We should not stop at the end of a chapter when reading most chapters in the Bible. This scripture is a good example. Hebrews 5:11 says “Of whom we have many things to say, and hard to be uttered, seeing ye are dull of hearing. For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat.” Paul starts chapter 6 with the word “therefore.” It says “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.” The end of chapter 5:14 says “who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.” This is where “therefore” in chapter 6 leads.
There are many principles and teachings in the Bible and each is for our solidity and stability. They define Christian perfection that is Christianity maturity. We are to be a solid not translucent Christian. The way to this is follow God’s guidance, and chapter 6 gives us the basic foundational principles.
The next two principles are important things to come. The first ones deal with salvation and daily living. These involve what lies ahead. We know what’s coming; we’ve been told. We know enough that it should motivate us to live for the Lord with the hope of things to come.
Graveyards began after Adam sinned and have been getting bigger since. The things to come will actually happen and are being prepared as we speak. Things that should not be connected are. The celestial, political, social, economic and other things are coming together. The devil knows this. When we live in awareness that Jesus can come anytime it affects us. There will be a resurrection. It is fanatical to live as if Jesus might come back today? No. Should we be concerned that Jesus may come today? As time goes on, it is more probable it will. We should be more aware each day. The result is that we are ready. This is a principle we must lay. When we forget we get slack and worldly minded. Knowing that the Lord could return tomorrow should sober us and motivate us to lead others to him.
Another foundation is eternal judgment. Why is this a principle? God will judge mankind. He is going to judge me; he is going to judge you. This makes us mindful of our accountability. The Bible says “it is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.” This is preceded by “Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised 😉 And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.” Imagine going before the Lord. We will be afraid. We won’t stride up as if it’s nothing. We will be accountable for what we know and what we did with it. Paul said they should be teaching others but needed teaching themselves. We’ll all give a one-on-one account—good or evil. This truth brings a fear that urges us toward stability. It sharpens our senses.
We are to build precept on precept, principle upon principle. We should know truth from error. We can’t understand it for each other. They must be under our own feet. Chapter 5:14 says “even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.” It’s not us against the devil all the time. Most times it’s just him and me or you and him. We’ve got to have these principles. Paul says don’t lay them again. Let it be once and for all. Settle it. Leave them alone. Don’t change them to suit whatever we want. We conform to God’s word. Don’t add to it or take away. Let the word of God be who we are. Let it mold and change us. Then let’s go on and build.
If we grow it will be on these principles. We will grow, go forward, and get deeper. It’s more than emotional outbreaks. It’s coming to the understanding of God’s truths. When we get closer to the principles, they will get us there. There where? To perfection. There is no better feeling to know we are who we say we are, but it’s scary to say we are when we’re not. They bring maturity and practicing them makes us solid.
We can go on. Can we? Yes. Verse 3 says “And this will we do, if God permit.” If the principles are not under us as the foundation we can’t go on. If we build, “this will we do.” We can go on. I can be right with God. You can too. I can go to heaven. You can too. I can look forward to the coming of the Lord. You can too. The more confidence we put in him the closer we are intertwined. We can assuredly take the next step and go on because we have laid the foundations. If God permits we will go. As God permits we will go. How about it? There is no other foundation than that which is laid in Jesus Christ.
Adwolfe Freewill Baptist Church 