The Anchor of the Soul
Hebrews Series * Heb. 5.11-6.20
April 2, 2014 Chester’s FBC, Chester, IL Dr. Mike Fogerson, Speaker
Introduction:
A A traveler to Greece witnessed a worker cleaning the Pantheon; the worker commented to the tourist, “You know, what 25 centuries could not do to this beautiful structure, the corrosive breath of the 21st century is quickly doing!”
1 Our nation is suffering from the corrosive immoral breath of the 21st century.
a Secularism, humanism, materialism, liberalism, commercialism have devastated our sources of security.
aa The bedrock of our society has been eroded (Families, marriages, homes)
bb Big Government & Big Business have put us in Big Trouble (With all the whistles & bells: Fear, anxiety, despair, hopelessness, uncertainty, & insecurity)
b Churches have abdicated its authority & power at the altar of “Seeker Friendliness.”
aa The Ol’Ship of Zion is full of passengers who feel as helpless, defeated as cruise goers on a stranded Luxury Liner sitting dead in the water.
bb Our churches are overcrowded with weak pulpits, spineless preachers, and often times pews filled with Christians who know less about God than unbelievers.
2 The passage we’ll read in Hebrews speaks directly to the enemies & essentials of hope.
Hebrews 6:11-12 (NASB) 11 And we desire that each one of you show the same diligence so as to realize the full assurance of hope until the end, 12 so that you will not be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.
a In a world shrouded in hopelessness it is important there is a strong testimony from the Church that we know where true hope rests, in Christ.
b Heb. 6.11, “show . . . the full assurance of hope until the end.”; To do that we must deal with the enemies & essentials of our hope.
c Heb. 6.12, encourages the believer to “ . . .imitate those who through faith & patience inherit what has been promised.”
B The text of this message is often misunderstood, & is a difficult passage to exegete.
1 Remember, Paul is educating his audience by comparing the Ancient Israel’s exodus to the first century believer trust/hope/faithfulness to YHWH.
a If you remember your OT, after Israel left Egypt they soon found wanted to go back.
aa The result was that an entire generation failed to inherit what God had promised them.
bb They were delivered out of Egypt, but they never enjoyed the promised rest in Canaan.
cc Many Believers today make the same mistake: They get saved but make no spiritual progress.
b The misunderstandings & misinterpretations of this passage can be steered cleared of if we keep in mind that the emphasis of this section is on making spiritual progress.
2 Pray
I The Enemies of Assurance (5.11-6.8)
A Hebrews 5:11 - 6:8 (NASB) 11 Concerning him we have much to say, and it is hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing. 12 For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you have need again for someone to teach you the elementary principles of the oracles of God, and you have come to need milk and not solid food. 13 For everyone who partakes only of milk is not accustomed to the word of righteousness, for he is an infant. 14 But solid food is for the mature, who because of practice have their senses trained to discern good and evil.1 Therefore leaving the elementary teaching about the Christ, let us press on to maturity, not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God, 2 of instruction about washings and laying on of hands, and the resurrection of the dead and eternal judgment. 3 And this we will do, if God permits. 4 For in the case of those who have once been enlightened and have tasted of the heavenly gift and have been made partakers of the Holy Spirit, 5 and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come, 6 and then have fallen away, it is impossible to renew them again to repentance, since they again crucify to themselves the Son of God and put Him to open shame. 7 For ground that drinks the rain which often falls on it and brings forth vegetation useful to those for whose sake it is also tilled, receives a blessing from God; 8 but if it yields thorns and thistles, it is worthless and close to being cursed, and it ends up being burned.
1 Immaturity (5:11-6:3)
a “Dull” (vs. 11) would be better translated as “lazy” or “slothful”; An I don’t care, attitude towards the Word of God.
aa These believers started their backward journey by “drifting” from the Word. (2:1-4) then “doubting” the Word. (3:7-4:13) And the result is now, “dull of hearing.”
bb The ramification of this 3 step regression is everything becomes dull. (Unable to listen to the Word, receive the Word, & act on the Word.)
cc One of the first symptoms of backsliding is a dullness to the Word.
dd SS, Preacher, anything Spiritual is dull - The problem is usually not with the SS teacher or Pastor, but with the believer him/herself.
b Hebrews 5:12-13 (NASB) 12 For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you have need again for someone to teach you the elementary principles of the oracles of God, and you have come to need milk and not solid food. 13 For everyone who partakes only of milk is not accustomed to the word of righteousness, for he is an infant.
The Hebrews laziness toward the Word let to uselessness to the cause of Christ.
aa They had heard enough sermons, sat in enough SS, they should be teachers themselves - sharing what they’d heard. (IL) One of the hardest lessons for a child to learn is how to share - These Christians had yet to learn how to share the Good News, God’s truth - Having a second childhood.
bb Instead of being contributors, they were nothing more than consumers.
c Part of the Hebrews problems was their “baby diet.”
Hebrews 5:13-14 (NASB) 13 For everyone who partakes only of milk is not accustomed to the word of righteousness, for he is an infant.14 But solid food is for the mature, who because of practice have their senses trained to discern good and evil.
aa Milk is a predigested food, specifically suited for babies. (Cows eat hay, feed to make their milk.)
bb Paul defines “milk” as the first elementary principles of the oracles of God.
cc The “milk” refers to what Jesus did on earth. (life, death, resurrection) The “meat” refers to what Jesus is doing now in heaven. (Great High Priest)
dd Many Christians never get beyond the milk of the cross, fail to progress - We must not stop our journey once we get saved!!
ee Of course, even the maturest adult never outgrows milk but must not only consume milk in our diet.
d (vs. 14) A part of being immature is a lack of Spiritual discernment.
aa As we grow in the Word, we learn to apply/use it in our daily life.
bb It’s characteristic for children to make stupid/unwise decisions. (IL) Ever notice that a baby will put anything in their mouth... An immature Christian will read/watch/listen to any/every preacher/book & not be able to identify whether or not it is true to Scripture.
cc As we feed on the Word, apply it, we develop our Spiritual senses. (IL.) Diet & exercise. Lit. “practice” is “gumnazo” which is where we get our word for “gymnasium.”
dd We learned our ABC’s as kids so we can read/write sentences/words, but you don’t have to relearn the alphabet - you go on to better things.
e It’s impossible to strand still in the life of a Christian; We either move forward & claims God’s blessing, or we go backwards & wonder about aimlessly.
Hebrews 6:1-3 (NASB) 1 Therefore leaving the elementary teaching about the Christ, let us press on to maturity, not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God, 2 of instruction about washings and laying on of hands, and the resurrection of the dead and eternal judgment. 3 And this we will do, if God permits.
aa Most Christians are “betweenees” - Out of Egypt but not in the promised land - Out of danger, but not yet in the place of rest & blessing.
bb They’re between Good Friday & Easter Sunday - Saved by the blood, but not yet enjoying the newess of resurrection life.
cc We must move on from the foundations of our faith into building a life of faith... it’s not normal for a Christian to stay behind.
2 Insincerity (6:4-8)
Hebrews 6:4-8 (NASB) 4 For in the case of those who have once been enlightened and have tasted of the heavenly gift and have been made partakers of the Holy Spirit, 5 and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come, 6 and then have fallen away, it is impossible to renew them again to repentance, since they again crucify to themselves the Son of God and put Him to open shame. 7 For ground that drinks the rain which often falls on it and brings forth vegetation useful to those for whose sake it is also tilled, receives a blessing from God; 8 but if it yields thorns and thistles, it is worthless and close to being cursed, and it ends up being burned.
a Some believe these verses prove that one may be saved & lost again. (Point out the terms “enlightened,” “tasted of the heavenly gift,” & “saved in the Holy Spirit,” describe more than a dabbler in spiritual things.)
aa Some believe this text proves that just as it is possible to willfully decide to follow Christ, it’s just a possible to willfully decide to turn from Him.
bb Fall from grace, lose one’s salvation.
b I believe this text is describing a counterfeit Christian not an authentic Christian. (Similar to what Jesus taught in the parable of the wheat & the tares.)
aa The counterfeits had seen the light, tasted the Spirit of God & the Word of God, & experienced miracles - yet had “fallen away.”
c There were 5 advantages the Hebrews had...
aa Enlightened: Intellectual perception of spiritual, biblical truth - Not saved.
2 Peter 2:20-21 (NASB) 20 For if, after they have escaped the defilements of the world by the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and are overcome, the last state has become worse for them than the first. 21 For it would be better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than having known it, to turn away from the holy commandment handed on to them.
bb Tasted of the Heavenly Gift (Tasted Jesus - sampled, not accepted/lived, only examined Him.)
cc Partaker of the Holy Spirit (Association with the Holy Spirit, but not possessed by the Holy Spirit: The bible NEVER talks about believers being associated with the Holy Spirit, but the H.S. being within them.)
dd Tasted of the Word of God (Tasted, not ate.)
ee tasted of the Powers of the age to come (Seen miracle after miracle, witnessed signs & wonders - Tasted without receiving.)
d Paul NEVER mentions justifications, sanctifications, new birth, regenerations.
aa Not about Christians losing salvation, but lost people losing the opportunity to be saved.
bb If he was writing about Christians losing salvation then we’re told if we can lose it then it can never be regained. (Vs. 6) - There’s no going back & forth - But Christians are not being addressed.
cc Vs. 7-8, remind us of the parable of the wheat & tares; The insincere decisions would show it by the fruit of their lives - Thorns & thistles ready to be burned.
dd Let me warn you - If you have never trusted Christ do it now before the rejection becomes so final & yours heart so hard that you cannot respond. (That’s why you see so few older people come to Christ!)
II The essentials of Assurance (6:9-20)
Hebrews 6:9-20 (NASB) 9 But, beloved, we are convinced of better things concerning you, and things that accompany salvation, though we are speaking in this way. 10 For God is not unjust so as to forget your work and the love which you have shown toward His name, in having ministered and in still ministering to the saints. 11 And we desire that each one of you show the same diligence so as to realize the full assurance of hope until the end, 12 so that you will not be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises. 13 For when God made the promise to Abraham, since He could swear by no one greater, He swore by Himself, 14 saying, "I WILL SURELY BLESS YOU AND I WILL SURELY MULTIPLY YOU." 15 And so, having patiently waited, he obtained the promise. 16 For men swear by one greater than themselves, and with them an oath given as confirmation is an end of every dispute. 17 In the same way God, desiring even more to show to the heirs of the promise the unchangeableness of His purpose, interposed with an oath, 18 so that by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have taken refuge would have strong encouragement to take hold of the hope set before us. 19 This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, a hope both sure and steadfast and one which enters within the veil, 20 where Jesus has entered as a forerunner for us, having become a high priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.
A The believer has no need to ever fear he/she will lose their salvation because he/she cannot.
1 The Bible is ABUNDANTLY clear on this issue:
a John 10:26-29 (NASB) 26 "But you do not believe because you are not of My sheep. 27 "My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me; 28 and I give eternal life to them, and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of My hand. 29 "My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father's hand.
Romans 8:35; 38-39 (NASB) 35 Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?38 For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Philippians 1:6 (NASB) 6 For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.
1 Peter 1:4-5 (NASB) 4 to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, 5 who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
b If the power of God cannot keep us, nothing is dependable or trustworthy or worth believing in.
aa A Christian has no reason at any point in his life to believe that his salvation is or can be lost.
bb If by Christ’s substitutionary death on the cross we can be saved, certainly by His life of power and intercession we can be kept saved (Rom. 5.10).
Romans 5:10 (NASB) 10 For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.
cc If His death does not saved us once & for all then we are not saved at all.
2 You can be assured of your salvation & grow in it when we discover these three truths that anchor our soul in hope.
a Stand on the Promises (vv. 9-18)
aa True Christians will continue to serve the Lord regardless of what may happen outwardly.
bb The sincere believer stands on the promises of God, knowing that all the promises of God (v.11,12) belong to them.
Hebrews 6:11-12 (NASB) 11 And we desire that each one of you show the same diligence so as to realize the full assurance of hope until the end, 12 so that you will not be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.
cc Abraham is given as an illustration of an “heir of God” because God promised to bless Abraham and multiply his seed through Isaac.
dd When God makes a promise, nothing can break it because it is impossible for God to lie.
b Hiding in the Refuge (v.18)
Hebrews 6:18 (NASB) 18 so that by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have taken refuge would have strong encouragement to take hold of the hope set before us.
aa This is a reference to the Num., cities of refuge in the OT.
Numbers 35:6 (NASB) 6 "The cities which you shall give to the Levites shall be the six cities of refuge, which you shall give for the manslayer to flee to; and in addition to them you shall give forty-two cities.
bb It was these cities that an accused person could run to find protection until given a fair trial.
cc Our city of refuge is the Lord Jesus Christ!!! (I have fled to Him from my sins and from the wrath to come. I can hide in Jesus & be protected forevermore.
c Be Anchored to the Forerunner (v. 19,20)
Hebrews 6:19-20 (NASB) 19 This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, a hope both sure and steadfast and one which enters within the veil, 20 where Jesus has entered as a forerunner for us, having become a high priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.
aa “hope” means “an anchor rope.”
bb In past times, every harbor had great stones that were embedded in the ground near the water’s edge that served as mooring for the sailing vessels.
cc Sometimes the ships could not make it to the moorings under their own sail, in which case a “forerunner” would go ashore in a small boat with a line that would be tied on the anchor rock & when the rope was firmly fastened, those on the ship would pull the ship to shore with the anchor rope.
dd Our Lord Jesus, the great forerunner, has gone into glory and tied the rope of our salvation to His throne.
ee We can’t see the rope, we can know that it is firmly attached to the Rock of Ages. THANK GOD FOR THE UNSEEN CERTAINTY, OUR HOPE IN JESUS CHRIST.
B Fanny Crosby, blind from 6 weeks of age, wrote over 6,000 hymns in her day.
1 “ Redeemed, how I love to proclaim it, Redeemed by the blood of the Lamb; Redeemed through His infinite mercy, His child and forever I am.”
a My salvation is infinite/eternal because His mercy is infinite/eternal.
b I will not doubt my salvation because I do not doubt my God.
2 I thank God I found the milk, but the meat of the matter is that Jesus not only saved me once, He is keeping me saved once and for all!
Conclusion:
A Our hope is alive . . . it’s a living hope (1 Peter 1.3)
1 Peter 1:3 (NASB) 3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
1 Our hope abides eternally as 1 Cor. 13.13 states, “Now abide faith, hope and love.” Hope is the anchor of the soul!!
1 Corinthians 13:13 (NASB) 13 But now faith, hope, love, abide these three; but the greatest of these is love.
2 When everything seems to be out of sorts, when death comes to call, when difficulties arise . . . at that moment we find ourselves safely anchored in the Rock of Strength, Jesus.
B Tonight, Beloved, if you have been born again, don’t convince yourself (or allow the Evil one) to doubt your salvation.
1 This is milk, the foundation of your faith.
a If we get hung up on this foundational teaching we never get to the meat, living a life of faith.
b When we are born again, justified, sanctified, regenerated . . . it has no expiration date because it’s eternal life!!!
2 Paul wasn’t trying to scare, or cause Christians to doubt their salvation.
a He was trying to warn those who gave a nod & lip service to Jesus that their opportunity to get saved was only open for a limited amount of time.
b Christian, once your saved, you have no reason to be “re-saved” because you never stopped being “saved.”
aa Recommit, reaffirmation, rededication . . . great!!
bb You are not the reason you got saved nor are you the reason you stayed saved . . . it’s all because of Jesus!!!
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Respectfully,
Mike Fogerson
