Foundations of the Faith

the elementary teachings in Hebrews 6
that prepare disciples in Yeshua to move on to maturity

Introduction

This is a short series of teachings about our spiritual foundations in Messiah:

"Therefore let us leave the elementary teachings about Messiah and go on to maturity, not laying again the foundation of repentance from acts that lead to death, and of faith in G-d, instruction about baptisms, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment. And G-d permitting, we will do so."

These things are in the category of spiritual milk, and before moving on from these into deeper spiritual waters, we need to make sure that these foundations have been well and strongly laid in our lives. Otherwise we will not be able to safely build onward into the Lord. Let us therefore examine our foundations, and fill in any gaps we find before proceeding.

If you have known the Lord, then you have repented. If you believe that He is your Lord, then you have faith that He will save you. If you have been immersed in water, then someone instructed you how to do it. If you have been filled with the Holy Spirit, then someone likely has laid their hands on you in prayer so that you could receive Him. If you also believe that your body will be resurrected and that everyone will be judged by G-d, then you might consider that your foundations are complete.

How do we know that we are not in the same category as the Hebrews, who had also learned these things but whose foundations were not complete? "In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of G-d's word all over again."

There is a danger that if we lay these foundations and then "bury our talent", that we will lose even the little that we had: "Take the talent from him and give it to the one who has the ten talents."

Or perhaps, having left our first love, we are doing nothing but guarding what we had previously accomplished? In the end, we can lose our lampstand altogether (Rev.2:3-5).

Foundations are only that: foundations. If we are not able to finish the tower we began, then what will be our reward? "For if he lays the foundation and is not able to finish it, everyone who sees it will ridicule him, saying, 'This fellow began to build and was not able to finish.'"

What if in Gethsemane, the Lord had decided that He was not able to give up His life with the Father? "And anyone who does not carry his cross and follow Me cannot be My disciple."

Are our foundations able to bear the full weight of what we have yet to build?

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