Be Mature… (4 Points )

• 1^st – Do not be immature… vs. 11-14
  • 1^st – Hard to Explain… vs. 11
    • The Author wanted to talk MORE about Melchizedek – but it was HARD to explain…
      • HARD to explain – only here NT – difficult to interpret into your LANGUAGE…
      • What he wanted to talk about was SPIRITUAL – but the readers were WORLDLY…
      • They did NOT speak the same LANGUAGE!
    • Those in the WORLD do not UNDERSTAND the Word…
      • 1 Corinto 2:14 – “But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.”
      • Do you ever wonder why people in the WORLD overlook the obvious…
      • It seems so apparent to us Jesus is the answer – how could anyone miss it…
      • When we talk about our FAITH – those who are NOT saved do not understand…
      • We are literally talking in a different LANGUAGE – and it is hard to interpret it to them!
  • 2^nd – Unable to hear… vs. 11
    • They could NOT understand – because they were DULL of hearing…
      • DULL of hearing [perfect] – 2x in NT – from a root word meaning illegitimate child…
      • An illegitimate child – does NOT have anyone to teach them right from wrong!
      • Therefore they were NOT [perfect] willing to LISTEN to the TRUTH!
    • Those in the WORLD do not LISTEN to the Word…
      • I can remember my Dad reading the book of Ephesians to me as child…
      • It made NO sense – I had very little interest – and did NOT listen…
      • Because I was not YET a child of God – I was still lost in this WORLD!
      • To people in the WORLD – the Bible is just another old book…
      • A collection of myths meant to teach moral stories – but NOT the WORD of God!
      • Therefore they do not pay much attention to it – they are DULL of hearing!
  • 3^rd – Unable to teach… vs. 12
    • By this time they ought to be TEACHERS…
      • The Author is NOT writing to kids – he is addressing grown men and women…
      • People who should not just UNDERSTAND – they should be able to TEACH!
      • But – they needed someone to TEACH them AGAIN…
      • The First PRINCIPALS – literally the ABCs of the FAITH – the most BASIC ideas…
      • Of the ORACLES of God – another way of saying the Word of God!
    • Those in the WORLD do not TEACH to the Word…
      • Not everyone is called to be a TEACHER – but we should all KNOW the Word…
      • We never know when we might have an opportunity to share the Gospel…
      • If we are unsure of ourselves in the Word of God – the hope of Jesus…
      • We are not going to be very effective – in teaching others about it…
      • Get to know the Bible – know how to find important verses – be prepared!
      • I Peter 3:15 – “Always be ready to give a defense… for the hope that is in you.”
  • 4^th – Unable to eat… vs. 12-14
    • They need [perfect] MILK and not MEAT…
      • Everyone who eats MILK – is INEXPERIENCED in the Word of righteousness – a BABY…
      • But MEAT – is for those who are of FULL AGE [teleios] – complete…
      • Who by reason of constant USE [gymnazō] can discern both GOOD and EVIL!
    • Those in the WORLD do not MATURE in the Word…
      • It is cute to bottle feed a young infant – no surprise – when they mess their diapers…
      • But it is NOT cute – when a grown adult is still on the bottle – still wearing diapers!
      • When we first come to know the Lord – we are not going to understand much…
      • We are going to make a lot of mistakes – and struggle to overcome our sin…
      • But we should not stay that way – as we get into the Word – we should GROW…
      • Becoming MATURE in the Lord – as we exercise our FAITH – discerning GOOD and EVIL!

• 2^nd – Know the basics… vs. 1-3
  • Elementary principals… vs. 1 / 3
    • Therefore – let us leave the elementary [arche] teachings [logos] of Christ…
    • NOT laying AGAIN the foundation – the ABCs of the Christian Faith…
    • The author gives us SIX BASIC doctrines – all believers should KNOW!
    • And will DO – if God permits [subjunctive] – meaning our MATURITY comes from the Lord!
    • Philippians 4:13 – “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”
  • 1^st – REPENTANCE from dead works… vs. 1
    • REPENTANCE – a change of mind…
    • Dead WORKS – the idea that somehow we can WORK for our salvation…
    • The author was writing to Jews – who believed in keeping (work) the Law!
    • Romans 3:20 – “By the [works] of the law no [one] will be justified in His sight.”
    • The Law is perfect – but the problem is we are not perfect…
    • What the Law does is show us we are sinners – Romans 7:7 / Galatians 3:24
    • Once we see our sin – we REPENT – and confess our need for Jesus as a savior!
  • 2^nd – FAITH towards God… vs. 1
    • Our salvation is a GIFT from God by FAITH – Ephesians 2:8-9
      • God gave us the incredible GIFT of righteousness and heaven – through Jesus!
      • We did nothing to earn it – in fact there is NOTHING we can do to deserve it…
      • Our part of salvation is being willing to believe and receive His GIFT!
    • The way we receive the GIFT – is through FAITH…
      • We cannot see God – and the GIFT God gives us is not something we can hold…
      • It is something we believe  – by FAITH we TRUST God has forgiven us of our sin!
  • 3^rd – Doctrine of BAPTISMS… vs. 2
    • BAPTISMS – plural – speaking FIRST of WATER baptism…
      • We are commanded as believers to be water BAPTIZED – Acts 2:38
      • But water BAPTISM does not save us – the thief on the cross – Luke 23:43
      • It is the outward confession of what takes place within us when we believe in Jesus!
      • If you have a diploma – the paper does not give you any more knowledge…
      • But the paper represents the time and effort that went into earning that diploma!
      • Our old nature was buried with Jesus – taken under the water – a picture of our death…
      • We were raised up with Jesus – taken out of the water – a picture of new life!
    • BAPTISM of the Holy Spirit…
      • The BAPTISM of the Holy Spirit – is the POWER to live for God – Acts 1:8
      • If you have 100w light bulb – it has the potential to light up a dark room…
      • But unless you plug it into the wall – give it POWER – it does not give off light!
      • We are called to be a light in a dark world – Matthew 5:14
      • But we need the Holy Spirit to LIGHT us up – give us the POWER to shine for Jesus!
  • 4^th – LAYING on of HANDS… vs. 2
    • According to the Bible – we lay hands on people for several reasons…
    • We LAY HANDS on people for HEALING – Acts 9:17 / James 5:13-15
    • We LAY HANDS on people to send them out to PREACH the Gospel – Acts 13:2
    • We also LAY HANDS to ordain men called to LEAD in the church – Acts 6:6
    • The purpose is to show connection – we hurt together / recognize the call of God together!
  • 5^th – RESURRECTION of the dead… vs. 2
    • The WORLD questions the idea of a RESURRECTION…
      • They have never seen a dead man live again – so the RESURRECTION is just foolishness…
      • You live – then you die – that is the end – there is no life after death!
      • I Corinthians 15:35-36 – “How will the dead be raised? What kind of bodies will they have? What a foolish question! When you put a seed into the ground, it does not grow into a plant unless it dies first.” [NLT]
      • When God resurrects our old body – do NOT expect to look the same…
      • He will give us a new body – MUCH better than the one we have now – II Corinthians 5:1
    • What if we are maimed / cremated / buried at sea…
      • God made man from the dust of the earth – Genesis 2:7
      • Adam sinned – was told he would return to the dust he came from – Genesis 3:19
      • Quite literally true – we are actually made up of the same SIX main elements as DUST!
      • Whether it takes us 50 years / or 50 minutes – the end is the same – dust…
      • God is more than able to collect our DUST and reassemble for us our NEW body!
  • 6^th – Eternal judgment… vs. 2
    • EVERY man will be JUDGED – unbelievers at the Great White Throne – Revelation 20:11
    • Believers before the Bema Seat of Christ – II Corinthians 5:10
    • The moment we DIE our fate is sealed – there are NO second chances…
    • There is no purgatory – the prayers of saints / priests / family cannot help us…
    • Either we have received Jesus and have the hope of eternity with God…
    • Or we have rejected the Gospel – and have sentenced ourselves to eternity apart from God!
    • Hebrews 9:27 – “It is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment…”

I Corinthians 11:1 – “Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ.”

3^rd – The warning… vs. 4-8

1^st – It is IMPOSSIBLE – to repent… vs. 4-6

Why is it so IMPORTANT to move on from the BASICS – MATURE in our walk with God…

Because it is IMPOSSIBLE – to have NO strength or ability… vs. 4

If they FALL AWAY – to RENEW them again to REPENTANCE… vs. 6

We are given the THIRD of FIVE warnings in the book of Hebrews…

The FIRST warning – give the more earnest heed – lest we DRIFT AWAY – Hebrews 2:1-4

The SECOND warning – is about the DANGER of a HARD HEART – Hebrews 3:7-19

The THIRD warning – is the DANGER of not MATURING / growing in our FAITH!

For those who do not MATURE in their faith – might FALL AWAY!

This is one of the most controversial passages in Hebrews – perhaps the Bible…

We want to take a close look at WHO the author is WARNING…

And WHAT does it mean that it is IMPOSSIBLE for them to REPENT!

WHO cannot repent – FIVE descriptions – all in the PAST [aorist] tense…

Once ENLIGHTENED – to bring into the LIGHT – see their need for Jesus – John 1:9

Tasted the Heavenly GIFT [dōrea] – 11x NT – experienced the GIFT of the Spirit…

Were made [passive] PARTAKERS of the Holy Spirit – had the Spirit come upon them…

Tasted the good WORD [rhēma] of God – had HEARD the Word of God…

The POWER [dynamis] of the age to come – had experienced MIRACLES in their life!

THREE views on WHO is being described…

1 – Hyperbole – exaggeration to emphasize the WARNING…

This is very unlikely – it would be treating the subject of REPENTANCE flippantly!

2 – Unbelievers – this WARNING is to those who are NOT saved…

Also unlikely – as unbelievers have NOT been made PARTAKERS of the Holy Spirit!

3 – Believers – this WARNING is to those who are saved…

This is the most likely interpretation – as the FIVE descriptions ONLY fit a BELIEVER!

2^nd – Why it is IMPOSSIBLE … vs. 6

If a believer – FALLS AWAY [only here NT] – to turn aside / wander off the path…

It is IMPOSSIBLE for them to REPENT again – because…

They are CRUCIFYING [present] for themselves the Son of God and SHAMING Him…

SHAMING [present] – 2x in NT – to make an bad example of! 

TWO views on why they CANNOT repent…

Unforgiveable sin – if someone does NOT mature in their walk…

Ultimately walking away from their FAITH – if they tried to REPENT…

They would SHAME the name of Jesus – to come back would be to CRUCIFY Him again!

Likely NOT the correct interpretation – because God will always FORGIVE any sin!

I John 1:9 – “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins…”

Rejecting Jesus – those who FALL AWAY…

Become like the crowd that REJECTED – and in the end SHAMED Jesus…

The multitudes who cried out HOSANA [save us now] – John 12:13

Were the same people who FOUR days later cried CRUCIFY – John 19:15

If we SEE Jesus is the answer – have tasted His Spirit / His Word / and Power…

But we do not MATURE – and end up hardening our hearts so that we FALL away…

Then there is NO repentance left for us – because we have rejected the ONLY way…

The unforgivable sin is to die having rejected Jesus as our personal Savior!

Matthew 12:31 – “Every sin… will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will NOT be forgiven men.”

3^rd – The example of FRUIT… vs. 7-8

TWO kinds of fruit…

The earth drinks in the rain – and bears plants that are USEFUL…

The PLANT that are USEFUL – are BLESSED by the Lord – we would say HEAVEN!

But if they bears thorns – they are REJECTED – and in the end BURNED!

BURNED [noun] – the PLACE of burning – we would say HELL!

You know who someone is by their FRUIT…

Matthew 7:16 – ““You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from [thorns] or figs from [briers]?”

The FRUIT of the Spirit is something that God creates in us – it is from Him…

We cannot make ourselves Godly – it is the result being connected to Jesus!

John 15:5 – “Those who ABIDE in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing.”

4^th – Better things… vs. 9-12

1^st – Confident of salvation… vs. 9

Having given the THIRD warning – the author shared his CONFIDENCE…

We are CONFIDENT [perfect] of BETTER things that accompany SALVATION…

Even though there was a strong WARNING – there was great HOPE!

It is hard to confront people – especially those who we care about…

We might think it is better NOT to WARN someone who is NOT growing in their walk…

But we want them to MATURE – so they can be FRUITFUL in the Lord!

2^nd – Ministering to the saints… vs. 10

God is NOT unjust to forget…

Their WORK [ordinary] and labor [intense] of love – towards His name…

They MINISTERED [aorist] to the saints – and still MINISTERED [present]!

Before Jesus – we tended to ONLY think about ourselves…

We thought the world revolved around our lives – it was easy to ignore others…

But we KNOW we have MATURED – when we become OTHERS centered…

Not just yesterday [aorist] – but EVERY day intensely laboring in LOVE – for the Lord!

Philippians 2:4 – “Do NOT look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too.” [NLT]

3^rd – Diligence… vs. 11-12

We DESIRE [passionate] that each one of you KEEP showing [present] the same DILIGENCE…

KEEP bearing good FRUIT – so they would have full assurance of HOPE – until the END!

The WARNINGS of the book of Hebrews can be VERY unsettling…

We would like to think we can raise our hand one Sunday – say a few words…

Then have ASSURANCE – no matter what we do – heaven is still our destination!

But our ASSURANCE is not in our WORDS – it comes from ABIDING in the WORD!

Hebrews 12:2 – “Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith…”

Do NOT become SLUGGISH…

SLUGGISH [dull] – same as Hebrews 5:11 – an illegitimate child…

Do not let our ears become DULL – stop listening to the Word…

INSTEAD – find those who are MATURE and IMITATE their example of…

FAITH – putting our TRUST in Jesus – believing in His Word…

PATIENCE – [makrothymōs] – to endure hardship for a LONG time!

Being careful whom we spend time with – who we are influenced by… 

We all follow the example of someone – they lead us either towards or away from God…

Surround ourselves with godly people – those who encourage our walk in the Lord…

So – we can inherit the PROMISES [plural] – a blessed life / and ETERNAL life!