HF186 - Hebrews 6:1-8 (#12 Thorns and Thistles)
To: Hebraic-Foundations@YahooGroups.com
From: "Pastor Buddy Martin" <Bro.Buddy@ChristianChallenge.org>
Date: Thursday, May 8, 2008
Subject: Bible Study HF186 - Hebrews 6:1-8 (#12 Thorns and Thistles)
Hebraics,
Again I need to emphasis that what makes the book of Hebrews unique is its main focus. Hebrews concerns itself with a forty years transitional period where the gospel has gone to the Jews first and then to the Gentiles. Because the temple is still standing and sacrifices and still being made, the Jewish converts are facing temptations that will not effect the Jewish Christians after 70 a.d.
But in all this we have to consider what Jesus had to say about Jerusalem. He said that her doom was soon to come. I'll share a bit on this at the end of this study.
Lets continue with our studies.
This is Bible Study HF186 - Hebrews 6:1-8 (#12 Thorns and Thistles)
Heb 6:1,2 - "Therefore leaving the elementary teaching about the Christ, let us press on to maturity, not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God, of instruction about washings and laying on of hands, and the resurrection of the dead and eternal judgment."
The elementary teachings about Christ reflects back on the very basics of the Christian faith, and on certain Jewish teachings about the Christ. These Jewish readers needed to get past the state of being babes. They were continually working with the foundation of the new covenant but without building their lives up into the maturity of Christ. They were remaining in a fleshly state.
Part of their problem was their constant struggle over 'dead works.' It appears that they were reverting back to doing things as under the Mosaic code, then they would repent, then they would fall back again. It was a cycle that needed to be ended.
The apostle Paul had to deal with a similar matter with the Corinthian believers. In writing them, he said, "And I, brethren, could not speak to you as to spiritual men, but as to men of flesh, as to infants in Christ. I gave you milk to drink, not solid food; for you were not yet able to receive it, .... ...for you are still fleshly..." (1Co3:1-3)
v3 - "And this we will do, if God permits."
The apostolic writer is saying that he will continue his message concerning Christ to the extent that the Lord permits him. But because of the dullness of these believers, he would have to share what the Holy Spirit gives him to share. In other words, the letter of Hebrews had to be adapted to where they were at the time.
vv4-6 - "For in the case of those who have once been enlightened and have tasted of the heavenly gift and have been made partakers of the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come, and then have fallen away, it is impossible to renew them again to repentance, since they again crucify to themselves the Son of God and put Him to open shame."
This is often the portion that people struggle over. Again it needs to be put into its proper setting. The statements here are far reaching. On the long range they include Israel's historical relationship to the Lord God; how that He moved in their midst, how that they had visitations from Him, including miracles and wonders, and how that they had been given the living oracles of God.
And all this background reaches its conclusion when God's Messiah took His place among the people and through the work of the cross, a new covenant had come into place. Now if these people actually renounced Jesus, then it would be as thought they themselves had put Him back on the cross, and became part with those who actually crucified Him.
It is not that these warnings should be ignored. Again we have to read them in their broader context. After a bit we hear the apostolic writer say, "But, beloved, we are convinced of better things concerning you, and things which accompany salvation, though we are speaking this way." (v9)
The point at hand is that the Jewish believers are being prepared for a judgment that is about to take place. They are going to see unbelieving Jerusalem go up in in the flames of destruction. Perhaps I should add that later history records that the Jewish Christians did escape the destruction of Jerusalem during a period of lull, when General Titus pulled his army back. The lull was God allowing His people a way of escape. (More on this later.)
vv6,7 - "For ground that drinks the rain which often falls on it and brings forth vegetation useful to those for whose sake it is also tilled, receives a blessing from God; but if it yields thorns and thistles, it is worthless and close to being cursed, and it ends up being burned."
The case is building. Once again we see Jerusalem in the forefront. Where the blessings of God had rested upon Jerusalem over the centuries, it was now time for the burning to begin.
Perhaps Jeremiah said it best of all; "Harvest is past, summer is ended, and we are not saved." (Jer 8:20)
Then we have this from Jesus,
"Therefore, behold, I am sending you prophets and wise men and scribes; some of them you will kill and crucify, and some of them you will scourge in your synagogues, and persecute from city to city, so that upon you may fall the guilt of all the righteous blood shed on earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah, the son of Berechiah, whom you murdered between the temple and the altar.
"Truly I say to you, all these things will come upon this generation.
"Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, the way a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were unwilling. Behold, your house is being left to you desolate! For I say to you, from now on you will not see Me until you say, 'Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord.'" (Matthew 23:34-39)
The study is open.
Blessings,
Buddy
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Lawrence "Buddy" Martin
email: Bro.Buddy <at> ChristianChallenge.Org
Web: http://www.ChristianChallenge.org
Forum: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Hebraic-Foundations/
Forum: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/DepartingUPC/
"See to it that no one comes short of the grace of God; that no root of bitterness springing up causes trouble, and by it many be defiled." (Heb12:15)