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Bro. Otis Fisher
All right, I want to go back to the chapter that we've just finished, because I believe that the thought is continued from one chapter to another, and it starts in the twelfth verse of the fifth chapter of Hebrews.
For when, for the time, you ought to be teachers, you have need that one teach you again, which be the first principles of the oracles of God, and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong drink.
For everyone that uses milk is unskillful in the word of righteousness, for he is a babe. But strong meat belongs to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.
Therefore, leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection, not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God, but of the doctrine of baptism, and of laying on of hands and of resurrection of the dead and of eternal judgment, and this we will do if God permit.
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, and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the world to come, having fallen away to renew again unto repentance, seeing they crucified to themselves the Son of God, put him to an open shame.
Now, starting with chapter six, this life is but the refiner's furnace to remove all dross and enable him to see his reflection in us. Now we're going to take up where we left off last week. Therefore, leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection, not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God.
Principles. Leaving the principles. This is the starting point of your salvation. Knowledge without open obedience does not advance the person. Knowledge without obedience does not advance you in the kingdom of God.
Let us be carried on this perfection. God is ever ready by the power of the Spirit to carry us forward to every degree of light, life, and love necessary to prepare us for an eternal weight of glory. Verse two, of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment, and this we will do if God permit.
This chapter is speaking to the Jew who is still depending on the law to bring them salvation. The law included laying their hands on the head of their sacrifice and ceremonial cleansing, which were outward signs of inward change, 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.
Now in Paul's writings, Paul is talking about this. He sometimes uses this argument. We find in Romans 6 and 3, know you not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death.
Joy, what does that mean? All right, that's exactly right. The Holy Word says there is no way to be saved the second time. Therefore, the gift of eternal life is just that, eternal life. So let's get on with it.
From man's viewpoint, this happens. But the Lord reveals himself to those that are his, and they will not and cannot resist. Salvation comes to you. You can't resist it. You are his. Five, and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the world to come, having fallen, or if they shall fall away, to renew them.
Now there's no them, the word them in the Greek. Again unto repentance, seeing they are crucified to themselves, the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame. A person saved by Jesus the Christ and placed into God has eternal life.
No questions about it. But if the same person continually doubts his salvation, now he's saved, but he's in a group that doubts your salvation, he is guilty of sin. Think about it. The sin of ignorance.
If this same person is forever trying to make sure he has salvation, he's guilty of wanting to remain a baby. Again, a sin. And he will be judged by what he could have and should have done in his life.
We will be judged by the light that we have been given. For a pastor to not teach and for the people to not study is the same as telling God, I do not need you, I can live my life without you. Beginning with verse 11 of chapter 5, Paul starts telling these people that even though they are Christians, they're not growing.
Every time they meet and worship, they try to get saved. Did you know anybody like that? They do not progress beyond the fundamental of the new faith. You're either saved or you're not saved. We are to grow spiritually.
This cannot be done if you're always trying to make sure you're saved. I hope that some of my words sink in. I've been over this so many times and lately gone over it and over it. And I know that perhaps you're hearing it for the first time, but I do hope you have good retention in your memory and can go back and study it.
We're to grow spiritually. When you plant onions, how many onions do you plant? How many of you have planted any onions? When you plant onions, David, do you go out each morning and pull it up to see if it's rooting?
No. Same way in a Christian's life. You don't keep going back to see if I'm really there. You're there or you wouldn't be going back. Yes, that's right. That's right. But there is a world of people who are not going back that are saved and they still are trying to get saved.
Paul says, look, don't you know that if you could lose your salvation, which you cannot, that it would be impossible to be saved again? Jesus would have to come down to earth and be crucified and die again.
So you see, it's impossible. You cannot be saved the second time. It's absolutely physically, spiritually impossible. Seven, for the earth which drinketh in the rain that cometh oft upon it and bringeth forth herbs to meet for them by whom it is dressed receiveth blessing from God.
Now, Greg, would you come up here a minute? I'm asking Greg to come. Now go back and sit down. Now, Greg come up and stood by me the first time. Is it possible for him to do it again the first time and third and fourth?
But the first time, the earth cannot receive the second rain before the first. You cannot enter a room for the first time as the second time. Am I losing you? You can't come into a room for the first time and it be the second trip.
Because once having entered, you can never enter again as the first time. Once saved, you can never be saved again and again and again and again. For it's already taken place and can never be repeated.
You follow? But that which beareth thorns and briars is rejected and is nigh unto cursing whose end is to be burned. But, beloved, we are persuaded better things of you and things that accompany salvation though we speak thus.
We know you better than you know yourself, all saying. Now, we want to see the fruit of the salvation. I want to go over this again. This section of scripture, we read it, we don't understand it, so we'll go on.
I want you to understand what it's saying. Therefore, leaving the principles, we're going to leave them behind. You've been through them once, you cannot go through it again, so let's go on. And then he goes through the doctrines of the baptism and laying on the hands.
The Jew grew up under the law and they always laid their hand on the animal that was going to be sacrificed, so laying on of hands, that's what this means. You cannot lay hands on, for it is impossible.
It's absolutely, utterly impossible for those who were once enlightened. What does enlightened mean, David? Right. For those that were once enlightened and have tasted the heavenly gift, Greg, what would that be?
Salvation. And were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, Russell, what does that mean? And have tasted the good word of God, Joy, what does that mean? And the powers of the world to come. Greg, have we experienced the powers of the world that's yet to come?
Well, now that's the wrong answer. We have tasted, I can't get my thumbs to work this morning, and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the world to come. I ask you, wrong, that's all one sentence, but we have tasted and we have seen the power and let me tell you, that power is nothing compared to what it will be when we actually get there.
Having fallen is a better rendition if they shall fall away. Now, how can a person that is saved fall away? How can he lose his salvation? All right. What is it that he can lose? The fellowship, the joy of his salvation.
To renew again unto repentance, to renew again unto repentance, you cannot come to repentance again. Seeing they crucified to themselves the Son of God afresh and put him to an open shame. David, what is the chances of Christ coming down to earth and being crucified again?
Zero. Less than zero. It just won't happen. Period. If you didn't make it the first time, you won't make it. It's not left up to you unless he chose you from among the world, you won't be chosen. A person saved by Jesus the Christ and placed into God has what?
Eternal life. Do you believe that? Very strong. But do you really believe it? But if the same person continually doubts his salvation, what's he doing? Right. God, I believe I was saved, but I'm not real sure.
When you're saved, are you sure? Yes. How do we know? David, if you understand spiritually the truth that the Bible's teaching, even one little part, you're saved. God will not reveal, he said, I will not reveal myself, or this word, to those that are not saved.
So we can know we're saved if we understand even the little bit of it. Well, the sin of ignorance is something that needs to be removed. What is ignorance, Greg? The lack of knowledge. Russell Wallace said, what is knowledge?
All right. What is belief? All right. Belief is this. You can write this down if you want to, or if you don't want to. Belief is a decision at which you have arrived based upon facts outside of yourself.
You're going to buy a new car, and you're completely open. You look at all of the various models made by various companies. You ask about it. You ask those that have purchased this one and that one and so forth.
Through all of the investigation, you have arrived at a decision. That's belief. Belief based upon facts outside of yourself. Now, when it comes to God, eternal life, spiritual, I believe. Now, help my unbelief.
Help me understand what it is that I believe, and he will go on and on and open to you. If you really study, he will open his word to you. Paul says, look, don't you know that if you could lose your salvation, you couldn't get it back?
God has made it so airtight, so beautiful, so simple. Your mind, so believe it, and then we go on and build on that belief. It's impossible to be saved the second time. The earth which drinketh in the rain that cometh oft upon it, and bringeth forth herbs, meet for them by whom it is dressed, receiveth blessing from God.
The first rain, when was the first rain? Why do you say that? The flood is the first rain. That's not what you said to start with there. That's not what I heard. That the flood is the first rain, right?
Now, can it ever rain a second time, the first time? It's impossible. Well, he promised, and that ought to be enough for most people. But that which bears thorns and briars is rejected, and is nigh unto cursing, whose end is to be burned.
But, but, the all important word is, but. Beloved, he's talking to these Jewish Christians. We are persuaded. Greg, what's persuaded me? All right. He believed it. We are persuaded, better things of you, and things that accompany salvation, though we speak thus, though we're talking like this.
We believe that you are of the saved, things that accompany salvation, we believe this of you. Now, David, tell me some things that accompany salvation. That's right. Now, is the Christian aware every time he does the work of the Lord?
No. Very seldom we're aware of it. Joy, how do we know that right now we're doing the will of God? What can you check it by? I'd like to meet that teacher. Who is he? Now, don't remember that simply because I told you.
Right? I want you to know to do the will of God. You don't have to search around. You don't have to get a big education. You don't have to do anything, except the very best that you can with whatever you have right now.
So, Paul was persuaded, better things of these people. But God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labor of love which you have showed toward his name, in that you have ministered to the saints, and you do minister.
Don't continue to question your salvation. To do so is to call God a liar. We would never do that, would we? But when you question your salvation, that's what's happening. Work and labor of love will not save you or keep you saved, but it will bring rewards, and then only if you are saved.
If you could do anything to bring your salvation, then you would need to continue doing it to keep your salvation. If you could do something that would cause God to smile on you and save you, then you would have to do something all of the time to keep that.
Now, how many of you please God all of the time? Well, that's true. There's been one time. I wish that were true. There's been a time or two when I didn't please him. We desire that every one of you do show the same diligence in the full assurance of hope unto the end.
Now, in verse 11, tell me, Greg, what's he talking about? All right. All right. We desire each one of you to show the same diligence. Diligence. Roger, what does diligence mean? All right. Diligent means to whet.
To whet. David, what does that mean? To whet something. Going to whet a knife. That's right. To get the sharpest edge possible. That's what diligence means. That's what Roger was telling us. To get an edge so sharp that it will cut through to show you the truth versus the evil.
A person who is afraid to let his salvation be known is not far from backsliding. Is there such a thing as a backslidden Christian? That's true. Or Paul wouldn't need to write all of this. Twelve, that ye be not slothful.
Now, Roger, that's slothful. What does the word bring to mind? You are slothful if you do not grow spiritually. That you be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises.
What are the promises, Greg? All right. We are not walking in a strange road. There's been many here before us. So it's not new to you. It's not new to me. It's not new to anybody on earth. For when God made promise to Abraham because he could swear by no greater, he'd swear by himself.
Now, why is it that the one that is swearing or blessing is greater than the one that received the blessing? Well, let me read a little more. Saying, Surely blessing I will bless thee, and multiplying I will multiply thee.
And so after he, Abraham, had patiently endured, he, Abraham, obtained the promise. For men verily swear by the greater, and an oath of confirmation is to them an end of all strife. Now, what does it mean an end of all strife, Roger?
Now, between men the end can be arrived at if they have agreed or confirmed the situation. You don't go back and try to redo it. You've settled it and you move on. Wherein God, willing more abundantly to show unto the heirs of promise the immutability, Russell, what's immutability mean?
That's right, a thing that cannot be changed. It is immutable. Of his counsel confirmed it by an oath. Now, to this thing of blessing and an oath and so forth, why is it that the lesser of the two receives the blessing?
Why is it the most important of the two gives the blessing? In Ephesians 1 .11,. In whom also we have obtained an inheritance being predestinated, according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will, so everything's worked according to God.
And we know, Romans 8 .28, we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are called according to his purpose. All things work together and is for good of that select group.
It's not good for the others. Proof that God is working everything. God never uses anything secondhand. Why? Sure, he made everything so it can't be secondhand. But don't think that God's using this just because it's secondhand.
Psalms 38 .33 .8,. Let all the earth fear the Lord, let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him. Before he spake and it was done, he commanded and it stood fast. The Lord bringeth the counsel of the heathen to naught, he maketh the devices of the people none effect.
The counsel of the Lord standeth forever, the thoughts of his heart to all generations. He never changes. Everything's been done with him. It's all finished, even that that we haven't seen. It's already finished.
You were his before the foundation of the world. You didn't know it until a certain time come in your life when he notified you. 18, That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us.
Greg, what is the hope set before us? Right. Now, these two things are immutable. God's promises and God's oath was made by God who cannot pass away. If he had sworn by anything else, it would have passed away.
The word of God is immutable, unchangeable, unresistible, unmovable, unbendable, unbreakable, unsubstitutional, unturnable, but not unbelievable. The day to be saved is the day before you die. So when is it?
Right now. When you're young, we think we're going to live forever. When we're old, it seems like you have refuge. Do not think you can face the world in your own strength. We try to too much. We're not facing the world in our own strength.
Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which enters into that within the veil. Now, what's he talking about, David? That within the veil. Second veil. That's right. Our hope is in Jesus Christ, the high priest that entered beyond the veil.
He destroyed the veil. So our hope is anchored in the Holy of Holies. Whether the forerunner is for us entered even Jesus, made an high priest forever after the order of Melchizedek. Now, Melchizedek enters again.
We saw him way back in Genesis. Melchizedek. Why does he bring it up here, Greg? All right. The priesthood on earth come through the descendants of who? Aaron. That was all of the priests were of Aaron.
Now, Melchizedek comes along as high priest of Salem, has nothing to do with Aaron. So Jesus is after the order of Melchizedek. He could not be high priest on earth because he was not a descendant of Aaron.
But he's like Melchizedek. Like Melchizedek. He's not the son of God. He's not Shem. He's not any of those. We don't know who he is, was. He had a mother and father, but it's never mentioned. He appears on stage and disappears.
But it's said that there is a high priest coming that is not the descendant of Aaron. Melchizedek. Even God, since Jesus is my substitute, no one, no thing, no spirit can be against me because Jesus is my substitute.
David, why is it that there's no spiritual thing can be against you? Right. Right. He is my substitute. He took my place. In him I live. Now, I don't mean that the spiritual world can't affect you, but they cannot deal with your soul.
No. Because they must deal with who? My substitute. Even God must deal with who? With himself before he could deal with me. He can deal with, for he is for me. For is used in place of substitute. He's not for me if I do certain things.
He is for me. He is in my place. He is in place of me. I am hid in who? Christ. Only I'm hid in Jesus the Christ. Jesus is the first fruits, the human body ripe for glory. He has entered in the holy of holies as our high priest and we are in him.
In this chapter, we've learned a person cannot be careless about his salvation. We are all subject to backsliding. Now, you'd never think David was subject to such a thing, but he is because he's still breathing.
The slightest departure from truth will ultimately lead to denying the Lord. If you deviate one little bit, that can lead to denying him. You remember Peter? Don't think it's impossible. Does your religion give you only the assurance of not going to hell?
Do you look on your salvation only as a pardon, making you free from everlasting punishment? Oh boy, I won't have to go there. Your salvation is much, much more than that. That's just where you start.
We've finished the sixth chapter. Yes. Yes. That's who we are. Thank you, David. Anything else anybody has thought of? So you didn't have it to lose. That's right. It's just that simple. And up to this point, he hasn't been saved the first time.
Well, I wish everyone could have been here this morning, but those are here that he wanted. Anything else? Well, we will. Maybe I'll come back before we finish Hebrews. Roger, dismiss us please.