Our text this morning is from the book of Hebrews. Now I know that most of you are accustomed to discussing the debatable issues like authorship and eternal security. Some of you even like to dip into the deep theological issues revealed in this book like substitutionary atonement and covenental relationships. Today class, we are looking only at Christianity 101. Let’s start with this section.
Concerning him (Christ) we have much to say, and {it is} hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing. For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you have need again for someone to teach you the elementary principles of the oracles of God, and you have come to need milk and not solid food.
Let us be clear that this passage may apply to you. You may be the dull of hearing that is referred to in this passage. You may be in need of some milk today. Let’s continue and see if you are drinking milk or eating meat.
For everyone who partakes {only} of milk is not accustomed to the word of righteousness, for he is an infant. But solid food is for the mature, who because of practice have their senses trained to discern good and evil.
An interesting observation class. The passage says that our senses are trained to discern good and evil by our practice. One of the factors that determine if you are on milk or meat is your practice. Very interesting, let’s continue.
Therefore leaving the elementary teaching about the Christ, let us press on to maturity, not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God, of instruction about washings and laying on of hands, and the resurrection of the dead and eternal judgment.
This is a great list of elementary teachings. What are you spending your time doing these days Class? Are you immersed in Bible studies on the topics listed above? Are you engaged in religious rituals? Are you consuming your time debating the laying on of hands and eternal security of the believer? If you wish to move on to maturity it requires you to be moving.
Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful; and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging {one another;} and all the more as you see the day drawing near. For if we go on sinning willfully after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a terrifying expectation of judgment and THE FURY OF A FIRE WHICH WILL CONSUME THE ADVERSARIES.
If you are not practicing what you preach, if you don’t stimulate one another to love and good deeds, if you forsake gathering with other believers, if you don’t encourage each other, if you go on sinning, you are still just a baby Christian stuck in Christianity 101. It appears from this teaching that we need to do something with what we learn. We need to go and do something to train our senses to discern. We cannot spend our time simply learning about our faith – it is a faith that must be lived!
That is all for this lesson of the Christianity 101 class. If you decide to continue as babes drinking milk we hope you come back for the next lesson in this series where we will discuss what the last sentence in this passage means and who should really be fearful of that whole fiery judgement thing. Class dismissed!
