Hebrews 6:1-6

A warning against apostasy -- Hebrews 6:1-6 : In Christianity there are many fundamental principles that must be carefully taught and learned. Sadly many never learn these principles. Some who learn these elementary things never go beyond them. Once the foundation principles have been learned we must go to perfection.

The writer names six foundation principles of the Christian religion. These foundation matters include: (1) Repentance from anything causing spiritual death, (2) Faith in God, Christ and the Holy Spirit, (3) The matter of baptism into Christ, (4) The laying on of hands as a manner of blessing and accepting, (5) The resurrection of the dead, the animating principle of the gospel, and (6) The eternal judgment, which will doom the lost to everlasting punishment. "Leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; which we will do, if God permit."

How could anyone who has been once enlightened, tasted of the heavenly gift, been made partakers of the Holy Ghost, and have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, turn away from God? Those who do so, "crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame." The sin here mentioned is plainly apostasy from the truth and from the Christ, Himself. There is but one way of salvation. If a man deliberately rejects that, he must perish.