Making Our Calling and Election Sure

Pastor Martin continues through Hebrews 6 – Part 2

From last week:

Heb 6:1  Therefore, leaving (not leaving behind, going forward FROM) the discussion of the elementary (arche- commencement, i/e., OT) principles of Christ, let us go on to perfection (completeness- see Acts 18:24-28), not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works (see Psalms 40:1-10,  Psalms 51:14-17,  Isaiah 66:1-9) and of faith toward God

Heb 6:2  of the doctrine of baptisms, of laying on of hands, of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment. 

Heb 6:3  And this we will do if God permits.

All of these doctrines in vss 1 & 2 were firmly established in OT Scripture.

As we mentioned last week, this epistle is written to Hebrews; Jews who would have been very familiar with OT writings.

Also, remember at the time of the writing of Hebrews (let’s just say 68AD), the sacrificial system was still in operation in the Temple, which had not been destroyed yet.

There were literally two competing Salvation ideologies operating in Jerusalem!

1 The Sacrificial System,

2 Salvation through faith in Jesus Christ- THE LAMB OF GOD WHO TAKES AWAY THE SINS OF THE WORLD.

Were the Temple sacrifices and adherance to the Old Covenant being conducted in the dark?

Did they know, or were they ignorant?

As of the writing of Hebrews, the following NT Books were in circulation:

NT Book	Date Authored	Author
James	Mid-40s	James, Jesus’ half-brother
1 Thessalonians	50-51	Paul
2 Thessalonians	50-51	Paul
Galatians	55	Paul
1 Corinthians	55	Paul
2 Corinthians	56	Paul
Romans	57	Paul
Mark	Late 50s-early 60s	John Mark
Matthew	Late 50s-early 60s	Matthew
Philemon	61-62	Paul
Colossians	61-62	Paul
Ephesians	61-62	Paul
Luke	62	Luke
Acts	62	Luke
Philippians	62	Paul
1 Timothy	63-64	Paul
Titus	63-64	Paul
1 Peter	63-64	Peter
2 Peter	65	Peter
2 Timothy	65	Paul
Hebrews	68	Unknown
Jude	Late 60s-early 70s	Jude, Jesus’ half-brother
John	Late 80s-early 90s	John
1 John	Late 80s-early 90s	John
2 John	Late 80s-early 90s	John
3 John	Late 80s-early 90s	John
Revelation	Late 80s-early 90s	John

The Sacrificial System in operation between 32AD and 70AD wasn’t being carried out in darkness or ignorance, it was being carried out in rebellion!

AND IT WON’T BE THE LAST TIME THIS HAPPENS!!!

SEE Revelation 11:1-7…

Heb 6:4  For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened (photidzo- to shed rays upon, illuminate), and have tasted (experienced) the heavenly gift, and have become partakers (participant) of the Holy Spirit, 

Heb 6:5  and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come, 

Heb 6:6  if they fall away, to renew them again to repentance, since they crucify again for themselves the Son of God, and put Him to an open shame.

Hebrews 4 says in reference to those who would not enter the Promised Land: 

Heb 4:1  Therefore, since a promise remains of entering His rest, let us fear lest any of you seem to have come short of it. 

Heb 4:2  For indeed the gospel was preached to us as well as to them; but the word which they heard did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in those who heard it. 

So I would ask:

Did the traveling Israelites fit the bill of Hebrews 6:4-5?

Heb 6:4  For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened (photidzo- to shed rays upon, illuminate) Had they been illuminated?  Yes! Literally!!!, and have tasted (experienced) the heavenly gift, and have become partakers (participant) of the Holy Spirit, (Passover, deliverance, freedom, calling, riches, LOVE!)

Heb 6:5  and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come, 

Did they tast the Word of God and the powers of the age to come?

Salvation is:

Freedom from the penalty of Sin

Freedom from the power of Sin

Freedom from the presence of Sin

And yet,

Heb 4:2  For indeed the gospel was preached to us as well as to them; but the word which they heard did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in those who heard it. 

Another NT example is Judas.

Did he fit the bill for Hebrews 6:4-5?

Heb 6:4  For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted the heavenly gift, and have become partakers of the Holy Spirit, 

Heb 6:5  and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come, 

Not only does Judas qualify, He’s the ultimate example!  He was with Jesus throughout Christ’s ministry, he saw firsthand the works of God in Jesus, he was commissioned and sent by the Lord!

See Luke 10:

Jesus also gave examples in Matthew 25:1-30

SEE Matthew 25:1-30..

And John tells us in 1John 2:15

1 John 2:19  They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us; but they went out that they might be made manifest, that none of them were of us. 

Heb 6:7  For the earth which drinks in the rain that often comes upon it, and bears herbs useful for those by whom it is cultivated, receives blessing from God; 

Heb 6:8  but if it bears thorns and briers, it is rejected and near to being cursed, whose end is to be burned.

Even the earth is an example.  The rain falls upon the whole earth, producing all manner of useful things.

However, thorns and briers receive the SAME RAIN but produce cursed things.

The Gospel has been preached to the world, 

Heb 1:1  God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, 

Heb 1:2  has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds; 

Heb 1:3  who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, 

And just like rain, the Gospel falls on those who produce fruit, AND those who produce thorns and briars.

Only those who abide in Christ will produce fruit 

Joh 15:1  “I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. 

Joh 15:2  Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit. 

Joh 15:3  You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. 

Joh 15:4  Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. 

Joh 15:5  “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. 

Joh 15:6  If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned. 

Joh 15:7  If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. 

Joh 15:8  By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples. 

The same Gospel falls on those who produce thorns and briars, making them like those in Hebrews 4:2

Heb 4:2  For indeed the gospel was preached to us as well as to them; but the word which they heard did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in those who heard it. 

The discussion here in Hebrews 6 is not about losing our salvation, it’s about making our calling and election sure!

Rom 8:12  Therefore, brethren, we are debtors—not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. 

Rom 8:13  For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. 

Rom 8:14  For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. 

Rom 8:15  For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father.” 

Rom 8:16  The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, 

Rom 8:17  and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together. 

Heb 6:9  But, beloved, we are confident of better things concerning you, yes, things that accompany salvation, though we speak in this manner. 

Heb 6:10  For God is not unjust to forget your work and labor of love which you have shown toward His name, in that you have ministered to the saints, and do minister.