The basic principles , fundamental understanding, elementary steps, essential elements  are all terms that describe a starting place or a beginning place. However, if we are not well rooted in the basics, we will encounter difficulties in our walk of faith with the Lord. Those of us who are in the maturing process  have to walk by these basic precepts in order to continue to grow spiritually. In other words, we never out grow the basics. These basics are our foundation upon which we build our spiritual lives.         

Receiving the Gift of the Holy Spirit with the evidence of speaking in other tongues.

John 14:15 “If you love Me, keep My commandments.  16 And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever —   17 the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you. NKJV
Continue reading “Back to Basics Lesson 4” »

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The basic principles , fundamental understanding, elementary steps, essential elements are all terms that describe a starting place or a beginning place. However, if we are not well rooted in the basics, we will encounter difficulties in our walk of faith with the Lord. Those of us who are in the maturing process have to walk by these basic precepts in order to continue to grow spiritually. In other words, we never out grow the basics. These basics are our foundation upon which we build our spiritual lives.
Continue reading “Back to Basics Lesson 5” »

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The basic principles , fundamental understanding, elementary steps, essential elements  are all terms that describe a starting place or a beginning place. However, if we are not well rooted in the basics, we will encounter difficulties in our walk of faith with the Lord. Those of us who are in the maturing process  have to walk by these basic precepts in order to continue to grow spiritually. In other words, we never out grow the basics. These basics are our foundation upon which we build our spiritual lives.           

Definition: Turning from sin to God, having a change of heart and mind .

Kinds of repentance:

National Repentance

1 Kings 18: 36 And it came to pass, at the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice, that Elijah the prophet came near and said, “Lord God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, let it be known this day that You are God in Israel and I am Your servant, and that I have done all these things at Your word. 37 Hear me, O Lord, hear me, that this people may know that You are the Lord God, and that You have turned their hearts back to You again.”

38 Then the fire of the Lord fell and consumed the burnt sacrifice, and the wood and the stones and the dust, and it licked up the water that was in the trench. 39 Now when all the people saw it, they fell on their faces; and they said,”The Lord, He is God! The Lord, He is God!”  NKJV

Personal repentance: King David’s attitude exemplifies true repentance.

Ps 51:1 Have mercy upon me, O God, According to Your lovingkindness; According to the multitude of Your tender mercies, Blot out my transgressions. 2 Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, And cleanse me from my sin. 3 For I acknowledge my transgressions, And my sin is always before me.

10 Create in me a clean heart, O God, And renew a steadfast spirit within me. 11 Do not cast me away from Your presence, And do not take Your Holy Spirit from me. 12 Restore to me the joy of Your salvation,

And uphold me by Your generous Spirit. 13 Then I will teach transgressors Your ways,

And sinners shall be converted to You.  NKJV

Things that lead to repentance.

2 Peter 3:9 The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance. NKJV

Rom 2:4  Don’t you realize how patient he is being with you? Or don’t you care? Can’t you see that he has been waiting all this time without punishing you, to give you time to turn from your sin? His kindness is meant to lead you to repentance. TLB

Acts 2:37 Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Men and brethren, what shall we do?”

38 Then Peter said to them,”Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call.”  NKJV

Note: Dr. Edwin Lewis Cole, leader of the national men’s movement from the 1980′s till his death, understood repentance perfectly when dealing with men. Dr Cole later wrote this classic truth:

Change isn’t change, until it’s changed ! Dr. Cole knew that change only comes when there is true repentance. Repentance is a complete change of direction from a life of sin to a personal relationship with God through faith in Jesus Christ. 

Isa 55:7 Let the wicked forsake his way, And the unrighteous man his thoughts; Let him return to the Lord,

And He will have mercy on him; And to our God, For He will abundantly pardon.  NKJV

John the Baptist warned his generation of religious hypocrites and all men everywhere that true repentance demonstrates a changed life.

Matt 3:7 But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them,”Brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? 8 Therefore bear fruits worthy of repentance, 9 and do not think to say to yourselves,’We have Abraham as our father.’ For I say to you that God is able to raise up children to Abraham from these stones. 10 And even now the ax is laid to the root of the trees. Therefore every tree which does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 11 I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.   12 His winnowing fan is in His hand, and He will thoroughly clean out His threshing floor, and gather His wheat into the barn; but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.”  NKJV

An excellent example of true repentance…….a changed life.

Luke 19: 19 Then Jesus entered and passed through Jericho. 2 Now behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus who was a chief tax collector, and he was rich. 3 And he sought to see who Jesus was, but could not because of the crowd, for he was of short stature. 4 So he ran ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see Him, for He was going to pass that way.  5 And when Jesus came to the place, He looked up and saw him, and said to him, “Zacchaeus, make haste and come down, for today I must stay at your house.”  6 So he made haste and came down, and received Him joyfully. 7 But when they saw it, they all complained, saying,”He has gone to be a guest with a man who is a sinner.”

8 Then Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, “Look, Lord, I give half of my goods to the poor; and if I have taken anything from anyone by false accusation, I restore fourfold.”

9 And Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because he also is a son of Abraham;  10 for the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost .  NKJV

The key to repentance is not to resist the conviction of the Holy Spirit.

Heb 3:7 Therefore, as the Holy Spirit says: “Today, if you will hear His voice, 8 Do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion, NKJV

When conviction comes………..confess and repent!

Acts 2:36 “Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ.”

37 Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Men and brethren, what shall we do?”

38 Then Peter said to them,”Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call.”                    NKJV

1 John 1:7 But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.

8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us.  NKJV

 The basic principles , fundamental understanding, elementary steps, essential elements  are all terms that describe a starting place or a beginning place. However, if we are not well rooted in the basics, we will encounter difficulties in our walk of faith with the Lord. Those of us who are in the maturing process  have to walk by these basic precepts in order to continue to grow spiritually. In other words, we never out grow the basics. These basics are our foundation upon which we build our spiritual lives.           

Sin

In our present generation the idea of sin is almost a lost concept. We as a society do not call sin …….sin , there are no moral absolutes .For example, the Bible calls homosexuality sin, however,  society in general,  calls it an alternate life style. And again , the Bible calls lying a sin but society calls lying acceptable as a situation ethic.

Sin is rebellion against God’s laws.

1 John 3: 4 Everyone who sins is breaking God’s law, for all sin is contrary to the law of God.

Sins of omission

James 4:17  Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin. NKJV

Where does sin come from ?

John 8:44 You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it. NKJV

Man’s own heart.

Matt 15:19 For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies. NKJV

Jer 17:9 “The heart is deceitful above all things, And desperately wicked; Who can know it?

10 I, the Lord, search the heart, I test the mind, Even to give every man according to his ways,

According to the fruit of his doings.  NKJV

The consequences of sin……spiritual blindness

John 12: 40 “He has blinded their eyes and hardened their hearts, Lest they should see with their eyes,

Lest they should understand with their hearts and turn, So that I should heal them.”  NKJV

Rom 6:23  For the wages of sin is death, NKJV

Sickness and disease

John 5:14 Afterward Jesus found him in the temple, and said to him, “See, you have been made well. Sin no more, lest a worse thing come upon you.” NKJV

In order to escape the consequences of judgement for sin , we must :

Acknowledge

Ps 51: 3 For I acknowledge my transgressions, And my sin is always before me. NKJV

Repent

Mark 1:14Jesus came to Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, 15 and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel. NKJV

Forsake

Isa 55:7  Let the wicked forsake his way,  And the unrighteous man his thoughts; Let him return to the Lord, and He will have mercy on him; And to our God, For He will abundantly pardon.    NKJV

What is the Lord’s attitude about sin.

He will provide cleansing for sin.

Zech 13:1 “In that day a fountain shall be opened ……………. for sin and for uncleanness.  NKJV

Mic 7:19 He will again have compassion on us, And will subdue our iniquities. You will cast all our sins

Into the depths of the sea. NKJV

Jer 31:34 For I will forgive their iniquity, and their sin I will remember no more.”  NKJV

Jesus was sent into this darkened world to deal with the matter of sin once and for all time.

Jesus is our perfect sacrifice for sin because he was sinless.

2 Cor 5:21 For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. NKJV

1 John 3: 5 And you know that He was manifested to take away our sins, and in Him there is no sin. NKJV

Heb 9:14 how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works { sinful acts }  to serve the living God? NKJV

How does Jesus deal with people trapped in a life-style of sin ?

John 8:2 Now early in the morning He came again into the temple, and all the people came to Him; and He sat down and taught them. 3 Then the scribes and Pharisees brought to Him a woman caught in adultery. And when they had set her in the midst, 4 they said to Him, “Teacher, this woman was caught in adultery, in the very act. 5 Now Moses, in the law, commanded us that such should be stoned. But what do You say?”   6 This they said, testing Him, that they might have something of which to accuse Him. But Jesus stooped down and wrote on the ground with His finger, as though He did not hear. 

7 So when they continued asking Him, He raised Himself up and said to them, “He who is without sin among you, let him throw a stone at her first.”  8 And again He stooped down and wrote on the ground. 9 Then those who heard it, being convicted by their conscience, went out one by one, beginning with the oldest even to the last. And Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst. 10 When Jesus had raised Himself up and saw no one but the woman, He said to her, “Woman, where are those accusers of yours? Has no one condemned you?” 11 She said, “No one, Lord.”And Jesus said to her, “Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more.”  NKJV

How to resist sin .

Ps 119:11 Your word I have hidden in my heart, That I might not sin against You. NKJV

James 3:6  And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity. NKJV

Matt 26:40″What! Could you not watch with Me one hour?  41 Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”  NKJV

What if I sin ?

1 John 1:8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us. , these things I write to you, so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.

 The basic principles , fundamental understanding, elementary steps, essential elements  are all terms that describe a starting place or a beginning place. However, if we are not well rooted in the basics, we will encounter difficulties in our walk of faith with the Lord. Those of us who are in the maturing process  have to walk by these basic precepts in order to continue to grow spiritually. In other words, we never out grow the basics. These basics are our foundation upon which we build our spiritual lives.           

New Testament Basics

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

Note: In previous lessons we have covered the matters of: repentance from dead works { sinful deeds }

and now we go on to faith in God. However, we must understand that it takes faith to repent. So, as we can see these principles work together at the same time. Therefore, for our  study purposes we are separating them in order to better understand them.

Faith as defined by scripture.

Heb 11:1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.  NKJV

Heb 11:1 Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.  NIV

Heb 11:1 Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen; it gives us assurance about things we cannot see NLT

Heb 11:1 Trusting is being confident of what we hope for, convinced about things we do not see.  CJB

Heb 11:1 NOW FAITH is the assurance (the confirmation, the title deed) of the things [we] hope for, being the proof of things [we] do not see and the conviction of their reality [faith perceiving as real fact what is not revealed to the senses]. AMP

In order to walk with God,  faith is an absolute necessity. Think of faith as confidence in the testimony of another.

Heb 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please and be satisfactory to Him. For whoever would come near to God must [necessarily] believe that God exists and that He is the rewarder of those who earnestly and diligently seek Him [out].  AMP

Faith is a gift from the Holy Spirit .

Gal 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,

23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. KJV

Faith is an intricate part of salvation.

Eph 2:8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast. NKJV

Rom 10:8 The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith which we preach): 9 that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. NKJV

Mark 16:16  He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned. NKJV

John 3:16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. NKJV

Saving Faith

Rom 10:9 that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. NKJV

Temporary

Luke 8:13  ones on the rock are those who, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, who believe for a while and in time of temptation fall away. NKJV

Mental Assent or Intellectual Faith is  Dead Faith.

James 2:17 So also faith, if it does not have works (deeds and actions of obedience to back it up), by itself is destitute of power (inoperative, dead).    AMP

Real Faith is backed up with visible corresponding actions.

James 2:18 But someone will say, “You have faith, and I have works.” Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. 19 You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe — and tremble!  NKJV

Great Faith

Matt 8:5 Now when Jesus had entered Capernaum, a centurion came to Him, pleading with Him, 6 saying, “Lord, my servant is lying at home paralyzed, dreadfully tormented.”

7 And Jesus said to him, “I will come and heal him.”

8 The centurion answered and said, “Lord, I am not worthy that You should come under my roof. But only speak a word, and my servant will be healed. 9 For I also am a man under authority, having soldiers under me. And I say to this one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and to another, ‘Come,’ and he comes; and to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.”

10 When Jesus heard it, He marveled, and said to those who followed, “Assuredly, I say to you, I have not found such great faith, not even in Israel!  11 And I say to you that many will come from east and west, and sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven.  12 But the sons of the kingdom will be cast out into outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”  13 Then Jesus said to the centurion, “Go your way; and as you have believed, so let it be done for you.” And his servant was healed that same hour. NKJV

Persistent Faith

Matt 15:21 Then Jesus went out from there and departed to the region of Tyre and Sidon. 22 And behold, a woman of Canaan came from that region and cried out to Him, saying, “Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David! My daughter is severely demon‑possessed.”

23 But He answered her not a word.

And His disciples came and urged Him, saying, “Send her away, for she cries out after us.”

24 But He answered and said, “I was not sent except to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.”

25 Then she came and worshiped Him, saying, “Lord, help me!”

26 But He answered and said, “It is not good to take the children’s bread and throw it to the little dogs.”

27 And she said, “Yes, Lord, yet even the little dogs eat the crumbs which fall from their masters’ table.”

28 Then Jesus answered and said to her, “O woman, great is your faith! Let it be to you as you desire.” And her daughter was healed from that very hour.  NKJV

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 The basic principles , fundamental understanding, elementary steps, essential elements  are all terms that describe a starting place or a beginning place. However, if we are not well rooted in the basics, we will encounter difficulties in our walk of faith with the Lord. Those of us who are in the maturing process  have to walk by these basic precepts in order to continue to grow spiritually. In other words, we never out grow the basics. These basics are our foundation upon which we build our spiritual lives.           

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

Seven baptisms in scripture

John’s Baptism in water unto repentance

Matt 3:1 In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea, 2 and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!” 3 For this is he who was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah, saying:

“The voice of one crying in the wilderness:

‘Prepare the way of the Lord;

Make His paths straight.’” 

4 Now John himself was clothed in camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist; and his food was locusts and wild honey. 5 Then Jerusalem, all Judea, and all the region around the Jordan went out to him 6 and were baptized by him in the Jordan, confessing their sins.

7 But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them,”Brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? 8 Therefore bear fruits worthy of repentance, 9 and do not think to say to yourselves,’We have Abraham as our father.’ For I say to you that God is able to raise up children to Abraham from these stones. 10 And even now the ax is laid to the root of the trees. Therefore every tree which does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 11 I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.   12 His winnowing fan is in His hand, and He will thoroughly clean out His threshing floor, and gather His wheat into the barn; but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.”  NKJV

Christ’s baptism In water by John

Matt 3:13 Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptized by John. 14 But John tried to deter him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?”

15 Jesus replied, “Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness.” Then John consented.

16 As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and lighting on him. 17 And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.”  NIV

The baptism of suffering

Matt 20:20 Then the mother of James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to Jesus with her sons. She knelt respectfully to ask a favor. 21 “What is your request?” he asked.

She replied, “In your Kingdom, please let my two sons sit in places of honor next to you, one on your right and the other on your left.”

22 But Jesus answered by saying to them, “You don’t know what you are asking! Are you able to drink from the bitter cup of suffering I am about to drink?”

“Oh yes,” they replied, “we are able!”

23 Jesus told them, “You will indeed drink from my bitter cup. But I have no right to say who will sit on my right or my left. My Father has prepared those places for the ones he has chosen.” NLT

Symbolic baptism of the OT believers in the cloud and the sea

1 Cor 10:1 Brothers and sisters, I want you to know what happened to our ancestors who followed Moses. They were all under the cloud and all went through the sea. 2 They were all baptized as followers of Moses in the cloud and in the sea. 3 They all ate the same spiritual food, 4 and all drank the same spiritual drink. They drank from that spiritual rock that followed them, and that rock was Christ. 5 But God was not pleased with most of them, so they died in the desert. 6 And these things happened as examples for us, to stop us from wanting evil things as those people did. 7 Do not worship idols, as some of them did. Just as it is written in the Scriptures: “They sat down to eat and drink, and then they got up and sinned sexually.”   8 We must not take part in sexual sins, as some of them did. In one day twenty‑three thousand of them died because of their sins. 9 We must not test Christ as some of them did; they were killed by snakes. 10 Do not complain as some of them did; they were killed by the angel that destroys.  NCV

The spiritual  baptism of the new birth into the body of Christ

1 Cor 12: 13 Some of us are Jews, some are Gentiles, some are slaves, and some are free. But we have all been baptized into one body by one Spirit, and we all share the same Spirit.  NLT

Rom 6:1 So then, are we to say, “Let’s keep on sinning, so that there can be more grace”? 2 Heaven forbid! How can we, who have died to sin, still live in it? 3 Don’t you know that those of us who have been immersed into the Messiah Yeshua have been immersed into his death? 4 Through immersion into his death we were buried with him; so that just as, through the glory of the Father, the Messiah was raised from the dead, likewise we too might live a new life. 5 For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we will also be united with him in a resurrection like his. 6 We know that our old self was put to death on the execution‑stake with him, so that the entire body of our sinful propensities might be destroyed, and we might no longer be enslaved to sin. 7 For someone who has died has been cleared from sin. CJB

Gal 3:27  For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. NKJV

Col 2:2 For in baptism you see how your old, evil nature died with him and was buried with him; and then you came up out of death with him into a new life because you trusted the Word of the mighty God who raised Christ from the dead. TLB

Christian baptism in water as commanded by Christ

Matt 28:18 He told his disciples, “I have been given all authority in heaven and earth. 19 Therefore go and make disciples in all the nations, baptizing them into the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and then teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you; and be sure of this‑that I am with you always, even to the end of the world.”  TLB

The baptism of the Holy Spirit

Luke 24:49 Behold, I send the Promise of My Father upon you; but tarry in the city of Jerusalem until you are endued with power from on high.” NKJV

Acts 1:5 for John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.”  NKJV

Acts 1:8 But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” NKJV

Acts 2:1 When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. 2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3 Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. 4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.  NKJV

The basic principles , fundamental understanding, elementary steps, essential elements  are all terms that describe a starting place or a beginning place. However, if we are not well rooted in the basics, we will encounter difficulties in our walk of faith with the Lord. Those of us who are in the maturing process  have to walk by these basic precepts in order to continue to grow spiritually. In other words, we never out grow the basics. These basics are our foundation upon which we build our spiritual lives.

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

The Doctrine of Laying on of Hands

To impart the blessing of the first born.

Gen 48:14 Then Israel stretched out his right hand and laid it on Ephraim’s head, who was the younger, and his left hand on Manasseh’s head, guiding his hands knowingly, for Manasseh was the firstborn. 15 And he blessed Joseph, and said:

“God, before whom my fathers Abraham and Isaac walked,

The God who has fed me all my life long to this day,

16 The Angel who has redeemed me from all evil,

Bless the lads;

Let my name be named upon them,

And the name of my fathers Abraham and Isaac;

And let them grow into a multitude in the midst of the earth.” NKJV

To transfer sin from the transgressor to the sacrificial animal.

Num 8:5 Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying: 6 “Take the Levites from among the children of Israel and cleanse them ceremonially.  7 Thus you shall do to them to cleanse them: Sprinkle water of purification on them, and let them shave all their body, and let them wash their clothes, and so make themselves clean. 8 Then let them take a young bull with its grain offering of fine flour mixed with oil, and you shall take another young bull as a sin offering. 9 And you shall bring the Levites before the tabernacle of meeting, and you shall gather together the whole congregation of the children of Israel. 10 So you shall bring the Levites before the Lord, and the children of Israel shall lay their hands on the Levites; 11 and Aaron shall offer the Levites before the Lord like a wave offering from the children of Israel, that they may perform the work of the Lord. 12 Then the Levites shall lay their hands on the heads of the young bulls, and you shall offer one as a sin offering and the other as a burnt offering to the Lord, to make atonement for the Levites.

13 “And you shall stand the Levites before Aaron and his sons, and then offer them like a wave offering to the Lord. 14 Thus you shall separate the Levites from among the children of Israel, and the Levites shall be Mine. NKJV

Ordination

Num 27:18 And the Lord said to Moses: “Take Joshua the son of Nun with you, a man in whom is the Spirit, and lay your hand on him; 19 set him before Eleazar the priest and before all the congregation, and inaugurate him in their sight. 20 And you shall give some of your authority to him, that all the congregation of the children of Israel may be obedient. 21 He shall stand before Eleazar the priest, who shall inquire before the Lord for him by the judgment of the Urim. At his word they shall go out, and at his word they shall come in, he and all the children of Israel with him — all the congregation.”

22 So Moses did as the Lord commanded him. He took Joshua and set him before Eleazar the priest and before all the congregation. 23 And he laid his hands on him and inaugurated him, just as the Lord ioncommanded by the hand of Moses. NKJV

Blessing children

Mark 10:13 People were bringing little children to Jesus to have him touch them, but the disciples rebuked them. 14 When Jesus saw this, he was indignant. He said to them, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. 15 I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.”  16 And he took the children in his arms, put his hands on them and blessed them.  NIV

Healing the sick

Mark 16:15‑19

15 And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.  16 He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned.  17 And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues;  18 they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.” NKJV

Miracles

Acts 19:11 Now God worked unusual miracles by the hands of Paul, 12 so that even handkerchiefs or aprons were brought from his body to the sick, and the diseases left them and the evil spirits went out of them. NKJV

Impartation of spiritual gifts

1 Tim 4:14 Do not neglect the gift that is in you, which was given to you by prophecy with the laying on of the hands of the eldership. NKJV

Impartation of the baptism of the Holy Spirit

Acts 8:14 Now when the apostles who were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them, 15 who, when they had come down, prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit. 16 For as yet He had fallen upon none of them. They had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. 17 Then they laid hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.   NKJV

Acts 19:1 And it happened, while Apollos was at Corinth, that Paul, having passed through the upper regions, came to Ephesus. And finding some disciples 2 he said to them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?”

So they said to him,”We have not so much as heard whether there is a Holy Spirit.”

3 And he said to them, “Into what then were you baptized?”

So they said,”Into John’s baptism.”

4 Then Paul said,”John indeed baptized with a baptism of repentance, saying to the people that they should believe on Him who would come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus.”

5 When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. 6. And when Paul had laid hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they spoke with tongues and prophesied NKJV

Raising the dead

Matt 9:18 While He spoke these things to them, behold, a ruler came and worshiped Him, saying, “My daughter has just died, but come and lay Your hand on her and she will live.” 19 So Jesus arose and followed him, and so did His disciples.

Matt 9:25 went in and took her by the hand, and the girl arose. NKJV

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