Let Us Go On to Maturity

Let us go on to maturity (Hebrews 6: 1) is the goal of the Lord Jesus for the Church that He is building (Matthew 16:18). Maturity is not an instant process for those born by faith into the kingdom of God. Just as individuals must go through elementary school to advance to higher learning, believers must learn the elementary principles of Christ before they can go on to maturity in Christ. The Holy Spirit gives us those elementary principles in Hebrews 6: 1, 2 and they are six in number.

In life we don’t want to have to keep learning the same lesson over and over. We want to go on to learning other things. For example, we don’t want one year of experience forty times; we want forty years of experience. Regretfully many people of the world and many people of the church fall into the category of one year of experience forty times. The word expresses it this way, ever learning and never coming to the truth (2 Timothy 3:7). In many ways this describes most parts of the church at the present time. It is not just a condition of those in the pews; it is a condition of those in the pulpits. Actually the state of those in the pews is largely the responsibility of those in the pulpits.

Don’t get defensive or angry! I loved my first grade teacher, but she would not have qualified as an upper grade or college level teacher. I once knew someone that taught math in a university and was very good at it. This person decided to pursue another degree in mathematics and ran into a course that caused much stress and consternation.  It was beyond present capability. It is sad to say, but the six elementary doctrines that one must be rightly proficient in before going onto maturity in Christ are beyond the present capability of most preachers in the body of Christ.

The six elementary principles of Christ are: repentance from dead works, faith toward God, the doctrine of baptisms, laying on of hands, resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment. If you as a believer want to become mature in Christ you must first learn these six principles and I am not talking about memorizing them. They must become a true and vital part of your life.

I must caution you that it will be near impossible to find a minister and a church that at present is functioning in these six elementary principles in word, truth and deed. It is great proof of the need for spiritual restoration of the church. Don’t become discouraged! Instead become founded in the six elementary principles, then go on to maturity and teach others the basics (Hebrews 5:12) and lead them to maturity. Let us go on to maturity!