Paul's Epistles – Hebrews – Part 9:
Therefore, It’s Time to Grow Up
Pastor Bruce A. Shields
House of Faith Church | www.PS127.org
| www.TruthDigest.org | Online Audio Files
SERMON INTRODUCTION
The “official” writer of this epistle is unknown.
However, I obviously believe it is Paul since I have included it in the “Paul’s
Epistles” Sermon Series.
I believe there is enough evidence from early scholars
to agree this was more than likely Paul’s work.
Last week we examined Jesus the Great High Priest.
This week, Paul will show Jesus is also the Perfect
High Priest.
We have already seen in Hebrews so far;
·
Jesus is greater than angels
·
And that we are to pay the most careful attention to
Jesus and His way so we do not stray
·
And how Jesus (New Covenant) is greater than Moses
(Old Covenant)
·
Paul’s warning about unbelief
·
A Sabbath Rest for the People of God
·
Jesus the Great High Priest
·
Jesus the Perfect High Priest
TODAY’S SERMON
“Therefore, It’s Time to Grow Up!”
SCRIPTURE REFERENCE
Hebrews 6:1-12
Therefore let us move beyond the
elementary teachings about Christ and be taken forward to maturity, not
laying again the foundation of repentance from acts that lead to
death, and of faith in God, 2 instruction about cleansing
rites, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and
eternal judgment. 3 And God permitting, we will do so.
4 It is impossible for those who have once
been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, who have shared
in the Holy Spirit, 5 who have tasted the goodness of the
word of God and the powers of the coming age 6 and who have fallen away,
to be brought back to repentance. To their loss they are crucifying the
Son of God all over again and subjecting him to public disgrace. 7 Land that drinks in the rain
often falling on it and that produces a crop useful to those for whom it is
farmed receives the blessing of God. 8 But land that produces thorns
and thistles is worthless and is in danger of being cursed. In the end it
will be burned.
9 Even though we speak like this, dear
friends, we are convinced of better things in your case—the things that
have to do with salvation. 10 God is not unjust; he will not forget your
work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people and continue
to help them. 11 We want each of you to show this same
diligence to the very end, so that what you hope for may be fully
realized. 12 We do not want you to become lazy, but to
imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been
promised.
The overall message of this
epistle to the church is;
“The Cure for Lacking Boldness or Courage in your Christian Faith and
Backsliding is a Right beginning for the Glory and Work of Christ”
I. MOVE BEYOND
ELEMENTARY TEACHINGS AND BE TAKEN FORWARD TO MATURITY
a. Teachings such as
repentance from acts that lead to death
i. Second
death, spiritual, eternal judgment for un-repented sin
ii. Most know the basics of sin, right and wrong, what we are to do and not
to do as followers.
iii. Continuously focusing on these things are for one of two reasons
1. You do not want to mature
2. You are looking for loopholes to continue in sin
b. Teachings such as Faith in
God, instructions about cleansing rites, laying on of hands, resurrection of
the dead, eternal judgment
i. Faith
in God is a basic instruction…trust Him and His word!
ii. Cleansing rites, meaning baptism
iii. Laying on of hands
iv. Resurrection of the dead
v. Eternal
judgment
vi. All of these things are basic in teaching, and easily understood!
1. It is time to grow up
2. It is time to stop being babies in constant need of milk
3. It is time to get into the meat of the Word of God and become like
teachers, bringing others into an understanding of salvation!
c. God permitting, we will do
so!
i. What
will they do? Move beyond elementary teachings, and be taken forward to
maturity
ii. The Hebrews, as with most of us in the church, have had plenty of time
and teaching to get an understanding…we need to stop hiding in the shadow of
professed ignorance, and share the gospel we do understand.
1. We are all guilty of sin
2. The penalty for sin is eternal separation from God (Hell)
3. However, Jesus paid the price on the cross
4. And anyone who Trusts in Him can have Salvation
a. Simply acknowledge Jesus is your Lord
b. Believe He died for you
c. Confess your sin and repent
d. You will receive forgiveness and Salvation
II.
FALSE CONVERTS AND THEIR DISGRACE
a. Those who were enlightened,
tasted heavenly gift, shared in the Holy Spirit, tasted goodness of the Word of
God and power of the coming age
i. If
fallen away, it is impossible to be brought back to repentance
1. Because they were false converts, and do not truly repent
2. Without true repentance, there is no forgiveness, without forgiveness,
there is no salvation, they repeat a cycle of false conversion.
b. To their loss, they crucify
the Son of God over and over, making Him a public disgrace
i. This
happens to often
ii. False converts who have never repented go right back to living in sin,
there is no conversion; they do not become a NEW creation, a NEW creature in
Christ Jesus…
iii. They continue to live in their sin
iv. Again and again they come to the cross asking forgiveness, but never
repenting
v. Therefore
they are never forgiven…and a false convert
vi. They say they are followers of Christ, yet willfully live in sin, and
bring Christ to public disgrace
vii. Their fruits, the crop they produce in their life, reveal they are
false converts.
c. Land that
drinks in the rain often falling on it and that produces a crop useful to those
for whom it is farmed receives the blessing of God.
i. We are that land (Jesus’ parable of the seed, the Word of
God, and the rain watering it, the Holy Spirit), when we receive the Holy
Spirit we produce the Fruit of the Spirit, and we are useful to the Kingdom,
and receive the Blessing of God
ii. 8 But land that produces thorns and thistles is
worthless and is in danger of being cursed. In the end it will be burned.
iii. In other words, those who have received the message of salvation, and
do not truly repent, produce thorns and thistles in their walk which are
worthless to the kingdom.
iv. And they are in danger of being cursed AND in the end it will be
burned.
1. In danger of means there is still hope for them
2. If they do not truly repent, in the end (judgment) they will be cast
into the eternal fire
III.
TRUE CONVERTS AND SALVATION
a. Even though we speak about
false converts, your case is better, these things have to do with Salvation
(True Conversion)
i. Do I
feel I know false converts…Yes
ii. Have I tried to convince them to commit to Christ and truly repent? Yes
iii. In the end, THEY have to make the decision for Christ
1. No one can force them
2. No one can twist their arm
3. However, if they do not truly repent, if they die in their sin, they
will be cast into Gehenna
b. God is not unjust; he will not forget your work
and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people and continue to
help them.
i. “Your work” is the useful
crop produced by true converts
ii. The Fruit of
the Spirit
iii. As well as the
love you have shown God by helping His people, and continuing to help them!
1. You
show God love by helping His people
2. Matthew 10:42 “And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to
one of these little ones who is my disciple, truly I tell you, that person will
certainly not lose their reward.”
iv. Even showing the slightest concern for one of Christ’s disciples is a
blessing
c. We want each of you to
show this same diligence to the very end, so that what you hope for may be
fully realized.
i. Don’t stop…continue this
until the end!
ii. 12 We do not want you to become lazy, but to
imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been
promised.
CONCLUSION
– so move beyond the elementary
teachings
Truly repent from your sin!
Show true thoroughness to the very end so that what you hope for
(Salvation) may be fully realized.
Do not become lazy, but imitate those who through FAITH and PATIENCE
inherit what has been promised!
Want to learn more about
Salvation and Getting Saved?
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