November 20, 2025 - Hebrews 6

Last evening, at Baxter, I taught a lesson from 1 John.  In chapter 2, John tells of the last days when false voices will arise and lead many astray.  But he also encourages believers by reminding us of the Spirit of God who abides in us and enables us to abide in Christ.  He ends the chapter, “Abide in him.”  The writer of Hebrews is also concerned about the need to persevere through hard and even dangerous times.  He warns us about leaving the full teaching about Christ and going back to “elemental” and “dead works.”  A reoccurring theme in the New Testament – another example:  Paul’s letter to the Galatians – is that of true believers persevering in the faith.  The writer of Hebrews considers the danger of leaving the faith to be so great that he warns that, once having tasted of Christ and then walking away from him, is to be irrecoverably lost.  He is not teaching that one who is genuinely saved can then be lost.  Rather, his concern seems to be about one who has simply “tasted” of Christ, not really having (as the Puritans would sometimes say) closed with Christ.  This warning, then, becomes the means by which we are kept safe, i.e., being warned about the grave danger, we will always be on our guard about falling away, and will always be resting in Christ, going back to him, time and time again, rather than to works and self-righteousness.  In Christ, we have a sure and eternal salvation!

My hope is built on nothing less

than Jesus’ blood and righteousness;

I dare not trust the sweetest frame,

but wholly lean on Jesus' name.

On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand:

all other ground is sinking sand;

all other ground is sinking sand.   --Edward Mote (1834)

Last evening, at Baxter, I taught a lesson from 1 John.  In chapter 2, John tells of the last days when false voices will arise and lead many astray.  But he also encourages believers by reminding us of the Spirit of God who abides in us and enables us to abide in Christ.  He ends the chapter, “Abide in him.”  The writer of Hebrews is also concerned about the need to persevere through hard and even dangerous times.  He warns us about leaving the full teaching about Christ and going back to “elemental” and “dead works.”  A reoccurring theme in the New Testament – another example:  Paul’s letter to the Galatians – is that of true believers persevering in the faith.  The writer of Hebrews considers the danger of leaving the faith to be so great that he warns that, once having tasted of Christ and then walking away from him, is to be irrecoverably lost.  He is not teaching that one who is genuinely saved can then be lost.  Rather, his concern seems to be about one who has simply “tasted” of Christ, not really having (as the Puritans would sometimes say) closed with Christ.  This warning, then, becomes the means by which we are kept safe, i.e., being warned about the grave danger, we will always be on our guard about falling away, and will always be resting in Christ, going back to him, time and time again, rather than to works and self-righteousness.  In Christ, we have a sure and eternal salvation!

My hope is built on nothing less

than Jesus’ blood and righteousness;

I dare not trust the sweetest frame,

but wholly lean on Jesus' name.

On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand:

all other ground is sinking sand;

all other ground is sinking sand.   --Edward Mote (1834)