hebrews lesson 6 - 2/16/20

*Hebrews Overview? (Greater Than All 1–10 | Run the Race 11–13) :1–4 — is the ultimate revelation of God because He is God in the lesh

Hebrews 1:5–14 — Jesus is superior to the :1–4 — Warning about drifting away from the message (Law) Hebrews 2:5–18 — OT example (Ps 8). Humanity’s reign begins in Jesus

Hebrews 3:1–6 — Jesus is superior to :7–19 — Warning about hardening hearts (Israel wilderness) :1–13 — OT example (Ps 95). Promise of rest still remains

Hebrews 4:14–5:10 — Jesus is superior to the High Priests (because he doesn’t offer sacriices for His own sin yet is also able to sympathize) :11–6:8 — Warning…

Hebrews 5:11–14 * What sticks out from this section? * What’s “this” that the author has much to say about? () * So the author wants to talk more about Melchizedek but says “it is hard to explain. Why is it hard to explain? (Sluggish, aren’t learning as they should, can’t eat solid food, not mature enough - so it’s their fault not the dificulty of the teaching.) 2 * Is the same true for you? Are you being sluggish in your understanding of God’s word? Should you be further along than you are? (including middle schoolers - don’t use your age as an excuse - think of the math/science you’re in - you can understand the if you wanted to. Just think what do you spend your time on instead?) * Do you think some things are too hard to understand and then blame the teacher rather than yourself?

Hebrews 6:1–3 * What sticks out from this section? * What’s surprising about v.1? (Just called them immature babies - expect him to say - here’s some more milk. But instead says - here’s some meat. Chew it up and become mature). * What does it mean to leave the elementary doctrine of Christ? (not laying again the foundation - but building on it). What does the author consider the elementary doctrine? (repentance from dead works and faith toward God, instructions about washings, instructions about laying on hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment) How many things are described here? (5 or 6 - come up later) * So how should we respond when we hear something basic - foundational? (Many young people complain that they already know the basics but then also complain that things beyond it are too hard…the basics need revisiting over and over - the author even does it in this section! - If you can’t recite it/put into practice you still need to hear it) * What will they/us do if God permits? (Not just leave elementary teaching, but go on to maturity - This is at the mercy of God) [PSALLOS 5:11–6:3] 3 :4–8 * What sticks out from this section? * How is the one who has fallen away described? (enlightened, tasted the heavenly gift, shared in the Holy Spirit, tasted the goodness of the word of God, tasted the goodness of the age to come, fallen away) How many things are described here? (5 or 6) How do these 5 relate to previous 5? (Elementary Doctrines and Elementary Experiences) * What is impossible to do for those who have fallen away? (restore them to repentance) Who is impossible for? (God. Not because God lacks power (6:18) but because God won’t do it - “I swore in my wrath”) * How does that idea make you feel? (Terrifying…) * Why is it impossible to restore them? (Can’t re-crucify Christ - NLT - “by rejecting the Son of God, they themselves are nailing him to the cross once again and holding him up to public shame.” - Joined the mockers - They’ve made the cross something to be scorned by others) * Now the million dollar question - who is this passage referring to? 1. True Believer - Who Can Fall Away 2. False Believer - Who Falls Away (True Believers Can’t) • Hypothetical • Test of Genuineness • Means of Salvation

* If #2 is true what does it mean about eternal security? (Not someone who has true faith but yes false faith can be lost - think of seed falling on rocky ground/thorns - hears, grows up fast, but doesn’t persevere/ doesn’t produce fruit) * What does this tell us about faith? (saving faith continues on and saving faith leads to real changes in your life) 4 3. True Believer - Who Loses Blessings/Rewards This argument hinges on the meaning of “fallen away” and “repentance”. “Fallen away” usually taken to mean apostasy (inal falling away) but this is the only usage in NT - all other uses don’t refer to apostasy but rather just sin. So this isn’t a inal rejection of Christ. “Repentance" not in the technical sense but more akin to the story of …Can’t get back what was lost.

Context - Wilderness Generation not entering the Promise Land. Enlightened - Pillar of Fire by night Tasted Heavenly Gift - Manna Shared in Holy Spirit - God’s presence in Temple Tasted Goodness of the Word - Preaching of Moses Tasted Goodness of Age to Come - Signs/Wonders

* Who didn’t enter the promise land? (The Israelites, including Moses!) We typically assume the promise land motif is used of salvation. But God did not reject the people of God who were refused entrance. Read Numbers 14:20–23 They were forgiven of their sin but they didn’t receive the blessing associated with salvation. However, they weren’t sent back to Egypt…God kept providing for them (and their children). But they did suffer incredible loss for their disobedience.

This to me seems to be what the author of Hebrews is warning his audience about. Elsewhere he warns about apostasy (3:12 - also uses the English word - “fall away” but uses completely different Greek word “aphistemi” - which is where we get the word apostasy). 5 So this is a warning that if you persist in rebellion - there may come a time where God no longer allows you move forward in maturity. God may say, “I forgive you, but you will not experience this or that blessing that should accompany your salvation” - in this life and the next. This is what it means that it is impossible to restore to repentance - Can’t get back what was lost. We see this idea in vv.7–8… * How does this make you feel? (much more frightened to me…)

[PSALLOS 6:4–8]

Hebrews 6:9–12 * What sticks out from this section? * Does the author believe that some of his audience has fallen away? (Not yet, b/c then the warning would be pointless - but in danger of it) * Why does he feel sure that they haven’t fallen away? (works of love) * And what does he desire for them now? (That they would show same earnestness, have full assurance, not be sluggish, imitate the faith/ patience of those who inherit promises (Caleb/). * How did Caleb/Joshua have faith? patience? (Trusted God’s Word and then waited 40 years for it to come true!) • Rebuke - (you’re babies) • Warning - (don’t move on you might get stuck) • Encouragement - (Not you though - we think you inherit the promises)

Hebrews 6:13–20 * What sticks out from this section? 6 * When was required to patiently wait for God’s promises to come true? (Birth of . Context here is about the Sacriice of Isaac - Genesis 22:16–17 - Trust God’s promise in the face of overwhelming evidence to the contrary - “through Isaac shall your offspring be named”) * Why could Abraham trust God’s promises? (Double Truth) * How do we have a similar double truth/promise? (God’s Word/Jesus)

[PSALLOS 6:9–20]