As we will notice in this chapter knowledge has something to do with the difference between a baby and a full grown man. While physically there is a difference in the body in human growth, there is also a difference in knowledge. To state it briefly, one of the important differences between a child and a man is a man knows how to take care of himself while a child needs to be taken care of. There are many people who claim to be grownup, but this definition says that are still little children. Everyone may not agree with my definition of adulthood, but it is one I stand by.
In the same way knowledge of certain things makes a difference between a physical child and a physical adult, there is also a difference between a spiritual child and a mature spiritual adult. In this chapter, we want to take a brief look at some of these things the Bible teaches is necessary for a Christian to have grown past the stage of spiritual infancy and to be considered spiritually mature. The purpose of this chapter is not to go into detail or to teach one how to teach these items, but rather, to list these items and perhaps give some hints on the knowledge necessary.
The purpose of this chapter is to help one understand the things the Bible teaches is a measure of maturity and give a Christian some ideas on what to study, not to provide all of the teachings and verses one must have studied and understand before God will consider them a mature Christian.
Hebrews 5:11-14"Of whom we have many things to say, and hard to be uttered, seeing ye are dull of hearing. 12 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. 13 For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe. 14 But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil."
The Holy Spirit through the writer of the Hebrew letter lets us know God was not satisfied with the growth of the Hebrew brethren. The writer chews out the Hebrew brethren because he could not even speak to them about the things they needed to hear because they were dull of hearing. They thought they were doing great and they would not listen to any one who said different.
The Holy Spirit points out God not only expects Christians to grow to the point they can teach others the first principles of the doctrine of Jesus Christ, but the Hebrew s had long passed that point and instead of being able to teach they still needed to be taught the first principles of the oracles of God. They still needed to be taught the milk of the word because they could not take strong meat. Those who need and use milk are unskillful in the use of the word of God because they can not even explain the basics of Christianity. To be able to become a mature Christian, not only must one be able to teach the first principles of the doctrine of Christ, but they must also be handle criticism, and be skillful in the meat of the word. They must also understand the word of God well enough to tell the difference between right and wrong.
Hebrews 6:1-3 "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, 2 Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment. 3 And this will we do, if God permit."
We see God is not satisfied with His children stopping after they have learned and can teach the first principles, but God expects us to keep growing as His disciples until we have reached complete maturity. But since we recognize the fact there is always room for improvement this means God expects us to continue to grow until the day we die.
One of the things I think is important to notice is here in Hebrews, when we look at the end of Chapter 5 and combine that with the first three verses of chapter 6, the Holy Spirit explicitly gives us a list of topics that are essential to know and be able to teach before God considers we have grown from being a spiritual baby. This list implicitly includes at least two more topics that must also be included since at least these two are necessary to understanding the explicit list the Holy Spirit has given.
For the remainder of this chapter, I want to notice this list and look at the topics on the list. I do not intend on trying to scripturally teach these topics, I just want to notice the list of topics and hopefully stir up within the reader a desire to at least study to come to the understanding that is necessary for spiritual maturity. I do not claim I understand the list well enough to claim these topics are all that are included implicitly, so feel free to add to this list if you see more topics. The topics on the following list that are followed by an asterisk (*) are the items I see are implicitly included and the items without an asterisk are the ones I see are explicitly included.
The Bible and its Place in the Christian’s Life*
From my understanding of the word of God, I have come to the conclusion unless a person understands the place the Bible plays in God’s plan of salvation, they have no hope of a home in heaven. The Bible shows in many places such as Romans 10;1-3 the knowledge one must gain from studying the Oracles of God, the Holy Scriptures, the written word, the Bible is essential to coming to the understanding of God’s will for each person. Without this knowledge there is no hope of even becoming a Christian, let alone, becoming a mature Christian.
The Relationship between the Old Testament and the New Testament*
The reason I place this subject on the implicit list is until a person recognizes the fact the Old Law has been fulfilled and it is no longer binding as commandments it is impossible to realize the symbolism and the importance of such things as Jesus Christ being both our King of Kings, Lord of Lords, and our High Priest at the same time. It is essential we understand the shadows of the Church and Heaven are revealed in the earthly tabernacle and the Holy Place and the Holy of Holies. Until we recognize the simple fact Jesus Christ could not be our High Priest if the Old Testament is still in affect, there is no way we can understand and appreciate the fact Jesus Christ had to die in order for mankind to have a way of salvation.
Repentance From Dead Works
Repentance from dead works is one of the things the Bible explicitly tells us if we do not understand it well enough to teach it to others then we are still spiritual babies. Repentance is a subject that is essential for a person to know well enough to understand it before they can be baptized. This should show at least a portion of the importance of Repentance. Then when we see the Holy Spirit put it on the list of things He expects a Christian to understand well enough to teach to others, before they can even be considered anything other than a spiritual baby, it should show the importance of this subject.
Faith Towards God
Anyone who knows anything at all about the Bible and what God expects from his children, should know and understand the important of Faith. But it is essential not only does God expect his people to have belief that He exists but also belief must translate to trust, the type of trust that causes a person to obey from the heart anything God has commanded His followers to do. God expects His disciples to grow to a point where they not only understand the type of Faith God expects them to have but also to be able to use the Holy Scriptures to teach and convince others about this faith.
Doctrine of Baptisms
The Holy Spirit here uses the plural form to mean all baptisms, but the same Holy Spirit revealed in Ephesians 4:5 One Lord, one faith, one baptism, there is only one baptism in effect now. Is this contradictory? No, the scriptures do not contradict themselves, but the reason for this is since the Bible talks about more than one baptism, God expects his disciples to study each baptism in order they can understand each one of them well enough to teach others about them, what they are, and which one is in effect today. In this chapter, I am just going to list the baptisms, including the fact some scholars believe I Peter 3:20-21 is referring to a baptism of Noah when it talks about the flood. If we include this baptism of Noah, we have the following list of baptisms; I have not at this date come to any conclusion about there being a baptism of Noah, but am listing it because we need to understand if there was a baptism of Noah, where it stands today.
- 1. The Baptism of Moses
2. The Baptism of Noah
3. The Baptism of John the Baptist
4. The Baptism of Jesus Christ during his earthly ministry
5. The Baptism of the Holy Ghost
6. The Baptism of Fire
7. The Baptism of Suffering
8. The Great Commission Baptism
9. The Baptism for the Dead.
Laying on of Hands
Today there has been very little teaching in the Church about the laying on of hands and I will admit I never understood very much about this subject until I started studying it when I realized it was one of the first principles of the gospel of Jesus Christ. If this subject is on the list of things the Holy Spirit expects a mature Christian to understand and to be able to teach to others also, then it must be important since knowledge of it is necessary to grow. I believe we need to understand the part the laying on of hands played in the passing on of the miraculous gifts, which has been done away with. I believe this includes the knowledge and the ability to teach others when and how this part of the laying on of hands was fulfilled, but also the understanding of the role the laying on of hands plays in the ordination of the various officers of the Church, such as the Elder, the Evangelist, and the Deacon. Not only understand them but be able to teach others also.
Resurrection of the Dead
In my opinion, this one should be obvious, because as the Bible clearly teaches if there is no Resurrection of the Dead, then is Christ not raised from the Dead and our hope is vain. Clearly every Christian needs to believe in the Resurrection of the Dead or how can they have faith in Jesus Christ. This topic is clearly important enough the Holy Spirit put it on the list of topics a Christian must have studied and come to an understanding of well enough to be able to teach others also for them to have achieved a level of maturity God expects Christians to be able to reach for them to no longer be considered spiritual babies.
Eternal Judgment
The last item on my list is one the Holy Spirit explicitly listed and this is Eternal Judgment. God clearly expects every Christian to study his word and come to the realization there is an eternal judgment every person in the world will face. This judgment has only two possible outcomes, one of eternal life spent with God, and one of eternal damnation in the Lake of Fire spent with Satan and his angels. This explicitly says in order to grow unto becoming a mature Christian, one must understand the subject of eternal judgment well enough to teach and convince others of this fact. I do not include these on my list, but implicitly this would mean we also need to be able to understand the doctrines of Everlasting Heaven and Everlasting Hell well enough to teach them to others also.
Chapter Summary
- 1. Knowledge of certain subjects is necessary for one to be considered a mature Christian by God.
2. This knowledge must include understanding the subject well enough to teach others also.
3. God expects this knowledge to be gained in a reasonable amount of time.
4. In the same way that physical babies need milk, spiritual babies are those who would choke on spiritual meat, thus they use milk.
5. God considers those who use the milk of the word to be unskillful in the word of righteousness.
6. God considers those as mature Christians who understand and can teach certain subjects.
7. This list of subjects contains topics that are stated explicitly and others which are necessarily inferred.
8. Spiritual exercise (Godliness) is necessary to become spiritually mature.
9. If one can not understand and teach the first principles of the doctrine of Christ, they are considered spiritual babies.
10. This list of first principles explicitly includes the following:
- Repentance from dead works;
Faith towards God;
The doctrine of Baptisms;
The laying on of hands;
The resurrection of the dead;
Eternal judgment;
11. This list of first principles implicitly includes but is not necessarily limited to the following;
- The Bible and its place in the Christian’s life;
The relationship between the Old Testament and the New Testament;
The existence of an eternal reward in Heaven;
The existence of an eternal punishment in Hell;
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