The New Testament book of Hebrews is one of my favorite books of the Bible, laying out many truths about Jesus and their connections to Old Testament practices and images. But the author doesn’t tell us about these things to satisfy our curiosity, but to help us grow closer to God. To grow more mature in our faith. Near the middle of the book, in Hebrews 6:1, the author wrote:
“Therefore let us leave the elementary doctrine of Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God”
The writer is saying here that there is more to Christian maturity than “repentance from dead works and of faith toward God,” but that these things are the foundation of maturity. As this verse begins with a “therefore,” we should ask what that word is there for. At the end of Hebrews 5, the author had written about his audience needing to be taught “basic principles,” which he referred to as “milk.”[1] These believers need to move on to the “solid food” of mature believers, “those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil.”[2]
But this does not mean we can abandon the “basic principles” of the Christian faith and leave them behind. John Calvin wrote that, “in building a house we must never leave the foundation; and yet to be always engaged in laying it, would be ridiculous. For as the foundation is laid for the sake of what is built on it, he who is occupied in laying it and proceeds not to the superstruction, wearies himself with foolish and useless labor.”
It does mean that maturity takes “constant practice,” which takes time and commitment. Time we could spend rebuilding the foundation again but instead should be spending training ourselves to “distinguish good from evil.” Sometimes we put too much effort into knowing about God, rather than into getting to know Him personally, in the relationship He intended. Knowing God includes loving what He loves and hating what He hates, which doesn’t happen overnight, and doesn’t happen at all if we don’t focus on it appropriately.
I haven’t nearly fully developed my relationship with God. I have a long way to go, and always will, but Christian sanctification works itself out in lifelong growth and it requires us to train our discernment over time. A long time.
“Therefore let us leave the elementary doctrine of Christ and go on to maturity”
We’ll get there someday. He guarantees that someday we will be fully mature!
Driving Toward the Morning Sun 