Jesus, Our Sympathetic High Priest

Heb 4:14,15 Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has gone through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are— yet was without sin.

"He who descended is the very one who ascended higher than all the heavens, in order to fill the whole universe." Eph 4:10 for  "after he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven." Heb 1:3

"By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain." 1Cor 15:2 Not only so, but he says, "the faith we profess". The faith that saves is the faith that professes. Those who are saved make public profession of their faith. Water baptism is a start, followed by a life of professing the faith. Private Christians - those who keep their faith private - are not professing Christians. Which are you? Have you believed in vain?

Now the role of high priest is one of a mediator - much like a lawyer. You want such a person  to sympathize with you. Here we learn that Jesus does sympathize with our weaknesses. And by "weaknesses" it's not simply talking about physical weaknesses, poverty or the like, for what does that have to do with his priestly role? No, it's referring to our being weak to sin. For we live in a shell of flesh which is prone to sin, having inherited a sinful nature which is a source of temptation. And we live a world which tempts us to sin through its influence. And behind it all is the devil orchestrating our falling into sin.

Jesus was tempted in all ways as we are. But he didn't give into it. Jesus Christ came in the flesh, the same kind of flesh we have. "Many deceivers, who do not acknowledge Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh, have gone out into the world." 2John 1:7a The word "flesh" is the greek word "sarx" which the scriptures so closely associate with the sinful nature that the NIV translates "sarx" as "sinful nature" 22 times in the New Testament. If Jesus did not have the same kind of flesh we have, then it cannot be said that he was tempted in all ways as we are. The verse here implies that Jesus would not even have the ability to sympathize with us had he not experienced temptations as we have. Likewise living in a shell of "sarx" he was tempted by the world and by the devil in a similar manner in which we also are tempted.

So the next time you experience temptation realize that Jesus went through the same kind of thing. And therefore he can sympathize with you.

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Boldly Requisition Grace

Heb 4:16 Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.

Much of this letter speaks of confidence. Previously he said, "We have come to share in Christ if we hold firmly till the end the confidence we had at first." Heb 3:14 Confidence is characteristic of saving faith. People often have a misconception about confidence. There are those who teach a false dichotomy that confidence is associated with pride and lack of confidence with humility. Actually a person who is humble in a Biblical sense puts his confidence in God. A person who does not have confidence in God does not believe in God.

Heb 13:6 So we say with confidence, "The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?"

A person who is confident is God does not fear people. So if you meet a person who is afraid of what others think of them or what others may do to them, you've met someone who has some lack of confidence in God. If your display of courage were a measure of your faith in God, how would you measure up?

Heb 10:19-23 Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.

And what constitutes approaching the throne of Grace but praying. When needs arise we pray for grace.

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Dealing with the Ignorant and Misguided

Heb 5:1-3 Every high priest is selected from among men and is appointed to represent them in matters related to God, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins. He is able to deal gently with those who are ignorant and are going astray, since he himself is subject to weakness. This is why he has to offer sacrifices for his own sins, as well as for the sins of the people.

Understanding the role of a priest is relevant to the Christian life, and not just to clarify Jesus' role as high priest. For as Christians, "you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ." 1Peter 2:5 As priests we interceed for others and sympathize with them with regards to sin because "No temptation has seized you except what is common to man." 1Cor 10:13a

Here those the priest is interceeding for are described as ignorant and going astray. The lexicon indicates "ignorant" here to be "to err or sin through mistake, to be wrong, spoken mildly of those who are not high handed or wilful transgressors". Realize that he is speaking of priests operating under the Law of Moses. Under the Law of Moses only unintentional sins could be forgiven. Unintentional sins are broadly spoken of in the Law. For example, Lev 4:13 "If the whole Israelite community sins unintentionally and does what is forbidden in any of the LORD’s commands, even though the community is unaware of the matter, they are guilty." Another "Anyone who strikes a man and kills him shall surely be put to death. However, if he does not do it intentionally, but God lets it happen, he is to flee to a place I will designate." Ex 21:12,13 Jesus, being the "Par Excellent" High Priest covers all sin, unintentional or otherwise. "Through him everyone who believes is justified from everything you could not be justified from by the law of Moses." Acts 13:39

The deficiency of the Mosaic priesthood is also revealed in the fact that the priests themselves sinned and consequently he himself needs a mediator.

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A Priestly Appointment

Heb 5:4-6
No one takes this honor upon himself; he must be called by God, just as Aaron was. So Christ also did not take upon himself the glory of becoming a high priest. But God said to him, "You are my Son; today I have become your Father." (Ps 2:7)  And he says in another place, "You are a priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek." (Ps 110:4)

Aaron, Moses' brother was assigned the position of high priest by God. And only Aaron's descendants were allowed to be priests under the Mosaic Law. God says, "Appoint Aaron and his sons to serve as priests; anyone else who approaches the sanctuary must be put to death." Nu 3:10  Only God can assign the priesthood. For a priest is a mediator, and a mediator can only be a mediator if both parties agree for such a person to be their mediator. God assigned Jesus to the position of "Par Excellent" High Priest.

First God says that Jesus is his Son. At his baptism, a voice from heaven said, "This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased." Mt 3:17 Likewise at the tranfiguration, "This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!" Mt 17:5 The transfiguration was particularly signficant in this sense. For Moses and Elijah also appeared. But it was Jesus that God affirmed and "When they looked up, they saw no one except Jesus." Mt 17:8 Likewise the author is going to show that Jesus' priesthood is not n extension of the Levitical priesthood, but rather is of a different order, an order which overshadows that of the Levitical priesthood.

Ps 110 from which the author is quoting is a Messianic psalm. The first verse says, The LORD says to my Lord: "Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet." which itself was quoted in Heb 1:13 applying it to Jesus as Peter also quoted in his first sermon in Acts 2:34, and goes on to say, "Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ." Acts 2:35

Hebrews chapter 7 will have a great deal to say about Melchizadek, so I won't elaborate here.

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Jesus' Training for the Priesthood

Heb 5:7 During the days of Jesus’ life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with loud cries and tears to the one who could save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission.

While Jesus prayed throughout his ministry, and indeed was saved from death on many an occasion, the only time in which we see him praying with cries and tears are in gethsamane and perhaps on the cross, which is a case in which he wasn't saved from death - or was he? Indeed could the phrase "save him from death" refer to the resurrection? For in Acts 2, Peter's first Sermon, he quotes from Ps 16, a Messianic psalm - which implies it's something Jesus prayed saying, "my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body also will live in hope, because you will not abandon me to the grave, nor will you let your Holy One see decay." Ps 16:9,10 which Peter says refers to Jesus' resurrection. Acts 2:31

Notice also that in Gethsemane Jesus requested not to be crucified. But significantly he added, "Not My will, but Yours, be done". Lk 22:42 Jesus was heard, but his specific request denied. Nonetheless he was open to this and God did send an angel to strengthen him to prepare him for what was to come.

Much can be drawn from these facts, but in particular concerning his role as our advocate, Jesus has experience in personally approaching the Father with daring requests, but who nonetheless defers to the Father. In a sense you want a lawyer who stays inside the law, but who empathizes with you and is willing to take all steps possible to petition those in charge on your behalf. Jesus doesn't simply care. His love is intense.

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Jesus Learn Obedience

Heb 5:8  Although he was a son, he learned obedience from what he suffered

When you're commanded to do something that you already intended to do, obedience is not involved. Such was the case for Jesus prior to his incarnation. But as we can see from his prayer in Gethsemane, "Not My will, but Yours, be done", Jesus became experienced in obedience. John 6:38 "For I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of him who sent me." As a human Jesus' desires were not always in line with the Father's desires. And that's the case with all of us. It's a part of human nature. Now poor teachers are those with natural abilities. For they cannot emphathize with the struggling student. Some view Jesus this way. But in fact part of the point of his incarnation was to experience human weakness so to become the perfect mediator.

"Christ Jesus who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.  And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death— even death on a cross!" Php 2:6-8

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A Perfect Savior for the Obedient

Heb 5:9,10  and, once made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him, and was designated by God to be high priest in the order of Melchizedek.

Jesus didn't start off perfect. He had to be made perfect. "For it was fitting for Him, for whom are all things and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings." Heb 2:10 And if Jesus had to be trained to be the perfect mediator, what about us? "Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is not disciplined by his father?" Heb 12:7

Now it doesn't say that Jesus causes those who are saved to obey, but rather Jesus causes to be saved those who obey him. "Obey" is again "hupakouo" which means to listen with the intent to obey. The faith that saves is the faith that obeys. Paul writes, "Through him and for his name’s sake, we received grace and apostleship to call people from among all the Gentiles to the obedience that comes from faith." Rom 1:5 There's an obedience that comes from faith.

This could not be said of those who claim to be williing to obey but don't seek to listen, who don't study the Bible with the intention of doing what it says. For there are those who avoid hearing God's word, lest they run into commands of which they are not prepared to obey. And there are those who claim to "study" the Bible but only study bits and pieces involving non-application oriented issues so as to avoid spending time considering the divine imperatives. Bible study for mere curiosity, Bible study which is not application oriented is not Bible study.

2Cor 5:15 he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again.

But of Melchizedek the author will elaborate upon later.

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Slow to Learn?

Heb 5:11 We have much to say about this, but it is hard to explain because you are slow to learn.

"slow to learn" is more literally "slow to hear". Jas 1:19a  My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen" Ever try to teach someone and they're just not hearing what you're saying. They're just not listening. They're not paying attention. It's largely because they're not taking it seriously. They don't necessarily intend to apply it to their lives. This is the attitude of those to whom the author of Hebrews is writing. So no surprised that Hebrews is filled with warnings. Remember the parable of the sower, "The seed that fell among thorns stands for those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by life’s worries, riches and pleasures, and they do not mature." Luke 8:14 And those who stay immature, being unfruitful will be cut off. "Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Therefore by their fruits you will know them. Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven." Mt 7:19-21

Likewise he says, "The knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of heaven has been given to you, but not to them. Whoever has will be given more, and he will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him. This is why I speak to them in parables: "Though seeing, they do not see; though hearing, they do not hear or understand.  In them is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah: "’You will be ever hearing but never understanding; you will be ever seeing but never perceiving. For this people’s heart has become calloused; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts and turn, and I would heal them." Mt 13:11-15

If we don't apply what we already know, then not only will God not give us further understanding, He will also take away what little understanding we have. We see this in Jesus' ministry where periodically, such as in John 6, he will purge marginal disciples from his ranks by saying hard things.

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Have you Graduated Yet?

Heb 5:12 In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God’s word all over again. You need milk, not solid food!

Much as James warns Christians not to take positions of teaching lightly as he says, "Not many of you should presume to be teachers, my brothers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly." Jam 3:1, yet it is expected that as Christians mature they take on a teaching role. Afterall when people grow up and become parents they are expected to teach their children. Likewise in the Christian life.

When he says "by this time" one wonders what kind of time frame he was referring to. It may be instructive to consider Jesus' expectation which he expresses in Luke 13 "‘For three years now I’ve been coming to look for fruit on this fig tree and haven’t found any. Cut it down! Why should it use up the soil?’ ... If it bears fruit next year, fine! If not, then cut it down.’" Luke 13:7,9 Afterall, Jesus' trained his disciples for 3 years. Though granted they had years of prior experience with the Bible. In any case I think that if an adult becomes a Christian and devotes himself to it, he should be ready to be a Bible teacher in three to four years.

Notice here they had to be taught all over again, just as I mentioned previously concerning what Mt 13:12 says concerning those who don't apply what they know, "even what he has will be taken from him." Use it or lose it!

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Training for Maturity

Heb 5:13,14 Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness. But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil.

By "righteousness" the context would indicate that he is speaking of a righteous lifestyle. That as opposed to merely positional righteousness - namely the forgiveness of sins. Babies bask in the grace shown to them by their parents but give little thought to living a responsible life. Likewise many Christians or alleged Christians will bask in the grace of Christ, but give little thought to living the Christian life - submitting to the Lordship of Christ, doing what is right, taking on the responsibilities indicated in the Word of God regarding the Christian lifestyle. Like infants they will speak of going to church "to get fed" or looking for a church "that will feed them", while giving little thought to feeding others, remaining in a diaper stage sometimes for decades.

A person's maturity is revealed by their applying the Bible to life. Indeed the mature don't need someone to train them. They have graduated from that and now train themselves. They train themselves to apply the Bible constantly.

And like infants, the immature Christian is gullible to false doctrines, lacking proper discernment. For "it was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers,  to prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up  until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming." Eph 4:11-14 Such Christians fail to discern between good and evil. But such discernment is attained not simply by study, but by constant practice. Some education simply cannot be learned by reading books.

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Elementary Teachings

Heb 6:1,2 Therefore let us leave the elementary teachings about Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again the foundation of repentance from acts that lead to death, and of faith in God, instruction about baptisms, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment.

It's called "Elementary School" for a reason. When we're young we are to learn to the elementary teachings, and only later more advanced teachings.

Elementary Teaching 1

REPENTANCE

In Christian doctrine repentance from sin is an elementary teaching. But throughout the history of post-Biblical Christianity, and especially these days, false teachings have developed around this fundament concept. Repentance from sin, involving a change of behavior, is indicative of the kind of faith that qualifies one to be saved. Paul describes his ministry saying, "First to those in Damascus, then to those in Jerusalem and in all Judea, and to the Gentiles also, I preached that they should repent and turn to God and prove their repentance by their deeds." Acts 26:20 When Jesus visited Zacchaeus, the tax collector, he repented and said, "Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount."  Jesus said to him, "Today salvation has come to this house" Luke 19:8,9

But as Jude said, "certain men whose condemnation was written about long ago have secretly slipped in among you. They are godless men, who change the grace of our God into a license for immorality" Jude 1:4a And Peter prophecied saying, "there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies" 2Peter 2:1b and "Many will follow their shameful ways and will bring the way of truth into disrepute." 2Peter 2:2 and "they mouth empty, boastful words and, by appealing to the lustful desires of sinful human nature, they entice people who are just escaping from those who live in error." 2Peter 2:18

For there are those who teach that repentance from sin is merely optional. In fact many reckon repentance from sin to be legalism and contrary to the gospel. Such people would answer Zacchaeus - "You're just trying to be saved by works, and by do so you are disqualified from being saved." They teach a do-nothing faith, a faith that doesn't work. The Bible teaches that there is a correlation between a person's behavior and his salvation status. This is elementary. But there are those who teach otherwise - who make people feel comfortable with living a lifestyle of sin, whose teachingS appeal to the lustful desires of the sinful human nature.

"The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions  and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God." Gal 5:19-21

Now in particular concerning this verse the false teachers may point out that literally it says simply "Repentance from dead works", and then go on to interpret this to mean changing one's mind from thinking that there is a correlation between a person's works and his salvation status to the idea that there is no such correlation, which is just the opposite of what the Bible teaches. Such false teachers will not teach the Bible comprehensively but will read into the Bible rather than reading out of it. For interpretation of any one verse should agree with the rest of the Bible.

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Elementary Teaching 2

FAITH IN GOD

Salvation is contingent upon faith in Christ, but many haven't actually studied the fundamental doctrine as to what constitutes saving faith. Why is that? There are many different kinds of "faith" and there are many aspects of faith, and not all faith saves. James, for example, teaches us that a non-application oriented faith does not qualify a person to be saved. He asks the rhetorical question, "What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him?" James 2:14 It's a rhetorical question because James knows the answer should be obvious. But many today have been led astray by false teachers such that answer is not obvious to them. Saving faith is application oriented. Saving faith is also persevering, obedient and fruitful. Jesus said, "Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Therefore by their fruits you will know them. Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven." Mt 7:19-21

Saving faith involves pledging allegiance to Jesus as Lord with the intention of doing what he said. "he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again." 2Cor 5:15 Yet there are false teaches who "deny Jesus Christ our only Sovereign and Lord." Jude 1:4b They teach that saving faith does not involve submission to Christ's Lordship.

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Elementary Teaching 3

BAPTISM

If a person comes to faith in Christ, then they are to be baptized. Jesus said, "Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you." Mt 28:19.20 Baptism is one's initiation into the Church when one pledges to have a good conscience before God, and exercising submission to the Lordship of Christ, and as such it only applies to believers.

However this is another elementary teaching that much of Post-Biblical Christianity has gotten wrong. Some deviate into the heresy of infant baptism, reckoning infants of believers are members of the Church though unbelievers. In fact centuries ago such people would murder fellow Christians who didn't hold that point of view. (By their fruit you shall recognize them) Likened to this is the heresy of sacramental theology, which in this case would view the ceremony itself as having saving value. They may teach that baptism replaced circumcision, and as such they put themselves in the same category of the cult of the circumcision whom Paul dealt with in the book of Galatians. For whether one thinks that salvation is contingent upon cutting off a piece of one's skin or that salvation is contingent upon getting one's skin wet, both fall into the legalistic idolatry of sacramental theology.

And thirdly there are those who allege to believe in Christ but refuse or neglect to get baptized. They simply ignore this elementary teaching, or their teachers overlook it.

Saving faith is characteristic of the ethiopian who after hearing the gospel said, "See, here is water. What hinders me from being baptized?" Then Philip said, "If you believe with all your heart, you may." And he answered and said, "I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God." Acts 8:36,37 If you got baptized as an unbelieving infant, that is not Christian baptism. But if you are now a believer, then what hinders you from getting baptized?

Elementary Teaching 4

THE LAYING ON OF HANDS

This is not spoken of much in the New Testament. But we see it's application in Acts 6:5,6 and its implication in 1Tim 5:22 as a commissioning of ministers, and for the purpose of such ministry the Holy Spirit may impart gifts (as he wills) for the purpose of effective service (1Tim 5:22)

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Elementary Teaching 5

THE RESURRECTION

Whenever the gospel is preached in Acts and the New Testament letters, the resurrection of Christ included as an essential element, the forensic evidence validating his claims. But the "Resurrection" also is about  the fact, as Paul said, "that there will be a resurrection of both the righteous and the wicked." Acts 24:15 Of the righteous Paul elaborates upon in 1Corinthians 15. The resurrection from the dead is fundamental to the Christian faith. For "If there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised.  And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith." 1Cor 15:13,14 If you want an epitaph written on your tombstone, try this, "I'LL BE BACK!" Would make quite an impression upon anyone wandering around the graveyard.

Now there are some alleged Christians who I have heard believe in reincarnation. Reincarnation is incompatible with the Biblical teaching of the Resurrection. "Everyone must die once, and after that comes judgment" Heb 9:27 If you believe in reincarnation, then don't claim that you're a Christian.

There's a first and second resurrection. The first resurrection is that of the righteous and includes the Rapture. (1Th 4:16,17; 1Cor 15:51,52; Mt 24:31) "Blessed and holy are those who have part in the first resurrection. The second death has no power over them, but they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with him for a thousand years." Rev 20:6 The resurrection of the wicked occurs after the Millenial Kingdom. (The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were ended.) Rev 20:5

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Elementary Teaching 6

ETERNAL JUDGMENT

Jesus taught alot about this. There will be a Judgment day in which God will pronounce one's destiny - whether eternal life or eternal death. Jesus spoke much on hell. He describes a place of torment in Luke 16 of his story of Lazarus and the Rich Man. In his parable of the ungracious servant of Matt 18 he ends saying, "In anger his master turned him over to the jailers to be tortured, until he should pay back all he owed. This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother from your heart." Mt 18:34,35 Of the unrighteous he says, "They will throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth." Mt 13:42 Of the man who showed up to the wedding feast, but not wearing wedding clothes he says, "Tie him hand and foot, and throw him outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth." Mt 22:13 He teaches that many will be caught by surprise. He also teaches in his parable of the ten virgins that the clock is ticking and there are no second chances. (Again contrary to the heresy of reincarnation)

On the upside, there are rewards promised for those who serve Christ. And of the righteous, "He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away." Rev 21:4 Even in the Old Testament it teaches resurrection saying, "Multitudes who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake: some to everlasting life, others to shame and everlasting contempt. Those who are wise will shine like the brightness of the heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars for ever and ever." Dan 12:2,3

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If it be the will of God

Heb 6:3  And God permitting, we will do so.

The author is saying that he's not going to revisit these issues, the fundamentals of the faith, having already taught them, but with the contingency that God may call him to do so at some point in the future. Paul wrote of a mature perspective concerning the Christian life in Philippians following with, "Let us, as many as are mature, have this mind; and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal even this to you." Php 3:15  Teachers don't have to wait for the immature to catch up to go on to more advance issues. But the teacher must be open to that possibility.

How exactly the author would know whether God gives his permission? The fact he says literally in the greek "If God permits", indicating some uncertainty in the matter. This is interesting because what follows teaches us about what to do if we don't know God's specific will in a circumstance. And that's a very common experience in the Christian life. The word that follows the verse is "For". Despite being uncertain about God's specific will here, he nonetheless takes action, and the verses that follow give his explanation as to why he's taking action. Those verses will show that he's applying a principle. When we don't know God's specific will, then we should defer to the principles of scripture.

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Impossible Repentance

Heb 6:4-6 For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted the heavenly gift, and have become partakers of the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come, if they fall away, to renew them again to repentance, since they crucify again for themselves the Son of God, and put Him to an open shame.

Try as you might you can never bring this kind of person to repentance. That's why the author of Hebrews is leaving such people behind. (1John 5:16) Such people are unteachable. He's not saying that this is the case for all of the audience to whom he is writing. For if that were the case why would he bother writing at all? But no doubt he suspects among them are these kind of people. What kind of people?

They were people who had been enlightened to the gospel at some point. They had a taste of the Christian life. But were like those Jesus described is his parable of the sower. "The one who received the seed that fell on rocky places is the man who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. But since he has no root, he lasts only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, he quickly falls away." Mt 13:20,21 Their faith was not rooted.

They had a partnership with the Holy Spirit. This is not to say that they had been possessors of the Holy Spirit. The greek word for "shared in" (metochos) is literally "became partners with". It is first used in the New Testament in Luke 5:7 "And they beckoned unto their partners, which were in the other ship, that they should come and help them. And they came, and filled both the ships, so that they began to sink." This is the type of relationship that the Holy Spirit has with those He is helping to come to Christ. See also Kenneth Wuest's comment on this point.

They had heard the word and witnessed the validating evidence of miracles. Yet Jesus even said of those who performed miracles, "Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’  "And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’ Mt 7:22,23

If such people fall away they are like those Peter spoke of saying, "If they have escaped the corruption of the world by knowing our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and are again entangled in it and overcome, they are worse off at the end than they were at the beginning. It would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than to have known it and then to turn their backs on the sacred command that was passed on to them. Of them the proverbs are true: 'A dog returns to its vomit,' and, 'A sow that is washed goes back to her wallowing in the mud.'" 2Peter 2:20-22

And concerning their recrucifying Christ, likewise the author will later say, "If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for sins is left, but only a fearful expectation of judgment and of raging fire that will consume the enemies of God. Anyone who rejected the law of Moses died without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. How much more severely do you think a man deserves to be punished who has trampled the Son of God under foot, who has treated as an unholy thing the blood of the covenant that sanctified him, and who has insulted the Spirit of grace?" Heb 10:26-29

These are the Judas's of the Christian community. The apostates of the faith. Who having identified with the believers, having alleged to have put their faith in Christ, reject him like the crowds who once followed Jesus as a celebrity only later to shout "Crucify him!".

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Fruitless Soil

Heb 6:7,8  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. But land that produces thorns and thistles is worthless and is in danger of being cursed. In the end it will be burned.

The author may have had Jesus parable of the sower in mind. For besides those who are characterized by rocky ground, there is also the soil characterized by thorns. "The seed that fell among thorns stands for those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by life’s worries, riches and pleasures, and they do not mature." Luke 8:14 And what did Hebrews say at the beginning of this, "by this time you ought to be teachers" Heb 5:12 and he complains of their immaturity. Yes if Christians don't mature in the faith they wll be condemned. Jesus said, "Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire." Mt 7:19  And likewise here, "I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit" John 15:1-2a

In contrast fruitful Christians are characterized in this way, "the seed on good soil stands for those with a noble and good heart, who hear the word, retain it, and by persevering produce a crop." Luke 8:15 And you will notice that the author will go on to speak of persevering, contrasting it with laziness, a character quality which accompanies fruitless immature Christians.

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Things that Accompany Salvation

Heb 6:9 Even though we speak like this, dear friends, we are confident of better things in your case— things that accompany salvation.

The Bible speaks in a number of place of things that accompany salvation - indeed things which are indicative of salvation,. Among these are love for other Christian and doing what is right. "This is how we know who the children of God are and who the children of the devil are: Anyone who does not do what is right is not a child of God; nor is anyone who does not love his brother." 1John3:10 There are also doctrinal issues, "We are from God, and whoever knows God listens to us; but whoever is not from God does not listen to us." 1John 4:6a And Jesus said, "He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit" John 15:5b

Why was John confident of their salvation status? Because these kinds of things were indicative of their lives. Assurance of salvation is to be proportional to the degree to which we behave as a child of God should.

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Works of Faith

Heb 6:10 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.

Likewise Paul notes of the Thessalonians, "We continually remember before our God and Father your work produced by faith, your labor prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ. For we know, brothers loved by God, that he has chosen you, because our gospel came to you not simply with words, but also with power, with the Holy Spirit and with deep conviction." 1Th 1:2-5a And he goes on to note particular evidences of things that accompany salvation, things are also noted in a number of verses in this chapter of Hebrews.


But in particular we note in John and 1John that love for other Christians is the primary mark of the elect. John 13:35 "By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another."

Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to him, "Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed," but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead. James 2:15-17

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Assurance based on Diligent Perseverance

Heb 6:11,12  We want each of you to show this same diligence to the very end, in order to make your hope sure. We do not want you to become lazy, but to imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised.

Diligence and perseverance accompany salvation. "the seed on good soil stands for those with a noble and good heart, who hear the word, retain it, and by persevering produce a crop." Luke 8:15

In contrast laziness is indicative that such a person is not saved. Of the man who hid his talent and did nothing with his faith, Jesus said, "You wicked, lazy servant!" Mt 25:26a Lazy faith is a non-application oriented faith. It is not indicative of saving faith. It is a disobedient faith. Jesus said,   "Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire." Followed by, "Therefore by their fruits you will know them. Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven." Mt 7:19-21 Obedience, diligence, fruitfulness, these all accompany salvation.

Of imitation Paul notes that of the Thessalonians as I noted previously. And likewise Hebrews later says, "Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith." Heb 13:7

"Therefore, my brothers, be all the more eager to make your calling and election sure. For if you do these things, you will never fall" 2Peter 1:10