Dullness of Hearing - Part 2

Temple Baptist Church - 3-13-2019

Hebrews 5:11-6:20

Introduction: 

A.  Almost every article or sermon written on this passage begins with a statement of its difficulty to interpret.  When preaching on these verses within their context, they are perfectly clear.

B.  There has been much unnecessary confusion with these verses and it all stems from a lack of studying and interpreting them within their context.  Why the controversy when the Bible is clear on these verses?  A failure to rightly divide the Word of Truth by ignoring the context!

C.  There are three views commonly heard about Hebrews, chapter 6, but only one that is right.

1.  Some preach that these were never saved.

2.  Others preach that these were saved but lost their salvation.

3.  The right interpretation is that once saved, always saved and accountable for their actions.

D.  The first word of chapter 6 is “THEREFORE.”  The lack of rightly dividing the Word of Truth amazes me!  Simple biblical hermeneutics establishes the context of God’s children being dull of hearing and, when they ought to be teachers, remain spiritual babes.

E.  In the Book of Amos, God prophesied our day. There is a Famine of Hearing across our land. 

Amos 8:11-12  Behold, the days come, saith the Lord GOD, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the LORD:  (12)  And they shall wander from sea to sea, and from the north even to the east, they shall run to and fro to seek the word of the LORD, and shall not find it.

F.  There in is a two-fold problem.

1.  There is a Pew Failure, a famine of hearing - Carnal Living that causes Pew Pressure to let up on the reproving and rebuking aspects of preaching.        

2.  There is a Pulpit Failure, a famine of preaching - Compromised Preaching by hireling prophets because of pew pressure or personal gain.

G.  Chapter 6 is just the result of dullness of hearing!  It produces worldliness, carnality, and ultimately the judgment of God.

H.  We find several characterizations of this famine in our day.

1.  Characterized by Lack of Spiritual Growth - 5:12-13 

a.  A Learning Problem – 12.  Need Repetitious Teaching. 

b.  A Living Problem – 13  Need Repetitious Correcting.

2 Timothy 2:24-26  And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient,  (25)  In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth;  (26)  And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.

2.  Characterized by Lack of Spiritual Discernment - 5:14

a.  Submission Problem

b.  Sin Problem

3.  Characterized by Lack of Spiritual Assurance - 6:1-3

a.  Leaving Problem - always concerned with their salvation

1)  Get your salvation settled.

a)  Repentance from “dead” works - over and gone!

b)  Believe what God said.

2)  Leave it there.

b.  Laying Problem - constantly crucifying Christ afresh.

4.  Characterized by Lack of Spiritual Steadfastness - 6:4-6

a.  Once enlightened - Hebrews 10:32  But call to remembrance the former days, in which, after ye were illuminated, ye endured a great fight of afflictions;

b.  Made partakers - Hebrews 3:1  Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus;

c.  Tasted the good word of God - Hebrews 2:9  But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man.

5.  Characterized by Lack of Spiritual Blessing and Judgment - 5:6-8 

a.  Verse 6.  We Cannot get saved again!  Once saved, we are accountable for our actions.  It is impossible for the child of God to go back, get saved again, and erase the judgment of God for sinfulness.

b.  Verse 7.  The analogy: rain, earth, and produce.  Water (God’s Word), believers, and produce.

c.  The earth is accountable for the rain that it receives and can either produce good fruit or thorns and briars.

d.  The believer is accountable for the truth he has received and can either produce good fruit or thorns and briars.

e.  Destruction coming – 8

1)  Loss of temporal blessings – 7

2)  Loss of physical life – 8  Thank God for “nigh unto cursing.”

6.  God’s Desire - 9-12