Updated March 1, 2012

Dear Mike:

Brother, thank you for the tremendous work you do in guiding those of us who are hungry for the truth. It was only recently that I became aware of the milk doctrines of Christ. Upon investigation I have been shown a basket of info on these precious first principles of faith, but I have never discovered a comprehensive dissertation on their tenets from your blessed perspective. I would like to see a paper by you listing and then explaining each one as a matter of record. Although I believe I am familiar with the general principles of most of them, I am at a loss to explain to my own satisfaction the doctrine of the “laying on of hands”. Is this doctrine the foundation upon which the Catholic Church establishes their belief in Apostolic Succession? Or does it have to do with specific gifts of power conferred for a short time only upon the first disciples of Christ for the specific purpose of kick starting Christ’s ministry? If you have the time or can direct one of your close collaborators to reply I would be greatly appreciative.
May God Bless You For The Ages To Come,
M____

Hi M____,

Thank you for your question.
I actually believe that it is very significant that there are only six doctrines mentioned as the first principles of the oracles of God and considered to be milk as opposed to strong meat.
These six doctrines are mentioned in Hebrews chapter six as doctrines which those who are able to receive “strong meat” ought to go beyond. Here are the verses immediately preceding the verses which mention the six milk doctrines:

Heb 5:12 For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which [ be] the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat.
Heb 5:13 For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe.
Heb 5:14 But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, [ even] those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.

Now we have those six “first principles of the oracles of God” listed for us as milk which if one knows only milk, we are told he is “unskilful in the word of righteousness. Here is that list:

Heb 6:1 Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God,
Heb 6:2 Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment.
Heb 6:3 And this will we do, if God permit.

For all who are able to receive it, these are the doctrines in which we tend to stagnate. These are the doctrines which are preached in every church in the nation, day in and day out, week in and week out, month, year, and decades in and out, as if there were no doctrines that matter beyond these six first principles of the oracles of God. Are they important doctrines? Yes, indeed they are important. Here is just how important they are:

1Pe 2:1 Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings,
1Pe 2:2 As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:

“As a newborn babe” these six doctrines seem like a t- bone steak. Let’s list these doctrines numerically in the order they are given, and we can see just how important they are to a newborn baby:

1) repentance from dead works
2) faith toward God
3) baptisms
4) laying on of hands
5) resurrection of the dead
6) eternal judgment

All of these doctrines are “sincere milk” to those who are just coming to them. But if we have known God for several years and we have not gotten beyond these six “principles of the doctrine of Christ”, we are “yet carnal… babes in Christ.”

1Co 3:1 And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, [ even] as unto babes in Christ.
1Co 3:2 I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able [ to bear it], neither yet now are ye able.
1Co 3:3 For ye are yet carnal: for whereas [ there is] among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?
1Co 3:4 For while one saith, I am of Paul; and another, I am of Apollos; are ye not carnal?

I will comment on each of these six doctrines, referred to as “sincere milk.”

1) Repentance from dead works:

While I am grateful that God has given me repentance for my sins, I pray that He also give me of His chastening grace to overcome those sins in my life. But overcoming cannot begin without first being repentant of sin. I thank God for the fact that He has given to me “repentance from dead works.”

2) Faith toward God

Heb 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and [ that] he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

It is impossible to please God without faith, and yet grace and faith are both a gift from God:

Eph 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:

We cannot even believe in God and His Word without Him giving us the faith to do so. We are all like the father of the demon possessed son who cried out “Lord I believe; help thou mine unbelief:

Mar 9:24 And straightway the father of the child cried out, and said with tears, Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief.

With so many buying into the theory of evolution with all of its lies of “science falsely so called,” with the love of so many waxing cold and accusing God of being an unloving God, with all the lies of Babylon blotting out the light of God’s Word, I am especially thankful for the faith toward God He has bestowed upon me. “It is the gift of God” which very few have been given.

3) baptisms

Yes, it is plural baptisms. It is through baptism into Christ’s death that we are saved from our sins:

Rom 6:1 What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?
Rom 6:2 God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?
Rom 6:3 Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?

It is in coming to see that we must die to sin that we are truly baptized. It is baptism which changes our lives in a way that others can actually see that change:

Rom 6:6 Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.
Rom 6:7 For he that is dead is freed from sin.

It is through baptism that we become a new man. But all of this is done, not through a physical ritual as is practised by the churches of Babylon. The baptism which truly washes us clean of our sins is the “washing of water by the word:”

Eph 5:26 That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,

God’s own Word is the ‘water’ which purges us of our sins. Nothing without a man either defiles or cleanses a man. All that God does is done within. It is what is accomplished within that causes outward manifestations:

Mat 23:25 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full of extortion and excess.
Mat 23:26 [ Thou] blind Pharisee, cleanse first that [ which is] within the cup and platter, that the outside of them may be clean also.

And yet Babylon insists on outward rituals as proof first. Consequently the inside of the cup cannot be cleansed by ignoring what is to be cleansed first. Physical water is “without a man:”

Mar 7:15 There is nothing from without a man, that entering into him can defile him: but the things which come out of him, those are they that defile the man.

The things without a man can neither cleanse nor defile a man. If the inside is not first cleansed by “the washing of water by the word,” no amount of physical water will cleanse a man within.
That baptisms are plural and progressive as revealed by all of the types of baptisms given in the Old Testament. The flood of Noah typifies our earliest baptism as we first come to see our need for a Savior. The crossing of the Red Sea typifies our deliverance from the powers of Egypt over our lives. The crossing of the Jordan is a later baptism which follows the rebellions we all have toward God as we experience the fire of His Word burning out those kings and mountains within us which rebel against His dominion over our flesh.
After this baptism we still face the baptism of the Jordan and the circumcision which follows that baptism. This prepares us to fight the giants within our ‘land’ which symbolizes our carnal lusts and passions within our bodies.
But after fighting the giants within and casting many of them out, according to God’s Word “written for our admonition” we still have yet another baptism. Even after overcoming many of the giants who would have us dead, we still must be carried off into Babylon where we will be thoroughly indoctrinated in all of her false teachings for a symbolic seventy years.
But at God’s appointed time we will as part of “living by every word which proceeds out of the mouth of God,” recross the Jordan and return to our Father and begin to rebuild His temple within us.
Every crossing of any body of water typifies the doctrine of “baptisms.” I am thankful that I will indeed be baptized with the baptism with which my Lord is baptized:

Mat 20:23 (a) And he saith unto them, Ye shall drink indeed of my cup, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with:

Having said all of this I must point out that the apostle Paul began his ministry baptizing new converts. But after it was revealed to him that the only cleansing accomplished was the cleansing done by “the word,” he then makes this statement:

1Co 1:12 Now this I say, that every one of you saith, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ.
1Co 1:13 Is Christ divided? was Paul crucified for you? or were ye baptized in the name of Paul?
1Co 1:14 I thank God that I baptized none of you, but Crispus and Gaius;
1Co 1:15 Lest any should say that I had baptized in mine own name.
1Co 1:16 And I baptized also the household of Stephanas: besides, I know not whether I baptized any other.
1Co 1:17 For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect.

“Christ sent me not to baptize but to preach the gospel” is just another way of saying that the washing of the water is by the word of the gospel. Christ came “under the law” and was baptized “under the law.” But when He came up out of the water of John’s baptism, “the heavens were opened” and Christ himself “baptized not, but His disciples:”

Joh 4:1 When therefore the Lord knew how the Pharisees had heard that Jesus made and baptized more disciples than John,
Joh 4:2 (Though Jesus himself baptized not, but his disciples,)
Joh 4:3 He left Judaea, and departed again into Galilee.

Why are we informed that Jesus Himself did not baptize? It is to tell us that Christ was never concerned with outward rituals. But His carnal disciples and the carnal multitudes were still ‘under the law,” and very much impressed with and in need of outward signs of righteousness. The Truth has always been that any real washing that would be accomplished would be “the washing of water by the word.”

4) Laying on of hands

As a child hands were laid upon me as I was baptized in water. Hands were again laid upon me as it was prophesied that I would be used of God. We all laid hands upon each other as we prayed for each other’s physical health and well being. And hands were also laid upon the heads of those whom we ordained as deacons and teachers and evangelists.

Mar 6:5 And he could there do no mighty work, save that he laid his hands upon a few sick folk, and healed them.
Act 19:6 And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied.

I am grateful for all the hands that have been laid upon me over the years. It has been part of bringing me to where I am in the Lord. Without every step we have taken we could not be where we are.
But once again, “there is nothing without a man which can defile him.” So the outward laying on of hands or refraining from this outward ritual is not what ordains one to the ministry, heals one or baptizes one. What does ordain one to the ministry, heal the sick and baptizes one, is demonstrated by the stories of the Gentiles at the home of Cornelius, and the healing of the centurion’s servant. What accomplishes all of these things is, in reality, faith in the words of Christ. Here is a story very much agreeing with the message of the holy spirit being given before the laying on of hands and before physical baptism.

Mat 8:5 And when Jesus was entered into Capernaum, there came unto him a centurion, beseeching him,
Mat 8:6 And saying, Lord, my servant lieth at home sick of the palsy, grievously tormented.
Mat 8:7 And Jesus saith unto him, I will come and heal him.
Mat 8:8 The centurion answered and said, Lord, I am not worthy that thou shouldest come under my roof: but speak the word only, and my servant shall be healed.
Mat 8:9 For I am a man under authority, having soldiers under me: and I say to this [ man], Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth [ it].
Mat 8:10 When Jesus heard [ it], he marvelled, and said to them that followed, Verily I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel.
Mat 8:11 And I say unto you, That many shall come from the east and west, and shall sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven.
Mat 8:12 But the children of the kingdom shall be cast out into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

A physical presence with the physical laying on of hands is what is needed by those whose faith is equal to that in Israel. It is “the children of the kingdom” who “seek after a sign,” who are “weak in the faith” and who “who shall be cast out into outer darkness.”
Yes, the doctrine of the laying on of hands is also one of the six milk doctrines which are used of God to hold back the multitudes who must have a sign:

Mat 16:4 A wicked and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given unto it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas. And he left them, and departed.

When Christ says “wicked and adulterous” He is not talking physically. He is not talking about physical wickedness or physical adultery. What he is speaking of is “ninety and nine righteous men who need no repentance.”

Luk 15:7 I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance.

The reason the “ninety and nine” think that they “need no repentance” is because they have all had hands laid on them as they were baptized, healed and ordained.

Heb 6:1 Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God,
Heb 6:2 Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment.
Heb 6:3 And this will we do, if God permit.

As with baptisms, Paul’s ministry began with laying on of hands and many healings. It ended with the Epaphroditus “being sick nigh unto death…”

Php 2:25 Yet I supposed it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus, my brother, and companion in labour, and fellowsoldier, but your messenger, and he that ministered to my wants.
Php 2:26 For he longed after you all, and was full of heaviness, because that ye had heard that he had been sick.
Php 2:27 For indeed he was sick nigh unto death: but God had mercy on him; and not on him only, but on me also, lest I should have sorrow upon sorrow.

Trophimus was left sick at Miletum:

2Ti 4:20 Erastus abode at Corinth: but Trophimus have I left at Miletum sick.

Timothy suffered from a ‘stomach affliction and often infirmities.

1Ti 5:23 Drink no longer water, but use a little wine for thy stomach’s sake and thine often infirmities.

And Paul himself suffered from being sick:

Gal 4:13 Ye know how through infirmity of the flesh I preached the gospel unto you at the first.
Gal 4:14 And my temptation which was in my flesh ye despised not, nor rejected; but received me as an angel of God, even as Christ Jesus.

The apostle Paul, like all of us, laid hands on many and had many prayers answered at the beginning of his ministry. But it is not answered prayer, but unanswered prayer which will try our faith as it no doubt tried the faith of the apostle Paul.
I have no doubt in my mind that Paul prayed earnestly and fervently for Epaphroditus, Trophimus, Timothy and for His own healing. But those prayers were not answered. If we cannot understand that God will, when we can bear it, try our faith to show us where we are weak, then we are not worthy to be used of Him to deal with our own brothers who have sold us into Egypt. God is calling us to “crush strong nations afar off.” He is not using mere babes to “rule this world.”

Mic 4:3 And he shall judge among many people, and rebuke strong nations afar off; and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks: nation shall not lift up a sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.
Rev 2:26 And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations:
Rev 2:27 And he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers: even as I received of my Father.
1Co 6:2 Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world? and if the world shall be judged by you, are ye unworthy to judge the smallest matters?
1Co 6:3 Know ye not that we shall judge angels? how much more things that pertain to this life?

Laying on of hands is a milk doctrine which should not be the foundation of anyone’s faith. It certainly has nothing to do with the false doctrine of Papal succession, except as it serves to demonstrate how childish are such outward rituals.

5) Resurrection of the dead

Jesus Christ taught the resurrection of the dead. He taught it as both within, and without. He taught the resurrection of the dead both as a present spiritual experience and He taught it as a dispensational, future event:

Mat 22:28 Therefore in the resurrection whose wife shall she be of the seven? for they all had her.
Mat 22:29 Jesus answered and said unto them, Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God.
Mat 22:30 For in the resurrection they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are as the angels of God in heaven.
Mat 22:31 But as touching the resurrection of the dead, have ye not read that which was spoken unto you by God, saying,
Mat 22:32 I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob? God is not the God of the dead, but of the living.
Joh 12:24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit.

Paul was, of course on the same page as his Lord, teaching that it is through a present death and resurrection that we are brought to that future resurrection of the dead:

Rom 6:3 Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?
Rom 6:4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.
Rom 6:5 For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:
Rom 6:8 Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him:
Rom 6:9 Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him.
Rom 6:10 For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God.
Rom 6:11 Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Rom 8:10 And if Christ [ be] in you, the body [ is] dead because of sin; but the Spirit [ is] life because of righteousness.
Rom 8:11 But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.

With the apostle Paul, I consider myself dead to sin and through Christ in me, alive unto righteousness.
None of which denies a future death and resurrection from among the dead:

1Th 4:13 But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.
1Th 4:14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.
1Th 4:15 For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive [ and] remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.
1Th 4:16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:
1Th 4:17 Then we which are alive [ and] remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
1Th 4:18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words.

The doctrine of the resurrection of the dead comforts me very much.

6) Eternal (aionian) judgment

The doctrine of aionian judgment is closely tied to the doctrine of the resurrection of the dead. Here is the basic truth of the purpose for aionian judgment:

1Co 11:31 For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged.
1Co 11:32 But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world.

When we are judged we are chastened of the Lord…” For what purpose are we now being judged? “That we should not be condemned with the world.” But to what is the world condemned? Here is what those who do not now judge themselves are facing:

Rev 20:11 And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them.
Rev 20:12 And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is [ the book] of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.

There it is staring us in the face. The great white throne is simply a later, less desirable judgment. And what is judgment? “When we are judged we are chastened of the Lord.” Why does the Lord judge and chasten “the dead small and great?”

Heb 12:5 And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him:
Heb 12:6 For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.
Heb 12:7 If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not?

Now ask yourself, ‘Who does God love?’ Does He love only those who believe on Him? Is that to be found in Joh 3:16? Does his propitiatory sacrifice apply only to those of us who have accepted Him as our savior? What does God have to say about this question:

Joh 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

Who will “Believe on Him?”

Php 2:10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of [ things] in heaven, and [ things] in earth, and [ things] under the earth;
Php 2:11 And [ that] every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ [ is] Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

The demonic doctrine of eternal torture in eternal fire does anything but glorify God as a loving Father who chastens His wayward sons. Thisis what He says will occur in His time:

Joh 6:44 No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw [ Greek – drag] him: and I will raise him up at the last day.

No man “can” come to God except the spirit of God drags him to God. So who does God tell us will be drug to Him?

Joh 12:31 Now is the judgment [ chastening – 1Co 11:31-32] of this world: now shall the prince of this world be cast out.
Joh 12:32 And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all [ Greek – drag] men unto me.

But doesn’t this means just all who accept Christ in this age? What does God say He means by all? Does He mean as all who believe only? Or is it “As in Adam all die” How are we to understand that Christ will drag all to Himself?

1Co 15:21 For since by man came] death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead.
1Co 15:22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.

It is to be understood “as in Adam.” That is how God will drag all men to himself. Will it all be accomplished in this life? Is the first resurrection the only hope for salvation? Not according to God’s Word. According to God’s Word, the first resurrection is but the firstfuits of God’s harvest of bringing mankind into His barn:

1Co 15:22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.
1Co 15:23 But every man in his own order : Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ’s at his coming.
1Co 15:24 Then [ cometh] the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power.

God’s harvest, like his Old Testament shadows reveal, is a three- step harvest. Christ is the earliest harvest, the barley harvest, 50 days before the wheat harvest know as “the feast of firstfruits.” Is this not what God’s New Testament also teaches? Of course, it is:

Jas 1:18 Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.

Are we the only fruits who are “Christ’s at His coming? No, we are not the only fruits. Christ is before us, we are “His at His coming,” but “then comes the end harvest “in the end of the year:”

Exo 23:14 Three times thou shalt keep a feast unto me in the year.
Exo 23:15 Thou shalt keep the feast of unleavened bread: (thou shalt eat unleavened bread seven days, as I commanded thee, in the time appointed of the month Abib; for in it thou camest out from Egypt: and none shall appear before me empty:)
Exo 23:16 And the feast of harvest, the firstfruits of thy labours, which thou hast sown in the field: and the feast of ingathering, [ which is] in the end of the year, when thou hast gathered in thy labours out of the field.

God has three harvest’s as He drags all men to Himself; 1) “the feast of unleavened bread” followed fifty days later by 2) “the feast of the firstfruits of your harvest,” also known as the the feast of Pentecost, which simply means ‘count fifty.’ And last, but greatest in number Isa 3) the fall harvest, ” the feast of ingathering, which is in the end of the year.”
“As in Adam all die so in Christ will all be made alive. But each in his own order 1) Christ the first of the firstfruits, then 2) “They that are Christ’s at His coming… a kind of firstfruits” and “then comes the end” [“the feast of ingathering, at the end of the year”].
And this is what the Word of God says throughout:

1Ti 2:4 Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.
1Ti 4:9 This [ is] a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptation.
1Ti 4:10 For therefore we both labour and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Saviour of all men, specially of those that believe.
1Ti 4:11 These things command and teach.

“Specially,” not ‘exclusively.’ Who do you know who “commands and teaches” this “faithful saying… worthy of all acceptation? Not one church in orthodox Christianity.

2Pe 3:9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us- ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

And the final scripture of many dozens which I could reference is:

1Jn 2:2 And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.

The apostle Paul discusses all of these doctrine in his epistles. After a discussion about the events leading up to the fist resurrection he make this statement:

1Th 4:18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words.

So I am very thankful for the doctrine of eternal judgment. The doctrine of eternaI (aionian) judgment is nothing more than the doctrine of universal salvation. I no longer believe in an eternal death or an eternal life of torment in literal flames of fire. Neither of those doctrines are of any comfort.
But having an appreciation of all of these milk doctrines, I must now advise you to read the paper entitled ‘Will God’s Strong Delusion Deceive You?’ It is the doctrine that all you need to be saved are these six doctrines. Nothing could be further from the Truth, and yet nothing has been more successful in keeping God’s people from going on to maturity:

Heb 5:12 For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which [ be] the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat.
Heb 5:13 For every one that useth milk [ is] unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe.
Heb 5:14 But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, [ even] those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.
Heb 6:1 Therefore leaving [ Greek- going beyond] the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God,
Heb 6:2 Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment.
Heb 6:3 And this will we do, if God permit.

Why do we need to go beyond these six ‘first oracles?’

Gal 4:1 Now I say, That the heir, as long as he is a child [ Greek – nepios – baby], differeth nothing from a servant, though he be lord of all;
Gal 4:2 But is under tutors and governors until the time appointed of the father.
Gal 4:3 Even so we, when we were children [ Greek- nepios- babies], were in bondage under the elements of the world:
Gal 4:4 But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, Gal 4:5 To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons [ An entirely different Greek word- huios – mature son].
Gal 4:6 And because ye are sons [ Greek – huios – mature son], God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son [ huios] into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.
Gal 4:7 Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son [ huios]; and if a son [ huios], then an heir of God through Christ.

” If a huios then an heir of God through Christ.” God is calling many to remain as immature nepios babes in Christ. Out of those many babies He is calling a very few to “leave the principles of the doctrine of Christ and go on to maturity. The few who are chosen out of the many called are to be the future rulers of this world. God is not using babies to rule this world. He will only use those who have “had their senses execised to know good and evil and who want to go on to the “strong meat” of “filling up in my body what is behind of the afflictions of Christ…”

Mat 22:14 For many are called, but few are chosen.
Col 1:24 Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body’s sake, which is the church:

I hope this puts these six basic, “first principles of the doctrine of Christ in the Biblical perspective that the apostles Peter and Paul put them in:

1Pe 2:2 As newborn babes [ Greek – nepios – babies], desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:

Let us all appreciate “milk of the word” for what it is. Milk is for spiritual babies. But let none of us be guilty of refusing to “grow thereby” and ‘leave the principles of the doctrine of Christ so we can go on unto perfection and maturity.’

Mike

[ For indepth studies on each of these milk doctrines go here.]