GOING ON TO PERFECTION
HEBREWS 5:12–6:1-6
Introduction:
Paul is talking about maturity in the things of God to these Hebrew Christians. His evaluation of their spiritual condition is that they are still babes in Christ. They are still taking milk when they should be on strong meat. They were not ignorant, but inexperienced. They didn’t lack information, but had not learned to put “the teaching about righteousness” to effective use.
Paul refuses to go back over the elemental doctrines of the Word of God, rather, he encourages them to go on to maturity. In this passage Paul states a hypothetical case in verses 4-6 involving the impossibility of losing ones salvation. This involves going back to Judaism, which some professed believers were teaching.
I. SALVATION INVOLVES THE WILL
A. The will of man, 1 John 5:1, “Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him.”
B. The will of God.
1. It is not God’s will that any should perish, 2 Peter 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.”
a. God has no pleasure in man’s death, Ezekiel 33:11, “Say unto them, As I live, saith the Lord GOD, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die, O house of Israel?”
b. God wants man saved, 1 Timothy 2:4, “Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.”
2. God goodness leads us to repentance, Romans 2:4, “Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?”
II. IT IS THE WORK OF GOD THAT TRANSFORMS MAN
A. From Darkness to Light.
1. Satan has blinded men to keep the light out, 2 Corinthians 4:4, “In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.”
2. In Christ God is revealed to man, Luke 10:22, “All things are delivered to me of my Father: and no man knoweth who the Son is, but the Father; and who the Father is, but the Son, and he to whom the Son will reveal him.”
B. From Death to Life, John 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.”
1. To trust His message and that of His Father, is to have in this present time eternal life, John 3:36, “He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.”
2. No judgment will come in the future that is, he will not be condemned, John 3:18, “He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.”
3. The believer has already passed from one realm—DEATH—into another—LIFE, Ephesians 2:1, 5, “And you hath he quickened , who were dead in trespasses and sins; 5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, ( by grace ye are saved;)”
C. From a Child of the Devil to a SON of God, Romans 8:14, “For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.”
1. Believers have received the Spirit of sonship, Romans 8:15-16, “For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. 16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:”
2. Believers become heirs with Christ, Romans 8:17, “And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him , that we may be also glorified together.”
III. IT IS A COMPLETED REGENERATING WORK
A. He has made PERFECT FOREVER those who are sanctified, Hebrews 10:19-22, “Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, 20- By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh; 21- And having an high priest over the house of God; 22- Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.”
B. He has been made PERFECT BY THE GRACE of God, Ephesians 2:8, “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:”
CONCLUSION
It is impossible to fall away from Christ after having trusted Him as Savior. If that were possible, which it is not, there would be no other offering for sin. The believer is to continue on trusting, Hebrews 10:23-25,“Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; ( for he is faithful that promised;) 24 And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: 25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is ; but exhorting one another : and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.”