Hebrews 6:1–20 (NKJV)
1 Therefore, leaving the discussion of the elementary principles of Christ, let us go on to perfection, not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God, 2 of the doctrine of baptisms, of laying on of hands, of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment. 3 And this we will do if God permits. 4 For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted the heavenly gift, and have become partakers of the Holy Spirit, 5 and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come, 6 if they fall away, to renew them again to repentance, since they crucify again for themselves the Son of God, and put Him to an open shame. 7 For the earth which drinks in the rain that often comes upon it, and bears herbs useful for those by whom it is cultivated, receives blessing from God; 8 but if it bears thorns and briers, it is rejected and near to being cursed, whose end is to be burned. 9 But, beloved, we are confident of better things concerning you, yes, things that accompany salvation, though we speak in this manner. 10 For God is not unjust to forget your work and labor of love which you have shown toward His name, in that you have ministered to the saints, and do minister. 11 And we desire that each one of you show the same diligence to the full assurance of hope until the end, 12 that you do not become sluggish, but imitate those who through faith and patience inherit the promises. 13 For when God made a promise to Abraham, because He could swear by no one greater, He swore by Himself, 14 saying, “Surely blessing I will bless you, and multiplying I will multiply you.” 15 And so, after he had patiently endured, he obtained the promise. 16 For men indeed swear by the greater, and an oath for confirmation is for them an end of all dispute. 17 Thus God, determining to show more abundantly to the heirs of promise the immutability of His counsel, confirmed it by an oath, 18 that by two immutable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we might have strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold of the hope set before us. 19 This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which enters the Presence behind the veil, 20 where the forerunner has entered for us, even Jesus, having become High Priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.
Here in this text, we are first encouraged to go on growing in our understanding of the faith, rather than risk falling away from it. Restoring those who have fallen away is an impossibility for us, but not for God, for all things are possible with Him (Matt. 19:26). The impossibility is simply that since there is only one way to heaven, which is through Christ, if a person closes himself off from that option, there is no other option, and, therefore, restoring him apart from Christ is an impossibility. As Luther says: “If anyone has fallen away from Christ, who is the true sacrifice for sins, and seeks another way or mode to be saved and go to heaven, he will never go there; he will not succeed” (St. Louis ed. 7:959).
Instead, for those of us who are in Christ, we can confidently expect the “better things” that “accompany salvation,” namely, all the spiritual blessings that come to us because of our new life in Christ. For this reason, we are encouraged to “show the same diligence to the full assurance of hope until the end,” and to “not become sluggish,” but imitate those who have gone before us in the faith.
God has determined “to show more abundantly” to us, “the heirs of promise,” that His Word is unchangeable. Thus, our faith is bolstered by these two certainties: that 1) God has promised us salvation in Christ, and that 2) God’s oath stands firm, because God cannot lie, so His promises are sure. God’s promises are, in fact, our very hope, which is the “anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast” which is securely established in Christ in heaven.
Let us pray: O Lord, keep Your household always faithful to Your truth, that we who rely only on the hope of Your heavenly grace may always be defended by Your mighty power; through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
