Articles and Notes
Hebrews 6 Notes
Chapter Six
The interruption of the discussion regarding Jesus as High priest continues with a solemn warning regarding spiritual progress, and the need for diligence, faith and patience in order to inherit the promises (1-12). The certainty of God’s promises upon which our hope is based serves as an anchor of the soul that reaches into heaven itself, where Christ is now our High Priest according the order of Melchizedek (13-20).
POINTS TO PONDER
* Elementary principles in the doctrine of Christ
* The very real danger of crucifying again the Son of God
* The basis of our hope that serves as an anchor of the soul
REVIEW QUESTIONS
1) What are the main points of this chapter?
- The peril of not progressing - He 6:1-12
- The certainty of God’s promise - He 6:13-20
2) What six things are mentioned as elementary principles of Christ? (1-2)
- Repentance from dead works
- Faith toward God
- The doctrine of baptisms
- Laying on of hands
- Resurrection of the dead
- Eternal judgment
3) What five blessings were experienced by some who had fallen away? (4-5)
- Once enlightened
- Tasted the heavenly gift
- Partakers of the Holy Spirit
- Tasted the good word of God
- Tasted the powers of the age to come
4) As those once blessed persist in their sin, what is their condition? Why? (6)
- It is impossible (for others) to renew them again to repentance
- They crucify again the Son of God and put Him to open shame
5) What confidence did the author have for his original recipients? Why? (9-10)
- Better things that accompany salvation
- Because of their work and labor of love in ministering to the saints
6) Even so, what qualities did he desire of them? (11-12)
- Diligence, imitation of the faith and patience of those who inherit the promises
7) Upon what two immutable things does our hope lie? (13-18)
- God’s promise and God’s oath, both in which it is impossible for God to lie
8) As what does our hope serve? To where does it reach? (19-20)
- An anchor of the soul; into heaven itself where Jesus is our High Priest
Hebrews 6
The peril of not progressing
[Heb 6:1-20 NKJV] 1 Therefore, leaving the discussion of the elementary [principles] of Christ, let us go on to perfection, not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God, 2 of the doctrine of baptisms, of laying on of hands, of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment. 3 And this we will do if God permits. 4 For [it is] impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted the heavenly gift, and have become partakers of the Holy Spirit, 5 and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come, 6 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. 7 For the earth which drinks in the rain that often comes upon it, and bears herbs useful for those by whom it is cultivated, receives blessing from God; 8 but if it bears thorns and briers, [it is] rejected and near to being cursed, whose end [is] to be burned.
A better estimate
9 But, beloved, we are confident of better things concerning you, yes, things that accompany salvation, though we speak in this manner. 10 For God [is] not unjust to forget your work and labor of love which you have shown toward His name, [in that] you have ministered to the saints, and do minister. 11 And we desire that each one of you show the same diligence to the full assurance of hope until the end, 12 that you do not become sluggish, but imitate those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.
God's infallible purpose in Christ
13 For when God made a promise to Abraham, because He could swear by no one greater, He swore by Himself, 14 saying, "Surely blessing I will bless you, and multiplying I will multiply you." 15 And so, after he had patiently endured, he obtained the promise. 16 For men indeed swear by the greater, and an oath for confirmation [is] for them an end of all dispute. 17 Thus God, determining to show more abundantly to the heirs of promise the immutability of His counsel, confirmed [it] by an oath, 18 that by two immutable things, in which it [is] impossible for God to lie, we might have strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold of the hope set before [us]. 19 This [hope] we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which enters the [Presence] behind the veil, 20 where the forerunner has entered for us, [even] Jesus, having become High Priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.