentance given in the Old Testament laws to be pure and righteous.

Let’s not just put our faith toward God the Father but in Jesus. The Father is revealed in the Son.

Let’s not wander back to the instruction about washings. This is not baptism but the ceremonial washings prescribed in the law.

Let’s not continue the laying on of hands. This is not laying hands on brothers and sisters in prayer. It is pointing to the symbolic imputation of sins that was done by the priest and the one offering a sacrifice for sins.

Let’s clearly understand the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment. Not being entangled in Pharisee and/or Sadducee teachings.

Jesus is best. He is the only Way to heaven. The only real Salvation.

Is this You?

On By TimIn Eternal Security, Fruitfulness, Hebrews 06, SalvationLeave a comment

For land that drinks in the rain that often falls upon it and bears a crop useful to those for whom it is cultivated receives a blessing from God. But land that bears thorns and thistles is rejected and near to being cursed. Its destiny is to be burned.

Hebrews 6:7-8 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

This is a parable. The land that drinks in the rain is those who readily hear the Word of God and welcome it. Such may even serve in church, soup kitchens or volunteer for other worthy causes. You see, we can receive God’s Word and we can serve others. We can spend a lot of our time volunteering and helping others. The parable offers a caveat.

The crop is the service you do. In order for it to be blessed, it must be done with the proper motivation.

The rain and fruit must be useful for Whom it is cultivated. That is, it must be useful for God. In other words, think of it like this:

For the heart that receives the Word of God readily, and serves because their faith solely for salvation is in Jesus, and they do it for Him… Those receive the Holy Spirit and eternal life.

In other words, there is no other way to know the Father than through Jesus. You cannot know the Father by doing any of the Old Testament commandments. You cannot be doing it by going to confessional or adhering to the dictates of some organization like the Watchtower or Latter-Day Saints. The only way to know the Father is through Jesus.

Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also. From now on you do know Him and have seen Him.”

John 14:6-7 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

Those that don’t have the former, a heart cultivated by Jesus to receive the truth of His Word and bear fruit for Him… Are rejected and near being cursed. If that is you, as you read this, there is still hope for you.

Acknowledge that Jesus is God.

Believe (the Bible says in your heart) that He is God, that He lived on earth as recorded, He died to forgive your sins and He rose again and lives today.

Confess it aloud with your mouth!

It is Impossible

On By TimIn Eternal Security, Hebrews 06, Holy Spirit, SalvationLeave a comment

For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, who shared in the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come, if they fall away, to be renewed once more to repentance, since they again crucify to themselves the Son of God and subject Him to public shame.

Hebrews 6:4–6 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

Do not be deceived, there are those who will tell you that this verse says that a Christian can lose his salvation. It doesn’t say that.

In fact, it says the opposite. A person that once believed cannot fall away. Look at the construction of the sentence.

“those who were once enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, who shared in the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come”

There is a list of qualifications given; once enlightened, tastes the heavenly gift, shared the Holy Spirit. That last bit is most important. Those who’ve been given the Holy Spirit clearly understand. He doesn’t just go away. Nor does He leave us. Therefore we cannot leave Him.

If one were to fall away, it is impossible to restore them to fellowship. One cannot again crucify Jesus to themselves, that was done once for all. It cannot be done again.

By trying to do something again, one cannot be restored to fellowship. This is speaking specifically to those who were returning to the working of the law, and sacrifices for sin. The writer is saying there is no other sacrifice available for sin. His is in the greater context leading to this statement.

We are being encouraged of a greater Way, One we can wholly rely upon to maintain fellowship.

That is why the Bible calls the Holy Spirit the seal of guarantee of one’s salvation (Ephesians 1:13.) None of us can order Jesus to do something, nor can we order God to do something, therefore we cannot order the Holy Spirit to leave. We cannot break His power that keeps us. Fellowship can’t be restored to a believer, because it really cannot be lost.

What of those who do leave the faith, calling themselves ex-Christians?

That has also been anticipated by God. He even gave us a way to measure the passing of time by them. Those who claim to have been a part of us, having left… Demonstrate they never were really a part of us.

Little children, it is the last hour. As you have heard that the antichrist will come, even now there are many antichrists. By this we know that it is the last hour. They went out from us, but they were not of us, for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have remained with us. But they went out, revealing that none of them were of us.

1 John 2:18–19 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

He even calls those who leave… antichrists.

Whoa!