It's Elementary...

While Sherlock Holmes never actually uttered the words "elementary my dear Watson"  the phrase is aptly appropriate for the start of Hebrews 6 as it starts out with the author urging his readers to move beyond the elementary teachings. Check it out... 

 ¹Therefore, leaving the discussion of the elementary principles of Christ, let us go on to perfection, 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. 

Why is this so important for us today? Looking at the end of chapter 5 we start getting a picture:

¹³ For everyone who partakes only of milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, for he is a babe. ¹⁴ But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.

So if we are stuck on the elementary principles we are stuck drinking milk, which we know isn't sufficient to nourish on its own once unless you are an infant. 

Think about this when you are building a house once the foundation is laid what happens? The walls go up… The roof goes on... The house ultimately has a purpose greater than the foundation alone... 

What about in the scholarly realm? Once you have the foundation of the alphabet do you keep relearning those letters over and over forever? Or do you learn how to use those letters to form words and phrases. 

We should always be reminded of these things just as we are reminded how to properly spell and use grammar. But rather than remaining there we use this foundational knowledge of the Gospel, the knowledge of baptism, prayer, Christ’s resurrection, and end times as the foundation by which we grow into a true disciple of Christ.

Are you growing?

See ya Sunday!