Heb 6:1 Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine
of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of
repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God,
Let us go on and perfect ourselves in the faith by prayer and constantly
seeking God. Let us not have to keep repenting over and over again because
of our weakness in the flesh which succumbs to temptation and causing us to
keep returning to the beginning by repenting of sin. Instead we should learn
to walk in the spirit so that we can go on to perfection. That perfection
cannot be obtained by any works of righteousness, sacraments, ceremonies or
works of men done in the flesh. That perfection comes by walking in the
spirit and daily yielding to God's spirit which will give us understanding
of the word as we seek Him. The word cleanses and keeps us from returning to
sin.
Psalm 119:11 Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin
against thee.
Ephesians 5:25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the
church, and gave himself for it;
Eph 5:26 That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water
by the word,
The word cleanses and makes clean spiritually.
Eph 5:27 That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not
having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and
without blemish.
Heb 6:2 Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of
resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment.
Once we bring people to Christ by preaching repentance from sin and
receiving God's spirit then we can move on to the teaching of the word so
they can grow spiritually, encouraging them to walk in the spirit. We
must instruct and teach sound doctrine that will edify. Bible prophecy
is important also, to prepare them for the Second coming of our Lord.
We must also teach the body to be ready to give an answer to anyone
inquiring of the way of salvation. We can instruct in teaching believers to lay
hands on the sick for healing, imparting gifts of the spirit or sending them
forth to preach the gospel by ordaining them for service.
There are more than one baptism: One is being baptized in water, being
baptized in the body of Christ and being baptized in
the spirit. Water baptism cannot save alone but shows us that we are dead to
sin, buried with Christ in baptism. It is an act of obedience and very
important but the water itself does not save the soul. If we were saved by
merely baptism in water, then there would be no need of repentance or any
other thing to save ourselves from the wrath to come. This of course would
be ridiculous to teach. How can water change a person from a lost condition
to a saved condition? We are
"born again" by the spirit of God when we sincerely repent and turn to
Christ. This is when we are baptized in the body of Christ. It is a spiritual birth that only God can do and does not depend on
a priest, prophet or preacher. One can be born again anywhere and anytime
without another believer even present at the time of a believer's
conversion. It brings about a change in a person's life. This change makes
old things pass away and all things become new. When we are baptized in
water it shows our obedience.
Here is how Paul describes this in Romans:
Rom 6:3 Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus
Christ were baptized into his death?
Rom 6:4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as
Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we
also should walk in newness of life.
Rom 6:5 For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death,
we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:
Rom 6:6 Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body
of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.
Rom 6:7 For he that is dead is freed from sin.
Rom 6:8 Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live
with him:
Rom 6:9 Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death
hath no more dominion over him.
Rom 6:10 For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth,
he liveth unto God.
Rom 6:11 Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but
alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Rom 6:12 Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should
obey it in the lusts thereof.
Rom 6:13 Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness
unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the
dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.
Rom 6:14 For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the
law, but under grace.
Some change instantly and
some take more time to really separate themselves from their former life but
the change does take place by the Holy Spirit and not by works of man. Good
works and good deeds will follow the new birth but it cannot bring about the
new birth. This is done by our decision to accept the offer God brings to us
and that is salvation by faith in Jesus Christ.
2Corinthians 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new
creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
Being baptized in the spirit can come at the moment of conversion or a
little later. When we are born again, we are born again by the spirit
of God. We are spiritually baptized into the body of Christ. We are
saved. This is when we are sealed and kept by the Holy Spirit.
The baptism of the Holy Spirit is another anointing that may also come at
the same time but usually one is completely baptized in the Holy Spirit at a
different time than their initial salvation. This baptism will endue
the believer in power for service. This is very important because
without being filled with the spirit, we can do nothing that will bring
forth any fruit. This baptism is usually accompanied by speaking in
tongues as the spirit gives utterance. This never should be forbidden
for it will cut off a believer from being edified by the spirit and he will
not be able to worship God in spirit and in truth as Jesus instructed us to
do. Some may pray in the spirit in their own language as well as in an
unknown language. Unknown to the one speaking. As we see
in verse 2 there are doctrines of baptisms. There is more than one
baptism. Baptism in water, baptism in into the body of Christ, and the
baptism for service that we call the baptism in the Holy Ghost or Holy
Spirit. Some believe the new birth by the spirit is the same as the
baptism of the Holy Spirit. Usually those that believe that way, do
not believe in speaking in tongues or the gifts of the spirit.
Actually we do not have to worry about which doctrine is right concerning
the baptism in the Holy Spirit. We need to be filled with the Spirit
every day. It is not just a one time occurrence. If we just seek
God continually and ask to be filled with His Spirit, let God worry about
whether or not it happened when you were saved or later. We just need
all God has for us, not only for our own edification but so that we can
minister to others and lead others to Jesus Christ. We need the Holy
Spirit to do this. We never should forbid the speaking in
tongues and freedom in worship. We desperately need to worship God in
spirit and in truth. We should always seek to be filled with the
Spirit and depend upon the leading of the Spirit in all we do. We do
not get everything when we are first saved. This is a daily walk and
there is always more to receive so that we can be full of the Holy Spirit in
order to share the gospel with others. We freely receive so we can
freely give and share this good way with others.
Hebrews 6:3 And this will we do, if God permit.
Heb 6:4 For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and
have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost,
Heb 6:5 And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world
to come,
Heb 6:6 If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance;
seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an
open shame.
For those who have been saved, baptized in the spirit and have been made
part of the heavenly gift; if they completely go into apostasy and forsake
the Lord it is like crucifying Him over again. This of course does not mean
believers who fall into temptation and sin. We see from the letters to the
churches in Revelation that many fell into sin but was exhorted to repent
and do the first works. So this is just not a warning to backsliders. Those
spoken of here are those that completely turn from the faith and go into
complete apostasy. There is no other way to be saved if they cast off the
way of salvation, Jesus Christ.
God is the only one who can really judge whether one crosses over that point
of no return. If one is still being convicted by the Holy Ghost of sin, I
would venture to guess that he or she still has hope and can repent and
renew themselves back into fellowship with God. The Holy Spirit is not going
to convict us of sin if we have no hope of repentance. So if we feel guilty
when we sin, it is a good sign, not a bad one. I'm always thankful when the
Holy Spirit points out a fault or even sin in me because I know He is still
within me instructing me in the ways of God. Hallelujah.
The danger comes when we stop feeling guilty and begin to justify ourselves
when we know by the word of God that we are living in open sin without any
desire to repent or change. The Holy Spirit will not justify us if we are
living in sin and the Holy Spirit will not oppose the written word of God.
If we are sinning in something the word of God clearly condemns and feel
good about it; rest assured the Holy Spirit is not the one making us happy
in anything evil.
Heb 6:7 For the earth which drinketh in the rain that cometh oft upon it,
and bringeth forth herbs meet for them by whom it is dressed, receiveth
blessing from God:
Heb 6:8 But that which beareth thorns and briars is rejected, and is nigh
unto cursing; whose end is to be burned.
When we grow a garden, we only accept the good fruit of the ground. We
reject the weeds and thorns. We as believers do not have to become
unfruitful as weeds and thorns but we can bear good fruit.
Better things are meant for us.
Heb 6:9 But, beloved, we are persuaded better things of you, and things
that accompany salvation, though we thus speak.
Heb 6:10 For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labor of
love, which ye have showed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to
the saints, and do minister.
This is good fruit that we should be doing after we come to Christ. Doing
these things to try to earn our salvation without coming to Christ will
avail nothing but once we are saved by the grace of God, we begin to bring
forth fruit which is the result of what has taken place within us as
believers. The good work alone cannot save. However, if we have been
Christians for years and are not producing good fruit, we need to examine
ourselves to see if we are in the faith. Do we hate someone who has opposed
us? Do we refuse to help a real needy person if we have the means to do so?
We do good things to others, especially fellow brothers and sisters in the
Lord because we love our Lord and do all in His name.
Heb 6:11 And we desire that every one of you do show the same diligence
to the full assurance of hope unto the end:
We must hold out and be faithful to what we have believed and not return
back to our former lives.
Heb 6:12 That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith
and patience inherit the promises.
We must not be lazy spiritually but build upon what we have received by
prayer and obedience to the word of God. We only are to follow those who are
faithful to the word of God. How can we know who is faithful? By
studying the word and comparing what they say to what they actually do.
Are they bringing forth the fruits described by the word.
Galatians 5:19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are
these; adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,
Gal 5:20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath,
strife, seditions, heresies,
Gal 5:21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of
the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they
which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.
Gal 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering,
gentleness, goodness, faith,
Gal 5:23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
Gal 5:24 And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the
affections and lusts.
Gal 5:25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.
Heb 6:13 For when God made promise to Abraham, because he could swear by
no greater, he swore by himself,
Heb 6:14 Saying, Surely blessing I will bless thee, and multiplying I
will multiply thee.
Heb 6:15 And so, after he had patiently endured, he obtained the promise.
Abraham lived for years without seeing even one child born to fulfill this
promise that his seed would become as many as the stars in heaven. Yet as
always, God came through just in time. Abraham's children are not just his
natural seed but all who believe in Jesus Christ become the adopted seed
of Abraham.
Matthew 3:9 And think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to
our father: for I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up
children unto Abraham.
We are Abraham's seed by faith. Being a natural seed of Abraham brings no
salvation apart from faith in Jesus Christ which is the promised one God
sent to
reconcile all who believe back to God. However we do not replace the natural
seed but are added to them.
Concerning the natural seed of Abraham:
Romans 11:15 For if the casting away of them be the reconciling of the
world, what shall the receiving of them be, but life from the dead?
Rom 11:16 For if the firstfruit be holy, the lump is also holy: and if
the root be holy, so are the branches.
Rom 11:17 And if some of the branches be broken off, and thou, being a
wild olive tree, wert grafted in among them, and with them partakest of the
root and fatness of the olive tree;
Rom 11:18 Boast not against the branches. But if thou boast, thou bearest
not the root, but the root thee.
Rom 11:19 Thou wilt say then, The branches were broken off, that I might
be grafted in.
Rom 11:20 Well; because of unbelief they were broken off, and thou
standest by faith. Be not highminded, but fear:
Rom 11:21 For if God spared not the natural branches, take heed lest he
also spare not thee.
Rom 11:22 Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them
which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in his
goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off.
Rom 11:23 And they also, if they abide not still in unbelief, shall be
grafted in: for God is able to graft them in again.
Rom 11:24 For if thou wert cut out of the olive tree which is wild by
nature, and wert grafted contrary to nature into a good olive tree: how much
more shall these, which be the natural branches, be grafted into their own
olive tree?
Rom 11:25 For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this
mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part
is happened to Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles be come in.
Rom 11:26 And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall
come out of Zion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob:
Heb 6:16 For men verily swear by the greater: and an oath for
confirmation is to them an end of all strife.
Heb 6:17 Wherein God, willing more abundantly to show unto the heirs of
promise the immutability of his counsel, confirmed it by an oath:
That oath being:
Genesis 12:1 Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy
country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house, unto a land that
I will show thee:
Gen 12:2 And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee,
and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing:
Gen 12:3 And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that
curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.
This eternal blessing comes from the promised one, seed of Abraham, seed of
David and Son of God, Jesus Christ.
Heb 6:18 That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God
to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay
hold upon the hope set before us:
Heb 6:19 Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and
steadfast, and which entereth into that within the veil;
There was a veil that separated the holy of holies from the rest of the
temple in which no one unauthorized could enter. Jesus Christ was able
to enter that place at His crucifixion and death. That veil was split
when He died, thereby making the way for all who believe in Him to enter
into the presence of God. Before Christ this was impossible.
Heb 6:20 Whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made a
high priest forever after the order of Melchizedek.
Jesus is at the right hand of God where He was before He came to earth
awaiting His second coming to set up His kingdom. He was high priest
after the order of Melchizedek and not after the levitical priesthood. He is
a priest continually and it is never ending. The priests of the
Levites died and one had to take their place. Jesus died and rose
again to be a continual high priest. There is no need for earthly
priests to intercede and go to God on our behalf. When we repent and
believe the gospel, we have access to God through faith in Jesus Christ.
All believers have become priests, not just certain ones.
Revelation 1:4 John to the seven churches which are in Asia: Grace be
unto you, and peace, from him which is, and which was, and which is to come;
and from the seven Spirits which are before his throne;
Rev 1:5 And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first
begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him
that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood,
Rev 1:6 And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him
be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.
Rev 1:7 Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they
also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of
him. Even so, Amen.
