Hebrews 6:3 is a short statement of intent: the writer says he and his readers will move forward into deeper maturity in Christ, and that they will do so only as God allows. It is written by the author of Hebrews, traditionally unnamed in the letter itself, to a Christian community that had grown stagnant in its understanding of the faith.
This will we do, if God permits.
Hebrews 6:3 (WEB)
What Hebrews 6:3 Means
The verse begins with “This will we do,” which points back to the sentence before it. The writer has just urged his readers to leave behind the basic lessons of the faith, such as repentance, trust in God, and the teaching about baptisms and judgment, and to press on toward maturity. “This” refers to that forward movement. He is saying, in effect, “that is what we are going to do.”
The phrase “if God permits” is the heart of the verse. The writer does not promise that he will succeed on his own strength or by sheer determination. Growth in understanding and holiness depends on God’s willingness to lead and enable it. The verse is not a guarantee that every believer will reach any particular level of spiritual depth, but it does express confidence that God is the one who makes progress possible.
This is not a verse about planning your life and adding God as an afterthought. It is closer to the posture of someone who wants to go somewhere good and knows that the road belongs to the Lord. The writer is willing to act and eager to move, while holding his plans loosely before God.
The Context of Hebrews 6:3
Hebrews is a letter, or more precisely a sermon-like written exhortation, addressed to Jewish Christians facing pressure, possibly from fellow Jews who had not accepted Jesus or from the strain of their own hardships. The author writes with great care, drawing heavily on the Old Testament sacrificial system and the priesthood to show that Jesus is greater than anything that came before him. The audience appears to have become sluggish, slow to grow, and perhaps tempted to drift back toward old patterns.
Just before the verse, the writer lists foundational teachings that his readers already know: repentance from dead works, faith toward God, instruction about baptisms, laying on of hands, resurrection, and eternal judgment. He is not dismissing these, but urging his readers not to remain camped on the front porch of the faith. Right after the verse, he gives a stern warning about those who fall away, which shows that his call to maturity is serious. Read in that setting, “if God permits” becomes a humble but earnest statement: the writer intends to lead them forward, and he knows that real progress is a gift from God, not a self-made achievement.
Key Phrases in Hebrews 6:3
James 4:15
For you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we will both live, and do this or that.”
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James gives a close parallel to the phrase “if God permits,” urging believers to speak of future plans with the Lord’s will in view. Reading it alongside Hebrews 6:3 shows that holding plans before God was a widely shared practice among the early Christians.
Philippians 1:6
Being confident of this very thing, that he who began a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ.
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Paul expresses confidence that God, who has started a good work in believers, will carry it on to completion. This pairs well with Hebrews 6:3 by reminding us that spiritual maturity is ultimately God’s work from beginning to end.
A Short Prayer From Hebrews 6:3
Lord, you know the plans I carry and the hopes I have for growing closer to you. Help me to be honest about what I want to do in my faith, and give me the courage to take the next step. Yet keep my heart humble, reminding me that every good thing I attempt depends on your willingness to lead me. Teach me to hold my plans open before you, trusting you to shape my growth in the ways that bring you glory. Amen.
