Hebrews 6:1-7 English Standard Version
6 Therefore let us leave the elementary doctrine of Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God, 2 and of instruction about washings,[Or baptisms (that is, cleansing rites)] the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment. 3 And this we will do if God permits. 4 For it is impossible, in the case of those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, and have shared in the Holy Spirit, 5 and have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the age to come, 6 and then have fallen away, to restore them again to repentance, since they are crucifying once again the Son of God to their own harm and holding him up to contempt. 7 For land that has drunk the rain that often falls on it, and produces a crop useful to those for whose sake it is cultivated, receives a blessing from God.
Has anyone else struggled with these verses? I did at one time. I struggled with them for a number of years. Prayer did not bring consolation to my soul. I sought understanding and it escaped me. At the time of my struggle I was not trained up in my own heavenly gifts. That may have been the reason that peace was withheld from me. I will not lay claims to the why but to who.
The key to my peace in these verses came with in verse 1. I had not gone on to maturity at that time. I was in a rush for knowledge and we know that knowledge “puffs up”; 1 Cor. 8:1. It can make one proud and God loves us enough to withhold the knowledge of a thing which will cause pride in us. This is seen in verse 3 above, “if God permits”. Maturity seeks permission.
If it be your will O Lord.