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 Hebrews
chapter 6 continues from the discussion in Chapter 5 regarding
those addressed in Hebrews 5:11-14. Who, because they are
living on milk and not solid food are unable to grow in their
walk. In this chapter, the writer of Hebrews wants them to
understand their position and relationship with Christ.
In understanding Hebrews, it is important to understand who
the audience is. Depending on the audience, the interpretation
can vary. Hebrews Chapter 6 is one of the more discussed
chapters of Hebrews and is used by those of both Arminist
and Calvinists
as a proof text to justify their position of the “saved”
believer. Hebrews 6:4-6, is the section often in question. Are
those addressed, believers or unbelievers? If believers, is this
an argument for the losing of one’s salvation? If unbelievers
how could they have been enlightened, tasted the heavenly gift,
been partakers of the Holy Spirit, tasted the good word of God
and the powers of the age to come?
Hebrews 6
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 briars, it is rejected and near to being
cursed, whose end is to be burned.
First
Principles
Verses 1-3
Elementary
Principles of Christ:
The Greek word
translated to “Principles” is
ajrchv
Arche
(ar-khay');
which
translates into beginning or first. The same word is used in
Hebrews 5:12
For
though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone
to teach you again the first principles of the oracles of
God; and you have come to need milk and not solid food. Hebrews
5:12
John Mac Arthur in his commentary writes that those referenced
here are unbelieving Hebrews who have never committed to the
Gospel of Christ.Elementary means the types and shadows of
Christ pictured in the Old Testament as opposed to basic
Christian teachings.
“
Elementary teaching about the Christ (Messiah) that the
unbelieving Jews were to leave was the Old Testament teaching
about Him—another indication that it is not immature Christians
(Babes) that are being addressed….the issue here is not that of
growing in spiritual maturity as a Christian, but of coming into
the first stage of spiritual maturity by becoming a Christian.
The other
option is that those being addressed in Hebrews 5:12- 6:8 are
believing Hebrews, but immature in their faith walk, the result
of just living on milk. In that case, the “Elementary
Principles” would apply to basic Christian doctrines.
For
though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone
to teach you again the first principles of the oracles of God;
and you have come to need milk and not solid food.
Hebrews 5:12
Perfection:
The
Greek word for “Perfection” is Greek word,
teleiovthß
Teleiotes,
meaning the state of the more intelligent, or moral and
spiritual perfection.
Views of those
addressed in Hebrews 5:11-6:3
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Professing but Non-believing Jews |
Believing but immature Jews |
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Who is
being addressed in
Hebrews
5:11-6:3 |
Jews who
have head the Gospel, but have not committed to Christ.
They are holding on to the “First Principles” rather
then turning to Christ. (Mac Arthur, Hebrews) |
Jewish
believers who are still immature after an extended
period where by this time many should be “Teachers” (Heb
5:12) but are in need of being taught. The writer of
Hebrews wants to move beyond these “First Principles” to
solid food. Which is covered from Hebrews 7 to 13. |
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…..repentance from Dead Works
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Now that
the New Covenant is in effect repentance without Christ
is meaningless (Pg. 138) |
The
belief that one can aid their salvation through “Good
works” is a sign of immature Christianity. (John 6:29,
Eph 2:8-9 |
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Faith
toward God
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They
believed in God but were not saved (Pg. 139) |
Faith in
Christ, is foundational understanding for any Christian,
The writer of Hebrews wants to take his readers from
milk to solid food. (Hebrews 5:13-14) |
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Baptisms
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(Baptismos..Washings)
Every
Jewish home had a basin by the entrance for the family
and a visitor to use for ceremonial cleansings…It’s
these washings the reader is told to abandon and forget.
(Pg 139) |
Baptism
is a basic Christian doctrine for those who come to
faith in Christ. (Eph 4:5, Romans 6:4, Colossians 2:12) |
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Laying
on of hands |
Under
the Old Covenant, the person who brought a sacrifice had
to put his hands on it. (Lev. 1:4; 3;8,13) (Pg. 140) |
The
“Laying on of hands”, the intercessory prayer of
Christians for one another, by laying hands on those
being prayed for.
Acts
8:18, 9:17, I timothy 4:14, 2 Timothy 1:6 |
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Resurrection
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The Old
Testament doctrine of resurrection is not clear or
complete (Pg. 140) |
The
doctrine of resurrection is a first principle and the
hope of every believer (I Cor. 15, Romans 6:5,
Philippians
3:10) |
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Eternal
judgment
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Leave
the ABCs of eternal judgment for the full truth of
judgment and rewards as revealed in the New Covenant.
(Pg. 141.) |
Eternal
Judgment, the rewarding of the saints and the punishment
of those who reject the Gospel are “First Principles”
along with the resurrection |
We will do:
The
writer plans to go on to more substantial issues beyond the
“First Principles”, which is hard because his audience is “Slow
to learn”, because they need milk and are still infants in their
understanding. In Hebrews 5:10 reference was made to
Melchizedek, which will be continued
after this parenthetical break from Hebrews
5:11 to 6:20.
The discussion about Melchizedek resumes in Chapter
7, along with an explanation of Jesus Christ, the High Priest,
of the New Covenant in Chapter 8, and the shadow of the
Earthly Temple
in chapter 9. To understand these issues requires a foundational
understanding of Christianity, from which the writer of Hebrews
wishes to take his audience.
What is
impossible?
Verses 4-8
It is
impossible;
To understand
this contentious text, the Greek word translated impossible,
ajduvnatoß
Adunatos (ad-oo'-nat-os);
needs to be
understood. This word literally means (a) no (dunatos)
power. This same word is used in Hebrews 6:18 (“It is
impossible for God to Lie”), in 10:4 (“It is impossible for the
blood of bulls and goats to take away sins”) and 11:6 (“Without
faith it is impossible to please Him”). Some have tried to
translate this word as “Difficult” these earlier verses would
make no sense if this were the case. “Adunatos” means it
is without power, impossible.
The
question is, What is impossible ? The
answer is “Those who fall away” to “Renew them again
to repentance”.
Who then has
fallen away?
Three options
have been proposed about who is being referred to here.
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A
hypothetical group, that does not exist.
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Unsaved
individuals who have been associated with the Gospel
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Saved
individuals who have lost salvation
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3
Options |
A
Hypothetical Impossibility since the truly saved
“Cannot
be snatched out” of the hand of Christ |
These
individuals were never saved but only had a taste of
salvation by association |
These
were saved individuals who have lost their salvation. |
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Once
enlightened;
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Saved,
they have seen the light. (Eph. 1:18) |
The
enlightenment has to do with intellectual perception of
spiritual biblical truth(Page 142) |
These
individuals were saved and knew Christ. |
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Tasted
the heavenly gift:
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Salvation is God’s Gift to man.
Romans
6:23
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29 |
For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable.
Romans 11:29 |
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The did
not feast but only tasted Christ (2 Cor.
9:15) Page 143 |
Experienced the gifts of salvation. |
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Partakers of the Holy Spirit:
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The
“Holy Spirit” is God’s Guarantee of Salvation. We are
sealed till the day of redemption. (Eph 1:14) |
“ Gr.
Metochos” has to do with association, not possession.
These Jews never possessed the Holy Spirit, they were
simply around when he was around. (Page 144) |
Being
saved, they had the Holy Spirit, hence they were
partakers. |
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If they
fall away:
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If
someone is truly saved they cannot fall away, Since that
would mean Christ lost one of his Sheep which He says He
cannot loose. |
They
could not be brought back to the place of excitement
about Christ. (Page 147) |
If they
fall away from Christ, losing their salvation. |
The word
impossible is like a wall, its telling us something is
impossible. The reason those in verses 4-6 cannot be saved, is
because if they were saved, once they fell away they could not
be brought back to repentance and thus were never “Saved” to
begin with.
In addition
they being saved and losing “Salvation” would violate The
promises and power of the Father, Son and Spirit.
These verses are more likely demonstrating an impossible
situation, because if it were possible then Christ would have to
die again. The position of those who are “Truly” saved is a
secure position not based on our ability but on Christ’s
sacrifice.
Salvation
Proof Texts
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Proof
Text |
Reasoning |
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Ephesians 1:4,13-14
4 just as He chose us in Him before the
foundation of the world, that we should be holy and
without blame before Him in love,
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13 |
In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the
gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having
believed, you were sealed with the Holy
Spirit of promise, |
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14 |
who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the
redemption of the purchased possession, to the
praise of His glory. |
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·
God choose us we did not choose Him.
-
The
Holy Spirit is God’s guarantee of redemption.
-
We
are God’s purchased possession
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John
10:26-29
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26 |
"But you do not believe, because you are not
of My sheep, as I said to you. |
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27 |
"My sheep hear My voice, and I know them,
and they follow Me. |
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28 |
"And I give them eternal life, and they shall
never perish; neither shall anyone
snatch them out of My hand. |
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29 |
"My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater
than all; and no one is able to snatch them
out of My Father's hand. |
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·
Christ knows his sheep
·
They shall never perish
·
They cannot be snatched from Christ.
-
They
cannot be snatched from the Father.
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2
Corinthians 5:5
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5 |
Now He who has prepared us for this very thing
is God, who also has given us the Spirit as a
guarantee. |
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|
|
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·
The Spirit is God’s Guarantee
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John
6:37,39
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37 |
"All that the Father gives Me will come to Me,
and the one who comes to Me I will by no means
cast out. |
39 "This is the will of the Father who sent Me, that of
all He has given Me I should lose nothing, but
should raise it up at the last day. |
·
All the Father gives will come to Christ.
-
Christ will lose none that are given by the Father.
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Romans
8;28-29
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28 |
And we know that all things work together for
good to those who love God, to those who are the
called according to His purpose. |
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29 |
For whom He foreknew, He also
predestined to be conformed to the image
of His Son, that He might be the firstborn
among many brethren. |
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30 |
Moreover whom He predestined, these He also
called; whom He called, these He also justified;
and whom He justified, these He also glorified. |
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31 |
What then shall we say to these things? If God
is for us, who can be against us? |
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·
God foreknew the saved
·
The saved are predestined to be conformed to the
image of His Son.
-
The
predestined are called, justified and glorified.
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2 Timothy 2;19
Nevertheless the solid foundation of God stands, having
this seal: "The Lord knows those who are His,"
and, "Let everyone who names the name of Christ depart
from iniquity." |
·
Those who are the Lords are known by the Lord. |
Salvation
must be maintained-Arminism
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Proof
Text |
Reasoning |
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Hebrews 6:6if
they fall away, to renew them again to repentance,
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Hebrews
demonstrates the possibility of falling away. Therefore
salvation must be maintained. |
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Hebrews 10:26For
if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge
of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for
sins, |
Here we
see that if sin is committed after knowledge of truth is
received that there is no other hope |
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Matthew 5:13"You
are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its
flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for
nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by
men. |
Salt
loosing flavor is an picture of the Christian loosing
salvation |
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John 15:6"If
anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch
and is withered; and they gather them and throw them
into the fire, and they are burned. |
The
Christians can choose to abide or not abide (Live) in
Christ those who turn are burned in the fire. |
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2 Peter
2:20-22
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20 |
For if, after they have escaped the pollutions of the
world through the knowledge of the Lord and
Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in
them and overcome, the latter end is worse for
them than the beginning. |
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21 |
For it would have been better for them not to have known
the way of righteousness, than having known it,
to turn from the holy commandment delivered to
them. |
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22 |
But it has happened to them according to the true
proverb: "A dog returns to his own vomit," and,
"a sow, having washed, to her wallowing in the
mire." |
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Verse
21 says these individuals knew the way of righteousness
but turned from it demonstrating one can loose their
salvation |
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I John 15:16
If anyone sees his brother sinning a sin which does not
lead to death, he will ask, and He will give him life
for those who commit sin not leading to death. There is
sin leading to death. I do not say that he should pray
about that. |
The
brother (The Believer) can sin to point where it is
useless to pray for that person. |
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Matthew
7:21-22
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21 |
"Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,'
shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who
does the will of My Father in heaven. |
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22 |
"Many will say to Me in that day, 'Lord, Lord,
have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out
demons in Your name, and done many wonders in
Your name?' |
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Many
who claim to know the Lord will not enter into Heaven.
Even though miracles were done through their ministry. |
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Matthew
12:31-32
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31 |
"Therefore I say to you, every sin and blasphemy
will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against
the Spirit will not be forgiven men. |
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32 |
"Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of
Man, it will be forgiven him; but whoever speaks
against the Holy Spirit, it will not be forgiven
him, either in this age or in the age to come. |
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The
Christian can loose salvation when sinning against the
Holy Spirit. |
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2 Peter 1:10
Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent to make your
call and election sure, for if you do these things you
will never stumble; |
The
potential of stumbling is possible for those who are not
diligent. |
earth
which drinks in the rain;
Using the
example of nature, the productive Christian life will produce a
good crop, the unfruitful life only thorns and thistles.
The beloved
Verses 9-12
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.
Beloved: the
Greek word
ajgaphtovß
Agapetos
comes from
agape, the highest kind of love.
The beloved are
the saved, this is the same group in Hebrews 5:11 to 6:3. Though
the writer of Hebrews was hard on them, and calling them
infants, who need milk but should be eating solid food, here he
encourages them. Telling them they do not fall into the
hypothetical category, because they are saved. He hopes to take
into deeper, “Solid food”, away from elementary teaching.
Accompany
salvation:
The Greek word
e[cw Echo (ekh'-o)
means to have, hold, own or possess. They possess salvation.
MacArthur separates this group in verses 9-12 from those in
5:11-6:5, he understands these as unsaved Jews, as opposed to
saved Jews. He writes,
Accompanying
salvation is not infancy but maturity, not milk but solid food,
not inexperience in righteousness but perfect righteousness, not
repentance in dead works but repentance toward God unto life.
To separate
this group from those being addressed in 5:11 to 6:8, forces the
text. Either, somebody is saved, or not saved. But those who are
saved have fruits of salvation which are mentioned here.
Your work:
Works and fruit separate those who are saved, from those who
not saved, but claim to be saved. This is the point the writer
is trying to make with this group of struggling believers.
This group has
fruits of salvation, they are involved in ministry, they love
the Name of the Lord and support the brothers in Christ.
Same diligence:
The writer is encouraging them to keep going, to not rest.
Paul uses the example of the runner in I Corinthians, who trains
for a race,
24 Do you not
know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the
prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it.25 And
everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things.
Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an
imperishable crown.26 Therefore I run thus: not with
uncertainty. Thus I fight: not as one who beats the air.27 But
I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I
have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified.
I Corinthians 9:24-27
Assurance:
Means having “Full confidence”, not questioning your status,
but resting in Christ and his work. He is warning the reader to
not slow down, but to keep progressing in their walk till the
very end.
Become
sluggish:
The warning to
believers is to not become “Dull”, Greek
nwqrovß
Nothros,
this same word is used earlier in 5:11, where he wants to
explain to them more about Melchizedek (Hebrews 5:10), but is
limited because they have become “Nothros” or dull in
hearing. Here, he is warning them to not do the same in their
walk, as they have done in their hearing. The writer, like Paul
in I Corinthians is urging them on in their walk, to imitate the
those who inherited the promise through faith and patience,
inherited God’s promise. Abraham is then used as an example of
God’s promise and why we can be confident
Abraham
as an example
Verses 13-20
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.
Promise to
Abraham:
The promise
quoted here is from Genesis 22:16, after Abraham took Isaac, his
son, to the top of Mt. Moriah. God swore by Himself, to bless
Abraham.
17 That in
blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply
thy seed as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which is
upon the sea shore; and thy seed shall possess the gate of his
enemies; 18 And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth
be blessed; because thou hast obeyed my voice.
Genesis 22:17-18
Swore by Himself:
God swore by Himself, because there is none greater, He is
the standard of “Truth”, for this reason it is impossible for
Him to lie. He would have to deny his person to lie.
In
Genesis 15:7-8 God passed through the divided animals signifying
his “Covenant” with Abraham. The Hebrew word for Covenant is
tyrb Beriyth
(ber-eeth');
meaning “To cut”, when an covenant was made both parties
walked between the divided animals to signify that if either
party failed to live up to their agreement, may they be cut in
half like the animals who they are walking between. In essence,
God was telling Abraham, if He did not fulfill his agreement
with him, may God be cut in half. Abraham did not walk through
the animal halves, only God passed through the animal parts.
The heirs of promise:
The promise was to Abraham and to his seed, those who
would inherit the promise God made to Abraham. The Church, the
body of Gentile and Jewish Believers, is grafted into the
promises of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. (Romans 11).
Immutability:
The
Greek word means,
ajmetavqetoß
Ametathetos
means
not transposed, not to be transferred, fixed, or
altered. God’s word is unchangeable, for the reason God cannot
lie, He is the standard of what is true.
The two items his Promise and Oath and since it
is impossible for God to lie, we can rest in his promise.
Strong consolation:
For this
reason, the believer can be confident in Jesus, because he has
entered the “Holy of Holies” in Heaven. He is our High Priest
after the order of Melchizdek.
High Priest forever:
The Earthly
Temple and Priesthood were only a shadow and type of what was to
come. This Heavenly picture is described in detail from Hebrews
7 to 10. For this reason we can put our rest in Jesus. He is our
forerunner, He has gone ahead of us to prepare a place
for us, in His Fathers house. (John 14:1-3)
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