Fundamental Doctrines of Christ

A couple of sermons ago, I introduced the topic of why we should read the Old Testament. And I gave you a lot of reasons of how the New Testament is based on the Old Testament. And then, one sermon ago or two sermons ago, I talked to you about building a habit of consistent Bible study. Studying the Bible every day. And during that sermon, I asked if you remembered that I had introduced to you the idea that there is one passage in the Bible that you could go to to give an answer for the hope that lies within you.

When someone asks you, why do you believe what you believe? Or, why do you believe something different? Why don't you keep Christmas? Why don't you keep Easter? You know, why do you keep those? And they would say Jewish holidays. I would object. Those are God's holidays. God's holy days, if you will. He put those in place. And, can you give an answer? And the temptation would be to turn to a church booklet.

To bring out some tract, which people are fairly used to. You have one in your pocket. You pull it out. I've literally seen people do that on the streets, on YouTube videos. Have those church tracts ready. And they can preach from that tract. But how much more credibility would it be if you could actually give your answer from the Bible? And so I asked you, did you remember there's one passage where you can go to that in two verses list all of our doctrines, at least the basics of them. It gives the entire plan of God in two little verses.

And you can go to those two verses and literally have talking points right out of the Bible. How much credibility would that be? So I gave, a few years ago, a five-part series on those two scriptures. And I asked if you remembered them, and most of you did not. And I was not disappointed in that at all. Believe it or not, because I understand the principle, we gather or take in about 20% of what we hear. So if I'm giving a five-part series, you pulled out probably one little bit of that five-part series that's with you.

And it's vague in your memory. So where was that one passage that you can go to when somebody says, why do you believe what you believe? Can you turn to the Bible in a moment's notice and give your answer to them from the Word of God without any assistance from some church booklet? Church booklets are great, don't get me wrong. But there's nothing that builds credibility like reading what we believe from the Bible. I mean, after all, if we claim we're following the Word of God, shouldn't we be able to answer from the Word of God?

So what I'm going to do today, in the time we have left, which is pretty good, I am going to go through that passage. It's in Hebrews 6, verses 1 and 2. Hebrews 6, verses 1 and 2. It lists the basic doctrines of Jesus Christ. And we're going to go through, rather probably quickly, and just review how to give an answer from the Bible of what it is that you believe and why you believe it.

Let's go through the fundamental teachings of Jesus Christ, right out of the Bible. You might want to highlight these if you have a paper Bible or make an electronic note if you have an electronic Bible. I like the electronic Bible because I can then place notes. It has a little notepad. I can actually put an entire Bible study level amount of notes on one verse. I can put all the references on one verse. There's a verse in Revelation chapter 20 that says, Satan will be loose for a thousand years.

We're very familiar with that verse. But it doesn't answer why he will be loose for a thousand years. So I have in my notes all the reference scriptures for what it is that Satan does and how God uses Satan to help Christians and why God would loose Satan after he resurrects all of mankind who ever lived.

The second resurrection. And he lets Satan go on them. Why would he do that? And can you give an answer? And even I would probably fumble around giving an answer except for the fact that I have notes in my electronic Bible. I just press a little thing and that little sermon pops up because I've already prepared it. You can do the same thing here with Hebrews chapter 6 verses 1 and 2.

You can jot yourself little talking points, and if you have it on your phone, your electronic Bible on your phone, you can pop your notes up. You can have a great conversation with people as much or as little as they want. So let's start. I'm going to read two different versions of Hebrews chapter 6 verse 1. NIV and New King James. We'll start with the NIV. Therefore, let us leave the elementary teachings about Christ.

Now he says we're supposed to leave those things. In other words, we're to go beyond the basics, but today we're going to go through the basics, what they are, so that we can tell people.

Let us leave the elementary teachings about Christ and go on to maturity. Now NIV says maturity. New King James says perfection. Notice. Therefore, leaving the discussion of the elementary principles of Christ, let us go on or leave those elementary things to perfection. So who has it more right? The NIV or the New King James? Is it maturity or is it perfection? The answer is yes.

And that's why I read both. Because the Greek word doesn't just mean without flaw. Like perfection is without flaw. But it also means fully grown up. But it doesn't just mean fully grown up. It means fully grown up without flaw. So it actually means perfectly mature. That's what the Greek word means there. So that's what Paul wrote in Hebrews 6 verse 1. And then in verse 2, he lists the foundational teachings or doctrines of true Christianity. And he says, not laying again the foundation. Here is the foundation of your faith. This is it. Verse 2. Repentance from dead works. Faith towards God.

Doctrine of baptism. Laying on of hands. The resurrection of the dead.

And eternal judgment. That literally covers the scope of the plan of God. That the Lamb who was slain from the foundation of the world was slain for that plan. Right there. That was just listed. Let's today look at the meaning and importance of each of those fundamental beliefs. So that you don't read them and they're just words. But when you read them, they pop off the page with a full-blown discussion of what you believe. You know it. And here's a list that will give you the talking points to explain it. Let's start. Right? We'll just go in a row and we'll get through as many of them as we can. And if we don't get through all of them today, it's okay. Because you have literally heard all of this before.

It's just condensed in one location. So why do you believe what you believe? Right out of the Bible. Where is it? If you get nothing else from this sermon today, Hebrews 6, verses 1 and 2. Make that a memory verse for yourself. Hebrews 6, verses 1 and 2. Okay. Let's start with the very first one he listed. Repentance from dead works. What does that have to do with the elementary principles of Jesus Christ? That is exactly what Jesus Christ came to preach. This is the opening salvo, if you will, of the battle of sin. Is to get people to change. Turn away from doing things your own way. Turn away from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. And turn back to the tree of life.

Matthew 9. Repentance from dead works.

Basic fundamental teaching of Christianity. Why are we here? Why do we believe what we believe? Matthew 9, verse 12. When Jesus heard that, He said to them, verse 12, Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. But go and learn what this means.

I desire mercy and not sacrifice. For I did not come to call the righteous. And we're going to read in just a minute. That means He came to call all of us.

Because none of us are righteous. None of us are right. None of us are correct.

I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance. Why did Jesus come? This is the starting point of Christianity. Why did He come? To call us? To invite us?

To change. Mark 6, verse 10.

This is our job. Now, to tell, not only to repent personally. We don't just tell other people. We don't get out of repenting. First, we have to repent. But then we're also, like Mr. Piper said in the sermonette today, to share this with other people. Notice, Matthew 6, verse 10. Also, He said to them, In whatever place you enter a house, stay there until you depart from that place. And whoever will not receive you nor hear you, when you depart from there, shake off the dust from under your feet and testimony against them. Now, He's talking about doing the work of God. He's telling His disciples, those who would preach the Gospel. This would be like telling Mr. Petty, and Mr. Shaby, and Darris McNeely, and Steve Myers, Okay, guys, this is what I want you to preach when you get on the television. This is what Jesus is saying. He says, Assuredly, I say to you, it would be more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment than for that city. People that didn't listen to the Gospel message.

So they went out, and they preached that people should what? Repent.

What is the Gospel message? Turn away from the tree of knowledge of good and evil. Turn away from doing things your own way. Allow God in your life. Allow Him to tell you how to live. How to think. How to speak. Luke 24. Verse 46.

Why did Jesus Christ come and die? This is a very good time of year to do this sermon, just before Passover. Why did Jesus Christ become our Passover? Luke 24. Verse 46.

Then He said to them, Thus it is written, and thus it was necessary for Christ to suffer and rise from the dead on the third day. Why?

Why did Christ have to die? Listen how this fits into the basic doctrine of repentance. And that repentance and the remission of sin should be preached in His name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. Why did Christ come and die? So that you and I would go out and preach repentance and the remission of sins so that people would be saved from the death penalty.

Verse 48. And you are witnesses of these things. 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. Okay, so what does repentance mean? It means turning away from your old self, your old past, what the habits you were in that tear relationships down, that tear your health down, that tear your life down, and turn back to the way of life.

That's the first fundamental belief. And that's just one little statement in one verse, Hebrews 6 and 2. Let's move on now to the second one. We're doing pretty good on time. The second one is baptism.

And I believe Mr. Piper read this, but I want you to notice how repentance dovetails into baptism. Let's go to Acts 2, verse 36 again. Acts 2, verse 36.

Peter is giving his sermon on the Feast of Pentecost. This is the beginning of the church when they first received the Holy Spirit. And he says in verse 36, therefore, let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ. So what is Peter doing here?

Remember, in the Gospel accounts, we read that Jesus Christ came to die so that they would preach repentance and remission of sin. Now, here's Peter at the very beginning of the church, and what is he preaching? Repentance and the forgiveness of sin. And notice, he adds baptism.

And now, when they heard this, they were cut to the heart. And they said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, men and brethren, what shall we do? And then Peter said to them, repent! That's the first thing we learned. And let every one of you be baptized. Those two things fit together. Repentance and baptism. In the name of Jesus Christ, why? Same reason it was mentioned in the Gospels that they were to preach. The same reason Christ died and suffered. For the remission of sins so that you would be forgiven. So the death penalty was paid by Christ and not by you.

And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

For this promise is to you and your children and all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call.

And with many other words, he testified and exhorted them, saying, Be saved from this perverse generation.

Then those who gladly receive this Word, were baptized.

And that day, about 3,000 souls were added to them.

Now, that was the Apostle Peter. He went on and he wrote a couple of letters. But the Apostle Paul came along and wrote the majority of the New Testament. And in Romans, Paul actually explains baptism. Why we do it and what it represents. Romans 6 and verse 1.

And we'll see how much of it we'll read. Romans 6 and verse 1. What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? Now, God is graceful. Jesus Christ came and suffered and died a horrible death. And He was beaten and criticized and spat upon before He died. All of the consequences of sin, in other words, were poured on Him.

And we didn't earn that. And Paul is making this point in Romans that none of us are actually spiritually healthy people.

None of us earned it. And it was grace. But then he makes the point, but wait a minute. What is your response to Jesus Christ's sacrifice? And that's why this discussion is so powerful. He says, shall we continue in sin that grace, that death that we didn't deserve in our stead, may abound?

Certainly not. In other words, no, we should not continue to live in sin.

How shall we who died to sin live in it any longer? Now, what does He mean you died to sin? And this is where baptism comes in. This is why it is such a powerful symbol. I was baptized as a young man.

I have forgotten what I ate for breakfast last week. You probably have, too. Unless it was a super memorable breakfast. I've forgotten many conversations I've had over the past few years. I've never forgotten my baptism. That was amazing. Because of everything that it symbolized, and everything that it meant.

Verse 4, Therefore, how did we die at that baptism to death? Here it is. Here's the explanation. We were buried with Him through baptism into death.

Baptism is actually a funeral.

A funeral for who?

The old you. Listen. Paul literally says that. It's a funeral for the old you. You repent. You commit to turning back to God. And you say, I will become a new me in Christ. Listen. We were buried with Him through baptism into death, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father. Even so, we should walk in newness of life. For we have been united together in the likeness of His death. So it's a likeness of death. In other words, Paul is saying it's a ceremony.

You go down under that water. You are committing to saying, my life is over. And when I come out of that water, I'm going to walk in newness of life. My life is yours. My life is yours.

I no longer own my life. Verse 5. For if we were united together in the likeness of His death, that's baptism. Don't lose your place. Certainly, we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection. And that is so encouraging. We're going to have a spirit body. 1 Thessalonians 4, if we get there by the end of the sermon. It's a really encouraging thing. 1 Corinthians 15.

Sown in corruption, raised in power.

The likeness of His resurrection.

Knowing this, that our old man, the old me, that grumpy, terrible rod, that whatever terrible you went under that water, symbolically, and we had a funeral for that person.

See, this is simple. These are the basic doctrines of Christ. We've gone through a couple so far, right? Repentance, we know what that is. Turning away from our sins towards God. Being baptized, having a funeral for the old me. You can explain this.

He says that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin. We are free. Free from the law? No! Free from sin and all those consequences. All the bad things that happened when we used to do them. Drop down to verse 12. Therefore, do not let sin reign in your mortal body, that you should obey its lusts.

That explains baptism so well.

Okay, so we've gone through two.

Repentance from dead works and baptism. The third one, you have to have to repent and be baptized. It's crucial. It starts the process, takes you through the process, and takes you all the way to the end of the process of your life. And that is faith towards God.

This is like the crucial fulcrum that everything in your life balances on in your walk with God. And I think that's why Paul put it in the middle of this passage.

Acts chapter 20 and verse 18.

Acts 20 verse 18. And when they had come and said to him, he said to them, you know from the first day that I came to Asia, in what manner I always lived among you. Now Paul is talking to people here, the brethren. Verse 19. Serving the Lord with all humility, with many tears and trials, which happened to me with the plot by the plotting of the Jews.

So Christianity was not popular. He was one of the leading teachers of Christianity. And he got beaten and left for dead more than once. He had to escape by being lowered down the wall in a basket to get away from people trying to kill him. He was shipwrecked. He was bitten by a snake. When he said many tears, he wasn't being a baby. He meant, you know, things that would make a soldier cry.

Verse 20. How I kept back nothing that was helpful, but proclaimed to you and taught it to you publicly from house to house, testifying to the Jews and the Greeks, repentance towards God, and not just repentance, but faith towards our Lord Jesus Christ. That word, I've told you many times, and I am very pleased to keep telling you until I die what that word means. Belief, trust, loyalty.

And it doesn't mean one of them. It means all three. You can't separate one from another. You must believe so much that you trust.

So much that you are loyal. So, in a lot of ways, the word could be stated as loyalty. As long as you understand it means belief and trust also. Belief, trust, and loyalty to our Lord Jesus Christ.

Belief, trust, and loyalty is the pivotal thing that begins our walk with Jesus Christ. And finishes our walk with Jesus Christ. Hebrews 11 and verse 6. How important is it? Hebrews 11 and verse 6. But without faith, it is impossible to please Him. Impossible.

You don't get off the starting line until you believe and trust and commit to be loyal. But without loyalty, it is impossible to please Him. For He who comes to God, and usually in the New Testament, when they use the word God, they're speaking of the Father. Usually, once in a while, it refers to Jesus Christ. And I'm not saying Jesus Christ isn't God. I'm just saying how they use the word when they wrote in the New Testament. Usually, when they wrote the word Lord, they meant Jesus Christ. And usually, when they wrote the word God, they meant the Father. For He who comes to God must believe that He is, and He is the rewarder of those who... And notice the application of this word loyalty. Those who diligently seek Him.

Diligently try to be with God. Faith is a trust in God that goes beyond your own ability to obey. And this is the point I want to drive home today.

It goes beyond your ability to obey. It's a reliance on God to do what is impossible for you to do on your own. Let me say that again. Faith is a reliance on God to do what is impossible for you to do on your own.

The gap between you and God is bigger than standing on one side of the Grand Canyon and trying to jump to the other side at the widest point.

The gap between you and God is farther than that.

You can't make that jump. But you rely on God to get you across.

That. That is faith. You trust and obey. And He gives you the strength to go beyond your own ability to overcome that old self, which in baptism you said symbolically is dead. But when you come out of that water, that was just symbolism. You're still you.

Romans 3 verse 21.

Romans 3, 21. God will get you through. God will give you the strength. And it requires faith that God will do that. Belief, trust, and loyalty. Verse chapter 3 of Romans verse 21. But now the righteousness of God is apart from the law is revealed. What does that mean? God's righteousness is way above the law. The law says don't kill. That's not love. But it's a good start. The law says you shall have only one God before you. That doesn't mean you love Him. It just means you acknowledge He's your only God. But it's a good start.

The law is apart. God is apart from the law. There is a canyon between just keeping the law and actually being like God. What a huge statement that is.

Being witnessed by the law and the prophets. In other words, the law and the prophets point you to God. They point you in the direction you need to go, but they're the starting point. That's why they can never be done away. The law never goes away. It's kindergarten. It's the starting line. First you learn how to spell. Then you learn how to read. Then you read bigger and bigger concepts.

Then you become educated. But once you're educated, you don't forget how to spell.

Once you become a mature Christian, you don't forget the law.

Verse 22. Even the righteousness of God, through faith in Jesus Christ, loyalty to Jesus Christ, to all and on all who believe. For there is no difference.

And remember, this is a conflict in Romans between Jews and Gentiles. There's no difference.

There's no ethnic divide in the church. There is none.

And notice, he's not being complimentary.

You're like, oh right.

He's being so woke. No. He's doing the opposite. Listen. For there is no difference between Jews and Gentiles. For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.

We're all sinners.

Nobody can throw a stone at anybody else. We'd all be dead.

Being justified freely by His grace. What does that word justified mean? It means to be made right. And how are you made right? Well, you have to be forgiven of what you did wrong.

So justified means forgiven.

Being justified through grace, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God set forth as a propitiation, a replacement He replaced you on the death penalty when He was crucified. He is your replacement. It's as if He lived your life and paid your penalty and died for that, for what you did, so that you can live.

Propitiation. By His blood. Through belief, trust, and loyalty. Faith.

To demonstrate His righteousness. And here's where we get to the part where it's impossible for you, but He's going to make it happen. There's a Grand Canyon. Remember, He opened with the law and God are far apart from each other. How do we get from just keeping the law to where God is?

And now He starts to tell you, by God's power, here it comes. To demonstrate His rightness. His justice. His righteousness. That's what that word means. Because His forbearance, God passed over the sins that were previously committed to demonstrate at this present time, His righteousness. That He might be just. Same word. Just, righteous. Same word. That He might be righteous. And the justifier, or the one who makes you right, of the one who has faith in Jesus.

How important is faith? It's critical. You can't please God without it. Why? Because without it, you don't get made right. You have to trust Him. You have to be willing to go along. Why? He can't just automatically do it. And He could. He could automatically make you do it. But then it wouldn't be your character.

You'd just be a programmed computer. You'd be AI.

You know? We'll call you Gemini or chat GPT.

Not your name anymore. But no, He wants children.

Where's the boasting then? Like, what do you have to brag about, in other words? It is excluded! You can't!

But by law? Of works? Something you did? No.

But by the law? And He's using the word law there as frame of mind. As your point of view. Okay? By the law, or the point of view, of faith. Look! Paul's saying, you trust Him, He'll get you where you need to be. You trust Him, He will make you righteous.

I'm out of time, apparently.

I just got the gong. Okay.

Therefore, we conclude that man is justified, made right, forgiven, by faith, apart from deeds of the law. Anything you can do, you can't earn forgiveness. You can't go sin, and then go unsin. You can't do that!

All right, Romans 3, verse 31. He knows people will get confused by what He said there.

And so, He makes a correcting statement to make sure we don't get off track. Verse 31. Do we make void the law through faith? In other words, do we throw out kindergarten once we can read Shakespeare?

Certainly not!

On the contrary, we establish the law. We show how well we know our ABCs by how well we can recite Shakespeare.

We show how much we know the law by how much we reflect the love of God. And it takes faith in God to get you there, because you can't do that on your own. Romans, chapter 7. Now, we're bouncing around in Romans. And I don't want us to get lost. In chapter 2, He said none of us are righteous, but God will get us there. Chapter 3, He told us, God's not doing away with the law. In chapter 6, He described baptism as a funeral. We're picking up in that same discussion of baptism in chapter 7, verse 14.

It's the same exact discussion.

For we know that the law is spiritual, but I am carnal, so to understand. And that's why there's such a problem. Such a vast distance between you and I and where God is.

For what I am doing, I do not understand.

Here is our Christian challenge. This is our life challenge.

For what I will to do, that I do not practice.

It's in my head to do it. I say I'm going to do it.

Baptism, I said I would do it.

I get out of the water. I don't do it.

For what I will to do, I do not practice. But what I hate, that I do. Yes, he's describing the frustration that is called Christianity.

If then I do what I will not to do, I agree with the law that is good.

But it's impossible for me to get there. Is what he's describing. I agree the law is good.

But now, it is no longer I who do it, but sin dwells in me.

And he's not blaming some third party here. Don't misunderstand. He's blaming himself, but he's blaming the old self that hasn't gone away yet. Listen to his words. He's saying, I'm very corrupt inside, but I don't want to be. Ever feel that way?

You know what that's called? Christianity.

That's what that's called.

For I know that in me that is in my flesh nothing good dwells. Notice how he takes personal responsibility. For to will is present with me. But how to perform what is good I do not find. I can't jump from this side of the canyon and make it to the other side. I don't know how. It's not possible.

For the good I will to do, verse 19, I do not do. But the evil I will not to do, that I practice. Now if I do what I will not to do, it's no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me. I find then a law, a point of view, a frame of reference, a set of thinking rules in my head. It's like a law. It's like a script I have running in my head. Okay?

I find then a law that evil is present with me. I have an evil script running in my head, is what he's saying.

The one who wills to do good. I'm standing on this side of the canyon. I'm trying to make my journey to God, and something's holding me back. I've got this script inside my head that keeps me over here. But I see another law, another script in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin, which is in my members. Now, notice the personal responsibility statement of verse 24 that removes all doubt. O wretched man that I am.

Not, O wretched third party of sin that it dwells in me. No. He's a repentant man. O wretched man that I, me, am. Who will deliver me from the body of death? And here's the whole point. Verse 25. We went through all of that to get here. I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then, the mind, I myself serve the law of God, but with the flesh the law of sin. In other words, God is going to get me through, and I thank Him that He is going to pull me from where I am to where I need to be. Those who understand their own spiritual limitations know that they must look and rely on God for the strength and power to serve Him, to be made righteous, that their own strength is inadequate to become righteous from their own efforts to fulfill the ultimate requirements of the law, which is growing to the stature and the fullness of Christ. That's our Christian goal. So, can you explain faith? Belief, trust, and loyalty in God. Trust Him for what?

Why do you trust Him?

To make you right. To make you whole. To bring you to the stat. That's what faith is for. That's what repentance is for. That's what baptism is for. Jesus said, and we'll just read it really quick because I think I'm going to end here, Matthew 19.

He said in verse 26, Jesus looked at them, or they said in verse 25, He said, a rich man can't enter the kingdom of heaven. And in verse 25, that astonished them. And they were like, what? When His disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished, saying, who then can be saved?

Jesus looked at them and said, with men, this is impossible. You can't make the jump.

But with God, all things are possible. Do you believe that?

Can you explain that? It's impossible to reach the righteousness of God. That's why we need faith.

Basic doctrines of Christ.

God gives us the strength to overcome.

Laying out of hands is how you get the Holy Spirit. It's also how we're healed and how we're ordained. Resurrection of the dead. I think you know about the first, the second resurrection. We surmise there's a third. A third is not literally stated, but that's one way it could work, the way things have to happen. So it is not stated, but it is implied. And then the last one is eternal judgment. And I would suggest you can go back to the sermon series I gave on and explain it in more detail. But essentially, there comes a point in time when everybody has to make an up or down decision. Yes, I will have faith in God. I will repent. I will accept the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. Or I won't. And that is either lights on or lights off. It's an up or down decision. Eternal judgment. There comes a time when God says, enough is enough. And we won't go through the Scriptures on that. We don't have time.

And going on to perfection, I wasn't going to cover today anyway, because we'll save that for another sermon. Going on to perfection is the rest of Christianity. What I explained today are the basics. The starting point of Christianity. Going on to perfection is the rest of the story. So what we're to become? Is God to work everything that is perfect in Him and put it in us? I just want to give us one Scripture to make the last point.

And you know what? If I were you at Hebrews 6 and verse 2, I would jot a little note.

And I would put this verse by it. You don't have to. It's up to you totally. This is just me. Just my suggestion. Philippians 1 and verse 6. Because if you're going to give the hope that lies within you, let them know that it's going to work. Let them know that God succeeds and Satan fails. Philippians 1 and verse 6. Being confident of this very thing, He who began a good work in you will not might, will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ. God is going to complete the work in you.

Can you explain if someone came up to you and said, Why do you believe what you believe? You could pull out a booklet, the fundamental beliefs of the United Church of God. Believe it or not, we have that booklet. And you could go through it and probably bore them to tears.

Or you could just open your Bible. Wouldn't that be so much more credible? Just go, well, let me show you. And you open your Bible to Hebrews chapter 6. It's right there in verses 1 and 2. Everything we believe, the entire plan of God is laid out in those Scriptures. And that will help you to give the answer for the hope that lies within you.