Of Faith Toward God

(Heb 6:1 KJV) 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,

Hebrews 6:1 contains a phrase which is probably the most difficult phrase in the Bible to comprehend. I have read and heard volumes on the rest of the list in Heb 6:1-4 but nothing on the phrase "leaving.....faith toward God". I have read every commentary I can get my hands on concerning this passage but NONE of them have had any comment on this phrase. Since every word of scripture (in original) is inspired by God they are all important. This phrase has been put here for a reason but it seems no one wants to look it in the face and attempt to understand what it means.

There have been many times I have brought up this phrase in debates and conversations about the scripture with the question, “What does this mean?” No one has of yet given an answer and most ignore it or try to dance around it with meaningless gibber. I have my ideas and will share them here. Whether it be right or wrong – God knows, but at least I have not run away from the phrase but have looked it in the face to attempt to gain understanding, to gain awareness of what God is telling us through His inspired word.

I am not a psychologist but I have worked with children and families. I know that it is a bad sign when a child clings to his mother. This is a sign that they are insecure and will not leave mom's side because of fear of abandonment or receiving conditional love based upon the child’s actions. The child’s action is what determines whether or not the mother loves him. When the actions are bad, love is withheld, when good, it is given. This conditional love creates a life long conditioning and sets in motion the addiction to approval and acceptance.

Everyone knows children flourish under love and will have healthy lives which mature at the rate they should. Those nurtured with unconditional love will never question their parents love for them and are free to be themselves, to learn from their mistakes and become responsible for those mistakes. They are able to leave mom's side and go off and play or work, whatever, all the while knowing mom always loves and accepts them for who they are and not because of what they do. They are able to experience life to the fullest. The spirit of unconditional love gives life.

Those who are under strict laws and punishment which sometimes leads to abuse may grow up looking like they are successful, etc, but much of their life is motivated by fear and guilt which was instilled in them by their rigid parents. Some live their entire lives trying to please their parents and earn love by being good. Sometimes those parents control the children even from their graves and the adult children never do become free from the demanding influence of the parents. Then they begin demanding compliance to their control and power hunger and distributing or withholding love based on the actions of those around them. This is done to the same strictness they were under and it goes on and on and on, throughout generations. Legalistic conditions on loving are the result of one thing - the thirst for power and control. The spirit of conditional love through the law of power and control kills and creates tyrants and dictators.

Any child psychologist will tell you that when a child is insecure in his parents love he will constantly be clinging to them, hoovering around them wanting to gain approval. In the long run he becomes addicted to approval and lives a big part of his life needing approval in order to be happy - to get his fix. Part of that 'fix' is power and control. Either that or they will go to the opposite end and become involved in rebellion which includes abuses of all types – from drug abuse to people abuse. This rebellion is often interpreted as rebellion against God when in reality it is rebellion against their parents for not loving them unconditionally and inwardly killing them with the poison of their parents addiction to power and control.

A child who is secure in his parents love and have been given freedom from which he learns responsibility is not clingy because he knows they will not abandon him. Does he screw up? Of course, he is a child but wise parents will discipline him with love not demand obedience to their false perceived control issues of power.

However, on the other hand, the feelings of conditional love might be in the mind only of the child and not a reality. It may be the child is receiving unconditional love but misinterprets that love as being conditional. However, this is usually not the case.

How does this example show us a picture of God's unconditional love for us?

The sacrificial system in the OT led to insecurity and feeling of abandonment by God. "If" they sacrificed like they should and always did what was right, God would accept them. If they didn't, He wouldn't. The Hebrews to whom this book was written had just been told in the previous 5 chapters about Jesus Christ. Heb. 1 - God's FINAL revelation of Himself in His Son, Jesus Christ. Heb. 2 - Instruction to GIVE HEED to what God is really like as He shows Himself through His Son. Heb 3 - Jesus as our High Priest, a priest not like the humans priests of the Old Cov but as a Son who died for our sins which is the complete, final picture of unconditional love and represents us before His Father. Heb 4 - The rest we can have if we believe the final revelation of God through His Son. Heb 5 - Jesus the high Priest who became perfect through suffering and IS the source of eternal life and freedom from trying to gain acceptance from God through our actions.

It is through this knowledge and trust of Him who is the final revelation of God and who gave His life for us that we can leave (stop clinging to) God because He loves us unconditionally. We don't have to remain insecure in temporary sacrifices or fear of not always doing the right thing for we have the One and Only sacrifice in Christ who kept the Law perfectly as our representative before God. We can go forth in the freedom of that and treat others the same way God through Christ Jesus has treated us and not insist on having to have power plays and controlling others. We don’t have to become addicted to power and control in order to gain approval and acceptance from God because as believers we already have it in Jesus Christ who laid His life down and died for all our sins. KNOWING this gives us the freedom to leave God as Christ left His godhood for us and laid His life down for us, to do that for others, to accept others, to love others because we know we are loved by God. We cannot do this if we are not secure in God's love for us displayed in Jesus Christ. If we refuse this we are dead in sin and in bondage to sin and death. To refuse this knowledge of God in Christ makes us turn 1 Jn. 4:19 around making it say God will love us IF we love instead of the truth that “we love BECAUSE He first loved us.”

(1 John 4:18 KJV) There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.

(1 John 4:19 KJV) We love him, because he first loved us.

To understand is life, truth, and freedom.
(John 8:32 KJV) And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.