Monday, February 7
Compare Hebrews 6:4-6, Matthew 16:24, Romans 6:6, Galatians 2:20, Galatians 5:24, and Galatians 6:14. What does this comparison suggest about what it means to crucify Christ?
The original text in Greek emphasizes the word “impossible.” It is impossible for God to restore those who “shall fall away” because “they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh” (Hebrews 6:6). Paul wants to stress that there is no other way of salvation except through Christ (Acts 4:12). Salvation by any other means is as impossible as it is “for God to lie” (Hebrews 6:18) or to please God “without faith” (Hebrews 11:6).
To crucify again the Son of God is a figurative expression that seeks to describe something that happens in the personal relationship between Jesus and the believer.
When the religious leaders crucified Jesus, they did it because Jesus posed a threat to their supremacy and autonomy. Thus, they hoped to eliminate Jesus as a person and destroy a powerful and dangerous enemy. Similarly, the gospel challenges the sovereignty and self-determination of the individual at the most fundamental level. The essence of Christian life is to take up the cross and deny oneself (Matthew 16:24). This means to crucify “the world” (Galatians 6:14), the “old man” (Romans 6:6), and “the flesh with the affections and lusts” (Galatians 5:24). The purpose of the Christian life is that we undergo a kind of death. Unless we experience this death to self, we cannot receive the new life God wants to give us (Romans 6:1-11).
The struggle between Jesus and self is a struggle to death (Romans 8:7, 8; Galatians 5:17). It is a difficult battle that is not won at once. This passage does not refer to the person who sometimes fails in the battle against the “old man” and the “flesh.” This sin refers to the person who, after having experienced genuine salvation and what it implies (Hebrews 6:4, 5), decides that Jesus is a threat to the kind of life he or she wants to have and moves to kill their relationship with Him. That is, as long as the person does not fully choose to turn away from Christ, there is still the hope of salvation.
What does it mean to die to “self,” to take the “cross”? What is the thing that you find most difficult to hand over to the dominion of Christ?
Tuesday, February 8
The warning of Hebrews 6:4-6 is very similar to the warning found in Hebrews 10:26-29. Paul explains that the rejection of Jesus’ sacrifice will leave the readers without any means for the forgiveness of sin because there is no other means for that forgiveness besides Jesus (Hebrews 10:1-14).
Read Hebrews 10:26-29. In what three ways does the author describe the sin for which there is no forgiveness?
The author does not say that there is no atonement for any sin committed after receiving the knowledge of truth. God has appointed Jesus as our Advocate (1 John 2:1). Through Him we have forgiveness of sins (1 John 1:9). The sin for which there is no sacrifice or atonement is described as trampling underfoot the Son of God, profaning the blood of the Covenant, and outraging the Holy Spirit (Hebrews 10:29). Let’s review the meaning of these expressions.
The expression “hath trodden under foot the Son of God” (Hebrews 10:29) describes the rejection of Jesus’ rule. The title “Son of God” reminded the audience that God has installed Jesus at His right hand and promised to make His enemies a “footstool” for His feet (Hebrews 1:13; see also Hebrews 1:5-12, 14). The trampling of Jesus underfoot implies that the apostate has treated Jesus as an enemy. In the context of the argument of the epistle (Hebrews 1:13), it could be implied that, as far as the life of the apostate is concerned, Jesus has been taken off the throne (which is occupied now by the apostate himself) and set as the footstool instead. This is what Lucifer wanted to do in heaven (Isaiah 14:12-14) and what the “lawless one” would attempt to do in the future (2 Thessalonians 2:3, 4).
The expression “has profaned the blood of the covenant” refers to the rejection of Jesus’ sacrifice (Hebrews 9:15-22). It implies that the blood of Jesus is devoid of cleansing power.
The expression “insulted the Spirit of grace” is very powerful. The Greek term enybrisas (“insult, outrage”) involves the manifestation of hubris, which refers to “insolence” or “arrogance.” This term stands in stark contrast to the description of the Holy Spirit as “the Spirit of grace.” It implies that the apostate has responded to God’s offer of grace with an insult.
The apostate is in an untenable position. He rejects Jesus, His sacrifice, and the Holy Spirit.
