November 26, 2013
TIME TO GROW UP
Hebrews 6:1-8
Blake Holmes
Central Truth
The goal of spiritual maturity is not for us to simply learn more about the Bible and become smarter sinners, but to grow in Christlikeness.
Key Verse | Hebrews 6:1
Therefore leaving the elementary teaching about the Christ, let us press on to maturity, not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God . . . . (Hebrews 6:1)
Hebrews 6:1-8
1 Therefore let us leave the elementary doctrine of Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God, 2 and of instruction about washings, 1 6:2 Or baptisms (that is, cleansing rites) the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment. 3 And this we will do if God permits. 4 For it is impossible, in the case of those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, and have shared in the Holy Spirit, 5 and have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the age to come, 6 and then have fallen away, to restore them again to repentance, since they are crucifying once again the Son of God to their own harm and holding him up to contempt. 7 For land that has drunk the rain that often falls on it, and produces a crop useful to those for whose sake it is cultivated, receives a blessing from God. 8 But if it bears thorns and thistles, it is worthless and near to being cursed, and its end is to be burned.
Dive Deeper | Hebrews 6:1-8
"Oh, grow up, and act your age!"
I can still hear those words like they were spoken yesterday. Unfortunately, those words were said to me long after adolescence. The problem was that, although I had grown older, I was not acting like it. Instead, I was acting like a child!
Can you remember the last time you did something that you later regretted? We all have made mistakes, and upon reflection, thought to ourselves, "What was I thinking?" The truth is, we all fail to act our age at times. We make the same mistakes we used to make when we were children.
In this chapter, the writer to the Hebrews is telling us to grow up and act our age. As those who have trusted in Jesus Christ as our Savior, we are to press on toward maturity. Or, to borrow a metaphor from Hebrews 5:12-14, we should no longer drink milk, but enjoy solid food.
According to verses 1-3, we should not need for someone to teach us the basics about repentance, baptism, and our future hope. As those who have known and walked with Christ, we are expected to mature in the faith.
Verses 4-6 are problematic for many people. Some have mistakenly concluded that it is possible for believers to lose their salvation. Yet, this would contradict other passages of Scripture that clearly speak to our eternal security (John 10:27-30; Romans 8:31-39; 1 Peter 1:3-7; 1 John 5:11-13).
Instead, I believe this passage is a warning against rejecting the gifts of God and falling away from the faith. Those who fall away from the faith not only fail to bear fruit, but also forfeit any eternal reward (Hebrews 6:7-8).
So, this passage is a call to maturity. It is not a call to simply know more about the Bible, but to "grow up" in the faith by applying what we know to our lives. The goal of spiritual maturity is not for us to become smarter sinners, but to grow in Christlikeness.
Let's ask the Lord to help us walk in maturity today.
Discussion Questions
1. If the goal is not more information, but transformation, then how are you doing?
2. How have you matured in the faith since coming to know Christ?
3. In what ways do you need to "grow up and act your age"? How can your community help you to do this?