Doom of Apostates (Part A)

Structure is critical, but without a foundation will be a structure very long so we had six principals here that are all of Jewish origin, but only Christ in fulfillment and that is one of the disconnects that the that the early Jewish Christians were struggling with our faith is built upon the Old Testament, but it is a development and a fulfillment of those things in the Old Testament.

And this is where they were getting into trouble. This is cross reference radio with our pastor and teacher Rick Gaston. Rick is the pastor of Calvary Chapel Mechanicsville. Pastor Rick is currently teaching through the book of Hebrews. Please stay with us after today's message to hear more information about cross reference radio, specifically how you can get a free copy of this teaching, but for now let's join Pastor Ricky in the book of Hebrews chapter 6 as he begins his message doom of apostates.

We are continuing in letter to the Hebrews. If you have your Bibles.

Please open to Hebrews chapter 6 Hebrews chapter 6 verses one through eight. Therefore, leaving the discussion of 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, the doctrine of baptisms laying on of hands of resurrection of the dead and of eternal judgment. And this we will do if God permits, or 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. The powers of the age to come, if they fall away to renew them again to repentance, since they crucified again for themselves, son of God put him to open shame for the earth, which drinks in the rain, and often comes up that often comes upon it, bears, herbs, useful for those by whom it is cultivated, receives blessings from God. But if it bears thorns and briars. It is rejected and near to being cursed whose end is to be burned.

When I first read Hebrews and four years after it was more of experience of enjoying unconnected points.

There are many things in the Hebrews to take out that you just right there on the surface and you get it, but of course in the time of study and preparation and reading much about Hebrews come to understand very much. I think what this letter is all about and I been trying to hammer that home every session so far and I will do so this morning I warned you that this would be the case using piledriver as an example, we first started our study in Hebrews and up. You know you you like to come in to the pulpit and and always talk about just the love of God, the grace of God's forgiveness and his mercy and all those things are beautiful and we will talk about those things. If God permits, as the writer said when he is writing to these Hebrews, but this is a no nonsense letter. It reminds me of of the Moses when he failed to circumcise his kid the Bible to get his children's two sons. The Bible says that God was going to kill him for. Had it not been for his wife Sapporo stepping in and we would not of had Moses and you you read that in Exodus exhibit this is serious business. If there's a sign of God that is so holy and righteous and fear is that we mustn't lose sight of it and go. We enjoy his grace and his friendship.

That is the Hebrew letter.

Now he starts off the first verse is with that therefore is connecting it to everything. He is just said and what we know to be chapter 5, but he is still speaking to low interest believers.

That is the problem that he is having with these Jewish Christians and in verses one through 12. He is addressing any who have received Christ and may be now in the process of refusing him. In verses 13 through 20. He will address those faithful believers that will go to their graves loving and wanting Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior see a contrast here in the sixth chapter of those two attitudes found in those exposed to Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit, the Trinity, as we know it. The early or the apostles in the early church. They battled constantly. The mingling of Christianity, first with Judaism. That's what Paul's letter to the Galatians is all about who has bewitched you will Galatians of anybody comes preaching any other cry, let him be accursed to me just dealing with these Jewish Christians and then Gentile Christians trying to imprint and brace the Old Testament and in and in a way that was superior to the New Testament, and this is was an ongoing struggle even in the Roman letter with the passage of time as the Gentiles began to be more in number. The majority in the church, then the apostles had to deal with Gnosticism you know these notices of default and Jesus really wasn't physical. The Phantom and all is nonsense, but the Christians were taking it in they would.

They were beginning to mingle it with the faith and the apostles rose up to deal with this and thus you have John's writings in his first three epistles and his gospel think Jesus is God's believe it came in the flesh, and he is real and this is not something that you want to play around with Paul when he again wrote to the Galatians he says a little leaven leavens the whole lump.

A little bringing in of contraband a little bringing up mixing him that which Jesus has forbidden with you what Jesus has said, you try to do that and that will spread through the church is a toleration of evil is a toleration of that which crisis forbade and if you do it, you're messing with your own salvation and and others because your sharing this junk you're putting up this posture as though where a church we follow Jesus Christ and Buddha and and this one and that one and anybody else the apostles and play around with that stuff. That's were we getting in this this Hebrew lesson. These this Hebrew letter. These vital lessons. Satan is always trying to pour into our faith, that which does not belong and there is never a shortage of Christians who are welcoming men and in doing it because he doesn't come in wearing his Satan hat comes in. Dressed like one of those in the congregation speaks to Kristin needs any mingles in the crowd and the next thing you know the pastors are slamming that kind of attitude and people are protesting what could be wrong with this here reader this right here is what's wrong with it. Too many to itemize. Well, let's get rolling in less we can't finish the section verse one, 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 in the faith toward God, and of these again in this group, or those who just refuse to grow. They wanted to cling to a counterculture known as we know is Judaism. It does the Old Testament without Christ and they wanted to hold that and also mix it in and so going back to chapter 5 where it all began because it was an abrupt change. He returns to this behavior in them and he says in verse 12 of Hebrews 5, you have your Bibles. Please look down at that for though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the first principles of the oracles of God and you have come to need milk and not solid food. She's not playing nice occasions gotten very serious with him.

He's going to go back to other stuff but throughout this letter he is going to slam it total intolerance for arrow being mixed in. Now this is a little different but not too much from the Christians in Corinth see here there mingling two different religions that are irreconcilable. But in Corinth they were they were not growing because they were too carnal they were to unlike Christ, they were just behaving as though they were Christians while they carried out Christianity you say does that happen. Of course does.

We know that love you look at the Revelation chapter 1st with the second and third chapters.

It's all about Jesus dealing with the church. The problems in the church except the two of the churches there were all in trouble. First Corinthians 3 and I brethren could not speak to you is to spiritual people but Esther carnal's document is coming up into the pulpit is, I can't talk to you people I Christians stop pretty intense. Of course, that's me helping you long but that is essentially what he is saying he continues, is not done is, but as the babies.

I fed you with milk and not with solid food, for until now. You are not able to receive it. And even now you are still not able for your carnal where there are in the strife, and divisions among you, are you not carnal, behaving like mere men. You don't even like Christians you still lost in your sins and anyone to complain church so we understand going into this these apostles were not fooling around.

They were then in the Holy Spirit who ministered through them is not fooling around this very moment going to get a heavy dose of that this morning. Well, let's just receive what it has to say and not miss the importance of of this introduction. This six chapter 1st paragraph that I just given he says in this first verse leaving the discussion of the elementary principles of Christ is saying we want to get you past the ABCs of Christianity.

We want to move you deeper into the faith so that you can be more effective for Christ and in your own life is nudging them beyond pop sermons in all preach what I like to hear. Don't make me uncomfortable.

I did not come to church to be uncomfortable with what is being said well if you want to not be uncomfortable with what is being said two things don't come the church that preaches the word don't read your Bible and you can be as comfortable as you want and this is just the way it is.

I don't write this I wish I could write like this but I cannot but I can preach and show can you you can say well I can create a document like Hebrews or Romans or even Jude but I can preach it in love always in love and writer is seized loving them. That's why he's writing to them because I don't like it doesn't mean he doesn't love them was one of the early lessons of parenting is not you going to have to do things to your children that will withhold things from them that they don't like because you love them, and you understand you are forming a human being and to be popular with your kids when they are doing things that are wrong is not a good idea is what is going to perfection that Greek word for perfectionist to finish.

Let's go to the finish line running a race and the goal is not just to be to run the race. The goal is to reach the end of the race, which is heaven course and his appeal was based on the superiority of Christ over everything else. Today we don't meet many Christians in this part of the country or the world that are trying to mingle Judaism with our faith, but we meet people more mixing everything else there's some sort of contemplative prayer, meditation or prayer or some other piece of junk. Some pop psychology. Here, you need to know how you need to behave follow this. Why get that from Scripture, only Scripture knows the heart if I follow the word of God, I'll be all right if I start mixing into the word of God. I'm going to head into dangerous waters is as letters going to perfection Paul when he wrote to Timothy said meditate on these things. Give yourself entirely to them which which many don't want to do. I don't like need to save 90% for me at 10% for God, I mean we do that with the offering box do we not what I do that with my life. I don't think anyone would come out and say that with many do it. He tells Timothy meditate on these things. Give yourself entirely to them that your progress may be evident to all.

It's a witness is called a testimony be able to look at you and say and when I'm around you I feel like I want to fire two or when I am you know I the iron sharpens iron make each other stronger. So we are to go on to perfection is not laying again the foundation foundations are not to be laid over and over again useful to build on them you're actually supposed to do something with the foundation other than lay.

It was nice.

Let's do it again. That's what they were doing foundation is critical, but it is not enough in the structure is critical, but without a foundation will be a structure very long so we had six principals here that are all of Jewish origin, but only Christ in fulfillment and that is one of the disconnects that the that the early Jewish Christians were struggling with our faith is built upon the Old Testament, but it is a development and a fulfillment of those things in the Old Testament.

And this is where they were getting into trouble. We know John the Baptist.

He was baptizing people but his baptism was a little different than the baptism that we have as Christians.

Luke three. Speaking of Johnny went into the region. All around Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for the remission of sin. We believe that we have more information. That's all we had, we would be thinking about the Jewish cleansing rights and that's where this is going. He says not laying again the foundation of repentance of that works Judaism's view of repentance was missing one critical thing Jesus Christ, that's what it was missing. That's what they were going back to see when they were going back to the temple is alive, and I brought my sheep to be offered unto Christian was not Christ fulfillment.

There are these things just symbols of what he fulfilled and that these thing on these things and not only are no longer necessary, but forbidden because he is the Lamb of God, there is no other lamb to bring before the throne of God. He and he alone, and so this he's dealing with first repentance and faith. Both have to do with conversion. There is no conversion without repentance and is no conversion without faith is the salvation of the soul conversion is this is what it's all about for the unbeliever and if there's anyone here. You cannot open your heart to Christ. You've not been born again.

Everything that the Holy Spirit is speaking to your heart is about converting you from doing life your way to coming under his Lordship in doing it his way.

He see repentance deals with personal sin. My wrong my wickedness, my being separate from God.

Jesus that I tell you, unless you repent you will perish. Luke's gospel through 13 now understand for the believer.

For the believer who is not mingling these things and struggling. I put the source of save commercial in because the heat of the sermon is someone may be a Christian, you're struggling with some sin.

Using the judges of nothing but condemnation. Now is not the case we get to the different than the backslider in the apostate momentarily.

These were becoming apostates they were actually leaving the faith. Again, Paul writes to Timothy, we know that the law is good if one uses it lawfully so the New Testament recognizes the Old Testament under the authority of the new pot, says the Old Testament moral code is perfect. Thou shall not kill covered steel adultery lie when it comes to salvation. It is weak is not able to do it so I have read a few verses to make sure you understand this essay will automate what weight amazing group of Abraham and David were saved, they were unable to go to heaven without Jesus Christ, they went to righteous. She old when they died they did not go into paradise. Only Jesus open that door. Romans 83 for what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God did by sending his own son in the likeness of sinful flesh on account of sin, he condemned sin in the flesh. Of course, on our behalf.

Hebrews 719 of the law made nothing perfect. On the other hand, there is the bringing in of a better hope which we draw near to God corsets Christ. Galatians 219 and 21 for either the Lord died to the law that I might live to God. These is just saying all to my all into Old Testament understanding was damn in my soul.

It wasn't until I grabbed the New Testament understanding that's the case of Paul was he doing is killing Christians going after Christians in a problem watching Stephen that righteous man, full of the Holy Spirit be stoned to death, he would've thrown the stone tube.

Had he not been a Pharisee and prohibited by the Jewish rabbinical laws. He continues in Galatians. I do not set aside the grace of God for righteousness come to the law of Christ died for nothing. Galatians 2 verse 21.

You cannot bring sheep to the temple and say your Christian that's what he is saying when he said I do not set aside the grace of God of righteousness comes through the law than Christ died for nothing.

He didn't-he died for me to die for anyone who wants to come to him Levitical system, really big. As I said it never provided forgiveness of sins.

It promised the forgiveness of sins. It illustrated in the law, the leper in the day of his cleansing that he would again be restored because man is not born in his restored state to God, Ron, and the sinful state as a child of Adam from the profits they promised the coming of forgiveness from God through Messiah and Christ said I'm not come to destroy the law but to fulfill the law and so he says and of faith.

You don't want to leave the conversation of repentance and you should because you should already understand that you repented. You understand what that means they want to just talk about faith is the heart of God is not saying these things are necessary is just saying you not advancing beyond these things is of the ABCs of our faith.

Faith addresses a personal God is holy and righteous and high and we are not those things. And yet we trust that he can make us acceptable to him that God is indeed God not applying for the job he is God.

He doesn't need me to see that and say it but he wants me to be no less God. Whether I do or not, but I'll be much better off if I do so will read later in Hebrews 11 without faith it is impossible to please God.

Those who come to him must believe that he is a rewarder that he rewards those who trust him. And so Judaism's view of faith was missing one thing Jesus Christ, that's what he is working with and you'll meet people like this today. They call themselves Christians and think there's some other way to credited to salvation. Acts chapter 20 says this about Paul testifying to Jews, and also to Greeks, repentance toward God and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ. What was Judaism's faith missing same thing. Repentance was missing. What was that Jesus Christ's we love him we absolutely love him always saying of his love and his mercy and his holiness. We are moving emotionally and rightfully so. And the best is not yet come. There will be a day in heaven we will stand clean cleansed forever never again in jeopardy of anything harmful we will sing sing sing used to be a prison in Sing Sing. This is a different one about a prison sing verse two of the doctrine of baptisms, of laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead and of eternal judgment. Three saying I know you want to just keep talking about the stuff is more to the faith in this. This doctrine of baptisms, ceremonial washing with water Jews were big on that as well. One of the reasons they were so receptive to John. John God in his wisdom use John to do this to open the door for Messiah.

That's why John is known as the forerunner of Messiah. One of the reasons why baptisms here is floral, not singular is not my baptism. It's the washing.

The immersing's with NS because it is talking about the Levitical system of some ceremonial washing the rights of cleansing. They incorporated this into everything. By the time the rabbis are doing it. Every house had a little make up a little tub just for this purpose.

You've been listening to cross reference radio the daily radio ministry of Pastor Rick asked Calvary Chapel in Mechanicsville, Virginia to be mentioned at the beginning of today's broadcast. Today's teaching is available free of charge at our website. Simply log on to cross reference radio.com that's cross reference radio.com would also like to encourage you to subscribe to the cross reference radio podcast subscribing ensures that you stay current with all the latest teachings from Pastor Rick, you can subscribe cross reference radio.com or simply search for cross reference radio your favorite podcast to the next time as Pastor Rick continues teaching through the book of Hebrews right here on cross reference radio