In Hebrews 6, the author warns his readers about the danger of falling away from the faith (vv. 4-8) but says he has confidence in them to persevere (vv. 9, 10). Abraham is put forth as an example of one who waited patiently on God’s promises (see Romans 4). Our salvation depends way more on God, and His character, than it does on us (vv. 16-18). The promise of salvation through Jesus is our only secure hope.

The anchor was an important symbol in the ________________________.

God is really _____________________________ as an anchor for our soul.

Those who fall away are not true believers

A. This parallels the experience of the children of Israel in the wilderness who fell away and died in unbelief.

B. Jesus’ parable of the soils teaches us there are people who at the beginning look very much like believers, but they are not believers, but they have remarkable spiritual experiences.

Matthew 13:20

C. When you look at the whole of the Bible, this makes sense when looking at all the passages that have to do with the assurance of salvation.

See Philippians 1:6; Romans 8:29, 30, 38, 39; 1 Peter 1:4, 5; Ephesians 4:30; 1 John 2:19; Matthew 24:24; John 6:40, 54; John 10:27-30.

D. The positive spiritual experiences of those who fall away are easily within the capacity of those who aren’t really Christians.

Acts 8:13 Mark 14:21

Acts 8:20-23 Matthew 7:22, 23

John 6:70 Matthew 12:32

John 17:12

“These verses constitute only a fraction of scriptural support for perseverance. Is it conceivable that the author of Hebrews would contradict all this?”

– Roger Nicole

Warning: an unproductive Christian life falls under ___________________.

· Don’t ___________________

Hebrews 5:11

Colossians 3:23

1 Corinthians 15:10

Spiritual diligence is a sign that God’s grace is really __________________!

Genesis 22:17

Numbers 23:19

God is reliable; His words __________________ come to pass.

Romans 4:20, 21

Isaiah 53:8

From the very beginning, God’s plan was to build a ___________________

John 17:17

Titus 1:2

“In Hebrews, the word ‘hope’ never describes a subjective attitude (i.e. ‘our hope’ or ‘hopefulness’) but always denotes the objective context of hope.”

-William Lane

“For Christians, hope is ultimately hope in Christ. The hope that he really is what for centuries we have been claiming he is. The hope that despite the fact that sin and death still rule the world, he somehow conquered them. The hope that in him and through him all of us stand a chance of somehow conquering them too. The hope that at some unforeseeable time and in some unimaginable way he will return with healing in his wings.”

-Frederick Buechner, “Wishful Thinking”