Chapter 6 begins with a call that we realize that we already understand and have worked toward the repentance of sins and now desire to stop doing things that are sinful. That is where all believers start and now that because that basic truth is understood, we need to move on to maturity,. We need to learn and practice things beyond the basics.
Verses 4-6 are verses that have been viewed in a variety of ways and have been debated. I will share the various views of these verses so you can be aware of other peoples thoughts on these, thus being prepared should you encounter such views. One view is an Arminian view that those verses address actual saved Christians who fall away and actually lose their salvation. Believing that, it continues, that once having been saved and losing salvation, they cannot be saved a second time. The second view is one that the people talked about in these verses are not "really" saved but merely profess to be. Perhaps by being devious or perhaps by not understanding what it takes to be saved. So in that view these are unsaved persons who fall away without ever coming to salvation. Next, some look at these verses as a warning to believers thus encouraging them to grow into maturity. It is understood they know that falling away in the sense of losing salvation is not possible but is more used only to express the huge importance of maturing. If we look at that view in a theoretical sense, we can say, if one who believes could lose salvation then we ought to treasure it and hold onto it with all we have. So hang on to salvation and grow firm and strong in maturity. I believe that if one is truly saved by faith in Christ, that salvation cannot be lost.
If believers grow on to maturity they will produce a crop good for others, as is intended. For as we saw last week, we are to grow in faith and then teach others. The fruit of our growth is there for those who are growing into maturity. If we don't grow and share with others our efforts can be seen as yielding thorns and no crop at all. Such a yield will be cursed and burned.
Hebrews continues on to say that all these things were not written about the recipients of Hebrews for the writer is confident that they are meant for better things. God will not forget how much effort they put into growing to maturity and then teaching others. They are then encouraged to always love others until life ends. In this way what is hoped for will come true. We can be sure to inherit God's promises because of faith and endurance like Abraham did.
We can trust in God's promises and know that He will fulfill those promises. We can look to the promise He made to Abraham, that through his son, the world would be populated. When people take an oath, they make it on someone who is greater than themselves to express the sincerity of it. God made His oath on Himself, who can be greater? Because of who God is we can be sure He will never change His mind. Abraham patiently waited and so should we. We can be patient believing that such things will come about because of Abraham's example and trust. He has given both His promise and oath and they will never change because God cannot lie.
So this means we can confidently run to Him knowing that His promises are true and that Jesus Himself is at the throne pleading on our behalf. Jesus paid the price and we are set free.
CHAPTER 7
Jesus functions as our high priest in the order of Melchizedek who was a great high priest in the city of Salem as well as a priest of God. He was revered as a great priest having great power and standing. Records of his family do not exist. This is not to imply that he had no parents or family.
Melchizedek (in part from Who's Who in the Bible by Reader's Digest)
"A puzzling Biblical figure, Melchizedek is mentioned twice in the Old Testament. Called the "King of Salem" (Jerusalem) and "priest of the God Most High" (Gen. 14: 18), he first appears bringing bread and wine to welcome Abraham back from his victory over the four kings who had captured his nephew, Lot. Abraham, in turn gives this dignitary or pre-Israelite Canaan a tenth of the bounty he has won in battle. In the book of Psalms, Melchizedek is named the representative priest in whose succession the Davidic king is ordained - "priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek" (Psalm 110:4). In the New Testament, Melchizedek becomes the sacral (sacred) king whose royal holiness transcends all human orders (like the tribe of Levi).
He seems to be a supernatural figure whose origins and eternal life "without father or mother or genealogy...who has neither beginning of days nor end of life" (Hebrews 7:13) foreshadow the divinity of Jesus.
Melchizedek is the focus of much specualtion. Some interpreters of the OT have proposed that the story of Abraham paying the tithe to Melchizedek and being blessed by him means that Melchizedek was even more important that the patriarch himself.
It is written that one had to come from the tribe of Levi to become a priest. Jesus did not, but came from the tribe of Judah. On top of that, there is never any mention of any priests coming from the tribe of Judah.
Jesus' priesthood, like Melchizedek, did not come from meeting all the requirements to be a priest, such as coming from Levi. Jesus could serve as priest because he came from the order of the Melchizedekan. By doing that, the law of Moses had to be set aside because only Jesus could offer complete removal of sin. The hope in Christ was better for it could completely cleanse us of sin and give us a way to God that no one else ever could.
The priest of the order of Levi did not have to give an oath but Jesus came with an oath. His oath of salvation was in Him and He would never change His mind. Many priests had come and gone before Christ because they died but Jesus is a priest forever because He never dies. He is the only high priest needed and will be there always. He is the only sacrifice needed and He will intercede for us forever. In that, He is able to once and forever be able to save those who come to Him in faith and belief. God appointed His Son with an oath, and His Son has been made the perfect High Priest once and forever.
Jesus did not need to act as other high priests. He did not have to offer sacrifices for the people nor himself. Being perfect, Christ offered the sacrifice of Himself for all our sins one time for all time.