BECOME MATURE IN THE GOSPEL

Hebrews 5:11-6:8 / Keywords 6:1a

Therefore let us leave the elementary teachings about Christ and go on to maturity,

 

5:11 We have much to say about this, but it is hard to make it clear to you because you no longer try to understand. 12 In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God’s word all over again. You need milk, not solid food! 13 Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness. 14 But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil.

6:1 Therefore let us move beyond the elementary teachings about Christ and be taken forward to maturity, not laying again the foundation of repentance from acts that lead to death,[a] and of faith in God, 2 instruction about cleansing rites,[b] the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment. 3 And God permitting, we will do so.

4 It is impossible for those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, who have shared in the Holy Spirit, 5 who have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the coming age 6 and who have fallen[c] away, to be brought back to repentance. To their loss they are crucifying the Son of God all over again and subjecting him to public disgrace. 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. 8 But land that produces thorns and thistles is worthless and is in danger of being cursed. In the end it will be burned.

Footnotes

a. Hebrews 6:1 Or from useless rituals

b. Hebrews 6:2 Or about baptisms

c. Hebrews 6:6 Or age, 6 if they fall

1. God wants his people to grow in their understanding of the gospel. Jesus gave his life to make us God’s children and heirs of salvation. We are given this life to grow beyond the elementary truths, to explore the depths of the mind and heart of God. The author admonishes people to grow up, to be Bible teachers and living testimonies of the gospel. We are stewards of the message of the gospel of God’s Son. We should move forward as mature servants to the degree that God permits us.

 

2. God gave us every blessing. These heavenly gifts include being enlightened by God himself, sharing in the Holy Spirit, and knowing the absolute goodness of his word. We have been brought, in all these things, to God himself. To fall away after such blessings is like crucifying Jesus all over again. God blesses those who drink in his word and become fruitful. Those who fall away are like thorns and thistles, good only as burnt weeds.

 

Prayer Lord, help me to grow in your word and bear good gospel fruit. Make me a mature servant of God.

One Word Grow in God’s blessing