Saturday, December 26, 2020

Letter to the Hebrews Volume 47

 The Danger of Not Advancing in the Faith Part 2

Hebrews 6:2 Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment. KJV

The writer of Hebrews in the next verse continues on with his list of what the elementary elements of our faith in Jesus Christ are as he declares with these words, "Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment." (Hebrews 6:2) (KJV). The beginning principles of Christianity are those listed in verse 1 of this Chapter and these listed for us here in verse 2 and the writer of Hebrews is doing this to stir them, that is, the Hebrew converts to Christ at that time in History to growing up into complete spiritual maturity and not continuing to remain babes, as the Apostle Paul declared many of the Corinthian Church to be as we documented in Volume 45 with the verses from 1 Coritnthians 3:1-7. This too also is what the writer wants for we Christians today and of every era and generation. The English phrase 'of the doctrine' is translated by the Greek word didachē which means instruction (the act or the matter): - doctrine, hath been taught. The English phrase 'of baptisms' is translated by the Greek word baptismos which means ablution, that is, the ritual washing of a priest's hands or of sacred vessels (ceremonially): Christian baptism. So here, the writer of Hebrews wants the then Hebrew or Jewish converts to understand and recognize that Christian water baptism (although it does not save any sinner) is not at all to be connected with, confused with, or compared with the ritual washing of cups or other vessels used by the Hebrew or Jewish high priest before the death burial and resurrection of our Great High Priest our Lord Jesus Christ. Somehow many of the Hebrew converts were still confused about what Christian baptism truly was done for and thought of it as equal to or the same as the ablution done in the Jewish Temple for so many centuries. Note: 'Christian baptism is simply an identification with our Lord, Master, and Savior Jesus Christ and it is symbolic of each one of us (who have been born again by Him) going down under the water (dying to our old life) and coming up out of the water to our new resurrection life in Christ.' Here is what Matthew Henry had to say of baptism, "The doctrine of baptism, that is, of being baptized by a minister of Christ with water, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, as the initiating sign or seal of the covenant of grace, strongly engaging the person so baptized to get acquainted with the new covenant, to adhere to it, and prepare to renew it at the table of the Lord and sincerely to regulate himself according to it, relying upon the truth and faithfulness of God for the blessings contained in it. And the doctrine of an inward baptism, that of the Spirit sprinkling the Blood of Christ upon the soul, for justification, and the graces of the Spirit for sanctification. This ordinance of baptism is a foundation to be rightly laid, and daily remembered, but not repeated."

When the writer of Hebrews speaks next of 'the laying on of hands', it was done for the purpose of ordination of a man into the Service of our Lord Jesus Christ as was done when the seven (7) men were chosen by the Apostles to serve, as it is written, "And the saying pleased the whole multitude: and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Ghost, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolas a proselyte of Antioch: Whom they set before the Apostles: and when they had prayed, they laid their hands on them." (Acts 6:5-6) (KJV). Also it was done when men were selected and sent out for a special task or work of Lord in another place, as were Paul and Barnabas, as it is written, "Now there were in the Church that was at Antioch certain prophets and teachers; as Barnabas, and Simeon that was called Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene, and Manaen, which had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them. And when they had fasted and prayed, and laid their hands on them, they sent them away." (Acts 13:1-3) (KJV). Also it was done by the Apostles then to bestow the Holy Spirit upon a new believer in Christ Jesus (perhaps as an outward testimony of the authenticity of their conversion and inner man or woman new birth to the remaining unbelievers around them), as it is written, "And it came to pass, that, while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul having passed through the upper coasts came to Ephesus: and finding certain disciples, He said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? And they said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost. And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized? And they said, Unto John's baptism. Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on Him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus. When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied. And all the men were about twelve." (Acts 19:1-7) (KJV).  

When the writer of Hebrews declares 'and the resurrection of the dead' and 'of eternal judgement', he is saying that every person that has died throughout human History will have their bodies raised up by God and reunited with their souls for everlasting joy in heaven with Christ for we believers, as it is written, "And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself shall be with them, and be their God. And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. And He that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And He said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful. And He said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely. He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be My son." (Revelation 21:3-7) (KJV) and also this, "But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love Him." (1 Corinthians 2:9) (KJV). But it shall be everlasting woe, suffering, affliction, and misery in the lake of fire for all those who rejected, refused, and resisted the Gospel of Grace or the Gospel of Jesus Christ, as it is written, "And I saw a great white throne, and Him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire." (Revelation 20:11-15) (KJV) and also this verse, "But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death." (Revelation 21:8) (KJV).

Here is what the Expositor's Bible Commentary had to say of Hebrews 6:2, "Wherefore--that is, inasmuch as solid food is for full-grown men--'let us have done with the elementary doctrines, and permit ourselves to be borne strongly onwards towards full growth of spiritual character.' The Apostle has just said that his readers needed some one to teach them the rudiments. We should have expected him, therefore, to take it in hand. But he reminds them that the defect lies deeper than intellectual error. The remedy is not mere teaching, but spiritual growth. Apart from moral progress there can be no revelation of new truths. Ever-recurring efforts to lay the foundation of individual piety will result only in an apprehension of what we may designate personal and subjective doctrines. The Apostle particularises. Repentance towards God and faith in God are the initial graces. For without sorrow for sin and trust in God's mercy God's revelation of Himself in His Son will not be deemed worthy of all acceptation. If this is so, the doctrines suitable to the initial stage of the Christian life will be--(1) the doctrine of baptisms and of laying on of hands, and (2) the doctrine of the resurrection of the dead and of eternal judgment. Repentance and faith accept the Gospel of forgiveness, which is symbolised in baptism, and of absolution, symbolised in the laying on of hands. Again, repentance and faith realise the future life and the final award; the beginning of piety reaching forth a hand, as runners do, as if to grasp the furthest goal before it touches the intermediate points. Yet every intermediate truth, when apprehended, throws new light on the soul's eschatology (the branch of theology that is concerned with such final things as death and Last Judgment; Heaven and Hell; the ultimate destiny of humankind). In like manner civilization began with contemplation of the stars, long before it descended to chemical analysis, but at last it applies its chemistry to make discoveries in the stars. This, then, is the initial stage in the Christian character,--repentance and faith; and these are the initial doctrines, baptism, absolution, resurrection, and judgment. How may they be described? They all centre in the individual believer. They have all to do with the fact of his sin. One question, and one only, presses for an answer. It is, 'What must I do to be saved?' One result, and one only, flows from the salvation obtained. It is the final acquittal of the sinner at the last day. God is known only as the merciful Saviour and the Holy Judge. The whole of the believer's personal existence hovers in mid-air between two points: repentance at some moment in the past and judgment at the end of the world. Works are 'dead,' and the reason why is that they have no saving power. There is here no thought of life as a complete thing or as a series of possibilities that ever spring into actuality, no thought of the individual as being part of a greater whole. The Church exists for the sake of the believer, not the believer for the sake of the Church. Even Christ Himself is nothing more to him than his Saviour, Who by an atoning death paid his debt. The Apostle would rise to higher truths concerning Christ in the power of His heavenly life. This is the truth which the story of Melchizedek will teach to such as are sufficiently advanced in spirituality to understand its meaning."

If you do not know the Lord Jesus Christ and His amazing healing power, pray this from your heart to the Lord Jesus Christ (you speaking directly to Him), Dear Lord Jesus, I confess to You that I am a sinner and I need Your forgiveness. I believe You shed Your Blood and died for my sins. I believe that You rose from the dead proving that You alone are God. I repent of my sins. I want to turn from my sins. I ask You Dear Lord Jesus to come into my heart and take control of my life. I want You to be my Lord, Savior, and my God. Amen...


Sincerely in Christ,


Clifford D. Tate, Sr.


Author of “Silent Assassins of the Soul - Are you Broken by Pornography and Masturbation? You can be Restored by the Lord Jesus Christ and brought into Deliverance, Freedom, and Victory! A Guide for Men and Women in the Enemy’s Crosshairs” e-book available now @ Amazon Kindle, @ Apple I Bookstore for IPod, Barnes and Noble for Nook, Reader Store for Sony Reade, Kobo, Copia, Gardners, Baker and Taylor, and eBookPie…






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