"Therefore, leaving the discussion of the elementary principles of Christ, let us go on to perfection, not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God, of the doctrine of baptisms, of laying on of hands, of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment."
« C'est pourquoi, laissant les éléments de la parole de Christ, tendons à ce qui est parfait, sans poser de nouveau le fondement du renoncement aux œuvres mortes, de la foi en Dieu. »
Hébreux 6:1 · Louis Segond✦ Build the House
The foundation is laid once. Repentance, faith, baptisms, laying on of hands, resurrection, eternal judgment — the ABCs. Real and essential. But a builder who keeps pouring the same foundation never builds the house. Having learned, go on. Do not circle back. Build.
"For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted the heavenly gift, and have become partakers of the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come, if they fall away, to renew them again to repentance, since they crucify again for themselves the Son of God, and put Him to an open shame."
« Car il est impossible que ceux qui ont été une fois éclairés, qui ont goûté le don céleste, qui ont eu part au Saint-Esprit, qui ont goûté la bonne parole de Dieu et les puissances du siècle à venir, et qui sont tombés, soient encore renouvelés et amenés à la repentance, puisqu'ils crucifient pour leur part le Fils de Dieu et l'exposent à l'ignominie. »
Hébreux 6:4–6 · Louis Segond✦ Knowing and Departing
Five things experienced: enlightened, tasted the heavenly gift, partakers of the Holy Spirit, tasted the good word, tasted the powers of the age to come. Not casual observers. People who experienced the real thing. And the warning: if they fall away — the same departing from chapter 3:12 — it is impossible to renew them again. Not difficult. Impossible. Because falling away after all this crucifies the Son again and puts Him to open shame. Bernard's third category: not ignorance but deliberate arrogance. Knowing and departing.
"For the earth which drinks in the rain that often comes upon it, and bears herbs useful for those by whom it is cultivated, receives blessing from God; but if it bears thorns and briers, it is rejected and near to being cursed, whose end is to be burned."
« Lorsqu'une terre est abreuvée par la pluie qui tombe souvent sur elle, et qu'elle produit une herbe utile à ceux pour qui elle est cultivée, elle participe à la bénédiction de Dieu ; mais, si elle produit des épines et des chardons, elle est réprouvée et près d'être maudite. »
Hébreux 6:7–8 · Louis SegondThe same rain falls on both. The difference is not the rain — it is the ground. One bears fruit. The other bears thorns. Bowen's sun that rises on the just and the unjust — the same generosity. But the sun that warms the garden also hardens the clay. The difference is in the material, not the light.
"That is why Paul says, die to yourself and put on the new man which was created according to God in righteousness and the holiness of truth." (Ephesians 4:24)
Go on to perfection is the destination. Die to yourself and put on the new man is the method. The old man circles back to the foundation — relaying what was already laid, returning to milk. The new man builds forward. The thorns belong to the old man. The fruit belongs to the new.
"But, beloved, we are confident of better things concerning you, yes, things that accompany salvation, though we speak in this manner. For God is not unjust to forget your work and labor of love which you have shown toward His name, in that you have ministered to the saints, and do minister. And we desire that each one of you show the same diligence to the full assurance of hope until the end, that you do not become sluggish, but imitate those who through faith and patience inherit the promises."
« Quoique nous parlions ainsi, bien-aimés, nous attendons, pour ce qui vous concerne, des choses meilleures et favorables au salut. Car Dieu n'est pas injuste, pour oublier votre travail et l'amour que vous avez montré pour son nom. Nous désirons que chacun de vous montre le même zèle pour conserver jusqu'à la fin une pleine espérance, en sorte que vous ne vous relâchiez point, et que vous imitiez ceux qui, par la foi et la persévérance, héritent des promesses. »
Hébreux 6:9–12 · Louis Segond"God is not unjust to forget your work and labor of love."
— Hebrews 6:10 · The labor of love is seen. The fruit proves the soil. He does not forget.✦ But Beloved
After the severest warning: but beloved. Confidence, not condemnation. And the ground of confidence: God is not unjust to forget. The labor of love is seen. The fruit proves the soil. And the exhortation: through faith and patience — hypomoné — inherit the promises. The love of God and the patience of Christ. One disposition. One inheritance.
Go On to Perfection
The foundation is laid. Do not keep pouring it. Build the house. Leave the elementary and move to maturity. Put on the new man.
Same Rain, Different Soil
God's grace falls equally. The response determines the harvest. The thorns belong to the old man. The fruit belongs to the new.
But Beloved
After the warning, confidence. God is not unjust to forget your labor of love. Through faith and patience, inherit the promises. The fruit proves the soil.