Articles
On To Perfection - Introduction
On To Perfection – Introduction
Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection .. (Hebrews 6:1)
The Hebrew writer is seemingly exasperated. He knows that what he had been discussing in his letter is above the comprehension, or perhaps the interest level, of those he is writing to. He had ‘many things to say’ but concluded that his hearers had become ‘dull of hearing’, needing for someone to ‘teach them again…the first principles of the oracles of God’. The writer wanted to get above the basics.
It is interesting that the author of Hebrew and some of the other writers of the New Testament such as Paul seemed desperate to teach the higher concepts which they had come to understand through the revelation of the Holy Spirit. But, their hearers were still trying to apprehend even basic things. How frustrating. Thus the hearers were deemed to be dull of hearing and not ‘of full age’. Spiritually, they were still ‘children’.
In the church we take pride in knowing and emphasizing the basics. And for good reason. False doctrine usually opposes or denies basic doctrine rather than the higher things. So we must be well versed in the fundamentals. If not equipped, we cannot even recognize what is false much less oppose it. We must know the ‘milk’ of the word and be able to apply it. If we cannot ‘give an answer’ (1 Pet 3:15), souls may be lost.
However we can - and sometimes do - live our entire lives rehearsing only the basics without mastering the higher precepts which the inspired writers urged us to grasp, to the end that we would approach ‘perfection’ or completeness. The New Testament writers dealt with the same challenges. Yet they still sought to elevate the understanding of the believers beyond the basics. It is almost shocking for us to read in Hebrews 6:2 the exhortation to ‘leave’ or move beyond elementary principles such as baptism. Heresy to our ears! Of course the idea is not to abandon this crucial teaching but for the believers to personally grow above the basics. We should not be satisfied with fundamentals only, but strive to attain the higher understanding which inspiration has revealed.
Higher concepts should be a personal goal whether the rest of the world can believe and comprehend it or not. We need to take care of ourselves too.
The focus of the articles which follow is not toward the world, the lost, or false teachers, but rather to us who believe, concerning some things our fathers in the faith wanted us to know and appreciate.
Ron
