The author of the book of Hebrews is quite stern in his warning against apostasy. From apathy and stunted spiritual growth, he warns, we lose our ability to discern “good from evil”—an ironic return to the temptation in Eden, only now we’ve truly been given a way to know and to choose what is right.
About this we have much to say, and it is hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing. For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the basic principles of the oracles of God. You need milk, not solid food, for everyone who lives on milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, since he is a child. But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil.— Heb. 5:11–14
How can we nurture spiritual growth? To what practices should we commit ourselves? Here are some resolutions to consider for the new year.
Resolve to Learn Something New About the Faith
Hebrews is a stunning book to read, one that gets richer and deeper, not only with each return to its comforting pages, but with an expanded understanding of its biblical context. Its hope and comfort is drawn from the types and shadows of the Old Testament, the theology as revealed to the saints of old and their unfolding stories within the grand narrative of redemption. It is a wonderful example of how understanding part of “the faith once for all delivered to the saints” (Jude 3) enriches our understanding of the Christian faith as a whole.
With that in mind, a good practice for the believer is to always be learning. And the good news is: there is so much to learn! Pick a few theologians to study this year and find their biographies. Ask your pastor or someone whose faith you admire which books have been most influential in shaping their Christian walk and see if you can get a copy. Start a prayer journal, even if it’s just jotting down a few words at night before bed.
Maybe, if you are in the middle of a busy life season—caretaking, studies, or a challenging work context—committing to this practice looks like slowly but consistently working through a new book of the Bible, or one you haven’t read in a while. Perhaps it’s just five minutes a day, or half an hour every Saturday. Be reading!
But remember, too, that this good pursuit of knowing God and his church will not save you; it will serve instead to strengthen your faith in the promises already assured to you.
Psalm 19 tells us that “The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul” (Ps. 19:17), that it makes the heart rejoice and enlightens the eyes. It’s easy to consider time in our Bibles and in prayer a burden or a duty, in which we all too often fail, but Scripture tells us that we can and should approach God’s word with delight. It’s a blessing to hear from our God, not a burden or a checklist item. We can rest in this because we know that our salvation is not won by how often we read our Bibles and it’s not lost by how frequently we leave them untouched. Rather, we can commit to coming to his word when we are able, knowing that he will use it as a stream that waters, grows, and gives life (Ps. 1).
Practice Putting to Death Your Sin
The author of this letter points out that the spiritually mature are trained by “constant practice.” We sometimes assume that, if we’re saved, we’re as good as we’re going to get. Maybe we diminish “little sins”—like gossip, impatience, gluttony, or lewd speech—as not really that bad. Maybe we assume we can’t fight the bigger sins in our lives and tell ourselves instead that they are forgiven already, so there’s no need to worry or change. But Paul, James and John all assert that the proof of salvation is seen in how Christians act—in their love for one another (John 13:35), in demonstrating the fruit of the Spirit (Gal. 5:22–23; Matt. 7:20), and in being a “doer of the word” (James 1:25). James writes: “Religion that is pure and undefiled before God the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world” (James 1:27).
It is essential that we continue to practice holiness, godliness, and good works. And it does take practice. I suppose, if God wanted to, he could snap his fingers and make those who are regenerate also instantly holy and sinless, but he doesn’t. He is pleased to use ordinary means for the working out of our sanctification, and humans are creatures of habit, so we must practice the habit of sanctified lives.
Be encouraged that this, too, is not a guarantee of your salvation, which has already been purchased by Christ and sealed by the Holy Spirit. We will fail in our efforts of “constant practice,” both in the constancy and in the practice itself. Know that Christ has not failed and it is his perfect righteousness that will clothe us when we stand before God the Father. As J. Gresham Machen telegrammed on January 1, 1937, just before his death: “I'm so thankful for the active obedience of Christ. No hope without it.”
So, although you may be tempted to give up on this practice in February when you’ve also stopped going to the gym or reading through your booklist, press on! The victory is already won—we have only to run the race.
Don’t Outgrow the Gospel
Perhaps the biggest mistake a Christian can make is thinking they’re beyond the basics. All of Hebrews describes the grand mediatorial work of the God-man, standing before the Father on our behalf. We will always, always need this good news. It will grow deeper and richer with study and as we experience God’s grace in our lives, but it will never be more than this: that we are secured in the work of “Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God” (Heb. 12:2).
When you find yourself falling short in growth and spiritual maturity, when you are encumbered by your own sin and entangled by fleshly desires, do not despair. It is in the security of Christ’s priestly work for our sins that we can be encouraged to keep running and “lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us” (Heb. 12:1).
