LETUSGOON

LET US GO ON

Hebrews 6:1 Therefore LEAVING (not abandoning) 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. And this will we do, if God permit.

Most of us know quite a bit about these foundational doctrines of the Christian Faith. They are the PRINCIPLES which form the back bone of our Christian society. Without them, we have very little to build upon. Any group that fails to accept one or more of them as necessary blocks in their structure, soon finds themselves off on a siding somewhere-- going nowhere.

But, there is also something saddening about any group who readily accepts these foundational truths, and then feels that there is no need for anything else. They soon stagnate, and begin to smell characteristically with the odor of self-righteous piety, and tend to exclude all who do not agree exactly with their creeds. It contributes to religious bigotry, both collectively and individually.

The writer of the letter to the Hebrews is urging us to NOT CAMP PERMANENTLY around the basic principles of our relationship with Jesus, even though they are of VITAL IMPORTANCE. We MUST NOT LEAVE them out of our lives.

Neither should we neglect that which these principles are STEPPING STONES to bring us into. If we do neglect them, our Christian lives will be stunted and very incomplete. FOUNDATIONS are to be built upon-- not to be displayed with pride and satisfaction.

I Corinthians 3:11-15 For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if any man BUILD UPON this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is. If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.

Paul had as good a FOUNDATION as any man of his day. Philippians 3:4 Though I might also have confidence in the flesh. If any other man thinketh that he hath whereof he might trust in the flesh, I more: Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, [of] the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee; Concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless.

But, when Paul came to know Jesus, he knew that he could not rely on his earthly roots. Living for Jesus was an entirely "different ball game", to use the vernacular, and the rules were different. The life of Faith is to RELY ENTIRELY upon Jesus for the welfare of our soul, and our hope of Heaven. However, these experiences of Salvation are NOT AN END IN THEMSELVES, and must not be treated as such if we hope to have an effective Christian life. We must BUILD upon these experiences of Salvation.

II Peter 1:4-8 Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that BY THESE YE MIGHT BE PARTAKERS OF THE DIVINE NATURE, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. And BESIDE THIS, GIVING ALL DILIGENCE, add to your faith VIRTUE; and to virtue KNOWLEDGE; And to knowledge TEMPERANCE; and to temperance PATIENCE; and to patience GODLINESS; And to godliness BROTHERLY KINDNESS; and to brotherly kindness CHARITY. For if these things be in you, and abound, they make [you that ye shall] neither [be] BARREN NOR UNFRUITFUL IN THE KNOWLEDGE (epignosis--full discernment) OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST.

Brethren, these attributes are NOT A PART OF A PACKAGE SALVATION. They MUST BE ADDED after we come to know Jesus, and if we fail or neglect to add them, the cost will be higher than we can afford to pay. How sad it would be to approach the White Throne with ONLY a ticket to Heaven in our hand, when we COULD HAVE COME in garments shining with the ATTRIBUTES OF JESUS.

II Peter 1:9 But he that lacketh these things is BLIND, and CANNOT SEE afar off, and hath FORGOTTEN that he was purged from his old sins.

Paul was NOT striving for SALVATION when he wrote: Philippians 3:10-14 That I may KNOW (be sure of) him, and the POWER of his resurrection, and the FELLOWSHIP of his sufferings, being made CONFORMABLE unto his death; If BY ANY MEANS I might attain unto the resurrection (THE STANDING OUT FROM AMONG) of the dead. Not as though I had already attained, either were ALREADY PERFECT: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that (FULL SONSHIP) for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus. Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but [this] ONE THING [I do], forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I PRESS TOWARD the mark for the PRIZE of the HIGH CALLING of God in Christ Jesus.

"Let us GO ON TO PERFECTION" It means to come to COMPLETENESS in God. It means to experience ALL that Jesus died to provide for us here on earth. It means that we should IMBIBE THE VERY NATURE OF CHRIST-- from Him. There is no other place we can get it but from Him. Praying in the Spirit. Every day. Romans 8:13 -- but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.

God Bless!

Marion