Go on to perfection
Heb 6:1 Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God,
The mature believer should understand that we do not walk in sins. He should have repented from these and should be pressing in to know more of God. Yes, faith begins the journey, faith must continue. There should be no falling away from Jesus. This does not mean that we are ever free completely from sin, but we should not let it become a way of life. It is important to learn and to believe the foundational truths of God.
1 John 1:8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Heb 6:2 Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment.
doctrine of baptisms
We are to be baptized in water, meaning to dip, fully immersed in water. This is the sign of the New Covenant, belonging and identifying with Jesus.
Col 2:12 Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead.
Col 2:13 And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses;
Col 2:14 Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;
Col 2:15 And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a show of them openly, triumphing over them in it.
The second baptism is the baptism of Jesus, the baptism of the Holy Spirit.
Mat 3:11 I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire:
Mat 3:12 Whose fan is in his hand, and he will thoroughly purge his floor, and gather his wheat into the garner; but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.
The Holy Ghost is the indwelling Spirit of truth, the Holy Spirit of God. Through the Spirit we receive spiritual gifts for serving the Lord.
The fire is the burning away of that which is not of God. It also had a physical fulfillment in the book of Acts, when the Holy Ghost came the first time to the church, those in Christ Jesus.
Acts 2:1 And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.
Acts 2:2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.
Acts 2:3 And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.
Acts 2:4 And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.
Acts 2:5 And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven.
Acts 2:6 Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own language.
The fire of God is also the judgement of sinners.
2Th 1:7 And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels,
2Th 1:8 In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ:
2Th 1:9 Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power;
The fire of God is his presence and his power beyond human comprehension. An anointed preacher may speak with the power of God, as a minister of fire.
Heb 1:7 And of the angels he saith, Who maketh his angels spirits, and his ministers a flame of fire.
laying on of hands
1 Tim 4:14 Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery.
The laying on of hands was a point of contact where God imparted an anointing of the spirit for the gifts of ministry. It is not always used, but it was sometimes used to appoint to some gift of the spirit or ministry. There was a warning to not lay hands for a position of authority to a new believer that was not yet ready for ministry. Let him first be proved faithful.
1Ti 5:22 Lay hands suddenly on no man, neither be partaker of other men's sins: keep thyself pure.
resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment.
The Pharisees believed in an afterlife, but the Sadducees did not. Jesus proved that he was the Son of God by his resurrection. He also resurrected the dead as part of his ministry. If we receive Jesus as Lord and saviour, we pass from death to eternal life.
Joh 5:24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.
Joh 5:25 Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live.
Joh 5:26 For as the Father hath life in himself; so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself;
We will not see the wrath of God upon us, because we are in God's family. We will reign with him in the earthly Millennium and with him for ever in his presence.
Rev 20:6 Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.
Apart from God, all people will give an account to him. He will decide the degree of punishment. Death isn't all there is, there is more; heaven or hell is a choice to be made in this life. Jesus is the way to heaven.
Rev 20:11 And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them.
Rev 20:12 And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.
Rev 20:13 And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.
Rev 20:14 And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.
Rev 20:15 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.
Heb 6:3 And this will we do, if God permit.
What will we do? Verse 6:1 tells us; let us go on to perfection. Let us grow up and mature in our faith, serving God through the gifts given to us. Do not say you are not important, for Jesus gave his life to set you free to serve him. If we learn more we will trust more. Make your salvation sure by passing the tests of temptations and false teachers.
Eph 4:14 That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;
Eph 4:15 But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:
No falling away
Heb 6:4 For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost,
Heb 6:5 And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come,
Heb 6:6 If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame.
What is this saying? Many use this verse and other verses to destroy another's hope. First, let me say, that if you desire fellowship with God through Jesus, this is not about you. If you have backslidden, repent, brush yourself off and receive again the grace of God. Many have fallen away and we are called to seek to restore them. We are not to use this verse to hammer them. As one person said, Christians are the only ones who seem to shoot their wounded.
Gal 6:1 Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.
Gal 6:2 Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.
James 5:19 Brethren, if any of you do err from the truth, and one convert him;
James 5:20 Let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins.
This verse was for a particular people, those who came out of the law and Judaism. They had tasted of, but not eaten, we are to eat the word. They had tasted of the gifts and the spirit. They have sampled it, been where it operated, yet they refused it, they were never committed to Jesus, nor had they the filling of the Holy Spirit. Tasting is not enough, we must partake of Jesus and invite his Spirit within ourselves. There are a lot of pretend believers in the church. These must come to conversion and truth to be able to avoid the wrath to come.
Col 1:27 To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:
2 Cor 1:21 Now he which stablisheth us with you in Christ, and hath anointed us, is God;
2 Cor 1:22 Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts.
No tasting, no wavering by the clever words of men, but taking within, eating the spiritual word. The Spirit is sealed within us if we belong to God. No one can take us out of his hand. No spirit can take us, our God is greater. Rise up in authority and take what belongs to you by his indwelling Spirit!
We are not those who only hang around with Christians, admiring the music, eating the food and following after the signs and wonders. These kind fall away when persecution comes. If they fall away, they were not of us and cannot discern the truth.
1 John 2:19 They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us.
Psa 34:8 O taste and see that the LORD is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him.
We are not only the tasters, we are to eat the word and invite God's spirit within to seal us unto himself. We belong to God, we are his family.
1 John 4:4 Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.
1 Cor 3:23 And ye are Christ's; and Christ is God's.
Not only is Christ in us, but we are in Christ.
Eph 2:4 But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,
Eph 2:5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)
Eph 2:6 And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:
Eph 2:7 That in the ages to come he might show the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.
Be encouraged and do not allow anyone to hammer you with one verse. Look at all of scriptures and see if you are in the faith of Jesus. Take authority over those people and spiritual powers who come against you, If you are seated with Christ in heavenly places, you have his authority and power. If you are not sure, then pray and seek him with all your heart.
Known by our works
Heb 6:7 For the earth which drinketh in the rain that cometh oft upon it, and bringeth forth herbs meet for them by whom it is dressed, receiveth blessing from God:
Heb 6:8 But that which beareth thorns and briers is rejected, and is nigh unto cursing; whose end is to be burned.
All receive the blessings of God, but all do not respond to him with love and grace. Let us look at other scriptures on this theme. Who do we serve? And What is the fruit of our lives? Do we belong to God or are we as those who follow the devil to destruction?
Follow the example of Jesus
Mat 5:44 But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;
Mat 5:45 That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.
Mat 5:46 For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same?
Mat 5:47 And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so?
Mat 5:48 Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.
Discern the true from the false
Mat 7:15 Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.
Mat 7:16 Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?
Mat 7:17 Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.
Mat 7:18 A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.
Mat 7:19 Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.
Mat 7:20 Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.
Not all are chosen by God
John 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
Many become followers of false ideas and are rejected by God. All must be made clean through Jesus.
Mat 13:47 Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a net, that was cast into the sea, and gathered of every kind:
Mat 13:48 Which, when it was full, they drew to shore, and sat down, and gathered the good into vessels, but cast the bad away.
Mat 13:49 So shall it be at the end of the world: the angels shall come forth, and sever the wicked from among the just,
Our God is long-suffering. We receive according to our choices, more of God or a hardened heart of sin.
Rom 9:17 For the scripture saith unto Pharaoh, Even for this same purpose have I raised thee up, that I might show my power in thee, and that my name might be declared throughout all the earth.
Rom 9:18 Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will have mercy, and whom he will he hardeneth.
Rom 9:19 Thou wilt say then unto me, Why doth he yet find fault? For who hath resisted his will?
Rom 9:20 Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why hast thou made me thus?
Rom 9:21 Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour?
Rom 9:22 What if God, willing to show his wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction:
Rom 9:23 And that he might make known the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy, which he had afore prepared unto glory,
Again, if this concerns you, you are the Lord's chosen. If you grow more and more rebellious about God's will, you are headed for destruction. Turn to Jesus for forgiveness, repent and be given a soft heart after God.
2 Pet 3:9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
He will not interfere with your will, but he will give you many opportunities to come to him. God is not only good, but he is also just. Your final destination is your choice. All must come through the door God has provided. Jesus is the door to God and eternal life with him. Come to Jesus, for he is calling you to enter into His peace.
Growing in the Faith
Heb 6:9 But, beloved, we are persuaded better things of you, and things that accompany salvation, though we thus speak.
What accompanies salvation? A desire for the things of God. New sight to see things with. Behold all things become new.
2 Cor 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
A new believer must partake of the word of God and learn how to study the Bible for it's truth. Better things are for those who follow the way of grace, whereas, destruction comes to the cursed and bad fruit of a hardened heart. The things that follow salvation are good works, spiritual fruit, pleasing to God. These things do not come all at once, that is why we must learn.
Gal 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
Gal 5:23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
Hate in a heart is replaced by love. Love is all the fruit combined. Suffering gives way to joy, anger is replaced by peace, a quick temper is replaced by longsuffering, aggressive behavior is followed by gentleness, a filthy mouth by goodness, skepticism and persecution is replaced by faith. Meekness replaces rabble rousing, temperance and moderation replaces indulgences and addictions.
Heb 6:10 For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have showed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister.
To minister is to serve another in love, in the name of Jesus. Saints, are not statues, but saints refer to those set aside to the service of our Lord. The believers in Christ who are his people, are the saints of God. The Catholic church, picks out super Christians and names them saints, but the Bible refers to saints, as all who are of faith in Jesus. We are to love and serve others.
Gal 6:9 And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.
Gal 6:10 As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.
Heb 6:11 And we desire that every one of you do show the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end:
Heb 6:12 That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises.
There are many false guides, so you need to be connected to someone whose Christian life you respect. You need to learn from a teacher who teaches God's word in truth. We also each must learn to study the Bible for ourselves. Begin your study in one of the gospels, such as Matthew or John. These will give you an understanding of Jesus and his ministry. Continue in Paul's epistles. Romans, Ephesians, Philippians are good choices.
2 Tim 2:15 Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
You cannot live your new life on the knowledge you had before you were saved. You need to bring the thoughts of God into your heart and mind through careful study of his word, through the guidance of a respected teacher. Jesus is Lord, he is master of our new life, we must obey him.
2 Cor 10:5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;
Study to learn his will and obey what you learn, this is the way of growth in your new life.
Endure and receive
Heb 6:13 For when God made promise to Abraham, because he could swear by no greater, he sware by himself,
There is none higher than God, he is absolute truth. We can believe his word. It was the custom in a court when approaching the judge that a man would put his hand on the Bible, the word of God's truth and he swore that he was telling the truth, nothing but the truth, so help me God. This was an oath in court. If he was found to be lying he would be in trouble. He would be committing perjury. When God swore a promise to Abraham, it was eternal, for he is eternal. We can count on the promises of God. He does not fade away or change his mind.
Heb 6:14 Saying, Surely blessing I will bless thee, and multiplying I will multiply thee. Heb 6:15 And so, after he had patiently endured, he obtained the promise.
Patiently and sometimes not so patiently, he endured he waited enduring the attacks from the devil, even as we must endure, trusting in the promises. Through Isaac a nation was born, The Hebrew nation.
Gen 22:15 And the angel of the LORD called unto Abraham out of heaven the second time,
Gen 22:16 And said, By myself have I sworn, saith the LORD, for because thou hast done this thing, and hast not withheld thy son, thine only son:
Gen 22:17 That in blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which is upon the sea shore; and thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies;
Gen 22:18 And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed my voice.
These were promises to the Hebrew people, not to the church. They would multiply as the stars of the heaven, a mutitude of spiritual children. As the sand which is upon the sea shore, Abraham would have earthly seed. Where does the church fit in? And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; all nations are blessed by the seed, a single person, the Lord Jesus Christ. Abraham endured and he received the promise. We must endure, too. Who else can we trust?
Mat 24:11 And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many.
Mat 24:12 And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.
Mat 24:13 But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.
Anchor of the soul
Heb 6:16 For men verily swear by the greater: and an oath for confirmation is to them an end of all strife.
If we swear by God, then we are accountable to him. We must answer to him if we break our oath or tell a lie. Jesus warned us to not make careless oaths.
Mat 5:33 Again, ye have heard that it hath been said by them of old time, Thou shalt not forswear thyself, but shalt perform unto the Lord thine oaths:
Mat 5:34 But I say unto you, Swear not at all; neither by heaven; for it is God's throne:
Mat 5:35 Nor by the earth; for it is his footstool: neither by Jerusalem; for it is the city of the great King.
Mat 5:36 Neither shalt thou swear by thy head, because thou canst not make one hair white or black.
Mat 5:37 But let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil.
How many of us have failed to keep marriage vows? God expects us to honour our word, for he keeps his word.
Heb 6:17 Wherein God, willing more abundantly to show unto the heirs of promise the immutability of his counsel, confirmed it by an oath:
Heb 6:18 That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us:
An oath is confirmed by two witnesses. What were the two things that God used to confirm his oath? Two immutable things: God's promise and God's oath, these cannot be broken. We have strong consolation, this is as God drawing near to us to encourage us that he will never leave or forsake his promise to us.
Heb 6:19 Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the veil;
Our great anchor and hope is Jesus. An anchor must be on the solid rock. He is our consolation and the Comforter, the Holy Spirit who draws near to bring hope and peace is the assurance that God's word is true. He that entered that holy of holy place within the veil, is Jesus. We are with him in spirit and when absent from this body we shall be with him in completeness, in the presence of Jesus, the Word.
1 John 5:7 For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.
Heb 6:20 Whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made an high priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.
Once again Melchisedec is mentioned as the type of the holy priesthood of Jesus. Jesus is our refuge and hope, our hiding place. He is the anchor we trust, our solid rock that shall never go away. We trust in him.
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