Hebrews 6:2 (AMP) of teaching about washings (ritual purifications), the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment. [These are all important matters in which you should have been proficient long ago.]

There is no graduation ceremony from this elementary education in growing in Christ. There is however an encouragement to thoroughly understand the basic tenents before you move on to higher learning.

I chose the Amplified version of the bible specifically to avoid the word baptism. Every religion has their own spin on how it is performed, what it means, and what it does for you. Many people have strong feelings about those rituals and that is why I would prefer not to interfere with your instructions in the administration of faith. I will not ask you to choose right or wrong in this matter and my personal beliefs should not be put forth as a standard where there is so many passionate objections. Just allow me to say study the subject enough to be led to the truth and do not make it an issue to hold against another’s opinion. It isn’t worth breaking fellowship over.

The laying on of hands, once again, practiced by some administrations and not others. Performed correctly by some, in error by others and how I know that is by experience with various forms of administrations. I personally do not believe that belongs in elementary school but rather in high school but since there is no graduation ceremony here, perhaps I am being a little picky on the subject.

Study the Old Testament to come to at least a partial understanding of the resurrection of the dead, when it was done, why it was done, what was the end result, and how that pattern might color your understanding in our present condition. Once again, I am not telling you what is right or wrong about this important matter, only that you should study it and find the truth in the matter. You will find many different opinions on this also.

The same can be said of eternal judgment. There is probably no more heated argument over scriptures than eternal judgment. Once again, I leave this to the teachings of your local administration of faith to discuss and be made clear. It is not my place to disparage any administration except to ask you to seek peace of mind and conscience in these matters. Peace is the road to maturity.

Galatians 2:16 Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.

Here we must define yet another word in order to explain the issues of dead works. That word is justification. It is a bookkeeping word. It means to take you out of the red, debt, and put your account in the black, a gain on your account.

James 2:10 For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.

Another way of looking at this is to say the accounting debt of a liar and a mass murderer are the same amount of red ink. No amount of good works can ever move your account out of the red into the black.

Romans 8:3-4 For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

Romans 10:4 For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.

If anyone teaches you that your eternal salvation is tied to any religious exercise that is a dead work, and will not secure your salvation. Only the sacrifice of Christ on the cross saves your soul. Placing your faith in Christ’s sacrifice and accepting Him into your heart is the only justification needed to remove your debt.