The primary theme of Hebrews is a warning to true Christians against the danger of being hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. The secondary theme, that of the superiority of the new covenant to the old, is a reflection of this primary theme.

Let us explain once more how the second theme of the Book of Hebrews is a reflection of the primary theme. The argument the writer uses in comparing the two covenants is that the new covenant actually takes away sin. Therefore the believer under the new covenant is not to continue to sin but to enter the rest of God, that is, the place where he or she is living in the perfect center of God's will.

Lesser themes, such as the true nature of faith, the place of chastisement, and the need to assemble on a consistent basis, also are related to the primary theme, which is the warning against being hardened through the deceitfulness of sin and not pressing into the rest of God.

For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end.

Again it is clear that salvation is conditional and salvation is not secured until we follow the Lord obediently and cheerfully to the end of the course. Yet today's teaching is that salvation is unconditional and eternal after it is first activatedùclearly an error.

What sense would it make for the writer of Hebrews to speak of the first generation of Jews dying in the wilderness if he wasn't implying that Christian believers will die in the wilderness, so to speak, if they do not press into the rest of God?

Can you find any indication in the passages we have mentioned thus far that the writer is not addressing genuine Christians or is speaking hypothetically? Does not what we have read thus far support our position?

* True Christians indeed are being referred to in Hebrews 6:4-6 and are being warned against falling away from Christ.

* The situation by no means is hypothetical. The writer is warning his readers that to fall away from Christ is inviting destruction.

To continue with Hebrews:

Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it. (Hebrews 4:1)

Of what should the true Christian be afraid? He should be afraid of growing cold in his pursuit of Christ. The verse above completely destroys the present Evangelical stance that salvation is a ticket to Heaven that operates independently of our behavior. You can accept Christ and then come short of the goal. Is this what is being said?

For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, and have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, (Hebrews 6:4,5)

Can you see the connection between what we are leading into now and what has gone before?

To be continued.