Those Christians to whom the book of Hebrews was addressed were not growing as they should and had “become dull of hearing” (Heb. 5:11). They had gone backwards and needed someone to teach them “again the first” or “elementary principles of Christ” (5:12; 6:1-2). Are you a Christian who has matured beyond the basic rudiments of Christian doctrine?
Elementary Principle: “repentance from dead works.” Do we understand that the works of the old man of sin have no place in the life of a Christian (Col. 3:1-14), and that we must forsake all sin and turn to righteousness? May we never forget!
Elementary Principle: “faith toward God.” Do we understand that movement “from” sinful works must be combined with movement “toward” God (1 Thess. 1:9-10), which involves an obedient faith to God’s revealed will (Heb. 11; Jas. 2)? May we never forget!
Elementary Principle: “the doctrine of baptisms.” Do we understand the different baptisms mentioned in the New Testament? John’s baptism involved believing in Jesus “who was coming after” John (Acts 19:4), and is no longer a valid baptism. Holy Spirit baptism was administered by Jesus (Mark 1:8) on only two occasions (on the Jews in Acts 2:1-4 and on the Gentiles in Acts 10:44-11:18). Baptism of fire is to take place in hell’s lake of fire (Matt. 3:10-12; Rev. 20:15). The baptism of suffering involved the sufferings that Jesus and His disciples would endure (Matt. 20:22-23). The baptism of Jesus’ Great Commission (Matt. 28:19-20; Mark 16:15-16) is the “one baptism” (Eph. 4:5) that still remains today, which is a burial (Col. 2:12) in water for the express purpose of obtaining the remission of sins (Acts 2:38). May we never forget!
Elementary Principle: “laying on of hands.” Do we understand that in the first century the apostles were able to lay their hands on Christians to impart a miraculous measure of the Holy Spirit (Acts 8:14-19), by which those early Christians were able to prophesy, speak in tongues, heal diseases, etc. (1 Cor. 12:4-11), in order to confirm the spoken word (Mark 16:20), but those gifts ceased when the New Testament was completed (1 Cor. 13:8-13)? May we never forget!
Elementary Principle: “resurrection of the dead.” Do we understand that at the return of Jesus, in the very “same hour,” all of the dead will be raised to either “life” or “condemnation” (John 5:28-29). May we never forget!
Elementary Principles: “eternal judgment.” Do we understand that all of us will stand before Christ (Rom. 14:10) and be judged by His Word (John 12:48), according to how we have lived (2 Cor. 5:10). May we never forget!
Are we growing as we should? As our God desires?