Concerning First Principles Hebrews 6:1-2
Concerning First Principles Hebrews 6:1-2 What are first principles? The Basics. Foundational subjects upon which everything else is based 2 Peter 1:5 1 Corinthians 3:11 Concerning First Principles
Concerning First Principles What are first principles? Not always easiest to understand, (though many concepts are simple) but fundamental to grasping more mature concepts Concerning First Principles
Concerning First Principles Hebrews 5:12-6:2 An interlude A gentle rebuke (5:12-14) Teachers by this time Instead they needed to be reminded of first principles There is a need to go beyond Concerning First Principles
Concerning First Principles Hebrews 5:12-6:2 The challenge: Leaving elementary principles, go on Writer is NOT saying to abandon first principles, but he is speaking of a familiarity (automatic recall, etc.) The point, these are not all there is Concerning First Principles
Concerning First Principles Repentance from dead works A subject that needs to be understood BEFORE one obeys the gospel (Acts 2:38, 3:19, 17:30-31) Repentance – change, lit. of the mind. Put off the old man – Colossians 3:9-10, Romans 6:6 Concerning First Principles
Concerning First Principles Repentance from dead works True repentance described – 2 Corinthians 7:10-11 Demonstrated – Luke 15:17-19, Matthew 21:28-31, etc. From dead works – works of the ungodly, works that produce “death” – Ephesians 2:1, 5 Romans 6:23 Concerning First Principles
Concerning First Principles Faith toward God Elementary in every way We build upon it, toward a sure “election” 2 Peter 1:5ff, 9-11 Hebrews 11:6 At times, describes all that we do – “the faith” Romans 3:17 Colossians 2:7 Concerning First Principles
Concerning First Principles Faith toward God It must be an active faith James 2:14-26 A faith that will provoke us tor grow and move forward. It will sustain us. Concerning First Principles
Concerning First Principles Doctrine of baptisms Baptism is important Mark 16:16, Acts 2:38, 22:16, 1 Peter 3:20-21, Romans 6:3-4, etc. It leads to our salvation It is immersion (Acts 8:36) Concerning First Principles
Concerning First Principles Doctrine of baptisms Baptisms? Plural NASB, “instruction about washings” Jewish converts would have recalled Jewish “washings” – Mark 7:4, Hebrews 9:9-10 Also baptism of John & Jesus Concerning First Principles
Concerning First Principles Laying on of hands Likely spiritual gifts These were fundamental in the first century cf. Acts 8:16-19 Needed because they did not have the completed word (1 Corinthians 13:8-12, Matthew 9:1-8) Concerning First Principles
Concerning First Principles Laying on of hands Can also mean, approval or appointment cf. Acts 6:6, 13:3 We have the completed word, but we must accept its source, and that IS fundamental (1 Thessalonians 2:13) Concerning First Principles
Concerning First Principles The resurrection of the dead Fundamental to the Christian faith Consider the resurrection of Jesus 1 Corinthians 15:1-10 But also our resurrection! (1 Corinthians 15:12-19 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18) Concerning First Principles
Concerning First Principles The resurrection of the dead Why are we here? It is because we have a hope beyond this life 1 John 3:1-3 – with hope, we purify ourselves Concerning First Principles
Concerning First Principles Eternal judgment Life does not end after death We will ALL appear before God and be judged – Hebrews 9:27, Romans 14:10-12, Acts 17:30-31 ALL will be judged – John 5:28-29, Matthew 25:31-46 Concerning First Principles
Concerning First Principles Eternal judgment This is why we try to reach others? 2 Corinthians 5:11 Concerning First Principles
Are you grounded in the first principles of the oracles of God?