Hebrews 6
Bible Passage: Hebrews 6
During the Youth Spiritual Meeting, we were split into groups according to our age to discuss about brethren who no longer come to church. It was not easy to hear those names read out, though I only knew one out of the handful.
As I read today’s chapter, I feel those mixed emotions that I felt that day – Guilt because I have not done my part to contact that brethren; Fearful because I was afraid that one day I would join that list of names.
For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted the heavenly gift, and have become partakers of the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come, 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.
Hebrews 6:4-6
These brethren were once fervent and zealous leaders of the church. They were active in church works and activities..They were prominent youths. They could be brethren that many younger members look up to.
In the end times when the devil does his utmost to deceive and lure people away from the truth, it is so difficult to stand firm. If even ministers, deacons and preachers could fall away, let alone a common believer like myself?
As we enter into the different stages of life, it is tough to stay focus on God with so many external factors clouding our vision.
It could be a new career with a vast array of opportunities, new friends outside of church who seem to understand and appreciate you more, someone of the opposite gender with attractive qualities…
At the end of the day, let us evaluate ourselves, really.
How strong is our faith? Who is God to us? Are we willing to put Him first in our lives, or do we put Him on hold?
It is very sad that most of these people fall away due to human factors: lack of love among brethren, disagreement with certain members, unable to blend in with others.. Just how many more members can we lose?
Do you know someone who does not come to church anymore? Have you noticed that someone who you used to smile and say ‘hi’ to along the corridors… seemed to have disappeared?
May God help us all.
6 Comments
biblereadingcompanion
InHisTime raises a voice of warning for us to consider where we are today… and how we are going to face what lies ahead.
In this same chapter, the author of Hebrews gives us an idea how our souls can remain firm and secure in God. We have this hope given to us by an unchanging God – a God who cannot lie.
This hope is like an anchor that keeps us steady when things around us gets hairy.
Which reminds me of a song called “Will Your Anchor Hold?” If our anchor is Jesus… it will surely hold. If it is based on ourselves or others… we will be swept away….
PS
Do we blend in with Lord Jesus first?
Hebrews 6:5 and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come,
Please pardon my silly question: What does “the powers of the age to come” mean? What kind of powers are these?
Thank you.
appleofHiseye
“…what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, far above all principality [rule] and power [authority] and might [power] and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come.” (Ephesians 1:19-21)
It seems that this power in the ages to come is Christ Himself. I think this is quite a good question you’ve raised, because sometimes while skimming over things there are statements like this that I would read over and not think too much about. And therefore looking back to the first question you asked is a very valid question: yes, we should blend in with Lord Jesus by growing in the Lord. I found this passage quite good, as it can encourage us to pursue spiritual maturity.
“The spiritual infant is unskilled in God’s word. In other words, he is not
only slow to learn but also hardly practices God’s word. He needs to be
taught the basics again and again. On the contrary, the spiritually mature
train themselves through constant use of God’s word. Through much
experience, they are able to discern what is good and evil. They can
stand firm on sound doctrines and reject all false teachings (cf. Eph 4:13-
14). They can also abstain from sin and live a life pleasing to God.”
[Ref. Philemon and Hebrew: Bible Study Guide]
I think InHisTime has raised many reasons of exhortation to consider too…
PS
Hi appleofHiseye, your sharing helps me to understand the phrase better. Thank you and thank God.
A brethren shares that one other version records the phrase as “the miracles of the age to come”. When i hear more from the brethren, i’ll share here.
For now just share some of my childish thoughts:
Hebrews 6:4-5 from the chinese bible reads as follows:
4论到那些已经蒙了光照、尝过天恩的滋味、又于圣灵有份，
5并尝过神善道的滋味、觉悟来世权能的人，
“the powers of the age to come” is
“the miracles of the age to come” or
来世权能
Hebrews 6:4-5 describes the various faith-stage of a believer:
-论到那些已经蒙了光照 ie enlightened by the Light: chosen by God and accept the Truth (eg Paul and i just heard a somewhat testimony from a sis yesterday)
-尝过天恩的滋味 ie have tasted the heavenly gift: receive baptism for the remission of sin and reconciliation to God by the washing by the precious blood of Lord Jesus Christ (eg all believers of the true church, past, now and future)
-又于圣灵有份 ie and have become partakers of the Holy Spirit: receive the Holy Spirit to abide in us as guarantee of our inheritance in heaven
-并尝过神善道的滋味ie and have tasted the good word of God: live our daily life as new creation through renewal by the word of God (1Pet 2:2). Tasted= Eat + Digest + Absorb ie hear & heed
-觉悟来世权能的人and the powers of the age to come: understanding via divine (bec it is from God) enlightenment that the completion of our faith is eternal life in the kingdom of God.
The word “power” is in plural form in NKJV and the word “miracle” is also in plural form.
What are these powers?
Love – Psalm 103:17
Glory of God – Revelation 21:23
Power to transform His children into spiritual beings – Rom 8:23
Fruition of the trees of life – Revelation 22:2
Who holds the powers of the age to come?
Indeed is Lord Jesus who is
the Alpha and Omega,
the Beginning and the End,
and the First and the Last. (Rev 22:13)
Our faith is strong and steadfast when we reach the faith-stage of understanding that we must hold fast to the hope of eternal life. (Hebrews 11:1 and 2 Tim 4:7-8)
depress one
I agree with blogger that we need to reflect on ourselves and show a little care for brethren. I feel guilty too of this. I know I have to sms or at least call that brother out for a meal. To get to know more of his condition.
To be very honest here: Being a recovering brethren. I feel it is easy to blame others that they don’t care or no love, when you are feeling very down or negative towards life. However, i feel it takes two hands to clap. That is the weak brethren has to draw closer to God and the stronger brethren have show more care for them. In that process, we have to be tactful and not accidentally “judge or condemn”. Put yourself in their shoe and gently admonish. Nobody likes a harsh criticism. And the weak brethren, will have to realize his own weakness and ,by the grace of God, find strength from God’s love for him to move on.
There are services, home fellowship and youth fellowships. Practically, there are lots of opportunity to draw close to God and His people. The challenge for them is to reach out to Jesus and come for these services. And also to make themselves available for brethren to show concern to them.
Lastly, but most importantly, we also need prayers for God to touch their hearts and to anchor their hope on to God. To open their hearts so that they can forgive those brethren that have trespassed them. To be able to join (“blend”) in the body of Christ again.
One question. What is Order of Melchizedek?
P.s. I like the photo shot that blogger has include in this blog. It really portrays the isolated feeling.
YK
Tonight’s sermon by Pr Chin EQ at USPP was “The Most Important Matter” – Mark 12:28
Mark 12:30 – Jesus said “And you shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength. This is the 1st commandment.”
There is no doubt that some of us might not be getting much attention in church. Or we might have some disagreement with other members.
But do we love God enough to put behind our emotional (dislike of certain brethen) and continue come to church to warship HIM ? Just like in Mark 12:30, we have to love God with all our heart, soul, mind and strength. If our heart and soul are weak, please love God with our mind & come to church to pray to HIM. May your relationship with the brethen turn better, so your visit to church would a joyful experience again. That’s the most important matter LORD God wants us to do – Love HIM.