Hebrews 6 Spiritual babies and the need to go on!

Bible Study Series: Jesus in Hebrews - Better by Far!

Bible Study Lesson: Hebrews 6 Spiritual babies and the need to go on!

by I Gordon

We spoke last time about Jesus as our High Priest, in the order of Melchizedek, and specifically the suffering that He endured, even before the cross, in order to learn obedience through temptation, difficulty and opposition. So we will carry on in the latter part of chapter 5 today and work our way to half way through chapter 6. We are talking about babies today. Burping, bathing, potty training... you know, that type of thing. Just the baby essentials today. It is something a lot of people have been asking for. Ok... we aren't talking about those types of babies or baby events. We'll save it for another day. No, some of our babies are fully grown, have beards, yet are still sucking their thumb spiritually speaking. We'll be talking about spiritual babies and the need to press on and grow up in our faith. We'll also discuss those who are prevented from doing so! That latter part sounds a little mysterious but more on that later. So, here is specifically what we'll explore:

• Why are some Christians 'slow to learn' and still on 'spiritual milk', even after years?
• What are the characteristics of a baby and how are they spotted?
• Who are those that are given such a great warning in Hebrews 6 that they cannot 'go on'?

To the dull of hearing & adult babies amongst us...

Heb 5:11-13  We have much to say about this, but it is hard to explain because you are slow to learn.  (12)  In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God's word all over again. You need milk, not solid food!  (13)  Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness. 

The writer of Hebrews desired to talk about more meaty subjects but it was difficult because many of his listeners were 'slow to learn'. Or, as the NKJV says '...you have become dull of hearing....' The word here for dull is 'nōthrós' in Greek, meaning 'slothful, slow and sluggish in mind as well as in the ears.' In the New Testament this word is only used here and in Hebrews 6:12 where it is usually translated 'slack' or 'sluggish'. So he says his readers still need milk, not solid food. Obviously the author of Hebrews is drawing an analogy here between physical and spiritual growth. Being a baby and drinking milk only is perfectly fine... when you are actually a baby! But if you are 5 years old and just drinking milk, well, Houston, we have a problem! 1Pe 2:2 says 'Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation.' In the natural, milk is a starter food for babies who do not have teeth yet. It is easily taken without any chewing required. But if you tried to live continually on that you would lack many nutrients and vitamins that your body needs from other sources. When I googled it, it said a diet of only milk would lack vitamin c, iron and fiber leading to scurvy, anemia and digestive issues... and that is just for starters. Carry on and you'd have a severe protein overdose, electrolyte imbalance, kidney stress, likely resulting in something they affectionately called 'premature death'. Hmmm. Being on milk only doesn't sound so good in the long run! No - we are not to stay on milk in the natural or spiritual. We are to 'go on' as Hebrews continually emphasizes. But like perpetual spiritual babies there are many Christians out there who just remain on milk. Their faith is often a Sunday affair listening to the message which is often little more than an inspirational Ted-talk with little scripture. And without feeding on God's word themselves, they don't grow. Instead they are left as fully grown spiritual babies, with little to no discernment of their own, easily falling prey to 'every wind of doctrine' that blows through.

Characteristics of a baby Christians

Now it is good to look at the characteristics of a physical baby and compare this with what is true of spiritual babies. 

• Babies feed on milk: As we have seen already one characteristic is that babies rely on milk. They need something that will go down easily without any chewing! And in the spiritual equivalent this speaks of those that can only talk about the basics of their faith and don't have the ability to chew over God's word for themselves. (Hebrews 5:13–14)
• Babies spit the dummy: Babies are notorious for their little temper tantrums. And while adults are still known to 'spit the dummy' from time to time, no one does it as frequently as a young one (you'd hope anyway... but not always true!) Spiritually speaking the Bible equates those that are fleshly with being infants... those still in the terrible twos! The Corinthians were like this and Paul wrote to them stating clearly:
  1Co 3:1-3  Brothers, I could not address you as spiritual but as worldly--mere infants in Christ.  (2)  I gave you milk, not solid food, for you were not yet ready for it. Indeed, you are still not ready.  (3)  You are still worldly. For since there is jealousy and quarreling among you, are you not worldly? Are you not acting like mere men?
• Babies think everything revolves around them: They demand attention and cry when the slightest thing doesn't go their way. They think that they are the center of the world and that others exist to look after them. Which is true to some extent! They certainly need looking after. But you can spot a spiritual baby when they make everything about them. It is a clear sign that they haven't really grown yet and seen that it is not about them, it is about Him!
• Babies are often trusting... even when they shouldn't be!: The young often have to be taught about 'stranger danger'. That is, they have to be taught that not everyone has good intentions and they need to be careful. One of the signs of spiritual babies is that they have little to no discernment. They will accept sweets from a stranger, spiritually speaking, being vulnerable to everything a person might say. Again Paul used this example when writing to those in Ephesus saying:
  Eph 4:13-14 '..become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming.

Pastor David Guzik sums things up well saying:

In the original language, the sense of 'for he is a babe' is 'for he has become a babe'.  There is nothing more delightful than a true babe in Jesus.  But there is nothing more irritating and depressing than someone who should be mature but who has become a babe!
i. Have you become a babe? Perhaps your Christian life is unstable. Babies are handed from one person to another; babes are tossed to and fro by every wind of doctrine (Eph_4:14-16).
ii. Have you become a babe? Perhaps you are divisive in your Christian life. Babies each have their own crib that they stick to; babes have their particular denomination or church that they think of as "my church."
iii. Have you become a babe? Perhaps you are star-struck by Christian celebrities of one kind or another. Babies are focused on one particular person (mommy); babes glory in men (I am of Paul, I am of Apollos).
iv. Have you become a babe? Perhaps you are spiritually asleep. Babies need a lot of sleep; babes spend much time spiritually asleep.
v. Have you become a babe? Perhaps you are fussy and cranky with others. Babies can be cranky; babes will fuss over any little thing.
David Guzik

The immediate understanding of this verse in context relates to what the Hebrews were experiencing. William MacDonald writes: 

"In this context the particular sense in which the readers are urged to distinguish between good and evil is in relation to Christianity and Judaism. Not that Judaism was evil in itself; the Levitical system was introduced by God Himself. But it was intended to point forward to Christ. He is the fulfillment of the ceremonial types and shadows. Now that Christ has come, it is sinful to return to the pictures of Him. Anything that rivals Christ in the affections and loyalties of men is evil. Spiritually mature believers are able to discern between the inferiority of the Aaronic priesthood and the superiority of Christ's."
Believers Bible Commentary

And as an application for our lives today, this can be extended to what is truly good and what is truly evil in God's sight. We aren't called to read the Bible like a list of laws and rules, memorizing what God likes and what He doesn't, then trying to do the good and avoid the bad. That is not Bible Christianity or New Testament living. Good and evil are far deeper than that. You'll see from the verse that the infant is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness. This is speaking about what is truly 'good' and what is truly 'bad'. For example, when the rich young ruler came to Jesus and said 'good teacher, what good thing must I do to inherit eternal life?' (combining Matt 19:16 and Luke 18:18) he didn't realize that he was 'not good' from God's perspective and nor was this question! Oh yes, it sounded good, it sounded spiritual. I bet he thought that this zealous desire to do good to inherit eternal life would impress the Lord. But Jesus knew where he was coming from and the rich young ruler didn't leave the conversion pleased with the Lord's reply! In contrast, you may remember the response of the Gentile woman, having been grouped with 'the dogs' by the Lord, and how she replied saying 'Yes, Lord, but even the dogs feed on the crumbs which fall from their masters' table.' (Matt 15:27). Wow... what a response! She probably didn't realize how 'good' this would sound to our Lord's ears, but He instantly responded with 'O woman, your faith is great; it shall be done for you as you wish." And her daughter was healed at once.' The Bible says that everything that is not of faith is sin and just trying to be good to obtain God's salvation or blessing is still operating from 'the tree of good and evil' that Adam and Eve ate from. So what is good? As Jesus said, God alone is good. Therefore faith in Him is good. Dependence upon the Lord is good. Praise and thanksgiving to the Lord is good. Acting with humility, coming from knowing yourself and also God, is good. So our actions that could be called 'good' are acknowledging and living in dependance upon the One who alone is good! And this is for the mature. They have learnt to distinguish between what is and isn't truly good and evil.  

The need to go on...

Heb 6:1-3  Therefore let us leave the elementary teachings about Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again the foundation of repentance from acts that lead to death, and of faith in God,  (2)  instruction about baptisms, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment.  (3)  And God permitting, we will do so.

Chapter 6 begins with one of 12 key verses in Hebrews¹ that exhort us using the term 'Let us...'. This one is 'let us go on...'. Now when we read here what we are to move on from, we often read it as a Gentile Christian, not a 1st century Jewish believer. So we read of Baptisms and laying on of hands and think about what that means in a New Testament setting. But we would be better to see these things that are spoken of as 'elementary teachings' from a Jewish perspective², which is the context of this letter to the Hebrews. 

First of all, the readers are exhorted to leave the elementary principles of Christ, literally, “the word of the beginning of Christ” (FWG), or “the beginning word of Christ” (KSW). We understand this to mean the basic doctrines of religion that were taught in the OT and were designed to prepare Israel for the coming of the Messiah... The exhortation is to leave these basics, not in the sense of abandoning them as worthless, but rather of advancing from them to maturity. The implication is that the period of Judaism was a time of spiritual infancy. Christianity represents full growth. Once a foundation has been laid, the next step is to build upon it. A doctrinal foundation was laid in the OT; it included the six fundamental teachings which are now listed. These represent a starting point. The great NT truths concerning Christ, His Person, and His work, represent the ministry of maturity.
Believers Bible Commentary

So what were the readers of Hebrews exhorted to move on from:

• Repentance from Dead Works - In Judaism, repentance was a central element to spiritual growth. The 'Dead works' is a reference to religious or  legalistic practices where a person tried to earn their way to God by their own efforts, independent of God's revelation concerning salvation. These were dead works and the hearers had learnt to turn and move on from such things.
• Faith Toward God - Faith is a cornerstone of Jewish belief, especially in trusting God’s covenant promises. But they were now to move on from their general faith in God and instead trust in God through the revealed Messiah, the Lord Jesus.
• Doctrine of Baptisms - The plural “baptisms” likely refers to the Jewish ritual washings (mikveh) used for purification. These were a picture and foreshadow symbolizing the true spiritual cleansing through forgiveness in Christ and it was this that they were now to focus on. 
• Laying on of Hands - In Jewish tradition, this was used for blessing, ordination, and sacrificial identification (for example, laying hands on a sin offering). In the New Testament, it’s associated with imparting the Holy Spirit and commissioning for ministry. 
• Resurrection of the Dead - The Old Testament taught the bodily resurrection in the Messianic age but didn't go into great detail on this. The Hebrews were to move on from this general belief to clearly understand the coming resurrections, starting with that of their Messiah, the Lord Jesus, the firstborn from the dead!
• Eternal Judgment - Again, Jewish eschatology taught about the day of the Lord and the coming divine judgment at the end of the age. But again they were to move on from this general understanding to see the role of Christ, the One who has been entrusted with all judgment, in the coming day of wrath. 

And we will go on... If God permits!

Heb 6:3  And this we will do, if God permits.

Now here is where things take a turn... into the scary side. The writer of Hebrews has been emphasizing the need to go on, press on, grow in their faith and move from babes to maturity in Christ. And then he says 'this we will do... if God permits'. Does that sound strange to you? If God permits? Why would God not permit someone to go on? Surely He wants all to go on does He not? Well, this is the linking verse to the next section that has been called one of the hardest passages in the New Testament to interpret. And probably one of the scariest. It has certainly scared a lot of Christians, even genuine ones. Let's have a look.

Those that cannot go on

Heb 6:4-8  For in the case of those who have once been enlightened and have tasted of the heavenly gift and have been made partakers of the Holy Spirit,  (5)  and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come,  (6)  and then have fallen away, it is impossible to renew them again to repentance, since they again crucify to themselves the Son of God and put Him to open shame.  (7)  For ground that drinks the rain which often falls on it and brings forth vegetation useful to those for whose sake it is also tilled, receives a blessing from God;  (8)  but if it yields thorns and thistles, it is worthless and close to being cursed, and it ends up being burned.

There are four common ways to interpret these verses. I say common because people have come up with others, but there are four standard responses to this difficult passage. Let's have a look at all four stating the pros and cons:

1. Loss of Salvation View

This view holds that the passage describes true born again believers who fall away and lose their salvation through apostasy. 

• Pros: It takes the warning at face value and certainly there is language used that makes it sound like it was addressed to genuine Christians. It also goes with the many warnings given in Hebrews to not go back and leave Christ. 
• Cons: It contradicts other passages that affirm eternal security for those truly born again such as John 6:36-39, 10:28–29, Romans 8:38–39 and raises theological concerns about the sufficiency of Christ’s sacrifice. It also doesn't fit with the next verse, Hebrews 6:9, which suggests that these ones that fell didn't have salvation... as we shall see later. And it should be noted that it also means that if a true born again believer falls away and is lost, that they cannot come back. It says if they fall 'it is impossible to renew them again to repentance.'

2. Hypothetical View

This view holds that the author is presenting a hypothetical scenario to encourage believers to press on. It holds that apostasy is impossible for true Christians, and because they can't fall away or get saved again, it is intended to encourage spiritual growth. 

• Pros: It preserves the doctrine of eternal security.
• Cons: The passage doesn’t clearly indicate it’s hypothetical and it is certainly a warning given for someone!

3. False Believer View (A professing Christian, not one possessing Christ)

This view holds that the people described were never truly saved. They were part of the church, experienced spiritual blessings for a season, but ultimately rejected Christ.

• Pros: Maintains eternal security for true believers and the promise of Jesus that He will lose none of those that the Father gives Him. It also aligns with other passages about false professions from those that looked like they were believers for a season only (for example, Judas and those seen in the parable of the sower). It also agrees with Hebrews 6:9 which indicates that the writer had confidence in those that had truly received salvation and that those of verses 4-6 didn't have salvation.
• Cons: A lot of the language used like 'enlightened', 'tasted the heavenly gift', 'partakers of the Holy Spirit' seems to describe genuine conversion.

4. Severe Discipline View (Chastisement, not damnation)

This view holds that the passage refers to true believers who fall into serious sin or apostasy and face temporal judgment (loss of rewards, possible physical death), but not eternal damnation.

• Pros: Preserves eternal security while taking the warning seriously. Supported by examples of believers facing discipline (e.g., 1 Corinthians 11:30, Hebrews 12:6–11).
• Cons: The phrase “impossible to renew to repentance” sounds more final than disciplinary. The imagery of “thorns and burning” seems to suggest eternal judgment and not just loss of rewards.

It is fair to say that no view is without its difficulties. I have written about this passage in other studies so I'll leave some links for that³, but just let me say that I am in the 'False believer' camp on this one. Again, it isn't without its difficulties which I certainly acknowledge, but I believe it is the best view given the context and wider teaching of the New Testament. We know that the context involved Jewish believers who came into the church, experienced all the teaching, blessing and moving of the Holy Spirit, yet through pressure turned back, became apostate and returned to Judaism. But let us not think that this can't happen today. This passage also speaks to the one who has experienced Christ and the work of the Spirit to such a degree that they had everything they needed to truly be born again. They had been enlightened to the truth, they had tasted of God's goodness, partaken of the Spirit's power, convicting and drawing work. They had outwardly confessed Christ for a season and had everything required for true salvation yet turned from that which they once knew. In doing so they put the Son of God to open shame. 

And such is the turning away described, that God says He will not permit such a person to go on. In fact, it says it is impossible to renew them again to repentance. They had the light and drank in the rain from heaven, yet turned their back on God. It reminds us of those that saw all the work and miracles of the Lord Jesus, in the power of the Holy Spirit, and instead of believing just said it was of the devil, blaspheming the Holy Spirit, and they couldn't be forgiven or go on.

Apostasy

To give you an example of what can happen, I received a recent email into the website, even while writing some notes on this study, with the subject line of 'Apostate'. And this one wasn't asking any questions. He was stating a fact about himself. This man said he was 44 and claimed to have been a Christian for 20 years. He wrote that during this time he had repeatedly asked God for a wife but none was given. He said he has been left addicted to porn and that he now hates God. In fact he went even further than that and said he was now going to be an 'enemy of God'. He also expressed his hatred of Christian married couples. Boy... good luck making yourself an enemy of God! There was obviously a lot of anger, bitterness, resentment and jealousy behind his words. He had expected that God would give him something and when it didn't happen he wanted nothing to do with God. Actually, as mentioned he was now going to openly oppose God. I wrote back and said that we are not promised an easy life or that all our wants will be met. We are promised salvation and eternal life to those that believe. I also expressed the reality that there are many things that don't go our way in this life, mentioning that Jesus said 'In this world you will have tribulation.' I gave him the example of Christians in persecuted lands where they literally aren't even promised tomorrow. I also gave the example of my cousin who recently died from cancer after a 7 year battle. She wanted to be healed. She desperately wanted to be healed - especially for her two kids. But she didn't receive physical healing in this life. Yet she didn't despise God, blame Him, or fall away. She drew closer to Him during this difficult time and was thankful for what she did have. It may not have been what he wanted to hear. I never heard back from this man, this (in his own words), apostate. But I can only hope that this is not the end of his journey with God.

So whatever view you hold, the warnings in Hebrews about standing firm in your faith until the end are real. You will remember some earlier verses from this great book that emphasized this as well:

Heb 3:6  But Christ is faithful as a son over God's house. And we are his house, if we hold on to our courage and the hope of which we boast.
Heb 3:14  We have come to share in Christ if we hold firmly till the end the confidence we had at first.

A true believer shows the validity of their salvation by holding their hope in the Lord to the end. But, unfortunately, there will always be those that turn away when difficulty comes, just as we see here in Hebrews 6. But the author doesn't end there. He goes on to give this encouraging message:    

Convinced of better things for those with salvation

Heb 6:9-10  But, beloved, we are convinced of better things concerning you, and things that accompany salvation, though we are speaking in this way.  (10)  For God is not unjust so as to forget your work and the love which you have shown toward His name, in having ministered and in still ministering to the saints.

After the hard word for the apostates comes words of comfort to those that are genuinely saved. Though he has to speak this way about those that have fallen away, the author of Hebrews is also convinced of better things amongst the beloved, things that accompany salvation. This is strong evidence that those spoken of in verses 4-8, whom it is impossible to renew again to repentance and are now cursed, were not believers. Yes, they had been 'enlightened', had 'tasted' and partook of the Holy Spirit's work... yet not been born again. William Newell, in his classic 'Hebrews verse by verse', writes "Mr. R.A. Torrey's assertion, "There is a quickening short of regeneration," is the only explanation of this whole passage!" Judas is an example of one who was enlightened by the truth, went out with the disciples, tasted of the Holy Spirit's power through miracles and drove out demons (Matt 10:1)... yet at no point was he saved or a true believer! Even at the time of the Passover, one year before Jesus went to the cross, Jesus said to His disciples that He had chosen them all, but one was a devil! (John 6:4, 70-71). Jesus knew, even if the others didn't!

So in contrast to these false believers, the writer was confident for those that truly had salvation. He called them 'beloved' and knew that the things that accompany salvation, including holding fast in your faith to the end, would be seen in them.

"In all Hebrews, Hebrews 6:9 alone contains that precious word, "beloved," which is always spoken of true believers. It is used over 600 times in N.T. and constantly concerning reality, possession, as in John 3:15, 16, 36; never indicating a mere nighness to possession... And things accompanying salvation--This whole verse turns on this word "salvation." There are described in the first part of Hebrews 6, as we have noted, remarkable privileges, experiences, and professions; but the word "salvation" is not connected with them--not mentioned! Manifestly in the apostle's mind there were distinct and sure marks of those who are called, in Hebrews 1:14, "heirs of salvation."  "
William Newell, Hebrews Verse by Verse⁴

And then the writer of Hebrews gave them a wonderful promise for them to remember. A friend, many years ago, sent me this verse and I have always loved it:
'God is not unjust so as to forget your work and the love which you have shown toward His name, in having ministered and in still ministering to the saints.'  

God will not forget our efforts and work in His name. And you will note that ministering to His people is seen as expressing love toward His name. The Lord's body, and the Lord Himself, are inseparably linked! So may we take that to heart. May we continue to love and minister to His body in whatever way He lays on our heart!

Conclusion

Well, we've seen a bit in this study. 

• We've seen the need to grow up in our Christian lives and not remain as spiritual babies, still sucking our thumbs after years as a believer! So no more temper tantrums, no more dummy spitting just because you don't get your way ok? 
• Instead, we've seen that if we want to grow we need to feed on God's word. There is no substitute - it is our milk and meat! It protects us from 'every wind of teaching and the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming.'
• We've also read the solemn warning and case of those that are not permitting to go on, for despite being given every spiritual experience and knowledge for true salvation, they turn and become apostates. Hold your faith to the end believer!
• And we've seen the promise for true believers that God is not unjust and will remember the work we do for His name. Nothing is forgotten with God and everything good is rewarded.

We'll finish off the rest of the chapter next time looking at some cool verses about 'the anchor' - which we all need to keep our lives steady in this turbulent world!

Until then, may God bless. 

FOOTNOTES