On Unto Perfection  Hebrews 6:1-2KJV 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.  Hebrews 6:1-2 LVB  1.  Let us stop going over the same old ground again and again, always teaching those first lessons about Christ. Let us go on instead to other things and become mature in our understanding, as strong Christians ought to be. Surely we don't need to speak further about the foolishness of trying to be saved by being good, or about the necessity of faith in God;  2.  you don't need further instruction about baptism and spiritual gifts and the resurrection of the dead and eternal judgment.  Hebrews 6:1-2 SIM 1.  So, we should leave the basic things we learned about Christ and go on to more mature things. We should not lay again the foundation of turning away from dead human efforts, of believing in God,  2.  teaching about immersions, putting hands on people,  rising from death, and eternal judgment. Scripture is a sound basis for any instruction. I am especially fond of scriptures, which are indeed so simple and straightforward that only a great deal of study and discussion can mess them up. Consider the simple truth that is contained in the above scripture and then consider how many times we have read them and simply skipped over them searching for the ‘weightier’ message to be learned. In fact we all should be deeply challenged by the question this passage presents. The Living Bible states this scripture perhaps as clearly as any I have read so far. Let’s look again at what is says: Let us stop going over the same old ground again and again, always teaching those first lessons about Christ. Let us go on instead to other things and become mature in our understanding, as strong Christians ought to be. Surely we don't need to speak further about the foolishness of trying to be saved by being good, or about the necessity of faith in God; you don't need further instruction about baptism and spiritual gifts and the resurrection of the dead and eternal judgment. When was the last time you heard a sermon that was not going over the same old ground again and again? How many times have you heard the same old story again and again? Does it sometimes seem like the preacher has a revolving list of sermon topics and if you have been around for any length of time, you know the story as well as the preacher. Basically, what this scripture is saying is that while all of the points covered are important, they are still the basic fundamentals of our faith. If we are expecting to go on unto perfection we are going to need something stronger than these basic topics. Important as they are to our understanding and our faith. If we go back to the previous chapter in Hebrews we will see that the writer is referring to the church as being in a state of infancy and that is why these topics are being repeated again and again. Does this look like the church today? Hebrews 5:10-14 KJV Called of God an high priest after the order of Melchisedec.Of whom we have many things to say, and hard to be uttered, seeing ye are dull of hearing. 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.For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe.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. Hebrews 5:10-14 LVB For remember that God has chosen him to be a High Priest with the same rank as Melchizedek. There is much more I would like to say along these lines, but you don't seem to listen, so it's hard to make you understand. You have been Christians a long time now, and you ought to be teaching others, but instead you have dropped back to the place where you need someone to teach you all over again the very first principles in God's Word. You are like babies who can drink only milk, not old enough for solid food. And when a person is still living on milk it shows he isn't very far along in the Christian life, and doesn't know much about the difference between right and wrong. He is still a baby-Christian! You will never be able to eat solid spiritual food and understand the deeper things of God's Word until you become better Christians and learn right from wrong by practicing doing right. If we are honest with ourselves we would surely admit that the above scripture can very definitely apply to the church today. And not the congregation only, but the entire leadership. Consider again: You have been Christians a long time now, and you ought to be teaching others, but instead you have dropped back to the place where you need someone to teach you all over again the very first principles in God's Word. You are like babies who can drink only milk, not old enough for solid food. And when a person is still living on milk it shows he isn't very far along in the Christian life, and doesn't know much about the difference between right and wrong. He is still a baby-Christian! So what again are the fundamentals that are being preached over and over again? They were:  Surely we don't need to speak further about the foolishness of trying to be saved by being good, or about the necessity of faith in God; you don't need further instruction about baptism and spiritual gifts and the resurrection of the dead and eternal judgment. Honestly, when was the last time we have heard much in the way of teaching, which could not fall into the category of ‘Christian basics’? The above topics are certainly the basis for much of what is preached from pulpits, and is described basically as being ‘baby food’. Since we seem to think this is what we want to eat, then logically you could conclude that we are indeed babes, in need of milk and not strong spiritual food. How can we expect to go on unto perfection if we just keep going over and over the principles of our faith? I am certain that all born again Christians realize that we are saved by faith alone and that there is nothing we can do to earn our salvation regardless of how good our works may be. However, once you have received this basic revelation, it does not need to be the theme again and again for Sunday morning’s sermon. Unless of course we still have not gotten this basic principle of our faith. If that is the case you might wonder how many more years it is going to take for us to catch on. To my way of thinking, the challenge presented by these particular scriptures is the fact that we are continuing to repeat the same basic principles, which in themselves will not result in perfection or maturing.  So, what do you suppose this level of perfection is that is being alluded to in these scriptures. The Amplified NT in Heb. 7:11 could be helpful in clarifying this matter. It states: Now if perfection [that is, a perfect fellowship between God and the worshipper], ---------- I personally have not found any better definition of perfection than a state of perfect fellowship with God. Perhaps this is the state of maturity referred to in Eph. 4: 13 which reads as follows in the Amplified NT; [That it might develop] until we all attain oneness in the faith and in the comprehension of the full and accurate knowledge of the Son of God; that [we might arrive] at really mature manhood – the completeness of personality which is nothing less than the standard height of Christ’s own perfection – the measure of the stature of the fullness of the Christ, and the completeness found in Him.   As I put these thoughts on paper I can barely contain myself with the revelation of what this simple definition of perfection means to each of us individually and collectively as the Church. Imagine, being in a state of perfect fellowship with God! Now, we might well ask; "how does one come into this blessed state of perfect fellowship with God"? For a certainty it will not come through repeating again and again the basic fundamentals of our faith as some form of enlightened teaching. This little writing and simple scribe would not presume to have the answer to this question. I do however believe that this should stir us up to go on unto perfection and not be content to stay in the state of infancy we presently find ourselves. Another little writing of mine entitled "The Purpose of the Fivefold Ministry" does address some of the questions and challenges which are presented in this writing. However, I pray that none of us will be content with our present state regardless of how mature we might think ourselves to be. For as long as we fall short of a perfect fellowship with God we are missing the mark by a great long distance. Perhaps this is the blessed state the Apostle Paul was referring to in Phil. 3:12-  Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus.