In Hebrews 6, verses 1 through 3, we see that the writer of Hebrews listed 6 principles that's foundational for every believer.
Hebrews 6:1-3 (NKJV) "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, of the doctrine of baptisms, of laying on of hands,
of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment. And this we will do if God permits."
Repentance from dead works.
Faith towards God.
Doctrine of baptisms.
Laying on of hands.
Resurrection of the dead.
Eternal judgment.
With "repentance from dead works," we need to identify what are these "dead works."
Sin. Sin is dead works.
Let's look at a Scriptural definition of dead works.
Ephesians 2:1-3 (NKJV) "And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air,
the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others."
Galatians 5:19-21 (NKJV) "Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions,
dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God."
Let's look at faith towards God.
Acts 3:19 (NKJV) "Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord..."
Repent means to turn and converted means to revert to God.
The first thing that happens is that there's a turning from sin, but after turning from sin, you have to turn to God. Otherwise, repentance is insufficient.
Placing faith on Christ is the same as turning towards God.
Why must we place faith on Christ?
In His expiatory (atoning) work on the cross, becoming our substitute for sin, and because He fulfilled all righteousness, we trust in what He alone accomplished on the cross and we're forgiven, and then we're given His righteousness, having been reconciled or brought back into favor with God (see John 19:30, Romans 3:22-26, 1 John 2:1-2, and 2 Corinthians 5:17-21).
Therefore.......
Ephesians 2:8-10 (NKJV) "For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast."
In Romans 5:1-2 (NKJV), Paul said "Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God."
Then there's the "doctrine of baptisms."
Notice that baptisms is in the plural which means that there's more than one baptism.
a. The baptism into the Body of Christ.
1 Corinthians 12:13 (NKJV) "For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free—and have all been made to drink into one Spirit."
This takes place after repentance from dead works and faith towards God. It's also known as "be born again" from John 3:3-7.
"Jesus answered and said to him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”
Nicodemus said to Him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?”
Jesus answered, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’
This is further explained in Titus 3:4-7.
"But when the kindness and the love of God our Savior toward man appeared, not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit,
whom He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior, that having been justified by His grace we should become heirs according to the hope of eternal life."
The baptism into the Body of Christ is the only baptism that could save.
b. water baptism.
Mark 16:16 (NKJV)
"He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned."
Water baptism cannot save a person from sin and the second death.
Remember the thief on the cross? He was never water baptized but he entered into paradise as the Lord Jesus promised.
Water baptism is a cleansing ritual based on the Jewish ritual called the Mikveh. The Mikveh is a ceremonial baptism or immersion cleansing ritual for purity. This was also known as John the Baptist's baptism of repentance (see Acts 19:1-3).
Apollos only knew the baptism of John in Acts 18:24-28.
This ritual is a public initiation rite to declare to the world three things.
You died, 2. you were buried, 3. you were raised from the dead. (see Romans 6:1-5).
Water baptism cannot save. If it could, then the death of the Lord Jesus wouldn't have been necessary. Peter gives us the reason behind water baptism.
1 Peter 3:18-21 (NKJV) "For Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive by the Spirit, by whom also He went and preached to the spirits in prison,
who formerly were disobedient, when once the Divine longsuffering waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared, in which a few, that is, eight souls, were saved through water.
There is also an antitype which now saves us—baptism (not the removal of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God), through the resurrection of Jesus Christ..."
The Lord Jesus commanded that new disciples that are made are to be baptized in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit (see Matthew 28:19-20).
c. The baptism into the Holy Spirit and fire.
Matthew 3:10-12 (NKJV) "And even now the ax is laid to the root of the trees. Therefore every tree which does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance,
but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.
His winnowing fan is in His hand, and He will thoroughly clean out His threshing floor, and gather His wheat into the barn; but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.”
There's a few interpretations but the one that makes perfect sense is a baptism of the Holy Spirit to be on fire for God.
We must also remember that on the day of Pentecost, after Christ rose from the dead, that the Holy Spirit came upon the believers in the upper room as cloven tongues of fire (see Acts 2:1-4).
Paul said we are to be "fervent in spirit." in Romans 12:11 (NKJV) "...not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord..."
The Lord Jesus said in Revelation 3:15-18 (NKJV) “I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth.
Because you say, I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing’—and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked— I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire,
that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see."
When you're on fire for God, you're not dead like the church at Sardis. They were not on fire for God like Philadelphia and Smyrna. These two churches were so on fire that they were persecuted.
The “refined by fire” is the fire of being under intense persecution. Paul, James, and Peter discussed having perseverance in Romans 5:1-5, James 1:1-8, and 2 Peter1:5-10.
If you're godly, you'll suffer persecution (see 2 Timothy 3:12).
Next time, we'll finish up with the laying on of hands, resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment.
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