It’s Elementary, My Dear Christian
Read the Text: Hebrews 6
Memorize the Text:
Watch out, brothers and sisters, so that there won’t be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God. But encourage each other daily, while it is still called today, so that none of you is hardened by sin’s deception
(Hebrews 3:12-13, CSB)
Consider the Text: Hebrews 6:1-3
The author of Hebrews warned of spiritual immaturity and remaining in spiritual infancy in the preceding paragraph. The author continued by identifying the elementary doctrinal principles of the faith in Hebrews 6:1-3. These principles mark the necessary beliefs that lay the foundation for the occurrence of spiritual development. When you and I seek to develop spiritually, we need to affirm that we construct on spiritual life upon a proper doctrinal foundation. Thus, we must identify and understand these base doctrines.
REPENTANCE
The first elementary doctrine to comprehend is repentance. Repentance occurs when we intentionally acknowledge the sin in life and turn from that sin. The acknowledgment of sin flows from the state of godly sorrow that exists because of the recognition of disobedience before the Lord. The author of Hebrews noted that this turn occurs as we turn from the acts that lead to death and move toward living in faithfulness. Have you experienced genuine repentance? Is there a sin in your life that you need to seek repentance for today?
FAITH
The second elementary principle is faith in God. Faith does not exist as mere belief in the existence and presence of God, but genuine faith responds to Jesus as Savior and Lord. This faith means that we understand that our hope for forgiveness, redemption and eternal life cannot occur separated from Christ. As a result, our faith responds to Jesus as the only true Redeemer. Genuine faith occurs when we respond to Jesus as Lord. This faith exists because of our complete trust in the Lord to provide for his own and complete trust in him as our Master. Thus, genuine faith rests not in wishful thinking but certainty in the person of Jesus.
BAPTISM
The third elementary principle is the instruction concerning baptism. Baptism must never be a rite of passage or an act of gaining salvation. Instead, baptism is a post-conversion experience that symbolically displays the internal change at redemption. The act of baptism as immersion demonstrates this change as the burying of the old self while under the water and the awakening of the new life when brought out of the water. Therefore, baptism is not necessary for salvation but should be practiced as obedience because the Lord calls his children to participate in baptism. If you follow Christ, have you been biblically baptized? If not, what hinders you from following in obedience?
SPIRIT
The fourth elementary principle is the presence of the Holy Spirit. The author of Hebrews spoke of the laying of hands as a symbol recognizing the coming of the Holy Spirit into one’s life at salvation. This presence means that, as believers, we gain guidance, strength, and communion with the Spirit. The presence of the Spirit means that we must acknowledge our need of the Spirit and trust and follow him completely. How is the Spirit working in your life? Are you allowing the Spirit to provide the needed guidance and strength to fulfill the Lord’s will upon your life?
RESURRECTION
The fifth elementary principle is the truth and promise of the resurrection. The significance of the resurrection points to the primary focus on life instead of death. The resurrection reveals the victory over death in the work of Christ and the promised resurrection of victory for his children. The resurrection provides hope because it offers the victory that could not be claimed in the self. Thus, the resurrection is a truth concerning life and a promise of eternal life for those who receive Jesus as Lord and Savior. Are you living in the promise and power of the resurrection? Are you defined in the victory of the resurrection by life, or does death identify you?
ETERNAL JUDGMENT
The sixth elementary principle is the truth concerning eternal judgment. All of humanity will face the judgment of the Lord. The basis of the judgment extends from the holiness and righteousness of the Lord. As a result, no human could stand before the Lord without someone standing in intercession. Thus, in salvation, we become righteous and just based on Christ and not on our merit. As you think about your life, are you attempting to be good to earn the favor of God, or are you resting in Christ as your justifier?
The elementary principles provide the base foundation for spiritual development to occur. However, we must not stop with the foundation alone but need to strive to construct a spiritual life of health. We must seek to grow in our faith and live in obedience. We must desire to become believers who exist as disciple-makers because we exist as maturing disciples. How firm is your foundation? How is your act of construction going?
This blog is part of the Coffee and Quiet Time with Jesus Devotional Series found at equippingfaith.com. Join the journey of reading through the New Testament this year. More information can be found at equippingfaith.com.
