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HEBREWS

 

Press on to Your Sure Hope

Hebrews 6:6-8

Victor M. Eskew

 

 

I.         THE ENCOURAGEMENT (Heb. 6:4-6)

 

A.  The Duty (Heb. 6:1-3)

 

B.   The Danger (Heb. 6:4-6)

1.    The impossibility documented (Heb. 6:4a)

2.    The individuals described (Heb. 6:4b-5)

3.    The impossibility defined (Heb. 4:6a)

 

If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance…

 

a.    First, they fall away

1)     Definition

a)    Strong (3895):  to fall aside, that is, (figuratively) to apostatize

b)    Thayer:  to slip aside, to deviate from the right path, turn aside…to fall away (from the true faith):  from worship of Jehovah

c)    Vine:  to fall away (from adherence to the realities and facts of the faith

2)    Many do not believe that it is possible for one to fall away from the truth.  If that is the case, these words would:

a)    Be a lie

b)    Be utterly useless

b.    Second, they can’t be renewed to repentance

1)     Renewed

a)    Strong (340):  to restore

b)    Thayer:  to renew, renovate

c)    Vine:  to make new, literally “back to new”

2)    Repentance

a)    Strong (3341):  compunction (for guilt, including reformation)

b)    Thayer:  a change of mind…of a purpose he has formed or of something he has done

c)    Vine:  Literally “to perceive after,” a change of the mind…involving a change for the better, an amendment…repentance from sin

3)     NOTE:  Repentance is absolutely essential if one is going to be saved (Luke 13:3).

 

I tell you, Nay:  but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.

 

4.    The implication declared (Heb. 4:6b)

 

Seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame.

a.    It was sin that put Jesus upon the cross the first time (I Cor. 15:3).  When we return to our sins, we again crucify Him in a figurative sense.

b.    We also “put him to an open shame.”

1)     Our sinful life proclaims to the world that Jesus is not worth it, and the life that He came to give is not fulfilling and rewarding.

2)    Our sin shames the Christ before the world.

 

I.         THE EXPECTATION (Heb. 6:7-12)

 

A.  The Options (Heb. 6:7-8).

1.    In matters of salvation, there are only two options.

a.    Either one will be blessed, or, one will burn.

b.    The inspired writer uses an illustration from nature to prove this.

2.    The two options:

a.    The blessed ground (Heb. 6:7)

 

For the earth which drinketh in the rain that cometh oft upon it, and bringeth forth herbs meet for them by whom it is dressed, receiveth blessing from God.

 

1)     The earth is fed.  It drinketh in the rain.

2)    The earth is fruitful.  It brings forth herbs.

3)     The earth is flattered.  It is blessed by God.

b.    The burnt ground (Heb. 6:8)

 

But that which beareth thorns and briers is rejected, and is nigh unto cursing; whose end is to be burned.

 

1)     Thorns are desolate.  They have no fruit.

2)    Thorns are denied.  They are rejected.

3)     Thorns are denounced.  They are cursed, acknowledged as worthless.

4)     Thorns are destroyed.  They are burned.

 

3.    Application:  Which type of ground are you?  Fruitful?  Or, fruitless?  One will be blessed.  The other will be burned.