Lesson 1. The “First Principles of the Teachings of Christ” school is based on Hebrews chapter 6. These are seven foundational teachings in which the early Christian church saw the foundation of the Christian faith.
Introduction
Heb. 6:1 Therefore, leaving the first principles [archē] of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on to perfection, not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God, 2 of the doctrine of baptisms, of laying on of hands, of the resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment. 3 And this we will do if God permits.
Dictionary Definition
The word “first principles,” is the Greek word [archē]—beginning, foundation, origin, root cause, basis.
In the Septuagint, the word [archē] can be found at the very beginning of Genesis: Gen. 1:1 In the beginning [archē] God created the heavens and the earth.
In other words, the “first principles of the teachings of Christ” are the foundation for all subsequent teachings—the starting point from which everything begins and upon which it continues to be built.
The word translated as “teachings” is the Greek word [logos]—word, expression, saying, speech, account. In fact, Jesus Himself did not call these teachings; He simply told people the truth. Thus, the translation “words of Christ” or “sayings of Christ” would be more accurate.
The author of Hebrews wrote that these are topics “laying the foundation.” In other words, everything else is built on them.
The word “foundation,” is the Greek [themelios]—lying at the base, cornerstone; as a noun, cornerstone, foundation.
Since these sayings of Christ are foundational for further building sound doctrine, every Christian should know them and teach them to other new believers.
Repentance from dead works
Heb. 6:1 Therefore, leaving the elementary teachings about Christ, let us press on to maturity, not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works…
The Greek word “repentance” [metanoia] means a change of mind, remorse, repentance.
It is a change in a person’s intentions, actions, and direction in life toward the opposite. John the Baptist said that the forgiveness of sins occurs only after repentance [metanoia], not merely when a person says the word “I repent” or “I confess.”
Matt. 3:5–8 Then Jerusalem and all Judea and all the region around the Jordan went out to him, and they were baptized by him in the Jordan, confessing their sins. But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them: Brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? Therefore bear fruit worthy of repentance [metanoia].
People came from everywhere, confessing their sins before John, but he saw that for some this was merely a religious ritual prompted by fear. John told such people to prove their repentance by bearing corresponding fruit. Your repentance must be visible.
In other words, if there is no fruit, there was no genuine repentance. If there was no genuine repentance, there will be no genuine forgiveness.
Formal repentance (in words, but not in deeds) is not counted. Sin remains upon the person, and therefore the punishment for that sin is not canceled.
Look at Zacchaeus’s repentance. What fruit did it produce?
Luke 19:5–8 Zacchaeus! Hurry and come down, for today I must stay at your house. So he hurried down and received Him joyfully. And when they all saw it, they began to grumble, saying, “He has gone in to be the guest of a sinful man.” But Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, “Lord! Half of my possessions I will give to the poor, and if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I will repay fourfold.”
Now consider Saul’s repentance. He formally acknowledged his sin. Saul made excuses and shifted the blame onto others. In that situation, Saul was more concerned about his reputation in the eyes of people than about having disobeyed the Lord’s command.
1 Sam. 15:24–25 Then Saul said to Samuel, “I have sinned, for I have transgressed the commandment of the Lord and your words; because I feared the people and obeyed their voice. Now therefore, please forgive my sin and return with me, that I may worship the Lord.” 30 And he said, “I have sinned; yet honor me now before the elders of my people and before Israel, and return with me, that I may worship the Lord your God.”
Judas Iscariot also regretted his sin, but this was not repentance—“metanoia.”
Matthew 27:3 Then Judas, His betrayer, seeing that He had been condemned, and feeling remorse [metamelomai], returned the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders.
Here Matthew used the word [metamelomai]—regret over what happened, remorse. This is not the repentance [metanoia] that delivers a person from the consequences of committed sins. That is why such remorse did not help Judas escape punishment.
Matthew 27:5 And throwing the silver pieces into the temple, he departed; and he went and hanged himself.
If, after committing sin, a person does not come to true repentance and bear the corresponding fruit, this is not repentance. Such a person is not delivered from the punishment and consequences of their sin.
Why do people repent and then sin again?
Because the wages of sin do not come immediately. God shows people goodness and patience. He gives people time to repent and change.
People often view God’s patience as a reason to continue living in sin. However, this goodness will end on a certain day, and then punishment will come.
Romans 2:4–5 Or do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance* (correct translation: patience) and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance? But in accordance with your hardness and your impenitent heart, you are treasuring up for yourself wrath in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God
As we see, God’s goodness and patience are not permission to live in sin; they are time given to a person so that they may repent. At the same time, the period of goodness is individual for each person.
We must not look at others’ impunity and justify our own sinful actions. No one knows when the day of reckoning will come.
What is known about the consequences of sin?
We must always remember that Christians are not exempt from responsibility for the sins they commit, and the Bible clearly speaks of consequences in the present. Here are several examples:
Matt. 18:34 Then his master, in anger, handed him over to the torturers until he should pay all that he owed. So also My Heavenly Father will do to you if each of you does not forgive your brother from your heart for his sins.
Matt. 7:2…for with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with what measure you use, it will be measured to you.
Rom. 13:2 Therefore whoever resists authority resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will bring judgment upon themselves.
1 Cor. 11:29–30 For whoever eats and drinks unworthily eats and drinks judgment to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body. For this reason many among you are weak and sick, and a number of you have died.
There are also other verses indicating that punishment for sins will occur not only after death but also during a Christian’s lifetime.
Sins are one of the main reasons why some Christians continue living with problems, remain sick, and die prematurely.
It is not enough to regret sin or confess sin; repentance [metanoia] is necessary. It is expressed by abandoning sin, changing one’s thinking, changing one’s way of life, and bearing fruit worthy of repentance.
What does it mean to repent from “dead works”?
There may be two translation options: dead works and works of the dead (meaning the works of dead people). In both cases, this expression should be understood figuratively, not literally.
The Bible says that there are righteous deeds and deeds worthy of death.
Rom. 1:28–32 And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them over to a depraved mind, to do what ought not to be done. They are filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness, covetousness, malice; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, and evil-mindedness; they are gossips, slanderers, God-haters, insolent, arrogant, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, senseless, faithless, heartless, ruthless. Though they know God’s righteous decree that those who practice such things deserve death, they not only do them but also approve of those who practice them.
Deeds worthy of death are also called works of the flesh, because those who practice such things will not inherit the Kingdom of God.
Gal. 5:19–21 The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity, debauchery, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions, (temptations), heresies, envy, murder, drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who practice such things will not inherit the Kingdom of God.
1 Cor. 6:8–10 Instead, you yourselves cheat and do wrong, and you do this to your brothers and sisters. Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the Kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor men who have sex with men, nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the Kingdom of God.
This is a very important description of sins, by which we must examine not only ourselves, but by which others—including heaven—will examine us.
The Apostle Paul wrote these letters to churches, not unbelievers, and warned that anyone who practices even one of these things will not inherit the Kingdom of God.
Therefore, not only our words but also our deeds are a very important sign to which Jesus pays attention.
Rev. 2:1–2 To the angel of the church in Ephesus write: These are the words of Him who holds the seven stars in His right hand and walks among the seven golden lampstands: I know your deeds…
Conclusion.
Turning from dead works consists in changing one’s mindset and way of life so as to stop sinning and live righteously. The evidence of such repentance will be corresponding fruit.
End of the first lesson.
Source: The Bible, Epistle to the Hebrews, chapter 6
Teacher: Dmitriy Leo
