ABC1

HEBREWS 5: 12 � 6: 2

v.12 � The FIRST PRINCIPLES

principle / n.
a fundamental truth or law as the basis of reasoning or action

v.13 � The �milk� is the first principles of the gospel � the foundation � the basis of all further reasoning and action. The building doesn�t end with the foundation � Jesus said, �I will build My church�. Where? On the foundation of the first principles � when we apply the Truth of God�s Word in our lives � the Truth of the Word of Righteousness � the Word that declares that we have become the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus. When that foundation is laid in our lives we can go on and do the same works that Jesus did. Jesus came to do the �meat�.

�My meat is to do the will of Him who sent Me, and to finish His work� � John 4: 34

v.14 � It is essential to press on to MATURITY � if you don�t go forward you will go back � there is nothing sadder than seeing an adult who still behaves like a child; or there would be nothing more ludicrous than to see an older child or an adult still being breast-fed. Likewise spiritually, there is nothing sadder than to see a �Christian� who has never moved on in their knowledge of God, but is still coming back for more �milk�, and can�t handle chewing and meditating on the �meat� � who doesn�t experience anything of the fullness of God�s provision in salvation, healing, and deliverance.

6: 1 � �Therefore, leaving the discussion of the elementary principles of Christ, let us go on to maturity, not laying again the foundation...�

elementary / adj.
1 (a) dealing with or arising from the simplest facts of a subject; rudimentary, introductory (b) simple
There is no room for discussion or debate relating to the first or elementary principles � the ABC�s of the Gospel!

So, what are the ABC�s of the Gospel?

A. Repentance from Dead Works and Faith towards God

The first word of the Gospel is �repent�. Repentance is a decision that results in a change of mind, which in turn leads to a change of purpose and action. Repentance is a 180-degree turn-around � it is the recognition that �my way� doesn�t work, it is the abandonment of self-government, and it prepares the way for the Lordship of Jesus Christ in our lives. Without repentance and the abandonment of the old, the new cannot come. Repentance is not just saying, �I am sorry� � it is saying, �I have changed�. Repentance is the very first, most basic and elementary principle of the Gospel.

However, repentance is only one half of the first step. The second word of the Gospel is �believe�. When we believe we exercise faith towards God. To �believe� means �to trust in, to have faith in, to be fully convinced of, to acknowledge, to rely on. To believe is to have a personal trust that produces obedience. It includes submission and a positive confession of the Lordship of Jesus Christ.

Every relationship must have TRUST � it is a fundamental, basic, elementary principle for a healthy relationship. Faith is �conviction, confidence, trust, belief, reliance, and persuasion�. Faith relies and trusts completely in what God says in His Word. Faith is �the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen�.

Repentance deals with and forsakes INDEPENDENCE; Faith towards God brings us to a place of DEPENDENCE upon Him.

Repentance from dead works and faith towards God is the most fundamental, basic, and elementary principle of salvation. It is impossible to be saved without applying this principle in our lives. But it is also the basic, elementary principle upon which we should build � continuing to exercise faith in God for the fulfilment of ALL of His promises in our lives and the receipt of ALL of His provision for our lives.

Tragically, many people never even fully develop the A of the ABC�s of the Gospel, and revert back to dead works � to their own ingenuity � rather than exercising total faith and trust in God to faithfully supply their every need. They never go digging in God�s Word to HEAR what God has to say about the problems they are facing and so faith can�t come, because �Faith comes by hearing and hearing and hearing and hearing the word of God� - Romans 10: 17.

However, when we allow the foundation of the A of the gospel to be fully laid in our lives we can then go on to build on it � to develop faith in and for every area of our lives, having repented from and forsaken dead works.

For example, �worry� is a dead work. Jesus said that you can�t add anything to your life through worry. Although you might spend a lot of time and energy in the work of �worrying� it adds nothing to you � it is a �dead work� (See Matthew 6: 25 � 34). When we �seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness (right -standing with God through faith which comes by hearing, believing, and applying His Word)� - when we are anxious for nothing, but rather giving thanks in every situation (faith always gives thanks before it receives, believing that it has already received), then all of our needs are met and supplied from kingdom resources through Christ Jesus! Whatever we retain under our own control and authority in any area of our lives will result in �dead works�, and will hinder the supply of God from reaching us!