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INTRODUCTION

• The exhortation begun in chapter five continues.
• • Encouragement to mature and become teachers.
  • To become skilled in Christian living by practice, exercise.
• Now lay aside, go beyond the ABC, elementary doctrines of Christ and go on to maturity.
• Has them to look at those who did not mature, and consider their fate. (v. 6)
• The author is persuaded better things for his readers.......

5. BECAUSE........

WORD OF GOD

• THE CERTAINTY OF GOD'S PROMISE.
• • Example of promise to Abraham.
  • God never failed to keep a promise he made.
  • By two immutable things (v 18)
  • • God's word
    • God's oath.... by Himself.
• NOTE ABOUT OATHS:
• • Swear by the higher or greater power. This (greater power) would ensure that they would keep their word, promise , oath.
  • Swear by greater power - We are placing our self under the power of one who will ensure, make, force, etc. us to do as we have promised.

3. Oaths were not just empty statements.

We Have An Anchor

• PURPOSE OF AN ANCHOR.

1. Often used in Greek and Roman writing for hope.

• For safety and security.

• HOPE IS TO THE BELIEVER WHAT A SECURE ANCHOR IS TO SHIP.
• • Hope sustains and braces the Christian in the midst of all his trials.
  • When Hope fails, he is left to drift aimlessly and fall victim to the

merciless ocean.

OUR HIGH PRIEST

• Compare and Draw from last lesson.
• A FORE RUNNER ON OUR BEHALF.
• • "Scout" or "advance guard"
  • He has cleared the way for others to follow.
  • Having become "High Priest" forever.

• GOD WILL NOT FORGET YOUR WORK....

1. Their love and service. 2. Compare I Corinthians 15;58.

ON TO MATURITY

• "Wherefore leaving the doctrine of the first principles of Christ, let us press on unto perfection; not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God, of the teaching of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment." vs. 1&2 Two Thoughts:
• • Leaving Judaism and moving on into Christianity.
  • Leaving first points of Christianity and maturing in the life we live.
  • • Repentance and Faith. First essentials to be preached to men in sin. A turning or returning to God.
    • Baptisms and laying on of hands.
    • Resurrection and eternal judgment. Deals primary with the future.

B. "And this we will do, if God permits." v 3.

AGAINST APOSTASY

• "FOR AS TOUCHING THOSE WHO WERE ONCE ENLIGHTENED AND TASTED OF THE HEAVENLY GIFT, AND WERE MADE PARTAKERS OF THE Holy Spirit, and tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the age to come, and then fell away, it is impossible to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame." (vs. 4-6)
• • For whom is this intended/
  • The "unsaved Jew"? Renouncing his faith in the Messiah? (Probably not)
  • Why say impossible to renew "again" to those who have not been renewed in the first place?
• THE AUTHOR'S DESCRIPTION.
• • They "have once been enlightened"
  • • Must have taken place at their conversion.
    • Conversion cannot be repeated.
  • They "have tasted the heavenly gift"
  • • "Taste" suggest an element of deep personal experience.
    • Just as Jesus....taste of death for every one." (2:9)
  • They "have become partakers of the Holy Spirit."
  • • At conversion (Acts 2:38; 5:32)
    • Partake means to share.
  • They "have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the age to come.
  • • Again "tasted"...deep personal experience.
    • They had felt in their lives the extraordinary effects of spiritual powers.

IMPOSSIBLE TO...

• "And then fell away, it is impossible to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame."(v. 6).
• • Impossible because...
  • Crucify afresh....again the Son of God.

• WHY DID THE JEWS CRUCIFY CHRIST?
• • Answer....To get him out of their life.
  • 
    
    
• Here. WHY DID THEY CRUCIFY CHRIST AGAIN?
• • Answer....To get him out of their life.

• WITH CHRIST OUT OF THEIR LIFE IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO RENEW THEM AGAIN TO REPENTANCE.
• • Repentance is to turn ... return to God.....
  • Without Christ this is impossible!.

CONCLUSION:

• Back to "we are persuaded better things of you"
• He did not expect them to go this direction.
• He expected them to mature in the Christian life by practicing spiritual things.
• Because of all that God had done, and had made available to them. Us.