Table of Contents
Introduction to the Basics
If a disciple of Jesus Christ is going to whether any storm, he or she needs a firm foundation on which to stand. Without that foundation, there is no stability. It’s important to grow deep roots, and it all begins with the basics. Some might be surprised what the Bible calls elementary principles.
Without those fundamental principles, it can prove difficult to grasp weightier things of the Word. Some things people consider to be deep teachings, actually fall under the elementary category.
Hebrews 5:12-14 For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you have need again for someone to teach you the elementary principles of the oracles of God, and you have come to need milk and not solid food. For everyone who partakes only of milk is not accustomed to the word of righteousness, for he is an infant. But solid food is for the mature, who because of practice have their senses trained to discern good and evil.
There are Christians who have been saved for a long time, but still fall under the category of novice. They have not grown to maturity. Some is due to lack of discipleship. Whatever the reason, they haven’t grown. This series on the basics may challenge some, and we all should accept the challenge to grow, regardless of where we may fall on the maturity spectrum. To be absolutely frank: many of us need to get caught up, now more than ever. Truth is a prerequisite for the times in which we live!
I. n terms of the basics, we’ll start with Hebrews 6:1-3, and then expand from there.
What are the Basics?
Hebrews 6:1-3 Therefore leaving the principles (elementary teachings) of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection (maturity); 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.
This passage of Scripture lists five things that are considered elementary teaching: repentance from dead works; faith toward God; the doctrine of baptisms; the laying of hands; the resurrection of the dead, eternal judgment.
Instead of doing a cursory overview, let’s drill down in each one.
Basic #1: Repentance from Dead Works
What exactly does repentance mean? In the New Testament, it comes from the Greek word, METANOIA (Strong’s number: 3341), pronounced met-an’-oy-ah: afterthought (noun). Hence, a change of mind. Of course, the mind is where the faculty of moral reflection is located. This change of mind is always positive -from evil to good. It does not merely reflect agony of the mind, or regret. This word is derived from another, which involves regret: to repent, which is the verb counterpart.
What does is it mean to repent? Here’s the definition: METANOEŌ (Strong’s 3340), pronounced, met-an-o-eh’-o: to perceive afterwards. Hence, to change one’s mind and purpose, or to think differently. Again, this change is always for the better, and denotes a change of moral thought and contemplation. It involves regret and sorrow, accompanied by a true change toward God. It does include abhorrence or hatred of one’s past sins.
We can get a sense of this from 2 Corinthians 7:10: For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.
In the Old Testament (Hebrew), to repent carries a little different meaning than the Greek. SHUWB (Strong’s 7725), pronounced, shoob, is a primary verb that means to turn back; hence, to turn away. It can, but does not necessarily mean return to the starting point. The basic idea of this word is turning back, or retracing one’s steps in order to turn to the right way.
It carries numerous renderings. One of which is turn, as found in 2 Chronicles 7:14. This is where some have defined repentance as a change of direction. You’re going one way, then you turn and go the opposite direction.
One major difference between the Greek and the Hebrew, is that in the Old Testament, it is pointed more toward a nation (Israel in most cases); whereas, the New Testament points to the individual.
Coming from the Latin side of the house, RESIPISCO, it means to recover one’s senses, or come to a right understanding.
To repent means to reform, or to have a genuine change of heart. It is important to emphasize that repentance goes beyond forsaking sin. To be clear, one of the reasons people have difficulty forsaking sin is because their view toward it hasn’t changed. The way you think greatly influences your behavior, which means repentance is not mere behavior modification. Notwithstanding, behavior does change as the result of repentance. Just because someone stops doing something, doesn’t mean the desire no longer exists. Can you say, “white knuckle?”
Acts 3:19 Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord.
The word, convert, means to turn one’s self about, or turn back. In one sense, it means to turn to the worship of the true God. It also means to return, to bring back to the love and obedience of God. It is also rendered as turn.
1 Thessalonians 1:9-10 For they themselves shew of us what manner of entering in we had unto you, and how ye turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God; And to wait for His Son from heaven, Whom He raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come.
Jesus sent Paul to the Gentiles, “To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith” (Acts 26:18).
That’s the definition of repentance and to repent. What are dead works? In short, they are religious acts not born of the Spirit and faith. They are sinful or carnal, and bear no fruit. It often refers to external rituals, in which is no life. Since they are not born of faith, they cannot please God. Part of repentance, is simply doing things God’s way, while forsaking the old carnal nature.
Dead works are based on unbelief, in which there is no peace. For some, the motivation is fear in the unhealthy sense. Repentance brings people to a place of rest, where they no longer self-reliant, or self-righteous for that matter. Anything outside of Jesus constitutes dead works.
Hebrews 4:9-11 There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God. For he that is entered into His rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from His.
Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief.
Introduction to the Basics
If a disciple of Jesus Christ is going to weather any storm, he or she needs a firm foundation on which to stand. Without that foundation, there is no stability. It’s important to grow deep roots, and it all begins with the basics. Some might be surprised what the Bible calls elementary principles.
Without those fundamental principles, it can prove difficult to grasp weightier things of the Word. Some things people consider to be deep teachings, actually fall under the elementary category.
Hebrews 5:12-14 For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you have need again for someone to teach you the elementary principles of the oracles of God, and you have come to need milk and not solid food. For everyone who partakes only of milk is not accustomed to the word of righteousness, for he is an infant. But solid food is for the mature, who because of practice have their senses trained to discern good and evil.
There are Christians who have been saved for a long time, but still fall under the category of novice. They have not grown to maturity. Some is due to lack of discipleship. Whatever the reason, they haven’t grown. This series on the basics may challenge some, and we all should accept the challenge to grow, regardless of where we may fall on the maturity spectrum. To be absolutely frank: many of us need to get caught up, now more than ever. Truth is a prerequisite for the times in which we live!
In terms of the basics, we’ll start with Hebrews 6:1-3, and then expand from there.
What are the Basics?
Hebrews 6:1-3 Therefore leaving the principles (elementary teachings) of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection (maturity); 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.
This passage of Scripture lists six things that are considered elementary teaching: repentance from dead works; faith toward God; the doctrine of baptisms; the laying of hands, and the resurrection of the dead.
Instead of doing a cursory overview, let’s drill down in each one.
Basic #1: Repentance from Dead Works
What exactly does repentance mean? In the New Testament, it comes from the Greek word, METANOIA (Strong’s number: 3341), pronounced met-an’-oy-ah: afterthought (noun). Hence, a change of mind. Of course, the mind is where the faculty of moral reflection is located. This change of mind is always positive -from evil to good. It does not merely reflect agony of the mind, or regret. This word is derived from another, which involves regret: to repent, which is the verb counterpart.
What does is it mean to repent? Here’s the definition: METANOEŌ (Strong’s 3340), pronounced, met-an-o-eh’-o: to perceive afterwards. Hence, to change one’s mind and purpose, or to think differently. Again, this change is usually for the better, and denotes a change of moral thought and contemplation. It involves regret and sorrow, accompanied by a true change toward God. It does include abhorrence or hatred of one’s past sins.
We can get a sense of this from 2 Corinthians 7:10: For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.
In the Old Testament (Hebrew), to repent carries a little different meaning than the Greek. SHUWB (Strong’s 7725), pronounced, shoob, is a primary verb that means to turn back; hence, to turn away. It can, but does not necessarily mean return to the starting point. The basic idea of this word is turning back, or retracing one’s steps in order to turn to the right way.
It carries numerous renderings. One of which is turn, as found in 2 Chronicles 7:14. This is where some have defined repentance as a change of direction. You’re going one way, then you turn and go the opposite direction.
One major difference between the Greek and the Hebrew, is that in the Old Testament, it is pointed more toward a nation (Israel in most cases); whereas, the New Testament points to the individual. To be clear, the Hebrew definitely has the individual application as in Ezekiel 33:1-20, but we see more examples on a national level.
Coming from the Latin side of the house, RESIPISCO, it means to recover one’s senses, or come to a right understanding.
To repent means to reform, or to have a genuine change of heart. It is important to emphasize that repentance goes beyond forsaking sin. To be clear, one of the reasons people have difficulty forsaking sin is because their view toward it hasn’t changed. The way you think greatly influences your behavior, which means repentance is not mere behavior modification. Notwithstanding, behavior does change as the result of repentance. Just because someone stops doing something, doesn’t mean the desire no longer exists. Can you say, “white knuckle?”
Acts 3:19 Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord.
The word, convert, means to turn one’s self about, or turn back. In one sense, it means to turn to the worship of the true God. It also means to return, to bring back to the love and obedience of God. It is also rendered as turn.
1 Thessalonians 1:9-10 For they themselves shew of us what manner of entering in we had unto you, and how ye turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God; And to wait for His Son from heaven, Whom He raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come.
Jesus sent Paul to the Gentiles, “To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith” (Acts 26:18).
That’s the definition of repentance and to repent. What are dead works? In short, they are religious acts not born of the Spirit and faith. They are sinful or carnal, and bear no fruit. It often refers to external rituals, in which is no life. Since they are not born of faith, they cannot please God. Part of repentance, is simply doing things God’s way, while forsaking the old carnal nature.
Dead works are based on unbelief, in which there is no peace. For some, the motivation is fear in the unhealthy sense. Repentance brings people to a place of rest, where they no longer self-reliant, or self-righteous for that matter. Anything outside of Jesus constitutes dead works.
Hebrews 4:9-11 There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God. For he that is entered into His rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from His.
Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief.
Lord willing, next installment will cover faith toward God.
Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief.
Lord willing, next installment will cover faith toward God.
