Your Kingdom Foundation

Introduction

ELEMENTARY PRINCIPLES OF CHRIST

THE FIRST PRINCIPLES OF THE ORACLES OF GOD

The writer of the letter to the Hebrew Believers, led by the Holy Spirit, has one thing in mind. And it is that:

"God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, has in these last days spoken to us by His Son" (1'1-2).

And at the same time he's addressing all who believe in Jesus Christ in every age. It is the clarifying statement for understanding the Word of God and the teachings of Christ and the Kingdom of God. Our heavenly Father laid this down very clearly on the Mount of Transfiguration when He said: “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Hear Him!” (see Hear Him! on the Menu).

The writer is aware of the significance of what the Holy Spirit has called him to do. But in an aside he speaks to these Hebrew Believers about their poor grasp of basic foundational understandings. Presumably their Elders had received and experienced these foundational understandings.

So his digression came about when, having started the letter and addressed several topics, he reaches the point of introducing Melchizedek as a type of Christ and says these astounding words:

"... of him (Melchizedek) we have much to say, and hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing. For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the first principles of the oracles of God; and you have come to need milk and not solid food.
For everyone who partakes only of milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, for he is a babe.
But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.
Therefore, leaving the discussion of the elementary principles of Christ, let us go on to perfection, not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God, of the doctrine of baptisms, of laying on of hands, of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment.
And this we will do if God permits" (Hebrews 5'11-6'3).

The primary thing he's saying is that they need to be re-taught the first principles of the oracles of God. So, the question then is, what are the oracles of God? That phrase is used only three other times in the New Testament: by Stephen, by Paul and by Peter.

* Stephen calls them "the living oracles" (Acts 7'37-38). Having been brought before the Jewish powers that be, Stephen is part way through reminding them of their history as it relates to Jesus as their Messiah when he says: “This is that Moses who said to the children of Israel, ‘The LORD your God will raise up for you a Prophet like me from your brethren. Him you shall hear’
This is he who was in the congregation in the wilderness with the Angel who spoke to him on Mount Sinai, and with our fathers, the one who received the living oracles to give to us".

* Paul says (Romans 3'1-2): "What advantage then has the Jew, or what is the profit of circumcision? Much in every way! Chiefly because to them were committed the oracles of God.
* Peter says (1:4'11): "If anyone speaks, let him speak as the oracles of God".

These godly men are speaking after the Holy Spirit came. Presumably their understanding of what these oracles of God are is well established, the elementary principles of Christ are in fact the first principles of the oracles of God. And that's the basis of Your Kingdom Foundation.

The writer of the letter to the Hebrew Believers does an unusual thing (prompted by the Holy Spirit). Having said that he's not going to do any re-teaching and he's leaving the whole discussion of these things, he does a very important thing: He very carefully leaves a list of them, making them available to every Believer who will come after him.

Next: Repentance and Faith.

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