September 23, 2020
What Lasts Forever that You Can't Ever Lose?
Hebrews 6:1–12
Tommy Traugott
Central Truth
The moment a person acknowledges their brokenness, sin, and need for a savior, then believes that God sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to pay the penalty for their sin, by grace through faith, they have new life in Christ, forever (Ephesians 2:8-9; 2 Corinthians 5:17; Galatians 2:20-21).
Key Verse | Hebrews 6:4-6
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, and have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the age to come, 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.
Hebrews 6:1–12
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.
9 Though we speak in this way, yet in your case, beloved, we feel sure of better things—things that belong to salvation. 10 For God is not unjust so as to overlook your work and the love that you have shown for his name in serving the saints, as you still do. 11 And we desire each one of you to show the same earnestness to have the full assurance of hope until the end, 12 so that you may not be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.
Dive Deeper | Hebrews 6:1–12
There are several different directions I can go to reflect on this passage. I'm going to tell you right where I am now. It is approaching 4:00 p.m. on a Saturday here at Watermark Dallas Campus. I've read over this passage and discussed it several times with others. As I read it today with the service about to start, I am really distracted and want to walk over to the sanctuary to join worship. Why? What is the root of what I would describe as an urgency to be there? Is it just to hear the gifted worship leaders, listen to the teaching, or simply be seen there? Is that what my "faithfulness" looks like? Is that all it is for me?
If you have ever once been enlightened, tasted the heavenly gift, shared in the Holy Spirit, and tasted the goodness of the Word of God and powers of the age to come, you are unable to only attend and be around others in His Church. There will be fruit in your life. That same urgency will be in you as you stand behind a guy in line at a gas station who obviously is not having a good day. You will desire to love him, dig in, and share the new life and hope you have in Jesus Christ with him.
The people described in Hebrews 6:4-6 may not have actually been enlightened, tasted the heavenly gift, shared in the Holy Spirit, or tasted the goodness of the Word of God and the powers of the age to come. They may have only been around those things. They have not fully given their lives to Christ. He does give assurance to those who are in Him. Read John 5:24 and 1 John 5:11-13 and see what you think.
But the writer of Hebrews makes it clear in Hebrews 6:9 that he is confident that the recipients of his letter are NOT people like those described in Hebrews 6:4-6. Let us also be of the "things that belong to salvation" (Hebrews 6:9).
Discussion Questions
1. Ask yourself: What is the root of me wanting to be around others who are Christ followers (Luke 9:23)?
2. Do I have an urgency to love others and give my life away to serve others (Philippians 2:1-11)?
3. In my everyday life at work and away from my Christian friends, do I have an urgency to love strangers and tell them of my new life in Christ and the hope He can give them (Romans 10:15)?
4. Have I truly once been enlightened, tasted the heavenly gift, shared in the Holy Spirit, and tasted the goodness of the Word of God and the powers of the age to come? If so, am I bearing fruit (Matthew 7:15-20)?