Hebrews 6

Hebrews 6:1-20

“We Are Persuaded Better Things Of You” It is a sad fact, but a fact nonetheless, that many who begin the race well soon fall by the wayside. Many, who run well for a season, in time, walk no more among us. Tares are always sown among the wheat. Goats will always be found amongst God’s sheep in this world. Often, those who were once named among God’s saints and honored as brothers and sisters in Christ abandon Christ, his gospel, and his people. Thereby proving that they never were truly one of us (1 John 2:19). Such apostates are described in Hebrews 6:1-6. A Distinction Illustrated In Hebrews 6:7-8, the Holy Spirit illustrates the fact that the preaching of the gospel, like rain falling from heaven, has profoundly different results upon the people who hear it. To some it is a savor of life unto life. To others it is a savor of death unto death. When the gospel is blessed of God to the hearts of chosen, redeemed sinners, by the power of his almighty grace, it springs up unto life everlasting (Hebrews 6:7). But those who hear the gospel and reject it as a thing to be despised, are themselves rejected of God, cursed forever, and shall be burned like useless weeds in hell (Hebrews 6:8). Let us lay these things to heart and soberly consider them. May these warnings and examples ever cause us to run to Christ, lay hold on him with both hands, and hold him with a death grip. However, the passage does not end with such terrifying warnings. Lest any true believer be terrified with the fear that he may, after all perish, the Holy Spirit inspired the Apostle to speak in Hebrews 6:9-10 of… A Persuasion Of Grace “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.” How sweet! How blessed! How encouraging! Though he solemnly warned these men and women, because he cared for their souls, of the danger of apostasy and the necessity of perseverance, he saw in them evident tokens of grace, “and things that accompany salvation.” We do not have to guess what these things are. He names them for us. Things That Accompany Salvation There are some things, which always accompany God’s salvation and are tokens of grace wrought in the hearts of men. The Holy Spirit here declares what some of those things are. – “Your work” – The work to which he refers is, first and foremost, the work of faith (1 Thessalonians 1:3; 2 Thessalonians 1:11; Hebrews 11:1-2). – “Your labor of love, which you have shown toward his name” – Believers are a people who labor together in the kingdom of God, for the glory of God, serving Christ, being constrained by the love of God in Christ. That which compels us in the service of our God is his love for us, our love for him, and our love for one another. – This love for God and his people is manifest in free, voluntary service to his people, “in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister.” Faith in Christ and the love that flows from it causes those who are born of God to minister to, to serve, his saints. As our Savior washed his disciples’ feet, those who follow his example wash one another’s feet, willingly and humbly serving one another. An Assurance of Hope “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” (Hebrews 6:11-12). In the light of the things we have seen in this chapter, you might ask, – “How can anyone have assurance that he will, indeed, endure to the end and be saved?” It seems that that is the very question anticipated by the Holy Spirit in these last verses of chapter 6. Here are seven specific things by which every sinner who looks to Christ alone for salvation may have what the Holy Spirit calls “the full assurance of hope.”

1. The Promise of God (Hebrews 6:13-15)
2. The Oath of God (Hebrews 6:16-17)
3. The Immutability of God (Hebrews 6:17-18)
4. The Place of our Refuge (Hebrews 6:18)
5. The Anchor of our Souls (Hebrews 6:19)
6. The Finished Work of Christ (Hebrews 6:20)
7. The Priesthood of Christ (Hebrews 6:20). In the light of these things, every saved sinner, looking to Christ alone, can and should confidently say, “If God be foe me, Who can be against me? – I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day!” Assurance is not a matter of presumption on the part of a saved sinner. It is a matter of faith. Any lack of assurance is a manifest lack of faith. Our great God, who has begun his good work of grace in us, will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ. He who saved us will also keep us. He who gave us grace will also give us glory.

Hebrews 6:3-6

“If They Shall Fall Away…” Salvation is by God’s free and sovereign grace alone. The sinner’s only hope before God is the blood atonement and imputed righteousness of Christ. That salvation which God gives to and works in his people is eternal salvation. All true faith is permanent, persevering faith. However, there is a faith, which is a satanic delusion. Carnal Security Here is a terribly sobering fact plainly revealed in Holy Scripture. We will be wise to lay it to heart. – It is quite possible for men and women to have an undisturbed peace, unshaken assurance, and unquestioned security with regard to their eternal destiny, and yet have no saving interest in Christ. If that fact is not alarming to you, it should be. The Lord God sounds this blaring warning by his prophet Obadiah: – “Woe unto them that are at ease in Zion!” Satan is a crafty, subtle foe. He knows that the surest way to keep sinners from the saving knowledge of Christ is to give them some satisfying, conscience soothing substitute, some religious experience, or feelings, or gifts, or knowledge by which they may convince themselves that the grace of God is surely theirs. Do not be deceived. Many have gifts who have no grace. Multitudes profess faith they do not possess. Countless thousands enjoy peace who do not have pardon. Hoards of men and women, orthodox to the core, are yet without life before God. There is a form of godliness possessed by men who deny the power of it. Many have a name that they live who are yet dead in trespasses and in sins. Hell is bulging with eternally damned souls who went to that place of torment assured that they were on the road to heaven, with a Bible in their hands, a song in their hearts, and a profession on their lips. At the time when Lot’s wife felt most secure, she went to hell! When all the other apostles were fearful, saying, “Lord, is it I?” Judas was perfectly confident. Examine Yourself There is nothing on this earth more fearful than the carnal security of religion without Christ. Let us bring our faith to the Word of God and examine it. May it please God to search our hearts and let us see if we have the faith of God’s elect (2 Corinthians 13:5; 2 Peter 1:10; Psalms 139:23-24). If our faith is the faith of God’s elect, if it is sound, if it is a God given faith, examination will only strengthen it, and cause us to cling more firmly to Christ. If our faith is false, examination may expose it. If we have built for ourselves a refuge of lies, in which we are trying to hide from God, may he graciously destroy our false refuge and hide us in Christ by his almighty grace.

Hebrews 6:4-6

Religious But Lost Men and women often feel, experience, and do much in religion who never experience God’s saving grace. Neither emotional experience, nor orthodoxy of creed, nor reformation of life is necessarily a token of grace. Hebrews 6:4-6 speaks of such people. Look at what these people have experienced. Enlightened They were once enlightened to an understanding of Gospel truth. These were heretics. These are not Arminians, free-willers, papists, or Hindus. These people know the truth, at least mentally. They intellectually perceive and submit to the doctrinal truths of the gospel. To them, the doctrines of the gospel are logical and reasonable. They accept them as facts plainly revealed in the Word of God. The fact is – The natural man can see and understand any doctrine taught in Holy Scripture. He cannot see the glory of God in the face of Christ; but he can see and glory in doctrine. He cannot love Christ; but he can love doctrine. The unsaved man may be a better theologian than the believer. But the poor, uneducated believer knows and loves what the unregenerate man never can. The believer knows, loves, trusts, and rejoices in Christ. Tasted Heavenly Gifts Multitudes have tasted the heavenly gifts who have never tasted the Gift of heaven. During the Apostolic age, miraculous gifts were given to men. Some could heal diseases, speak in tongues, and prophesy. But miraculous gifts, which appear to be gifts of the Spirit, are by no means an evidence of grace, salvation, and eternal life. Gifts of the Spirit can be, and often are, counterfeited by Satan (2 Thessalonians 2:7-10). Tasting the heavenly gifts and powers of the world to come is not salvation. Salvation is eating the Bread of Life. Salvation is not in miraculous gifts, but in immutable grace. Salvation is not in feelings, emotions, and experiences, no matter how great and life changing they may be. Salvation is in Christ! A man can preach with power and eloquence, and yet not know Christ. – Judas did.

A man can perform miracles, and not know God. – Pharaoh’s magicians did. A man can cast out demons, and yet be the messenger of Satan (Matthew 7:21-23). A person can speak in tongues, and yet speak by the power of the devil. A man can preach, promote, and defend righteousness, and yet speak by him who transforms his ministers into angels of light and preachers of righteousness. Spiritual gifts and usefulness must not be looked upon as evidences of grace and salvation. Partakers of the Holy Ghost This passage even speaks of lost men and women who have been made partakers of the Holy Ghost. Many people look at that and say, “Without question, these were once saved people.” But that is not the case at all. We read of wicked King Saul that, “The Spirit of God came upon him, and he prophesied,” but the Spirit of God was not in him. Balaam spoke by the Spirit and prophesied of Christ’s coming, but never knew the Christ of whom he spoke. In fact, Balaam’s ass even spoke a word from God by the power of his Spirit; but neither Balaam, nor his ass, were born of God. Caiaphas, the high priest, spoke by the Spirit of God, declaring the gospel as plainly as any man ever did. Yet, he was a lost man. It is possible for men to say and do things which, considered by themselves, make it appear that they are partakers of the Holy Spirit, though they are not born of the Spirit. There were many in our Lord’s day, as there are today, who believed; but the Master did not commit himself to them, because he knew what was in them (John 2:23-24). Tasted the Word of God We are told in Hebrews 6:5 that these people have even tasted the good Word of God and the powers of the world to come. They love good preaching, and are moved by it. You find them at every Bible conference. Their emotions are stirred by the preaching of the Word; but it never reaches their hearts. This is what the Holy Spirit teaches us in this passage: – It is quite possible for men and women to enjoy rare, unusual gifts and experiences, without experiencing God’s saving grace in Christ. Outward gifts and heartfelt emotions impress and deceive. We must have something more. We must have Christ (1 Corinthians 13:1-3).

Hebrews 6:6

“If They Shall Fall Away…” Here is a fact that must be faced and dealt with, if we would be honest with the Word of God and honest with the souls of men. – Those who fall away are lost forever. But what does that mean? Be sure you understand the doctrine of Holy Scripture. Never Perish The Word of God tells us plainly and unmistakably that God’s elect shall not and cannot fall away and perish. True believers never cease to be true believers. Those to whom Christ gives eternal life shall never perish. Concerning these matters, the Word of God is crystal clear. If salvation is God’s work alone (and it is), then it is forever (Ecclesiastes 3:14). The gifts and callings of God are without repentance. Eternal life is eternal life. The promise of grace and the immutability of our God assure us of the infallible and everlasting security of all who are the objects of his mercy, love, and grace in Christ (Malachi 3:6). Those Who Fall Yet, there are many who do fall away. Many who were once numbered among God’s elect in the house of God, thought to be true believers, even looked upon as examples of faith and faithfulness, have forsaken Christ and the gospel (John 6:66; 1 John 2:19). – “Remember Lot’s wife!” Those who do fall away are lost forever. They “crucify the Son of God afresh and put him to an open shame.” What is this falling away? What does the Holy Spirit mean by those words – “If they shall fall away?” This is not talking about some specific act of sin. David’s adultery did not separate him from the love of God in Christ. It is not even talking about the sin of denying Christ. Peter did that; but he was not lost. This is not even talking about doctrinal error, or even doctrinal error concerning vital issues. All these things may be and are forgiven. Though God’s people do fall into these grievous evils, our God lifts us up and sets us upon the Rock Christ Jesus. So what is this fall that results in the eternal, unrecoverable ruin of men’s souls? In the Word of God, I see two things described in these terms. To depart from the faith of the gospel is to fall away and perish forever (Galatians 5:1-4). Those who have been enlightened to the truth of the gospel and then turn from it, for whatever reason, blaspheme the Spirit of God and fall away, and shall not be forgiven. “There is a sin unto death. I would not that you should pray for it.” That sin which brings eternal reprobation is described in Matthew 12:31-32. There the Lord Jesus Christ declares, “Wherefore I say unto you, All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men: but the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men. And whosoever speaketh a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but whosoever speaketh against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, neither in the world to come.” To forsake the assembly of God’s saints, the fellowship of the gospel, and the ministry of the Word, to abandon the worship of Christ is to fall away and be lost forever (Hebrews 10:25-31; 1 Peter 2:20-21). There are many, I fear, who tenaciously hold to and defend the doctrine of Christ who have fallen away and abandoned Christ altogether. They have no interest in the kingdom of God, no commitment to the cause of God, no fellowship with the people of God, and no concern for the glory of God. They have fallen away. In forsaking the worship of God, they have fallen away. Something I’ve Observed The first step toward total apostasy is the neglect of public worship. When men and women begin to find comfortable excuses for neglecting the assembly of God’s saints, I tremble for them. By their willful neglect of public worship they declare to all who observe them that the ministry of the Word, the fellowship of God’s saints, the songs of Zion, and the praises of our God are really unimportant. If that which they declare by their actions is, indeed, a declaration of their hearts, such neglecters of divine worship are apostate. Let us never look upon the assembly of God’s saints lightly, or treat it as a contemptible thing, a thing to be despised. To absent yourself from the house of God is to choose something else above the worship of God. To neglect the worship of God’s church is to neglect the worship of God. To abandon the church of God is to abandon God. Something I’ve Never Seen Let me tell you something I have never seen. In thirty years of pastoral experience, I have never seen this happen. I have seen believing men and women recovered from falls into many evils. I have seen some who, like Peter, after their fall, were stronger and more faithful than ever. But this I have never seen. – I have never seen a man or woman willingly walk away from and abandon the worship of God recover! I have seen many, apparently trying to silence some sting of conscience, come back for a while; but I have never seen it last. I have never yet seen a man or woman willingly walk away from and abandon the worship of God recover! The Implications – Hebrews 8:1-6 If the Old Testament sacrifices have been forever abolished, as they have, –If the carnal ordinances have been forever put away, as they have, – If the temple and tabernacle have forever been destroyed by the hand of God, as they have, – If the ark of the covenant, the mercy-seat, and all things pertaining to carnal worship have been forever destroyed in accordance with God’s purpose, as they have, what is implied by all these things? What does this mean to us? The implications are obvious; but they are not just implications. Everything implied by these things is specifically stated in Holy Scripture by God the Holy Spirit. “Christ is the end of the law!” The High Priesthood of Christ fulfilled and forever brought to an end all the carnal ordinances of legal worship required under the Mosaic law (Colossians 2:11-23). The tabernacle, the temple, the priesthood, the priestly garments, the priestly service, the priestly sacrifices, holy days, sabbath keeping, the commandments, the whole thing has been brought to its fulfilment and finality by Christ (Romans 10:4). The worship of God has been radically altered. Divine worship is no longer an external, material thing, but an internal spiritual matter. The external is still important, but now the spiritual is radically pervasive. We do not worship God at specified holy places, or upon specified holy days, or under the rigors of legal bondage. We worship God in the Spirit. The believer’s life of faith in Christ is a life of worship (Romans 12:1-2; 1 Corinthians 6:19-20; 1 Corinthians 10:31). All who are born of God live in the Spirit (Romans 8:1-17), walk in the Spirit (Galatians 5:17-23), and worship in the Spirit (Philippians 3:3-10). The believer’s very acts of obedience to God are now, in Christ, by his merits and his blood, accepted of God as a sweet smelling sacrifice (Philippians 4:18; 1 Peter 2:5). Salvation is life in the Spirit. It is worshipping God in the totality of our beings. It is the continual consecration of our very lives to Christ. All true worshippers worship God in the Spirit and in truth (John 4:23-24; Philippians 3:3). Worshipping God in the Spirit makes crosses, religious pictures, images, and icons abhorrent. We count nothing holy but Christ. We acknowledge no priest but the Christ of God. We have no altar but Christ himself. We bring no sacrifice to God for atonement and acceptance with him but Christ. We observe no sabbath but the sabbath of faith, finding all our souls’ rest and a total cessation from work in the finished work of Christ. Christ alone is our Door of access to God. Christ alone is our Ark and Mercy-Seat. Salvation is doing business with God in the holy place. Worship is living for the glory of God. Worship is spiritual. It takes place in the heart.

Hebrews 6:11-12

“He Sware By Himself” The Apostle Paul is urging us to go on in faith, trusting Christ alone as our Savior. He is urging us to persevere unto the end. That has been his purpose since the opening words of chapter 2. He has been urging us not to let Christ and his gospel slip from our hands. He has told us plainly that some who once professed faith in Christ have fallen away, and that if any fall away, it is impossible to renew them again unto repentance. Having given us these warnings, he assures those who truly trust Christ that they shall indeed persevere. That is what the Holy Spirit tells us in the last paragraph of chapter 6. All who are truly born of God, all who trust Christ alone as Savior and Lord, all who look to Christ’s blood alone as the atonement for their sins, all who look to Christ’s obedience alone for their righteousness before God, shall continue to trust him unto the end and shall be with him in glory. Every believer, every sinner who looks to Christ alone for salvation and eternal life, can and should sing with Toplady… My name from the palms of His hands, Eternity will not erase: Impressed on His heart it remains In marks of indelible grace.

Yes, I to the end shall endure, As sure as the Earnest is given: More happy, but not more secure, The glorified spirits in heaven!” How can this be? How can any of us be sure of grace? How can anyone be assured of his salvation? Our adversary, the devil, seeks to devour us. Our temptations are many and great. Our trials are many and heavy. Our hearts are sinful and our flesh weak. Yet, in these verses the Spirit of God speaks to us of “the full assurance of faith.” What is the basis of this assurance? The text speaks of men and women in this world having “a strong consolation” and a “hope as an anchor of the soul.” Full Assurance Paul opens this section, dealing with “the full assurance of hope” (Hebrews 6:11), by urging us to diligence. To many, that may seem strange, but not to a believer. Nothing so inspires diligence in the life of a believer as the assurance of his hope in Christ (1 Corinthians 6:9-11; 1 Corinthians 6:19-20). As John Trapp put it, “A man may as truly say the sea burns, or fire cools, as that certainty of salvation breeds looseness.” The Apostle urges us to continue in faith and love, and in serving one another, with the desire that we might all arrive at “the full assurance of faith” in Christ. These two things are obvious. (1.) Some true believers do not enjoy the blessed peace of “the full assurance of faith.” (2.) It is both possible for us to have this assurance in this world, and we should seek it. What could be more blessed and more inspiring to my soul in this world than a well-grounded full assurance? That man or woman who is assured of an interest in the love and grace of God, – the covenant of grace, its blessings and promises, – in the election of grace, – a saving interest in Christ as our Substitute and Redeemer – the Holy Spirit’s work of grace in us, – of our fitness by grace for the possession of eternal glory and happiness in heaven, and – of possessing this blessed assurance “unto the end” confidently walks in faith and is inspired to honor God in all things by the assurance of his goodness, grace, and faithfulness. “Be Not Slothful” Let us not be slothful concerning our souls and the things of God (Hebrews 6:12), but diligent, following the examples of those who have gone before us into glory, who through faith and patience have inherited the promises of God in Christ. Grace, salvation, and eternal life in and by Christ are things bestowed upon sinners by the promise of God. This is stated here to show us that salvation is not by our works, or human merit, but is entirely the work and gift of God’s free grace in Christ. It is a gift that shall assuredly be obtained by God’s elect. It shall be obtained by that faith and patience which God gives to his people by the power and grace of his Spirit. This gift of grace is expressed in the plural number, “promises”, because it is the great, all-inclusive promise of God. It is described as an inheritance, because the whole thing is our in Christ, as the sons of God, as “heirs of God and joint-heirs with Christ.” Yet, this is a promise that shall be obtained after much trouble, after faith has been tried and proved, through “patience,” as illustrated in Hebrews 6:13-15 in Abraham.

Hebrews 6:13-20

“Let Us Therefore Come” Promise to Abraham Abraham is here used as a pattern, because he was the father of all believers. The promises God made to him of blessedness and of being made a blessing, are ours, for all the promises of God are in Christ, and are yea and amen in him. “For when God made promise to Abraham, because he could swear by no greater, he sware by himself, Saying, Surely blessing I will bless thee, and multiplying I will multiply thee. And so, after he had patiently endured, he obtained the promise” (Hebrews 6:13-15). The promises referred to here are found in Genesis 22:16-17. This is the place where God’s promise was enforced with his oath. This promise to Abraham was made by Christ himself, the Angel of the Covenant, who swore by himself because he could swear by none greater (Isaiah 45:23). Yet, it was a promise concerning Christ, Abraham’s Seed, and all God’s elect in him (Galatians 3:14-16; Galatians 3:29). When the Scriptures speak of God swearing by himself, it is a display of his condescension. He condescends to our weakness, assuring us, by his oath, that his promise is good. All who are chosen of God, all who are called by his grace, all who believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, are hereby assured that all spiritual blessings are and shall be ours in Christ forever (Ephesians 1:3-6). Immutable Purpose “For men verily swear by the greater: and an oath for confirmation is to them an end of all strife. Wherein God, willing more abundantly to show unto the heirs of promise the immutability of his counsel, confirmed it by an oath” (Hebrews 6:16-17). The oath of a man is given to put an end to strife, doubts, and questions about what he has promised. How much more shall God’s oath put an end to all our doubts and questions concerning his promise of grace in Christ? The counsel of God, as the term is used here, is his everlasting purpose of grace in Christ, his purpose of grace, his eternal decree concerning the salvation of his elect (Romans 8:28-31). This is, like God himself, here declared to be a matter of absolute immutability. God’s purpose of grace is immutable. It must be immutable, because it is the purpose and grace of the immutable God (Malachi 3:6; James 1:17), whose wisdom is infinite, whose power is omnipotence, whose will is unalterable, whose grace is unconditional. God’s purposed and promised grace is ours immutably because it comes to us through the merits of our eternally accepted Surety. This is what the words, “confirmed it by an oath,” suggest. They speak of the interposition of a Mediator, Christ our Surety. Two Immutable Things “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” (Hebrews 6:18). The two immutable things here are the decree of God and the oath of God. By the decree of his will and the oath of his covenant, knowing that “it is impossible for God to lie,” we find in Christ our “strong consolation.” Our assurance and consolation before God are not found in our feelings, experiences, personal holiness, or even in our faith, but in God our Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. Believers are men and women who have fled for refuge unto him, like the man slayer in the Old Testament fled for refuge to one of the cities of refuge. Even the names of the cities were typically significant and instructive (Exodus 21:13; Numbers 35:6; Numbers 35:11; Numbers 35:14; Deuteronomy 21:2; Deuteronomy 21:9; Joshua 20:1-9). – Kedesh means, “holy.” Christ is holy, both as God and man, and is our holiness before God, that “holiness without which no man shall see the Lord.” – Shechem means, “the shoulder.” Christ not only bore our sins in his own body on the tree, he bears and carries their persons; and the government of his church and kingdom is on his shoulders. There, on his omnipotent shoulders, we are safe and secure. – Hebron means, “fellowship.” Believers have fellowship with Christ and with the Father in him; and in him we have fellowship with one another. – Bezer means, “a fortified place.” – Christ is our stronghold, our high tower, and our place of defense. To him we run; and in him we are safe. – Ramoth means, “exaltations.” Our Lord Jesus Christ is exalted at God’s right hand, and in due time he will exalt those that trust in him. – Golan means “manifested.” Christ is God “manifest in the flesh.” The Son of God was manifest to take away our sins and destroy the works of the devil; and he will be gloriously manifest and revealed at the last day. The words “lay hold upon” are very strong. They mean to laid hold firmly, as with a death grip. When Satan would pull us off of Christ, we hold him fast. It is our faith in Christ, our hope in him that the fiend of hell would destroy. – His messengers are preachers who cunningly try to get us to take refuge somewhere else. An Anchor “Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the veil” (Hebrews 6:19). Our hope is fastened within the veil. It is “a nail in a sure place.” It is a sure and steadfast hope. Our ship may be tossed to and fro, but it cannot be wrecked. Christ is the Pilot. The Scriptures are the compass. God’s promises are the tackling. Hope is the anchor. Faith is the cable holding it. The Holy Spirit is the Wind that drives it. The Forerunner “Whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made an high priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec” (Hebrews 6:20). As the high priest in Israel entered into the holy of holies once a year, the Lord Jesus Christ, our great High Priest, has gone into the Holy Place. There he has taken possession of Heavn as our Forerunner. By the merit of his own blood he has obtained eternal redemption for us (Hebrews 9:12). Our great Forerunner has gone to heaven to make intercession for us (Hebrews 7:25; 1 John 2:1-2) as a Priest after the order of Melchisedec. Our Lord Jesus Christ is a Priest after the order of righteousness and of peace. The order of his priesthood is an everlasting and unchangeable order.

Hebrews 6:14

“Partakers of Christ” The text does not say, “We are made partakers with Christ.” That is a precious, comforting truth of Scripture. We are joint-heirs with Christ. Because all things are his, all things are ours. But that is not the teaching of our text. The text does not simply say that “We are made partakers of the rich benefits of God’s grace in Christ.” That, too, is a fact in which we rejoice. All the grace of God in Christ is ours, fully, freely, and perfectly. In Christ, we are partakers of pardoning mercy, adopting love, regenerating grace, sanctification, preservation, and eternal glory. All the blessings of the covenant of grace are ours in Christ. But the text goes further. It includes all this and much more. Here, Paul tells us that, “We are made partakers of Christ.” We are made partakers of Christ himself! This is a privilege no tongue can describe. It is beyond the thought of our finite minds. We are one with the Son of God, members of his body, bone of his bone, and flesh of his flesh. Truly, this is a great mystery! Yet, this is the privilege of all true believers. The moment any sinner believes on Christ, that sinner is so vitally and really joined to Christ that he becomes a partaker of Christ. To be partakers of Christ, what can this mean? Legally To be a partaker of Christ means that I have a share in his merits. Sinful, though I am, vile, wretched, and unclean, I come to the fountain filled with his blood, I am washed in it, and I am made as white as snow. In that moment I become a partaker of God’s eternal Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. Being a partaker of Christ, his merits are my merits. That which Christ did as my Substitute is actually mine. Did he bear the wrath of God as my Substitute? Then all God’s wrath against me is gone. Did he take my sin upon himself? Then my sin is gone. Did he pay the debt I owed to the law and justice of God? Then my debt is paid, nothing more is owed. Yes, it is true! “Jesus paid it all, all the debt I owed, Sin had left a crimson stain: He washed it white as snow.” Since my debt has been paid, since in the Person of my Substitute, Jesus Christ, I have paid all that God’s law required, God cannot require me to pay more. “Payment God cannot twice demand, First at my bleeding Surety’s hand, And then again at mine.” Being partakers of Christ, his righteousness has become ours. He is “The Lord our Righteousness.” Not only are we freed from sin by his atoning sacrifice, we are rendered righteous before God by Christ’s obedience in life as our responsible Representative. Christ, having obeyed God’s law as our Representative and fulfilling all righteousness for us, we have obeyed God’s law in him, fulfilling all righteousness. There is nothing which God in his law requires us to do which we have not done in Christ, our Surety. “With his spotless garments on, We’re as holy as the Holy One!” Being thus partakers of Christ, we are “accepted in the beloved.” Is Christ accepted of God? Is he fully, perfectly, completely, eternally accepted? Even so, all who are partakers of Christ are accepted in him. God looks upon all his people, all true believers in Christ, and says, “These are my beloved sons, in whom I am well pleased.” “Near, so very near to God, Nearer we cannot be, For in the Person of His Son, We’re as near as He!” Can you grasp what Paul is saying? “We are made partakers of Christ!” Experimentally All true believers have both an eternal union with Christ and an experimental union with him, a legal, covenant union, and a vital, living union of faith. We are partakers of Christ by God’s decree; and we are partakers of Christ by faith. We live and feed upon him. His life is our daily bread. It sustains our souls. His blood is the wine that makes our hearts glad. He is our meat and drink (John 6:53-56). Still there is a deeper spiritual lesson for us. Our union with Christ is so real, so constant, so vital that He is our Life. To be a partaker of Christ is to derive life from him constantly. We live upon Christ, just as the walls of a building stand upon the foundation. We derive life from Christ, just like the branches derive life from the vine. We are partakers of Christ, just as the wife is a partaker of her husband. We are partakers of Christ, just like the members of my body are partakers of my heart and my head. Eternally We are so really and truly one with Christ that we are partakers of him in his destiny. When he comes again, his holy ones shall come with him. The fact that he is risen from the dead is the earnest and promise of our resurrection. At the day of his appearing, we shall rise and participate in the fruition of his mediatorial work. We will judge men and angels with Christ. We will join Christ in the destruction of his foes. We will join Christ in the marriage of the Lamb. We will stand with Christ before his Father’s throne. We will inherit the glory he has inherited as our Mediator (John 17:22). Spurgeon said, “All right and all might, all that can extol or delight, all that forever and ever shall contribute to the glory of Christ, shall be shared by all the faithful, for we are partakers not only with him, but of him - of Christ - therefore of all the surroundings of glory and honor that shall belong to him.” By Grace This is all the work of divine grace. “We are MADE partakers of Christ” (1 Corinthians 1:30). God himself has made us to be partakers of Christ his Son by the work of his almighty grace. He put us in Christ in election. He put Christ in us in regeneration. He made us partakers of Christ by the gift of faith.