THE EPISTLE OF PAUL THE APOSTLE TO THE HEBREWS…38

Warning against Retrograding, which leads to Apostasy—Encouragement to Steadfastness from God’s Faithfulness to His Word and Oath. ^{Heb. 6:1-20}

The six items enumerated…“repentance from dead works,” etc.—have nothing to do with the “foundations of Christianity. Instead, they treat of what appertained to Judaism, paving the way for the final revelation which God has now made in and by His beloved Son. It is to be remarked that there is no definite article in the Greek here, it should read, “a foundation,” with respects Judaism…As the “foundation” bears the building, so the truth of Christianity rests upon the promises and prophecies of the Old Testament, of which the New Testament revelation records the fulfillment. The Hebrews were being sorely tempted to do. To “lay again” this foundation was to forsake the substance for the shadows; it was to turn from Christianity and go back again to Judaism. As Paul wrote to the Galatians, “Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith” 3:6. “But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster.” Pink Arthur W.

2. s. Thus, “faith toward God” was a national thing with them. Still, their faith was more of a form than a reality, a tradition received from their fathers, rather than a vital acquaintance with Him:. Matt. 15:8, 9.  Israel’s national faith “toward God” had, given place to faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. We read of “the faith of Jesus Christ,” and “the faith of the Son of God” Gal. 2:16, 20; “your faith in the Lord Jesus” Eph. 1:15; “by faith of Jesus Christ” Phil. 3:9; “your faith in Christ” Col. 2:5; “the faith which is in Christ Jesus” 1Tim. 3:13. As another has said, “All the blessings of the gospel are connected with ‘faith,’ but it is faith which rests in Christ. Justification, resurrection-life, the promises, the placing of sons, salvation, etc., are all spoken of as resulting from faith which rests upon Christ. Pink Arthur W.