Maturing in Christ

Hebrews 6:1-8
Lesson 8

In our study last week, we briefly looked at the importance of moving on to more “solid
food” in our Christian faith and learning. In Hebrews 5:12, the writer states, “you have come to
need milk and not solid food,” pointing out that the believers had not grown out of infancy and
perhaps at one time ate solid food but had returned to milk. Chapter 6 of Hebrews states that
we need to move on; we need to grow. A baby is adorable and needs milk. However, if the
child is entering the teenage years and is still drinking milk for its sole nutrition, it is no longer
adorable but an enigma.

In the NLT, Hebrews 6:1 reads, “So let us stop going over the basic teachings about
Christ again and again. Let us go on instead and become mature in our understanding. Surely
we don’t need to start again with the fundamental importance of repenting from evil deeds and
placing our faith in God.” To put it in another way, we need to get past learning our ABC’s and
get to reading books!

The writer then jumps right into one of the most difficult passages of the Bible. In this
week’s lesson, we are going to explore what will be the beginning of the more “meaty” parts of
the Bible. For our first meal, we will be exploring the controversial verses of Hebrews 6:4-6 –
“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.” What does this
mean? If I fall away, will I lose my salvation?

Let’s take this hearty meal one step at a time and see what the Lord has for us. As
1 Timothy 1:7 states, “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and
of a sound mind.” His words to us are for instruction and exhortation so that we can mature
into the image of Christ and grow in the knowledge of Him.

1
Open your Bible and begin with a word of prayer

This Week’s Scripture: Hebrews 6:1-8

“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, 2of the doctrine of baptisms, of laying on of hands, of resurrection of the dead, and of
eternal judgment. 3And this we will do if God permits. 4For it is impossible for those who were
once enlightened, and have tasted the heavenly gift, and have become partakers of the Holy
Spirit, 5and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come, 6if 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. 7For 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; 8but if it bears thorns and briers, it is rejected and near to being cursed, whose end is to be
burned.” NKJV

This Week’s Memory Verse:

“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.” Hebrews 6:1

1. Read Ephesians 1:17-19 and list the incentives we have to grow in our faith.
a. ________________________________________________________________________
b. ________________________________________________________________________
c. ________________________________________________________________________
d. ________________________________________________________________________
e. ________________________________________________________________________
f. ________________________________________________________________________
g. Which of these incentives minister to you personally? ____________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________

2
 “Knowledge is indispensable to Christian life and service. If we do not use the mind that
God has given us, we condemn ourselves to spiritual superficiality and cut ourselves off
from many of the riches of God’s grace. . . . Knowledge is given us to be used, to lead us to
higher worship, greater faith, deeper holiness, better service.”
– John R. W. Stott (1921– 2011)

“For it is impossible to bring back to repentance those who were once enlightened—those who
have experienced the good things of heaven and shared in the Holy Spirit, who have tasted the
goodness of the word of God and the power of the age to come—and who then turn away from
God. It is impossible to bring such people back to repentance; by rejecting the Son of God, they
themselves are nailing him to the cross once again and holding him up to public shame.”
Hebrews 6:4-6 NLT

2. As we look into the above scripture in the NLT version, we must see it in view of all other
scriptures and let scripture be the commentary for scripture. Look up the following three
verses and note what they say about God and our relationship with Him.
a. John 10:27-29: ___________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
b. Luke 18:27: ______________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
c. Romans 8:38-39: _________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
d. What then is our conclusion? Is the passage talking about losing one’s salvation? Or,
perhaps it is talking about the difficulty of bringing back someone from a backslidden
state while they are still backsliding? Note your thoughts. ________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________

3
 “Where does your security lie? Is God your refuge, your hiding place, your stronghold, your
shepherd, your counselor, your friend, your redeemer, your Savior, your guide? If He is, you
don't need to search any further for security.”
– Elisabeth Elliot (1926-2015)

3. Hebrews 6:7-8 now speaks about a field that proves its worth by bearing fruit. Likewise, a
true believer bears fruit for God’s glory, as she makes spiritual progress. Read 1 Corinthians
3:9-15 and answer the following questions.
a. Who is God’s field? ________________________________________________________
b. Who has laid the foundation? _______________________________________________
c. Which of the building materials will survive the fire? _____________________________
________________________________________________________________________
 What do these represent? _______________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
d. Which of the building materials will not survive the fire? __________________________
________________________________________________________________________
 What do these represent? _______________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
e. Even though the unrighteous works are burned up in the fire, what will happen to the
worker? _________________________________________________________________
f. How does this passage give clarity to Hebrews 6:8? ______________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
4. Have you been cultivating “thorns and briars” in your life? What warning does Galatians
6:7-8 give us about sowing such things? _______________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________

4
Reflect – What has touched your heart during this week’s study?
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Respond – How has this study encouraged your spiritual growth?

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Result – In what practical ways can you apply what you have learned this week?
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________

5
Thoughts & Prayers