Page 55 - Hebrews- Student Textbook

because they reject Him with full knowledge and conscious experience. They have concluded that Jesus
should have been crucified, and they stand with His enemies. It is impossible to renew such to
repentance.

This interpretation, which has a stronger textual basis, presents Hebrews 6:4-6 as unbelievers rejecting
Christ and thereby losing their chance of salvation. Many passages make it abundantly clear that
salvation is everlasting (John 10:27–29; Romans 8:35, 38–39; Philippians 1:6; 1 Peter 1:4–5),
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and Hebrews 6:4–6 confirms that doctrine.

6:13-20 This is such a powerful promise of security and hope based on God's character and promises (cf.
v. 18a), if we will only respond appropriately (cf. v. 18b).

6:13 For when God made a promise to Abraham, since he had no one greater by whom to swear, he
swore by himself,

"when God made the promise to Abraham" Abraham is mentioned because he is considered the father
of the Hebrew nation to whom YHWH made many covenantal promises (cf. Gen. 12,15,17,18,22), and
also because of his relation to Melchizedek (cf. Genesis 14). His faith in God came before the law and is
used as a NT paradigm of all those who exercise faith (cf. Romans 4).

It is also theologically possible that Abraham was chosen because God's promises to him were not based
on his performance, but on God's unconditional promise (cf. Gen. 15:12-21; as is the "new covenant,"
cf. Jer. 31:31-34; Ezek. 36:22-38), while the covenant with Moses is based on obedience, a conditional
covenant (cf. Deuteronomy 27-28).

"He swore by Himself" This refers historically to Gen. 22:16-17 (Abraham's offering of Isaac) or
contextually to Ps. 110:4 (cf. 7:17,21). God's oaths and promises can be depended on (cf. vv. 16-17). This
is the theological thrust of the paragraph. Our hope is in the unchanging character (cf. Ps. 102:27; Mal.
3:6; Heb. 13:8) and promises of God (cf. Isa. 40:8; 55:11). These are the "two unchangeable things" of v.
18!

6:14 saying, “Surely I will bless you and multiply you.”

This section of Hebrews involves the author's use of OT quotes to Abraham. God made promises to him
about many descendants through Isaac. The theological problem is that not all of Abraham's natural
descendants were faithful followers of YHWH. They were "covenant," "chosen" people, but all did not
exercise personal faith (cf. v. 18b).

6:15 And thus Abraham, having patiently waited, obtained the promise.

This does not describe Abraham's perfect faith (he had children by several women, he tried to give Sarah
away twice to save his own life) concerning God's word but his faithful heart and obedience. Abraham,
like all humans, is a strange mixture of faith and fear, good and evil.

44 Got Questions(https://www.gotquestions.org/Hebrews-6.html).
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