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 4 of 24
"For it was fitting for Him, for whom are all things and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory, to make the Captain of their salvation PERFECT through sufferings" (Heb 2:10, NKJV)
The purpose for leaving "the principles of the doctrine of Christ," or the teachings related to the beginning of spiritual life, is that we may go on to perfection. Life in Christ is not intended to end at the starting line, and it cannot be maintained while one remains near the border of the promised land.
Spiritual life has primarily to do with the individual and God. "Eternal life," after all, is knowing God and Jesus Christ whom He has sent (John 17:3). Beginning, or elementary principles, have to do with crossing the border between the world and the heavenly places, like Israel crossed the Jordan River that stood between the wilderness and Canaan. Going on the perfection is moving into the interior of fellowship with Christ, partaking of Him (Heb 3:14), and participating in the Divine nature through God's 'exceeding great and precious promises" (2 Pet 1:4).
When a clearer understanding of any subject is sought, that subject will find its locus and meaning in the person of Christ. When He was in the world, Jesus lived out the life to which we have been called. While this did not involve recovery from sin (for Jesus had no sin), He was perfected. It will be of benefit for us to consider that marvelous reality.
The text we are considering in this devotion (Heb 2:10), declares that God made the Captain of our salvation "PERFECT through sufferings." This perfection had to do with "bringing many sons to glory," which is the determined objective for all who are justified (Rom 8:29-30). Furthermore, it was "fitting," or becoming, for God to do this.
In making the "Captain" of our "salvation "PERFECT through sufferings," God has made Him adequate for the challenging work of bringing the "sons" to glory. He will have to bring these sons through the domain of the devil, the "prince of the power of the air" (Eph 2:2). There will be a need to sustain them when they are tempted, and direct them when they are beset with trials. It is no small work to bring "many sons to glory!"
The Father did not make the Son "perfect" for this work through as mandate. He did not do it by enabling Him to throw down the enemy, which He DID do! Rather, He made Jesus "perfect THROUGH SUFFERINGS." It was put into the fire, and made to experience the sort of pressure that compels one to call upon the name of the Lord. There is no language or perception among men that is able to fully grasp the depth of that suffering. It reached its apex when He was tempted beyond any human cognizance. It is written, "He Himself has suffered, being tempted" (Heb 2:18). He "offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears" to God (Heb 5:7). In all of this, He was being perfected.
Therefore, "being made PERFECT, He became the Author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey Him" (Heb 5:9). In His humanity, Jesus was marvelously adapted, or perfected, to bring salvation to sinners, then bring them to glory. He was put through fiery trial that He might know how to support the "many sons" who would also go through such trials. Although, by comparison, their trials are not as great as His, they are all the "sons" can handle. They need to be sustained in their trials as surely as Jesus did in His. Because He was perfected, He can now give them what they need in times of duress.
For this reason it is written, "For in that He Himself hath suffered being tempted, He is able to succor them that are tempted" (Heb 2:18).
What can be seen in this, and what does it have to do with leaving the first principles? Jesus was perfected in order that He might effectively carry out His ministry -- the thing He was appointed to do.
He could not bring the sons to glory if He was not touched with the feeling of the weaknesses (Heb 4:15). They must be brought with tenderness and gentleness, else they will fall in the way. For Him, going on to perfection involved moving out of the carpentry shop and into the arena of proclamation. He moved from debates with Pharisees and tutoring His disciples into the Garden, where He was put into such stress that "His sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground" (Lk 22:44). Thus He became suited to fulfill His ministry.
For believers, leaving the elementary principles and going on to perfection does not have to do with arriving at a certain moral standard. It is not being able to fulfill our earthly responsibilities with exactness and satisfaction. Rather, it is moving toward the hope to which God has called us, and the fulfilling the objective for which we were placed into the body of Christ (1 Cor 12:18).
Our ministry begins in this world, but it certainly is not concluded here. We are only on the porch of the "house of the Lord," not in its interior. We are being readied to "judge the world" and "angels." We are being prepared to "reign" with Christ (2 Tim 2:12; Rev 20:6), "inherit all things" (Rev 21:7), and "inherit the earth" (Matt 5:5).
In Christ we have not been called to small things. We have not been brought into a ministry that is primarily of and to this world. An eternal destiny is appointed for us that is staggering in its proportions. Things pertaining to life and godliness are designed to suit us for that ministry, even as Christ was suited for His.
A concept of spiritual life that sees it being sustained by the rudiments and elemental principles of the doctrine of Christ is completely wrong. It is unworthy of your embrace, or even your attention. If you are caught up in human relationships, leave the first principles and go on to perfection. If you are distracted by domestic and social duties, leave the first principles, and go on to perfection. If you are content to dabble in the things of God, but never really taste of them, leave the first principles, and go on to perfection.
In leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ and going on to perfection, you will find yourself fulfilling those lower responsibilities that have to do with being in the body. But when you major on those lower responsibilities, God will see to it that you do not do well in them, nor will you be prepared for eternity.
PRAYER POINT: Father, in the name of Jesus, help me to go on to perfection, so I will more fully appreciate and build upon the principles of the doctrine of Christ.