Issue #761~March 20, 2023
Dear Friends,

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Christ is All and in All,
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Pressing on to Maturity

“Therefore having left behind the elementary teaching about the Christ, let us be pressing on to maturity, not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God,"
Hebrews 6:1

"of instruction about washings, and laying on of hands, and the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgement."
Hebrews 6:2

verse 1: "Therefore having left behind the elementary teaching about the Christ, let us be pressing on to maturity, not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God,"

As we begin our devotional time in Hebrews 6, I think it would be good for us to stop and realize 3 things: (1) they are Jewish going back to Judaism rather than on to Christlikeness; (2) there is no division between the chapters; and (3) the warnings we had in Hebrews 5 had to do with them being hard of hearing and still living in protracted babyhood. The word "Therefore" points us back to to Hebrews 5:11 - 14 that we looked at previously.

Therefore, in view of your present condition, this is what I am asking you to do. On the basis of the fact that the mature individual has his senses trained, we at this time in the growth process must put away the beginning word of the Christ. Then he exhorts us: "let us." Let us grow up together in Jesus!

There can be no standing still in the Christian life. We have learned what's wrong in chapter 5. They are still dull, dependent, and deformed. Now in chapter 6 we learn how to fix it. "Let us press on to maturity".

verse 2: "of instruction about washings, and laying on of hands, and the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgement."

J. Vernon McGee points out: There are six foundation facts...
(1) Repentance from dead works - These works were the works of the Mosaic Law.
(2) Faith toward God - The Old Testament taught faith toward God.
(3) Doctrine of Baptisms [washings] - It has nothing to do with the New Testament baptism.
(4) Laying on of hands - When a man brought an animal offering, he laid his hands on its head to signify his identification with it.
(5) Resurrection of the dead - taught in the Old Testament, but now they needed to come up to the resurrection of Christ.
(6) Eternal Judgement - taught in the Old Testament.
(paraphrased from J. Vernon McGee's commentary, 543)

The consequences of failing at Kadesh-Barnea to trust God and move forward should be an illustration to them that they should not be trying to go back to Judaism without some very serious consequences.

(From “A Great While Before Day: Issue 2, part 2” by Don Anderson)

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Praises & Prayer Requests

1.  Pray: Not that I have already reached the goal or am already perfect, but I make every effort to take hold of it because I also have been taken hold of by Jesus Christ. Philippians 3:12 (CSB)
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2.  Pray: This is what the Lord Almighty says: "Give careful thought to your ways. Haggai 1:7 (NIV)
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3.  Praise: I pursue as my goal the prize promised by God's heavenly call in Jesus Christ. Philippians 3:14 (CSB)
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4.  Praise: Jesus is our great High Priest.
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Join me in singing that beautiful hymn, I Am Not Skilled:
I am not skilled to understand
What God hath will'd, what God hath plan'd;
I only know at His right hand
Stands One who is my Savior.
I take Him at His word indeed:
'Christ died for sinners, 'this I read;
And in my heart I find my Savior.

And was there then no other way
For God to take? I cannot say;
I only bless Him, day by day,
Who saved me thro' my Savior.
That He should leave His place on high,
And come for sinful man to die,
You count it strange?
So once did I, Before I knew my Savior.

For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV) 

Bible Teaching Resources
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