Hebrews studies series

 

Hebrews 6:1-8

MOVING ON

Hebrews Study #10                                                                   

 

READ THIS BEFORE YOU READ THE NOTES! – My friend, some of you will not agree with the statements I make on Hebrews 6.  If you don’t agree, just be thankful for all of my notes and outlines that you can agree with.  Also if you don’t agree, please don’t correct me. We’ll just agreeably disagree.

 

s        What does it mean to “get stuck in a rut?”

s        What are some of the ruts, good and bad, that people get stuck in?

s        Why is it dangerous to get stuck in a Spiritual rut?

s        When we are in a bad Spiritual rut, why is it hard to get out of the rut and move on?

s        What is the rut in which the Hebrews found themselves in Hebrews 5:10-14?

 

The author of Hebrews had much to teach the Hebrews about deep Spiritual truth. However for him to be able to teach them they needed to get out of the rut and move on!  Hebrews 6:1-8 is not an easy passage to understand and there are several possible interpretations as to what the passage is saying.  I have struggled with this passage and have drawn a conclusion.  You may study this passage and draw a different conclusion.  One thing that is for certain is that the author is not saying one can lose his salvation.

MOVING ON FROM BASIC FACTS – Vss. 1-3

Ø     Should salvation messages be preached in church?  Why?

Ø     Should the only message preached in church be one of salvation? Why?

Ø     In verse 1 we are called upon to move on to “perfection” or maturity.  In order to do that the “first principles” or the “A, B, C’s” were to be left behind.  Not that they weren’t important, according to verse 3, but because there was more to be discussed.

Ø     There are six basic topics in which the Hebrews had already been instructed, not only in the Christian faith, but also in the Jewish faith as well.  It is even possible that author of Hebrews was more thinking of those that were taught in the Jewish religion.

 

1.  REPENTANCE FROM DEAD WORKS – Vs. 1

Ø     Did Jewish people ever try to work their way to Heaven?

Ø     Do “Christians” ever try to work their way to Heaven?

Ø     When it comes to being righteous before God, why are works dead? Ezekiel 18:4,

       Romans 3:23

Ø     How does one repent from dead works? Titus 3:5, 1 Thessalonians 1:9

    

2.  FAITH TOWARDS GOD – Vs. 1

Ø     What part does faith in God have in salvation? Ephesians 2:8-9

Ø     What part does faith in God have in Christian living?  Hebrews 11:6

 

3.     THE DOCTRINE OF BAPTISMS – Vs. 2

Ø     The Word here actually means “washings” and is not a word used for believers baptisms.  Coming from a Jewish background, the various washing ceremonies probably needed to be explained in a Christian context, and believer’s baptism would have been addressed as well.

 

4.  THE LAYING ON OF HANDS – Vs. 2

Ø     In the Old Testament sacrifices, the sinner laid his hands on the sacrifice, transferring his own sins upon the animal.

Ø     In the New Testament, hands were placed on people as they were being set aside for service. Acts 13:2-3, 1 Timothy 4:14

Ø     In what situations do we “lay hands” on people today?

 

5. RESURRECTION FROM THE DEAD – Vs. 2

Ø     Why is the resurrection a key doctrine?

Ø     What Bible book and chapter do you think of in relation to the resurrection?

 

6. ETERNAL JUDGMENT – Vs. 2

Ø     How will judgment be different for the saved and the unsaved? 2 Corinthians 5:10, Revelation 20:11-15

MOVING ON TO TRUE FAITH – Vss. 4-6

 

ü     How is it possible to be “enlightened” without being saved?  Vs. 4

ü     What is the difference between tasting something and actually eating or drinking it? Vs. 4

ü     How does this relate to true salvation?  John 6:51, John 4:13-14

ü     How is it possible to be a partaker of the Holy Spirit without being saved? Vs. 4,

John 16:8-11

ü     How is it possible to taste the good word of God and not be saved?

ü     How was it possible to taste of the powers of the world to come?  Hebrews 2:4

ü     Vs. 6 – Imagine a person making a profession of faith, having been exposed to salvation, and then turning his or her back on it.  They fully understood the Gospel, but never “sealed the deal”.  Such a person will never be saved.

ü        John MacArthur – “They not only reject the Gospel, but crucify to themselves the Son of God, and put Him to open shame. They had either to go on to full knowledge of God through faith in Christ or else turn away from Him, to become apostate and be lost forever. There was no other alternative.”  John MacArthur, The MacArthur Commentary, Hebrews, (Chicago, Moody Press, 1983), p. 147

ü     Those who teach that one can lose their salvation generally believe that they can get it back.  Why does verse 6 present them with a problem?

ü     How are these people exactly like the Pharisees of Jesus’ day?

MOVING ON TO FRUITFULNESS – Vss. 7-8

·        What are these verses teaching?

·        What determines if ground will be fruitful or not?

·        What parable of Jesus taught the same principle? Luke 8:11-15

·        How can we, as Christians make sure that we are good soil?