Hebrews 5:11-6:12
Nobody wakes up one morning and decides to drift away. Whether it’s a boat captain who falls asleep at the anchor or a family member floating out to sea on a raft, drifting happens gradually, almost imperceptibly. One moment you’re safely near shore, the next you’re calling for rescue because you have no idea where you are.
The same principle applies to our spiritual lives. We don’t intentionally plan to become stagnant in our faith, yet it happens more often than we’d like to admit. The book of Hebrews addresses this very issue with startling clarity, warning believers about the subtle danger of spiritual drift.
The Problem with Being “Dull of Hearing”
Hebrews 5:11 introduces us to a troubling concept: being “dull of hearing.” This doesn’t mean we can’t physically hear God’s Word. Rather, it describes a spiritual laziness—a condition where we hear truth repeatedly but never apply it to our lives.
Think about it like visiting the doctor. You sit in the examination room, receive a diagnosis, and listen carefully as the physician explains exactly what you need to do: change your eating habits, exercise regularly, get more rest. You nod along, understanding every word. But then you walk out of that office and do absolutely nothing different.
That’s what it means to be dull of hearing. We know what we should do. We’ve heard the message countless times. We might even agree with it wholeheartedly. But when it comes to actually implementing change, we remain stuck in place.
Milk or Meat: Where Are You in Your Spiritual Diet?
Hebrews 5:12-14 presents a challenging assessment: “For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat.”
This passage isn’t criticizing those who are genuinely new to faith. Instead, it addresses believers who should have matured but haven’t. They’ve been Christians long enough that they should be teaching others, yet they still need to be reminded of the basics—the spiritual equivalent of milk rather than solid food.
Milk is pre-digested food, perfectly designed for infants who can’t handle anything more complex. It’s wonderful for newborns, but concerning for someone who should have grown beyond that stage. Similarly, there’s nothing wrong with reviewing foundational truths of Christianity, but if that’s all we can handle after years of faith, something is seriously wrong.
Spiritual maturity comes through consistent engagement with God’s Word—not just hearing it, but using it. Those who exercise their spiritual senses become skilled at discerning good from evil. They can handle the “meat” of deeper biblical truths because they’ve been faithful with the basics.
The Gym Membership Syndrome
Consider the familiar New Year’s resolution scenario. January arrives with fresh determination to get in shape. You purchase a gym membership, receive your card, and walk through those doors with the best intentions. You look at the equipment, watch people running on treadmills, observe those who are seriously working out, maybe splash some water on your face at the drinking fountain, and then… you leave.
The membership is in your wallet. The gym is available. The equipment is right there. But you never actually use it. Why? Because real growth requires real effort.
We all know what it takes to get physically fit: eat properly, exercise consistently, get adequate rest. The formula isn’t complicated. The challenge is implementation. And the older we get, the harder it becomes to maintain discipline.
The same dynamic affects our spiritual lives. We have access to God’s Word. We know what we should do. We might even own that treadmill sitting unused in the basement or those weights serving as a doorstop. But knowing what to do and actually doing it are two entirely different things.
The book of James reminds us not to be hearers only, but doers of the Word. Most Christians don’t need more knowledge—they need to put into practice what they already know.
The Foundation and Beyond
Hebrews 6:1-2 outlines the foundational elements of Christian faith: repentance from dead works, faith toward God, baptism, laying on of hands, resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment. These basics establish our relationship with God, connect us to the body of believers, and orient us toward eternal realities.
But the passage urges believers not to remain stuck at the foundation level. “Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection.” The call is to progress, to mature, to advance in our understanding and application of spiritual truth.
A Sobering Warning
Hebrews 6:4-6 presents one of the most debated passages in Scripture, describing people who were “once enlightened,” who “tasted of the heavenly gift,” who “were made partakers of the Holy Ghost,” yet fell away. At first glance, this seems to suggest that salvation can be lost.
However, when we compare Scripture with Scripture, we find clear promises of eternal security. Jesus declared in John 10:28-29 that He gives eternal life to His sheep, and no one can snatch them from His hand or from the Father’s hand. Romans 8:35-39 emphatically states that nothing—not death, life, angels, principalities, powers, present circumstances, future events, height, depth, or any other created thing—can separate believers from God’s love in Christ Jesus.
So what is Hebrews 6 describing? It appears to address those who came close to salvation—close enough to experience some aspects of spiritual life—but never actually trusted Christ as Savior. Like Judas Iscariot, who was among the twelve disciples, witnessed miracles, and even performed ministry, yet never truly knew Jesus personally, some people can be intimately familiar with Christianity without ever genuinely embracing it.
This serves as a sobering warning: proximity to truth doesn’t equal possession of truth. Knowing about Jesus isn’t the same as knowing Jesus.
The Call to Diligence
The passage concludes with an exhortation in Hebrews 6:11-12: “And we desire that every one of you do shew the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end: that ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises.”
That word “slothful” is the same term used earlier for being “dull of hearing.” It means lazy, unwilling to exert effort. The antidote is diligence—persistent, faithful effort over time.
Consider elite athletes who reach the pinnacle of their sport. They don’t arrive there by accident or by talent alone. Michael Jordan was reportedly always the first to practice and the last to leave. Kobe Bryant would arrive at the gym at 4 a.m., completing a full workout before his teammates even arrived. These athletes weren’t satisfied with being good; they pursued greatness through relentless diligence.
While we’re not all called to be spiritual “elite athletes,” we are called to keep moving forward. In the Christian life, standing still actually means going backward. When we stop exercising our faith, we don’t maintain our current level—we lose ground.
Three Groups, One Question
This message essentially addresses three groups of people:
First, those who need to be saved. You know about Jesus. You believe He’s real. You may have been close to Christianity your entire life. But you’ve never personally trusted Christ as your Savior. The invitation is simple: admit you’re a sinner, believe in Jesus, and commit your life to Him. Don’t wait. Tomorrow isn’t promised.
Second, those who are saved but stalled. You trusted Christ at some point, but you’ve been stuck at the same level of spiritual maturity for far too long. God may be challenging you to take a next step—to serve somewhere, to study deeper, to apply what you already know. The question is whether you’ll respond.
Third, those who are growing but getting tired. You’re advancing in your faith, but the journey is exhausting. The encouragement is to keep going. God will strengthen you. That weariness you feel is actually part of the process that makes you stronger.
The Urgency of Now
There’s a tragic reality about delay. Some people know exactly what they need to do spiritually but keep postponing the decision. They think there will always be time later. But life doesn’t guarantee later.
The story is told of a man with cancer who repeatedly heard the gospel but wasn’t ready to commit. Even when hospice was called and he was confined to his home, he acknowledged that Jesus died for him, believed Jesus could save him, but when asked if he wanted to trust Christ, he replied, “I don’t think I want to do it now. I think I want to just wait a while.” Three days later, he passed away.
Don’t be like the child standing on the diving board, knowing you can swim, knowing there’s a lifeguard, but