The Elementary Doctrine
Hebrews 6:1-3 ESV
“Therefore, let us leave the elementary doctrine of Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God, and of instruction about washings, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment. And this we will do if God permits.”
What is the elementary doctrine of Christ? It is that, by faith
in Jesus Christ, in the power of God’s Spirit, we are to put off our old self, which
belongs to our former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, and
to be renewed in the spirit of our minds, and to put on the new self, created
after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness (Eph 4:17-24).
For, when we believe in Jesus Christ with God-persuaded
faith, we are crucified with Christ in death to sin and we are resurrected with
Christ to newness of life in him to be lived to him and to his righteousness. Our
old self is crucified with Christ so we would no longer be enslaved to sin.
[Rom 6:1-23; Gal 2:20; Lu 9:23-26; 1 Pet 2:24; 1 Co 6:19-20;
2 Co 5:15]
It is also that faith in Jesus and our salvation are NOT
one-time events that take place in our lives and then we are “good to go” to
heaven when we die. We are saved (past), we are being saved (present) and we
will be saved (future) when Jesus Christ returns, and our salvation is
complete.
But this has conditions attached to it. We must walk (in
conduct, in practice) according to the Spirit and not according to the flesh. For,
if we walk (in practice) according to the flesh (making sin our practice), we
will die in our sins. We will NOT have eternal life with God no matter what we
profess.
And we must continue in Christ and in his Word and in our
faith – provided it is the faith that dies with Christ to sin and lives to
Christ and to his righteousness – until the very end, remaining steadfast and
faithful in our walks of obedience to our Lord, doing what he has called us to
do.
[Rom 8:1-17; 1 Jn 1:5-9; 1 Jn 2:3-6; Jn 15:1-12; Col
1:21-23; 1 Co 15:2]
So, why do the New Testament Scriptures keep repeating the
elementary doctrine of Christ? It is because the people either were not taught
the truth that is in Christ Jesus, or they were being persuaded by charlatans
to believe a “different gospel” and in “another Jesus,” or they were being led
astray by the temptations of their own flesh to return to the ways they lived
before.
And it is for these same reasons that we are having to
continually repeat the elementary doctrine of Christ, because so many are perverting
the gospel of grace and are changing it into a license for immorality, and many
are not hearing the truth, but the lies, and many are being led astray by the
lusts of their own flesh, and they need to be reminded of the truth.
If It Bears Thorns and Thistles
Hebrews 6:4-8 ESV
“For it is impossible, in the case of those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, and have shared in the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the age to come, and then have fallen away, to restore them again to repentance, since they are crucifying once again the Son of God to their own harm and holding him up to contempt. For land that has drunk the rain that often falls on it, and produces a crop useful to those for whose sake it is cultivated, receives a blessing from God. But if it bears thorns and thistles, it is worthless and near to being cursed, and its end is to be burned.”
This is a difficult passage of Scripture, so I am going to
simplify it for you. If you go back and you study the “elementary doctrine of
Christ,” and you have the correct understanding of true biblical faith, and
true biblical salvation, you will know that our salvation is not complete until
Jesus Christ returns, and he takes us to be with him.
And you will realize, too, that there are conditions to us
having salvation from sin and eternal life with God. For the free gift of God’s
grace is not the freedom to continue living in sin without guilt. It is the
freedom Jesus gave us from our slavery to sin so that we can now walk in
holiness and righteousness in the power of God in our lives.
God’s grace to us, which brings salvation, in fact, trains
us to say “No!” to ungodliness and fleshly lusts and to live self-controlled,
upright, and godly lives while we wait for Christ’s soon return. And his grace
delivers us out of our addiction to sin so we can walk in his righteousness.
But if we remain addicted to sin, it will end in death.
Can a true believer in Jesus Christ fall away from his pure
devotion to Christ for a period of time and be brought back? Yes! That is what
the letters to the churches in Revelation are all about. They had fallen away
(five of them), and Jesus was telling them to repent and to turn back or they
would face his judgment. So, this is not saying we can never return to the
Lord.
But notice what the last sentence says. Basically, if the “fruit”
we are bearing for God’s eternal kingdom is “thorns and thistles,” it is
worthless, and ITS END is to be burned (Cf. Jn 15:1-12). For, if we sow to
please the flesh, from the flesh we will reap destruction (death), but if we
sow to please the Spirit, from the Spirit we will reap eternal life.
[Gal 5:16-21; Eph 5:3-6; Gal 6:7-8; Rom 2:6-8; 1 Co 6:9-10;
2 Co 5:10]
Things That Belong to Salvation
Hebrews 6:9-12 ESV
“Though we speak in this way, yet in your case, beloved, we feel sure of better things—things that belong to salvation. For God is not unjust so as to overlook your work and the love that you have shown for his name in serving the saints, as you still do. And we desire each one of you to show the same earnestness to have the full assurance of hope until the end, so that you may not be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.”
Not everyone who professes the name of Jesus is living apart
from intimate fellowship with Jesus Christ, but many are. But for those who are
walking the walk and not just talking the walk, this is for your encouragement.
The Lord knows your work you do for him which he prepared in advance that you
should walk in it (Eph 2:10; 1 Co 15:58; 2 Co 9:8; Gal 5:6; Phil 2:12-13).
And he knows the love that you show, not only to the saints,
but to your enemies, who are enemies of the cross of Christ, and to the people
of this world who need the Savior. Although other humans may not acknowledge
your service to the Lord, which is fine, the Lord is not overlooking your
faithfulness to him in doing what he has called you to do.
For, your lives give evidence that you are in genuine
relationship with Jesus Christ because you bear fruit in keeping with those
things that belong to salvation – such things as repentance, dying daily to sin
and self, walks of obedience to your Lord, and humble submission to his will
for your life on a day-by-day basis, because you love him and your desire is
for him.
Although this is true of your life, you are being encouraged
here to continue to show that same earnestness in Christ so that you have the
full assurance of hope until the end, so that you may not be sluggish, but that
you be imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.
Here I Am, Lord
By Daniel L. Schutte
I, the Lord of snow and rain,
I have borne my people’s pain.
I have wept for love of them –
They turn away.
I will break their hearts of stone,
Give them hearts for love alone.
I will speak my word to them.
Whom shall I send?
Here I am, Lord
Is it I, Lord?
I have heard You calling in the night
I will go, Lord
If You lead me
I will hold Your people in my heart
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4t6mz8yoocY
Caution: This link may contain ads
No comments:
Post a Comment