Therefore, you ought to be capable of comprehending the higher doctrines of The Faith; since those doctrines are adapted to those who have been for a considerable time professors of Christianity, and have had opportunities of growing in knowledge and grace-as much as strong meat is for those of mature years-leave now the fundamentals of Christian doctrine, and go on to understand its higher mysteries. The idea is that to those who had so long been acquainted with the way of salvation, the fundamentals of Christianity were no more adapted than milk was for grown persons. Leaving. Dismissing; intermitting; passing by the consideration of, with a view to advance to something higher. The apostle refers to his discussion of the subject, and to their condition. He wished to go on to the contemplation of the ribs, that is, perfection, the higher, complex doctrines, and he desired that they should no longer linger around the mere fundamentals. That they advance to a higher state of knowledge than the mere fundamentals of the subject. The principles. The word of the beginning of Christ. Let us leave the doctrine pertaining to the beginning of a Christian man. Let us leave the doctrine pertaining to the beginning of a Christian life. The reference is to what he regarded as the very fundamentals of the Christian doctrine; and the meaning is, Let us no longer linger here. We should go on to higher attainments. We should wholly understand the fundamentals. We should discuss and receive its great principles. You have been long enough converted to understand these; but you linger among the very elementary truths. Nevertheless, you cannot remain here. You must either advance or recede; and if you do not go forward, you will go back into entire apostasy. The apostle here, therefore, does not refer to his discussion of the points under consideration as the main thing, but to their state as one of danger; and in writing to them he was not content to discuss the fundamentals as being alone fitted to their condition, but would have them make higher attainments, and advance to the more elevated doctrines of The Word of God. 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, of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment.
Heb 6:1-3

A lot of today’s preaching is that of not going onto perfection. It has been spoken, “all that matters are the fundamentals of the faith”, but this is not so! This warning in Hebrews is that of backsliding, do to the lack of leaving the principles of the faith. A Christian cannot live on the milk alone! It has been said that the rib issues do not matter. Rib issues being perfection, yet we are told in scripture that the rib issues do matter, that we must leave the fundamentals if we are to go onto perfection. If we do not leave the elementary truths, our fate is that of backsliding. What is the state of one being in danger of backsliding? It is the mindset, which thinks that the ribs issues do not matter. And only considers the fundamentals of the faith important. Be not deceived! Be not content with the fundamentals of the faith as being alone fitted to the condition of many today, but make higher attainments, and advance to the more elevated teachings of the faith, move unto perfection. When churches only unite on the fundamentals of the faith. There you will find a lack of moving unto that which we are called, a lack of moving unto perfection.

Commentary by Marcus
Posted on: 8/8/2008 06:56 am