Friday, August 8, 2025

Six Elementary Principles of Christ, Hebrews 6:1-3


The service has already started, so you slip in and find a seat at the back. The preacher is telling the congregation that there’s more he wants to tell them, but they have become dull of hearing. They ought to be teachers and yet, they’re nursing on milk instead of feasting on meat.  

That is exactly where we drop into Hebrews 6.

Hebrews 6:1,
 Therefore, leaving the discussion of the elementary principles of Christ, let us go on to perfection,
(maturity, completeness) not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God, 2 of the doctrine of baptisms, of laying on of hands, of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment. 3 And this we will do if God permits.

The preacher rapid fired six elementary principles of Christ we ought to know, but probably we don’t. So, let’s pause and review so we’re not found drifting (Hebrews 2:1), departing (Hebrews 3:12) becoming hard of heart (Hebrews 4:7), or dull of hearing (Hebrews 5:11).

Six Elementary Principles of Christ:

1.    Repentance From Dead Works

2.    Faith Toward God

3.    Doctrine of Baptisms

4.    Laying on of Hands,

5.    Resurrection of the Dead

6.    Eternal Judgment

Repentance from dead works.

Repentance: Greek: metanoia, changing one’s mind resulting in corresponding action.

I was racing down the highway to hell in mind and deed. Then, I changed my mind AND direction. I turned from sin to God.

Simply changing my mind, is not repentance. Saying, “Oh I know I really shouldn’t be doing this” but keep right on doing it, is not repentance.

There must be a change of thinking, with corresponding action.

I know I was wrong. So, I’m not living like that anymore.

Repentance from dead works.

Dead works are trying to get good enough to go to heaven. I’m a nice person. I’m religious. I go to Church. I pray. I read and quote the Bible. I got baptized. I don’t cuss, get drunk, smoke, chew or go with those who do.

I.I.I.I. I, not Jesus, is on the throne of my salvation.

Yeah, but I believe. I believe in God. I believe Jesus died on a cross to take away the sins of the world.

James 2:19. The devils believe and tremble.

Any works in order to gain heaven, are dead works.

We must repent, (turn away from sin) and from dead works and dead thinking.

Well, then what in the world am I supposed to think? Do?

Excellent question which brings us to the next elementary principle.

 

And of faith toward God.

Faith toward God compliments and completes repentance from dead works.

Faith is the fuel that keeps us going in the heavenward direction.

Okay, so I’m headed toward hell, then, hear His Voice, harden not my heart, turn from the ugliness of sin, toward the beauty of Christ, walking by faith with every intention of never changing course. Fully committed. Singing, “I have decided to follow Jesus, no turning back, no turning back.”

In that glorious moment, I’m born again.

But then, something happens.

It’s kind of like Peter, in the boat, on the sea, in the storm, seeing Jesus, walking on the water. “If it’s You, tell me to come.”

So, Jesus calls.

With your eyes fixed on Jesus, you rise, step out of the boat, ignoring the storm, defying the waves, you walk on water, walk in faith toward God.

Hallelujah! Everything’s awesome.

But then, something happens. The sin nature calls. Who do you think you are? You can’t walk on water. You can’t even swim, your name means Rock, for Pete’s sake! Look! The boat’s getting further, the waves higher the wind stronger, besides, you didn’t see Jesus, you didn’t hear Him, it was just your imagination.

You blink, you turn, you sink.

That’s how it goes. You repent from dead works, start walking in faith toward God, but temptation comes, doubts rise, the old sin nature rears its ugly head, and you stumble, you sink.

But thankfully that’s not the end of the story. Peter didn’t drown.

No, as he sank, he cried out, not for the boat, not for a float, not for his inner fisherman strength, no, he cried out in faith, however small. He called to the only One who could save him, Lord save me!” And immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and caught him, and said to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” 32 And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased. 33 Then those who were in the boat came and worshiped Him, saying, “Truly You are the Son of God.” Matt. 14:30-33.

Pete didn’t have much faith but enough to cry out, “Lord save me.”

That was enough.

Ephesians 2:8. For it is by grace you have been saved through faith, and this not from yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.

Grace and faith are a gift from God.

Personal willpower cannot prevail against the sin nature.

It takes faith toward God to keep going, knowing, I can’t, but God can. We call that, God-fidence.

2 Corinthians 5:7. For we walk by faith, not by sight.

Romans 10:17. Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of Christ.

John 1:1,14, In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God... 14, and the Word became flesh and dwelt among us.

Hebrews 11:1. Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.... 6 without faith it’s impossible to please Him.  

Repentance from dead works and of faith toward God, is the beginning of the elementary principles of Christ.

Then we move on to:

 The doctrine of baptisms.

Notice baptisms are plural.

Ø Water Baptism

Ø Baptism of the Holy Spirit

Water Baptism:

Matthew 3:13-17, Jesus was water baptized as an adult by John in the Jordan river. Jesus didn’t need to be baptized. John even said, “I should be baptized by You.” Jesus said, “Let it be so to fulfill all righteousness.” Matt. 3:15.

Jesus didn’t need to but said it was simply the right thing to do.

When He came up out of the water, (He was immersed, not sprinkled) the Spirit descended like a dove and a Voice from Heaven said, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” Matt. 3:17.

God, approving, basically saying, “Well done, Son.”

Jesus is our example. He was water baptized, as an adult, not because He had to, but simply because it was the righteous thing to do.

We are baptized, not because we have to; however, showing the world an outward witness of an inward work, is simply the right thing to do.

As Jesus died and was buried and resurrected, so we die to our old sinful nature, are buried and raised with Christ in the newness of Life, as reflected in water baptism.

Yeah, but Doug, you must be baptized to be saved, it says so in:

Matthew 28:19, “Make disciples of all nations baptizing them in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit...”

Acts 2:38, Peter said, “Repent and be baptized in the name of Jesus...”

Go back to our first elementary principle: Any works in order to gain heaven are dead works. Even baptism.

Baptism of the Holy Spirit.

Jesus forewarned His disciples that He’d be killed, but would not leave them orphans, He would send them His Holy Spirit.

John 14:15-18. “If you love Me, keep My commandments. 16 And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever— 17 the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you. 18I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you.”

Remember the words, “He dwells with you and will be in you.”

John 20:22. After Jesus was resurrected, He appeared to His disciples. Showed them the wounds in His hands and side. Then, He breathed on them saying, “Receive the Holy Spirit.” 

Oh, what joy must’ve filled His soul at that moment. That was the first occurrence of someone being born again. That was the moment He’d waited for since His Spirit departed from the first couple in the Garden of Eden, because they sinned against Him. Now, with their sin debt paid in full, His Holy Spirit could enter them again. Finally, family again. After this He started calling the disciples, “Brethren.”

In that moment, they were the first ever to be born again. As we just mentioned above in John 14:7, they received the Holy Spirit, in them.

This is the indwelling of the Holy Spirit upon being born again.

However, this is not the baptism of the Holy Spirit.

Otherwise, why would Jesus say on the next page, Acts 1:4-8.

And being assembled together with them, He commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the Promise of the Father, “which,” He said, “you have heard from Me; for John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.”...But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

There is an indwelling of the Holy Spirit upon Salvation.

There is an empowering when baptized with the Holy Spirit.

Once they were endued with Power, by being baptized with the Holy Spirit, they went from Scaredy Cats to Bold as Lions.  

I want that. How do we get that?

The Lord is so glad you asked.

Luke 11:11-13. “If a son asks for bread from any father among you, will he give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent instead of a fish? 12 Or if he asks for an egg, will he offer him a scorpion? 13 If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!”

Lord Jesus, please baptize us, with Your Holy Spirit.

 

Of laying on of hands.

We see the laying on of hands used for a few different reasons on the Bible.

Ø Holy Spirit

Ø Praying for Sick

Ø Ordaining Ministers

Sometimes, laying on of hands results in folks being baptized with the Holy Spirit. Acts 8:17, Acts 19:6.

But not always.

Not for me.

I was just a kid, around twelve, kneeling alone, on an old wooden pew, in the back of the Church. I whispered, “God if this is from You, I want it, if not, I don’t want to embarrass myself.”

I didn’t want any part of all that loud, emotional, laying on of hands, messing up my hair, bouncing my head like a basketball.

So, in the back of that little Assembly of God Church, Jesus gently, quietly, with no fanfare, baptized me with His Holy Spirit. Suddenly I was whispering to Him in a love language I never knew.

He never left.

Ø Praying for the sick

Mark 16:17-18. And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; 18 they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.”

James 5:14. Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord.  

Acts 28:8. ...Paul went in to see him, and after praying and placing his hands on him, he healed the man

Ø Ordaining Ministers (appointing Pastors, elders, etc.)

Acts 13:2-3. As they ministered to the Lord and fasted, the Holy Spirit said, “Now separate to Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” Then, having fasted and prayed, and laid hands on them, they sent them away.

1 Timothy 4:14. Do not neglect the gift that is in you, which was given you through the prophecy spoken over you at the laying on of the hands of the elders.

Of resurrection of the dead.

You are a spirit, you have a soul, you live in a body. When we die, we simply move out of the house we lived in while on this earth.

Your body dies.

You don’t. Ever.

Good news for Christians.

2 Corinthians 5:8, We are confident, yes, well pleased rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord.

For others? Not so much.

Depending on your relationship with Jesus, you will go to one of two destinations.

Heaven, or Hades.

Just as there are two destinations, there are two resurrections.

Resurrection of Life or Resurrection of Judgment.

John 5:28-29. Do not be amazed at this, for the hour is coming when all who are in their graves will hear His voice 29and come out—those who have done good to the resurrection of life (also known as the 1st Resurrection), and those who have done evil to the resurrection of judgment. (also known as the 2nd Resurrection, or 2nd death).

Resurrection of Life (3 phases):

All whose destination is heaven, are part of the Resurrection of Life, which takes place in phases.

Jesus was first. Then, His Bride (His Church, His Ekklesia) will be next, at the rapture. And then, the friends of the Bridegroom (Tribulation Saints and Old Testament Saints), after the Tribulation. 

1.    Jesus led the way. He is the Way, He is the first fruit, the first resurrection.

John 11:25. I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believes in Me, though he were dead, yet shall he live.

1 Corinthians 15:23a. But each one in his own order: Christ the firstfruits...

2.    Then, His Bride (Christians, living and dead. Folks saved between the cross and the rapture).

1 Corinthians 15:23b, 51-52 ...afterward those who are Christ’s at His coming. ... 51Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed— 52 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.

1 Thessalonians 4:15-18. For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep. 16 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. 18 Therefore comfort one another with these words.

3.    Then, His friends (Tribulation Saints and Old Testament Saints).

Revelation 20:4-6. Then I saw thrones, and the people sitting on them had been given the authority to judge. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their testimony about Jesus and for proclaiming the word of God. They had not worshiped the beast or his statue, nor accepted his mark on their foreheads or their hands. They all came to life again, and they reigned with Christ for a thousand years.

5 This is the first resurrection. (The rest of the dead did not come back to life until the thousand years had ended.) 6 Blessed and holy are those who share in the first resurrection. For them the second death holds no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with him a thousand years.

Daniel 12:1b-2. And there shall be a time of trouble (seven year Tribulation), such as never was since there was a nation, even to that time. And at that time your people shall be delivered, every one who is found written in the book. And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, some to shame and everlasting contempt.

Did you notice the words “second death” and “everlasting contempt”? They take us to our last elementary principle of Christ, Eternal Judgement, which includes the Resurrection of Judgement.

Eternal Judgement.

We will look at three major judgements.

Ø The Judgement Seat of Christ (Bema)

Ø Sheep and Goat Judgement

Ø Great White Throne Judgement

The Judgement Seat of Christ (Bema).

This is for Christians only.

It takes place after the Rapture.

It is in heaven.

It does not determine salvation or judge sin. There is no condemnation to those who are in Christ. Romans 8:1.

Romans 14:10, But why do you judge your brother? Or why do you show contempt for your brother? For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ.

2 Cor. 5:10, For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.

In Greek, bema is the word used for “judgment seat”.  It was a raised platform on which judges sat to view athletic games. They watched to make sure contestants followed the rules and from the bema they presented awards to the victors. They never used that perch as a place to reprimand or punish.

In the same way, the judgement seat of Christ will not be a place of condemnation, but an awards ceremony.

I pray we’ll all be at the bema judgement.

Revelation 22:12. And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to every one according to his work.

Speaking of work, that brings us to the next judgement.

Sheep and Goat Judgement.

For all people still alive after the Tribulation, both good and bad.

It takes place after the Tribulation, after Armageddon, before the Millennium.

It is in Jerusalem where Jesus sets up His glorious throne to rule the planet for 1,000 years.

His first order of business is Divine Justice.

Matthew 25:31-46.

“When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then He will sit on the throne of His glory. All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate them one from another, as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats. And He will set the sheep on His right hand, but the goats on the left. Then the King will say to those on His right hand, ‘Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me.’

“Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink? When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You? Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?’ And the King will answer and say to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.’

“Then He will also say to those on the left hand, ‘Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels: for I was hungry and you gave Me no food; I was thirsty and you gave Me no drink; I was a stranger and you did not take Me in, naked and you did not clothe Me, sick and in prison and you did not visit Me.’

“Then they also will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to You?’ Then He will answer them, saying, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me.’ And these will go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”

Following this judgement only the righteous will remain on the planet. The Tribulation survivors, the resurrected Old Testament Saints and Tribulation Saints, the Bride of Christ.

Then, Jesus will show everyone how it was supposed to go from the beginning. For 1,000 years there will be peace on earth, good will toward men.

We’re almost to where we could say, “And they all lived happily ever after.”

Almost.

There’s one more Eternal Judgement.

Great White Throne Judgement.

For all the unrighteous dead.

After the Millennium.

Revelation 20:11-15.

Then I saw a great white throne and Him who 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, standing before God, and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books. The sea gave up the dead who were in it, and Death and Hades delivered up the dead who were in them. And they were judged, each one according to his works. Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire.

And then, God will wipe away every tear; there will be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain.

He who sits on the throne will say, “Behold, I make all things new.”

And then, finally we can say, “And we all live happily ever after.”

Although, if you look in God’s eye, you might catch a glimpse of sorrow because, God does not take pleasure in the death of the wicked. Ezekiel 33:11.

Eternal Judgement is just that, eternal.

Now, we have a temporary moment to make an eternal decision.

Today, if you hear His Voice, harden not your heart.

Follow hard after Christ.

Repent.

Receive.

Believe, which means commit with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, all your might, for all your life. Forever.

Let’s pray.

Lord Jesus, thank You for cementing us in Your Word, rooted and grounded in faith toward You. So, we will not be deceived in these days of deception. So, we will recognize Your Voice and follow only You, all the way from here to heaven. And on the Way, dear Lord, please use us to lead all those You’ve given us, straight to You.

Thank You.

We love You, forever.

Amen.  

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