I recently
completed teaching an online class on the Letter to the Hebrews. For a few
weeks I am sharing thoughts that came from this study.
"It is impossible for those who have
once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, who have shared in
the Holy Spirit, who have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers
of the coming age and who have fallen away, to be brought back to
repentance..."(Hebrews 6:4-6).
Within this passage is a most positive
message that we often overlook because it includes some troubling and disturbing
words that we wrestle with. While there
is no doubt that the author means this as sober warning to readers who
may have been in danger of leaving Jesus, he sets up his comments by reminding
them of what we have because we have Jesus, and these are powerful thoughts
that need our attention.
First, we have been enlightened. We have come
out of our own dark ages. The light has dawned. We have been given sight so
that we see things as they are. We no longer have to stumble and fumble in
search of what is right.
Second, we have tasted the heavenly gift. In
view of the other things that follow this one, it seems most likely he is
referring to the grace of God that brings about our salvation. We have
experienced God’s forgiveness. The burden of failure and guilt has been lifted.
What a gift!
Third, we have shared in the Holy Spirit. God
is not just with us, he is in us. Is this hard to believe? Nevertheless, it is
true. The Spirit works in us and through us.
Fourth, we have tasted the goodness of the
word of God. We have found it to be
dependable and trustworthy. It revives the soul.
Finally, we have experienced the powers of
the coming age. That age has broken into our age. The Kingdom has arrived. We
have the seen the power of giving, serving, forgiving and loving. The baptized
life is the crucified life, and the crucified life is the resurrected life!
We followers of Jesus are a blessed people.
We continue to be transformed by claiming what we have.
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