*LESSON TWO: (FIRST PRINCIPLES OF THE DOCTRINE OF CHRIST.)*

*LESSON TWO: (FIRST PRINCIPLES OF THE DOCTRINE OF CHRIST.)*

*PROGRAM 1. MILK OF THE WORD*

?? Paul the apostle Introduced to us some of the basic foundational truths of the word and categorised them as the milk of the word.

?? Hebrews 5:12-14 KJV 12 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.

?? 1st Corinthians 3:1-2 KJV 1 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.

?? So the milk of the word is the first principle of the doctrine of Christ or foundational truth that every believer ought to understand.

First means something that you begin with. It is there to introduce you to a higher truth. In other words it is the beginning point for something.

The apostle Peter also spoke of them and told us to always be nourished under this doctrine. This doctrine helps us in our growth patterns.

?? 1st Peter 2:2 KJV As newborn babes, DESIRE THE SINCERE MILK OF THE WORD, that ye may grow thereby:

?? Paul gives us a list of six then urges us by the spirit to head unto perfection after establishing those places. Paul gives us six of them because the seventh is a dimension of perfection. Seven is the number of perfect.

?? Hebrews 6:1-2 KJV 1 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, 2 Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment.

?? Repentance from dead works
?? Faith toward God
?? Doctrine of baptism
?? Laying of hands
?? Resurrection from the dead
?? Eternal judgment.

All these follow a certain pattern with them. For example when you study the first four it’s so interesting how they connect. When a person repents from dead works then they will begin building their faith on God and after that they receive baptism to the end of ministry which includes laying on of hands.

?? As deep as Paul was, it is still evident in scriptures that he taught these first principles. Some people say they don’t need them but that is negligence at a certain point in time.

?? Act 20:20-21 KJV 20 And how I kept back nothing that was profitable unto you, but have shewed you, and have taught you publickly, and from house to house, 21 Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, REPENTANCE TOWARD GOD, and FAITH TOWARD OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST.

?? Scriptures also speak of him disputing and instructing many in a school and the only school that we are told of was a school of the discipes where he always taught and he did this for the space of two years.

?? Act 19:9-10 KJV 9 But when divers were hardened, and believed not, but spake evil of that way before the multitude, *he departed from them, and SEPARATED THE DISCIPLES, disputing daily in the SCHOOL OF ONE TYRANNUS.* 10 And this continued by the space of two years; so that all they which dwelt in Asia heard the word of the Lord Jesus, both Jews and Greeks.

The Greek word for separating the disciples there means he separated them by rank and boundaries. That is to say, some were feeding on milk, others were on strong meat etc.

Paul raised disciples meaning they included all the other offices, whether you were an apostle or a prophet or a pastor or a teacher etc Paul named them disciples. That’s why you don’t hear Paul having a school of prophets or apostles,or teachers, but he has a school of disciples hallelujah glory to God.

All offices need to be discipled into the basic truths even if with distinctions among yourselves.

?? Everyday many are being added to the kingdom. And they don’t come as the mature, they come as babes in Christ who also need milk. So how do you say that for you as a teacher by the great comission don’t have to teach the basic truths?

So seek to have a perfect understanding of these basic truths.