What Does The Love Of God Mean?

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, of the doctrine of baptisms

 and the laying on of hands, and of resurrection 

of the dead, and of eternal judgment. 

And this will we do, if God permits. 

Hebrews 6:1-3

     To leave behind the principles of the doctrine of Jesus Christ is not to mean that they are never or hardly ever, remembered or are the foundation that is no longer a part of an Authentic Christians Faith. The literal translation makes this point very clear: "Wherefore, having left the of the beginning of the Christ discourse" (Hebrews 6:1a). Example: A carpenter does not just pour the foundation of a house, that is what will carry the house as it reaches completion, made ready for habitation. This is what is meant by the "leaving behind the principles of the doctrine of Christ," as that is the foundation, the beginning, and from the beginning we grow to maturity, "perfection" is not to mean as some did that there is Christian perfection to be reached in this life, no, as the Greek word: "τελειότητα" means, to be brought to completion, fully accomplished, fully developed to be perfect in some point of character, in respect to a certain standard. We are to come to full growth in Jesus Christ and this can only have some measure of accomplishment by our obedience. 

     These verses have caused much distress and discourse by many theologians and often led some to oppose the doctrine of the believers perseverance. In the day of this writer especially were there miracles and a time, which has so often no longer used, that those who desire to come into the Church had to first come to a knowledge of the first principle, that is, the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ and to come to a place where they could make a satisfactory profession of faith. All this before they could be admitted into the Church: how far has the Church left this important aspect for the Church and how much liberal Christianity and the culture of this world entered into the Church. Some by this failure admit homosexuals into teachers, and preachers and to be able to partake of the Lord's Supper, and other things, to allow same sex marriage, etc.... why, they allowed the world to come into the Church and did not take the time to ensure that a person who comes into the Church is a truly professing Christian. There must never by teaching that does not first make necessity of repentance from the works of men, those who are dead in their sins. There is much discord about baptism, should only adults be baptized, or infants, and should there be wine, or grape juice, or should the one entering speak in some mysterious tongue. What is meant by the laying on of hands, and those solemn practices for the dead. What as does one such church teach, to lay on tombstones and get some infusion from the dead. There is so much attention and time to teach these practices before teaching the first principles of Jesus Christ. 

     A problem is: very few of us know anything about the conviction of sin. Oh, some rely on the experience, or the experience of being disturbed because of doing wrong, but conviction of sin by the Holy Spirit is given excuses, and often blotted out. This is not Authentic Christian Faith, for the Holy Spirit does blot out every relationship on earth and leaves a person to have only one relationship: Jesus Christ. A person may know that he is convicted of sin, but here is a major difference in regard to conviction: a man knows when he is convicted that God dare not forgive him, for if this were true then that man would have a greater sense of justice than God. Yes, God does forgive sin! But not due to a person coming to know that he is a sinner, that is a first step but not for God for His forgiveness is only by the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. This grace of God, this miracle of forgiveness is not only that He forgives sin, He do to the death of His Only Begotten Son that enables Him to forgive sin. By this death and resurrection of Jesus Christ that enables the Divine nature to forgive sin and remain true to Himself. How often do you hear: "God forgives us because He is love." that is shallow nonsense to say that, and when we are truly convicted of sin we will never say that again. The love of God means Calvary, and nothing less: the love of God is spilled out upon the cross and nowhere else. This is the only ground on which God can forgive a person, through the cross of Jesus Christ. 

     God forgives and you can be saved from hell and made right for heaven, but forgiveness means that you are forgiven into a recreated relationship and identification with God in Jesus Christ. This is the miracle of Redemption and this means that God has turned you from what you were into what God intends you to be, to come to the standard of Himself, and putting into you a new disposition of Jesus Christ. 

Seek the LORD, and ye shall live:

     lest He break out like fire

in the house of Joseph, and 

    devour it, and there be none

to quench it in Bethel.

                  Amos 5:6

Do you know that you are in need of a Savior?

Richard L. Crumb