The previous section, Hebrews 5:11-14, flows straight into this one. In fact, some translations even group them together in their subheadings. If you haven’t read it, I encourage you to take a minute to look through it now. This section will build on that one before it then pleads with us to step up to the next level.
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Step Up
After you’ve reviewed the last section, we’re ready for today’s section. I hope you’ll start by reading Hebrews 6:1-6.
Therefore, let us go on to maturity (6:1-3)
In Hebrews 5:12, the author referred to some basic principles. Here, in verse one, he outlines those principles for us. The author encourages the readers, to paraphrase in my own words, “You know these things. You’ve got this. Let’s not keep going over it; let’s move on!”
These six basic principles summarized the foundation of belief for the first-century Jewish readers. Those principles included repentance from dead works or useless rituals, faith in God, teachings about ritual washings, laying on of hands, resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment.
At first glance, this list could be a foundation of Christianity. Our 21st century mindset probably sees it as such. After all, we turn from dead works and rituals, we have faith, we perform baptisms, we sometimes lay hands on people when we pray for them, we believe in the resurrection of the dead, and that an eternal judgment awaits us. However, this list is also distinctly Jewish. Judaism also, especially in the first century, participated in rituals, required faith, included ritual washings and the laying on of hands, believed in the resurrection of the dead, and also in an eternal judgment. In short, these are areas where Jews and Christians connect. They are the foundation to both of our religions.
Even more, these six principles may refer to an extremely critical ritual within Jewish belief that is likewise foundational to Christianity. They may refer to the ritual processes carried out on the Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur).
- Ritual: Leviticus 16 outlines the specific details of this ritual which made “atonement for the Israelites once a year because of all their sins” (Leviticus 16:34).
- Faith in God: This refers to the whole plan, not just the specifics of the Day of Atonement. Our last section spoke of a message of righteousness (Hebrews 5:13). That section was getting too long so I didn’t go into this, but that message of righteousness is one built on faith. It reminds us, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is God’s power for salvation to everyone who believes, first to the Jew, and also to the Greek. For in it God’s righteousness is revealed from faith to faith, just as it is written: The righteous will live by faith” (Romans 1:17, quote from Habakkuk 2:4, emphasis mine). In short, God bases the whole plan of humanity’s redemption on faith.
- Ritual washings: These are a repeated part of the Day of Atonement (Leviticus 16:4, 24, 26, 28).
- Laying on of hands: The high priest laid his hands on the horns of the scapegoat to transfer the sins of the people to the goat. The goat would then run into the wilderness thereby removing the sins from the people (Leviticus 16:21-22).
- Resurrection: The rituals involved a single sacrifice of two goats. The high priest sacrificed one to atone for the sins of the people. He then transferred their sins to the head of the second goat so the goat might carry them away from the Israelite camp. In this single sacrifice, one goat died to atone for sin while another lived to remove their sin. Likewise, Jesus died to atone for sin but He also lives to remove our sin along with sin’s penalty – death.
- Eternal judgment: Only this process could cleanse the people from their sins to avoid the judgment of God (Leviticus 16:30).
Atonement – it’s a common foundation between Old Testament sacrifice and New Testament relationship. God doesn’t want us to stay in the Old Testament system of ritual and sacrifice, however. He wants us to move past that!
Why should we move past it? Because it’s impossible to renew to repentance those who have fallen away (6:4-6)
First century Jews were content to keep their old practices and bring Jesus into them. After all, we have a common foundation. However, as followers of the Messiah, we may connect with many people on different areas where our respective faiths are similar. We can’t leave it there, though. Recognizing our similarities doesn’t bring people to salvation; only bringing them to Jesus does! We have to move past the basics of our common foundation.
Under the sacrificial system of the Old Testament, a believer could fall away. The whole system required renewal on an annual basis as we discussed a few paragraphs ago. A believer could fall away throughout the year but then make their pilgrimage to Jerusalem for the Day of Atonement and be renewed.
In the New Testament, this became impossible. We could no longer be renewed on an annual basis. After all, we have new things now…
- Enlightenment. Jesus is the light and only He enlightens us (John 1:9, 2 Timothy 1:10 and others).
- Heavenly gift. The gift is eternal life (John 4:10-14), the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:38 and others), righteousness (Romans 5:15-17), and grace (Ephesians 3:7, 4:7).
- Holy Spirit. I can’t emphasize this enough. As a follower of Jesus, the Holy Spirit dwells within you. This is a totally radical concept to the ways of the Old Testament. Before, the Spirit could come upon a person and then leave again. In the New Testament, the Spirit permanently indwells and seals the believer for redemption (Ephesians 1:13-14 and others).
- God’s good word. The idea here is a specific word, not an overall message. The Greek is rhema, not logos. I can’t say for sure, but I think God’s good word may be one of righteousness. God now looks on us and speaks a good word as Jesus’ sacrifice has turned away His wrath and condemnation.
- Power of God. Followers of Jesus have access to the power of God. That’s also a huge shift! (Ephesians 1:18-23 and others).
That’s a short summary of who we are in the Messiah. It’s important to remember the guarantee of this list as we consider this next point. Under this new system, God can’t renew to repentance those who fall away.
Let’s first recognize what this is not saying. Some use this passage to condemn fallen believers by saying that God can’t call them to repentance. However, all of Scripture reminds us this isn’t true. God permanently seals the believer with His Spirit. God completes the work He began in us. God brings us to enlightenment. We can’t lose our salvation.
What is this saying then? The whole understanding hinges on a little prefix and the remembrance of when and why this book was written.
A little prefix: Re-new
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away, and look, new things have come” (2 Corinthians 5:17). God doesn’t make a new creation like we might take art supplies and paint a new picture. When we paint a picture, we have created nothing new. We have only brought the elements together to form a painting. The idea in this verse is the act of creation similar to the beginning of universe when God created out of nothing by the power of His spoken word. He created something new!
Once God makes us new, He can’t make us new again. He can’t re-new us. If He needed to make us new again, then that would mean He messed up the first time. God doesn’t mess up. If we fall away during the year, we are still a new creation in Jesus. He doesn’t have to die for our sin again every year.
A consequence still remains if we fall away, however. We’re living as if Jesus’ sacrifice was inadequate. We’re holding Him up to contempt in the court of public opinion. In short, we’re being a bad witness. Since He took the sin upon Himself, His name is tarnished by our sin. Ouch – I don’t want to go there.
Another possibility remains as well – those who appear as believers but aren’t. In that case, despite all outward appearances, God has never made the person new. The idea of renewal – being made new again – becomes a non-issue. They had never accepted God’s gift of salvation. We’ll talk about this group more in the next section.
Remembering when and why
The book of Hebrews was written in the late 60’s AD. Over thirty years had passed since Jesus’ death and resurrection. And yet, the Jewish believers in Jerusalem – to whom this book was written – were still sacrificing at the Temple. Despite Jesus’ sacrifice making atonement for sin once and for all, the high priest still performed the rituals of atonement every year. I believe God might have inspired the book of Hebrews as a final warning to the Jerusalem Jewish believers to step away from their old system and fully embrace Jesus as their Messiah. I think Hebrews was a final call before He allowed the destruction of their temple only a few years later.
The author of Hebrews pleads with the Jewish believers, “Step away from the sacrifices. You recognize Jesus was our awaited Messiah – now step up to live fully in Him and not under the old system. He died once and for all. Stop recrucifying Him and holding Him up to contempt!” Again, my paraphrase.
What About Us?
An important part of understanding this difficult passage is to understand when and why the author wrote it. It was written at a specific time in history as the early believers transitioned from their old Jewish practices to a new system of grace. This doesn’t mean, though, that it doesn’t apply to us today. We understand it through that first-century Jewish lens but we apply it today.
I can think of a few lessons I can take away from this passage even though God’s not calling me to let go of my ancient sacrificial system.
First, we see a great tool for reaching others for Christ in this passage. Rather than beat others up with how they’re different than us, we can connect where we agree. The author of Hebrews began with the foundation the Jews already had and built upon it. This only works, though, if we take it to the end by bringing the conversation to Jesus.
Second, people have often used this passage to scare people into correct behavior based on a threat of the loss of salvation. When looked at correctly, it has quite the opposite effect! God has made me new; He can’t do it again! Let’s rest in the confidence that He didn’t mess up. We are His children for eternity!
Third, let’s not behave in a way that shames the name of Jesus. Yes, our salvation is secure. No behavior on our part can change that. And no, we don't still sacrifice every year for the atonement of sin. However, our lifestyles sometimes move so far away from Jesus' example that we hold Him up to contempt in the court of public opinion. We're a bad witness of the love He poured out for us.
Perhaps there’s more. I’d love to hear what you’re taking away from this difficult passage in the 21st century despite its original context in the 1st century. Please share in the comments below…
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