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Ring of Truth provides 366 daily ‘proofs’ that the Bible is consistent throughout from Genesis to Revelation, and relevant for our lives today!
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Hebrews 6:1-3
“Therefore let us leave the elementary teachings about Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again the foundation of repentance from acts that lead to death, and of faith in God, instruction about baptisms, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgement. And God permitting, we will do so.”
Grow up.
This is a constant theme in the Bible – it’s a ‘Ring of Truth’! It comes from the premise that Christianity is a relationship, not a religion; it’s a lifestyle, not a set of rules. One of our problems is that we ‘get saved’ and stay there.
I am becoming more and more convinced that we should set up a ‘Discipleship Track’ in our churches, which will enable people to move from being a seeker to becoming a fully devoted follower of Jesus Christ. Certainly programmes like Alpha assist with this but a fully developed programme should be established.
Isn’t that too formal and legalistic? No, I don’t think so. One of our problems today is that many of us don’t take Christianity seriously enough. We don’t grow up. We have our ‘Travel to Heaven – Insurance Policy’, file it away and sit back and wait for Christ to come and get us or for us to die first.
As I look back, I can think of one of the ‘leaders’ I had as a young teenager. He constantly talked of his dramatic conversion – but little changed after it. It was the same story even after 10, 15, 20 or more years. He didn’t grow up or move on. The trouble is that if we don’t, it is then that we tend to become legalistic and critical. But we cannot move on unless we have firmly laid the right foundations.
That is why I have chosen these verses. Not only do we not move on, but we don’t even cover the issues mentioned here. I only know one Church that actually has a programme based upon these subjects, but shouldn’t every church teach them.
How can we move on if we haven’t even covered the basics?
“Repentance from acts that lead to death.” So much of our Gospel is to make people feel better. We don’t like talking about repentance because it produces feelings of guilt or a ‘holier than you’ attitude so ‘they’ will be turned off and away. We must avoid confrontation at any cost. But you cannot move on without having covered it. Peter said at Pentecost, “Repent and be baptised, everyone of you…” (see Acts 2:38). Repentance means being truly sorry and NOT going that way again.
“Faith in God.” Trust in all circumstances even when they all appear to be going wrong. No, don’t teach that – tell people, Christianity is good and prosperous – otherwise why would they want it? (see Hebrews 11:6)
“Instructions about baptisms.” Water and Spirit. Oh, we will accept Christ. But Water Baptism is embarrassing and what does it do for me? Spirit Baptism – Oh no, that’s far too scary and I may ‘lose control’ to God (see Luke 3:15-16).
“Laying on of hands.” I don’t need that. I just do what God wants me to do. I don’t need to be accountable to anyone else or receive commissioning from my church leaders (see Acts 13:1-3 & 1 Timothy 5:22).
“The resurrection of the dead.” Of course, we all will eventually but I’m kind of busy with my life just now. Anyway, I have to die first (see 1 Corinthians 15).
“Eternal judgement.” I’ll miss that, I’m O.K. But will I? (see Hebrews 9:27; Romans 14:10 & 2 Corinthians 5:10)
Wait a minute – what do each of those mean?
Maybe you should find out before you move on? (see 2 Timothy 2:15)
Will you take the time?
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