Warning Against Apostasy

Hebrews 5:11-6:12

Find a quiet place, alone and apart from distractions. Be comfortably alert, still, and at peace. Say the Lord’s Prayer. Sing or cant the Jesus Prayer. Pray for family, friends, neighbors, and yourself. Slowly and carefully read the passage of Scripture.

1.         The focus of the writer of Hebrews is, “Do not fall away!” Some suppose it means a born-again Christian could lose their salvation, but the best analysis is that all believers in Jesus can, at some point, lose their zeal and commitment. And this second-generation Jewish believers in Jesus were not living in the awakening days of the apostles; no, this is a “normal” time.

2.         The author encourages believers to move past the basics, as they are already turned from disbelieve to belief doing good works. No need for concerns about “washings” or baptisms, which many continued to do, and which was customary in the Qumran Community. Also “laying on of hands,” for all sorts of reasons like healings, commissioning, symbolic of ordinations, and the presence of the Holy Spirit.

3.         However, if one fell away, if it was possible to lose one’s salvation, there would be no hope of regaining this. But, the author goes on, “yet in your case, beloved, we feel sure of better things—things that belong to salvation. And actually, they had demonstrated their work and love by their “serving the saints.” Indeed, this is written by someone who has a deep pastoral love to those he or she is writing to.

4.         In conclusion, the author or authors (notice the “we” in verse eleven) desires the readers to show continued zeal,  devotion, and hope until the very end of all things.

5.         Though the author of “Hebrews” openly mentions the “back slidden” condition of the readers, this is done for the best of reasons.

6.         The message of Hebrews rings down through the centuries. Yes, there are times of awakening and revival, but also there are the regular times, times like we are experiencing now. Thus, even more so, we must be diligent, learning, studying, working, and obeying the laws of love and devotion.

7.         That this book is in our Scripture is so very important since all Christians experience times of difficulty, times when we lose our closeness and fellowship with Jesus and His Church.

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