Leaving the Principles

Once again I find myself being directed to discuss a portion of Scripture that many, including myself, find difficult to fully understand.  So, as I try to analyze Hebrews 6:1-2, perhaps we can learn together.

The writer of Hebrews starts this chapter off with the word, "Therefore" ... which means, "because of what has just been said."  He has been speaking in the previous chapter of the fact that these Christian Jews were drinking the "milk of the Word," still needing teachers themselves instead of growing in Christ and eating real "spiritual meat."

He wants that to change, and tells them ... "leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection ..."

We need to look at some of these words and their meanings, getting as close to the original as we can find.  "Leaving the principles" ... normally would mean to walk away from something basic.  When I leave home, I walk or drive somewhere else; I'm no longer where I was ... I change positions physically.  In this text, leaving means ... "to lay aside."  You don't change it or do away with it, (the principles of Christ) you go on from them.

The "principles" spoken of here are basically this ... it is the starting point, the beginning, the corner stone of the foundation that the Christian belief is founded upon ... that only in the name and through the blood of Jesus, can mankind find salvation from sin.

So, "leaving the principles" means ... let us no longer linger here, let us go on to higher and greater attainments.  Advance in love and understanding and engage in a higher calling, not just your own salvation.

Let us go on unto ... "perfection."  I'm sure you have seen the little sign that says, "I'm a work in progress."  Well, that's us.  And guess what ... God will never get done with us until we leave this earth.  Perfection ... that's really not the true meaning as used in the scripture.

Perfection means to be free of all flaws or defects, and in a faultless condition.  I doubt that any of us fit that description physically or even more so spiritually.  The word  that the writer penned in the letter for perfection was "teleiote," and means ... completeness ... instead of perfection. 

He is saying ... let us go on unto perfection ... this completeness in the power of the Holy Spirit who will carry us forward in His love to whatever degree necessary for our calling.  The goal is to be like Christ, even though none have ever attained that goal completely.
 
It's like trying to jump and touch the moon.  Just because you might be able to jump six inches higher than someone else ... don't brag about it ... you're still so far from being able to touch the moon, it's not worth sharing.  But don't stop, keep trying; just don't talk about how close you think you are to it.  The moon or perfection.

It's kind of like being humble.  When you think you are ... you're not.

Part of reaching closer to that stage of completeness is ... "not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God ..."

If the Body of Christ, and I'm speaking of the New Testament Church, was to be built ... then believers must not keep laying the foundation again and again.  The foundation is important, but the idea is, that the cornerstone and the foundation were already laid ... it's now time to go on and build the building. 

We need to remember that this letter was written to Christian Jews who had been used to offering sacrifices for the forgiveness of sin.  That sin was both, things done that broke the Law, as well as things not done ... not performing the things required in the Law.  These would now be considered as "dead works" since Jesus fulfilled the Law.

The general principles and practices of the Jews are not the principles of the Christian faith.  There is a sharp contrast between now meaningless dead works and faith.  They are contrary.  One of the first things a Jew embracing Christianity had to understand was what the Apostle Paul wrote in Galatians 2:16 ...

"Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ ... for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified."    

So the writer of Hebrews is speaking to them, not as Gentiles, but as Christian Jews ... any works you continue to practice, have nothing to do with your salvation.  You are free from dead works.

This isn't scripture, but the idea is the same ... "dead works is like putting perfume on a corpse ... it still stinks."

Continuing in verse two, he gives four examples of the type of greater, more important things that need to be part of the church they are beginning to build.

"... of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment."

I like how the Amplified Bible adds this note to this second verse.  It reads ... "These are all matters of which you should have been fully aware long, long ago."





Comments welcome.