Hebrews 5:12-14 “For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the first principles of the oracles of God; and you have come to need milk and not solid food. (13) For everyone who partakes only of milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, for he is a babe. (14) But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.”
Hebrews 6:1-2 “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, (2) of the doctrine of baptisms, of laying on of hands, of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment.”
In the above quoted passages of scripture the Holy Spirit reveals to us the first principles of the oracles of God. In other words these are the foundational doctrines to the Christian faith of which there are six, i.e. repentance from dead works, faith toward God, the doctrine of baptisms, laying on of hands, resurrection of the dead and eternal judgment. And so because these doctrines are foundational, every believer should have a clear understanding of each one of these doctrines and live by them. Those who have a clear understanding of these doctrines and who also live by them will have a sure foundation to their Christian faith and they will not be deceived by any false teachings that they may come across in their Christian walk. The above passage reveals to us that these doctrines are in fact the milk of God’s word and not solid food, thus implying that all new born believers should feed on these particular biblical truths. However even mature adults drink milk as part of their natural diet, and in the spirit that principle remains the same. And so it is good for mature believers to also revisit the foundational principles of the Christian faith from time to time to ensure that their foundations remain solid.
Michael E.B. Maher
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