The purpose of this lesson: To stress the importance of spiritual development/growth after the person becomes a Christian.
We are familiar with growth problems. While quick and unusual development might be advantageous in some pursuits when we are young (like a physical development that provides an athletic advantage), no adult would wish for his (her) childs development to continue unrestricted after the child reaches and continues in adult existence. Were this the situation, that which was as advantage quickly becomes an unhealthy situation with far-reaching consequences.
Rapid physical development in children can be considered a good thing if it results in a physical advantage.
The reverse is also true. If an infant or young child fails to advance in the range of normal development, the parents quickly become concerned. If there is a learning inability in school, the parents become deeply concerned. If at any young adult age the person has a distinct lack of any essential set of living/managing skills, honest parents who recognize the situation are concerned and likely frustrated.
A lack of physical development is regarded by many to be a handicap in an adult. At any age the failure to physically develop becomes a matter of concern.
Most of us desire children who develop within normal ranges during all ages. Adults value accepted physical and mental development of those they love and care about. Most of us do not wish our children to struggle with the challenges of being different.
A failure to physically develop normally commonly produces concern.
Christians are a part of Gods family! Because they place and demonstrate their confidence in Jesus Christ, they are provided the opportunity and right to be Gods children who can cry Abba Father (Daddy) to God Himself. God wants in His childrens spiritual development. The absence of that growth and development produces horrible spiritual consequences!
One of the objectives of God through Jesus Christ was to produce a Father who would guide and bless His children (those humans who trusted what God did in Jesus). Consider Romans 8:14-17 and 1 John 3:1-3.
In todays text, the writer of Hebrews wished to use Melchizedek to illustrate additional points about spiritual development. Yet, though the illustrations existed and were understood by the writer, he could not use them. Why? Were the illustrations incorrect? No! Did the writer lack the necessary writing skills to use the illustrations? No! The problem: The original recipients of the writing lacked the ability to understand the illustrations. His illustrations would require an explanation because they were dull of hearing.
Begin by reading todays text. The writer of Hebrews wanted to use Melchizedek as the basis of additional illustrations of the spiritual need for continued spiritual growth and development. However, the readers did not have sufficient spiritual understanding to grasp the writers illustrations. Thus, the illustrations would confuse rather than bring insight and understanding.
The writer explained the situation this way: The recipients had failed to develop spiritually as they should have. They had been Christians long enough to be teachers, but they have spiritually regressed to the point that they needed to be taught the basics of Christianity again. They were spiritual infants who needed spiritual milk and were incapable of eating solid spiritual food that should nourish the spiritually mature. They were spiritual babies, not spiritual adults.
The readers failure to grow spiritually interfered with their teachers ability to teach them. The lesson he wished to teach them was a needed lesson!
The objective of transformation from a sinful life to a righteous life involves pressing on to spiritual maturity. It involves growing beyond laying the spiritual foundation again. What did the writer regard to be spiritual foundation matters? (1) Understanding the basic things about the role that exists between God and Jesus Christ. (2) Repentance. (3) Expressing faith in God. (4) Instructions concerning washings (spiritual purity). (5) The laying on of hands. (6) The resurrection of the dead. (7) The eternal judgment.
Conversion to Jesus Christ is just the beginning of spiritual development. Entering Jesus and accepting forgiveness is just the start! Call attention to the 7 foundation issues/subjects presented, and challenge your students to understand these are immature matters that provide the basis for mature considerations.
This is striking: The subjects the writer of Hebrews considered evidence of spiritual immaturity would be regarded by many Christians of today as evidence of great spiritual maturity. Consider a question: If those were the subjects of spiritual infancy, what would be the subjects of spiritual maturity? For example, from what the writer said in the book of Hebrews, the order of spiritual roles would be God, Jesus Christ, and those who belonged to God through Jesus Christ. Compare the writers order to the statements of Paul in 1 Corinthians 3:21-23, 11:3, and 15:24-28. Do we use concepts of the trinity to evade the differing roles of God and Jesus Christ? Example two: Do you realize there are spiritual considerations that go beyond faith, repentance, and baptism? Do you understand there are spiritual matters that go beyond transformation, justice, sanctification, propitiation, and redemption? Example three: Is our concept of faithfulness tied to forcing people to confine themselves to the basics?
It is striking that these immature considerations are regarded today as evidence of great maturity.
The writer did not say the basics were unimportant. He said the basics were subjects of the immature. The objective of the spiritually immature is to grow beyond the basics. The writer said that was the goal of the spiritual. . . This we shall do, if God permits. Or, when opportunity presents itself, we readily will respond to it!
The writer was not indicating that these basic considerations were inferior or nonessential, but that they were only the basis for continued spiritual growth. If the person in Christ seeks the spiritual maturity God wants for him or her, these elementary matters are important, but not sufficient of themselves for spiritual maturity.
Then the writer talked of the horror of falling away from Jesus Christ. To experience the blessings of God in Jesus Christ, and then to revert to the old life is to be guilty of crucifying and putting to shame Gods son! It would be like the burning of a field to rid the field of unwanted vegetation (a common practice of farmers then and of primitive agriculture even today).
Hebrews 6: 4, 5 indicate that we are considering converted people (remember the original readers/hearersJewish Christians who were going to renounce Jesus Christ and return to the Jewish community). The words and phrases enlightened, have tasted the heavenly gift, have been partakers of the Holy Spirit, have tasted the good word of God, and have tasted the powers of the age to come would refer to men and women who entered Christ. Have fallen away, cannot be renewed to repentance, and the re-crucifixion of Jesus indicates they have chosen to leave Jesus Christ. Their spiritual destruction is indicated in Hebrews 6:7, 8.
Note: the problem was NOT Gods willingness to forgive, but these peoples inability to repent (verse 6). They had no desire to return to God, no desire to pursue righteousness. They had neither appreciation nor respect for Jesus Christ.
It is essential to see that the problem does not lie in God, but in the person who knowingly chose to leave Christ. The problem does not lie in the inability of God to forgive, but in the inability of the person to repent. This person does not wish to return. To answer a frequent question, if there is a desire to repent and renew a relationship with God through Jesus Christ, Gods forgiveness exists and return to God is possible. Falling from God is not irreversible if the person repents.
The issue: If you plan to use your life to encourage faith and dependence on Jesus Christ, do you continue to grow spiritually? Can you understand and discuss spiritual matters that go beyond the foundation, beyond the basics? That absolutely is a matter of leading!
The core of the issue is the desire for and the commitment to spiritual growth. Spiritual leadership of others into Gods values occurs if there is personal commitment to spiritual growth.
That leadership is called example.
For Thought and Discussion
1. Illustrate when and how quick and unusual physical development might be desired.
The example used in this lesson is athletic advantage in those who are not yet adults.
2. Illustrate how continued development might be undesirable in the physical life of an adult.
The illustration in this lesson is that such abnormal, continued development in an adult is regarded a handicap that disallows typical involvement in adult life, or shortens adult existence.
3. Discuss the Christians relationship with God.
The discussion should include that this relationship is an ideal first-century father/son family relationship.
4. How did the writer of Hebrews use Melchizedek to illustrate the consequences of failure in spiritually development?
He wanted to use Melchizedek for additional illustrations, but he could not because his readers/ listeners would not understand his illustrations. Thus the writer could not use some teachings they needed to understand.
5. What was the problem in the original recipients of the writing called Hebrews?
The recipients problem was that they were still spiritual infants when they should be (had been converted long enough to be) spiritual adults.
6. How did the writer of Hebrews explain the situation?
They should be teachers, but they were infants who needed spiritual milkthey needed to be taught the basics again.
7. What 7 things did the writer list as foundation matters?
a. The basics about the roles of God and Jesus Christ.
b. The basics about repentance.
c. The basics about expressing faith in God.
d. The basics about washings (purity).
e. The basics about laying on of hands.
f. The basics of resurrection from the dead.
g. The basics of eternal judgment.
8. When we consider the 7 things the writer listed, what is striking?
It is striking that the subjects that the writer considered immature, we often consider as evidences of maturity.
9. Discuss the horror of deciding to leave Jesus Christ.
The discussion should include that a deliberate rejection of Jesus Christ by a Christian is a participation in the crucifixion of Jesus.
10. The problem was NOT what, but was what?
The problem is NOT Gods willingness to forgive, but the persons inability to repent. He or she does not want to return to God through Jesus Christ.
11. For us (todays Christian), what is the issue?
The issue is our willingness to grow spiritually after we have been baptized into Christ.
Link to Student Guide
Lesson 12