Sermon Notes of Guest Speaker Jeff McSwain's Sermon on October 18, 2015 "Hebrews Initiative #6: Behind the Veil: Humanity Anchored in Belovedness" [In today s sermon, part 6 of a 12 part series on the book of Hebrews, Guest Speaker Jeff McSwain shows that chapter 6 focuses on the exhaustive and once for all accomplishments of Jesus for humanity s redemption.] Notes: Introduction: There are some difficult verses to completely understand in chapter 6. Jeff doesn t pretend to know all the answers, but he does know the ANSWER, who is Jesus Christ. Let s read chapter 6. Hebrews 6: 1, Therefore let us move beyond the elementary teachings about Christ and be taken forward to maturity, not laying again the foundation of repentance from acts that lead to death, and of faith in God, 2) instruction about cleansing rites, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment. 3) And God permitting, we will do so. 4) It is impossible for those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, who have shared in the Holy Spirit, 5) who have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the coming age 6) and who have fallen away, to be brought back to repentance. To their loss they are crucifying the Son of God all over again and subjecting him to public disgrace. 7) Land that drinks in the rain often falling on it and that produces a crop useful to those for whom it is farmed receives the blessing of God. 8) But land that produces thorns and thistles is worthless and is in danger of being cursed. In the end it will be burned. 9) Even though we speak like this, dear friends (beloved), we are convinced of better things in your case the things that have to do with salvation. 10) God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people and continue to help them. 11) We want each of you to show this same diligence to the very end, so that what you hope for may be fully realized. 12) We do not want you to become lazy, but to imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised. 13) When God made his promise to Abraham, since there was no one greater for him to swear by, he swore by himself, 14) saying, I will surely bless you and give you many descendants. 15) And so after waiting patiently, Abraham received what was promised. 16) People swear by someone greater than themselves, and the oath confirms what is said and puts an end to all argument. 17) Because God wanted to make the unchanging nature of his purpose very clear to the heirs of what was promised, he confirmed it with
an oath. 18) God did this so that, by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled to take hold of the hope set before us may be greatly encouraged. 19) We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain, 20) where our forerunner, Jesus, has entered on our behalf. He has become a high priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek. How secure do we feel after reading about falling away in verses 4-6? But we do know there is forgiveness for sinning after one accepts Jesus as his/her Savior. So, these verses show the terrible seriousness of choosing to forsake Jesus, once we have accepted Him. Beloved: Heb. 6:9, Even though we speak like this, beloved [dear friends], we are convinced of better things in your case the things that have to do with salvation. This is the only passage in the whole letter where the writer addresses his people as beloved, which is the Greek word here. The NIV translated this Greek word as dear friends. We know that all humanity is beloved by God, not just those who accept Christ. The anchor the symbol of hope set before us: 18) God did this so that, by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled to take hold of the hope set before us may be greatly encouraged. 19) We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain, 20) where our forerunner, Jesus, has entered on our behalf. He has become a high priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek. It is Jesus who ushers us into the throne room of God. Jesus has established a relationship between humanity and God the Father. All people, not just Christians, have a relationship with God, whether they know it or not. Sometimes we have words that get in the way like appropriation. If we think about this word in the wrong way, we think it s still up to us to clinch the deal with God. We need to understand that our appropriation is done for us by Jesus Christ. 2 Karl Barth, 20 th century Christian theologian s comments: Appropriation by Our High Priest: Thus our appropriation of what He (Jesus) has won for us has not first to be executed by us. By the fact that He is for us in eternity in God Himself that man who is ready for God, it is executed in eternity, in God Himself, by Him, in the eternal continuation of His high-priestly office.
When we say, God is for us, that doesn t mean He is cheering on the sidelines telling us to try a little harder because we can do it. God is for us because He has already done it for us. God is for us because He is doing it for us as our substitute and representative. Jesus appropriates the Gospel for us to God grace doesn t leave any little bit up to us at all. Genuinely Participating: If He is for us, this means and in the last resort this alone means that with the eternal certainty proper to the Son of God, we too are present, genuinely participating in what He is and done.this participation of ours in the person and work of Jesus Christ does not have to be added as a second thing. As the one thing which has to be done it is already wholly and utterly accomplished in Him. Even our participation is done for us by Christ. That means we are doing it through Him. Hearers and Doers: In Christ means that in Him we are reconciled to God, in Him we are elect from eternity, in Him we are called, in Him we are justified and sanctified, in Him our sin is carried to the grave, in His resurrection our death is overcome, with Him our life is hid in God, in Him everything that has to be done for us, to us, and by us, has already been done. The last comment by Karl Barth is so powerful because it is so true: in Him everything that has to be done for us, to us, and by us, has already been done. That s the difference between having an anchor and being anchored. Being anchored means we are united with Christ as Paul tells us in Colossians. Colossians 3 Christ is your life: Col. 3:1, Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2) Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. 3) For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. 4) When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. The exhaustive nature of Christ s mediation is so important to understand. Now let s go back to the beginning of Hebrews 6. Hebrews 6:1, Therefore let us move beyond the elementary teachings about Christ and be taken forward to maturity, not laying again the foundation of repentance from acts that lead to death, and of faith in God, 2) instruction about cleansing rites, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment. 3) And God permitting, we will do so. 4) It is impossible for those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, who have shared in the Holy Spirit, 5) who have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the coming age 6) and who have fallen away, to be 3
brought back to repentance. To their loss they are crucifying the Son of God all over again and subjecting him to public disgrace. 7) Land that drinks in the rain often falling on it and that produces a crop useful to those for whom it is farmed receives the blessing of God. 8) But land that produces thorns and thistles is worthless and is in danger of being cursed. In the end it will be burned. Once for all: Now one of the best words in the book of Hebrews is the word once and once for all. Hebrews 7:27, Unlike the other high priests, he (Jesus our high priest) does not need to offer sacrifices day after day, first for his own sins, and then for the sins of the people. He sacrificed for their sins once for all when he offered himself. Hebrews 9:12, He did not enter by means of the blood of goats and calves; but he entered the Most Holy Place once for all by his own blood, thus obtaining eternal redemption. Hebrews 10:10, And by that will, we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. The Greek word here in these verses is ephapax, which means once for all. It emphasizes the singularity and uniqueness of Christ s sacrifice by which believers have been permanently sanctified. Tasted: Let s look at this word tasted because it is significant to our understanding. Hebrews 6:4) It is impossible for those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift 5) have tasted the goodness of the word of God Hebrews 2: 9, he (Jesus) might taste death for everyone. Tasted in Hebrews 6 is about an emersion in Christ. The once for all signifies the finished work of Jesus Christ for all humanity. So Hebrews 6:4-7 isn t about someone who had salvation and then lost it. You can t lose what you, yourself, can t gain. Hyperbole: Hebrews 6:6, and who have fallen away, (it is impossible) to be brought back to repentance. To their loss they are crucifying the Son of God all over again and subjecting him to public disgrace. The idea of crucifying the Son of God all over again goes against the internal evidence of Hebrews. His sacrifice was once for all you can t crucify Jesus over again. It s hyperbole. 4
5 The word repentance : The word repentance is used twice in these passages. It s mentioned in verse 6, (it is impossible) to be brought back to repentance. But it s also mentioned in verse 1, Therefore let us move beyond the elementary teachings about Christ and be taken forward to maturity, not laying again the foundation of repentance from acts that lead to death, and of faith in God. That means repentance along with appropriation and along with participation is in the hands of Jesus not us. Christ repents for us that s why He submitted Himself to a baptism of repentance in John the Baptist s ministry. Repentance is also included in the finished work of Jesus. Good tree versus bad tree: Jesus tells us that a good tree produces nothing but good fruit and a bad tree produces nothing but bad fruit, which is cut down and burned. What the Gospel tells us is that Jesus is both trees one by nature and one by His assumption of our sinfulness. The Gospel also tells us that we are both trees, as well. And when we die in Christ, that bad tree in us is cut down and burned. We, our bad deeds, have been crucified with Christ. What we need is a separation between our old corrupt self and our new pure, righteous self in Christ. That s the separation that s called for in this difficult passage. The author of Hebrews is drawing a heavy line between reality and unreality in verses 7 and 8. It reflects Genesis. Genesis 1:12, The land produced vegetation: plants bearing seed according to their kinds and trees bearing fruit with seed in it according to their kinds. And God saw that it was good. Genesis 3:17, Cursed is the ground because of you; through painful toil you will eat food from it all the days of your life. We live under a blessing and a curse in this world. But God s blessings are deeper, stronger, and truer. Thank God the Gospel of the anchor of blessedness is superior. Concluding comments: No one is going to be judged by our Savior without seeing the big picture of salvation. Hebrews 9:27, Just as people are destined to die once, and after that to face judgment,
On that day we will see the implications of our lives in Jesus Christ crucified and in the Lamb who was slain. We will see ourselves in full view of our good deeds and bad deeds as Hebrews tells us about that sword that cuts between righteousness and wickedness. How could we choose the false way and deny the Lord who saved us in that moment? Jesus, the Lion of Righteousness, is fierce and helps us understand, that no matter how hard this world is, we are seated with Him in those heavenly realms. And Jesus, as a fierce lion of faithfulness, represents us to the Father, as our High Priest, now and forever. 6 Closing Prayer: