Chapter five verse twelve through chapter six verse three: In verses 12-14 the Apostle Paul minces no words in chastising the Hebrew Christians for being immature, telling them that at a time when they should be weaning church babes off spiritual “milk,” they themselves are in need of such instruction. He reminds them that they are far removed from the spiritual “strong meat” that, if believed and obeyed, would produce the righteousness that leads to eternal life. Lastly, he tells them and that a drastic change must take place in their Christian walk if they are to have any chance at salvation.

In the first 3 verses of chapter 6 Paul explains what he means by “milk.” Read those verses carefully and see if anything sounds familiar. Paul begins by telling the Hebrews that they must “go on to perfection” by graduating from the spiritual milk given to spiritual babes which he calls the “principles of the doctrine of Christ.” One can never achieve the righteousness God commands by remaining on the church’s maternal breast. Paul then goes on to identify the elementary teachings (milk) that the mature believer must leave behind in order to qualify for salvation.

The first principle to be abandoned is sin (dead works). He tells the Hebrews that they must remove sin from their lives, thereby eliminating the need to repent. “Impossible,” shouts over 2,000,000,000 church people while pointing to Adam’s miraculous sin transferal phenomenon as proof. The “Biblical fact” that “sinners saved by grace” have no choice but to sin because Adam’s sin seed inhabits their spiritual dna is stopped cold by a Scriptural wall called 1 John 3:6-10. See the postings titled First John where we are told that one must be “of God” in order to enter His kingdom, and that sinners (including those who have been “saved by grace”) are “of the devil.” Contrary to universal church opinion, one cannot simultaneously be “of God” and “of the devil.”

The second milk principle that church babes must move beyond about is “faith toward God.” Faith is believing what God said in His Holy Bible (Rom. 10:17). Note that faith forms after hearing/reading God’s Word with an open heart/mind. Faith is not stagnant, it must be put in motion in order to be maintained and grow. God tells us through the Apostle James that faith alone cannot save the soul, and that faith without works is dead (Jam. 2:14,17,20). Dead faith produces a dead church member.

The third milk principle involves two baptisms. “John’s baptism” involves the symbolic removal of all sins of the past (Acts 19:3/Rom. 3:25). All spiritual babes receive John’s baptism upon “joining the church.” The second type of baptism–Christian baptism–involves the convert’s reception of God’s Holy Spirit–the power necessary one must possess in order to “walk as He (Jesus) walked” (1 Jn. 2:6) and to “… overcome (sin) as I (Jesus) overcame” which are necessary for salvation (Rev. 3:21).

The final three milk principles involve the laying on of hands, resurrection of the dead and eternal judgment.

Reflect back on the sermons you have heard during your church life. How many times have you heard the above-mentioned subjects preached or taught? If my church experience has been normal, approximately 90% of the sermons you have heard involve one or more of these milk principles. Have you ever heard or read what you read on this website and hear on my YouTube site? I didn’t think so. But do not take my word for anything. “Study to show yourself approved of God” (2 Tim. 2:15) so as to “prove all things” pertaining to the Christian walk (1 Thes. 5:21). L.J.