Going Beyond The Basics

Christ came as our high priest and offered the sacrifice for our sins so that we could be saved.  Hebrews 5:4-11 tells us, “And no man taketh this honour unto himself, but he that is called of God, as was Aaron.  So also Christ glorified not himself to be made an high priest; but he that said unto him, Thou art my Son, today have I begotten thee.  Who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared; Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered; And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him; Called of God an high priest after the order of Melchisedec.  Of whom we have many things to say, and hard to be uttered, seeing ye are dull of hearing.”

Though he was God’s own son, Christ was also a human, with all the natural instincts and temptations of other humans.  Like us, he had to learn to let his Godly or spiritual nature have control even when he feared the physical pain.  Unlike us, he never yielded to the temptations and thus was qualified to be our savior.  However salvation is only the first step in learning to please God, somewhat like Israel leaving Egypt after Pharaoh ordered them to leave.  They still had a lot to learn about what God wanted and what he was offering in exchange.  Unfortunately many of them were not concerned with anything but ending the suffering as slaves, and didn’t listen to what God was trying to show them, and many people today are no different, interested only in relief of their immediate problems, and not concerned about the rest of what is offered.  

Some of the Israelites had followed Moses leadership and seen God’s miracles for almost forty years, and yet were nto ready to teach their own children how to follow the Lord.  Unfortunately there are people in the church who have been there for there for years and are are just as unprepared to teach others because they have never learned for themselves.  Hebrews 5:12-14 addresses this subject.  “For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat.  For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe.  But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.”  Though they have been in the church they have never grown strong enough to obey God when temptation or trials come. 

In the Great Commission of Matthew 28:19-20, Jesus commanded, “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.”  The book of Exodus provides an excellent illustration or allegory of what Jesus was commanding the Church.    We are to go and teach (disciple or cause to become followers of Christ) all nations, spiritually bringing them out of Egypt,  We are to baptize(immerse) them in the name of the Father, the son, and the Holy Spirit, literally immersing them in who God, Christ and The Holy Spirit are rather than simply dipping them in the water and saying “in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost,” just as Moses led the people through the Red Sea.  Finally, we are to teach them all things God has commanded, just as Moses taught the people at Mount Sinai, and for the next forty years in the wilderness. 

If we are to fulfill the Great Commission, we must Go beyond the basic Doctrine about what is required for salvation, as Hebrews 6:1-3 states.  “Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God, Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment.   And this will we do, if God permit.” 

It is pointless to keep teaching those who have understood what salvation requires how to be saved.  If they are already saved, they do not need to get saved again, and if they are not, they already know how to be.  Hebrews 6:4-8 tells us, “For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame.  For the earth which drinketh in the rain that cometh oft upon it, and bringeth forth herbs meet for them by whom it is dressed, receiveth blessing from God: But that which beareth thorns and briers is rejected, and is nigh unto cursing; whose end is to be burned.” 

The Israelites who came out of Egypt that didn’t believe experienced the same miracles and blessings as those who did, and could have believed at any time.  When they finally refused to follow any farther, insisting on returning to Egypt, they died in the wilderness.  Similarly, there are those in the church who have just gone along with the rest of the church, experiencing the blessings God has given, but when they turn away and reject God’s leadership there is no longer any hope of reaching them because they have in effect said what God promised was not good enough and they want a God to them a special deal.   

We can go on to teach other things than the basics of what is needed for salvation because we believe I Peter 1:5 when it says we “…are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.”  We don’t expect those who have been saved to go back into sin, as Hebrews 6:9-12 says.  “But, beloved, we are persuaded better things of you, and things that accompany salvation, though we thus speak.  For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have showed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister.  And we desire that every one of you do show the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end: That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises.”  Instead of trying to keep them from sinning, we can concentrate on teaching them to follow Christ.  To please God, we must go beyond the basics.