Dig Deeper: n
CHAPTER SHIFT: Remember our chapter shift is still on. Chapter 6 really ought to begin in 5:11 and chapter 7 should begin at 6:13. Thankfully things will be back to normal by chapter 8.
OUCH: We don't know who wrote this letter or who it was written to. But the author doesn't mince words with his audience, pointing out that they 'no longer try to understand' (5:11), that they ought be teachers by this point but they don't know even elementary aspects, and that like a child, they can't handle solid doctrinal food that they should be eating (5:12-13). Unfortunately, this is a very similar reality to much of the 21st century American church. Instead, v14 indicates that mature Christians become so by moving on from 'elementary teachings about Christ' (6:1) and by constantly training themselves to take in solid Biblical doctrine (that is, practicing the Spiritual Disciplines we've been learning about in church).
DON'T LET GO: 6:4-8 seems scary at first: that a person who has 'fallen away' will never be brought back to grace. That's true, but understand that 'fallen away' does not refer to momentary lapses, which all Christians stumble into from time to time. King David, Elijah, and the Apostle Peter are all examples of giants of the faith who seriously fell down, yet God in His grace picked them back up. The type of fall being described in this passage refers to someone who commits the unpardonable sin of rejecting the Holy Spirit, a sin which genuine Christians who have been regenerated (born again) by the Spirit are unable to commit.
EVEN IF YOU'VE LET GO, GOD IS STILL HANGING ON TO YOU: 6:10 probably should be put into our memory verse list, but we'll make this one optional: "God is not unjust; He will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people and continue to help them." After holding his audience accountable for their spiritual laziness, the author finishes this section with a reminder of grace.
Prayer Tips:
ACKNOWLEDGE WHO GOD IS: God is just and credits us for the works we do even though they are done by His power (6:10)!
ALIGN YOUR LIFE WITH GOD'S WILL: Ask for the strength to move beyond elementary teachings and train yourself for Spiritual maturity (5:14-6:1).
ASK GOD FOR WHAT YOU NEED:
