Milk instead of solid food, infants instead of mature adults. Part one
Hebrews 6
Therefore let us move beyond the elementary teachings about Christ and be taken forward to maturity, not laying again the foundation of repentance from acts that lead to death, and of faith in God.
What was the author of Hebrews talking about when he wrote this passage? Let us first understand the contexts of the letter. The author was writing to a church that was mostly if not completely made up of Jewish converts. This was a time of persecution and in fear, some may have been reverting to old Jewish ways in order to hide. The author was trying to open their eyes, to help them stay strong in their faith in the Lord Jesus.
There are many commentaries with varying perspectives on Hebrews and especially on chapter six. We could draw a parallel between Hebrews chapter six and Isaiah 53. For the Jews, Isaiah 53 has been very problematic because this passage clearly speaks of Jesus. One explanation Jewish theologians have offered is that there were two Isaiahs, and that the second half of Isaiah was written by someone else. Likewise, Hebrews six poses problems for some Christians. We really must move away from personal ideology, and fears and embrace the word of God in its entirety, not just those parts that we agree with or those parts that make us feel good. We must embrace the whole.
I've often heard Christians say, if one word in the bible is false, the whole bible is false. I have also heard them say that the bible does not contradict itself. Yet, in discussions with fellow Christians, they are more than willing to pick passages that contradict other passages in order to support their opinions. I must ask, which is it? I believe, Hebrews poses a problem with modern day Christian ideology. Think about the following questions and answer them?
1.That does it mean to move beyond the elementary teaching about Christ?
2.What does it mean to be taken forward into maturity?
3.What does it mean, not laying again the foundation of repentance and acts that lead to death and of faith in God?
Now let us throw in a couple more passages into the mix and ask some more relative questions.
1 Corinthians 3:1-3, Brothers and sisters, I could not address you as people who live by the Spirit but as people who are still worldly—mere infants in Christ. I gave you milk, not solid food, for you were not yet ready for it. Indeed, you are still not ready. You are still worldly. For since there is jealousy and quarreling among you, are you not worldly? Are you not acting like mere humans?.
Hebrews 5:12-13, In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God’s word all over again. You need milk, not solid food! Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness.
4.Why is Paul telling the believers in Corinth that they are still worldly?
5.That they are mere infants in their belief?
6.What does he mean by "I gave you milk"
7.Why does he tell them they are not ready.
8.What is going on in Hebrews that the author tells them they should be teachers but still need teaching, of the elementary truths?
9.Why does this author also tell them the need milk and not solid food?
Hebrews talks about believers who are falling away. Can a believer fall away? Apparently so. We see immorality, Judaizers heresies, and Gnostics in Hebrews, 1 Corinthians, 2 Corinthians, Galatians, Colossians, 1, 2, and 3 John, and Jude as being forces (False teachings) that can draw believers away. The believers in these churches were moving away from true doctrine and towards false teachings. Another point of reference is found in Hebrews 6:4-6
It is impossible for those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, who have shared in the Holy Spirit, who have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the coming age and who have fallen away, to be brought back to repentance.
This is a very strong message to those who are believers and continue in worldly ways, sinful ways and not God's ways, they risk "Falling away." Note the words, those who have been enlightened," and "who have tasted the heavenly gift," there is no ambiguity here, the author is talking about people who knew of and believed in Jesus. What's happening then. They are being led away for varying and different reasons. Some out of fear, others by false teachings. The bible tells us to beware of false teachings and false prophets as seen in Matt 7:15, 24:11, 24:24, 2 Peter 2:1 is very telling about the destructive nature of false teachers.
But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them—bringing swift destruction on themselves.
After 2000 years, do we still see persecution of Christians? Yes we do. Do we still see Judaizers, Gnostics, heretics, immorality? Yes we do. Are there more these days perhaps? We have the Universalist, Emergent's, and Unitarians to add to the list. So, are there false teachers today? I would dare say yes. But, while one could talk and write about that all day, the more pertinent piece here is not in false teachings, rather the nine questions asked early. Can you answer them?
Therefore let us move beyond the elementary teachings about Christ and be taken forward to maturity, not laying again the foundation of repentance from acts that lead to death, and of faith in God.
What was the author of Hebrews talking about when he wrote this passage? Let us first understand the contexts of the letter. The author was writing to a church that was mostly if not completely made up of Jewish converts. This was a time of persecution and in fear, some may have been reverting to old Jewish ways in order to hide. The author was trying to open their eyes, to help them stay strong in their faith in the Lord Jesus.
There are many commentaries with varying perspectives on Hebrews and especially on chapter six. We could draw a parallel between Hebrews chapter six and Isaiah 53. For the Jews, Isaiah 53 has been very problematic because this passage clearly speaks of Jesus. One explanation Jewish theologians have offered is that there were two Isaiahs, and that the second half of Isaiah was written by someone else. Likewise, Hebrews six poses problems for some Christians. We really must move away from personal ideology, and fears and embrace the word of God in its entirety, not just those parts that we agree with or those parts that make us feel good. We must embrace the whole.
I've often heard Christians say, if one word in the bible is false, the whole bible is false. I have also heard them say that the bible does not contradict itself. Yet, in discussions with fellow Christians, they are more than willing to pick passages that contradict other passages in order to support their opinions. I must ask, which is it? I believe, Hebrews poses a problem with modern day Christian ideology. Think about the following questions and answer them?
1.That does it mean to move beyond the elementary teaching about Christ?
2.What does it mean to be taken forward into maturity?
3.What does it mean, not laying again the foundation of repentance and acts that lead to death and of faith in God?
Now let us throw in a couple more passages into the mix and ask some more relative questions.
1 Corinthians 3:1-3, Brothers and sisters, I could not address you as people who live by the Spirit but as people who are still worldly—mere infants in Christ. I gave you milk, not solid food, for you were not yet ready for it. Indeed, you are still not ready. You are still worldly. For since there is jealousy and quarreling among you, are you not worldly? Are you not acting like mere humans?.
Hebrews 5:12-13, In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God’s word all over again. You need milk, not solid food! Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness.
4.Why is Paul telling the believers in Corinth that they are still worldly?
5.That they are mere infants in their belief?
6.What does he mean by "I gave you milk"
7.Why does he tell them they are not ready.
8.What is going on in Hebrews that the author tells them they should be teachers but still need teaching, of the elementary truths?
9.Why does this author also tell them the need milk and not solid food?
Hebrews talks about believers who are falling away. Can a believer fall away? Apparently so. We see immorality, Judaizers heresies, and Gnostics in Hebrews, 1 Corinthians, 2 Corinthians, Galatians, Colossians, 1, 2, and 3 John, and Jude as being forces (False teachings) that can draw believers away. The believers in these churches were moving away from true doctrine and towards false teachings. Another point of reference is found in Hebrews 6:4-6
It is impossible for those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, who have shared in the Holy Spirit, who have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the coming age and who have fallen away, to be brought back to repentance.
This is a very strong message to those who are believers and continue in worldly ways, sinful ways and not God's ways, they risk "Falling away." Note the words, those who have been enlightened," and "who have tasted the heavenly gift," there is no ambiguity here, the author is talking about people who knew of and believed in Jesus. What's happening then. They are being led away for varying and different reasons. Some out of fear, others by false teachings. The bible tells us to beware of false teachings and false prophets as seen in Matt 7:15, 24:11, 24:24, 2 Peter 2:1 is very telling about the destructive nature of false teachers.
But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them—bringing swift destruction on themselves.
After 2000 years, do we still see persecution of Christians? Yes we do. Do we still see Judaizers, Gnostics, heretics, immorality? Yes we do. Are there more these days perhaps? We have the Universalist, Emergent's, and Unitarians to add to the list. So, are there false teachers today? I would dare say yes. But, while one could talk and write about that all day, the more pertinent piece here is not in false teachings, rather the nine questions asked early. Can you answer them?
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