( HEBREWS 6: 4-6 )

FOR IT IS IMPOSSIBLE FOR THOSE WHO WERE ONCE ENLIGHTENED, AND HAVE TASTED OF THE HEAVENLY GIFT, AND WERE MADE PARTAKERS OF THE HOLY GHOST, ( 5 ) AND HAVE TASTED THE GOOD WORD OF GOD, AND THE POWERS OF THE WORLD TO COME, ( 6 ) IF THEY SHALL FALL AWAY, TO RENEW THEM AGAIN UNTO REPENTANCE; SEEING THEY CRUCIFY TO TEMSELVES THE SON OF AFRESH, AND PUT HIM TO AN OPEN SHAME.

Just before we get into these verses I feel a need to talk about ( Verses 3 ) just a little before we move on. ( and this we will do, if God permit ). The Apostle Paul was also a ( hebrew believer ). He had a great burden for his people. He understood the will of God for that nation and, also for the Gentile world. When he makes the statement ( if God permits ) he speaking of seeing as many Jews as possible come to know Jesus Christ as their personal savior.

When we look at this verse of scripture:

( Revelation 13:8 )

And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the lamb slain from the foundation of the world.

I realize that; in this verse it’s speaking of worshipping basically Satan however, I want you to see that, in the mind and heart of God, Jesus Christ was slain before he formed the world. The Apostle Paul understood, that God’s plan had place ( Israel as a Nation ) in a certain place and ( the Gentile or whosoever will ) being ( the Church ) the bride of Christ also in a certain place in time. Another way to look at it is to say; we that live today and, the believers in the Apostle Paul’s day are simply watching that plan unfold. They being, more at the beginning to this age and, we, more toward the end of the same age.

When you consider that the Apostle Paul wrote this letter to the ( born again Believers ) in Christ but, his calling was not to them as a nation. He was sent, by God to the Gentiles,. ( Ephesians 3 ) and ( Acts 13:46 ). However, even within this truth, the Apostle Paul was desirious for as many Jews to be born again as possible.

Although, he wrote this letter to his people; the other Apostles and, other men were preaching the gospel to the Jews. I’ll seek to use an example here. I live in one little place in the United States of America. However, I have a heartfelt desire for the people in other nations, such as Africa to be save. I’m possible never going to preach to the people in Africa however, ( if God permits ) someone else will, and this letter is going out to those people.

The Apostle Paul wrote this letter to the ( Hebrew believers ). He was doing all he could to bring about salvation the a people he had a true burden for although, he had to leave the preaching the gospel ( as God permitted it ).

As we get into ( verse 4 ) the Apostle Paul is seeking to teach his brethren ( the Hebrew believers ) the basic difference in what they had been use to and, how the Holy Spirit within them worked. If we, as believers will look back, we can see the very same thing he is pointing out here. There’s another verse that the Apostle Paul wrote that actually makes his point here:

( 2 Corinthians 7:10 )

For Godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.

I’m going to try and use my own personal testimony to make the point the Apostle Paul is making. When I was about twelve years old, we went to a Methodist Church close to our house. At that time they had revivals. One night at a revival meeting, after the preacher had preached the message, I felt great conviction as he had the alter call. I knew without a doubt; God was dealing with me as a sinner. However, I left that Church, that night just like I went in.

I’m am now seventy years old, I still remember that night. Now, let’s say that I would have died some time before I asked Christ to save me. Let’s say I stood before him as my judge. It would be ( impossible ) for me to tell him that I didn’t feel his convicting power. I had been ( enlightened ) I had ( tasted the heavenly gift ) I had been a ( partaker of the Holy Ghost ) I had ( tasted the good word of God ) and ( to powers to come ). What did I do? I ( crucified the Son of God afresh ) and ( put him to open shame ).

In ( verse 6 ) it says this: If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance ). All it saying is that I cannot go back and deny that the Holy Ghost did his job. The word ( repent ) means to turn away. I cannot tuen away from that fact no matter how long I live.

Now, let’s move foward a few years. As I grew as a young man, I committed grievious sins. Sins that made me feel as though I had shamed my families name. Once again, I went to a revival, this time in a Baptist Church. Once again, I heard a message from God’s man. At the invitation, this time I went to the alter. A preacher came to my side and asked me if I had been saved, I said ( no ). He then asked me if I would like to be? I replied ( yes ). He took his Bible and showed me some scripture in ( Romans ) I now know that is called the ( Roman’s Road ). After he read a few verses; he asked me if I believed what it said? I sais ( yes ). He then lead me through the sinner’s prayer and I prayed that prayer.

When we stood up. he announced to that Church that I had just been saved. Just as quickly as I could, I left that Church. To the best of my knowledge I didn’t go to another Church, including that one until 1973. However, if you would have asked me if I were saved, I would reply; ( yes ) Why? Because I had been to an alter and made a profession of faith. I still cursed, stole, lied, you name it, I probably done it. Another way of putting it; nothing changed in my life.

You see, I was ( worldly sorry ) for my actions. Many times people desire for their families, friends and so on to look at them another way. They will say they are sorry for the way they acted and, in most cases people will forget the past and move on. Worldly sorrow doesn’t mean anything pertaining to God the Father. Just because men forgive you doesn’t mean that God is pleased with what you did.

I’d like to show you a couple of verse of scripture and we’ll move on: First

( Romans 5:1 )

Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Second: ( Philippians 4:7 )

And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

Just by way of teaching; what is the difference in the term ( Jesus Christ ) and ( Christ Jesus ) in these two verses? We often change scripture and think little of it when; if we will study we might find that those little things matter. I’ll try and show you what I mean. In ( Romans ) we can say that a person just ask Christ to save them. Once we are born again, God the Father is satisfied with us being covered by the blood of Christ. The Holy Spirit is living within is, therefore we have ( peace with God ). He is completely satisfied with our salvation. You might still be anxious, unsettled even doubting your salvation at that time. You’re just a babe in Christ but, God is completely satisfied. Another way of saying it; I don’t see any change in your fleah but, Christ is within you. To use my name we could say ( Marshall Christ ).

In ( Philippians ) he uses to term ( Christ Jesus ). He’s speaking of having the very ( peace of God ). In other words, you are just as satisfied with your salvation as God the Father is. You have grown spiritually to that place in your spiritual walk with Christ. Now, not only is Christ in you but, people all around you can see the completely changed individual. We can say that you have become Christ. We can change the term to ( Christ Marshall ).

When Jesus was young he was just Jesus, we can say but, as he grew every person around him began to see God in him, God in the fleshly body of Jesus.

Now, as time moved foward, I finally started to go to Church again in 1973. We went to a Methodist Church. My daughters, my wife and I were even members. With that being said, nothing had changed in my life other than the fact that I now went to Church.

In late summer, 1975 I started to visit another Church on Sunday nights. I’m telling you that the power of God was so strong in that Church that a sinner was very uncomfortable just being there. We went a few Sunday nights and then we decided to go on Sunday morning. In November, that year on a Sunday morning, under great conviction, I went to the alter. Not one person came to my side to speak to me, no preacher, no deacon and no Church member. However, Jesus Christ met me at that alter. On that Sunday morning, I became ( Godly Sorry ) for who and what I was. The Holy Spirit of God moved into my heart and, I was now ( born again ). At that moment, I had ( peace with God ) however, you understand it took a while for me to spiritually receive the ( peace of God ). that surpasses all understanding.

As we get back to ( Hebrews 6: 4-6 ) and, understand that the Jews were use to doing the yearly sacrifice year after year. That had to learn what it meant to actually have the Holy Spirit within them. The Apostle Paul, assuming they all were born again was simply showing them that once they had been enlightened and, understood that, they could not go back to that place again. Can you see that he might have been concerned that many of them were just like I was, they had ( worldly sorrow ) but not ( Godly sorrow ).

Have you ever put something in your mouth, tasted it and then spit it out? That means that you had tasted it, you were enlightened to how it tasted, undertood you didn’t like it and, spit it out. That is a physical picture of what many people, just like me; do spiritually with the Holy Spirit. We can be baptized, faithful to Church, make many people think we are doing good but, the Holy Spirit is not within us, we have never been born again. However, if you have felt that conviction that comes from the preaching of God’s word, felt that drawing power of the Holy Ghost then, you can never again say to a righteous God that you didn’t feel that drawing.

I thank God that he is very longsuffering toward all of us. He allows his Spirit to draw conviction on our hearts more that once. In our ignorance we often reject that Spirit for any number of reasons but if that conviction moves, he is still willing to save us to the uttermost.

I personally believe this; God uses the preaching of his word to draw conviction on the hearts of those that hear it. That drawing power can take place multiple times in the course of a life. That same conviction is present when we have sin in our lives and God’s is seeking to cause us to turn from that sin as believers. However, in either case if we continue to reject that call, that conviction, one day; that same word will harden our hearts and we will never feel conviction again or, at least we won’t pay any attention to it when it happens. Actually, the next two verses explains what I am saying.

We all must be born again to go to live with our Lord. Conviction is a very valuable commodity in our spiritual lives. We must be willing to hear and yield to his spirit when he is drawing; understanding that as long as we live, we will never reach perfection. We must be willing to slowly die to ourselves and be all he desires for us to be.

Next week we’ll look at ( Hebrews 6: verses 7-9 ). Until then, May God bless each of you and grant you the peace of God that surpasses all understanding!

Marshall Clayton

2 Timothy 1:7