Spiritual Growth - It’s Elementary, My Dear Friends

You ever notice how some people grow older but never really grow up? We see it all the time in life—folks who've been around for years but never really matured. Turns out, the same thing can happen in our spiritual lives. That's exactly what the writer of Hebrews was calling out in chapter 5, telling the believers, "You ought to be teachers by now, but you still need milk instead of solid food." Ouch! But it's a good reminder for us, too. It's easy to get comfortable, but God calls us to grow. Hebrews 6:1-3 tells us to move beyond the basics and press on to maturity. So, let's take a look at six "elementary" truths that form the foundation of our faith—because before we can grow up, we've got to get the basics right.

The first two truths go hand in hand: repentance and faith. These are the starting line of our relationship with God. Repentance means changing our minds and hearts, turning away from sin, and turning toward Jesus. But repentance alone isn't enough—we need faith. And not just a vague belief that God exists, but real, active trust in Him. Some folks think their good deeds will outweigh the bad on some sort of heavenly scale, but Scripture is clear: we are saved by grace through faith, not by works (Ephesians 2:8-9). Trusting in Jesus is like sitting in a chair—you don't just believe it can hold you; you actually sit down and put your full weight on it.

Next, we've got baptism and the laying on of hands, which highlight our responsibility within the church. Baptism is that outward declaration that we belong to Jesus, just like the early believers who were baptized as soon as they put their faith in Christ. Then there's the laying on of hands—something we see throughout Scripture as a way of commissioning, blessing, and praying for others. It's a reminder that we don't do this faith thing alone. We need each other, and we need prayer. If Jesus laid hands on people and prayed, we probably ought to do the same.

Finally, we come to the resurrection of the dead and eternal judgment—truths that remind us to keep our eyes on eternity. Because of Jesus, we don't just die and disappear. One day, we'll receive glorified bodies, free from aches, pains, and bad knees (some of us are looking forward to that more than others!). But there's also the reality of judgment—one for believers, where we give an account of how we lived for Christ, and one for those who rejected Him. It's not something we like to talk about, but it's truth. So, what's the takeaway? It's elementary, my dear friends. If we want to grow spiritually, we've got to start with these foundational truths and build on them every day—learning, trusting, and walking with Jesus.