Laying Again the Foundation!

Laying Again the Foundation!

“Therefore, 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 . . . .” Heb. 6:1.

It happens over and over again when we speak about obedience, about doing God’s will and working out your salvation, that many people call out, “Bondage! Works of the law! We cannot do anything in our own strength!” By doing this they also call out that they are not grounded in the elementary principles of Christ. They are unskilled in the word of righteousness and are just children. Ch. 5:13. Such people cannot go on to perfection.

Dead works are works of the law. There is no development in that. The law imposed on them what they should do. They were to keep the law, and if they did that, they had a good conscience. Growth was not even an option. They were not born again and had not received the Holy Spirit.

Jesus came with the gospel “full of grace and truth.” Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us so “that the blessing of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.” Gal. 3:13-14.

Now they could receive the Spirit through the preaching of faith. Gal. 3:2. They could be born of water and the Spirit; they could be born again. John 3:3-6. Instead of the law imposing various works on us which we had to do in our own strength, we have now received the Spirit who guides us into all truth and gives us power to live the truth, if we believe. John 16:13-14; Acts 1:8.

These are the elementary principles of Christ, the first principles of the oracles of God. Heb. 5:12. It is impossible to go on to perfection before we have received this as a foundation in our life. If you do not have this foundation, and if you then hear about God’s will, you will right away think that more works of the law are being imposed on you, and since you are not in faith you will think that it is impossible to do them. Then you can hear it being said, “This isn’t necessary, is it; this isn’t sin, is it? We are only human; we cannot possibly be perfect,” etc.

From this you can hear that they consider everything works of the law and that they reckon only with their own strength. They have not come to faith. For them it is best to hear about the forgiveness of sins over and over again. It is not possible for them to go on to perfection.

However, for those who have received the Spirit and are grounded in faith, it is a delight to hear about God’s will—being led into all truth. Therefore we read that those who labor among us are the ones who exhort. 1 Thess. 5:12. We are also to exhort each other when we come together. 1 Thess. 5:11; Heb. 10:24-25. Paul preached Jesus in such a way that he exhorted every man. Col. 1:28. Exhortation—not making fine speeches—was the apostolic ministry. Acts 20:31; 2 Pet. 1:5-15.

The religious leaders and assemblies of our days have departed considerably from the apostolic practice. Now we live in the times the apostles foresaw, “When they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables.” 2 Tim. 4:3-4.

However, even in these last, dark times God gives His grace to the upright, and we have to rejoice greatly over the revival that goes over our land and over many lands in Europe—a revival to faith working through love. We see how one after another is waking up and receiving faith for an overcoming life, and how they love God’s commandments and to be exhorted. The glorious fruit of all this is the sincere fellowship we have with one another.