Sunday School Lesson

1. HEBREWS 6
“Will There Be Any Stars In My Crown?”
October 12, 2014 First Baptist Church Jackson, Mississippi USA
“Will There Be Any Stars In My Crown?”
By
Eliza Hewitt
1851-1920
When We All Get To Heaven
Sunshine In My Soul
MEMORY VERSE
2 Chronicles 7:14 NKJV
14 If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.
Another Fly-over Lesson
• Scriptures referenced are not a complete list.
• Let’s try the New King James Version (NKJV)
• There are many different opinions about today’s lesson.
• Small groups allow deeper study
References
• “Encountering The Book of Hebrews” by Donald A. Hagner, Baker Academic, 2004
• “The Message of Hebrews” by John R. W. Stott, Inter-Varsity Press, 1982
• Dr. Chuck Missler, YouTube Video on Hebrews
The Themes of Hebrews
• The absolute supremacy and sufficiency of Jesus Christ as revealer and as mediator of God’s grace.
• To encourage converts to Christianity to remain strong and to mature in their faith.
• Comfort Christians in their persecutions

2. The Setting for Hebrews
• Converts to Christianity were being persecuted by the Jewish leaders & Romans
• Stephen was stoned to death – Acts 7:59
• James the Apostle killed – Acts 12:2
• Converts were tempted to renounce Christianity (Apostasy) to avoid persecution
Hebrews 6
• Most over-interpreted verses in the Bible
• Your interpretation depends on one question: “Were the people being addressed in Hebrews believers or non-believers in Christ?”
• Assume for lesson today that writer is addressing believers.
• The burden of Hebrews is not rescuing sinners from hell, but it is bringing the believers to glory.
The end at the beginning Hebrews 6:13-20 Summary
• The persecution and trials which the believing Hebrews faced required patient perseverance.
• That faith would enable them to inherit the promises of God.
• God keeps His promises.
Hebrews 6:1-3 NKJV
1 Therefore, leaving the discussion of the elementary principles of Christ, let us go on to perfection, not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God, 2 of the doctrine of baptisms, of laying on of hands, of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment. 3 And this we will do if God permits.
• The Peril of Not Progressing
• Time to move on to spiritual maturity!
The Pattern of Salvation
Justification (Past Tense)
↓
Sanctification (Present Tense)
↓
Glorification (Future Tense)

3. Justification (Past Tense)
• The gift from God of everlasting life received by faith alone in Christ alone.
Ephesians 2:8-9 NKJV
8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast.
Sanctification (Present Tense)
• Believers are a work in progress that involves bearing fruit and becoming more like Christ.
Ephesians 2:10 NKJV
10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.
Glorification (Future Tense)
• The results of all previous aspects - justification and sanctification
• All believers will be glorified (resurrected and given a body like Christ). 1 Corinthians 15:51-52
• Some will receive more glory (rewards) than others.
Summary of Salvation
• Justification – Separation from the Penalty of sin.
• Sanctification – Separation from the Power of sin.
• Glorification – Separation from the Presence of sin.
Fasten Your Seatbelts!
• Remember:
– The writer is addressing believers?
• Converted Jewish believers tempted to renounce their Christianity to avoid persecution.
• Eternal Security – Can you lose your salvation?
– If not, how does this apply to non-believers?
• Those who turn away were not true believers.
Hebrews 6:4-6 NKJV
4 For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted the heavenly gift, and have become partakers of the Holy Spirit, 5 and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come, 6 if they fall away, to renew them again to repentance, since they crucify again for themselves the Son of God, and put Him to an open shame.

4. Hebrews 6:4-6 Addressing Believers
• The option they do not have is to temporarily give up their salvation , go back to Judaism until persecution subsides and then be saved again later
• Only 2 options for believers here:
– 1. Go back to Judaism (confirming their immaturity) be subjected to judgment, physical death and loss of rewards later.
– 2. Persevere, endure and press on to maturity for great rewards later.
Can You Lose Your Salvation? NO
John 10:27–30 NKJV
27 My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. 28 And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand. 29 My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father's hand. 30 I and My Father are one.”
(We are held secure by two hands!)
What can an unfaithful Christian lose?
• Salvation? No
• Heavenly rewards? Yes
• (More on this later in lesson)
Hebrews 6:7-8 NKJV
7 For the earth which drinks in the rain that often comes upon it, and bears herbs useful for those by whom it is cultivated, receives blessing from God; 8 but if it bears thorns and briers, it is rejected and near to being cursed, whose end is to be burned.
Hebrews 6:7-8 An illustration from nature.
• Rain falls on all the earth (believers).
• Some believers produce fruit, some do not.
• Fruitfulness will be rewarded.
• Fruitlessness will be judged.
• Thorns and thistles are burned, the land is not.

5. Hebrews 6:9-12 NKJV
9 But, beloved, we are confident of better things concerning you, yes, things that accompany salvation, though we speak in this manner. 10 For God is not unjust to forget your work and labor of love which you have shown toward His name, in that you have ministered to the saints, and do minister. 11 And we desire that each one of you show the same diligence to the full assurance of hope until the end, 12 that you do not become sluggish, but imitate those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.
2 Questions from Hebrews 6:9-12
1. What are these things that accompany salvation?
2. What are the promises of God that you will inherit?
- Rewards in Heaven!
Paul explains
1 Corinthians 3:10-15 NKJV
10 According to the grace of God which was given to me, as a wise master builder I have laid the foundation, and another builds on it. But let each one take heed how he builds on it. 11 For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12 Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, 13 each one's work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one's work, of what sort it is. 14 If anyone's work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward. 15 If anyone's work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire.
• Our works (fruit) will be judged by fire.
• Our salvation is secure, but we can lose our rewards by our lack of fruit.
When will this test of our works occur?
• Referring to believers only.
• This test is after the Rapture.
• Referred to as the Judgment (Bema) Seat of Christ.
• The Great White Throne Judgment is at end of the Millennium (later).

6. 1 Thessalonians 4:16-18 Rapture
16 For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. 18 Therefore encourage one another with these words.
2 Corinthians 5:10
10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.
• Man not judged here, but the fruits borne out of his life.
• Only the works of believers judged.
Will everyone be equal in heaven?
• All will be equal in being “justified” and in heaven, but all will not receive the same rewards.
• There is a difference between “entering” heaven and the “inheritance of rewards”.
Israel: Forgiven, but lost reward of entering Promised Land
Numbers 14:20-23 NKJV
20 Then the Lord said: "I have pardoned, according to your word; 21 but truly, as I live, all the earth shall be filled with the glory of the Lord — 22 because all these men who have seen My glory and the signs which I did in Egypt and in the wilderness, and have put Me to the test now these ten times, and have not heeded My voice, 23 they certainly shall not see the land of which I swore to their fathers, nor shall any of those who rejected Me see it.
What is the nature of the rewards given to the faithful?
1. The Promise of Crowns
2. The Promise of Heavenly Treasures
3. The Promise of Accolades or Commendation
4. The Promise to Overcomers
5. The Promise of Special Responsibilities

7. The Promise of Crowns
1. The Crown of Life
– For those who suffered for His sake
– For those who endured temptation
James 1:12
12 Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.
Revelation 2:10
Do not fear any of those things which you are about to suffer … Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.
2. The Crown of Righteousness
- Anticipating the Rapture – 2 Timothy 4:7-8
3. The Crown of Glory
- Fed & shepherded the flock – 1 Peter 5:4
4. The Crown of The Incorruptible
- Pressed on steadfastly (Discipline) – 1 Corinthians 9:25
5. The Crown of Rejoicing
- Won souls to Christ – 1 Thessalonians 2:19
The Promise of Heavenly Treasures
Matthew 6:19-21 NKJV
19 "Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; 20 but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
The Promise of Accolades or Commendation in Heaven
Matthew 25:23
23 His lord said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’

8. The Promise to Overcomers
• Special blessings and rewards to believers who overcame special trials and tests
• Rewards are listed in Revelation 2-3 in Jesus’ letters to the 7 Churches
– Eat of tree of life; Fed with hidden manna; White stone with new name; Power over nations; Clothed in white; Pillar in the temple; Sit with Christ on His Throne
Revelation 21:7
7 He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his God and he shall be My son.
The Promise of Special Responsibilities and Authority
Matthew 19:28
28 So Jesus said to them, "Assuredly I say to you, that in the regeneration, when the Son of Man sits on the throne of His glory, you who have followed Me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. 29 And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands, for My name's sake, shall receive a hundredfold, and inherit eternal life.
What will we do with these Crowns and Rewards?
• Not worn as a badge of honor
Revelation 4:10-11
10 the twenty- four elders fall down before Him who sits on the throne and worship Him who lives forever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying: 11 "You are worthy, O Lord, To receive glory and honor and power; For You created all things, And by Your will they exist and were created."
The Old Rugged Cross
“So I’ll cherish the old rugged cross,
Till my trophies at last I lay down;
I will cling to the old rugged cross,
And exchange it some day for a crown.”
How do you acquire heavenly rewards?
• Faithfulness to God’s word.
• Works that count are those done by responding to the Holy Spirit in your life.
– Responding to God’s callings
• Works contrived by you do not count.
– You get your reward on earth: Matthew 6:1-7

9. A REMINDER
• All our sins from yesterday (past), today (present) and tomorrow (future) are already covered by the blood of Jesus.
• Rewards and crowns are based on your works or fruitfulness.
• Your salvation is secure!
How do you lose or not gain rewards?
FAITHFULNESS SCALE
Carnal Christians →→→→→→→Overcomers
Worldly Living→→→→→→→Spirit Filled Living
The Parable of The Sower
Matthew 13:22-23 NKJV
22 Now he who received seed among the thorns is he who hears the word, and the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and he becomes unfruitful. 23 But he who received seed on the good ground is he who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and produces: some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty."
Quote
Of all the words of tongue or pen,
The saddest are these:
“It might have been.”
John Greenleaf Whittier
1807-1892
Closing Thoughts
1. What is God calling you to do?
2. Walk with and respond to the Holy Spirit in order to do the ‘works’ He has planned for only you.
3. “Will there be any stars in my crown?”
4. Spurgeon – “There are no crown-wearers in Heaven who were not cross- bearers here below.”

10. The Plan of Hope & Salvation
Romans 3:23 NKJV
23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
Romans 6:23a NKJV
23a For the wages of sin is death,
Death in this life (the first death) is 100%. Even Jesus, the only one who doesn’t deserve death, died in this life to pay the penalty for our sins. The death referred to in Romans 6:23a is the second death explained in Revelation 21:8.
Revelation 21:8 NKJV
8 “But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.”
Romans 5:8 NKJV
8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
Romans 6:23b NKJV
23b but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Revelation 21:7 NKJV
7 “He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his God and he shall be My son.”
Romans 10:9-10 explains to us how to accept Jesus as our Savior.
Romans 10:9-10 NKJV
9 that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
Romans 10:13 NKJV
13 For “whoever calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved.”
If you have questions or would like to know more,
Please, contact First Baptist Church Jackson at
601-979-1900 or http://firstbaptistjackson.org/contact/
HAVE A GREAT WEEK!