Hebrews 6:7-12

  www.generationword.com

POINTS:

  1. Your response to circumstances reflects an underlying condition of your heart.
  2. Your response then generates the appropriate and inevitable retribution.

 

 

6:7

“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.”

 

γη      γαρ       η        πιουσα       τον       επ       αυτης       πολλακις       ερχομενον      υετον

earth for                   drinking      the      upon     it           often                 coming          rain

και           τικτουσα            βοτανην              ευθετον            εκεινοις            δι              ους

and          bearing              fodder               suitable             for those     on accont   whom

και           γεωργειται            μεταλαμβανει             ευλογιας    απο      του         θεου

indeed   it is farmed             receives                      blessing       from                   God

 

Key to understanding this is to know that your response to your circumstances reflects an underlying condition.

 

The rain is not the source of the seeds.  The rain just causes the seeds to spring forth.

The sun can melt wax or harden clay.  If a substances melts or hardens is not determined by the sun but by the material the sun shines on.

So are our hearts.

 

6:8

“But land that produces thorns and thistles is worthless and is in danger of being cursed.  In the end it will be burned.”

 

εκφερουσα       δε           ακανθας             και       τριβολους        αδοκιμος         και

 

 

καταρας            εγγυς           ης            το            τελος      εις         καυσιν

 

Examples of False Believers:

1)     Simon Magus was baptized (Acts 8:13)

2)     Demas was involved in Christian work (2 Tim. 4:9-10)

3)     Judas was involved with healing, casting out demons (Mark 6:12; Matt. 10:5)

 

Isaiah’s example of Israel as a vineyard in Isaiah 5 shows what worthless soil can do even in the hands of a careful gardener.

 

This fire is not a fire of cleansing but of judgment

 

 

6:9

“Even though we speak like this, dear friends, we are confident of better things in you case – things that accompany salvation.”

 

πεπεισμεθα               δε            περι            υμων            αγαπητοι            τα          κρεισσονα

 

 

και         εχομενα             σωτηριας            ει     και       ουτως                 λαλουμεν

 

“Even though we speak like this” indicates that the previous argument was hypothetical in its application to the readers.

 

The author of this book does not think his readers are lost.

In fact, he believes they are saved.  He doesn’t even think they are close.
(Remember: 5:11, 12 “you”; 6:1 is “us”; 6:3 is “we”; 6:4 is “those”)

He also believes they are more like verse 6:7 than 6:8

In verse 6:10 he believes they have done deeds worthy of reward.

He does fear they have backed away due to fear, opposition, etc.

 

“things that accompany salvation” would NOT be getting burned like thorns and thistles.  Instead “things that accompany salvation” would be:

  1. growth
  2. discipline
  3. production
  4. reward

 

These things are all part of the Christian life.  The saved person is not in danger of being burned with fire.

 

6:10

“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.”

 

ου            γαρ               αδικος            ο     θεος       επιλαθεσθαι         του         εργου      υμων

 

 

και         του            κοπου             της               αγαπης            ης                  ενεδειξασθε        

 

 

εις             το           ονομα              αυτου               διακονησαντες              τοις           αγιοις

 

 

και                 διακονουντες

 

“word” did not cause salvation but was a result of salvation.

Notice the Cycle of Christian Life:

  1. Salvation - Saved in verse 6:9
  2. Service - Helped and continue to help his people (6:10)
  3. Changed Life – “Work” indicates Christian character
  4. Love God  – Love for God indicates a knowledge of God

 

                     

6:11

“We want each of you to show this same diligence to the very end, in order to make your hope sure.”

 

επιθυμουμεν                δε              εκαστον             υμων                την                  αυτην

but we desire                               each one          of you             the                     same

 

ενδεικνυσθαι               σπουδην             προς               την                  πληροφοριαν             της

to show                       eagerness           to                  the                 full assurance         of the

 

ελπιδος              αχρι                  τελους

hope                  unto                the end

 

“Same diligence to the very end” means they will have to continue to run in the Christian Life Circle to the very end of their lives.  They will need to continue:

  1. Learning of God
  2. Clothing themselves with Christ
  3. Serving people

If they drift away in their knowledge or their application they will drift back toward Judaism.

 

πληροφοριαν “Plerophorian” means “full assurance”.  It is used four times in the GNT (Greek New Testament):

  1. Colossians 2:2
  2. 1 Thessalonians 1:5
  3. Hebrews 6:11
  4. Hebrews 10:22

 

The idea here is not that they will secure their salvation by doing these things but they will be fully assured and realize their full potential.  A believer who is focused on growth and production with run the Christian race correctly.  A believer who is not growing and drifting away forgets their status of being in Christ and begin to live aimlessly.

 

 

In 5:11 these believers started to drift from learning the word of God (“you are slow to learn”).  The result was fragmented understanding of God and his plan.  They had then become confused believers tempted to turn away from Christianity and execute  improper living.

 

 

6:12

“We do not want you to become lazy, but to imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised.”

 

ινα      μη            νωθροι            γενησθε               μιμηται                   δε                 των                

     lest               dull, sluggish   you become      imitators                                      of the

 

δια             πιστεως              και              μακροθυμιας                  κληρονομουντων

through      faith                 and               long-suffering               inheriting

 

τας                        επαγγελιας

the                       promises

 

“Lazy” means “sluggish” and is the same word as 5:11 “slow to learn” (“nwqroi” which means “dull, slow, sluggish”)

 

“Imitate” μιμηται “mimetai” (where we get our word “mimic”) refers to watching how the “winners” in Christian living and values live.

We all “mimic” someone.  We need to purposely chose good examples.

Chapter 11 of Hebrews will give a good list to start with.

 

The winners are going to have:

  1. “Faith” – from an understanding of God’s Word
  2. “Patience” – which is the application of Christ-likeness to their lives
  3. Result – “Inherit what has been promised” which is rewards for service.

 

“Inherit” κληρονομουντων present active means you are active in “inheriting” now.  These believers are currently in the process of receiving the promises of and with salvation.