REPENTANCE FROM RELIGIOUS RITUALS

In Hebrews 9:9-14 the Bible calls sacraments or religious rituals through which men try to reach God "dead works."

9      Which was a figure for the time then present, in which were offered both gifts and sacrifices, that could not make him that did the service perfect, as pertaining to the conscience;

10    Which stood only in meats and drinks, and divers washings, and carnal ordinances, imposed on them until the time of reformation.

11    But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building;

12    Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.

13    For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh:

14    How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works (Gk. "nekron ergon") to serve the living God?

There is only one other place in this epistle that this Greek term "nekron ergon" is used, and that is Hebrews 6:1.

"Therefore, laying aside the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on to maturity, not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works (nekron ergon) and faith toward God.  Of the doctrine of baptisms and laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment."

Analysis:

The object of repentance in this verse is stated plainly as "dead works."  As noted, the author of the Epistle to the Hebrews uses this term as a reference to ritualistic religious works by which man seeks to reach God.

Repentance from Religious Ritiuals, Hebrews 6:1-2