Hold On Hang In
Opportunity Knocks for Awhile
Hebrews 6:1-12
There is a spiritual condition that makes repentance and salvation impossible… and this condition may look in many ways like salvation, but it isn’t.” (Piper, Heb. 6)
You could lose your opportunity for salvation if…
- You remain intentionally immature (5:11-6:3)
- some type of religious reform but not reconciliation through Jesus – incomplete
- “washings” and laying on of hands reliance on ceremonies
- shadows and echoes in the older covenant but not embracing the realties in Christ
- God-fearing isn’t enough
… you can’t even “distinguish good from evil” (5:14)
- You have been able to thoroughly consider, examine, and experience Jesus and walk away and back into the world (6:4-6).
“fall away” (parapipto) – fail to follow through, fall from a lofty place
“enlightened” – intellectually acquainted
“tasted” – sampled the heavenly gift Jesus (2 Cor. 9:15)
-- his word (“rhema” vs logos) “parts of”
-- “break-ins” of the eschaton
“shared” (metochos) – been in the same place; associated vs. indwelt
IMPOSSIBLE (adunatus) – unable, no strength (cf. 6:18; 11:6)
… because by your defection you have publicly shamed the Son of God
- You have been continually rained upon by life-giving truth and produce nothing useful to people or anything that should accompany salvation (6:7-12).
“a crop useful to those for whom it is farmed”
Signs of maturity - acquainted with teachings about righteousness
- distinguish between good and evil
- moved on from old religious quandaries
- don’t fall away; diligent to the very end
- help the people of God; make an eternal difference
… because what you produce is worthless – doesn’t show love for God by helping his people and continuing to help them.
If you are this close to the action, you better act on it – get “all in.” – there is a state of heart where repentance becomes impossible (Heb. 12:16, 17).