Therefore let us leave the elementary teaching about Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again the foundation of repentance from acts that lead to death, and of faith in God, instruction about baptisms, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment.
When building a house, you would never consider building without first laying a solid foundation, would you?
But this is what is happening to new believers today?
In the Scripture above, the writer of Hebrews described the things that are ‘the foundation’ to the life of a new believer. That this foundation must be laid in order to go onto maturity.
As I wrote in last week’s blog that nowhere in Scripture does it tell us to “say a little prayer asking Jesus to come into our heart” to be saved.
So what is the foundation?
Repentance, Faith, Baptisms, Laying on of Hands, Resurrection of the Dead, Eternal Judgment. [Hebrews 6:1-2]
We need to go to the Bible – in the book of Acts and see what the apostles did when they “added to their number daily those who were being saved.” [Acts 2:47b]
In Acts 2:38 the very first time people were being saved, what did the apostle Peter admonish them to do?
“Repent and be baptized, every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
Those who accepted his message were baptized and about three thousand were added to their number that day. [Acts 2:41]
That Day!
Throughout the Book of Acts we find these same foundational teachings over and over again – with everyone. All of these things were expected and they happened immediately – there was no delay.
So why should it be any different today? Why are we bringing a message of salvation that is totally different from the foundation laid by the apostles in the Bible?
Back to our house analogy – if you do not lay the right foundation, over time the house will begin to crumble.
It is the same for the new believer! In order to build a strong Christian life of faith, we must lay correctly the foundation for them to be truly saved – or their faith will crumble.
The foundation laid for a life in Christ Jesus is not optional. Just like when you build a new house you have to follow the blueprints. If you don’t follow them, the house will not be built correctly, and may not even stand.
Jesus made this clear in Matthew 7:24-25
Everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose and the winds blew and beat against the house; yet it did not fall because it had its foundation on the rock.
Isn’t it time we got back to laying the foundation for true salvation – according to God’s Word and not the traditions of men?