But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil. Therefore, leaving the discussion of the elementary principles of Christ, let us go on to perfection… Hebrews 5:14-6:1
“Raking is easy, but all you get is leaves; digging is hard, but you might find diamonds.” Though not endorsing all his theology, John Piper is spot on regarding our need to roll our sleeves up and dig down into the depths of the Lord’s will. Thankfully, God has made the things necessary for salvation quite simple to apprehend. Without the noise of misguided theologians, one can easily see the essentiality of faith (John 3:16; Hebrews 11:6), repentance (Luke 13:1-5; Acts 2:38), confession (Matthew 10:32-33; Acts 8:36-37; Romans 10:9), baptism (Mark 16:15-16; Acts 2:38; 1 Peter 3:21), and faithfully following the Lord after conversion (Matthew 28:20; Romans 6:3-7, 17-18; 2 Corinthians 5:14-15; Revelation 2:10). It is a great comfort to know that one need not have a PhD in theology to live faithfully.
That said, many aspects of the Christian faith take a bit more effort than the things listed above. Peter spoke of some of Paul’s writings as things “…hard to understand, which untaught and unstable people twist to their own destruction…” (2 Peter 3:16). The Hebrews writer expressed displeasure with his readers for having failed to progress to the deeper things of Christ (Hebrews 5:11-6:3). Paul lamented the fact that the Corinthian brethren were yet unable to digest the meat of the revelation of Christ (1 Corinthians 3:1-3). The conclusion from these passages, and others in this same vein, is that the Lord expects more of us than our initial conversion. It will not do to simply come to be in Christ and then remain in our spiritual infancy, though that is where we all must begin (1 Peter 2:1-2).
The arc of the New Testament is one of continual growth and maturity as we seek to “…grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ…” (Ephesians 4:15), “…not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is…” (Ephesians 5:17), “…handling aright the word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15), resulting in being “…complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work” (2 Timothy 3:17). This is necessary if we are to “…be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear” (1 Peter 3:15).
In his second letter, Peter addressed the threat of false prophets and teachers who “…will bring in destructive heresies…” (2:1) with the result that “…many will follow their destructive ways…” (2:2) and warning that “…the latter end is worse than the first” (2:20). These are some of the key points leading up to Peter’s warning about the untaught and unstable twisting the Scriptures to their own destruction (3:16). The answer to this threat is, “…since you know this beforehand, beware lest you also fall from your own steadfastness, being led away with the error of the wicked; but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.” (3:17-18).
Those who represent the adversary are constantly reshaping their arguments against Christianity. At this point, they are winning more disciples than we are. Unfortunately, many of those disciples are our children when they go off to get their higher education and even before. There are good answers to every one of their attacks, but we must know the will of the Lord more deeply than those things that rest upon the surface. As the Hebrews writer urged his readers to move beyond the elementary principles of Christ, so we must put down the rakes and pick up the shovels. Otherwise, the sons of this world will continue to be more shrewd than the sons of light (Luke 16:8). This simply won’t do. Though it takes more effort to dig, the rewards are definitely worth the effort.