Well, good morning, everyone. Happy Mother's Day to all of our mothers and grandmothers and aunts and motherly figures in our lives. You know, there's a saying that goes something like this, when man plans, God laughs. And we were well-intended. After our staff meeting on Tuesday, we ordered all the things that would come for Mother's Day, and they were going to arrive on Thursday. And then on Thursday, we got a notice that the shipment had been delayed. So happy Mother's Day. I'm not sure what else you're going to get. I'm going to leave that up to your loved ones to make sure it is truly a blessed day. But I apologize that we didn't get it in time. And we'll figure out a way of how to properly use those things that we ordered in due time. But just to let you know, we did not forget. We were overruled at a certain level. Might be a good time at this time to remember to turn your cell phones off so that we're not disturbed as we're preparing to go through God's word. And let me take time to greet those that are joining us online this morning. Good morning. Happy Mother's Day to all of you for whom that is applicable. We send our greetings in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, and we look forward to studying God's word together with you as we gather around Hebrews chapter six this morning. They're the kind of stories that we just hear all too often. A well-known Christian leader, or a lead musician in a Christian music band, a celebrity pastor in a large local church, maybe a famous theologian, who suddenly announced to the world, often with great fanfare and support, that they are no longer Christians, and they renounce all that they have claimed to believe before. In recent years, the term deconversion has entered into our vocabulary. Though not a new concept, it's a new word of people who have transitioned from the faith they grew up in to something else. There are even websites created for the sole purpose of leading people step by step out of the Christian faith, and into the supposed free-drinking world of atheism. In the Western world today, our college campuses are full of professors who openly declare that their aim is to destroy the faith of the incoming freshmen, claiming that truth is on their side and that freedom is found in being set free from all dogma and religion. We can add to this challenge by acknowledging that there are deep levels of doubt fear, anxiety among those who were raised in the church, but who've now walked away, at least emotionally, if not physically, walking away from the faith that they were raised in. How are we to respond to this spiritual crisis? Well, first, we must recognize that there are real questions that people have, and it is our duty, out of love, to give them answers and support them as they wrestle with those questions. A simple, just zip it and believe, will not find a receptive heart. A scolding word of, well, that's not what we taught you, might not be the way to keep the conversation going. But secondly, this is a reminder that there is a very real spiritual battle that is taking place for truth, from those who follow the one who claims to be the truth and those who do not. This has simply been the reality of the church from the beginning, that this world is a spiritual combat zone over the life and mind of every person. But thirdly, perhaps it's helpful for us to be reminded that this is not a new phenomenon. It has been a reality and a struggle that the church has known for 2,000 years, and that's why it's good for us to study church history. It's good for us to see those who have walked before us, those who have wrestled with issues down through the ages, and rather just tsk, tsk, tsk, and send them away, to actually wrestle with the issues ourselves, to provide answers that will be satisfying. But lastly, ultimately only God knows the heart of each person. We're doing well even just to understand our own hearts, and even then, we don't always understand them, how much more the heart of someone else. It's often the case that what a person acquiesces to on the outside may be at odds with the reality of what is happening on the inside. So why bring this up on a Sunday morning in such a sobering context? Why bring this up as we're preparing to study the Word of God? Well, because it's a fitting introduction to the passage we're considering today. The writer has been making the case that Jesus is better than anything that has come before. He's the fulfillment of all that has come before, and there's nothing better that will come after him. But he knows he's dealing with a first century church that is struggling with very real issues as they try to live out the way of the cross, as they try to live out what it is to follow Christ and wondering, is it worth it? And so he feels the need to shake them up, to stir them up, to get them to consider their actual state before a holy God, and to consider well and seriously their current state, for he knows that nothing less than eternity is at stake. And so with all of that as our introduction this morning. I invite you to stand as we read our passage this morning prayerfully and as we consider what God has for us as we study this passage in Hebrews 6, beginning in verse 4, down to verse 12. And the holy word of God says, 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, and have tasted the goodness of the Word of God, and the powers of the age to come, 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. 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. But if it bears thorns and thistles, it is worthless and near to being cursed, and its end is to be burned. Though we speak in this way, 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 and 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. This is the word of God given to the church to challenge and to think about their status as they face the word of truth. May we have ears to hear it this morning. Please be seated. And let us pray. Father, indeed, it's a daunting task. to sit under the authority of your word when it's a word that is hard, when it's a word that is difficult. And yet it is a word that's come from your heart, inspired by your Holy Spirit, moving this human author that he might record exactly what you want us to hear. And so, Father, help us this morning. Help us to lay aside the burdens, the distractions that we carried in, and give us eyes to see and ears to hear. And be our teacher, we pray, in these precious moments, in Jesus' name, amen. Well, as you turn to your sermon outline, and as we prepare to take notes as we go through this passage, we begin with our first major point, which is the devastation of apostasy. The devastation of apostasy. In the passage we looked at last week during our time together in the book of Hebrews, we saw that the author with both compassion and yet conviction said that his audience is dull of hearing and is stuck on the basics of the Christian faith. They're regretfully still immature in their faith and he longs for them to move forward and to move on into maturity in the truth. And so although he briefly repeats the basics of that faith, he says he's not gonna remain there, but that he will move them on to maturity as the Lord permits. And we've seen again and again that one of the main themes in Hebrews is how much this author longs for this struggling first century church to focus on the main things of the faith, to focus on the things that are true, and to keep their eyes on Jesus. And He calls them to watch over themselves to make sure that they understand who they are in Christ, that they understand who Christ is, to avoid the deceitfulness of sin to which we are all prone, and to watch over one another. That's a good reminder then even for us today. This is the ongoing struggle. Watch over ourselves. Watch over one another. Sin is still deceitful, and we're all prone to be deceived. from the time we wake up in the morning until the time we place our head back down on the pillow. We need constantly to be reminded of what the truth is and to abide in it. And so after giving some tough words and a warning about immaturity, he says it's time to move on. And now we'll speak of something that is impossible. And I'm just going to truncate the verses a little bit just to kind of pull the main thought together. For it is impossible in the case of those, and he talks about what those have received, and then who have fallen away to restore them to repentance. Now in the book of Hebrews, there are four things that are said to be impossible. In chapter six, verse eight, we are told that it is impossible for God to lie. We'll see that, Lord willing, in our next time that we are in Hebrews. In chapter 10, verse 4, he says it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sin. In chapter 11, verse 6, he says it is impossible to please God without faith, without a trusting, believing, confident relationship with Him that He will do what He says. And here he says it is impossible to bring to repentance those who have fallen away. So how should we see this verse? Well, this is why in the Evangelical Free Church here in Oroville, we study the Bible in an expository manner. It allows us to see and unfold the argument of a book from beginning to end so that we can see things in their context. And the context that is going on in the book of Hebrews is one of suffering and of facing persecution. This is a church that has seen a lot. They've heard a lot about Jesus. They even know a lot. And yet they're now wavering under the threat of apostasy, which it means the abandonment of the faith. And the author is telling them that there's a type of apostasy that is irremediable. It cannot be overcome. It's a spiritual tragedy of the highest order. He has already reminded us several times. He will do so several times throughout the rest of this book, that perseverance is the sign of a true believer. That's the overall message of the scriptures of the New Testament, that God finishes what he starts, that he is the one that imparts new life. He is the one that guides his people. He's the one that empowers them, and he's the one that holds them fast, as we've just sung. And so the author grieves that there may be some who fall off along the way and not persevere and reveal that they were never part of the true church, though they may have been involved for a time and for a season. And he does not want that to happen to any of these first century readers who would be reading this letter as they would gather on a particular Sunday morning. In the study of church history, in the study of the history of every church, it's the unfortunate experience of every church in every generation to have people who have been with them for a while, but maybe even after years of experience or service who drop out and do not continue, either with that church or with any church. At times, they even arrive at a point where they just, if not openly, certainly quietly, just neglect and ignore and reject all that they had previously learned. As I said, this is not a new phenomenon. This is the history of the church. One of the problems that we face, living in a culture that we do, where it's all about numbers, it's all about success, it's all about budgets, it's all about getting bigger, it's all about attracting more, is the temptation is there to water down and dilute the truth of the scriptures simply so that we can gather a bigger audience, to make it more palatable, to make the gospel more acceptable. But the fact remains is that the gospel will never be acceptable to a sin-bound sinner because it simply is not that glorifying to talk about a naked Messiah who is hanging between heaven and earth bearing the sin of sinners. That's the gospel. And this same Jesus calls us to die to ourselves and to live for him. That's not the popular message about how to win friends and influence people, but it is the message of being faithful to our God, to preach the gospel as it is, and to call people to repentance. We do well to learn from the lesson of immunizations. Immunizations work well because just a little exposure to a disease creates a defense to counteract it and to resist it. That's really great in the physical realm. but it's a great danger in the spiritual realm. Let's not just expose people to just a little bit of Christianity, or just what we think is the positive side of Christianity, and then immunize them against the real gospel message, so that we're able to then preach with a clear conscience the full counsel of God, which means from beginning to end, all that God has given us. So what are we to make of those who were once with us, but who no longer are? It's common in daily life to meet people who were once part of a church, but who no longer are affiliated in any meaningful way. That's part of the question that the author is dealing with this morning. He's worried that some in this struggling church will not continue in the faith. And from the beginning, it's not always easy for us to know those who will persevere. We can't ultimately know the heart of anyone. That's why we're called to continually look out over one another. And so this author is going to begin this morning by giving some exterior signs of those who were somehow involved in the Christian church, but, as it turns out, were never truly part of it. And in doing so, he unwittingly gives us one of the most controversial passages in all of the New Testament. one of the most debated passages in the history of the church, one of the passages that's been really difficult to understand. There have been a number of possible interpretations that have been offered over time, but oftentimes, they're removed from the context of Hebrews and often built upon an a priori, a decided ahead of time presupposition than really on the text. In other words, they bring their conclusion to the text, and then they aren't surprised when they find their conclusion. But I think if we look at the overall message of Hebrews and how it's been leading us along, it should bring some light and clarity. And certainly we want to look at it humbly this morning. Again, as we preach, as we teach in the church, we also do that in communion with the church across 2,000 years. And so we need to do well to listen. But in my best effort of really trying to dive into this text, this is the place that I've landed, and I'll walk you through that this morning. We begin first, as we see the devastation of apostasy, we begin with the great privileges. the great privileges that these people had. We begin in verse four. For it is impossible in the case of those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, who have shared in the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the goodness of the word of God, and have the powers of the age to come. I'll stop there. Let's look briefly at these phrases. We're not gonna have time to dive deeply into each one of them, but there's some key words that are here. We have the word enlightened. And light means to be made aware in some way of the things of God. In some way, there are those who've been exposed to the light and the truth of the gospel and have more understanding than they had before. To taste is to experience in some way the things of God. Now there've been some in the history of the church that have tried to say to taste here means the Eucharist or the Lord's table. I think that's pushing it too literally or literalistically because in this case to taste is really to experience. They've tasted something of the new life in Christ. To share in the Holy Spirit is to see God working and acting in some way. And if we remember that he's speaking to a church here, it helps us understand that there were those in the church in the first century who probably heard of answered prayers or seen examples of God's provision or been touched emotionally during a worship service or some other way by the things of God. It is possible to have emotional encounters with God and yet still not be in a true saving relationship with him. To taste the goodness of the word is to be moved in some way by the teaching and preaching of God's word. Unbelievers can understand God's Word, often in great capacity. And they can even be moved by it, but not to a point where they repent and believe. In the early years of our ministry in West Africa, Carol and I were involved in showing the Jesus film in open air. set up the speakers, set up the screens, set up the cameras, all the things, and people would come, and we would show the Jesus film, and people would gather, and we'd overhear comments that people would make. And oftentimes, they would talk about how amazing Jesus spoke. And there would be anguish as they saw the crucifixion scenes, and there would even be applause when Jesus rose from the dead. But that response did not always mean that they were moved to repentance and faith in Jesus Christ. to taste the powers of the age to come can be true of those associated with the church. The new covenant has come. The new covenant, the fulfillment of the old, the overflowing, if you will, application and fulfillment of the old often was accompanied by signs of powers and wonders. And people can be involved in church and experience all of those things without truly being born again by the spirit of God. For we must be born again, which is a work of God. People can see amazing acts. People can hear amazing miracles. They can hear amazing teachings and not believe. We have examples in the life of Jesus over and over again, where not everyone who saw the miracles, not everyone who was even touched by a miracle, not everyone who heard the teachings of Jesus actually responded in faith and repentance. But we can see that phenomenon today. I have heard many testimonies over the years. of medical doctors who have unexplained occurrences where tumors that were on one set of x-rays suddenly disappear on another set of x-rays. But instead of calling it a miracle, they call it a spontaneous remission of the disease. Looking for a natural explanation of what seems to be at least supra-natural, if not supernatural. Instead of responding with praise and repentance, the author here says that there are those who can see great things, great privileges, and still suffer great losses. Great loss. It is impossible of those who have fallen away to restore them to repentance. Now, what is the larger context of the book of Hebrews? It's one of an author calling a first century church to maturity and to get over their immaturity. And what example has the author already used to get their attention? He's used the example of the Israelites in the wilderness. They failed to enter because they did not join it with faith. We saw that when we were looking at Hebrews 3 and 4. But think about what they saw and experienced in the Exodus and in the wilderness. They ate of the Passover lamb. They saw the blood put over the post and they experienced deliverance from the angel of death. They saw the sea split in two, allowing them to cross over into dry land. They saw the pillar of fire by night and the pillar of cloud by day. They received the Ten Commandments and heard the voice of God on Mount Sinai. They saw the manna and ate of the manna over 40 years. They experienced many things of God's deliverance from Egypt, even giving them bread and water at miraculous times along the way. They saw all of that and yet they did not enter in because their hearts were hardened and they did not believe the promises of God. They said they wanted to go back to Egypt. They wanted to go back to the former ways of doing things. It is possible for those to have heard the gospel, to have been involved in church ministry, to have had a certain allegiance to different things over the years, but then turn away. And to go away in this context is to go astray and to fall into grave error. It's to become one who has now become unfaithful to the Lord, even rejecting the message. So if we remember the example that we are given to us in the book of Hebrews, It helps us to form our understanding of the passage that we have before us. If someone has seen the force of Jesus, heard the words of Jesus, seen actions of Jesus, and then go away and say, it's not for me, I'm not going to do it, there's no longer any repentance possible for them, for there's nowhere else to turn to. It's only in Jesus that we are forgiven and set free. As one commentator says, But this rejection gets even worse as it degrades from great loss to great contempt. Great loss to great contempt. Since they are crucifying, once again, the Son of God to their own harm and holding Him up to contempt. Those that reject Christ, repudiate Christ, it's as if they're humiliating Him again and subjecting Him to all the sufferings and embarrassments that He's already had. And now, perhaps, we gain a little more insight when we read the events at the cross from the enemies of Jesus. And those who passed by derided him, wagging their heads and saying, you who would destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days, save yourself. If you are the son of God, come down from the cross. So also the chief priest and the scribes and the elders mocked him, saying he saved others. He cannot save himself. He's the king of Israel. Let him come down now from the cross and we will believe in him. He trusts in God. Let God deliver him now if he desires it. For he said, I'm the son of God. And the robbers who were crucified with him also reviled him in the same way. They were contemptuous of Jesus. It's the idea that's here in Hebrews 6. We can get to a point where you just become contemptuous of Jesus. If that's the attitude, then there's nowhere else to turn for it's in Jesus alone that there's forgiveness of sin. As the same commentator continues, he said, no path to salvation is left for those who are in the privileged position of having experienced God's power but who reject it. And so it's the end of their lives that reveal how it is that they actually lived and who they were. There's a devastation that's in apostasy. And so the second point as we move forward in it then is the test of true faith. The test of true faith. Verse seven says, 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. But if it bears thorns and thistles, it is worthless and near to being cursed and its end is to be burned. We know the test of any land is the rain that falls upon it and whatever fruit may or may not be produced. If there's a good crop that is produced, it's useful land, it's fruitful land, it's a reward. But if it doesn't, following the The illustration here, it is burned in judgment. I think we catch the overall meaning. This is not something new that we haven't seen elsewhere. We see it many times in the Old Testament where these illustrations of agriculture are used by the Old Testament prophets. It's also used many times by our Lord Jesus Christ. Makes sense. It was an agricultural area. Most people lived off the land. This would be the perfect way to use illustrations to show the truth of God's word. Those who follow and obey God, the message is consistent, producing fruit and keeping with righteousness find the blessing of God. But those who follow and deny him experience his judgment. I think behind all of this is this graphic illustration in Isaiah chapter 3, parable of the vineyard. I'm sorry, Isaiah chapter five. The Lord laments over the house of Israel. He said, I've planted them in a good land. I gave them all these blessings and I expected them to produce fruit of righteousness, but they produced wild grapes. And the result was judgment. A very practical note in our lives. A couple of weeks ago, I set out to do an overseeding project in our yard. So I did everything that you're supposed to do, and de-thatching, and raking, and preparing the soil, and putting the seed down, and watering, and we have very mixed results. Some seed looks like it's going to make it and will be fruitful, and some show no signs of growth at all. But here's the thing, the seed is the same. The delivery was the same. But the results vary based on the quality of the soil and outside interference from things like wind and birds. This writer in Hebrews knows that not all who hear the Word of God really hear it. He's already said they have dullness of hearing. And so what we see in Hebrews 6, verse 7, it portrays the fruitfulness and the faithfulness of those who are commended in verses 9 and 10. But verse 8 illustrates those who are shown in verses 4 to 6, and they're not commended, they are condemned. We have here in Hebrews 6 a good illustration of the parable of the four soils in Matthew 13. And of the four kinds of soils that are mentioned there, it is only the last one that represents the true believer in Jesus Christ. It was that good soil in which the seed took root, and there was fruit that was produced unto a good harvest. But those first three soils are represented by what we see in Hebrews 6, verses 4, 5, and 6. People can be eyewitnesses to great things, and not be saved. We have examples in the Scriptures itself. Simon the magician, called Simon Magus in Acts 8, saw the axe of God, was even baptized and amazed by the power of God's Spirit, but wanted to buy that power through money, because the power interested him more than walking with the Lord. And what was the apostle Peter's response to that attempt to buy the power of God? He said, may your silver perish with you. You know what that means? May you be condemned, in the ultimate sense, with your money. May your silver perish with you, because you thought you could obtain the gift of God with money. You have neither part nor lot in this matter, for your heart is not right before God. Repent, therefore, of this wickedness of yours, and pray to the Lord that, if possible, the intent of your heart may be forgiven you, For I see that you are in the gall of bitterness and in the bond of iniquity. And early church history shows that this Simon the magician went off to be a great opponent of the church. Judas Iscariot experienced everything that is mentioned in Hebrews chapter six, verses four to six. And yet, from the lips of our Lord Jesus Christ, he was called the devil and a son of perdition. And we have the warning from Jesus himself, that he is the one who ultimately weighs and measures all of our actions. Towards the end of the Sermon on the Mount, he says, "'Not everyone who says to me, "'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, "'but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. "'On that day, many will say to me, "'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, "'and cast out demons in your name, "'and do many mighty works in your name?' "'And then I will declare to them, Never knew you. Depart from me, you workers of lawlessness." We do well to listen to the words of Jesus Himself, saying He's the one that weighs the fruit of our lives, that weighs the outcome, that weighs the heart. And so we do well to just turn to Him as desperate, needy people and say, have mercy on me, a sinner. Demas was a faithful servant of the Apostle Paul. He even said, he's been useful to me in ministry. And then just a few years later, abandoned Paul because of his love for the world. And so we see example after example of those who've been exposed, maybe even experienced great things of the Lord, but who did not end well. To quote the commentator Philip Hughes, they may be baptized as Simon the magician was, occupied in Christian labors as Demas was, endowed with charismatic gifts, preachers even, healers of the sick, casters out of demons, be privileged to belong to the inner circle of disciples as Judas was, and yet their heart may be far off from the one they profess to serve. It's the Lord who weighs our lives. All will be tested. by His purifying fire. And what He's calling us to do is just humbly bow before Him and say, to you alone be all the glory, because salvation is completely of you. This author in the first century is worried that some will fall away and prove that they never were believers. And this is a warning that other apostles give. John, the beloved apostle, who was later called the elder because he was the last surviving apostle, as he's writing to a church that is fighting against false doctrine, says this, they went out from us, but they were not of us. For if they had been of us, they would have continued with us, but they went out that it might become plain that they all are not of us. There's a call to perseverance that goes on over and over again in the writer of Hebrews, the writer of James, 1st and 2nd Timothy, and in the four gospels. It continues all throughout the scriptures. Commentator George Guthrie says, salvation has a continuity to it from present to future and manifests a life of perseverance and obedience to God. And he concludes, thus if one comes to the end and does not have a relationship with Christ because of a lack of perseverance, that relationship never was really there in the first place. Hear the pastoral cry of this writer who is pleading with these people and saying, if you're not walking with the Lord, there's reason for fear. but let that fear move you to repentance and confession of sin and crying out to the Lord. Now, on a pastoral note, we know ourselves. We know the junk that's still going on in our hearts and our minds. It is, of course, true that believers will still sin. It's a terrible truth that believers can commit great sin and even move away from the church for a season. But if they belong to the Lord, he will guide them back in repentance and faith. So listen to the author as he's crying out to this first century church. Listen to the words of other authors in the New Testament. They share the same passion. Peter, as he's writing his second letter, says, therefore, therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to confirm your calling and election. For if you practice these qualities, you will never fail. He's given a whole list of what spiritual life looks like. Paul, as he's writing to this contentious church in Corinth, and how they've just battled with him over and over again, he gets to the end and says, examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourself. Do you not realize this about yourself, that Jesus Christ is in you? Unless, indeed, you fail to meet the test. We don't play games with sin. We don't play games with God, we don't play games with the church. All that we do is to be done for Him and for His glory, for His kingdom, for His purposes. The writer of Hebrews is only saying what Jesus has already said in the Gospels, and that is, by your fruit you will know them. And that work of the Holy Spirit, that new life that He imparts, what we call regeneration, that new birth will result in new growth. God has no stillbirths. He imparts new life, and there is growth. So this author, he's weighing down on this church, but he's not going to continue to browbeat him. He moves on, and he's starting to, after he's given them the warning, after he's given them the signs, after he's given them things to be concerned of, now he speaks to them of a better outcome. He says, though we speak in this way, yet in your case, beloved, we feel sure of better things, things that belong to salvation. Now, many of us, perhaps, are not all that enthralled about studying grammar, and yet we know that grammar is important for good communication. I want to point out just a simple grammatical thing that's going on here in Hebrews 6 that I think will help you to understand a little bit what's going on. I want you to notice that the author shifts his pronouns as he moves throughout this passage. In verses one to three, he is using the first and second personal pronouns, us and we and let us. He's including himself in that. He gets to verse four down to verse six, and he switches to the third person pronoun, those and they and them. And then when he switches back in verse nine, he's now back to the first and second person pronouns, we and you and your. He's using a very clever tactic to try to draw their attention. He's warning out of the possibility, he's laying out the warning, he's saying these are things to be aware of, but now he's bringing it back and saying, okay guys, now let's keep going, and I have hope of a much better situation for you. So he calls them beloved. He's giving a hard word, but he's with them. Let us, he says again and again, let us brothers do this and do that. He's already called them holy brothers in chapter three, verse one. He's identifying with them. He's showing that he cares for them. And he says, I believe there are better things coming, things that belong to salvation. That would include things like the fruit of God's Holy Spirit. love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. It would include things like joy and unity and power and joy, I already said joy, but growth in the Christian life, for growth is expected in the Christian life. And as we talk about perseverance, it's helpful for us to understand that the word salvation, more often than not, has a future concept in Hebrews. We like to go around and say, hey, brother, are you saved? And there's a certain meaning to that. But that's not all that the Bible says about salvation. There's a sense where, yes, we are saved. But there's a sense where we are being saved. There's a sense where salvation is working on us, and we will be saved. There is a salvation yet to be revealed, but they're all joined together. And so while he's warning them, he's giving them an encouragement, he's not yet giving them a clean bill of health spiritually. He still reminds them that they're sluggish, they're slow to grow, they're immature. He says, don't continue that way, for that'll give an outcome that you do not want. But go forward, keep going, keep growing. There's rewards for those who persevere. But then there's warnings for those who remain sluggish and who lose interest in the things of God. And so the Israelites of old did not mix the promises of God with faith and they missed the promised land. So those in the first century need to remain strong in a trusting relationship with the Lord for they will inherit the promises he has given. So he says, yep, I've given you a hard word. Yes, there is a warning. Take it seriously. What is your status before God? Eternity is at stake. But then he says, but let's keep moving. He's already said that. We're gonna keep moving forward. He says it again, and he reminds them that they're not alone. For God is not unjust, so as to overlook your work and the love that you have shown for his name and serving the saints, as you still do. God knows what we're doing in His service. We can lean on Him. Even if nobody else sees what we're doing, God sees it. God knows. God is interested. God cares. God will reward. What a wonderful truth that can comfort us, that He does see. Now, notice that He still continues that scene. Remember, if today you hear his voice, harden not your heart. Today is the day. Today, watch over one another. Today, continue to serve. Today, continue to be fruitful. And he says, you've done these things in the past, and you still do. He's recognizing that there's still ongoing work that they are doing. God knows what we are doing, and God will sift out and reward our faithful service. What was a reminder here is that there's a pattern. This is a lifestyle. This is something that just continues. It's normal that if we walk with the Lord, we serve the Lord, we want to love the Lord, that there'll be the overflow of works in our lives, and He will see it. But if you notice that that word work is in the singular, I think it's a reminder that He's talking about a pattern of life. A lifestyle. God sees. God knows. God will reward. And so he goes on and reminds them then, because this would encourage this struggling church in the first century, that ultimately what matters is what God sees. And so we can joyfully serve him. We can joyfully live for him. And that love is shown, of course, in their love for God. The love you have shown for his Name. Of course we're to love God first. That's the basic commandment, right? Love the Lord your God with heart, soul, mind, and strength. No other gods before me. And it's from that position then of loving God first that we're able to love others best. Fueled by our love for God, truly then we're able to show it in serving the saints as they have been doing and as they will continue to do. And so this church, that is struggling under persecution, is encouraged to persevere in the faith. They've already learned in this book that Jesus knows about their suffering, that he empathizes with their suffering because he has suffered and he is with them. Now it encourages them that as Jesus is with them and sees what they are doing, if this Jesus would go through all of that for them, they can go through anything for Jesus who will help them. So we see this author, using a mix of a very stark warning, but with a pastoral plea, and then follows it up with a word of encouragement. I think that's a good balance. Listen to the warning, plea for a response, encouragement as we keep moving forward. May that be said of us, for God is not so unjust. We know that part is true. So as to overlook our work, we know that is also true. And the love that you have shown for his name, I hope that's true of every one of us. And serving the saints, as you still do, may that be true of all of us in ever-growing manner. Loving God, loving his people, continuing to do so. What will that look like in your life this week? And then lastly, we see the call to endure. The call to endure. And we desire each one of you to show the same earnestness to have the full assurance of hope until the end. That's a mouthful. But look at the things that are part of this sentence. First, the desire to grow. If we love the Lord our God with heart, soul, mind, and strength, we will have the desire to grow in who He is and grow in holiness, and that desire will overflow. But notice it's not just any desire, it's this earnestness, this ardent, this hot, this committed, strong desire to grow. This encourages us then to overcome the slagging that can come in our hearts, the tendency to just, ah. Not today. No. Today, serve the Lord earnestly. Today, love the Lord earnestly. Today, let His love flow through you earnestly. And what will keep that earnest desire growing? Because ultimately, it all must flow from God. It's not something we can muster up on ourselves. It flows out of our relationship with Christ. As He indwells us, empowers us, fuels us, He works in and through us, and it's because He is working in us that we have hope. Assurance of hope. And hope in the Bible doesn't mean like we use it in English. Like, it'd really be nice if that turned out that way. No, hope in the Bible means the assurance, the confidence that God will do what He said He will do. And if you're in Christ, you have the hope, which is the confidence, which is the assurance, which is the certainty of reward and of meeting Him face to face. And what would be more motivating than knowing that you will see Him? Hope allows us to move forward so that you may not be sluggish. He's already called them sluggish in chapter five, verse 11. He's called them dull of hearing. What will keep us so that we are not sluggish and dull of hearing? Hope. Hope, the confidence that God is who he said he is and will work in us for his purposes and his glory so that we will overcome. And I think if we had the writer of Hebrews sitting down with the apostle Paul, some people think they're the same. I don't. But if they were sitting down, they would agree on a number of things, rooted in Christ, fruitful in the Spirit. Look what Paul says as he writes to the church in Colossae. If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on the earth. For you have died. Our way of living in Adam is dead. and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life appears, then you will also appear with him in glory. This is just another way of saying what the writer of Hebrews has just said in chapter six from verses nine, 10, 11, and 12. And so we grow in faith and faithfulness fueled by hope that God is at work in us and is not forgotten and is not forgetting what we have done and what we are doing. But one thing that helps us along the way is to have good examples to follow. It says, don't be. We desire each of you to have the same earnestness, to have the full assurance of hope till the end, and then it goes on, and be imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises. It helps to have a good example to follow. We all follow examples. Some more consciously than others, but we all follow examples. It's just a question of whether they're good or bad. Well, here's the call to follow good examples. And then there we can hear what the Apostle Paul said. He said, look, follow me, imitate me as I imitate Christ. There is a sense where if we are walking with Christ in obedience and fruitfulness and faithfulness that others should be able to follow our example. Now, I know our first response to that is, well, not me. You don't know me. You don't know what I'm still doing, all these things. And yes, that's true of every one of us. But what's also true of every one of us is that we are in Christ. We are now children of the living God. We are saints filled with his Holy Spirit. And therefore, God wants us to be examples that others can follow. And so the call that we hear from this writer of Hebrews this morning is to move on to maturity, proving in word and action that we truly belong to the Lord. You know, we're all gonna be involved in service to something. It's gonna be money, it's gonna be a career, it's gonna be a school, it's gonna be something else. Why do we downplay service to Christ? that we're servants, slaves of the living Christ. We're called to it. And the greatest privilege we have as created yet redeemed beings is to be servants of the living God. We're called to move on to maturity. Secondly, since the battle against sin is real, we do well to simply be open before God about it and repent. and quickly confess our sins. We're very quick to judge ourselves by our intentions and judge others by their actions, but God knows better. He's the one that calls sin, sin, and so should we. Just repent, accept forgiveness, be restored, and move on. But then we have this sober reminder that not all who claim to be with Christ will be found to be with Him in the end. The truth always comes out, so watch over yourself. watch over one another. Do that with the joy that comes from being in the Lord, but do it with the power and truth of His Word. And as we are assured in our faith, because of hope, we can persevere till the end, and we will consider it a joy to persevere till the end, because we're seeking the glory of God, and we want to be found standing in His presence saying, thank you, Lord, for the privilege of serving you for so many years. I can't believe I'm here to you be all the glory. And as we do that, we will inherit the promises, the rich promises made available to us in Christ that will be fulfilled. And we'll have a chance to look more at what those promises are as we move through the passages that come ahead. Now, the next time we're in Hebrews, the writer is going to refer to Abraham as one who we can follow in this journey. But until then, what are some lessons we can take away from today's sermon? Well, we're soberly reminded that because false professions of faith are possible, we will clearly proclaim the truth in an undiluted form and call on all around us to stay close to the Lord. Secondly, because falling away is seen as a real danger to this author, we'll watch over our hearts and the hearts of those around us. We're in a living faith with a living God that is dynamic and we're to keep on moving forward toward maturity. Thirdly, because our works will be judged, we depend on the Lord to work in us to work for him and for his glory. That's just a paraphrase of what Paul says in Philippians, that he works in us to will and to do according to his good pleasure. And fourthly, because God sees our work, we will persevere in joyful hope. knowing that he will reward those who serve him and serve his people well. May the Lord give us ears to hear and walk through this passage this week and walk with the Lord as we do. Let us pray. Lord, as we have studied this passage together, we're mindful that We are those needy people that are spoken of in Psalm 96. And so we cry out to you. Would you incline your ears to hear, and we thank you that you do. And Father, as you have spoken to us during this time, may you now give us the courage to follow through on what you have spoken to us about. that we'd be those who apply your word this week, who grow because of your word, who are changed because of your truth. And we want to pause and we want to say thank you for a great savior who truly saves, who truly sets free, and who truly redeems. May we rejoice this week in that truth and may it give us the confidence to serve you well as you lead us in Jesus' name.