November 13, 2008

Pressing On

“Therefore, leaving the discussion of the elementary [principles] of Christ, let us go on to perfection, not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God, of the doctrine of baptisms, of laying on of hands, of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment. And this we will do if God permits. For [it is] impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted the heavenly gift, and have become partakers of the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come, if they fall away, to renew them again to repentance, since they crucify again for themselves the Son of God, and put [Him] to an open shame. For the earth which drinks in the rain that often comes upon it, and bears herbs useful for those by whom it is cultivated, receives blessing from God; but if it bears thorns and briars, [it is] rejected and near to being cursed, whose end [is] to be burned. But, beloved, we are confident of better things concerning you, yes, things that accompany salvation, though we speak in this manner. For God [is] not unjust to forget your work and labor of love which you have shown toward His name, [in that] you have ministered to the saints, and do minister. And we desire that each one of you show the same diligence to the full assurance of hope until the end, that you do not become sluggish, but imitate those who through faith and patience inherit the promises. For when God made a promise to Abraham, because He could swear by no one greater, He swore by Himself, saying, "Surely blessing I will bless you, and multiplying I will multiply you." And so, after he had patiently endured, he obtained the promise. For men indeed swear by the greater, and an oath for confirmation [is] for them an end of all dispute. Thus God, determining to show more abundantly to the heirs of promise the immutability of His counsel, confirmed [it] by an oath, that by two immutable things, in which it [is] impossible for God to lie, we might have strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold of the hope set before [us]. This [hope] we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which enters the Presence [behind] the veil, where the forerunner has entered for us, [even] Jesus, having become High Priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.” (Hebrews 6:1-20 NKJV)

The author encourages the reader to move on to perfection. They were to do that by not laying down the foundational truths again, and again. The author lists several of those truths so the reader will be clear as to what it means to go on to perfection.

The question is what does it mean to go on to perfection? There appears to be two possibilities. It means either to grow in the grace of these truths experientially, or to go beyond them by understanding greater mysteries about God and His Christ.

Since these are great truths, the former argument is more reasonable focus. However, since growing in the application of fundamental truths is also a kind of revelation, neither interpretation would do harm to the meaning.

He then affirms his intention by saying, “And this we will do if God permits” (v.3). This is not to say God would be unwilling for this to happen. This is merely a way to express dependence upon the grace of God for continued growth.

Now to make sure we understand what is being said here, I need to point out what he means by laying again the foundations. He is not talking about abandoning the fundamental truths he is talking about not laying them again and again. In other words, we need to move beyond an external, ritualistic understanding to a faithful, fruitful understanding. This seems clear from what follows.

It is impossible to renew one again should they fall away from the fundamental truths. Why is this true? It is true because the fundamentals that gave them a taste of Christianity became unprofitable to them. That which excited and motivated their short-term loyalty no longer motivates them.

For example, the one who responds week after week to the invitation seeking a fresh wind of peace finds less and less satisfaction from his half-hearted or false repentance. As he lays the foundations over and over again, they have less and less meaning until they finally fall completely away.

The author gives an example of this from nature. The earth, when it is watered and cultivated, if it brings forth fruit it is blessed of God, but if it brings forth thorns, it is cursed of God. Now man is the soil in this case and the rain is the Word of God. The ones who fall away are cursed and the ones who grow are true Christians.

We can be sure that the author is indeed speaking of those who are lost and those who are saved because he uses a contrasting conjunction to begin the next comment. Notice verse nine begins, but beloved we are confident of better things concerning you, yes, things that accompany salvation, though we speak in this manner.

Therefore, the author presses us to grow in Christ, and not to become sluggish. God is faithful, and He will reward those who press on. In fact, we must press on or fall to the fate of those who fall away.

However, we can be sure if our faith is genuine, that God will remain faithful to His promises. The author makes a point of this by saying God swore by Himself that He would keep His covenant.

Therefore, we can have confidence in God’s promises. They become an anchor to our souls. Jesus is our forerunner. He has gone beyond the veil and now we too can enter with Him into this holy place having been washed in His blood by faith.

Friends, we need to press on into maturity. Our faith must grow. We must trust more completely that we might grow in grace, and understand God more. Guard against external religion for it will leave you wanting.