LEAVING THE FIRST PRINCIPLES -- Tomorrow:
"Therefore, leaving the discussion of the elementary principles of Christ, let us go on to perfection, not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God, of the doctrine of baptisms, of laying on of hands, of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment. And this we will do if God permits." (Hebrews 6:1-4, NKJV).
Devotion 3 of 24
In our text, we leave one realm in preference for another--one that rests upon the foundation. There is nothing about life in the Spirit that is not progressive. Stagnation contradicts the very concept of salvation. The thought of coming out of sin without progressing to life with Christ is as absurd as Israel coming out of Egypt without making progress to Canaan. The Israelites that came out of Egypt, but did not get into Canaan are described with arresting words. "And with whom was He angry for forty years? Was it not with those who sinned, whose bodies fell in the wilderness?" (Heb 3:17, NASB). "Nevertheless, with most of them God was not well-pleased; for they were laid low in the wilderness" (1 Cor 10:5, NASB). If the matter of progress was critical for Israel, it is even more so for those who have named the name of Christ.
The goal to which we are to make progress is identified. " . . . let us go on to PERFECTION . . . " The word "perfect" is frequently used in this Epistle. Jesus was made "perfect through suffering" (Heb 2:10). Being "made perfect, He became the Author of eternal salvation" 5:9). The Law "made nothing perfect" (7:19). The tabernacle service did not make those participating in it "perfect as pertaining to the conscience" (9:9). Christ is now the High Priest of a "greater and more perfect tabernacle" (9:11). Those who lived by faith before Christ and the New Covenant were not "made perfect" without us (11:40). "Perfection" did not come through the Levitical law (7:11).
Perfection is a standard in God's kingdom. It is something with which the Lord Jesus Himself is related. It characterizes our salvation, and is addressed by the redemption that is in Christ Jesus. Going on to perfection involves more fully participating in this great salvation.
Now the Spirit addresses the matter of our "perfection." No believer can remain content while not moving toward this objective.
The word from which "perfection" and "perfect" are translated speaks of fulness or maturity. More precisely, it speaks of wholeness, or complete adequacy. It addresses the matter of a pure and uncondemning conscience (Heb 9:9,14; 10:2). Such a conscience enables a person to draw close to God, coming into the most holy place of His presence and obtaining grace to help in the time of need. As it is written, "Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water" (Heb 10:22).
Perfection is the result of growing up into Christ "in all things" (Eph 4:15) -- coming to the point we are "be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; and to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God" (Eph 3:18-19). It is when the bit and bridle of the Law are no longer required, but the individual can be guided with the Lord's eye (Psa 32:8-9). It is when the believer is consistently pressing toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Jesus Christ (Phil 3:14-15).
Lingering in the "first principles" shuts one up to repeated reminders of elementary things, necessitating a diet for infants. As it is written, "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. For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe" (Heb 5:1-2). Such have knowledge of the Word, but do not know how to use it. They emphasize the wrong things, excluding or including brethren on the wrong basis. They are more prone to contention than to edification, and speak more of earthly relationships that heavenly ones. They cannot see the implications of God's Word, and thus speak more of duty than of blessing. They strive to define good and evil because they really cannot discern the difference between the two.
Those in Christ Jesus are to move out of spiritual infancy into manhood. They are to leave an emphasis on "first principles" in preference for a mature and consistent walk with the Lord, where the fulness of God and His eternal purpose are comprehended. They are to get to the point where what they think and talk about the most will not have to be abandoned with they leave this world for the next one.
PRAYER POINT: Father, in the name of Jesus, give me grace to move on from elementary things, that I might walk more fully and consistently with You, and be more prepared to dwell forever in Your courts.