RITUALS AND CEREMONIES
Hebrews 6.1-3"Therefore, leaving the elementary teachings about the Christ, let us press on to maturity." This statement call all Christians to perfection in their knowledge and understanding of GOD and His Holy Word, which is also very well fit to the sane theme recorded in the previous chapter (Hebrews 5.11-14).
Both statements in their entirety and summary are the most common problems in Christian community and also very similar to the Jewish worship of GOD in which preference is given to rituals, ceremonies, customs, traditions, and doctrines of men instead of Spiritual worship of GOD according to His Spiritual Commandments and Statutes.
Paul perfectly describing "watermill" of primitive words of those "pastors" and "teachers" who themselves know and understand very little of the Gospel of Christ. Paul call their sermons as "elementary teachings" meaning that they preaching the basic and elementary principals of the Gospel over and over again, the same things for years, in different combinations and presentations, "the milk" of the Gospel intended for newcomers (Hebrews 5.11-14). They do it for the lock of knowledge and understanding, repeating the same clichés and slogans over and over again, very much the same as politicians do, and have no feelings for GOD or His Word.
Having very shallow knowledge and understanding of the Lord and His Word, they pass this to their parishioners who just like their teachers remain "dull of hearing" (Hebrews 5.11) and stuck for life as "babies" in Christ (Hebrews 5.13) knowing only simple basics of the Gospel, Christian dwarfs.
This is why Paul wrote this Epistle particularly to Hebrews, to His own people, who are stuck in their rituals, customs, and traditions according to the Law of Moses, and miss the Spiritual Commandments of the Law of Moses which Christ introduced when He was alive.
Christians have the same problem following their own custom, doctrines, ceremonies, and traditions in their ritualistic worship, and just like Jews completely miss the Spirituality of Christ and His Gospel. Paul equally saw it in the Jews and in Christians as well.
ENLIGHTENMENT AND FALL OUT
Hebrews 6.4-6
These are extremely important and very unique verses that mostly ignored by mainstream Christianity which is based their salvation simply only on believing in GOD, against which James wrote that even demons believe and shudder before Christ (James 2.19). So, what then the difference between Christians and demons? Both parties are believing in Christ.
Take for example Judas, he was with Christ from the beginning, among His 12 Apostles. Judas witnesses many miracles of Christ, healings, and even resurrection from the dead. Judas was among those Apostles on whom descended Holy Spirit of GOD and who were sent to proclaim the Gospel from house to house without any gear what travelers usually take with them.
Judas conducted all the miracles and sign what are required from the Apostles of Christ, and upon return also was happy with the rest of Apostles of Christ that even demons obeying them.
Judas "once been enlightened and have tested of the Heavenly Gift, and have been made partaker of the Holy Spirit,"(4), "and have tasted the Good Word of GOD and the power of the age to come." (5).
But despite of this amazing and extraordinary experience, Judas, "have fallen away,"! (6). Paul wrote that, "it is impossible to renew them again to repentance," (6). Judas actually repented his deed and return 30 pieces of silver back to Pharisees, but the question is, why he did it?
Is he repented his betrayal of Christ because he betrayed innocent Blood of Christ? Or he repented because he knew that it would not benefit him as he had expected, and he will be punished? Or maybe it was something else for which he repented to the point of death when he drops the silver and hang himself on a tree? In any case, he was not forgiven!
Paul ends verse 6 with words, "since they again crucify to themselves the Son of GOD, and put Him to open shame." May be this is a reason why Judas was not forgiven. In some cases, the betrayal is worse than the murder, and betrayal of Christ is the worse and most despicable act of treachery, treason, deceit, and disloyalty.
This could mean that all those who have been enlightened in GOD and in Gospel and experience the pleasure, power, and glory of Heavenly Gift of the Holy Spirit and became partakers of GOD (4), cannot be forgiven for their betrayal of GOD when they fall out from Him, because they return back to their old self, and required the Physical Sacrifice of Christ on the cross again for their sin, which is of course would not happen again.
So, this is a lesson for all those who claim that, "whoever saved is saved," and "I am saved, and I can sin as much as I want because Christ died for me," such statements are deceitful and plain Satanic, because no one knows his or her own salvation until they appear before Judgment Seat of GOD.
You can think about yourself whatever you want, but what GOD think about you, you do not know, and because of it do not think about yourself more than you should, but humble yourself and submit yourself to the will of GOD and His Gospel, fear and pray, and do Good Deeds in the Name of the Lord in Hope that He will notice you and Forgive you your transgressions and sins.
We must remember that every violation of the Gospel of Christ, His Statutes and His Commandments is equivalent to betrayal of Christ. The Gospel of Christ is the narrow Door through which all loyal and faithful to Christ people are passing through to the Kingdom of His Father. The rest, the majority of the people, chose the other way, the wider way, and perishing on it because it leads to the dead end, just like Israelites in the desert on their way to the land of Canaan.
The point of these verses of Paul is this, that there is no reverse way for any Christian who once was a Christian and fall out. If a person betrayed Christian values and became as one with the world, there is no coming back, he or she will not be accepted. Keep this warning of Paul in your mind always.
THE SOWER AND THE GROUND
Hebrews 6.7-8
In support of his words Paul, just like Christ, gave example of the ground of the filed on which the good and the bad vegetation grow (8). For this reason see parables of Christ concerning sower, soil, and its produce: (Matthew 13.1-9.16-30.34-43) (Mark 4.13-20) (Luke 8.4-15).