Verses 1-3 are given to us so that verses 4-6 don’t have to happen to us. Chapter 6 is encouraging and enlightening. If these basics are misunderstood and become traditions, our hearts can be misled. We have to get these foundations and go on from them.
Hebrews 6:1 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, 2 Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment. 3 And this will we do, if God permit.
There are several things mentioned here but together they make the whole foundation. They need to be established and ingrained within our hearts. We cannot build a relationship with the Lord by any other foundation. The underlying foundation is the doctrine of Christ—our salvation. Before we can help others we must have a reasonable, logical understanding of who Jesus is. We must believe in his deity. We must believe he’s the son of God. We must believe in a personal sense the death, burial and resurrection. We have to trust him as our Savior and know him in that sense. Some believe in their minds, but that is not the same as being saved. Some think you shake a preacher’s hand. Some think it’s by baptism. What saves us all is nothing more and nothing less than the blood of Jesus.
The second foundation is repentance from dead works. We sin even though we’re saved. God laid the foundation of salvation and then went further to give us the way to be forgiven of sins we commit after we’re saved. We are alive in Jesus Christ but not immune to sin. John wrote that if we say we have no sin we make God a liar. He tells us we have an advocate with the Father when we sin. There is no need to give up and quit. Repent from the dead works and be forgiven. The devil can knock us off the foundation if we don’t realize we have this way to keep building. This is the remedy. We can go on in success.
The third foundation is faith toward God. We all have the measure of faith. Faith is not disposable; it’s like one of those endless towels that were in public restrooms. It doesn’t end. We have the capacity to believe 24 hours a day. We continue to believe because God is the object of our faith. He never ceases to be God. Everything we need in every situation is there. We can put that same faith into each day realizing that it’s the power of God that gets us through. We can’t do it ourselves. Its faith and trust in the Lord that helps us. We need to understand what faith can do for us and then what faith does not do. Through faith we can grow on our foundation.
The fourth foundation is baptism. We need a correct understanding of this ordinance. It is given by Jesus for us to follow. He taught the ordinances of baptism of water, communion, and feet washing. Those in turn teach us the spiritual aspect of the baptism of the Holy Spirit. Upon salvation we go into Christ and he comes into us. We are immersed by Jesus Christ and baptized by the Spirit the moment we’re saved. Born of the Spirit and the word—immersed in him. To have our sins washed away there has to be an immersion. It’s special to know we’re covered. We’re submerged not floating. The best way to be a Christian is to be in over your head. The Spirit helps us to grow.
People differ in their opinions of these ordinances. There is an eagerness at being saved but a hesitation to be baptized. It is a symbolic act of identifying with the Savior. It’s not to be saved but because we are. When Peter preached in Acts he was saying repent and be baptized because of your salvation. It’s not essential to salvation but is pleasing to the Lord. It’s the outward symbol of the inward miracle.
In communion we find nothing in simply the bread and juice. It is the remembering of Jesus and what he did for us. Washing the saints’ feet is an act of humility and shows love for our brothers and sisters in Christ. There is such a blessing in doing so. It helps and strengthens us.
We’re not to lay again the foundation of the doctrine of Christ and baptism.
Next week we start with the doctrine of laying on of hands.
Adwolfe Freewill Baptist Church 