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BASIC DOCTRINES
BASIC DOCTRINES OF THE CHRISTIAN FAITH (A basic discipleship course for the new Christian written and compiled by Lance Rowe)
INTRODUCTION
Heb 5:12-14
12 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.
13 For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe.
14 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.
(KJV)
The writer of the book of Hebrews had just censured those whom he had addressed, telling them that though they were at an age when they should be eating meat, they were such that still needed milk. He tells them that they need to get with the program and start eating meat. He says that they ought to be teachers, but they still behave as babes.
This seems to be a perpetual problem in the Church through the ages.
The commission Jesus gave to the disciples was to go and make disciples (teach all nations), teaching them to go and teach others the things which He had commanded them ("TEACHING THEM TO OBSERVE ALL THINGS WHATSOEVER I HAVE COMMANDED YOU"- He had just commanded them to go and teach.).
It was to be an ongoing thing. We make disciples, and then we teach them to make disciples.
In verse 12 of Hebrews 5, we see the "first principles of the oracles of God" are mentioned. In Hebrews chapter 6, we see the "first principles of the doctrine of Christ mentioned."
This is still one more of many proof texts one may use to prove the deity of Christ.
The words translated as oracles and doctrine both have their roots in the Greek word "logos", which means "Word". Jesus is the Word made flesh. In John 1:1 we see that the Word was in the beginning, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God!
So many people strive to discredit the Bible. But the Bible is the Word of God. The first principles of the Words of God are what we are saved in. We need to go beyond the first principles, and to go on to learn how to walk in the light of the Word and in its' Truth, so that we can teach others of the Truth.
This is the Way of all CREATION. The baby is born, and is in the world, yet knows how to do nothing other than survive by sucking on its' mothers' breast. But eventually the baby must learn to crawl, and then to walk, and somewhere along the line, to eat solid food. Soon the baby is no longer a baby, but matures into a child, then an adolescent, and then a young adult. Even as a child, that young one passes on knowledge to others who do not yet know what he or she has learned.
Too many Christians rarely get beyond the milk stage in their walk with Christ. This probably is more the fault of the parent or the shepherd who never encourages them to go on in life. According to the scripture, as long as we are on the milk of the Word, we are unskilled in the Word of righteousness.
Heb 6:1-2
1 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,
2 Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment.
He says that the reader must go on to "perfection"…this is a form of the same word that is used in Heb. 5:14, which is translated as "full age". It is time to "Grow up", and take some responsibility for your life!
Unfortunately, too many Christians don't even understand these basic doctrines. The purpose of this study is to examine these doctrines so that we may equip others to go on to maturity.
We are told that these basic principles are the Foundation of our faith. Remember that the word "doctrine" used here in Heb 6:1, is the Greek Logos, which means "Word". Jesus mentions His Word in relation to a foundation in Luke 6:
Luke 6:47-49
47 Whosoever cometh to me, and heareth my sayings (Greek "logos"), and doeth them, I will shew you to whom he is like:
48 He is like a man which built an house, and digged deep, and laid the foundation on a rock: and when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently upon that house, and could not shake it: for it was founded upon a rock.
49 But he that heareth, and doeth not, is like a man that without a foundation built
an house upon the earth; against which the stream did beat vehemently, and
immediately it fell; and the ruin of that house was great. (KJV)
Let us examine carefully these elements of the foundation of our faith in the light of Jesus' words, concerning them.
If you are blessed with the content of these studies, you may feel free to reproduce and use these studies in your own discipleship classes.
BEFORE WE PROCEED TO THE STUDY OF THE "FIRST PRINCIPLES OF OUR FAITH" AS OUTLINED IN HEBREWS 6:1-2, IT IS IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND THAT WE NEED TO ENGAGE IN A DAILY DIET OF THE WORD OF GOD. THE NEXT PAGE IS A STUDY THAT I BORROWED FROM A DISCIPLESHIP COURSE BY DR. EDWARD WATKE, JR., ENTITLED:
I Learn About My Bible
A STUDY OF BASICS FOR THE NEWLY SAVED, A WONDERFUL STUDY FOR THOSE WHO NEED TO
GROW IN THEIR WALK, AND BUILDING CHRIST-LIKE BELIEVERS WHO WILL BE REPRODUCERS
-- DR. EDWARD WATKE JR.
Revival In The Home Ministries)
LESSON 1
LESSON 2
FAITH TOWARD GOD
LESSON 3
LESSON 4
LESSON 5
LESSON 6
BAPTISMS
LESSON 7
LESSON 8
LESSON 9
RESURRECTION OF THE DEAD
2 THES 2: "HE WHO WILL LET"
THE JUDGEMENT
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