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The objective of this lesson: to focus on the role of repentance in a maturing Christian's journey toward God.
To say God's purpose is completed, fully achieved in us through baptism into Christ is similar to saying that our purpose in a child born into our family is completed, fully achieved, when his/her birth occurs. In both instances, birth marks the beginning of purpose, not the completion of purpose. Consider Hebrews 6:1-8:
There is a real parallel between spiritual birth into Christ and physical birth into a family. Both mark the point of beginning. In both, a loving father seeks maturity for the infant.
Therefore leaving the elementary teaching about the Christ, let us press on to maturity, not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God, of instruction about washings and laying on of hands, and the resurrection of the dead and eternal judgment. And this we will do, if God permits. For in the case of those who have once been enlightened and have tasted of the heavenly gift and have been made partakers of the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come, and then have fallen away, it is impossible to renew them again to repentance, since they again crucify to themselves the Son of God and put Him to open shame. For ground that drinks the rain which often falls on it and brings forth vegetation useful to those for whose sake it is also tilled, receives a blessing from God; but if it yields thorns and thistles, it is worthless and close to being cursed, and it ends up being burned.
Please remember the New Testament epistles first existed as letters without chapter and verse divisions. [Verse divisions are a "modern" way of dividing the text into reference points. The Hebrew Bible we call The Old Testament was divided into 23,100 verses around A.D. 900. The division of the Hebrew Bible into chapters likely did not occur until about A.D. 1244. The first English translation of the Bible using verses throughout was the Geneva Bible.] This is called to your attention for a specific reason. A reader today might begin with Hebrews 6:1 with little or no consciousness of 5:12. Those originally receiving Hebrews would not do that. Since they read [or heard] a letter with no chapter and verse divisions, there was a noticeable link between the words of 5:12 and 6:1.
The reason for emphasis on dividing scripture's text into chapters and verses is to emphasize the connection between Hebrews 5:12 and 6:1,2. This connection might be more obvious to the original recipients of the letter than it is to many of us.
In 5:12 there is the mention of the "elementary principles," literally "elements of the beginning." The context notes these are considerations for spiritual infants. Those maturing in their conversion moved beyond those simple concepts.
There are "beginning principles" that must be seen and accepted by the person entering Christ. While these concepts will forever be part of their spiritual foundation, the convert is expected to grow beyond these concepts.
In 6:1 there is the mention of the "elementary teachings about Christ," literally "word of the beginning." There were understandings [in each reference] that were a part of their "beginning" in Christ. 6:1,2 mentions some of these "beginning understandings": repentance from dead works, faith toward God, instructions about washings and laying on of hands, the resurrection, and the eternal judgment. In context, these are foundation understandings. The objective is to build on these understandings as a foundation by moving forward to maturity. In context, these were baby food understandings. The objective was to use these infant [but important] understandings to move toward maturity.
The "word of beginning" marks just that--the point of beginning of one's life in Christ. The concept of repentance from dead works is part of beginning an existence committed to God through Christ. Most of the concepts the writer of Hebrews named as part of a beginner's understanding are frequently considered "the substance of maturity" by too many of today's Christians.
The first "elementary" concept that served the original recipients as a foundational understanding was repentance from dead works. A basic understanding of the person entering Christ: turn away from a lifestyle and deeds that held you in spiritual death prior to the ransom [redemption] of Christ's death. That is a foundation understanding. That is the concept a spiritual infant must grasp. That is spiritual baby food. That is a foundation understanding that must exist if a person in Christ is to move on toward spiritual maturity.
Create a practical, pragmatic understanding of "repentance from dead works." "Dead works" is not a reference to Jewish tradition or any past form of God's law, but a reference to evil. It focuses on the expressions of evil that killed them, destroyed them, made them spiritually dead. One could not seek life in Christ while clinging to things that made them dead to God. One must consciously decide to turn from that which spiritually killed him/her and turn to Christ who makes him/her spiritually alive.
The war of "do I want to continue the lifestyle that rejects God's values," or "do I want the lifestyle built on God's values" is a pre-repentance war. Repentance from dead works turns toward God's values as it knowingly rejects the values opposing God. When one was baptized into Christ, the choice was consciously made. "Whom do I live for" is a resolved issue. That does not mean there will be no temptation. It does not mean there will be no lapses. It does not mean there will be no thoughts about or reexamination of the issues in that war. It means a knowing, conscious choice deliberately was made to reject the values and lifestyle that opposes God in order to accept the values and lifestyle of one who belongs to God.
The decision to turn is a pre-repentance choice. Repentance is the act of turning. A person decides to turn prior to turning. Baptism is the act of a person who already has decided to turn to God through Christ.
Because that choice was made, the decision of those baptized into Christ is to move toward maturity. This emphasizes the two sides of repentance. Initially, repentance involves turning away from that which made the person dead in sin in order to become the person made alive in Christ. That is an elementary understanding, a spiritual baby food understanding. However, repentance also involves continual "course corrections" as the Christian matures on his/her journey of moving toward God. As his/her concept and understanding of holiness develops, he/she will find an increasing need to turn away from that which leads away from God and turn toward that which leads to God. (1) The maturing Christian refuses to return to the "dead works" that originally enslaved him/her in spiritual death. (2) The maturing Christian constantly is ready to redirect mind, heart, and behavior to move closer and closer to God.
A person enters Christ having repented. He/she turns to God in a desire to spiritually mature. He/she renounces and turns away from the habits, desires, motives, behaviors, etc. that spiritually killed him/her and enslaved him/her to evil. However, he/she does much more than renounce and turn away from evil. He/she also turns to God. He/she turns to God with a continuing desire to mature by growing closer to God. As he/she better understands God's holiness, he/she constantly turns his/her life in directions that more accurately journey to God.
For the Christian committed to spiritual maturity, God will discipline him/her as He guides the person toward Him and His holiness. Love can do no less! In that age, discipline proved you were a son, not an illegitimate off cast. How a son matured mattered! An illegitimate off cast could do as he pleased--it did not matter! If we are God's children, our maturity matters to God. God wants us to mature! God challenges us to mature! An essential key to spiritual maturity is repentance. Repentance is a "given," a "decided issue," a "determined commitment" in the person who belongs to God. It is part of the foundation of who he/she is. It is part of his/her journey toward God. It is much more than a fact that "I did once upon a time." It is a living reality within "me" that is essential in "my" journey of moving toward God.
God desires maturity in His children. He will encourage when they need encouragement. He will be strength when they need courage. He will be hope when they are discouraged. And, He will discipline when they are wayward or act with immaturity. Discipline [not abuse] declares love for the immature. Discipline seeks to move one in the direction of his/her abilities and opportunity. Discipline cares. Discipline has love for us and confidence in us.
Thought Questions:
Both are focused on a "beginning." Both declare there is a "starting point." However, even though the beginning or starting point is quite important, God expects no Christian to remain there. We "begin" or "start" in order to mature. We are expected to move forward as we travel the road to maturity through Christ, as we move closer to God's holiness.
The war is the conflict between "do I want to continue in the values and lifestyle that oppose God" or "do I want the lifestyle built on God's values." The significance: the resolve to repent at any time repentance is needed. The decision to incorporate repentance as a continuing part of one's lifestyle is a solved issue! "I" am willing to repent anytime necessary!
Side one: the initial decision to turn from sin [evil] and turn to God which occurs at conversion. Side two: the "course correction" any time a Christian needs to redirect his/her life more accurately toward God's holiness.
Yes, God wants Christians to spiritually mature. He wants us to be His children, not illegitimate cast offs. In love, He will discipline us to assist us in reaching our spiritual potential in Christ.
The role of repentance in one's journey toward God: the made decision existing in a determined commitment to correct [or redirect] "my" motives, "my" attitudes, or "my" lifestyle as "I" pursue God's holiness.
Link to Student Guide
Lesson 13
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