Hebrews 6

Hebrews 6:1-8 is an admonition for those who have tasted a little bit of the goodness of God's word, to move on from just tasting, to drinking deeply of the goodness of God's word.

In verses 1-2 the writer speaks of moving on from elementary doctrine, and then he lists 6 things. What do you notice about them? Repentance of dead works, faith towards God, instruction about washings, the laying on of hands, the resurrection and eternal judgment—they all reflect good doctrine for sure, but those things in and of themselves do not necessarily reflect a change in the heart of a person.They are elementary because they are just the beginning.

In the OT it was common for someone who experienced deep sadness or remorse to tear their clothes. It was an outward expression of their inward emotion. The problem is that it could easily become only an outward expression.

This is what the writer of Hebrews is cautioning against. So in effect he says, "Drink deeply the rain of God's word and produce a useful crop! Do not be like those who, after the rain of God's word falls on them, produces thorns and thistles. They initially show outward signs of genuine repentance, but they never mature, and eventually the true state of their heart is exposed."

If you believe in Jesus, don't wait to mature in your faith! Don't say, "Well of course I believe in Jesus, but I'll get to know him later. Right now I'm too busy and I have other things I want to do first."

Instead, drink deeply of God's word now! And bear a good crop, that you may reflect on the outside, the true change of your heart on the inside.