Hebrews 6:1-8

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TALKS FOR GROWING CHRISTIANS

Moving on to Maturity and the Consequences of Falling Away

BACKGROUND NOTES



DOCTRINAL POINT(S)

  1. True believers are expected to mature in the faith.

  2. True believers may backslide but will not fall away.

PRACTICAL APPLICATION

  1. If you’re worried about it, you don’t have to worry about it.

QUESTIONS

  1. The first half of Hebrews chapter 6 has contributed to major denominational differences throughout Church History. True or False?

  2. Were all the First Century readers of the epistle to the Hebrews committed Christians?

  3. Read Hebrews 6:1- Is the author saying to take these basic doctrines or teachings and discard them? If not, what is his point?

  4. Read Hebrews 6:1-2 again. Are the specific items listed here New Testament ABCs or Old Testament ABCs?

  5. What is the author’s point in listing these items?

  6. Interpret the meaning of Hebrews 6:7-8 in terms of a believer and an apostate.

ANSWERS

  1. True

  2. No, some were just professing Christians who were in danger of turning back to Judaism.

  3. He is not saying to discard them; he is saying that they should move on from the basics to more mature matters in the Christian faith.

  4. They are elementary or basic teachings that can be found in the Old Testament.

  5. The author’s point is that all of these foundational teachings pointed forward to the coming of the Messiah and New Testament truths. But now the Messiah has come, and all of these basics are fulfilled in Christ, so let’s move on. Let’s not lay again the foundation of repentance from dead words and of faith toward God.

  6. A true believer brings forth a useful crop and is blessed by God. An apostate, one who has only professed faith but has abandoned it, brings forth only thorns and briers and is rejected by God.

DISCUSS/CONSIDER

  1. Read Hebrews 9:13-1 The foundations of repentance from dead works and faith toward God were the Old Testament Levitical sacrifices. They could not cleanse the conscience from dead works; they were only foundational. The sacrifices pointed forward toward the coming Messiah who would come as the Lamb of God, and would provide an efficacious sacrifice once and for all time. As such, we and the First Century believers are urged to go on to Christian maturity. Where are you in your growth and knowledge as a believer? Are you in the milk stage or the meat stage?

  2. Read Hebrews 6:4- This passage is addressed to those who professed the Christian faith, but were not converted. They came to the threshold of salvation, but had not claimed Christ for their Savior. They had been enlightened and had even partaken and participated in what the Holy Spirit was doing in the church, but they had not been born of the Spirit. As such, a hardening process began to take place. By going back to Judaism, it would be like crucifying again the Son of God and putting Him to an open shame. Is there a possibility that you are not yet a true believer? How about some of your friends? Make sure of your salvation.

CHALLENGE

  1. After reading this warning passage in the Bible, some Christians get scared and wonder if they have fallen away and are eternally lost. How is it with you? If you are concerned about your salvation and status as a true believer, it's a good indication that you are a true belieiver. Make sure you salvation.

KEY VERSES

  • “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…” Hebrews 6:1

  • “And this we will do (going on to perfection), if God permits.” Hebrews 6:3

  • “For it is impossible…to renew them again to repentance, since they crucify again for themselves the Son of God and put Him to an open shame.” Hebrews 6:4-6



Hebrews, New Testament, TalksDeb HarmsHebrews 6:1-8