Happy New Year!
In 2 Corinthians 13:5, Paul teaches that we need to examine our faith to see if it is in Christ. As followers and disciples of our Lord Jesus let us begin this new year by examining ourselves to see how much our faith has matured in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus. Jesus has said his family members are his disciples, those who know and obey his Father’s will. So how much have you matured in your knowledge in knowing your Father’s will and one is to listen to his Son. Jesus said that the truth he has given us will set us free if we know his truth from his teachings in the Bible. That is why he only called his disciples his friend because they sought to know Him and understand his teaching.
So, examine yourself and ask if you have matured in your understanding and knowledge of Jesus from when you first began walking with him as a disciple of his word or have you been a slow learner. In Hebrews it warns us not to be a slow learner or you will not mature.
Hebrews 5: 11 We have much to say about this, but itis hard to explain because you are slow to learn.12 In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God's word all over again. You need milk, not solid food! 13 Anyone who lives on milk, being still
an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness. 14 But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil.
This food is every word that Jesus said proceeds from the mouth of God which we have written for us in the Bible. Only those who constantly train themselves in God’s word will mature in knowing the righteousness of God to know what is good from evil. Those who do not constantly train themselves in God’s word will be slow in their understanding of the elementary truths of God and not mature. Hebrews tells us what these elementary truths are which we must train ourselves to understand as the foundation of truth to build upon to mature in Christ.
Hebrews 6: 1 Therefore let us leave the elementary teachings about Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again the foundation of repentance from acts that lead to death, and of faith in God, 2 instruction about baptisms, the laying
on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment.
There are 6 elementary truths that we must understand first to mature in Christ.
Biblically repentant from sins that leads to 2nd death. To know and understand what sins to God are and turn from it.
Biblically have true faith in God from his prophets and Jesus’ apostles’ teachings.
Biblically know the teachings about water baptisms, called by the Jews as ceremonial washing to convert to a new belief and the other baptism by the Holy Spirit which is to only one that will save you and know how to receive His baptism.
Biblical teaching of laying on of hands which is choosing and knowing who can be, overseers, pastors, deacons, teachers, or evangelist of the body of Christ.
Biblically know who, why and when those who have died will be resurrected in Christ.
Biblically knowing why, when and what God’s eternal judgment is.
When you look at these 6 elementary teachings churches have made their doctrinal statement of what they mean, and you find that their doctrinal statements are not all the same. If not the same, which is true to God so we can move on to maturing in his righteousness to know what is good from evil.
This responsibility will rest on Christ disciples who constantly train themselves in God’s word seeking the very heart and mind of Christ through the Holy Spirit teaching which begins by understanding these elementary teachings and not be a slow learner.
To be a child of God you must seek him with all your heart and personally know his will from his word and not depend on others to teach you but depend on the Holy Spirit to teach you.
Be someone Jesus can call his friend, be his disciple.
Ps. Glenn