Hebrews 6:1-12 ~ tasted the heavenly gift

Hebrews 6:1-12

David Cochran, English Standard Version

¹ Therefore let us leave the elementary doctrine of Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God, ² and of instruction about washings, ^[baptisms] the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment. ³ And this we will do if God permits. ⁴ For it is impossible, in the case of those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, and have shared in the Holy Spirit, ⁵ and have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the age to come, ⁶ and then have fallen away, to restore them again to repentance, since they are crucifying once again the Son of God to their own harm and holding him up to contempt.

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⁷ For land that has drunk the rain that often falls on it, and produces a crop useful to those for whose sake it is cultivated, receives a blessing from God. ⁸ But if it bears thorns and thistles, it is worthless and near to being cursed, and its end is to be burned.

⁹ Though we speak in this way, yet in your case, beloved, we feel sure of better things—things that belong to salvation. ¹⁰ For God is not unjust so as to overlook your work and the love that you have shown for his name in serving the saints, as you still do. ¹¹ And we desire each one of you to show the same earnestness to have the full assurance of hope until the end, ¹² so that you may not be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.

In life, we all want love, appreciation, and all the blessings. In spirituality, we want all of the hope and the promises. The holiness of God has always been an issue, yet mature faith does examine and long for all the aspects of God's nature.

We've thought about the joy and expectation of believing God's promises. It is part of the fruit of the Spirit.

Galatians 5:22
the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.

Self-control in our words, actions and consumption does NOT ever occur without some discernment of the effect of our words, the effort we put into action, overcoming of sluggishness and love of pleasure in consumption. It is not a stretch to say self-control is also thought - thinking - awareness. Awareness comes from wisdom & observation.

For instance, a friend sat many days with her father, a cancer patient, who'd been out of her life for many years - who had divorced her mother and left her and her sisters to pursue his career and 2nd marriage. She wondered, as a Christian, what her dad's beliefs were and where they would lead him. She was pleased to discover her dad had a faith that had grown like the Prodigal Son. He knew His Father was running to meet him, an undeserving child of God.

At one point, my friend talked to the Hospice nurse about the joy - for the peace - her dad was experiencing. Her Hospice nurse said she had been at her job for a long time and there is a very definite end to all life. It is either peaceful or there is a fear of fire and hell. I've known two people who did die speaking of fire and pain and fear.

How to tie this passage to these thoughts and bring in verses - we know of the fallen angels.


2 Peter 2:4
For if God did not spare angels when they sinned, but sent them to hell, putting them into gloomy dungeons to be held for judgment


Jude 1:6
And the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, he has reserved in everlasting chains under darkness to the judgment of the great day.

Matthew 25:41
Then shall he say also to them on the left hand, Depart from me, you cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels

Revelation 12:9
And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceives the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.

Revelation 20:2-5
And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years


yet in your case, beloved, we feel sure of better things—things that belong to salvation. For God is not unjust so as to overlook your work and the Love that you have shown for his name in serving the saints, as you still do. And we desire each one of you to show the same earnestness to have the full assurance of hope until the end, so that you may not be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises!!!!


*** 1 Corinthians 6:20
for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.



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