Hebrews #14: an expositition of Hebrews 6:9-12. This message by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday morning, July 13, 2014.
Intro:
What do you do when someone you love is in great danger? What do you do when someone you love is headed for sure and certain disaster? Do you simply try to reassure them of your love? Do you seek to “affirm” them or do you stop them? If your child is heading towards the electrical outlet with that piece of wire, is it time for a stern rebuke or an affirming, “Good boy?” Affirmation in a time of danger is not love it is treachery. The stern rebuke is the loving act. That is the position of the writer of Hebrews in chapter 6. He has sounded a dreadful warning. Beginning in 5:11 and running down through 6:8 his words seem harsh. But if you listen carefully you will hear them filled with love. He is driven by genuine pastoral concern. Their souls are at stake. They are considering walking away from the faith. They are contemplating abandoning the gospel. To do so would not only be disastrous it would be damning. These second generation believers are storm-tossed. They have been rejected by their families and are being persecuted by the Roman government. Their world has been rocked. They desire relief and who could blame them? Add to the pressure they are under their lack of spiritual maturity and you have the makings of a spiritual disaster.
In Matthew 13 Jesus teaches 5 “mystery parables.” These are parables dealing with the nature and growth of the Kingdom of God. The first, the parable of the sower, makes it clear that genuine believers produce fruit. Those who have the life of God in them express that life in the way they live. The second, the parable of the weeds, makes it clear that there will always be false professors mixed in with true believers. Jesus makes it clear in Matthew 7:16-21 not everyone who says, “Lord, Lord, will enter the kingdom of heaven.” We do not know the hearts of men thus a caution is given don’t recklessly seek to root out all false professors for you will destroy true believers in the process. You leave it to the Lord at the time of the harvest. This sets up the tension in which we live in the church. We are to test the fruit. We are to look for signs of life. It is our duty, when there is no fruit, to lovingly confront our fellow believers for the sake of their soul. At the same time, because we do not know the hearts of men, we are not to be the judge, jury and executioner! We are to judge and we are to show restraint. That is often a hard line to walk. We err when we fail to do one or the other.
The writer of Hebrews states his warning with strong, startling language so as to awake the conscience of the false professor. Now in 6:9-12 he seeks to reassure the struggling saint.
Text: Hebrews 6:9-12
The key to this section is found in the opening phrase of verse 9. “Though we speak in this way, yet in your case, beloved, we feel sure of better things…”
Though I have stated strongly the danger of turning from the Gospel I’m confident that you won’t! The writer is confident because of the character of God and because of the what he has seen in the life of these believers.
As we work through these few verses we are going to see that…
Thesis: The mature believer’s hope is anchored by the character and comfort of God and fortified by focused and sustained striving after holiness.
3 things I want to point out along the way.
- The mature believer rests securely in the character and comfort of God. (6:9-10)
- The mature believer remains focused to the very end. (6:11)
- The mature believer patterns his life after those faithful saints who have gone before. (6:12)