Hebrews 6:1-3 Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God, Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment. And this will we do, if God permit.
‘Therefore’ – Because of your lack of progress, you must leave the infantile stage of the Christian experience and become an adult. Most Christians suffer greatly in this area because they rather listen to teachings (from others) on the Word of God instead of studying God’s Word for themselves (Rom. 10:17) and they never progress spiritually because they learn of God and not from Him.
‘Leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection.’ Two things manifest Christian maturity: To leave the first principles – cease to remain in the state of babes by understanding the basic teachings of the Christian faith. Go on to perfection – never rest [studying God’s Word by reading it Rom. 10:17] until you are an adult capable of taking strong meat, of being a living example, and of exercising all senses in righteousness (5:13-14; 6:1).
‘Go on’ [Greek: phero] to be borne along as a ship driven by a wind (Acts 27:15-17). Here the Spirit is the power that moves believers forward (Acts 2:2-4; 2Pet. 1:21; Rom. 8:14).
‘Laying’ [Greek: kataballo] casting down or overthrow (6:1; 2Cor. 4:9; Rev. 12:10). It means, do not cast down or destroy the foundation already laid of the six fundamental doctrines of (6:1-2). These doctrines are what is referred to as the ‘milk phase’ (5:11-13) and believers must study them, know them and live according to them, but no more teaching in them shall be required if one is an adult and has come to full knowledge (5:14).
‘Dead works’ [Greek: nekra and erga] refers to the works of the old nature which deserve death and cause death in trespasses and sins (Eph. 2:1-8; Gal. 5:19-21; Rom. 1:21-32; 1Cor. 6:9-11; Col. 3:5-10; Mark 7:19-21).
To be continued…
Living the Word 