Jesus Our Sure and Steadfast Anchor of the Soul
Psalm 34:1-10; Hebrews 6:1-20
February 5, 2017 • Download this sermon (PDF)
Congregation of Christ: The Book of Hebrews follows a two-fold pattern: teaching doctrines, followed by warnings and exhortations to persevere in the faith. We now come to Chapter 6, which is a continuation of a third warning and exhortation to the converted Jews. This third warning starts from 5:11, a warning against falling away from the faith. The first warning is in 2:1-4: “how shall we escape if we neglect such a great a salvation” in Christ that was preached to them and received by them. The second warning is in 3:7-4:13: hear and obey God’s Word, which the Israelites in the desert rejected in unbelief and disobedience, so God prevented them from entering rest in the Promised Land.
This chapter contains a difficult passage, so there are many differing interpretations that has been put forward by faithful theologians and pastors throughout church history.
By Maturing from the Basic Doctrines of Christ (1-3)
At the end of Chapter 5, the Preacher scolds the Hebrews about their lack of spiritual maturity, saying they’re still infants feeding on milk instead of adults feeding on solid food. They’re still working on the basic teachings about God. Here at the beginning of Chapter 6, the writer then appeals to the church to move on to more than just the basic teachings they have learned at first. So he lists these six things they have learned, in three groups of two.
The first two are “repentance from dead works and of faith toward God.” These two doctrines go together, and are preached together. Remember when Jesus first preached the gospel? His proclamation was, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel” (Mark 1:15). Repent and believe to enter God’s kingdom.
The second two basic doctrines are “about washings, the laying on of hands.” In contrast with faith and repentance, which are not visible, but in the heart, washings and laying on of hands are visible ceremonies in the church. Jews were familiar with the washings, or ceremonial purification rites in the Old Testament, while Christians were taught about water baptism. It’s striking that the writer uses the word baptismos for “washing,” so there were “baptisms” even in the Old Testament. “Laying on of hands” more likely refers to the ordination of elders for service in the church (1 Tim 4:14; 2 Tim 1:6). These two are related in that both invoke the Holy Spirit: the Spirit works in baptism and in the laying on of hands.
The last two are “the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment.” Not only were they taught about the death of Christ for their sins, but also the hope all Christians have in the resurrection at the Second Coming of Christ. On the day of resurrection, there will also be eternal judgment, both of believers and unbelievers. These two doctrines look forward to the future, while the other four are past—faith and repentance which are not visible, and baptism and ordination which are visible.
These six doctrines were called “elementary” or “basic” teachings of the church in the first century. But today, even some of these basic teachings are neglected or taught in error in many churches. Faith is often without subject—“faith in faith” that many televangelists teach. Just say the word. Name it an claim it. This is the faith of prosperity, health and wealth preachers. If you don’t give more money, you don’t have enough faith. If your sickness is not getting healed, you don’t have enough faith, or you have an unconfessed sin.
As well, this word “repentance” or “confession” of sin has become a bad word in many churches. “Sin” itself has also become taboo. Therefore, many people come to church only to be “affirmed” and entertained, not having any sense of coming before God as sinners in need of forgiveness and salvation.
And what about baptism? This holy sacrament has become a plaything. Every summer camp, the youth are asked to “accept” Jesus again and again. And then they are baptized again and again. They have no idea that baptism, like the Old Testament circumcision, is to be administered only once as the sign of entrance into God’s covenant people. These multiple baptisms became popular during the time of the 16th century Reformation when Anabaptists taught that those who were baptized as infants, or by the Roman Catholic church, should be re-baptized. This is why they are called Ana-baptists, or re-baptizers.
As well, the idea of laying on of hands has been twisted by many churches. Many churches today have pastors who have never been ordained with the laying on of hands by other pastors. They’re just self-proclaimed pastors. Some who practice this believe that it has a magical power that enables a preacher to preach “as the Spirit leads” without any preparation.
By Not Falling Away (4-12)
The writer listed the basic doctrines of the Christian religion to encourage his readers to move on to spiritual maturity. They are to increase their knowledge and obedience. But he again breaks his teaching of doctrines to warn and encourage them. This warning in verses 4-6 are as severe as it is controversial. Many books have been written trying to explain what this passage really means. So there have been many differing views offered.
Verses 4-6 is a long sentence beginning with, “For it is impossible in the case of those…” Then the writer lists the experiences of those in the church. Finally, he continues with what is impossible, “and then have fallen away, to restore them again to repentance.” Here, the difficulty is who the writer is talking about. Are these believers or unbelievers? If they are true believers, it means that Christians have no assurance that they will not “fall away” or lose their salvation. Is this just a hypothetical case—of true Christians falling away—that really doesn’t happen? If they are unbelievers, how would they have experienced and shared in the things that are reserved for Christians only?
The majority view is the third one, and I agree. Those who fall away are not true believers, but only appear to be so. How so? How can they be unbelievers if they are those “who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, and have shared in the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the age to come”? These things are exactly the experiences of true Christians!
Remember in the first few chapters that the Preacher used the Israelites in the wilderness as examples of those who have been “enlightened,” “tasted,” and “shared” in things of God? Yet, they fell away in unbelief and disobedience in the desert, and were excluded from the Promised Land. Remember also Jesus’ parable of the sower, or the four soils? The seeds that fell on rocky ground and thorny soil sprouted at first, but never bore fruit and withered away. In fact, Jesus said that the seed sown on rocky ground is “the one who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy” (Matt 13:20).
The Bible never contradicts itself. The Word of God undeniably teaches that all true believers will persevere in the faith because God preserves them in the faith. They will never fall away completely, rejecting God and Christ. Whom God has elected before the creation of the world, he will in the end glorify in heaven (Rom 8:29-30). True Christians are “sealed by the Spirit until the day of redemption” (Eph 4:30). Jesus says, “no one can snatch [believers] out of my hand” (John 10:28). The Apostle Paul assures us, “he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion” on the day that Christ returns (Phl 1:6). Many other Bible texts confirm that not one true believer will ever fall away from the faith (John 6:39).
The people in verses 4-6 are those who have shared and participated in Christian worship, catechism, have been baptized, and regularly partook of the bread and wine in the Lord’s Supper. They have “once been enlightened,” the same words that the writer uses in Hebrews 10:32, “But recall the former days when, after you were enlightened, you endured a hard struggle with sufferings.” All true believers have been taken from the darkness of sin into the light of Christ (1 Pet 2:10). Those who “have tasted the heavenly gift” may refer to those who have heard the gospel, baptized, discipled, and partook of the Lord’s Supper. All of these things make up the “heavenly gift.”
Unbelievers also “have shared in the Holy Spirit” because they were part of the church, where the Spirit dwells. They have seen many sinners regenerated by the Spirit who demonstrated good works. In the apostolic days, they even witnessed signs and wonders performed by the apostles. They also “have tasted the goodness of the word of God.” They have heard the Word of God read, preached and taught to them. Even the wicked King Herod was glad to hear the Word preached by John the Baptizer (Mark 6:20). Even to unbelievers, sometimes the Word of God is sweet to their taste, sweeter than honey! (Psa 119:10, 103). Similar to sharing in the Holy Spirit, unbelievers in the church also tasted “the powers of the age to come.” These are also the miracles, and signs and wonders in the first century. Today, we witness the miracle of many sinners’ hearts renewed and lives changed by the Spirit. We already have a foretaste of the “age to come,” when Christ returns.
We have many examples in the New Testament of those in the covenant community who fell away completely and finally: Judas Iscariot; those who believed in Jesus when he performed signs (John 2:23), but most of them left, and only a few remained (John 6:66); and Simon the magician (Acts 8). Paul says that two men, Hymenaeus and Alexander, “have made shipwreck of their faith,” so he excluded them from the church (1 Tim 1:18-20). Hymenaeus, together with Philetus, “have swerved from the truth,” leading people into “ungodliness… upsetting the faith of some” (2 Tim 2:16-18). Today, there are countless televangelists like Joel Osteen, Joyce Meyer, Steven Furtick, Benny Hinn, and Bethel Church in Redding, who have spread the false gospel of health and wealth, name-it-and-claim-it faith, leading millions into eternal destruction.
These are those whom John says, “they went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us. But they went out, that it might become plain that they all are not of us” (1 John 2:19). They are whom Jesus calls hypocrites, when he says to the Pharisees, “Well did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written, ‘This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me’” (Mark 7:6). They are whom Jesus calls blind and without understanding, “the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled that says: ‘You will indeed hear but never understand, and you will indeed see but never perceive’” (Matt 13:14).
Therefore, an unbeliever may be a member of a church, exposed to—even participate—in its ministries. He may profess faith and agree with all its doctrines. But in the end, even after many years, he leaves the church, abandons his profession, and rejects God and Christ. It is impossible for him to brought back again to repentance, for in rejecting Christ, he is in effect crucifying him again. Peter say of these people, “For it would have been better for them never to have known the way of righteousness than after knowing it to turn back from the holy commandment delivered to them” (2 Pet 2:21). Why? Their judgment would be more severe than those who have never professed faith and participated in a church.
The writer then uses a parable similar to Jesus’ parable of the sower. A land that produces a crop after receiving rain is blessed by God. But a land that produces thorns and thistles is worthless and cursed, and will be burned. Jesus’ parable of the vine and the branches is similar. He is the True Vine, and all who are connected to him produces good fruits. But all who do not bear fruits are not true branches, and they will be cut off and burned.
By Holding Fast to God’s Promise and Oath (13-20)
After this severe and fearful warning, the Preacher turns to encouraging words beginning with verse 9. He now praises his readers—calling them “beloved”—saying, “Though we speak in this way, yet in your case, beloved, we feel sure of better things—things that belong to salvation.” They have shown love in the church by serving one another, which is evidence that their faith and repentance are real, not just empty words and emotions. Whereas in the last chapter, he calls them slow to learn, he now calls them to diligence and zeal for Christ so they may have “the full assurance of hope until the end.”
And what is this hope? This hope rests on “two unchangeable things”: God’s promise and oath. His example is God’s covenant promises to Abraham in Genesis 22:7 to give Abraham a multitude of descendants. God fulfilled his promise because Abraham’s children are all those in Christ who come from all the nations of the earth (Gal 3:29). People from all nations will give thanksgiving and praise to God for giving them saving faith and repentance through Christ.
Christ, therefore, is our “firm and secure hope, an anchor for the soul.” What does an anchor do? It prevents a ship from drifting because of wind or current. Back in 2:1, the writer encourages us to pay close attention to God’s Word so we may not drift. Without Christ as our hope and anchor, we will never mature in our faith. Instead, we will be like children, “tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes” (Eph 4:14).
Dear friends, hope and trust in Christ and no one and nothing else. For he saves us to the uttermost and forgives our sin even to the end, through his body broken and blood shed on the cross. Let our souls be nourished by Christ in the Holy Communion.
