'God's Castaways' - Sermon Outlines. Org



"God's Castaways"

Hebrews 6:4-12

INTRO. The apostle Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 9:27, "But I keep under my body, and bring it unto subjection: lest by any means, when I have preached Christ to others, I myself should be a castaway." The word "castaway" is from the Greek word "adokimos" means "not standing the test, disapproved, rejected, in danger of losing one's reward." Paul here is not fearful of losing his salvation. For He wrote in 2 Timothy 1:12, "for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I committed unto him against that day." But he is fearful of losing his reward. Paul doesn't want to be a "castaway," but well-pleasing to God! Oh, that God's people today had that same desire!

We see a similar situation in Hebrews 6. The entire book of Hebrews is written to believers. Thus so also is chapter 6. This passage of Scripture has caused more confusion than probably any other found in the Word of God. Various interpretations have been given to try and explain this passage. Some see the readers as Jews who were contemplating becoming Christians, but who had not yet done so. But vv. 4-5 seem to require its readers to be Christian people. Others see the readers as having had a genuine Christian experience, but who are in danger of losing it by renouncing it to return to Judaism. If this is true, it would mean a person could lose their salvation, which is contrary to other clear teachings in the Word of God on the security of the believer. Still others suggest that the writer was using a hypothetical situation which could never really happen. But if this is the case why use a hypothetical case at all. If one can be saved and then lose it, the passage clearly states he can never be saved again (Herschel Hobbs. Hebrews: Challenge To Bold Discipleship. pp. 58-59).

If none of these interpretations are suitable then what was the writer trying to express? We should keep in mind that the writer here is not talking about losing one's salvation, but of repentance. It does not say, "to renew them again to salvation.” What a gloomy Gospel it would be if man could be saved one day and lost the next! And once lost he could never again be saved! No, the writer is addressing Hebrew believers who have evidence in their lives of the Holy Spirit’s workings but through unconcern and losing their first love have, instead of going forward, began to lag behind or else have given up the race altogether! Thus they were in danger of being "God's Castaways.”

(1) THE PEOPLE

Hebrews 6:4-5—“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.”

*The writer was addressing a group of Christians whose background had

been in Judaism, in fact, they were saved out of Judaism. How do we

know they were true believers instead of just professors in Christ as some

ascertain? Five characteristics show us their true faith:

A. THEY WERE "ONCE ENLIGHTENED" (v4a). The word “once" is a

translation of a Greek word which means "once for all." The word

“enlightened" is the translation of a Greek word "photizo" which mean

“to make to see." It is translated twice as “enlightened" (Ephesians

1:18; Hebrews 6:4) and once as “illuminated” (Hebrews 10:32) (M.R.

DeHaan. Hebrews. p.105). What is its meaning in Ephesians 1:18? :

"The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints."

In the other instance where the word is used we read:

"But call to remembrance the former days, in which, after ye were illuminated (the same word), ye endured a great fight of afflictions" (Hebrews 10:32).

In both references the application is strictly to born-again people. By

what rule of interpretation then can we say that in Hebrews 6:4 it does

not mean "to see"? Can a lost man see the riches Of God's glory? If so,

then Jesus was wrong when He said, "Except a man be born again, he

cannot see the kingdom of God." (John 3:3) (M. R. DeHaan. Hebrews.

pp. 105-106)

B. THEY HAD TASTED THE HEAVENLY GIFT (v4b). The word "tasted" is

translated from a Greek word which means "to experience, or to eat."

Our LORD Jesus was said in Hebrews 2:9, "by the grace of God should

taste death for every man." Does that mean to taste only, and not to

partake of? Did Jesus merely take a taste of death or did He take our

death for us? The word implies that these believers had the experience

of being the people of God with the assurance of the joys of heaven.

The same Greek word is used in 1 Peter 2:2-3 where we read, "As newborn babies, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby: If so you have tasted that the Lord is gracious." If we are ever going to grow in our Christian faith we must daily partake of God's Word!

C. THEY WERE PARTAKERS OF THE HOLY GHOST (v4c). Some suggest that these only went along with the Holy Spirit to an extent, but came short of being indwelt or filled with God's Spirit! How ridiculous! The Greek word for "partakers" means "to become sharers, to participate." These same people were not only called here “sharers of the Holy Ghost”, but also earlier in this epistle are called, "sharers of the heavenly calling" (Hebrews 3:1), and "sharers of Christ." (Hebrews 3:14).

In other references, such as 1 Corinthians 9:10, where we read that we

are to be a "partaker of his hope,” and in 1 Peter 4:13 where we are to

be "partakers of Christ's sufferings," the same Greek word is used and in

every instance the meaning is to share to the fullest extent.

D. THEY HAD TASTED THE GOOD WORD OF GOD (v5a). The faith they

had had been borne of the Word of God (Romans 10:17).

E. THEY HAD KNOWLEDGE OF THINGS TO COME (v5b). They had

experienced God's power and knew what His will for them was! They

had Christ's assurance of His presence and power so that they might

achieve the mission God had given them. What is the purpose of God for

each one of us? That we might go with the Gospel to those that are lost

and dying all around us!

These Hebrew believers had experienced the gift of salvation, the Word

of God, the power of God, they were sharers of the Holy Spirit. Does not

this describe true Salvation? (Warren W. Wiersbe. The Bible Exposition

Commentary. Volume 2. Ephesians-Revelation. p. 296).

(2) THE PROBLEM

Hebrews 6:6—"If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto

repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God

afresh, and put him to an open shame.”

A. WHAT THIS PROBLEM IS NOT. As we have seen the evidence shows that these Hebrews were true believers. The problem then is not that these people are not saved or are in danger of losing their salvation, but that they are in danger of losing their usefulness for the LORD Jesus Christ! (Matthew 5:13). When we were saved, we, in essence, said to God, "LORD, I know I'm a sinner and I cannot save myself, please save me, be my Savior and LORD." We thus entered into a contract with God in which He has promised to be our Savior and give us eternal salvation and in which we promised to make Him the LORD of our life. God's end of that covenant is unconditional. Once we belong to Him we will always be His. But our end of that covenant is conditional, that is, that we make Him the LORD of our lives!

B. WHAT THIS PROBLEM IS. There is a grave danger then in rebelling against the prescribed will of God for our lives!

ILLUS. The spiritual experiences found in verses 4-5 can be compared

with those of Israel at Kadesh-barnea which led to the rebellion

of Israel. When the spies returned from Canaan they brought

back a glowing report of the land of Canaan. The Israelites

were enlightened as to its condition (Numbers 13:26-27; 14:7).

They brought back samples of the fruit of the land (Numbers

13:26-27). They, in a sense, tasted its wonders. They were

aware of their covenant as a priest-nation (Exodus 19:5-6).

They were to be God's partners in a world-mission. They were

exhorted as to God's promise to give them the land and that he

would enable them to conquer it (Numbers 13:2; 14:8-9). They

tasted the good (sure) word of God, and His power to give them

victory in the land they were about to inherit. And then with all

of this experience, still they rebelled against God. They refused

to enter the land from which they were to fill their role as

priest-nation. (Herschel Hobbs. Hebrews: Challenge To Bold

Discipleship. p. 59).

Now think about these Hebrew Christians. They were once enlightened.

They had tasted the heavenly gift. They had been partakers of the Holy

Spirit. They had tasted the good Word of God and the powers to come,

but now when they "ought to be teachers, [they) had need that one

teach [them) again which be the first principles of the oracles of God;

and [had] become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat."

(Hebrews 5:12). AS Christians, God's Word tells us that we are to

"grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus

Christ." (2 Peter 3:18). This is a command, not an option. And if we

fail to follow it we are openly rebelling against God just as the Israelites

in the wilderness did and just as the Hebrews Christians did! It seems

then that the writer of Hebrews is speaking not of losing one's salvation,

but of the danger involved in a state of arrested development in

Christian growth by which his readers were in peril of falling short of

their ultimate purpose in Christian service to fulfill God's mission for

them (Herschel Hobbs. Hebrews: Challenge To Bold Discipleship. p. 59).

V6 says, "If they shall fall away…", what does that mean? The word

"fall" is a translation of a Greek word which means "to fall in one's way."

It implies that one falls away from adherence to and facts of the faith.

The writer is speaking of Christians who began the race, but fell by the

wayside. (M. R. DeHaan. Hebrews. p. 101). The writer says, "For it is

impossible…If they shall fall away, to renew them unto repentance...".

There comes a time when after repeated warnings and admonitions the

Christian continues in disobedience and "willful” sin, until God shelves

him, to deal with him at the Judgment Seat Of Christ (M. R. DeHaan.

Hebrews. p. 101)!

Let us go back to Israel at Kadesh-barnea. Israel had entered into a

contract with God. He would bring them into the land and they were to

fulfill their mission from God. But the Scripture tells us that Israel

rebelled against the will of God. Because of their rebellion, God finally

decreed that while "all the earth shall be filled with the glory of the

LORD" (Numbers 14:21), none of that generation of Israelites above

nineteen years of age, save Caleb and Joshua, would enter into the land

of Canaan (Numbers 14:23ff). Their covenant was conditional. They

had not kept the IF so Jehovah was not bound by the "then". Thus He

said "As ye have spoken in mine ears [rebelling against the covenant], so

will I do unto you [He would not use them under the covenant]: Your

carcasses shall fall in the wilderness; and all that were numbered of

you, according to your whole number, from twenty-years old and

upward, which have murmured against me." (Numbers 14:28ff). They

were not sent back into an unredeemed state of bondage in Egypt. They

lost their opportunity as a generation and died in the wilderness. God's

work would go on, but they would be bypassed. God would use another

generation to fulfill His will (Herschel Hobbs. Hebrews: Challenge To Bold

Discipleship. pp. 60-61)!

God’s people may delay His purpose, but they will never defeat it. God's

purpose will be realized even if He must use someone else! The Israelites

at Kadesh-barnea wanted to repent after the head of the tribes met

together. Their desire NOW was to do God’s will. They came to Moses

and said “Lo, we be here, and will go up into the place which the LORD

hath promised: for we have sinned." (Numbers 14:40). But Moses told

them that was impossible (Numbers 14:41ff). There comes a time after

repeated warnings of God, that if a Christian persists in willful

disobedience that God will no longer use Him (Matthew 5:13).

Any Church, group of God's people, or individual Christian may so

defiantly rebel against God's purpose for them that they can no longer be

used of God! We must not trifle with God's purpose for us as a Church

and as a people!

The Israelites at Kadesh-barnea wanted to repent, but God had decreed,

and it could not be changed. Why could not these Hebrew believers

repent if they made that fatal choice? Because v6 says, "seeing they

crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put Him to an open

shame." The meaning here seems to be that those who rebel against

God's prescribed will join with those who crucified Jesus in open

disgrace.

Those who crucified Jesus crucified Him in rebellion in an attempt to

negate God's purpose. This is exactly what Christians do when they

refuse to be used of God to fulfill God's destiny for their lives! The end

result of their lives is to negate God's purpose. Thus they join with the

crucifiers. God's purpose goes on in another place, another time. But

those who rebel lose their opportunity forever!

(3) THE PROMISE

Hebrews 6:7-10—“For 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: 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 thus speak. For God is not unrighteous

to forget your work and labor of love, which ye have showed

toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and

do minister.”

A. THE CALAMITY OF UNFULFILLED PURPOSE. The writer uses an illustration to show us the seriousness of the problem. The same soil can bring forth fruit or briers. If the soil is cultivated, it will produce fruit; if it is neglected, it will produce briers (M. R. DeHaan. Hebrews. 107). The Hebrew Christians had received God's blessings. But they were bearing only thorns and briers. They were also "nigh unto a curse," and continuing their present rebellious conduct would see their useless works good only "for burning." Not the Christians but their works would perish (Herschel Hobbs. Hebrews: Challenge To Bold Discipleship. p. 63). The Apostle Paul echoes these word in 1 Corinthians 3:11-15. In that passage, Paul spoke of those who would be saved, but whose useless works would be burned up. Such works are good only for "burning." Every saint's work will be tried by fire, and the "briers" of neglect and disobedience will go up in smoke!

B. THE COMFORT OF UNHINDERED PERFORMANCE. After his terrible warning, the writer also wanted to loving encourage his readers (vv. 10-11). He was assured that they would not follow the example set by their ancestors in the wilderness but would show forth works that accompany salvation. Our salvation is not by works, but by Grace. But once we are saved, works should follow! The writer also encouraged them that God would not forget what they had already done in ministering to the saints. But he did not want them to stop there. They must look also for opportunities to serve outside the confines of the Church.

(4) THE PRAYER

Hebrews 6:11-12—“And we desire that every one of you do show the

same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end:

That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through

faith and patience inherit the promises.”

A. THE PRAYER FOR PERSEVERANCE. The writer's prayer was that these Hebrew believers would continue to be diligent in their service for God. The word "diligence” means "earnestness and zeal.” He wanted them to show the same zeal in other matters as they did in their love one for another. So that they might spot those opportunities for service all around them and make the most of those opportunities!

B. THE PRAYER FOR PATIENT TRUST. The writer also prayed that they

might not be "slothful" the word meaning "dull, sluggish, or

unconcerned." Many of God's people have been lulled to sleep by the

cares and concerns of this life. We need to wake up (Romans 13:11-

14). The writer tells them, {be} "followers of them who through faith and

patience inherit the promises." As Christians it seems that they wanted

to do God's will but were unwilling to pay the price. Many of God's

people are like that today. They want the joy and assurance of heaven

without the service and commitment needed to be all that God would

have them to be! We can't have it both ways. If we want the

"abundant" life in Christ we must be willing to sacrifice ourselves for

Him (Luke 9:23).

CLOSING: This passage then shows us what willful, continued, disobedience

to God's will for our lives will do. It will cause us to be useless in

the work of God! It is a serious thing to be a Child of God. It

carries with it grave responsibilities. And continued disobedience

against God's purpose for our lives will result in us being one of

"God's Castaways!"

The apostle Paul in 1 Corinthians 9:27, where he talked about

being a "castaway" was not afraid of losing his salvation, but that

after a life of service, he might play the fool, lose out on his reward

and make it necessary for God to put him in the shelf (M. R.

DeHaan. Hebrews. p. 100).

Let us pray that we might have the same wholesome fear that Paul

had and service Him with all diligence that we might not be one of

"God's Castaways”!

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