Hebrews 6 1-3 In order to not remain spiritual babies and to go deeper into the things of God, we are to grow towards perfection, leaving the elementary principles behind. This doesn’t mean forgetting the foundational principles, but not staying there and continually learning only those things "like Christ died for us". We’ve got to get to the stage of learning deeper things like prophecy or the 3rd angel’s message etc. Examples of elementary principles are the doctrine of baptisms, laying on of hands, resurrection of the dead, and eternal life. These are the things you first learn, but you aren’t to remain there. You are to grow. And this we will do if God permits. God brings the growth (1 Cor. 3:7), but we must seek it (seek ye first). 4-6 It’s impossible for those who have been enlightened, having fully understood and embraced truth and fully experienced the deep things of God, to be renewed to repentance after falling away because they’ve understood all that’s offered and have rejected it anyway. There’s nothing left to convince them because they’ve experienced it all and still rejected it. Since they crucify again for themselves Jesus, by knowing that He died because of our sins and still choosing to sin, and putting Him to open shame. How? Because they once stood for Him, and now their lives show they’re against Him, causing others to blaspheme the name of God (Hebrews 10:26). Hebrews 6:4–6 is not describing someone who simply falls into sin, but someone who fully experiences the truth and the Holy Spirit, then finally rejects them to the point where they cannot be renewed to repentance. This is the same final condition as the unpardonable sin because there is no repentance and therefore no return (Heb. 6:4–6; Heb. 10:26–29). 7-8 As with plants, if they are receiving what they need to grow and aren’t growing what they’re supposed to, they become useless and will be thrown away. Same thing with us. We’re getting the knowledge and whatever we need to grow spiritually, but still remaining spiritual babies. We’re near to being cursed, like Jesus cursed the unbearing fig tree, which appeared as though it had fruit, but when Jesus looked, it hadn’t borne any fruit. Someone can be in church for a long time, and looking at them, you would expect them to have borne fruit. But looking closer and seeing there’s no fruit, their end is to be burned. If they stay in this condition, their end will be destruction. 9-10 They weren’t being accused, but a concern was being raised to them, a caution and a warning. Their spiritual growth was evident because of their work and labour of love toward the brethren. So the previous verses were not condemning them but giving them caution. 11-12 They wanted them to grow spiritually, staying diligent in the hope till the end, and to not become lazy by staying at the same stage for a long period of time. Go from being a baby and grow. Don’t be sluggish. But copy those whose lives reflect Christ (1 Cor. 11:1). 13-15 We too have a promise given to us as Abraham had, but we need to patiently endure, as He did, before obtaining the promise. 16-18 God doesn’t lie, but determining to show us how set in stone His promise is, He made an oath (examples: Psalms 89:3-4, Gen. 22:16-18 and Isaiah 45:22-23. These oaths’ ultimate purpose is to assure us of our salvation) that we might have strong consolation and lay hold of the hope set before us. 19-20 This hope we have as an anchor of the soul. It’s sure, and it allows us to enter God’s holy presence, looking forward to entering where our forerunner Jesus entered. Application: - Don’t stay spiritually immature, always aim higher - Don’t harden our hearts or fall away after being enlightened - Examine the fruits of our lives, whether they are good fruit or thorns and briers - Don’t become spiritually sluggish - Wait on God like Abraham did - Base our confidence not on our feelings, which change, but on God’s Word, which does not change - Flee to God as our refuge when we struggle - Have Christ as our anchor Question: Does the Bible permit or prohibit the making of oaths? Answer: The Bible prohibits careless or dishonest swearing (Matthew 5:33-37; James 5:12) but permits solemn, truthful oaths, as seen in God’s oath to Abraham (Genesis 22:16-18; Hebrews 6:13-18)