RETURN TO SYLLABUS
HEBREWS 5:11-6:3
LESSON #7
BASIC CHRISTIAN DOCTRINES
MEMORY VERSE: HEB 5:9
- READ HEB 5:11-14 BACKGROUND TO WARNING #3
- THE AUTHOR WAS TALKING ABOUT MELQUISEDEK IN HEB 5:10 AND THEN TELLS HIS READERS THAT HE
HAS MUCH TO SAY ABOUT HIM BUT THAT THEY ARE TOO IMMATURE TO UNDERSTAND IT.
- HE WANTS HIS READERS TO GAIN THE KNOWLEDGE OF CHRIST AS MELQUISEDEK BUT THEY ARE NOT
READY. KNOWING CHRIST AS MELQUISEDEK IS THE MEAT OF THE WORD OF GOD.
- THERE IS MUCH TO SAY ABOUT MELQUISEDEK THAT OCCURS LATER IN THE BOOK, SO I WILL WAIT
UNTIL WE GET TO CHAPTER 7 BEFORE TALKING ABOUT HIM.
- WHAT IS A MATURE AND AN IMMATURE CHRISTIAN?
- IMMATURE: ONE WHO NEVER GOES BEYOND HIS FIRST ACCEPTANCE OF CHRIST AS SAVIOR. (LIKE THE
ISRAELITES WANDERING IN THE WILDERNESS OF UNBELIEF)
- MATURE: ONE WHO HAS MADE JESUS THE LORD OF HIS LIFE: PRAYING, STUDYING, FELLOWSHIPPPING,
SERVING, WITNESSING (LIKE THE ISRAELITES’ ENTRANCE INTO THE PROMISED LAND).
- WHAT ARE THE SPIRITUAL DEFICIENCIES OF THE HEBREW BELIEVERS?
- THEY ARE DULL OF HEARING.
- HE IS NOT TALKING ABOUT INTELLECTUAL ABILITY BUT ABOUT SPIRITUAL DISCERNMENT.
- THEY DON'T EVEN HAVE THE BASIC ELEMENTS OF THE FAITH BUILT INTO THEIR LIVES.
- THEY ARE LIKE BABIES WHO DRINK MILK AND CAN'T CHEW MEAT. THEY ARE UNSKILLFUL.
- UNSKILLFUL = UNABLE TO PUT INFORMATION TO EFFECTIVE USE IN THEIR LIVES.
- WHAT ARE THE PRIMARY MARKS OF SPIRITUAL MATURITY? (14)
- THEY ARE CHRISTIANS WHO USE THEIR BELIEF IN CHRIST IN THEIR DAILY LIFE SO THAT THEY CAN
EASILY DISTINGUISH GOOD FROM EVIL.
- HOW DOES A PERSON TRAIN HIMSELF TO DISTINGUISH GOOD FROM EVIL?
- HE USES HIS FAITH. FAITH IS LIKE A MUSCLE THAT GETS STRONGER WITH EXERCISE. REMEMBER
THAT FAITH COMES BY HEARING THE WORD OF GOD. THEN WHEN YOU ACT ON THAT WORD AND PUT IT
INTO PRACTICE IN YOUR LIFE, YOUR FAITH GETS STRONGER EACH TIME YOU SEE GOD WORK IN YOUR
LIFE. IN THAT WAY, YOU LEARN THE WAYS OF GOD AND CAN DISTINGUISH GOOD FROM EVIL TO MAKE
RIGHT CHOICES FOR GOD.
- A CHILD LEARNS TO DISTINGUISH GOOD FOOD FROM BAD FOOD BY EXPERIENCE.
- THE CHRISTIAN LEARNS RIGHT FROM WRONG BY EXERCISING HIS OBEDIENCE TO THE WORD OF GOD.
- REASONS WHY CHRISTIANS DO NOT GROW BUT REMAIN BABIES IN CHRIST:
- OFTEN THE REAL REASON CHRISTIANS CANNOT DIGEST THE MEAT OF THE WORD IS BECAUSE THEY ARE
CARNAL
- READ 1CO 3:1-3.
- 1. THOSE CHRISTIANS WHO DO NOT GROW IN THEIR CHRISTIAN LIFE REFUSE TO BEAR THE
RESPONSIBILITY FOR THEIR OWN GROWTH.
- BABIES RELY ON SOMEONE ELSE TO FEED THEM. WE NEED TO TAKE THE RESPONSIBILITY BEFORE GOD
TO FEED OURSELVES.
- 2. CHRISTIANS OFTEN GUIDE THEIR LIVES BY A DESIRE FOR COMFORT ONLY.
- THE CHRISTIAN LIFE IS COSTLY. IT COSTS YOU YOUR OWN DESIRES, YOUR SELF-WILL. IT COSTS
YOU IN SUFFERING FOR THE SAKE OF CHRIST.
- 3. A FAILURE TO SEE GOD WORK IN YOUR LIFE COMES FROM AN UNWILLINGNESS TO STUDY TO SHOW
THYSELF APPROVED. 2TI 2:15
- READ HEB 6:1-3 THE FOUNDATION PRINCIPLES OF THE DOCTRINE OF CHRIST
- WE ARE GOD'S BUILDING. EVERY BUILDING HAS A FOUNDATION UPON WHICH THE STRUCTURE IS
BUILT. IF THE FOUNDATION IS FAULTY OR INADEQUATE, IT WILL SHOW UP IN THE STRUCTURE.
- THE FOUNDATION OF THE CHRISTIAN LIFE IS JESUS CHRIST.
- 1CO 3:9-11
- WHAT ARE THE BASIC BUILDING BLOCKS TO THE FOUNDATIONS BEYOND WHICH THE HEBREW CHRISTIANS
FAILED TO ADVANCE?
- 1. REPENTANCE FROM DEAD WORKS
- 2. FAITH TOWARD GOD
- 3. INSTRUCTION ABOUT BAPTISMS
- 4. LAYING ON OF HANDS
- 5. RESURRECTION FROM THE DEAD
- 6. ETERNAL JUDGMENT
- THESE ARE OFTEN CONSIDERED IN MOST CHRISTIAN CHURCHES AS ADVANCED OR "DEEP"
TEACHINGS. IN THE EARLY CHURCH THEY WERE CONSIDERED BASIC ELEMENTAL FOUNDATIONS. THEY ARE
LISTED IN GROUPINGS OF TWO TOGETHER.
- 1. REPENTANCE FROM DEAD WORKS
- JUDAISM’S LEGALISTIC SYSTEM WAS BASED ON THE MOSAIC LAW. LEGALISM IS DEAD WORKS.
THESE PEOPLE NEEDED TO MOVE BEYOND LEGALISM AND COME TO KNOW JESUS CHRIST AS THEIR SAVIOR.
- REPENTANCE = REGRET OR REMORSE, AN INTELLIGENT DECISION TO CHANGE ONE'S ACTIONS TO
CORRESPOND WITH ONE'S BASIC CONVICTION.
- DEAD WORKS =
- A. ANYTHING NOT INITIATED BY GOD.
- IF GOD DOES NOT INITIATE IT, GOD NEVER WILL ENERGIZE IT TO PRODUCE LIFE.
- MOST FAILURES IN THE CHRISTIAN LIFE COME FROM DOING THINGS NOT INITIATED BY GOD.
- MAN IS IMPRESSED BY ACTIVITY BUT GOD IS IMPRESSED BY OBEDIENCE.
- B. ANYTHING OUTSIDE OF GOD'S TIMING.
- C. ANYTHING NOT PRODUCING LIFE FOR THE KINGDOM OF GOD.
- D. ANYTHING DONE WITH THE WRONG MOTIVE.
- THE EXAMPLE OF DEAD WORKS:
- SARAH'S OFFERING OF HAGAR TO ABRAHAM TO FULFIL GOD'S PROMISE OF A SON. GEN 16
- WE NEED TO CONTINUALLY EXAMINE OUR LIVES IN ORDER TO ELIMINATE DEAD WORKS. ELIMINATING
DEAD WORKS LEADS YOU TO MAKE CHRIST THE LORD OF YOUR LIFE.
- 2. FAITH TOWARD GOD
- IN JUDAISM, THE PEOPLE BELIEVED THEY WERE PART OF GOD’S FAMILY JUST BECAUSE THEY
WERE JEWS. THEY NEEDED TO COME TO A RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD THROUGH JESUS CHRIST.
- ONCE YOU REPENT, YOU CAN NOW MOVE TO FAITH TOWARD GOD.
- THIS IS AN ATTITUDE OF LOOKING TO GOD FOR EVERYTHING.
- THERE ARE 3 ASPECTS OF FAITH:
- A. FAITH FOR SALVATION (HEB 12:2)
- B. FAITH BY WHICH THE CHRISTIAN LIFE IS LIVED (GAL 3:11 HEB 10:38)
- C. FAITH TO INITIATE SPECIAL WORKS (1CO 12:9)
- 3. INSTRUCTION ABOUT BAPTISMS
- JUDAISM TAUGHT A SERIES OF RITUAL WASHINGS. THESE PEOPLE NEEDED TO GO BEYOND RITUAL TO A
HEARTFELT COMMITMENT TO GOD.
- THE DEFINITION OF THE WORD BAPTISM = TO CAUSE SOMETHING TO BE DIPPED OR IMMERSED.
- BAPTISM IS TOTAL. IT INVOLVES THE WHOLE PERSON.
- BAPTISM IS TRANSITIONAL. IT MARKS THE PASSING FROM ONE STAGE OF LIFE TO ANOTHER.
- IT INVOLVES THE DEATH TO THE SELF-LIFE OR EGO.
- NOTICE THE WORD BAPTISM IN HEBREWS IS PLURAL. THERE IS MORE THAN ONE BAPTISM TAUGHT IN
SCRIPTURE.
- A. BAPTISM OF REPENTANCE BY JOHN THE BAPTIST (MAT 3:11 LUK 7:30)
- B. BAPTISM INTO THE BODY OF CHRIST (1CO 12:13 EPH 4:4-6)
- C. BAPTISM IN WATER (MAT 28:18-20)
- D. BAPTISM IN THE HOLY SPIRIT
- IT IS MORE THAN BEING INDWELT BY THE HOLY SPIRIT WHEN YOU ARE BORN AGAIN (ROM
8:9),
- IT IS BEING FILLED WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT TO EMPOWER A PERSON TO LIVE THE CHRISTIAN LIFE.
(MAT 3:11 ACT 1:5,8 LUK 24:49)
- E. BAPTISM IN FIRE
- THE BAPTISM PURIFIES THE LIFE OF THE BELIEVER.(MAT 3:11 LUK 3:15-17)
- F. BAPTISM IN SUFFERING
- THROUGH SUFFERING WE LEARN OBEDIENCE (MAT 20:22 HEB 5:8)
- 4. LAYING ON OF HANDS
- JUDAISM TAUGHT THE RITUAL OF THE LAYING ON OF HANDS ON THE HEAD OF AN ANIMAL TO TRANSFER
ONES SINS TO THAT ANIMAL. IT WAS A MEANS OF IDENTIFICATION. THESE PEOPLE NEED TO GO BEYOND
RITUAL AND IDENTIFY WITH JESUS CHRIST WHO BORE ALL OF OUR SINS.
- ONCE YOU ARE BAPTIZED, YOU ARE NOW ABLE TO MINISTER TO OTHERS. THE FOCUS OF THIS
PRACTICE OF THE LAYING ON OF HANDS IS FOR MINISTRY TO OTHERS.
- THIS PRACTICE SIGNIFIES ONE OF THREE THINGS:
- A. TRANSMITTING OF SPIRITUAL BLESSING OR AUTHORITY TO ANOTHER PERSON FOR
MINISTRY.
- B. ACKNOWLEDGING PUBLICLY THE GIFTS OF ANOTHER PERSON WHO IS ALREADY DISPLAYING
THESE GIFTS IN MINISTRY.
- C. COMMITTING PUBLICLY SOMEONE TO GOD FOR A SPECIFIC TASK OR MINISTRY.
- THE SIX FUNCTIONS OF THE LAYING ON OF HANDS:
- A. THE IMPARTING OF BLESSING
- B. MINISTERING HEALING TO THE SICK
- C. MINISTERING THE BAPTISM IN THE HOLY SPIRIT
- D. MINISTERING SPIRITUAL GIFTS
- E. SENDING MINISTRIES OUT OF THE LOCAL CHURCH
- F. ACKNOWLEDGING MINISTRIES WITHIN THE LOCAL CHURCH.
- 5. RESURRECTION FROM THE DEAD
- IN JUDAISM, SOME SECTS BELIEVED IN THE RESURRECTION THAT WAS TAUGHT IN THE OLD
TESTAMENT. HOWEVER, THESE PEOPLE NEEDED TO ACCEPT THE RESURRECTION OF JESUS CHRIST.
- THE MIRACULOUS RESURRECTION OF JESUS CHRIST IS A BASIC TENENT OF NEW TESTAMENT FAITH.
- THE FUTURE RESURRECTION OF BELIEVERS AND NON-BELIEVERS IS ALSO A BASIC TENENT OF NEW
TESTAMENT BELIEF.
- REWARDS GIVEN TO BELIEVERS AT THEIR RESURRECTION.
- JUDGMENT OF NON-BELIEVERS AT THEIR RESURRECTION.
- 6. ETERNAL JUDGMENT
- AFTER RESURRECTION COMES ETERNAL JUDGMENT OF NON-BELIEVERS IN THE LAKE OF FIRE.
- WHY IS THIS TRUTH REQUIRED FOR A PERSON TO GROW INTO FULL MATURITY AS A CHRISTIAN?
- SO YOU WILL LIVE THE KNOWLEDGE OF GOD'S MERCY.
- SO YOU WILL WALK IN THE FEAR OF GOD.
- SO YOU WILL DESIRE TO SEE MEN SAVED.
- SUMMARY:
- THESE FOUNDATIONAL PRINCIPLES ARE DOCTRINES FOUND IN BOTH THE OLD AND THE NEW
TESTAMENTS. THEY MAKE A COMMON GROUND BETWEEN JUDAISM AND CHRISTIANITY.
- THESE FOUNDATIONAL PRINCIPLES MUST BE LAID SEQUENTIALLY IN YOUR LIFE IN THE PROPER
ORDER.
- YOU MUST REPENT BEFORE YOU CAN HAVE FAITH TOWARD GOD.
- YOU MUST KNOW ABOUT BAPTISMS AND HAVE EXPERIENCED THEM BEFORE YOU ARE READY FOR THE
LAYING ON OF HANDS TO MINISTER TO OTHERS.
- YOU MUST KNOW ABOUT THE RESURRECTION FROM THE DEAD AND ETERNAL JUDGMENT IN ORDER TO BE
MOTIVATED TO KEEP YOUR LIFE IN ORDER AND HAVE THE PRIORITY OF WINNING OTHERS TO CHRIST.
- IN HEB 6:1 WE ARE TOLD TO LEAVE THESE BASIC DOCTRINES AND MOVE ON TO MEAT.
- THAT IS THE COMMITMENT I HAVE FOR THOSE WHO STUDY IN THIS CLASS…TO MOVE YOU FROM
MILK TO MEAT.
HOMEWORK
HEBREWS 6:4-20
THIS IS A SELF-STUDY. PLEASE DO NOT SEND HOMEWORK ANSWERS TO THE TEACHER FOR
CORRECTION.
- APPLICATION OF HEB 5:11-6:3
- IN WHICH OF THE 6 BASIC AREAS OF THE CHRISTIAN FAITH BEYOND WHICH YOU NEED TO ADVANCE SO
AS TO BE "MATURE"?
- 1. REPENTANCE FROM DEAD WORKS
- 2. FAITH TOWARD GOD
- 3. INSTRUCTION ABOUT BAPTISMS
- 4. LAYING ON OF HANDS
- 5. RESURRECTION FROM THE DEAD
- 6. ETERNAL JUDGMENT
- PREPARATION FOR HEB 6:4-20
- READ HEB 6:4-20
- WRITE A PARAGRAPH OR TWO EXPLAINING WHETHER OR NOT A CHRISTIAN CAN LOSE HIS SALVATION.
USE SCRIPTURE REFERENCES TO BACK UP YOUR POSITION.
MEMORY VERSE: 2PET 3:17