The Danger of Apostasy Hebrews 6 4 8

The Danger of Apostasy Hebrews 6: 4 -8 • Apostasy occurs when we fail to continue to build on our foundation (cf. 6: 1 -3) • Those under consideration had been saved. They… – Were once enlightened – Have tasted of the heavenly gift (Romans 6: 23) – Became partakers of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2: 38) – Tasted the good word of God (James 1: 21) – Tasted the powers of “the age to come” • NOTE: “The age to come” was a phrase used at times by Jews to describe the coming age of the Messiah.

Interesting Commentary by Albert Barnes (Presbyterian Scholar) “It may be remarked respecting the various expressions used here (in) Hebrews 6: 4 -5 …that they are such as properly denote a renewed state. They obviously describe the condition of a Christian; and though it may be not certain that any one of them if taken by itself would prove that the person to whom it was applied was truly converted, yet taken together it is clear that they are designed to describe such a state. If they are not, it would be difficult to find any language which would be properly descriptive of the character of a sincere Christian. I regard the description here, therefore, as what is clearly designed to denote the state of those who were born again, and were the true children of God; and it seems plain to me that no other interpretation would have ever been thought of if this view had not seemed to conflict with the doctrine of the “perseverance of the saints. ”

The Danger of Apostasy Hebrews 6: 4 -8 • Those who fall away have turned their hearts against the Lord (6: 6) – There is no uncertainty of this ever happening. • “If” is meant in the sense of “when” (see NKJV marg. ) • The entire verse is considering a state of affairs in which falling away has occurred. – In choosing their path, those who fall “crucify again the Son of God and put Him to an open shame. ” – It is impossible (v. 4) to renew them to repentance (v. 6) because they are rejecting their only means of salvation (cf. Hebrews 10: 26 -29)

The Danger of Apostasy Hebrews 6: 4 -8 • The consistent teaching of Hebrews is that a believer can become an unbeliever and be lost (3: 12 -14; 4: 1, 11; 6: 4 -6; 10: 26 -29) • God’s justice in condemning those who were once saved is clearly illustrated by farmland that is cultivated and blessed with rain, but only bears thorns and briers; Its “end is to be burned. ” (6: 7 -8)

The Epistle to the Hebrews Lesson 9 Hope, The Anchor of the Soul Hebrews 6: 9 -20

Hope, the Anchor of the Soul Hebrews 6: 9 -20 • Promises inspire hope. – God has given us great promises that give us consolation & hope (6: 12, 17, 18) – Losing focus on the promises leads to apostasy (4: 1, 11; 6: 4 -6) • But the writer is confident of “better things” for those to whom he writes – things that accompany salvation! (6: 9) – Expressions of confidence in us provide powerful encouragement (Romans 15: 14; Galatians 5: 10; Philemon 21).

Hope, the Anchor of the Soul Hebrews 6: 9 -20 • They can be confident that God will reward them for their continued labor of love (6: 10; 1 Corinthians 15: 58; Matthew 10: 42) • They must show continued diligence to realize their hope (6: 11 -12) – Diligence is translated from σπουδη (spoude ) “speed” … “eagerness… diligence, forwardness, haste. ” (Strong’s Dictionary) – They must not become sluggish (Galatians 6: 9) – They must imitate those who inherit the promises

Hope, the Anchor of the Soul Hebrews 6: 9 -20 • God’s dealings with Abraham prove that His promises are reliable (6: 13 -15) – God promised to multiply Abraham’s seed (Genesis 12: 1 -3; 15: 4 -6) – Abraham could have doubted, but he continued to live in hope. • Isaac was born 25 years after the promise (compare Genesis 12: 4 & 21: 1 -5; 22) – God made a promise to Abraham and confirmed His promise with an oath (Genesis 22: 16 -18; Hebrews 11: 12; Romans 4: 18 -21)

Hope, the Anchor of the Soul Hebrews 6: 9 -20 • We are given assurance by two immutable or unchangeable things (6: 16 -18) – A man’s solemn oath allays doubt and dispute. – Desiring to give even greater assurance to the “heirs of promise, ” God confirmed it with an oath. • It is impossible for God to lie (Titus 1: 2; Numbers 23: 19). • He cannot deny himself (2 Timothy 2: 13) – We therefore have strong consolation to lay hold of hope.

Hope, the Anchor of the Soul Hebrews 6: 9 -20 We Have Hope (6: 19 -20) • Hope is something more than faith – Both hope and faith rest on God’s word, and one supports the other (Romans 10: 17; Hebrews 11: 1) – Faith trusts and obeys, whereas hope anticipates (Colossians 1: 23; Romans 8: 23 -25; 1 Peter 1: 3 -5) • Hope is an anchor of the soul, sure and steadfast – It carries us through tribulation (Romans 5: 3 -5) – It enters into the Presence of God. – Christ entered there first as our forerunner, assuring us that we may enter as well, and enabling His Priestly work.

Hope, the Anchor of the Soul Hebrews 6: 9 -20 • How does hope serve as an anchor? – It gives us strength and motivation to live holy lives and resist temptation (1 Peter 1: 13 -15; Romans 8: 25) – It gives us encouragement to persevere in times of trouble (1 Peter 1: 6 -9) – We can always be “rejoicing in hope”. (Romans 12: 12)