Hebrews 6:1-12 - Diligently Grow in Christ

Hebrews 6:1-12

The Peril of Not Progressing

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.

We have been called to grow in Christ in our sanctification as we have the Lord exercise our senses of perception and spiritual judgment of the things of God.  This means we know and understand the basics of the essential doctrines of our faith but then progress on in maturity to diligently pursue the things that make for life and godliness (Romans 14:19, 1 Timothy 6:11) each and every day.  Our earnestness of soul should drive us to grow to know more and not continue to circle about the elementary doctrines alone without digging deeper into the gospel of the revealed mystery of Christ’s work (Romans 16:25, Ephesians 3:4-6, 8-9, 10-11, Colossians 1:26-27) to save and grow us in conformity to Himself.  We who have been in Christ for any length of time understand those mentioned here: repentance from dead works and of faith toward God, baptism, laying on of hands, resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment.  These are vitally important foundational elements but we need to build on top of them, not forgetting or ignoring them or the deeper meanings of them, but to add to them into maturity in our lives walked out by faith into the whole counsel (Acts 20:27) of God.  We are to make disciples and teach them all things, not just a subset of the most popular or easiest to grasp.  If we have truly tasted the gospel of God leading to our salvation of transformative grace and have the Spirit of God living in us and not just tasted and put away without conversion, then we find ourselves unsaved from the beginning and unable to find true repentance and have only the thorns and briars of a dreadful end.  We, however, who have heard and been transformed in saving grace are not these warned here but are those whose lives reflect a change and who continue to grow and bear fruit of works prepared (Ephesians 2:10) for us to God.  Since we have been truly saved we are called to grow in Christ as we pursue the knowledge of and knowing of the Lord.  The call then is not to be spiritually lazy but with earnest of soul pursue growth with those whose faith is an inspiration to imitate in the race to see His face (Philippians 3:14-15) and hear, “well done, good and faithful servant (Matthew 25:21).”  We are therefore to progress in faith through hearing, reading, studying, and meditating on the word of God given for our instruction of all things (Matthew 28:20) to we His disciples on the foundation of the gospel of our deliverance from sin’s penalty and judgment as we are convinced of our salvation and calling in Christ (2 Corinthians 13:5, 2 Peter 1:10-11, 1 John 3:19-21).  God gives the increase when we are well watered by the word as attended by His Spirit.