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Hebrews 6:10 and the Other Verses of Hebrews 6

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“As Moses lifted up the serpent [the serpent made of bronze described in Numbers 21:8–9] in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, so that whosoever believes in Him will have eternal life, for God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten [uniquely born] Son, that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.”

“…for by grace you are saved through faith and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not as a result of works, lest any man should boast.”

Above is the content of John 3:14–16 and the content of Ephesians 2:8–9, respectively.  Itʼs worthwhile to refrain from receiving the mark referenced in Revelation 13:11–18 and to instead receive eternal life for free by believing that Jesus is the Savior.  Before doing any Bible studying and before praying to God the Father, it is useful for a person who has believed in the Lord Jesus Christ as the Savior to try to think of any sins that one might have committed since one last confessed oneʼs known post-salvation sins to God the Father, and if one has indeed committed any, to then silently confess those sins to God the Father—confessing only one time for each sin—in accordance with what is mentioned in 1 John 1:9:  

“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

This webpage could be periodically updated.  If there is a mass disappearance of people professing to be Christians, and if the original author of this webpage is amongst those people disappearing en masse, then it is possible that this webpage will no longer be updated.  Also, if there is a mass disappearance of people professing to be Christians, it is worthwhile to consider the possibility that those people have exited from the earth on the occasion known as the Rapture instead of assuming that that mass disappearance involves extraterrestrials abducting those people or involves the annihilation of those people or involves anything else other than the Rapture.  

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Also, it is possible that it is worthwhile to print this content in case of time periods involving lack of Internet connectivity.  

When studying the Word of God, it is beneficial to keep in mind the content of Hebrews 4:12:  

“Indeed, the Word of God is alive and powerful, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of the soul and the spirit and of the joints and the marrow and is a critic of thoughts and intents of the heart.”

Note:  The heart refers to the mind.  

It is also beneficial to keep in mind the content of 2 Timothy 3:16–17 when studying the Word of God:  

“All Scripture is God breathed and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God might be mature, having been thoroughly furnished unto all good work.”

It is the responsibility of a pastor-teacher to endeavor to correctly understand the Word of God and then to accurately teach the Word of God, as per the content of 2 Timothy 2:15:  

“Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the Word of Truth.”

A pastor-teacher is a communicator rather than a crutch on which to be leaned.  In that regard, a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ should refrain from putting oneʼs trust in and thereby serving as a devoted follower of and thus worshiping a pastor-teacher.  Likewise, a believer should refrain from putting oneʼs trust in and thereby serving as a devoted follower of and thus worshiping anyone other than the Trinity [God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit], as per Joshua 24:15, the content of which references Joshua speaking to the Israelites:  

If it is disagreeable/bad/evil/wrong/wretchedness/displeasing in your sight to serve/worship Jehovah / Yahweh / I am I am / the existing One, choose for yourselves today whom you serve/worship:  whether the gods ['elohiym / false gods] which your fathers have served/worshiped which were beyond the river or the gods ['elohiym / false gods] of the Amorites in whose land you are living.  As for me and my house, we serve/worship Jehovah / Yahweh / I am I am / the existing One.

Note:  Joshua, the leader of the Israelites after Joshua had been serving as the assistant of Moses while Moses was the leader of the Israelites, set the example for the Israelites.  Joshua chose to put his trust in and thereby serve as a devoted follower of and thus worship God the Father rather than Joshua choosing to put his trust in and thereby serve as a devoted follower of and thus worship the lesser of multiple evils amongst multiple choices of 'elohiym [el-oh-HEEM].  The word 'elohiym with a lowercase e can refer to false gods, to angels, or to human rulers or judges.  The word 'Elohiym with a capital E refers to the Trinity.  The word 'elohiym can also be used to refer to might as in mightiness.  In that regard, the use of the word 'elohiym in reference to false gods, to angels, or to human rulers or judges involves the connotation of mightiness in comparison to an average human.  When a person puts oneʼs trust in and thereby serves as a devoted follower of and thus worships an angel or human, that angel or human is that personʼs false god.  Regarding the foregoing, the content of Joshua 24:15 involves Joshua calling attention to the choices that the Israelites had, and that content involves Joshua permitting the Israelites to make their choices while Joshua led by example with his choice.  

The gift of pastor-teacher is for the purpose of each pastor-teacher functioning as a messenger who communicates the Word of God rather than functioning as a priest between the Trinity and mankind.  In that regard, the time period that can be referred to as the Church Age started fifty days after the Lord Jesus Christ was resurrected, and all Church Age believers in the Lord Jesus Christ are priests.  The Lord Jesus Christ is the High Priest of Church Age believers, and believers should be willing to acknowledge/confess/profess to people the believersʼ faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, as per Hebrews 4:14–15:  

Therefore, since we have a great High Priest Who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast the acknowledgment/confession/profession.  Indeed, we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One Who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin.

Also, the Lord Jesus Christ is the High Priest according to the order of Melchizedek [mel-KIZ-uh-dek], who was the ruler of Salem when Abraham was still named Abram.  Melchizedek was both a king and a priest, as per Genesis 14:18, which references Melchizedek greeting Abram:  

Then Melchizedek king of Salem has brought out bread and wine, and he is a priest of 'El [AYL] 'Elyown [el-YOHN] / God [focusing on God the Fatherʼs power] Most High.

The Lord Jesus Christ is also both a king and a priest because the Lord is the Priest according to the order of Melchizedek, as per Hebrews 7:14–17:  

Indeed, it is evident that our Lord has arisen from Judah, a tribe with reference to which Moses spoke nothing concerning priests.  Also, it is still much more evident:  that according to the similarity of Melchizedek, Another of a different type of priest arises, Who has become such not on the basis of a law of fleshly command / physical requirement but according to the power of an indestructible life.  Indeed, it is attested:  “YOU ARE A PRIEST FOREVER, ACCORDING TO THE ORDER OF MELCHIZEDEK.”

Note:  The Lord Jesus Christ is from the tribe of Judah.  Also, the Lord Jesus Christ is qualified to be a priest because He was resurrected and therefore has an indestructible body.  The above content in all capital letters is a reference to Psalm 110:4.  

Because a king is royalty, a king who is a priest is a royal priest.  In that regard, Church Age believers are royalty because they are members of the Lord Jesus Christʼs family.  Therefore, all Church Age believers are royal priests, as per 1 Peter 2:9–10:  

However, you are A CHOSEN PEOPLE, A royal PRIESTHOOD, A HOLY NATION, A PEOPLE FOR ACQUISITION/PRESERVATION, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him Who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light, for you once were NOT A PEOPLE, but now you are GODʼS PEOPLE.  You had NOT RECEIVED MERCY, but now you have RECEIVED MERCY.

Note:  Before the Church Age, Gentiles were not Godʼs people.  In the Church Age, both Jewish and Gentile believers are Godʼs people.  The content of 1 Peter 2:10 references Hosea 2:23.  In that regard, Peter uses references involving Israel in the Old Testament to refer to Church Age believers.  

Itʼs the message rather than the messenger that should be the focus of the believer in the Lord Jesus Christ.  Put succinctly:  itʼs the message rather than the messenger.  In that regard, it is beneficial to keep in mind the content of Revelation 22:8–9, which was written by the apostle John, who, in addition to writing The Revelation to John, wrote The Gospel According to John, The First Epistle of John, The Second Epistle of John, and The Third Epistle of John:  

I, John, am the one who heard and saw these things, and when I heard and saw, I fell down to worship at the feet of the angel who showed me these things, but he says* to me, “Do not do that.  I am a fellow servant of yours and of your brethren the prophets and of those who keep the words of this book.  Worship God.”

*Note:  The word says is in the Greek historical present tense.  By means of the Greek historical present tense, past action or future action can be described from the perspective of someone seeing the action as it occurs.  

Regarding messages, believers should use the Word of God to examine what is being communicated.  That is what the Bereans who are mentioned in Acts 17:10–12 did:  

The brethren immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea, who, when they arrived, went into the synagogue of the Jews.  Now these were more noble-minded than those in Thessalonica, who received the word with all eagerness / readiness of mind, examining the Scriptures daily to see whether these things were so.  Therefore, many of them believed, and not a few prominent Greek women and men.

Note:  The phrase not a few means “quite a few.”  

Today, the return of the Lord Jesus Christ to meet believers in the Lord Jesus Christ in the clouds on the occasion of the Rapture is one day closer than it was yesterday.  The Rapture involves both deceased and living believers in the Lord Jesus Christ meeting the Lord in the clouds in the atmosphere of the earth, receiving glorified immortal resurrection bodies similar to the Lord Jesus Christʼs glorified resurrection body, and going to Heaven with those resurrection bodies.  Before the Rapture occurs, deceased believers in the Lord Jesus Christ are in Heaven without glorified bodies.  While it is possible that the Rapture will occur on the day of the Feast of Trumpets / Yom Teruah [yahm tuh-ROO-uh or yohm tuh-ROO-uh]—which is what some people call Rosh Hashanah and which some people celebrate for two days—the next occurrence of which will possibly be during August, September, or October of 2026, it is worthwhile for believers in the Lord Jesus Christ to get into the habit of being prepared every day for the return of the Lord, just in case the Rapture will occur on a day other than the day of the Feast of Trumpets / Yom Teruah.  Furthermore, it is worthwhile to be in the habit of being prepared for the Rapture so that if it does occur on the day of the Feast of Trumpets / Yom Teruah, one can be prepared for that day because of already being in the habit of being prepared.  Examples of being prepared for the Rapture include applying the content of 1 John 1:9 whenever one sins, being unselfish, and whenever circumstances are such that an opportunity arises, sharing the gospel—the good news that believing that the Lord Jesus Christ is the Savior Who was judged on the cross for the sins of humanity is the means by which a person is able to have eternal life.  Regarding sharing the gospel, one could also have a written or printed message containing the gospel with that written or printed message located somewhere where it could be easily noticed so that if a person or people were to read or hear that written or printed message either before or after the Rapture occurs, that person or people would thereby read or hear the gospel by means of that written or printed message.  

Regarding information about the Rapture, it is beneficial to keep in mind the content of 1 Thessalonians 4:13–18 and 1 Corinthians 15:51–52:  

1 Thessalonians 4:13–18

Now we do not want you to be uninformed, brethren, about those who are asleep, so that you will not grieve as do the rest who have no hope, for if we believe that Jesus died and rose again—and we do indeed believe that Jesus died and rose again—so also God will bring with Him those who have fallen asleep through Jesus.  Indeed, this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive who remain until the coming of the Lord will not precede those who have fallen asleep, for the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout of command, with a voice of an archangel and with a trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first.  Then we who are alive who remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord.  Therefore, comfort one another with these words.

1 Corinthians 15:51–52

Behold, I tell you a mystery:  we will not all sleep, but we will all be changed, in a moment, in a twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet, for a trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we will be changed.

After the Rapture will be the seven-year Tribulation.  The believers who will be alive on the earth when the Rapture occurs will escape the Tribulation.  1 Thessalonians 5:1–11 covers that topic.  In that regard, in the book 1 Thessalonians, the content of 1 Thessalonians 4:13–18 is immediately followed by the content of 1 Thessalonians 5:1–11.  

1 Thessalonians 5:1–11

Now as to the times and the epochs, brethren, you have no need of anything to be written to you, for you yourselves know full well that the day of the Lord is coming just like a thief in the night.  While they are saying, “Peace and safety!” then sudden destruction comes upon them like labor pains upon a woman with child, and they will not escape.  However, you, brethren, are not in darkness, that the day would overtake you like a thief, for you are all sons of light and sons of day.  We are not of night nor of darkness; therefore, let us not sleep as others, but let us be alert and sober.  Indeed, those who sleep do their sleeping at night, and those who get drunk get drunk at night.  However, since we are of day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and benevolence/goodwill, and as a helmet, the hope / absolute confidence of deliverance, for God has not destined us for wrath but for obtaining deliverance through our Lord Jesus Christ, Who died for us, so that whether we are awake or asleep, we will live together with Him.  Therefore, comfort one another and edify one another, just as you also are doing.

Note:  In this context, the day of the Lord is the time period that consists of the Rapture, the seven years of the Tribulation, and the Second Advent.  In that regard, deliverance from the Tribulation is the deliverance in this context.  Also, unspecified is who will be saying “Peace and safety!”  In this context, sleeping refers to a lack of alertness.  The alertness in this context involves being ready for the Rapture.  In order to be ready for the Rapture, a believer needs to be filled with the power of God the Holy Spirit and to pay attention for historical trends such as people saying “Peace and safety!” and for historical trends that match the pattern of the world being on the brink of tremendous calamities like those that will occur during the Tribulation.  Regarding being filled with the power of God the Holy Spirit, once a believer commits a sin after salvation, that believer is no longer filled with the power of God the Holy Spirit and is out of fellowship with the Trinity.  After that believer has confessed/acknowledged to God the Father all of that believerʼs known unconfessed post-salvation sins, fellowship with the Trinity and the filling with the power of the Holy Spirit are restored.  The procedure for confessing/acknowledging to God the Father all of oneʼs known unconfessed post-salvation sins is mentioned in 1 John 1:9:  “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”  Fellowship with God the Father and God the Son is mentioned in 1 John 1.  Being out of fellowship with God the Holy Spirit is referenced in Ephesians 4:30.  In that regard, when a believer sins, that believer grieves the Holy Spirit.  Losing the filling of the power of God the Holy Spirit is referenced in 1 Thessalonians 5:19.  In that regard, when a believer sins, the power of God the Holy Spirit is quenched in that believer.  After a believer has confessed/acknowledged to God the Father all of that believerʼs known unconfessed post-salvation sins, that believer is then filled with the power of God the Holy Spirit again and in fellowship with the Trinity again.  

The verse of the day for May 18th is Hebrews 6:10.  The title of the book Hebrews is also known as “The Epistle to the Hebrews” and “The Letter to the Hebrews.”  The author of the book Hebrews is unspecified in the Bible.  Because it is useful to study verses that share the same context, below is content related to Hebrews 6.  

Note:  The king-priest Melchizedek [mel-KIZ-uh-dek], the ruler of Salem, is a teaching illustration for learning about the Lord Jesus Christ.  In that regard, Melchizedek can be referred to as a type of Christ.  Rather than this usage of the word type referring to a subset, this usage of the word type refers to someone or something that serves as a teaching illustration.  In the Bible, there is a variety of types that serve as teaching illustrations for learning about the Lord Jesus Christ.  The study of types is referred to as typology.  

Referenced in the notes below is the Church Age.  With regard to the Church Age, below is a synopsis of human history as categorized into time periods known as dispensations.  In the below synopsis, there is the term hypostatic union [high-PUH-stat-ick YOON-yuhn].  This refers to the Lord Jesus Christ being 100% Deity and 100% humanity.  The English word hypostatic is derived from the Koine [KOI-nay] Greek word ὑπόστασις [pronounced hoo-PAH-stah-sees and transliterated as hypostasis].  After the Lord Jesus Christ was judged for the sins of humanity, His body was in the grave for three days and three nights.  He was then resurrected, and He was on the earth for forty days after He was resurrected.  He then ascended to Heaven, and ten days after that, the Day of Pentecost [PEN-tih-kahst] occurred.  The Day of Pentecost was the beginning of the Church Age.  The word Pentecost is derived from the Koine Greek word πεντηκοστή [pronounced pen-tay-kah-STAY and transliterated as pentēkostē].  That word is derived from the Koine Greek word πεντήκοντα [pronounced pen-TAY-kahn-tah and transliterated as pentēkonta], which means “fifty.”  Therefore, the word Pentecost is derived from the fact that that day occurred fifty days after the Lord was resurrected.  In that regard, the Church Age began fifty days after the Lord was resurrected.  The Church Age will end with the Rapture.  The Rapture involves both deceased and living believers in the Lord Jesus Christ meeting the Lord in the clouds in the atmosphere of the earth, receiving glorified immortal resurrection bodies similar to the Lord Jesus Christʼs glorified resurrection body, and going to Heaven with those resurrection bodies.  Before the Rapture occurs, deceased believers in the Lord Jesus Christ are in Heaven without glorified bodies.  Absent from the Bible is anything specifically indicating the precise date and time when the Rapture will occur, although it is possible that the Rapture will occur on the day of the Feast of Trumpets / Yom Teruah [yahm tuh-ROO-uh or yohm tuh-ROO-uh]—which is what some people call Rosh Hashanah and which some people celebrate for two days—the next occurrence of which will possibly be during August, September, or October of 2026.  

Regarding the word judgment, the proper way to spell that word is without an e between the dg and the m.  In that regard, the e of the root word judge is dropped when the suffix ment is added to that root word.  The formation of the word judgment is shown below.  

judge −e +ment

= judg +ment

= judgment

Another way to categorize human history is by means of civilizations.  Civilizations begin only with believers.  Regarding the timing of civilizations and dispensations, the first civilization began with Adam and ended on the occasion of the Great Flood (also known as the Flood).  That civilization is known as the antediluvian civilization and the predulivian civilization.  In that regard, the prefixes ante and pre mean “before.”  Also, there are various spellings of the adjectives that refer to the time before the Flood.  Those spellings include antediluvian, ante-diluvian, prediluvian, and pre-diluvian.  

After the Flood, there were only eight believers on the earth:  Noah, his wife, their three sons, and their sonsʼ wives.  With the removal of the unbelievers from the earth on the occasion of the Flood, a new civilization was started.  That civilization is known as the postdiluvian civilization (also known as the postdiluvial civilization).  Regarding the terminology, the prefix post means “after,” and the adjectives diluvian and diluvial mean “having to do with a flood.”  Also, there are various spellings of the adjectives that refer to the time after the Flood.  Those spellings include postdiluvian, post-diluvian, postdiluvial, and post-diluvial.  The postdiluvian civilization will end on the occasion of the Second Advent of the Lord Jesus Christ.  On the occasion of the Second Advent, the Lord will remove all unbelievers from the earth.  Their removal will be by means of physical death just as the removal of all unbelievers was by means of physical death on the occasion of the Flood.  This is called the Baptism of Fire, which is either a metaphorical description because fire can be used to represent judgment or a literal reference to the use of fire in the judgment of unbelievers on the occasion of the Second Advent.  The Baptism of Fire is referenced in Matthew 3:11–12; Luke 3:15–17; and 2 Thessalonians 1:7–9.  

Just as a new civilization started after the Flood, so also a new civilization will start after the Baptism of Fire.  That civilization is called the Millennium.  The Millennium is both a civilization and a dispensation.  The Eternal State is also both a civilization and a dispensation.  

Hebrews 6:1

Therefore, having left the word of the beginning about the Christ, let us press on to maturity, not laying again a foundation of a change of mind away from dead works and of faith toward God,

Note:  The Koine [KOI-nay] Greek noun that is translated as “a change of mind” in this verser is μετανοίας [pronounced meh-tah-NOI-ahs and transliterated as metanoias].  That word is an inflected form of the root word μετάνοια [pronounced meh-TAH-noi-ah and transliterated as metanoia].  Regarding a change of mind, the change of mind referenced in this verse is the changing of a personʼs thinking from thinking that a personʼs works will obtain eternal life for that person to recognizing that the means of obtaining eternal life is by faith that the Lord Jesus Christ is the Savior Who was judged on the cross for the sins of humanity.  A person who tries to save himself or herself by means of his or her works disbelieves that Jesus is the Savior because the person trying to save himself or herself by means of his or her works thinks that Jesus Himself alone is unable to save the person.  In contrast, a person who believes in the Lord Jesus Christ as the Savior recognizes that faith in the Lord Jesus Christ alone is what provides eternal salvation.  By having faith in the Lord Jesus Christ as the Savior, the person who believes in the Lord as the Savior has faith toward God the Father.  

Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ as the Savior is the foundation of a believerʼs life from the moment of salvation onward.  This verse indicates that the foundation is only laid once.  That means that once a person believes in the Lord Jesus Christ as the Savior, that person never loses his or her eternal life.  In that regard, this is an eternal-security verse.  In other words, this verse indicates that a believerʼs eternal salvation is secure.  

Hebrews 6:2

of instruction about water baptisms and laying on of hands and the resurrection of the dead and eternal judgment.

Note:  Water baptism is a ritual by means of which a believer indicates to other believers that he or she has believed in the Lord Jesus Christ as the Savior.  It also calls to the attention of the believer undergoing the baptism and the believers watching the baptism that each believer is identified with the Lord Jesus Christ—in other words, associated with the Lord Jesus Christ.  In particular, the submersion of the person under water identifies the believer with the Lordʼs judgment on the cross and the burial of His body after being judged on the cross.  In that regard, each believer is associated with the Lordʼs victory over Satan by means of the Lord being judged for the sins of humanity, and the submersion during the baptism ritual calls attention to the fact that believers benefit from that victory.  Similarly, when the believer who is being baptized rises back up from being underwater, the believerʼs rising up from that submerged condition identifies the believer with the Lordʼs resurrection.  In that regard, each believer is associated with the Lordʼs victory over physical death.  

In the time period after the Lord Jesus Christ ascended to Heaven and until the Bible was completed, there was laying on of hands.  The Bible was completed when the apostle John finished writing The Revelation to John.  Just as the baptism ritual involves identification, so also the laying on of hands involved identification.  For example, the apostle Paul identified Timothy as a pastor-teacher by laying hands on Timothy.  

For the recipients of The Epistle to the Hebrews, water baptism and the laying on of hands were basic doctrines of the Word of God that those recipients of this epistle learned after having believed in the Lord Jesus Christ as the Savior.  Likewise, the resurrection of dead believers and the eternal judgment of unbelievers were basic doctrines of the Word of God that those recipients of this epistle learned after having believed in the Lord Jesus Christ as the Savior.  Because the recipients of this epistle had learned those basic doctrines, the recipients then needed to learn more of the Word of God so that those recipients could become more mature in their understanding of the Word of God.  

Hebrews 6:3

Also, this we will do, if God permits.

Note:  The author of The Epistle to the Hebrews recognized that he and the recipients of this epistle could learn more of the Word of God and thereby become more mature in their understanding of the Word of God if God Father would permit them to do so.  In that regard, rather than doubting whether God the Father would permit them to learn the Word of God, the author of this epistle was acknowledging the sovereignty [supreme authority] of God the Father.  

Hebrews 6:4

Indeed, in the case of those who have once been enlightened and have tasted of the heavenly gift and have been made partakers of the Holy Spirit,

Note:  The enlightenment referenced in this verse is the awareness that the means of obtaining eternal life is by believing that the Lord Jesus Christ is the Savior Who was judged on the cross for the sins of humanity.  The heavenly gift referenced in this verse is the free gift of eternal life that is received when a person believes in the Lord Jesus Christ as the Savior.  Regarding a believer being a partaker of the Holy Spirit, during the Church Age, all believers in the Lord Jesus Christ are indwelt by God the Holy Spirit and initially—at the moment of salvation—filled with the power of God the Holy Spirit.  Each believer is always indwelt by God the Holy Spirit.  While each believer is always indwelt by God the Holy Spirit, when a believer sins after salvation, that believer is no longer filled with the power of God the Holy Spirit and is out of fellowship with the Trinity.  After that believer has confessed/acknowledged to God the Father all of that believerʼs known unconfessed post-salvation sins, fellowship with the Trinity and the filling with the power of the Holy Spirit are restored.  The procedure for confessing/acknowledging to God the Father all of oneʼs known unconfessed post-salvation sins is mentioned in 1 John 1:9:  “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”  Fellowship with God the Father and God the Son is mentioned in 1 John 1.  Being out of fellowship with God the Holy Spirit is referenced in Ephesians 4:30.  In that regard, when a believer sins, that believer grieves the Holy Spirit.  Losing the filling of the power of God the Holy Spirit is referenced in 1 Thessalonians 5:19.  In that regard, when a believer sins, the power of God the Holy Spirit is quenched in that believer.  After a believer has confessed/acknowledged to God the Father all of that believerʼs known unconfessed post-salvation sins, that believer is then filled with the power of God the Holy Spirit again and in fellowship with the Trinity again.  

Hebrews 6:5

and have tasted the good Word of God and the powers of the age to come,

Note:  In this verse, the author of this epistle is referring to believers who have learned some of the Word of God.  In that regard, the referencing to tasting is a metaphorical reference.  Also, the author of this epistle recognizes that the Word of God is good.  

The Millennium is the age referenced in this verse.  During that time, the Lord will manifest powers like the powers exhibited by means of miracles that the recipients of this epistle had either experienced or observed—or both.  Unspecified in this verse and the surrounding verses are exactly what those powers involved.  

Hebrews 6:6

and having fallen away, it is impossible to renew them again to a change of mind, having crucified again to themselves the Son of God and put Him to open shame.

Note:  In this verse, the author of this epistle references believers who have discontinued learning and obeying the Word of God.  In that regard, absent from this verse and the surrounding verses is anything indicating that those believers lost their eternal life.  Instead, the author of this epistle indicates that those believers were just as disrespectful towards the Lord Jesus Christ as were the people who had crucified Him—in other words, the people who had caused the Lord to be hanged on the cross.  Regarding the word hanged, when that which is the recipient of hanging is an object other than a person, the past tense of the word hang is hung, but when that which is the recipient of hanging is a person, the past tense of the word hang is hanged.  

Hebrews 6:7

Indeed, ground that drinks the rain which often falls on it and brings forth vegetation useful to those for whose sake it is also tilled receives a blessing from God, 

Note:  This verse metaphorically refers to believers who regularly learn and obey the Word of God.  In that regard, the ground referenced in this verse metaphorically refers to believers, and the tilling referenced in this verse metaphorically refers to teaching of the Word of God.  

Hebrews 6:8

but if it yields thorns and thistles, it is worthless and near to a curse, and whose end is for burning.

Note:  In the Bible, burning by means of fire refers to judgment, and the specific form of the judgment referenced must be determined from the context in which that reference occurs.  In that regard, rather than the fire referenced in this verse referring to the Lake of Fire, the fire referenced in this verse instead refers to the punishment of a believer.  This verse metaphorically refers to believers who refrain from regularly learning and obeying the Word of God.  If after a believer sins, that believer refrains from confessing/acknowledging to God the Father all of that believerʼs known unconfessed post-salvation sins, then that believer will remain out of fellowship with the Trinity.  A believer who remains out of fellowship eventually becomes a reversionist.  Such a believer reverts back to acting like unbelievers.  Being a reversionistic believer is known as being involved in reversionism.  Ultimately, if a believer continues to refrain from confessing/acknowledging to God the Father all of that believerʼs known unconfessed post-salvation sins, that believer will experience the sin unto death.  The sin unto death involves an early physical death.  For a believer who physically dies after the Day of Pentecost, that early physical death involves an early departure to Heaven.  The departure to Heaven of a believer who experiences the sin unto death is an early departure in the sense that it occurs at an earlier time than it would have occurred if the believer had regularly remained in fellowship with the Trinity.  The topic of the sin unto death is covered in 1 John 5:16.  Rather than the content of 1 John 5:16 referring to some particular sin that is categorized as the sin unto death, the content of 1 John 5:16 refers to sinning in general that results in a believerʼs physical death occurring earlier than it would have had that believer regularly remained in fellowship with the Trinity.  

When a believer is in fellowship with the Trinity and thereby filled with the power of God the Holy Spirit, whatever that believer does is known as divine good.  In that regard, when the believer is in fellowship with the Trinity and thereby filled with the power of God the Holy Spirit, the results of whatever that believer does are known as divine-good production.  In contrast to divine good is human good.  The term human good refers to the seemingly good works done by believers who are out of fellowship with the Trinity and the seemingly good works done by unbelievers.  Human good is a cheap, phoney substitute for divine good.  

Regarding believers and divine-good production versus human-good output, the content of 1 Corinthians 3:11–15 covers the topic of believers in the Lord Jesus Christ who reject the Word of God.  That content references such believers losing eternal rewards.  It is worth noting that the content of 1 Corinthians 3:11–15 indicates that the believer is still saved.  Below is content related to 1 Corinthians 3:11–15.  

1 Corinthians 3:11

Indeed, no man can lay a foundation other than the one which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.  

1 Corinthians 3:12

Now if any man builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious [or costly] stones, wood, hay, straw, 

1 Corinthians 3:13

each manʼs work will become evident, for the day will show it because it is to be revealed with fire.  Therefore, the fire itself will test the quality of each manʼs work [literally: of what sort each manʼs work is].  

1 Corinthians 3:14

If any manʼs work which he has built on it remains, he will receive a reward.  

1 Corinthians 3:15

If any manʼs work is burned up, he will suffer loss, but he himself will be saved—yet so as through fire.

The content of Hebrews 6:8 is repeated below for reference.  

Hebrews 6:8

but if it yields thorns and thistles, it is worthless and near to a curse, and whose end is for burning.

Hebrews 6:9

However, beloved, we are confident of better things concerning you, beloved, things that accompany salvation, though we are speaking in this way.

Note:  Unspecified in this verse and the surrounding verses is whom other than the author of this epistle is referenced by the two instances of the pronoun we.  Regardless of whomever else is being referenced, the author and that other person or other people were believers who had been communicating the Word of God to the recipients of this epistle.  The author of this epistle and the other communicator or communicators were confident that the recipients of this epistle were regularly leaning and obeying the Word of God and that those recipients would therefore experience better things associated with salvation.  

Unspecified in this verse and the surrounding verses is what the phrase things that accompany salvation references.  That phrase might refer to the recipients of this epistle being frequently unselfish after salvation.  That phrase might also refer to the eternal rewards that the recipients of this epistle would receive for frequently being in fellowship with the Trinity after salvation.  Regardless of to what that phrase refers, the author of this epistle softens his tone in this verse.  

Hebrews 6:10

Indeed, God is not unjust so as to forget your production / act / deed / doing / labor / work / whatever with which one is occupied / whatever one undertakes to do / thing done and the benevolence/goodwill/love which you have shown toward His name, in having ministered and in still ministering to the saints / holy ones / set-apart ones.

Note:  In this verse, the Koine [KOI-nay] Greek word that is translated as “production / act / deed / doing / labor / work / whatever with which one is occupied / whatever one undertakes to do / thing done” is ἔργου [pronounced EHR-goo and transliterated as ergou].  That word is an inflected form of the root word ἔργον [pronounced EHR-gahn and transliterated as ergon].  In the context of this verse, rather than referring to attention-getting activities, ergon refers to whatever one does.  

Showing benevolence/goodwill/love toward God the Fatherʼs name refers to showing benevolence/goodwill/love toward God the Father.  Also, all Church Age believers are referred to as saints / holy ones / set-apart ones in the Bible.  In that regard, each Church Age believer became a saint / holy one / set-apart one at the moment of salvation.  

Hebrews 6:11

Also, we desire that each one of you show the same diligence to the full assurance of hope / absolute confidence until the end,

Note:  In this verse, the word end refers to the moment when a believer goes to Heaven.  If each recipient of this epistle would be diligent in learning and obeying the Word of God, then each such recipient of this epistle would have absolute confidence regarding God the Fatherʼs plan.  

Hebrews 6:12

so that you will not be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.

Note:  In this verse, the inheriting of promises refers to receiving eternal rewards.  

Hebrews 6:13

Indeed, when God made the promise to Abraham, since He could take an oath by no one greater, He took an oath by Himself,

Hebrews 6:14

saying, “I WILL SURELY BLESS YOU, AND I WILL SURELY MULTIPLY YOU.”

Note:  This refers to Abraham having many descendants.  Also, this is a reference to Genesis 22:15–17.  In that regard, below is content related to Genesis 22:15–17.  

Genesis 22:15

Then the Angel of Jehovah / Yahweh / I am I am / the existing One calls to Abraham a second time from the heavens 

Note:  The Angel of Jehovah / Yahweh / I am I am / the existing One was God the Son manifesting Himself in the form of an angel.  The use of a present tense in the verb calls references what has occurred in the past.  Such a use of a present tense has a rhetorical effect.  In that regard, using a verb in a present tense to refer to the past can help a reader or hearer of the Word of God imagine past events as though the reader or hearer is watching those events as they occur.  

The context of the content of this verse is such that the word heavens as used in this verse refers to the atmosphere of the earth.  In that regard, the atmosphere of the earth can be referred to as the first heavens (also known as the first heaven).  Outer space can be referred to as the second heavens (also known as the second heaven).  The location of the throne room of God the Father can be referred to as the Third Heavens (also known as the Third Heaven or simply as Heaven).  

Genesis 22:16

and says, “By Myself I have sworn—a declaration of Jehovah / Yahweh / I am I am / the existing One—because you have done this thing and have not withheld your son, your only son.  

Note:  Abraham was willing to sacrifice his son Isaac in accordance with what God the Son told Abraham to do.  Absent from the Bible is anything indicating that people should offer any other people to be sacrificed.  Also, God the Son had stopped Abraham from actually sacrificing Isaac.  

Genesis 22:17

“Indeed, I greatly bless you, and I greatly multiply your offspring/seed/descendants as the stars of the heavens and as the sand which is on the seashore  Your offspring/seed/descendants possess the gate of his enemies.”  

Note:  In this verse, the word heavens refers to outer space.  As mentioned in the notes for Genesis 22:15, outer space can be referred to as the second heavens (also known as the second heaven).  Abraham would have many descendants such that the number of those descendants could be compared to the stars that are in outer space and the grains of sand on a seashore.  

The verbs in the present tense in this verse are used to refer events that occurred after the Angel of Jehovah / Yahweh / I am I am / the existing One spoke this to Abraham.  Such uses of a present tense have a rhetorical effect.  In that regard, using a verb in a present tense to refer to the future can help a reader or hearer of the Word of God imagine future events as though the reader or hearer is watching those events as they occur.  

Possessing the gate of enemies refers to defeating enemies.  In that regard, the content of this verse involves a prophecy about Israelites defeating various enemies.  Israelites have defeated various enemies at various times in history.  

Also, the Lord Jesus Christ is descended from Abraham.  In that regard, when the Lord Jesus Christ was judged on the cross for the sins of humanity, the Lord achieved a strategic victory over Satan in the angelic conflict.  The angelic conflict is the conflict between the Trinity and the elect angels on one side and Satan and the fallen angels on the other side.  This conflict has been raging for a long time, and it began sometime before the creation of mankind.  How long the angelic conflict has been raging is unspecified in the Bible.  Also, the specific means by which the struggle of the angelic conflict is waged is unspecified in the Bible.  Whatever is the specific nature of that struggle, human beings were evidently created to resolve the angelic conflict.  In that regard, it appears that at least one aspect of the angelic conflict involves argumentation and attempts at persuasion, such as in a court case.  For example, when, in the Garden of Eden, the first woman was tricked by the serpent—whether the references to a serpent in Genesis 3 are metaphorical references to Satan appearing in a form other than that of a serpent or of something like a serpent or whether the references to a serpent in Genesis 3 are literal references to Satan appearing in the form of a serpent or of something like a serpent or whether the references to a serpent in Genesis 3 are literal references to Satan controlling a literal serpent—Satan persuaded the first woman to eat the forbidden fruit from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.  Later, Satan caused Job to experience suffering.  Later still, Satan tried to persuade the Lord Jesus Christ to sin.  The Biblical accounts of those occasions indicate that Satan was arguing and trying to persuade.  

In addition, on the occasion of the Second Advent, the Lord Jesus Christ will defeat the Lordʼs enemies.  Then the Lord will reign on the earth for the 1,000 years of the Millennium.  At the end of the Millennium, the Lord Jesus Christ will again defeat the Lordʼs enemies.  

Hebrews 6:15

Then in this manner, having patiently waited, he obtained the promise.

Note:  This refers to Abraham having many descendants.  

Hebrews 6:16

Indeed, men take an oath by the greater, and to them an oath as confirmation is an end of every dispute.

Note:  In this verse, the pronoun them refers to those who had been disputing with someone who takes an oath.  When some people try to end a dispute, they take on oath by something greater.  For example, some people take an oath in the name of God the Father by saying something like the following:  “I swear to tell the truth—so help me God.”  

Hebrews 6:17

In the same way, God, desiring even more to show to the heirs of the promise the unchangeableness of His purpose, pledged Himself as a Surety/Guarantee with an oath,

Hebrews 6:18

so that by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled for refuge would have strong encouragement to take hold of the hope / absolute confidence set before us, 

Note:  The two unchangeable things are God promising Abraham and God taking an oath regarding that promise.  Unspecified in this verse and the surrounding verses is to what the phrase have fled for refuge refers.  Regardless of to what that phrase refers, the fact that God promised Abraham and took an oath about that promise can provide strong encouragement for a believer to take hold of the hope / absolute confidence that is found in the Word of God.  

It is possible that the author of The Epistle to the Hebrews used the reference to fleeing for refuge to refer to special cities under the regulations of the Mosaic Law.  The term Mosaic Law refers to the laws communicated by Moses to the ancient Israelites.  Because Moses communicated those laws, they are known collectively as the Mosaic Law.  The Lord Jesus Christ fulfilled the Mosaic Law by being judged on the cross for the sins of humanity.  Now that the Lord Jesus Christ has fulfilled the Mosaic Law, no believers in the Lord Jesus Christ are under the regulations of the Mosaic Law.  Under the regulations of the Mosaic Law, there were cities of refuge, which were sanctuary cities to which a person who accidentally killed someone could flee for refuge from being slain by an avenging relative of the person who was accidentally killed.  The topic of the cities of refuge is covered in Numbers 35:9–29; Joshua 20; 1 Chronicles 6:57–60; and 1 Chronicles 6:66–70.  

The cities of refuge are teaching illustrations that teach about the Lord Jesus Christ.  In that regard, just as a person could escape physical death by literally fleeing to a city of refuge, so also a person can escape eternal judgment by metaphorically fleeing to the Lord Jesus Christ.  A person metaphorically flees to the Lord Jesus Christ by believing in the Lord Jesus Christ as the Savior.  Because the cities of refuge are teaching illustrations that teach about the Lord Jesus Christ, the cities of refuge can be referred to as types of Christ.  Rather than this usage of the word type referring to a subset, this usage of the word type refers to someone or something that serves as a teaching illustration.  In the Bible, there is a variety of types that serve as teaching illustrations for learning about the Lord Jesus Christ.  The study of types is referred to as typology.  

Hebrews 6:19

which we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and one which enters within the veil, 

Note:  The Word of God is an anchor for the soul in that the Word of God provides stability for the soul.  Rather than the Word of God being an anchor in a body of water, the Word of God is an anchor connected to Heaven.  In this verse, the phrase within the veil refers to Heaven.  There was a veil in the Tabernacle.  

When the Tabernacle was replaced by the First Temple, there was a veil in that Temple.  King Solomon, the third king of Israel, had had the First Temple built.  That Temple can also be called Solomonʼs Temple.  Many years later, in 586 B.C., the First Temple was destroyed by the soldiers of Nebuchadnezzar, the ruler of Babylon.  

Later, the Second Temple was built.  It was eventually larger than the First Temple.  The Second Temple existed during the time of the First Advent of the Lord Jesus Christ.  The Second Temple can also be called Herodʼs Temple because King Herod, the ruler of Judea under the authority of the Romans, had construction work done in order to expand the Second Temple.  When the First Temple was replaced by the Second Temple, there was a veil in that Temple.  

Inside the Tabernacle were two sections:  the holy place and the Holy of Holies.  The veil separated the holy place from the Holy of Holies.  The same applied to each of the two Temples.  

The below link shows the cross-shaped layout of the items in the Tabernacle and in the associated courtyard with the eastward direction pointing downward.  The opening of the courtyard and the opening of the Tabernacle both faced eastward, which is the direction where the sun rises.  With the eastward direction pointing downward, the cross-like layout can be seen from the perspective of an upright cross.  

https://NETBible.org/media/images/constable/02Exo-5.jpg

Only the high priest of Israel could enter the Holy of Holies, and he could only do so on one day per year:  the Day of Atonement.  Because the Israelites lived a nomadic lifestyle at times, the Tabernacle and the contents thereof needed to be moved.  It is unspecified in the Bible how the Tabernacle was disassembled.  When it was disassembled, the Ark of the Covenant would be visible to the Israelites and any other onlookers.  Also, the Ark of the Covenant was carried into battle by the Israelites.  The Ark of the Covenant would be visible to the Israelites and any other onlookers on such occasions also.  

When the Tabernacle was assembled, if anyone other than the high priest of Israel entered the Holy of Holies, that person would die.  Likewise, if the high priest entered the Holy of Holies on any day other than the Day of Atonement, he would die.  In addition, when the high priest of Israel entered the Holy of Holies on the Day of Atonement, he had to follow specific procedures; otherwise, he would die.  Leviticus 16 covers the matter of the high priest and entering the Holy of Holies on the Day of Atonement.  In that regard, Mosesʼs brother Aaron was the first high priest of Israel.  Also, in Leviticus 16, the Holy of Holies is referred to as the Holy Place inside the veil.  

Hebrews 6:20

where Jesus has entered as a Forerunner for us, having become a High Priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.  

Note:  Rather than the Lord Jesus Christ being a high priest according to the order of the Levitical priesthood, the Lord is the High Priest according to the order of Melchizedek.  Melchizedek was both a king and a priest.  In contrast, none of the kings of Israel were priests, and none of the Levitical priests were kings.  The Lord Jesus Christ is both a King and a Priest.  In that regard, Melchizedek is a type of Christ because Melchizedek serves as a teaching illustration regarding the fact the Lord Jesus Christ is both a King and a Priest.  

The recipients of The Epistle to the Hebrews were Jewish believers in the Lord Jesus Christ.  Because they were Jewish, some if not all of them might have had strong impressions in their memories regarding the Levitical priesthood.  In that regard, it was important for them to be given detailed information related to the fact that the Levitical priesthood is non-operative in the Church Age.  Instead, during the Church Age, all believers in the Lord Jesus Christ are priests.  That topic is covered in 1 Peter 2:9–10.  

Sincerely,

John