Hebrews
6
English
Standard Version Anglicised (ESVUK)
6
Therefore let us leave the elementary
doctrine of Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again a foundation of
repentance from dead works and of faith towards God, 2 and of instruction about
washings, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal
judgement. 3 And this we will do if God permits. 4 For it is impossible, in the
case of those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly
gift, and have shared in the Holy Spirit, 5 and have tasted the goodness of the
word of God and the powers of the age to come, 6 and then have fallen away, to
restore them again to repentance, since they are crucifying once again the Son
of God to their own harm and holding him up to contempt. 7 For land that has
drunk the rain that often falls on it, and produces a crop useful to those for
whose sake it is cultivated, receives a blessing from God. 8 But if it bears
thorns and thistles, it is worthless and near to being cursed, and its end is
to be burned.
9
Though we speak in this way, yet in your case, beloved, we feel sure of better
things—things that belong to salvation. 10 For God is not unjust so as to
overlook your work and the love that you have shown for his name in serving the
saints, as you still do. 11 And we desire each one of you to show the same
earnestness to have the full assurance of hope until the end, 12 so that you
may not be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and patience
inherit the promises.
The
Certainty of God's Promise
13
For when God made a promise to Abraham, since he had no one greater by whom to
swear, he swore by himself, 14 saying, “Surely I will bless you and multiply
you.” 15 And thus Abraham, having patiently waited, obtained the promise. 16
For people swear by something greater than themselves, and in all their
disputes an oath is final for confirmation. 17 So when God desired to show more
convincingly to the heirs of the promise the unchangeable character of his
purpose, he guaranteed it with an oath, 18 so that by two unchangeable things,
in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled for refuge might
have strong encouragement to hold fast to the hope set before us. 19 We have
this as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters into the
inner place behind the curtain, 20 where Jesus has gone as a forerunner on our
behalf, having become a high priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek.
The
Bible Panorama
Hebrews
6
V
1–3: PROGRESS The readers are urged to progress from the foundational truths of
the gospel in order to get to know God better. They are not told to abandon
those truths, but to go on from them, as a boat would leave the harbour. It
still needs that harbour!
V 4–6: PARTAKERS There are those who come to
the very edge of faith in Christ and even partake of some of the Holy Spirit’s
blessings (partake literally means ‘to go along with’) without ever having
turned to Christ. Their hearts have become hardened by tasting God’s Word
without taking it in, and by skirmishing around the border instead of entering
into the blessing.
V 7–8: PARABLE The parable used here, of
thorns and brambles coming up from the ground, reminds us that our fruit will
show whether we are truly saved or not.
V 9–12: PERSUADED The writer, however, tells
his readers that he is confident that they are saved and that there are things
that accompany their salvation that he has noticed. This includes labouring in
love for other Christians. He urges them to be diligent to walk with God day by
day, through faith and patience, inheriting God’s promises
.
V 13–18: PURPOSE Just as God confirmed His word and intentions through Abraham,
He has confirmed it through His promise and His oath, fulfilled in Jesus
Christ.
V
19–20: PRESENCE The Christian’s sure hope is anchored, as is his soul, in the
presence of Jesus Christ in heaven. Like an anchor securing a boat, Jesus is
there to ensure that those who trust in Him will be there with Him.
The
Bible Panorama. Copyright © 2005 Day One Publications.
