The Elementary Doctrine Of Christ

What this episode covers

Native Americans have a practice of planning for their future with the seventh generation in mind. In other words, tribal leaders expect their actions to impact their people for the next 150 years. Not only do they keep future generations in mind, but they also reflect upon past generations with gratitude. Considering the fact that God “has put eternity into man’s heart” (Eccl. 3:10), it is natural to desire to have an enduring impact. The reformed catechisms have passed on a robust articulation of our faith for more than twenty generations. We should look back with gratitude at the contribution these catechisms made upon our reformed faith. Unfortunately, our catechisms are becoming increasingly foreign in the same denominations that produced and maintained their use for so long. Sales of the Westminster Shorter Catechism have been in sharp decline for more than a century. Needless to say, this has been accompanied by a sharp decline in doctrinal knowledge. Mainline Presbyterians no longer believe what their Standards teach. In the midst of arguing that Jesus is a high priest after the order of Melchizedek, the author of Hebrews pauses to warn his audience against apostasy. He charged his audience with lazy listening. Instead of being able to teach others, they were still in need of learning the basic principles of the Christian faith. They had not made any progress in their faith. Instead of reteaching them the elementary doctrine of Christ, he reminds them of the categories that they should already be familiar with. He challenges them to leave these and go on to maturity (Heb 6:1a). The foundation of these basic principles have already been laid out for them in the past. It is time for them to mature beyond them. The very nature of a foundation is that it remains in place. You do not have to keep laying the foundation over and over again. That doesn’t mean you ignore the foundation, or assume it’s already there in every case. However, it does mean that you must go beyond it and begin building upon the foundation some additional structural components (1 Cor 3:10). Or, as he said in the previous section, there is a time to shift from milk to solid food (Heb 5:12-13). The author lists six “elementary” doctrines that essentially provide an outline of Christian beliefs. John Calvin speculated that these doctrines constituted an early church catechism. At the very least, this list represents elements found in the preaching and practice of the early church throughout the book of Acts. And the subjects were meant to spur someone toward perseverance. The average believer is stuck at an elementary level of understanding with little motivation to advance. Once the foundation of our faith is established, we must build upon that knowledge. Read Hebrews 6:1-3. Basic Soteriology (1) Soteriology is the doctrine of salvation. Every true believer begins by receiving the gift of repentance and faith. This is the most crucial part of their pastjustification. Repentance from dead works — His audience already knew that God had called them to turn away from their sins. “Dead works” refers to any sinful approach to God (Heb 9:14). Doing anything contrary to his will. Every sinner deserves death and unbelievers are dead in their sins, incapable of pleasing God (Eph 2:1). They needed to repent of all the ways in which they had fallen short, even where they relied upon their outward obedience for salvation. Repentance involves a transformation. We experience a change of mine. We turn away from our sinful independence acknowledging our need for a Savior. This requires that we have a true sense of our sin, as well as an apprehension of the mercy of God that is held out to us in Christ (WSC 87). Faith toward God — Faith is best defined as receiving and resting in the promise and power of God to save us through the gospel of his Son. We cannot rightly approach God the Father apart from God the Son. Faith goes h

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