Hello to All
Hello to All,
Our next verses:
Hebrews 6:1-3 (King James Version)
Hebrews 6
1Therefore 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,
2Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment.
3And this will we do, if God permit.
We see here a passage that has been debated hotly, with many interpretations.
It would not have been difficult for the original recipients, who would have recognized them for what they are: elements of Judaism.
We (they) are told to leave the "ABCs of the teaching of Christ" and to go unto "Perfection".
We (they) are told, NOT TO:
1-Lay again a foundation of repentance from dead works.
What? Isn't this a good thing? Repenting from Dead Works?
Well...No.
Are you, my Christian friend, engaged in dead works?
Are you not rather created in Christ Jesus unto good works?
The works of the Judaizer (with few exceptions) were dead.
Don't take my word for it:
Matthew 23 (King James Version)
Matthew 23
1Then spake Jesus to the multitude, and to his disciples,
2Saying The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses' seat:
3All therefore whatsoever they bid you observe, that observe and do; but do not ye after their works: for they say, and do not.
4For they bind heavy burdens and grievous to be borne, and lay them on men's shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers. 5But all their works they do for to be seen of men: they make broad their phylacteries, and enlarge the borders of their garments,
This is just an example of the "works" of the religious in Christ's day.
These are they which partake of a religious system, thinking themselves righteous because of their works.
Praise God that we can engage in fruit bearing works that are evidence of Christ doing His work through us.
Lets look at the next item in our list:
2-Faith toward God.
This is indeed foundational to Judaism, which is the God given standard of worship given to the Jews.
However, Judaism was not intended as the stopping point of faith and worship.
It was a foundational system which would at some point in time be brought to completion by the ultimate fulfillment of God's promises.
One of those promises, Rest for His people, which was symbolized by Canaan, and came after deliverance from bondage, finds completion in the rest we have from "works" in Christ.
Christ accomplished the work we could not.
While they may have been satisfied to have that plot of ground, we know we will have a better land, a better deliverance, a better rest.
Sorry for the rabbit trail, back to "Faith in God".
While it once was acceptable to have faith in God in a general sense (knowing there is One God, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob), there is a difference for believers today.
I think these verses say it best:
Hebrews 1 (King James Version)
Hebrews 1
1God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, 2Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;
The revelation of the Son of God is now the God-appointed means for approaching God.
There is no other means of access to the Father, and in fact, it is an access which those of Judaism did not have.
Faith in God is still foundational truth for us, but is accompanied by Faith in Christ.
Those of other religions who deny that Jesus is the Christ have done what our writer is saying not to do: they remain at the foundational principle of Faith in God, and have not gone on unto Faith in Christ.
3-The doctrine of baptisms: the plurality of these baptism should be an instant giveaway that this is speaking of Judaism.
Okay, how many baptisms are there in Christianity?
And I am not speaking of diverse forms of baptism (sprinkling, immersion, association, etc.), I am speaking of Christian baptism.
In Judaism, the Baptism of John was but one of many "washings".
But, consider:
Ephesians 4
3Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
4There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling;
5One Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.
I believe this to reference water baptism enjoined by Christians.
Spiritual baptism, by which we are placed into the body of Christ, is implied in v. 4.
I will stop here for now, because the next three in our list will need more time to look at.
These will be goads that some will kick at, though it will be hard for them.
But, look through them, and consider whether these can properly be applied to Christianity.
Or, as I suggest, are foundational principles of Judaism, and in general, Faith in God.
God bless.