Hebrews 6:1

Hebrews 6:1 says, 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,  This applies to those who have accepted Christ already.  When we accept Christ as our Savior, we can then move on to making Him the Lord of our lives.  Once we accept salvation, we do not need to daily go back and accept Him once more.  We are to daily build on the foundation of Christ.  I believe that when we are witnessing that our message will always be Jesus Christ, crucified, resurrected, and Lord, but when we are studying, either alone or as a group of believers, that we need to learn what it means to be a growing child of God.  Verse two adds, Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment.  One of the ordinances that Christ instituted is baptism, and we need to understand what this really means.  Baptism of itself does not bring salvation, but is merely symbolic of the death, burial and resurrection of Christ.  Still, baptism identifies us as a follower of Christ.  I believe the laying on of hands has more to do with ministers welcoming another person into the ministry.  Matthew Henry states that some see this as transferring the Holy Spirit to a new believer, but I do not see this as being the case.  The Holy Spirit is not ours to give.  Once we accept Christ as Savior, then we are immediately filled with the Holy Spirit to help us make Christ Lord.  Verse three continues, And this will we do, if God permit.  The writer said that was what he and those who had grown in Christ, those more mature Christians, would do, if God permitted it.  We cannot do God's work without His call and blessing.  We must be attuned to God's will through the guidance of the Holy Spirit at all times.  Verse four states, For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost,  I believe that this means that once we are saved we are always saved.  We need not go back and question our salvation if we are truly saved by faith in Christ.  Verse five adds, And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come,  Verse six it continues, If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame.  Once we are saved, we have indeed tasted the word of God and are a part of the world to come.  Still, it is possible to fall away, or to allow sin back in our lives.  If we do we need to repent.  Though Christ died once for all sins, in effect He died for each person's sins individually.  If we fall away into sin and repent, we in effect crucify Christ again and put Him to open shame.  Verse seven says, For the earth which drinketh in the rain that cometh oft upon it, and bringeth forth herbs meet for them by whom it is dressed, receiveth blessing from God:  Verse eight adds, But that which beareth thorns and briers is rejected, and is nigh unto cursing; whose end is to be burned.  Both the good fruit and the bad may grow from the rain, but the bad will be burned or destroyed.  The redemption of Christ rains down on every person, but those who refuse to accept Him will be sent away into everlasting punishment.