TOO LATE TO TURN BACK!
Hebrews 6:1-8
INTERPRETIVE PROBLEM—One of most problematic passages in Scripture
Chuck Swindoll: the “Rubik’s Cube“ of the Bible.
Understanding how to fit each piece is hard work.
Not everyone agrees about how the pieces fit together. But there is a solution!
Faithful study requires that we work with the pieces until we fit them together.
The author means something by what he says, and it’s our job to try to understand it.
[ 3 Perspectives: 1) Author’s 2) Doctrinal 3) Ours ]
AUTHOR’S PERSPECTIVE
We’ll never understand unless we see what motivates him and the situation listeners face.
What’s going on here? What’s he trying to tell THEM–about what THEY face?
Living through revolution in Guatemala, convinced me that when the church endures affliction, our traditional theological understanding of many passages changes radically.
James 2—people use it to prove we must have works, and faith, to be saved.
Our theological debate misses James’ practical point—about living in hard times.
Do we really trust God? We demonstrate our real view by how we live in hard times!
Hebrews 6 is another of these misunderstood passages.
The author interrupts his teaching that Christ is the best High Priest,
to point out the problem of trying to explain it,
because they aren’t able to take it!
THE PROBLEM 5:11-14 “I want to share this truth with you,” but . . .
We are hard of hearing!
We would rather hear the same old truth we love to listen to.
We really don’t want to move on to the hard stuff—the solid food.
We don’t want to listen to the hard stuff!
While we’ve believed long enough to be teachers,
we still haven’t applied some of the things God has been trying to teach us.
We need exercise—practice—to get our spiritual muscles in shape.
Instead of feeding on the solid food of God’s Word, we’re still eating baby food.
We like Gerbers better. It’s so smooth and comfortable.
We like the familiar bland taste–NOT hot spices and tough chewing!
THE EXHORTATION 6:1-3
The exhortation clarifies the issue of immaturity he’s addressing. “Therefore, ... “
Positive perspective 6:1a
He urges us to grow up.
He wants us to move on toward maturity.
Don’t keep re-laying the foundation!
Negative perspective 6:1b-2
Leave the baby food behind!
There’s nothing wrong with milk!
In one sense the old A.D.A. theme is right. At least with reference to spiritual food: “You never outgrow your need for milk!”
But “building strong bodies” requires solid food—not just milk.
What does he consider baby food? Three kinds of “baby food:”
First, fundamental truths about salvation:
Changing your mind about “dead works” (lit.) and faith in God.
This IS the foundation–It IS the starting point!
We can’t go on to maturity until we understand that our works will never be good enough to earn eternal life–they lead to death.
Salvation comes by trusting Him!
But it isn’t healthy to spend all our time focusing on this foundational truth.
We have to build on this foundation with meaty truth from God’s Word,
Teaching concerning rituals. –Baptism and laying on of hands.
–RITUALS which have foundational significance for the church.
By baptism, we identify with Christ.
By laying on of hands, God’s people identify with us.
These teachings are foundational.
We need to know what they’re about,
But then we need to move on to solid food—the meat of Scripture.
Teaching concerning resurrection and eternal judgment.
Paul defends the resurrection in 1 Cor. 15.We must understand that truth.
We also need to know about eternal judgment.
Some teachers question these truths. It’s important, foundational truth.
But God doesn’t intend for us to spend the rest of our life discussing evidence for the resurrection and the certainty of divine judgment.
We must leave the “baby food” behind
and move on to solid food
–hard truth concerning God and His plan for His people.
The church in his day is similar to many churches today:
People have their hobby-horses they want to ride.
They keep re-visiting same issues—comfortable, reassuring issues!
Frequently these are foundational issues of Christian faith.
The writer doesn’t belittle these truths, but they’re baby food.
It’s time to get on to other things—to the meaty issues of God’s Word.
The foundation is important. Don’t try to build without it!
But once it’s in place, it’s time to build walls, roof, and detail work.
God’s involvement 6:3 “We’re going to do this, IF God permits, . . . “
Author assumes it’s true--readers will move on to maturity.
God wants to bring us to maturity.
But facing the hard truth of God’s Word doesn’t always lead to maturity!
The only way it will happen is if God works in us.
But some people won’t go on to maturity!
Who are these people? Why wouldn’t God let us all move on to maturity?
[ God is going to stop some people. Here’s why: ]
THE EXPLANATION 6:4-8
These verses are introduced by the particle “for”
The principle presented 6:4-6
Who’s he talking about?
* He’s speaking to people who are in the family.
Exhortation to grow up doesn’t make sense
for someone who’s never been born, nor to a dead carcass!
* He goes out of his way to convince us he’s dealing with people who have experienced “the real thing.”
—they have been enlightened
—they have tasted the real thing—the heavenly gift
—they have become partakers of the Holy Spirit
—they have tasted how good God’s Word is, and power of the coming age
How much more could you say of someone who has the real thing?
What does he say about them?
They should go on and not turn back to Judaism.
This looks closely at a specific risk this generation of Hebrew believers faces.
If they turn back now, they’ll never be able to reverse that process.
“Fall away” describes followers of Christ, who abandon God’s people.
Once they leave the company, it’s impossible for them to turn back.
Why is this true? 6b [ It’s impossible for them to turn back, because . . . ]
Their departure is a public statement of rejecting Jesus all over again—repeating what Israel did.
If they willfully turn back, they’re identifying with the generation of Israel that condemned Christ.
They are affirming the nation’s decision.
They “crucify Him again for themselves and put Him to an open shame.”
To turn back to Judaism isn’t just changing where you go to church,
It’s a public statement; allying yourself with those who crucified our Savior
It’s joining those who mocked and jeered!
Like a skier pushing off the edge of an extreme slope,
once you’ve pushed off, there’s no turning back!
Once they go back, they can’t just change their mind and come back.
Consequences of a public statement are too great to jump back and forth.
Israel’s example at Kadesh-Barnea (Num. 14:26-45) Num. 14:40-45
After refusing to trust God and enter the land,
they couldn’t change their minds.
That generation of Israel died in the wilderness!
They couldn’t turn back!
Their generation of Israel is also condemned. Luke 11:29-32, 50-51
Acts 2:40 “Save yourselves from this corrupt generation!”
The generation of Israel that rejected Messiah
will die under God’s judgment.
If they identify with that generation, they are publicly voting for Christ’s rejection and subjecting themselves to the coming judgment
The principle illustrated 6:7-8
In a storm, when it rains, all the ground receives the same rain.
Like the song indicates: “April showers bring May flowers.”
Some ground produces a useful crop—that ground is blessed
Some ground produces a worthless crop—that is cursed.
It’s fruit is destroyed—it’s only good for burning.
It’s the same storm—God plans the rain for the ground’s good!
If after receiving all that God has given us, instead of producing a useful crop, we produce the same old worthless fruit, (thorns and thistles!) . . .
If we go back into the crowd and act like everybody else, and produce what they produce, . . . (the rejection of the Savior),
. . . , then, we come back under the same curse they’re under.
The fruit of our lives is same as theirs.
It’s worthless—destined for destruction.
If they throw in the towel and turn back, . . .
They will be identifying with them publicly in turning their backs on Jesus.
=> They will share in the judgment that rejection produces. (Physical destruction)
One more look: what author is saying:
God’s people have been suffering—they’re tempted to throw in the towel.
The writer is trying to give them a reason to hang in there, but they’re having a hard time hearing because they are immature.
They understand the foundational truths of God’s Word—the baby food.
They know we’re not saved by works—they remind each other of that weekly.
They know we’re saved by faith, by trusting God’s provision.
They understand the issues involved in their rituals:
They teach regularly about the significance of baptism
People are making that public statement of identification with Jesus.
They understand the laying on of hands
They are identifying with those God has touched in special ways.
The resurrection is clear. They know that if they die, they will rise again.
They understand about judgment. God will avenge the wicked.
They know we’re secure—they aren’t worried about being judged.
BUT, there’s a storm outside. “It’s raining–hard–and I’m afraid.”
These were horrible days to be part of God’s family.
The storm raging about them, can produce one of two effects:
the storm can bring blessing; the storm can bring destruction.
It depends on the condition of the soil!
Babies don’t like pain. They cry when they hurt!
It takes a mature perspective to understand that pain is good.
God uses pain to bring us to maturity!
Suffering produces godly character.
Affliction makes us into the people God longs for us to become.
That’s heavy truth, folks. That’s hard to take. It’s solid meat.
Feed that concept to a newborn Christian and he’ll choke on it!
We don’t want to suffer. It’s a hard message.
Let’s talk about what a great salvation God has given to us. “I’m saved and glad I am!”
No. Let’s move on to the hard stuff—the solid food.
How does God make His people into what He wants us to become? Affliction.
That’s how Christ fulfilled His part in God’s plan.
That’s how we fulfill our part in God’s plan.
James 1:2-4: That’s heavy stuff! That’s solid food!
Romans 5:3-5 This is hard stuff.
We prefer to go back to the easy stuff—the baby food.
God says let’s move on–to the truth that leads to maturity.
If we turn from the family, take the easy way out and align ourselves with those who rejected Jesus, the judgment about to fall on them will fall on us.
DOCTRINAL PERSPECTIVE What are doctrinal implications of this passage?
Most commentaries focus on whether these are genuine believers who lose their salvation, or unsaved people who make a profession and then turn away.
What makes these risky is its clear affirmation: “It’s impossible . . . to turn back.”
Whatever condition it's describing, it's impossible to turn back!
If these are believers who lose their salvation,
that doctrine runs contrary to Scripture that those who trust Christ are new creatures and belong to Him
forever, it also means that if you’re saved and lose it, there’s no point trying to come back.
“It’s impossible . . . to bring them back to repentance.”
If it’s talking about people who aren’t saved but just professing faith,
and they turn away, it’s no use trying to bring them back
It’s still “impossible . . . to bring them back to repentance.”
I don’t find that idea in Scripture.
I do find that at Kadesh, God’s people come to a point when they fail to trust Him, turn from His instruction, and His judgment comes on them.
They try to go back but it’s too late to turn back. They’ve gone too far.
Or, like Esau who couldn’t repent though he wept bitterly, they come to the point when they can’t turn back. => God’s judgment is going to come.
Both of these cases talk about physical judgment God sent.
This passage isn’t talking about salvation.
It’s an exhortation to trust God and move on.
God’s judgment is about to fall.
If they throw in the towel and realign themselves with those who crucified our Lord, they won’t be able to turn back when the judgment falls.
So hang in there. Move on to maturity!
OUR PERSPECTIVE
So if this has nothing to do with our salvation,
and it was written for that generation in a unique temptation—throwing in the towel and turning back to Judaism where it’s safer and more comfortable, ...
What bearing does this warning have on our life today?
Two clear warnings we should be hearing in this passage:
1. Let’s move on to maturity 6:1-3
Let’s get on to the hard stuff, the solid food. It’s not easy but it’s important!
Application to us: NOT the same!
NOT facing the same circumstances.
NOT likely to go back to Judaism to escape persecution.
NOT likely to re-identify with those who rejected Christ.
But we ARE likely to face hard times and want to discover the easy way out!
–to push the “EASY BUTTON!”
But “pushing the easy button” will NEVER lead to maturity!
The writer urges us to move on to maturity!
2. Don’t be ashamed to take a stand for Jesus.
People may turn on us, just like they turned on Him.
Don’t let the wish for temporary relief pressure us into joining the crowd that put our Savior on the cross.
[ A third application—the essence of what our Lord told this generation.]
There’s a storm raging. It’s a “hurricane!”.
It’s pouring. I don’t like thunder and lightning.
The storm is raging around some of us this morning. We’re hanging on for dear life.
Some days we wonder whether God even knows or cares what’s going on.
We’re sure of the foundational truths of God’s love and our salvation. But I’m hurting.
Then God tries to feed me this solid food about how He produces perfection in my life.
And frankly, I’m ready to gag on it!
Do I really believe that THIS is how God wants to make me the person He wants me to be?
Forget it! Let’s just throw in the towel! Life was easier B.C. (=Before Christ).
“Call them off God! Or I’m walking!”
When the storm rages around us, we can trust God and keep walking!
God says, “Don’t turn back! Don’t throw in the towel!
Trust me! Let’s go on to perfection!”“I will never leave you nor forsake you.”
“My rain brings blessing.” “Let me produce a useful harvest in your life!”