Going On Unto Perfection
Hebrews 6:1-6

Intro: These Jews were exhorted to put away the Levitical rituals, and to begin growing in New Testament truth. They were being warned against laying down again a foundation of Old Testament (old covenant) doctrines and laws. The writer is not questioning the perseverance of the saints, he is insisting that those who persevere are the saints.

6:1 "Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ" -  That is, to leave the elementary (basic) concepts and doctrines and to go on to something more profound, on to maturity (context of 5:11-14). Come to a deeper understanding of Old Testament truths that are found and fulfilled in Christ.

Leave the beginning principles (Old Testament) that were preparation, but not the final word. Remember, God has finally and completely spoken in His Son (1:1). Trade that which is incomplete for that which is complete.

The Old Testament was the scaffolding to erect the building. After the building is complete (Christ) you don’t need the scaffolding!   M.R. DeHan

"Therefore leaving" - afenteV / Aor Imp Ptc / An action which causes a separation. It is leaving something behind that is done with and to go on to something new and better. It is the command to "once and for all" to abandon the basic principles. The Jews could not come to maturity until they abandon the Old Testament laws and rituals.

"let us go on"/ feromeqa / Pres Mid Subj IPP / to bring forth, or to bring within reach. It is used to describe a ship that is brought into the wind. We are to move forward as a ship guided by the hand of God. Where is God directing us?

"Unto perfection" - teleiothta - to reach an end, fulfillment, the final stage, ultimate destiny of the believer - perfected in Christ.

**To come to a full understanding and maturity in Christ in New Testament truth.

To reach an attainable goal, full performance, fully realized higher excellence. To gain full stature and maturity. To leave the type for the reality.

"Not laying again the foundation" - kataballomenoi / Pres Ptc - Lit. Against laying again, to be at war with laying again that Old Testament foundation.

"Of repentance from dead works" - their works prior to salvation were dead works under the law. When they came to Christ full repentance was granted, and there was no need to repent again (to salvation).

"And of faith toward God" - it was not necessary to have the same saving faith again which was once demonstrated at the time of their salvation.

6:2 "and the doctrine of baptisms..." - Jewish ceremonial washings, departed from at salvation.
Heb. 9:10; John 4:35

6:3 "and this we will do if God permit"/ Remember, collectively all the area of failure mentioned reflect a complete turning from God into the apostate religion of sacrifice, feast days, etc. This complete turning away initiated God’s saying, "it is impossible...to renew them again unto repentance."

6:4 "For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened" - "Those" shows contrast between the people described in 6:1-3. "Impossible" is used in 6:18; 10:4; 11:6 where it can only mean one thing - impossible.

They had allowed the Holy Spirit to bring them to the place of repentance. Now if they refuse the faith by which they could lay hold of eternal life with Christ as their Savior, and return to the sacrifices of the Old Testament, it would be impossible to bring them back to the place of repentance again. The impossibility would be as a result of their personal spiritual condition, not the grace of God.

They were once enlightened - apax fwtisqentoV / they had understood and comprehended the truth, but still rejected that truth.. They came a significant way in trusting, but not far enough (not mingled with faith).  The word once means "once for all" enlightened.

These Hebrews had understood the issues perfectly. They listened to the truths of the new covenant, the Holy Spirit enlightened their minds to clearly understand the truth thoroughly, but they rejected (refused) the light, turning back to the Old Testament sacrificial system, rejecting the sacrifice of Christ.

The Holy Spirit brought the light of the Gospel to their minds and hearts, and those that rejected that truth were lost forever. Don’t be like the Jews described here! Listen to the voice of Holy Spirit. Don’t reject the truth of the Gospel that has been offered.

"And have tasted of the heavenly gift" - geusanemouV / they had a perception of heavenly truth, and experience with the greatness of that gift, but never took the gift as their own. They had tasted the real spiritual character of truth in Christ in an experiential sense, but not in actuality.

Like the 12 spies they saw the land flowing with milk and honey, but turned back from the reality of the greatest blessing they could have possessed. They saw the benefits of knowing Jesus, but refused to believe by faith. Matt. 7:21 *They were on the threshold of salvation, but would not choose Christ!

"And were made partakers of the Holy Ghost"/ metoicouV / Aor Pass Ptc / The Greek tense points to the uncompleted work of the Holy Spirit. So far as the work of the Spirit was concerned, it was perfect, but the Spirit’s work would not be complete until the Hebrews received Christ by faith through the work of the Holy Spirit.

6:5 "and have tasted the good word of God" - geusamenouV / They had tasted, the types of the tabernacle, preaching of the prophets, songs of the Psalmist, the wisdom of the Scripture, which were fulfilled in Christ. They knew the spiritual character and content of the Scripture.

"All the tributaries of the Old Testament pour their waters into the ocean of Christ." (Ironside).

"And the powers of the world to come" -  they saw the miracles of Christ and His apostles, and were conscious of God’s power, yet still rejected the truth of the Gospel.

6:6 "If they fall away" - parapesontaV / Aor Ptc /to fall by the side of, to make defection from, false step after knowing the truth.

The words, fall away are only used 1X in the New Testament. However, to understand their use, we can look at the LXX. In Ezekiel 14:13; 15:8 Israel is seen as falling away from the true worship of the LORD. The word means to "deviate from the right path," even though as a nation they had experienced the greatness of God.

The important issue is not whether these people lost their salvation, but whether they would get saved or reject what they had heard. Their own sin was not committed in ignorance, but in a definite refusal to obey the Lord in faith. Since they personally rejected that free offer of salvation, they were lost.

"To renew them again to repentance" - anakainizein / "them" refers to those described in 6:4-5. Notice the first few words of 6:4, for it is impossible for those..." (then the description given in 6:4-5, to renew them again unto repentance." They could not be saved, then lost, then saved again.

It is impossible. God does not redeem, lose and then redeem again. God will not continue to call a man to repentance after what has been described previously.

WHY? "seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh and put him to open shame." - These Jews had rejected the truth regarding the Gospel, and purposely denied Christ publicly by turning back to Judaism and the sacrifices. This personal choice and rejection of Messiah was complete and final in the eyes of God.

God, seeing this final rejection, after doing all that was possible to convince them to believe, turned them aside as lost. But it was their choice that caused this tragedy. They had publicly shamed Christ by going back to the type of the Old Testament and rejecting the perfect sacrifice of Christ.

They suffered the loss of all that they could have possessed.