First Grade

Hebrews 5:12-14 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. (13) For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe. (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. (KJV)  

Thayer’s definition for principles:
4747  stoicheion- any first thing, from which the others belonging to some series or composite whole take their rise, an element, first principal  

Could you imagine going back to first grade and starting over again? How about if you were to read first grade books and think you would learn something new? How long does a child last on milk before they will no longer grow, but rather regress, as well as become weak and sickly? Spiritually this is what the writer is making reference to; those that continue in a first grade mindset when they actually should be teaching instead of having to be re-educated.  

Strong’s definition for babe:
3516  nepios (nay'-pee-os); from an obsolete particle ne- (implying negation) and 2031; not speaking, i.e. an infant (minor); figuratively, a simple-minded person, an immature Christian: KJV-- babe, child (+-ish).  

So how can one tell when a person or an organization is not progressing past the first grade? Here are some warnings that will raise some red flags.  

1 Corinthians 3:1-5 And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ. (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. (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? (4) For while one saith, I am of Paul; and another, I am of Apollos; are ye not carnal? (5) Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers by whom ye believed, even as the Lord gave to every man? (KJV)  

One of the first signs is when you see strife or contentions; those that hold others in high esteem sometimes to the point of letting them dictate their salvation, or what the leaders perceive as salvation. Some will hold to a denomination which is basically nothing more than putting God in a box, wrapping His gift in colorful packages which look good to the outward man but do nothing for the inward one. Then of course they put people on pedestals, similar to when I was young and told people that my dad could beat up their dad. Now the Lord does say in His word that we need to come to Him as a child in order to inherit His kingdom, but that doesn’t mean we act like children, rather learn to mature and grow up into Christ in all things who is the head of the Church, and our perfect example of how to operate in it. When you see people defending denominations or people rather than taking a stand for the doctrine of Christ and holding fast to that, these are basically people that have never gotten past a first grade level; and then to add insult to injury one engages in strife and contentions, silly arguments over things that have nothing to do with salvation. What should be a fellowship of believers who are mature in Christ resembles more the area where they let the children play during the services, silly petty bickering and nonsense.  

Colossians 2:6-8 As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him: (7) Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving. (8) Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ. (KJV)  

As you allow the Lord to manifest Himself to you, being open to the things of the Spirit, it is just as important to be like the Bereans, a group of people mentioned in the book of Acts chapter 17, who chose to check out the things they were hearing with what the word of God said, and not just take mans’ word for it. When I was in first grade I could be told many things that sounded interesting and would get my attention but had nothing to do with truth; like Easter bunnies and Santa Clauses. Although these things would excite me it was only as I grew older that I was able to see that it was nothing more than a cheap hoax. Today many man-made doctrines are doing the same thing and having the same effect; though they may excite the emotions and get the people stirred up, it does nothing for the spiritual growth and development of the believer. Is your salvation based and rooted in Christ, and the things of His realm, or are you still being swayed with things of this realm? Back a few of months ago many were moved to celebrate a tradition they call Christmas; which if you truly go back to its real origins you will find that it is nothing more than a man-made tradition, and not a Christ like one. The same holds true with the one that just occurred in March, in the form of Easter; though many swear up and down it is a special time of year, those that have matured in Christ will find that He is the same yesterday, today, and forever; and neither does He or His people find or observe one day to be more important than another.  

Galatians 4:9-11 But now, after that ye have known God, or rather are known of God, how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements, whereunto ye desire again to be in bondage? (10) Ye observe days, and months, and times, and years. (11) I am afraid of you, lest I have bestowed upon you labour in vain. (KJV)  

You will find that the words element, rudiments and principles all have the same meaning. So what the Lord was saying to the people then, as well as to us now, is that when you are still holding to these traditions and doctrines of man you are basically being held back in the first grade and are no longer moving forward in your walk. How qualified would you be in today’s field of work if on your application you could only list a first grade education? The only way you will receive the things of God, which by the way is readily available to all that are willing to hear His word, is by spending time in His word on a daily basis. Do you take the things that you hear, and see if they line up with the word of God, or do you take the things of God and try to make them fit into the realm of man? In everything that you do, does it really have a scriptural basis and foundation, or have you done it because so many others do, and it is something you have done since you were a child? Do you truly wish to move on past the first grade rather than hold onto childish things? Then you will need to put them away, as well as anything or anyone else that would try to keep you in that realm. When you were a child, or in the first grade, you spoke like one and thought like one and acted like one. In order to mature in Christ you will need to put aside these childish things.  

God bless and have a prosperous day in Christ Jesus our Lord.