Well I start job training for my P.T. Food Service job once again tomorrow. Hopefully I can serve better this year and learn from others with greater abilities than I have.
The concept of learning things isn't just restricted to the natural world but the spiritual dimension as well. Someone like the guy in church I mentioned the other week not only has more mastery of scriptures than me but knows when it is worth it or not to pursue matters in edifying discussion. The fact that keeping quiet is helpful as we see in Proverbs 17:28 Even a fool, when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise: and he that shutteth his lips is esteemed a man of understanding. Now of course being on this site and not knowing anyone personally I am limited as to being able to pray for individual needs or perhaps discern who and when to discuss certain matters. There appear to be some communication issues with those not as comfortable with the English language that I have some difficulty navigating; but hopefully I can learn from others and vice versa. I don't want this to be a dumping ground for everything that comes to mind; but realize that I am in a constant learning process as I put out content!
There are those in our walk with God like our physical parents; guiding us in starting to earn how to be a Disciple that we should never forget. We need; of course to guard our hearts so that no hardness develops ( Phil. 4:7; and Hebrews 3:7-9 comes from Psalms about those who in the wilderness did this and God brought premature death to them). Our lives are not our own anymore; we were bought with a price ( 1 Corinthians 6:20). To be teaching others we need to be teachable and available for the time necessary for ministry. When we do this we can also complement each other with natural abilities so we can grow in practical and Godly wisdom.
Wisdom is utter dependence and trust on the Spirit to guide us; teach us and mold us into conformity with the will of God in our lives.
We are not far apart. First, to answer your question, will I walk away? The answer is NO! I know Romans 1:28 didn't fit, but it reflects what I was thinking of someone I knew when I wrote it. Only God knows the heart of man. What was in my mind was a person I knew, and anyone who knew them would say this person was a true Christian.
This person lost a child, and they completely changed. Over time, they turned into the opposite of who they were, and this verse fits what I saw happen to this person. This is one of the reasons I believe someone can fall away; only God knows if that is what happened. John 6:44, we may see this as the gospel today, the words of God are preached, which draws people, but that is not coming to Christ himself.
Then we have Matthew 22:14: Many are called, but few are chosen. Some who hear will fully embrace it and be accepted by God, while others will not. We are drawn or called, but is it not up to us to go and believe?
How do we understand verses like Hebrews 3:12-14? This is directed at those in Christ. 1 Timothy 4:1-2, My understanding, this goes with 2 Thessalonians 2:3 and Revelation 13:7-10; here is the patience of the saints. This is a true falling away, John 1.5:4-6; we must continue to abide in Him. Romans 11:19-22, we can be cut off.
James 1:12 is another blessed is a man that endureth, if he does, he will receive a crown of life. As in Revelation 2:10, faithful unto death. I respect you, but to me, there are too many warnings to endure and overcome until our death. We cannot ignore that; we must encourage each other to stay strong in our faith.
Not to spark another debate, I believe the great falling away is connected to when the beast rises and the persecution begins. Many think they will be taken out, but are not; they will be here. My understanding is Christ will never forsake us; the only thing that can separate us from Him is us.
Hebrews 3:8 - Harden not your hearts, as in the provocation, in the day of temptation in the wilderness:
Harden not your hearts, as in the provocation, literally the embitterment (PARAPIKRASMO), in the day of temptation in the wilderness:
Hebrews 3:12 - Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God.
Take heed (or pay attention), brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief. Very special words that are used in the book of Hebrews for unbelief. It literally means to refuse the persuasion. Unbelief is to reject the persuasion of God's Spirit.
Unbelief, in departing from the living God. The word departing in the Greek text is the word apostasy. A believer cannot commit apostasy. Only someone who is involved, maybe intellectually understanding, being enlightened, and even agreeing with the truth, but when the hardship comes, they leave. It's called apostasy.
So, pay attention brethren, lest there be in any of you (Mixed group), a heart of unbelief.
You see, that's also a lack of understanding of what salvation is. If you have the Spirit of God living inside of you, how do you go out and do whatever you want to do? Do you think the Holy Spirit is just going to sit there and say "Well, I'll just wait for you to come home?" We take Him with us. God loves us, and so He disciplines us. He convicts us. And if we don't give in to the word in conviction, He has other ways of getting our attention.
But He will not let us continue in sin, because He's alive, He's real. He's not just a person that we believe in who lived 2,000 years ago. He's alive inside of us. How do you think that you get a license for sin if you have Christ living within you?
So, there's a lot of misunderstanding in the body of Christ today. Multitudes of people think that you're saved just because in your mind, you agree with the bible, rather than being born of the Spirit of God. If we understand that as salvation, then we're going to have to explain how we get the Spirit out of there if we don't want to be saved.
Jesus said I will never leave you nor forsake you. That's at the end of Hebrews Chapter 13. But Jesus used a double negative, and a triple negative. I will never leave you. That Greek word means I will not leave if you tell me to. Secondly, and I will never ever forsake you. I will never leave you on my decision. That's Jesus. So, if I tell Him to get out of my life, He's going to say no. He's never going to leave me, ever, because His Spirit is in my spirit. We're one, and that is never going to be undone throughout eternity.
Paul said in Ephesians Chapter 2, and along with Ephesians Chapter 4 that the Holy Spirit has been given to us as a guarantee until the redemption happens, when Christ comes for us. 1 John 5:18-20 says the one who has been born of God, Satan cannot touch him, because God keeps him. 1 Peter 1:5 says we are those who have been saved by the power of God, and we are kept by the power of God unto salvation.
It's His faithfulness. I'm saved today because I have Christ in me, not because I act a certain way or don't act a certain way. It's because I have Christ in me. And because I have Christ in me, I'm going to make it all the way to the end, no matter what goes on because I'm a child of God.
But some people use that verse, that phrase, that conditional clause, to show that it's possible for someone to lose their salvation. "If you don't make it all the way, you lose your salvation. Or if you quit." But that's an expression of not understanding what salvation is. I'm not saved because I decide I want to be saved. I'm saved because I'm born of the Spirit of God. Now that God's Spirit is in me, if I don't want to be saved, something's got to be done with His Spirit. I hope this makes sense? We can't just quit!
And then you'll have those who will say that if you sin, then you lose your salvation. Well, we've all lost it then, haven't we? If that's the case, nobody is ever going to be saved. Some say that because you say you cannot lose your salvation, you are giving Christians a license to sin, that you can do whatever you want because you're never going to lose your salvation.
One, you can just be putzing along and being part of the house, and functioning as a Christian, and someday decide that you just don't want to be a Christian and that you don't want to be a part of this, and that means that you lose your salvation.
Or two, the other condition would be that it's describing the person who is saved, and that one of the qualifications of salvation is that you make it all the way to the end because you have the Holy Spirit. A believer will make it to the end. And here's the basic scripture that it's all based on, and I wanted to squeeze this in because it's a very important topic to me, and hopefully to you.
Jesus said about the last days, but he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved. Again, it makes it sound conditional, doesn't it? "If you want to be saved, you have to make to the end." But please check this out. The term "shall endure," is what is called an Aorist Participle in the Greek. And it means the one who has endured to the end, that same one shall be saved.
This is a description of the characteristic of a person who is saved. The one who has already made it to the end, that's the person who shall be saved. In fact, that's the answer to all questions. How do we know who's saved or not?
Of course, this is a message to people who have gone about 75 to 80 percent of the way and are thinking of dropping out. They're not saved. All saved people will make it to the end because they have Christ, and they belong to Christ.
Hebrews 3:6 - But Christ as a son over his own house; whose house are we, if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end.
I'm going to share the contrast that I mentioned in my last post first and then I want to spend a little bit of time on this verse because I think there's a salvation issue here.
First of all, the contrast: But Christ as a son, circle that. Over his own house. The contrast is that Moses was faithful (in) the house, and the Son was faithful (over) the house.
And then it says whose house we are. It's not a building. It's a family. We are the dwelling place of God, individually, and in the future throughout eternity, collectively, we will be the new city Jerusalem whom God will dwell in forever. So, the contrast: Christ Jesus is of more glory than Moses. But if you tell that to a Jewish person, his ears will perk up and he gives you the reasons why.
Then the condition, and this is a good one:
Now whose house we are, and here is the first of several conditional clauses in the book of Hebrews which causes people to say that the letter is being written to the same group of people, therefore there's a challenge as to whether we can keep our salvation or not!
And that's not what he's saying. Whose house we are, if we hold firm the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end. Conditional clause! Whose house we are, "if" you meet this condition.
Hebrews 3:4 - For every house is builded by some man; but he that built all things is God.
What he's saying is that Christ Jesus built the house, and Moses served in the house. So, the builder is of more glory than the one who works in the house. And by the way, the one who builds the house is God. That's a deity thing that just slipped in there.
Hebrews 3:5 - And Moses verily was faithful in all his house, as a servant, for a testimony of those things which were to be spoken after;
And Moses verily was faithful in all his house, as a servant. If you're into note taking like me, you should circle the word "in," and "as a servant" should be circled. There's a contrast coming in Verse 6 that I would like to share.
For a testimony of those things which were to be spoken after; That is, Moses was faithful to participate in things that were just a shadow of the truth that is to come.
There are people in large churches just "fitting in" with the crowd. They just get lost in the people. And if you missed church nobody would know that you missed church. And they probably wouldn't care either. They don't even know you're gone. There's nobody to be accountable to. But hey, you're a Christian, right? But there's not much of a relationship.
It's easier to compromise and follow a religious system of Christianity than it is to be a disciple of Jesus Christ, which is what He called us to be, all of us individually. And so, once you surrender to Christ, and this relationship begins to develop between you and Jesus Christ, then persecution starts. Friends, and family, and relatives look at you and say, "You're a fanatic."
But you see, if you stay at home on Sunday and watch the Super Bowl, you're a football fan. But if you follow Jesus Christ, you're a fanatic. You're overboard! But that's what it means to be a Christian. It's not just somebody who intellectually understands and agrees with the truth, but someone who has surrendered their life to Christ. And you surrender by God's Spirit coming in and taking over.
Secondly: Consider Him as our high priest, the one who intercedes for us to God. The Apostle and High Priest of our profession, which is literally the word confession, so I'll be using confession instead of profession because it will have a special meaning for us later in this chapter.
And then he gives the name again. Only this time it's Christ Jesus, not just Jesus, but Christ Jesus. As we read through this, he is putting together information for us. Remember, we're talking about a Hebrew or a Jewish person who's suffering hardship and persecution just for identifying with believers.
You haven't even surrendered your life to Christ yet and your fellow Jewish countrymen are already persecuting you. So, you're thinking of going back into the old religious system. Forget this Christianity thing. You suffer too much for it. It's too hard!
As we accumulate all these pieces of information, he is going to come back to them and say, are you sure that you want to go back to the religious system where they have human beings as apostles? They can't save you. You're going to leave the apostle of God? You're going to leave Jesus Christ as your apostle? You're going to leave Him behind and put all your trust in humans? How about the high priest? How about the priest that serves in your temple?
Are you going to leave Jesus Christ as your High Priest, and go and put your trust in him that somehow, he's going to do something that's going to save you? It won't happen. You're leaving the superior, to go back into the inferior.
But you see, for years in history, we human beings have had that challenge to us between a personal relationship with Jesus Christ and religion. It is easier to be a religious Christian, to be a church member and participate with the church and get lost in the crowd than it is to follow Jesus Christ and have a personal relationship with Him.
Hebrews 2:18 - For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted.
In that He Himself has suffered having been tempted, He is able to succor (or help) them that are tempted. You see, this is what completed Christ. Those who are tempted and tested can come to Him for help. And He has already suffered in likeness as we have, as a man, as a human being. But He is able to help us because He has suffered in likeness that we have.
Hebrews 3:1 - Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus;
Please notice the two things that he is addressing believers with. First of all, he says holy brethren. In the Greek text, that's that word set apart. Secondly, partakers of the heavenly calling. Later he will say partakers of the heavenly calling belonged to Christ.
He says consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus. What a statement! The word consider is an educational term, and it means to set your mind on something, to focus on something. So, when he says consider what I'm about to tell you, that's a command. I want you to set your mind on this. I want you to focus on it for a moment. I want you to focus on Christ Jesus, but notice His titles, the apostle, and high priest.
The word apostle (APOSTOLOS) means to send out with a commission. You're representing someone who has sent you out with a message, or an errand. But you represent whoever sent you on the mission that that person sends you. Jesus Christ is said to be the apostle of God because He's the only one that God has sent to us to represent God.
I was really hoping to get some input as to church counsel and other supports of marriage. I have argued here before that whenever there is trouble in a marriage there should be a disciplinary procedure and some sort of counselling available. It may be important enough that it should be included in church membership; as to some sort of agreement following the principal in Corinthians ( 1 Cor. 6:7) specifically. Truth be told; let's be honest many Pastors themselves have marriages gone sour or are remarried (as was the case with one of my Pastors in a church that closed about 6 or 7 years ago due to lack of attendance with the older demographics; etc. I may have mentioned it here at some point; when I pressed him it apparently wasn't even infidelity but some issue with drugs or something where he felt justified for his remarriage to be "kept in line". I actually was going to attend a local church the first time where the lady that led me to the Lord along with his son back in 1982; and when I left he was having a conversation with someone asking how his divorce was going. It may be the reason the guy who was my best friend in high school didn't want to keep up communication claiming it was a good church.
My friend in the situation I mentioned has helped this other guy who has separated with things; the latest being moving a tree in his backyard that he didn't want to pay for. He has befriended this guy for years; had he and his wife live with them for a time; etc. He is praying for reconciliation. God has given him a Deacon position in his church and would there be more people like he is. Hebrews 3:12 warns us of a hardness of heart leading to unbelief. 1 Corinthians 13 shows us how love should be; and it is a nice gift to give a married couple so they can meditate on these truths. In this case as well my friend has talked with this guy's wife so that she won't be tempted to harden her heart should the Lord change this guy as is the prayer.
John 6:54 states: Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day.
There are two views on the subject; the "transubstantiation" argument of the Catholic and Eastern Orthodox traditions and the purely symbolic or metaphorical doctrines we find in many Protestant churches. In the first view we have to hold to an abhorrent view that there is an ongoing or perpetual reinstitution of Christ's sacrifice at every communion; clearly contrary to where Christ stated "it is finished" on the cross and Hebrews 9:28 speaking of His one time sacrifice for many. The Protestant viewpoint; however can tend to treat communion and in fact many other rites or ceremonies as merely symbolic and thus be calloused to verses such as 1 Corinthians 11:30 which states that many have become sick and died (fallen asleep) due to taking communion unworthily.
Communion therefore is something which each individual is held accountable for but also involves a union in the Body of Christ through the function of the Holy Spirit. We certainly can't isolate these warnings just for communion; for instance we have no business being baptized without a proper confession of faith and marriages also need to be taken seriously in regard to the covenant vows. The New Covenant brings the blood ATONEMENT which essentially exchanges His life for our own as our spiritual sustenance; along with His broken body. He purchased us with the cost of His life and redeemed us from death and hell by taking our place on the cross of Calvary. Such a detestable imagery of a snake on a pole was an early representation of this Numbers 21. A man was cursed when hung on a tree ( Deut. 21:22-23). We are then partakers in Christ and His sufferings ( 1 Peter 4:13); see also Hebrews 3:14 on enduring to the end.
In terms of eternal physical life; we of course have the tree of life as mentioned in the Garden. We also will be raised incorruptible if we are in Him.
Expositional Constancy is the repetitive use of the same(uniform)idioms throughout Scripture, both in Hebrew and Greek; in symbolizing something in order to create an object lesson which enhances details in producing clarity.
God's use of typology, which is a symbol, sometimes referred to it as a model or example, or biblically speaking a "shadow"; is meant to generate greater detail and precision in identifying something or someone. ( Heb. 8:5; 1 Cor. 10:11; Rom. 15:4; 1 Cor. 10:6).
Hebrews 3:1-6 - Illustrates that God created the role of the earthly priest as an object lesson to later help identify Jesus' role as the intercessor of mankind.
Heb. 8:4-5, describes how God caused the tabernacle to be fashioned specifically concerning its materials and construction in order to convey greater details in describing Jesus Christ as our substitutionary sacrifice, advocate, and the perpetuation to God in providing salvation to humanity. (Also see: 1 Cor. 10:4; Heb. 4:11; Heb. 10:1; & Col. 2:17).
A substance, principle or reality may have more than one typological symbol or as a model or illustration which God wishes to communicate, yet there is never an inconsistency in using the same typological idiom representing something else, that would therefore create any confusion concerning the symbolic representation.
With the Bible depicted as living water, because of its cleaning sanctification.
There are usually many different types of symbols, yet complete consistency in that they always represent the same thing, without contradiction.
A rock is always used concerning Christ as the foundation of the church, the capstone.
A rock is never used for anything else.
Shadows, types, and figures are used to paint pictures which are to be object lessons for our own edification in order to understand with simplicity something or someone that on their own are quite complex.
Most everyone is looking for something that has already happened.
They won't believe Christ's words that he fulfilled ALL the prophecies.
Christ came the SECOND TIME as the NEW CREATION, CHRIST IN YOU, just as he said: I COME as a thief in the night.
Hebrews 9:27 And as it is APPOINTED (by the prophecies) unto men once to die (on the cross of Christ), but after this the judgement (coming the truth through the word, you and Christ were RAISED as ONE).
1 Peter 4:17 For the time IS COME that JUDGEMENT (rightly dividing the words of God) must begin at the HOUSE of GOD ....
Hebrews 3:6 But Christ as a SON over HIS OWN HOUSE, whose HOUSE YE ARE ....
You the house, Christ is the HOUSEHOLDER; you, the house only consist, because of the one that HOLDS YOU.
Your the BODY of CHRIST, you every movement and thought are OF HIM, and if you don't AGREE with him"
The wages are DEATH, instead of LIFE.
Hebrews 9:28 So Christ was once offered to bear the SINS of many, and to THEM who LOOK for him he shall APPEAR THE SECOND TIME, without SIN unto SALVATION.
Good evening Stewart! I appreciate bringing the 2 Timothy 2:18 verse to my attention. This brings up a question. Who continues to teach purely that the resurrection is today ( Hebrews 3:15 ) durning the time of the seven years in heaven that you mentioned in another post?
There is zero pressure to respond, I am meditating on this with you.
I don't think brother that any greek person understands that word as "persuation". It actually comes etymologically from the verb "peitho" which means "persuade, convince", but as I said nobody here understands it with such meaning.
When this word is applied to a person or God, ie "pistos", it means faithful, trustworthy.
The opposite to "pistis" is "apistia". This word is found in Hebrews 3:12, "Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief (apistia), in departing from the living God.". So you see here the KJV rightly translates it as unbelief, not lack of faith.
Again, we have Hebrews 3:12 Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God.
(No believer has an evil heart of unbelief). The writer is saying examine yourself. Verse 10 he says, "They do always err in their heart; and they have not known my ways.
You emphasized 1 John 1;7.
I say: IF we are saved, we ARE walking in the light! if we are not in the light we ARE in darkness!
If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. 1 John 1:6-7. (This is confirmation of salvation, not earning it or trying not to lose it.)
I believe we will have to agree to disagree on the verses you addressed in part 4 being that I have already gave my interpretation on these verses.
However, I would like to address 1 Timothy 4:1. In Part 3.
Each believer is personally responsible for living in obedience to Christ's commands. 1 Timothy 4:16. Can we come up short, Hebrews 4:1. Some of the natural branches of the house of Israel were broken off for unbelief so the people of the nations who believe and are justified are grafted in. Believers/saved can be cut off if they do not continue in his goodness/grace. Romans 11:15-24.
Much of your post I agree, it is about becoming saved and our relationship with Jesus, and if we continue to abide in Him those scriptures apply. Concerning Pentecost, Peter was pleading that they accept Jesus as their Messiah that was promised, and they killed Him, not to repent from Judaism. Peter and the disciples at this time were still observing the old law. We see years later they were still debating it in Acts 15.
1 Cor. 9:27 If we look at the wording "But I keep under my body and bring it into subjection" it is as if his body is his adversary. It is like he was beating his body whether it is said metaphorical, but to the subduing of the natural appetites of the flesh, a life of self-denial not to succumb to the sins of the flesh. The Greek adokimos translated as castaway, is the same word for reprobate, Romans 1:28Titus 1:16. I do not think Paul is talking about rewards.
Hebrews 3:12-13 This chapter starts with "Wherefore holy brethern" These are Christians, saved, verse 6 "if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end." The writer includes himself "If We". Verses 12 and 13 are to these same people and verse 14 says "For we are made partakers of Christ" Because they are made so they are saved believers in Christ.
1 John 1:7 If is conditional a choice if you walk in the light there is fellowship, if you don't walk in the light, you are outside of the fellowship.
This section I will attempt to address those scriptures you presented suggesting one can lose his Salvation.
Hebrews 3:12-13.
Verse 12) Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God.
Well, if there is an evil heart of unbelief, and deceitfulness of sin. THEN YOU ARE NOT SAVED!
1 John 1:7.
Ronald, I don't grasp you here. This is not a verse saying you can lose Salvation.
"But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, if we are in the light we are saved. If we are not in the light, we are not saved.
2 Peter 2:20.
Look at 2 Peter 2:22. These are dogs, NOT SONS! This is the same group described in the previous verses!
Take it from 2 Peter 2:9-20 to get the context.
Galatians 6:9.
Christians will go before the judgement seat of Christ to give an account for the things done in the flesh.
We are to keep sowing and in due season we will reap. this is the fruit of their labor.
He that soweth to the Spirit, sows to the spirit by the power of the Holyspirit.
Paul has just asked the Galatian Christians to be convinced, once again, that trusting their flesh in this life will only lead to corruption. Reliance on our own power only leads to death. That is true whether we trust human effort to save us by following the rituals and sacraments of the law, or by following our own selfish, sinful desires.
Salvation comes only by "planting" the Spirit. Through faith in Christ for the forgiveness of our sin.
God gives to us His own Spirit. Only that Spirit will deliver eternal life in the end.
Colossians 1:23.
Verses 21-22 states we have been reconciled In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight:
Jude 1:24. says "Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy,
So, those who is moved away from the faith was never saved.
My last posting ended with a brief discussion of spiritual rewards. If we never consider these things; we are in danger of just wanting "fire insurance" when coming to Christ from fear of hell. That lack of love for God will blind us to the need for sanctification; and we will never want to go beyond what we consider the bare minimum to ensure our place in heaven. The basic point here is that sanctification goes on from the point of salvation until death (or the Rapture) which finally brings glorification; or final salvation of the body from sin and decay. So we need here to discuss what sanctification means.
Sanctification. 2 Timothy 2:12 says that if we suffer with Him we will reign with Him. Jesus spoke to the Disciples about the cost involved in following Him; and James speaks of pure joy in suffering in James 1:2-4. The Apostles need no further case as to the cost of following Him as all but one were martyred (and apparently they may have tried to kill John before Patmos as well). We see how Peter failed Christ when he said he would die for him yet denied Christ at his trial. Whenever that verse comes up in James I comment that I am still working on that; I feel like a hypocrite otherwise.
Too often we look at dying to self as a martyrdom issue rather than looking at a progressive lifestyle of dying to self day by day; which also was the example of Christ. Once we practice loving others above ourselves for a long time it is much easier to handle our fate no matter how bleak (or at least less hard). Again; this is where the rubber meets the road. With today's "easy believism" we see little exhortation of others ( Hebrews 3:13); we see Christ being perhaps the "center" of our lives in many of today's churches rather than BEING our life and our old life dead and buried with Him.
So far we are discussing things that accompany salvation. Now I will begin to quote verses to examine warnings against falling away
"Why do we say that sanctification makes us blameless, not faultless? Because the Grace of God working in us does not make us infallible. Sin has so perverted our moral and spiritual powers that we shall never in this present life be free from the infirmities of human nature."
This is a subtle lie, cleverly disguise within a lot of truth, whether intentional or not, I hope it was the later.
blameless def; is an adjective that means "innocent of wrongdoing" or "free from blame or fault"
faultless def; is an adjective that means having no fault, mistake, defect, imperfection, blemish, flaw, error, vice, or offense. It describes something that is perfect in all respect
Titus 2:11-14 all iniquity
Jude 1:24 faultless without blame, without blemish, faultless.
From a (as a negative particle) and momos; unblemished (literally or figuratively) -- without blame (blemish, fault, spot), faultless, unblamable.
Ephesians 5:27
The Grace of God is the Almighty, who we have in these earthen vessels; Isa 14:27 only to the unbelievers are these things impossible Matt 13:58Hebrews 3:19
Jesus being the corner stone and the Apostles being the foundation signifies the beginning of a groundbreaking plan to erect a building and that building is the Church.
As I mentioned previously, the commission to carry the Gospel to the world came right after the resurrection, as shown in the Gospels " Luke 24:42-49 and Matthew 28:19-20."
I agree with you that the scripture says to the Jews first, and then the Gentiles,
However, I would suggest that the Gospel was preached to them before the cross as well as Abraham.
Hebrews 3:17-19 - Hebrews 4:1-6.
"But with whom was he grieved forty years? was it not with them that had sinned, whose carcases fell in the wilderness?
And to whom sware he that they should not enter into his rest, but to them that believed not?
So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief. Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it. FOR UNTO US WAS THE GOSPEL PREACHED, AS WELL AS UNTO THEM: BUT THE WORD PREACHED DID NOT PROFIT THEM, NOT BEING MIXED WITH FAITH IN THEM THAT HEARD IT.
For we which have believed do enter into rest, as he said, As I have sworn in my wrath, if they shall enter into my rest: although the works were finished from the foundation of the world.
For he spake in a certain place of the seventh day on this wise, And God did rest the seventh day from all his works.
And in this place again, If they shall enter into my rest.
Seeing therefore it remaineth that some must enter therein, AND THEY TO WHOM IT WAS FIRST PREACHED ENTERED NOT IN BECAUSE OF UNBELIEF:
Also;
And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, PREACHED BEFORE THE GOSPEL UNTO ABRAHAM, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed. Galatians 3:8.
You are correct: Daniel is a prophecy of Christ, not antichrist.
Most don't understand the abomination that maketh desolated. It was SET UP the same time the daily sacrifice was destroyed .... Daniel 12:11
Hebrews 3:9 But Christ a Son over his own HOUSE, whose house we are .....
Matthew 23:38 Behold your HOUSES are left unto you DESOLATE ....
All men DIED, their house (BODY) was left desolate, no life, dead on the cross, then CHRIST ONLY arose.
All men arose a NEW CREATION; joint HEIRS of Christ, the body of Christ, the life now the SPIRIT of GOD.
Most don't understand the GREAT TRIBULATION.
Matthew 24:22 And unless those days be SHORTENED, no flesh should be SAVED ....
Christ and ALL MEN DIED on the cross, three SHORT days latter, ALL MEN were made ALIVE by the RESURRECTION.
ALL the wrath of God, that ALL MEN deserved, was POURED OUT on Christ, that was the GREAT TRIBULATION, three short(en) days, for the elects sake.
The same things is pictured in Revelation, all the 7 plagues and 7 vials had to be poured out before ANYONE could enter the TEMPLE, God Almighty and the LAMB are the TEMPLE .... Revelation 21:22
Revelations 15:8 ... NO ONE could enter the temple, until the seven plagues were fulfilled ......
Thanks brother Jesse for the great & important Truth that you have shared here: Salvation is all of God: He draws, He saves, He gives new birth, He secures, & He gives the sure Hope in this life & into eternity. I reflected on your reference to 2 Corinthians 13:5: "Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?"
This I believe was the position & concern of each of the NT writers, not just in calling out evident sin in the Church, but for each one to examine themselves whether they were even in the Faith. In some cases this was clear (as in 1 John 2:18,19), and in others such as Hebrews 3:12-14: "Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God. But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end", a little unclear. The message here was for each one to encourage & counsel those being led astray by sin or deception, that they might turn back to holy living & not face the Lord's Discipline. But if they persisted, not holding their "confidence stedfast unto the end", it only showed that "they were not all of us", only displaying a show of godliness & religious experience, but inwardly knowing their deceitfulness & hypocrisy.
The Word is abundantly clear that the believer could never acquire or sustain his salvation by his efforts, rather, by the working of the Holy Spirit indwelling him ( Titus 3:4-7; Romans 8:9; Galatians 5:24,25). Unfortunately, alongwith the oft preached Gospel of salvation, i.e. 'from God & sustained by man', comes the rarely heard messages of 'life & power given to believers to know, to pursue & enjoy, which comes from the indwelling Spirit'.
It was nice to read your literal renderings of the verses you shared.
Isaiah 41:7 So the CARPENTER (Christ), encouraged the goldsmith (YOU; the body of Christ, Christ does HIS WORKS by YOU, his body), and he (Christ) that smootheth with the hammer HIM (YOU; the POT, his body, he is the potter) that smote the anvil (YOU are the arm of Christ: as Christ is the arm of his Father), saying, It (YOU: sinful flesh) is ready for the sodering: and He (Christ) fastened IT (sinful flesh) with NAILS (to HIS CROSS), that IT (sinful flesh) should not be (re) moved.
Mark 6:1 Is not this the CARPENTER .....that made all things NEW: by his death and resurrection ....
You DIED with the CARPENTER on the CROSS, YOU and Christ were made ONE by HIS (and your) RESURRECTION.
Isaiah 44:13 The CARPENTER (Christ) stretcheth out his rule (YOU), he (Christ) maketh it (YOU) with a line, he (Christ) fitteth it (YOU) with planes, and he (Christ) maketh it (YOU) with the compass, and maketh it (YOU) after the figure of a MAN (CHRIST HIMSELF), according to the beauty of a MAN (CHRIST HIMSELF), that it (YOU; the new creation, the image of God) may remain in the HOUSE .... Hebrews 3:6 --- whose HOUSE YE ARE --- Psalms 23:6 ... and I (Christ) will dwell in the HOUSE (YOU) of the Lord forever .... Colossians 1:27 ... this mystery ... Christ IN YOU ...
Philippians 2:13 For it is GOD that worketh IN YOU both TO WILL and TO DO his good pleasure.
1 Corinthians 15:54 ...this mortal SHALL PUT ON immorality ....
1 Timothy 6:16 .... Christ ONLY hath immortality .... dwelling in the light ....
Philippians 2:5 Let this mind be IN YOU, which was also in Christ Jesus:
Philippians 2:6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be EQUAL to GOD.
2 Peter 1:4 Whereby are GIVEN TO US exceedingly great and precious PROMISES: that by these (promises) ye may be PARTAKERS of the DIVINE NATURE, having escaped the corruption (by the death of YOUR flesh on the cross) that is in the world through lust.
The concept of learning things isn't just restricted to the natural world but the spiritual dimension as well. Someone like the guy in church I mentioned the other week not only has more mastery of scriptures than me but knows when it is worth it or not to pursue matters in edifying discussion. The fact that keeping quiet is helpful as we see in Proverbs 17:28 Even a fool, when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise: and he that shutteth his lips is esteemed a man of understanding. Now of course being on this site and not knowing anyone personally I am limited as to being able to pray for individual needs or perhaps discern who and when to discuss certain matters. There appear to be some communication issues with those not as comfortable with the English language that I have some difficulty navigating; but hopefully I can learn from others and vice versa. I don't want this to be a dumping ground for everything that comes to mind; but realize that I am in a constant learning process as I put out content!
There are those in our walk with God like our physical parents; guiding us in starting to earn how to be a Disciple that we should never forget. We need; of course to guard our hearts so that no hardness develops ( Phil. 4:7; and Hebrews 3:7-9 comes from Psalms about those who in the wilderness did this and God brought premature death to them). Our lives are not our own anymore; we were bought with a price ( 1 Corinthians 6:20). To be teaching others we need to be teachable and available for the time necessary for ministry. When we do this we can also complement each other with natural abilities so we can grow in practical and Godly wisdom.
Wisdom is utter dependence and trust on the Spirit to guide us; teach us and mold us into conformity with the will of God in our lives.
We are not far apart. First, to answer your question, will I walk away? The answer is NO! I know Romans 1:28 didn't fit, but it reflects what I was thinking of someone I knew when I wrote it. Only God knows the heart of man. What was in my mind was a person I knew, and anyone who knew them would say this person was a true Christian.
This person lost a child, and they completely changed. Over time, they turned into the opposite of who they were, and this verse fits what I saw happen to this person. This is one of the reasons I believe someone can fall away; only God knows if that is what happened. John 6:44, we may see this as the gospel today, the words of God are preached, which draws people, but that is not coming to Christ himself.
Then we have Matthew 22:14: Many are called, but few are chosen. Some who hear will fully embrace it and be accepted by God, while others will not. We are drawn or called, but is it not up to us to go and believe?
How do we understand verses like Hebrews 3:12-14? This is directed at those in Christ. 1 Timothy 4:1-2, My understanding, this goes with 2 Thessalonians 2:3 and Revelation 13:7-10; here is the patience of the saints. This is a true falling away, John 1.5:4-6; we must continue to abide in Him. Romans 11:19-22, we can be cut off.
James 1:12 is another blessed is a man that endureth, if he does, he will receive a crown of life. As in Revelation 2:10, faithful unto death. I respect you, but to me, there are too many warnings to endure and overcome until our death. We cannot ignore that; we must encourage each other to stay strong in our faith.
Not to spark another debate, I believe the great falling away is connected to when the beast rises and the persecution begins. Many think they will be taken out, but are not; they will be here. My understanding is Christ will never forsake us; the only thing that can separate us from Him is us.
Thanks again, brother,
God bless,
RLW
Hebrews 3:8 - Harden not your hearts, as in the provocation, in the day of temptation in the wilderness:
Harden not your hearts, as in the provocation, literally the embitterment (PARAPIKRASMO), in the day of temptation in the wilderness:
Hebrews 3:12 - Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God.
Take heed (or pay attention), brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief. Very special words that are used in the book of Hebrews for unbelief. It literally means to refuse the persuasion. Unbelief is to reject the persuasion of God's Spirit.
Unbelief, in departing from the living God. The word departing in the Greek text is the word apostasy. A believer cannot commit apostasy. Only someone who is involved, maybe intellectually understanding, being enlightened, and even agreeing with the truth, but when the hardship comes, they leave. It's called apostasy.
So, pay attention brethren, lest there be in any of you (Mixed group), a heart of unbelief.
Hebrews 3:6 Continued:
You see, that's also a lack of understanding of what salvation is. If you have the Spirit of God living inside of you, how do you go out and do whatever you want to do? Do you think the Holy Spirit is just going to sit there and say "Well, I'll just wait for you to come home?" We take Him with us. God loves us, and so He disciplines us. He convicts us. And if we don't give in to the word in conviction, He has other ways of getting our attention.
But He will not let us continue in sin, because He's alive, He's real. He's not just a person that we believe in who lived 2,000 years ago. He's alive inside of us. How do you think that you get a license for sin if you have Christ living within you?
So, there's a lot of misunderstanding in the body of Christ today. Multitudes of people think that you're saved just because in your mind, you agree with the bible, rather than being born of the Spirit of God. If we understand that as salvation, then we're going to have to explain how we get the Spirit out of there if we don't want to be saved.
Jesus said I will never leave you nor forsake you. That's at the end of Hebrews Chapter 13. But Jesus used a double negative, and a triple negative. I will never leave you. That Greek word means I will not leave if you tell me to. Secondly, and I will never ever forsake you. I will never leave you on my decision. That's Jesus. So, if I tell Him to get out of my life, He's going to say no. He's never going to leave me, ever, because His Spirit is in my spirit. We're one, and that is never going to be undone throughout eternity.
Hebrews 3:6 Continued:
Paul said in Ephesians Chapter 2, and along with Ephesians Chapter 4 that the Holy Spirit has been given to us as a guarantee until the redemption happens, when Christ comes for us. 1 John 5:18-20 says the one who has been born of God, Satan cannot touch him, because God keeps him. 1 Peter 1:5 says we are those who have been saved by the power of God, and we are kept by the power of God unto salvation.
It's His faithfulness. I'm saved today because I have Christ in me, not because I act a certain way or don't act a certain way. It's because I have Christ in me. And because I have Christ in me, I'm going to make it all the way to the end, no matter what goes on because I'm a child of God.
But some people use that verse, that phrase, that conditional clause, to show that it's possible for someone to lose their salvation. "If you don't make it all the way, you lose your salvation. Or if you quit." But that's an expression of not understanding what salvation is. I'm not saved because I decide I want to be saved. I'm saved because I'm born of the Spirit of God. Now that God's Spirit is in me, if I don't want to be saved, something's got to be done with His Spirit. I hope this makes sense? We can't just quit!
And then you'll have those who will say that if you sin, then you lose your salvation. Well, we've all lost it then, haven't we? If that's the case, nobody is ever going to be saved. Some say that because you say you cannot lose your salvation, you are giving Christians a license to sin, that you can do whatever you want because you're never going to lose your salvation.
Hebrews 3:6 Continued:
Now, this can only mean one of two things:
One, you can just be putzing along and being part of the house, and functioning as a Christian, and someday decide that you just don't want to be a Christian and that you don't want to be a part of this, and that means that you lose your salvation.
Or two, the other condition would be that it's describing the person who is saved, and that one of the qualifications of salvation is that you make it all the way to the end because you have the Holy Spirit. A believer will make it to the end. And here's the basic scripture that it's all based on, and I wanted to squeeze this in because it's a very important topic to me, and hopefully to you.
Jesus said about the last days, but he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved. Again, it makes it sound conditional, doesn't it? "If you want to be saved, you have to make to the end." But please check this out. The term "shall endure," is what is called an Aorist Participle in the Greek. And it means the one who has endured to the end, that same one shall be saved.
This is a description of the characteristic of a person who is saved. The one who has already made it to the end, that's the person who shall be saved. In fact, that's the answer to all questions. How do we know who's saved or not?
Of course, this is a message to people who have gone about 75 to 80 percent of the way and are thinking of dropping out. They're not saved. All saved people will make it to the end because they have Christ, and they belong to Christ.
Hebrews 3:6 - But Christ as a son over his own house; whose house are we, if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end.
I'm going to share the contrast that I mentioned in my last post first and then I want to spend a little bit of time on this verse because I think there's a salvation issue here.
First of all, the contrast: But Christ as a son, circle that. Over his own house. The contrast is that Moses was faithful (in) the house, and the Son was faithful (over) the house.
And then it says whose house we are. It's not a building. It's a family. We are the dwelling place of God, individually, and in the future throughout eternity, collectively, we will be the new city Jerusalem whom God will dwell in forever. So, the contrast: Christ Jesus is of more glory than Moses. But if you tell that to a Jewish person, his ears will perk up and he gives you the reasons why.
Then the condition, and this is a good one:
Now whose house we are, and here is the first of several conditional clauses in the book of Hebrews which causes people to say that the letter is being written to the same group of people, therefore there's a challenge as to whether we can keep our salvation or not!
And that's not what he's saying. Whose house we are, if we hold firm the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end. Conditional clause! Whose house we are, "if" you meet this condition.
Ephesians 2:20-22, came to my mind also.
I love the way the writer put it in Hebrews 3:3-5.
Great lesson!
Blessings.
Hebrews 3:4 - For every house is builded by some man; but he that built all things is God.
What he's saying is that Christ Jesus built the house, and Moses served in the house. So, the builder is of more glory than the one who works in the house. And by the way, the one who builds the house is God. That's a deity thing that just slipped in there.
Hebrews 3:5 - And Moses verily was faithful in all his house, as a servant, for a testimony of those things which were to be spoken after;
And Moses verily was faithful in all his house, as a servant. If you're into note taking like me, you should circle the word "in," and "as a servant" should be circled. There's a contrast coming in Verse 6 that I would like to share.
For a testimony of those things which were to be spoken after; That is, Moses was faithful to participate in things that were just a shadow of the truth that is to come.
Hebrews 3:1 Continued:
There are people in large churches just "fitting in" with the crowd. They just get lost in the people. And if you missed church nobody would know that you missed church. And they probably wouldn't care either. They don't even know you're gone. There's nobody to be accountable to. But hey, you're a Christian, right? But there's not much of a relationship.
It's easier to compromise and follow a religious system of Christianity than it is to be a disciple of Jesus Christ, which is what He called us to be, all of us individually. And so, once you surrender to Christ, and this relationship begins to develop between you and Jesus Christ, then persecution starts. Friends, and family, and relatives look at you and say, "You're a fanatic."
But you see, if you stay at home on Sunday and watch the Super Bowl, you're a football fan. But if you follow Jesus Christ, you're a fanatic. You're overboard! But that's what it means to be a Christian. It's not just somebody who intellectually understands and agrees with the truth, but someone who has surrendered their life to Christ. And you surrender by God's Spirit coming in and taking over.
Hebrews 3:1 Continued:
Secondly: Consider Him as our high priest, the one who intercedes for us to God. The Apostle and High Priest of our profession, which is literally the word confession, so I'll be using confession instead of profession because it will have a special meaning for us later in this chapter.
And then he gives the name again. Only this time it's Christ Jesus, not just Jesus, but Christ Jesus. As we read through this, he is putting together information for us. Remember, we're talking about a Hebrew or a Jewish person who's suffering hardship and persecution just for identifying with believers.
You haven't even surrendered your life to Christ yet and your fellow Jewish countrymen are already persecuting you. So, you're thinking of going back into the old religious system. Forget this Christianity thing. You suffer too much for it. It's too hard!
As we accumulate all these pieces of information, he is going to come back to them and say, are you sure that you want to go back to the religious system where they have human beings as apostles? They can't save you. You're going to leave the apostle of God? You're going to leave Jesus Christ as your apostle? You're going to leave Him behind and put all your trust in humans? How about the high priest? How about the priest that serves in your temple?
Are you going to leave Jesus Christ as your High Priest, and go and put your trust in him that somehow, he's going to do something that's going to save you? It won't happen. You're leaving the superior, to go back into the inferior.
But you see, for years in history, we human beings have had that challenge to us between a personal relationship with Jesus Christ and religion. It is easier to be a religious Christian, to be a church member and participate with the church and get lost in the crowd than it is to follow Jesus Christ and have a personal relationship with Him.
Hebrews 2:18 - For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted.
In that He Himself has suffered having been tempted, He is able to succor (or help) them that are tempted. You see, this is what completed Christ. Those who are tempted and tested can come to Him for help. And He has already suffered in likeness as we have, as a man, as a human being. But He is able to help us because He has suffered in likeness that we have.
Hebrews 3:1 - Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus;
Please notice the two things that he is addressing believers with. First of all, he says holy brethren. In the Greek text, that's that word set apart. Secondly, partakers of the heavenly calling. Later he will say partakers of the heavenly calling belonged to Christ.
He says consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus. What a statement! The word consider is an educational term, and it means to set your mind on something, to focus on something. So, when he says consider what I'm about to tell you, that's a command. I want you to set your mind on this. I want you to focus on it for a moment. I want you to focus on Christ Jesus, but notice His titles, the apostle, and high priest.
The word apostle (APOSTOLOS) means to send out with a commission. You're representing someone who has sent you out with a message, or an errand. But you represent whoever sent you on the mission that that person sends you. Jesus Christ is said to be the apostle of God because He's the only one that God has sent to us to represent God.
Hebrews 3:19
So we see that they could not enter in because ofunbelief.
The reason why we have Unbelief right now, it's because the word of God is Spiritual. We must worship God in Spirit.
John 3:12
If I have told you earthly things, and yebelieve not, how shall ye believe, if I tell you of heavenly things?
Jesus Christ wrote the Whole Bible, that means we must believe with all our heart and soul.
John 5:47
But if yebelieve nothis writings, how shall ye believe my words?
The Jews still couldn't believe Jesus in the flesh, how can we believe his words, by Faith alone.
John 6:36
But I said unto you, That ye also have seen me, andbelieve not.
If they believe not in the beginning of time and want to betray Jesus, they are doing the same with Apostle Paul's epistles .
John 6:64
But there are some of you thatbelieve not. For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were that believed not, and who should betray him.
We have a choice to believe God's word.
John 8:24
I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if yebelieve notthat I am he, ye shall die in your sins.
Ray, in Christ Jesus 1 Corinthians 15:1-4
My Gospel of Grace by believing only
My friend in the situation I mentioned has helped this other guy who has separated with things; the latest being moving a tree in his backyard that he didn't want to pay for. He has befriended this guy for years; had he and his wife live with them for a time; etc. He is praying for reconciliation. God has given him a Deacon position in his church and would there be more people like he is. Hebrews 3:12 warns us of a hardness of heart leading to unbelief. 1 Corinthians 13 shows us how love should be; and it is a nice gift to give a married couple so they can meditate on these truths. In this case as well my friend has talked with this guy's wife so that she won't be tempted to harden her heart should the Lord change this guy as is the prayer.
There are two views on the subject; the "transubstantiation" argument of the Catholic and Eastern Orthodox traditions and the purely symbolic or metaphorical doctrines we find in many Protestant churches. In the first view we have to hold to an abhorrent view that there is an ongoing or perpetual reinstitution of Christ's sacrifice at every communion; clearly contrary to where Christ stated "it is finished" on the cross and Hebrews 9:28 speaking of His one time sacrifice for many. The Protestant viewpoint; however can tend to treat communion and in fact many other rites or ceremonies as merely symbolic and thus be calloused to verses such as 1 Corinthians 11:30 which states that many have become sick and died (fallen asleep) due to taking communion unworthily.
Communion therefore is something which each individual is held accountable for but also involves a union in the Body of Christ through the function of the Holy Spirit. We certainly can't isolate these warnings just for communion; for instance we have no business being baptized without a proper confession of faith and marriages also need to be taken seriously in regard to the covenant vows. The New Covenant brings the blood ATONEMENT which essentially exchanges His life for our own as our spiritual sustenance; along with His broken body. He purchased us with the cost of His life and redeemed us from death and hell by taking our place on the cross of Calvary. Such a detestable imagery of a snake on a pole was an early representation of this Numbers 21. A man was cursed when hung on a tree ( Deut. 21:22-23). We are then partakers in Christ and His sufferings ( 1 Peter 4:13); see also Hebrews 3:14 on enduring to the end.
In terms of eternal physical life; we of course have the tree of life as mentioned in the Garden. We also will be raised incorruptible if we are in Him.
Part 11.
Expositional Constancy is the repetitive use of the same(uniform)idioms throughout Scripture, both in Hebrew and Greek; in symbolizing something in order to create an object lesson which enhances details in producing clarity.
God's use of typology, which is a symbol, sometimes referred to it as a model or example, or biblically speaking a "shadow"; is meant to generate greater detail and precision in identifying something or someone. ( Heb. 8:5; 1 Cor. 10:11; Rom. 15:4; 1 Cor. 10:6).
Hebrews 3:1-6 - Illustrates that God created the role of the earthly priest as an object lesson to later help identify Jesus' role as the intercessor of mankind.
Heb. 8:4-5, describes how God caused the tabernacle to be fashioned specifically concerning its materials and construction in order to convey greater details in describing Jesus Christ as our substitutionary sacrifice, advocate, and the perpetuation to God in providing salvation to humanity. (Also see: 1 Cor. 10:4; Heb. 4:11; Heb. 10:1; & Col. 2:17).
A substance, principle or reality may have more than one typological symbol or as a model or illustration which God wishes to communicate, yet there is never an inconsistency in using the same typological idiom representing something else, that would therefore create any confusion concerning the symbolic representation.
With the Bible depicted as living water, because of its cleaning sanctification.
There are usually many different types of symbols, yet complete consistency in that they always represent the same thing, without contradiction.
A rock is always used concerning Christ as the foundation of the church, the capstone.
A rock is never used for anything else.
Shadows, types, and figures are used to paint pictures which are to be object lessons for our own edification in order to understand with simplicity something or someone that on their own are quite complex.
By Chuck Missler.
God Bless.
Most everyone is looking for something that has already happened.
They won't believe Christ's words that he fulfilled ALL the prophecies.
Christ came the SECOND TIME as the NEW CREATION, CHRIST IN YOU, just as he said: I COME as a thief in the night.
Hebrews 9:27 And as it is APPOINTED (by the prophecies) unto men once to die (on the cross of Christ), but after this the judgement (coming the truth through the word, you and Christ were RAISED as ONE).
1 Peter 4:17 For the time IS COME that JUDGEMENT (rightly dividing the words of God) must begin at the HOUSE of GOD ....
Hebrews 3:6 But Christ as a SON over HIS OWN HOUSE, whose HOUSE YE ARE ....
You the house, Christ is the HOUSEHOLDER; you, the house only consist, because of the one that HOLDS YOU.
Your the BODY of CHRIST, you every movement and thought are OF HIM, and if you don't AGREE with him"
The wages are DEATH, instead of LIFE.
Hebrews 9:28 So Christ was once offered to bear the SINS of many, and to THEM who LOOK for him he shall APPEAR THE SECOND TIME, without SIN unto SALVATION.
God BLESS YOU!
There is zero pressure to respond, I am meditating on this with you.
Carleton
I takes the whole word of God to understand any part of the word.
Romans 7
It takes other truths in God's to understand Romans 7.
If ones does not believe other truths in the word then he want understand Romans 7.
One truth that always has to be applied to any scriptures we study in the word IS:
Hebrews 4:3 .... the WORKS were finished from the foundation of the world ......
Revelation 13:8 ... the LIFE of the Lamb, slain from the foundation of the world .....
Matthew 25:34 ..... the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world .....
Matthew 13:35 .... things which have been keep secret from the foundation of the world ....
So, all this, the WORKS being done before the foundation, we come to this truth:
Hebrews 4:2 ... unto them was the GOSPEL PREACHED, as well as UNTO US ...
One of the truths of the gospel is your sins are forgiven, therefore their sins were forgiven from the foundation of the world.
The prophets declared this to them as well as us:
Psalms 103:12 As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our SINS from us.
They didn't BELIEVE, as most today don't BELIEVE these words of God, God has not seen our sins from the foundation of the world.
So, what is this SIN that kept THEM and KEEPS us from God: his word tells us:
Hebrews 3:19 So we see that they could not enter in because of UNBELIEF.
So, what's God's solution for UNBELIEF and the mystery keep secret from the foundation of the world.
The SPIRIT of TRUTH, pour out on man at pentecost.
John 16:8 When he is come, he will REPROVE the world of SIN ....
John 16:9 .....of SIN, because they BELIEVE NOT ......
You can believe in God, and yet, NOT BELIEVE his words.
1 Peter 1:23 You are BORN AGAIN, by the WORDS of God ....
I'm out of characters.
Meditate on these truths and we will continue on to Romans 7.
God BLESS YOU!
John
John
I don't think brother that any greek person understands that word as "persuation". It actually comes etymologically from the verb "peitho" which means "persuade, convince", but as I said nobody here understands it with such meaning.
When this word is applied to a person or God, ie "pistos", it means faithful, trustworthy.
The opposite to "pistis" is "apistia". This word is found in Hebrews 3:12, "Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief (apistia), in departing from the living God.". So you see here the KJV rightly translates it as unbelief, not lack of faith.
Part 2.
Continuing my response to part 1.
Again, we have Hebrews 3:12 Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God.
(No believer has an evil heart of unbelief). The writer is saying examine yourself. Verse 10 he says, "They do always err in their heart; and they have not known my ways.
You emphasized 1 John 1;7.
I say: IF we are saved, we ARE walking in the light! if we are not in the light we ARE in darkness!
If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. 1 John 1:6-7. (This is confirmation of salvation, not earning it or trying not to lose it.)
I believe we will have to agree to disagree on the verses you addressed in part 4 being that I have already gave my interpretation on these verses.
However, I would like to address 1 Timothy 4:1. In Part 3.
See Part 3.
Part three,
Each believer is personally responsible for living in obedience to Christ's commands. 1 Timothy 4:16. Can we come up short, Hebrews 4:1. Some of the natural branches of the house of Israel were broken off for unbelief so the people of the nations who believe and are justified are grafted in. Believers/saved can be cut off if they do not continue in his goodness/grace. Romans 11:15-24.
Much of your post I agree, it is about becoming saved and our relationship with Jesus, and if we continue to abide in Him those scriptures apply. Concerning Pentecost, Peter was pleading that they accept Jesus as their Messiah that was promised, and they killed Him, not to repent from Judaism. Peter and the disciples at this time were still observing the old law. We see years later they were still debating it in Acts 15.
1 Cor. 9:27 If we look at the wording "But I keep under my body and bring it into subjection" it is as if his body is his adversary. It is like he was beating his body whether it is said metaphorical, but to the subduing of the natural appetites of the flesh, a life of self-denial not to succumb to the sins of the flesh. The Greek adokimos translated as castaway, is the same word for reprobate, Romans 1:28 Titus 1:16. I do not think Paul is talking about rewards.
Hebrews 3:12-13 This chapter starts with "Wherefore holy brethern" These are Christians, saved, verse 6 "if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end." The writer includes himself "If We". Verses 12 and 13 are to these same people and verse 14 says "For we are made partakers of Christ" Because they are made so they are saved believers in Christ.
1 John 1:7 If is conditional a choice if you walk in the light there is fellowship, if you don't walk in the light, you are outside of the fellowship.
See part four.
Part 6.
This section I will attempt to address those scriptures you presented suggesting one can lose his Salvation.
Hebrews 3:12-13.
Verse 12) Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God.
Well, if there is an evil heart of unbelief, and deceitfulness of sin. THEN YOU ARE NOT SAVED!
1 John 1:7.
Ronald, I don't grasp you here. This is not a verse saying you can lose Salvation.
"But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, if we are in the light we are saved. If we are not in the light, we are not saved.
2 Peter 2:20.
Look at 2 Peter 2:22. These are dogs, NOT SONS! This is the same group described in the previous verses!
Take it from 2 Peter 2:9-20 to get the context.
Galatians 6:9.
Christians will go before the judgement seat of Christ to give an account for the things done in the flesh.
We are to keep sowing and in due season we will reap. this is the fruit of their labor.
He that soweth to the Spirit, sows to the spirit by the power of the Holyspirit.
Paul has just asked the Galatian Christians to be convinced, once again, that trusting their flesh in this life will only lead to corruption. Reliance on our own power only leads to death. That is true whether we trust human effort to save us by following the rituals and sacraments of the law, or by following our own selfish, sinful desires.
Salvation comes only by "planting" the Spirit. Through faith in Christ for the forgiveness of our sin.
God gives to us His own Spirit. Only that Spirit will deliver eternal life in the end.
Colossians 1:23.
Verses 21-22 states we have been reconciled In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight:
Jude 1:24. says "Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy,
So, those who is moved away from the faith was never saved.
See Part 7.
My last posting ended with a brief discussion of spiritual rewards. If we never consider these things; we are in danger of just wanting "fire insurance" when coming to Christ from fear of hell. That lack of love for God will blind us to the need for sanctification; and we will never want to go beyond what we consider the bare minimum to ensure our place in heaven. The basic point here is that sanctification goes on from the point of salvation until death (or the Rapture) which finally brings glorification; or final salvation of the body from sin and decay. So we need here to discuss what sanctification means.
Sanctification. 2 Timothy 2:12 says that if we suffer with Him we will reign with Him. Jesus spoke to the Disciples about the cost involved in following Him; and James speaks of pure joy in suffering in James 1:2-4. The Apostles need no further case as to the cost of following Him as all but one were martyred (and apparently they may have tried to kill John before Patmos as well). We see how Peter failed Christ when he said he would die for him yet denied Christ at his trial. Whenever that verse comes up in James I comment that I am still working on that; I feel like a hypocrite otherwise.
Too often we look at dying to self as a martyrdom issue rather than looking at a progressive lifestyle of dying to self day by day; which also was the example of Christ. Once we practice loving others above ourselves for a long time it is much easier to handle our fate no matter how bleak (or at least less hard). Again; this is where the rubber meets the road. With today's "easy believism" we see little exhortation of others ( Hebrews 3:13); we see Christ being perhaps the "center" of our lives in many of today's churches rather than BEING our life and our old life dead and buried with Him.
So far we are discussing things that accompany salvation. Now I will begin to quote verses to examine warnings against falling away
"Why do we say that sanctification makes us blameless, not faultless? Because the Grace of God working in us does not make us infallible. Sin has so perverted our moral and spiritual powers that we shall never in this present life be free from the infirmities of human nature."
This is a subtle lie, cleverly disguise within a lot of truth, whether intentional or not, I hope it was the later.
blameless def; is an adjective that means "innocent of wrongdoing" or "free from blame or fault"
faultless def; is an adjective that means having no fault, mistake, defect, imperfection, blemish, flaw, error, vice, or offense. It describes something that is perfect in all respect
Titus 2:11-14 all iniquity
Jude 1:24 faultless without blame, without blemish, faultless.
From a (as a negative particle) and momos; unblemished (literally or figuratively) -- without blame (blemish, fault, spot), faultless, unblamable.
Ephesians 5:27
The Grace of God is the Almighty, who we have in these earthen vessels; Isa 14:27 only to the unbelievers are these things impossible Matt 13:58 Hebrews 3:19
Part 2.
The Foundation and Corner stone.
Jesus being the corner stone and the Apostles being the foundation signifies the beginning of a groundbreaking plan to erect a building and that building is the Church.
As I mentioned previously, the commission to carry the Gospel to the world came right after the resurrection, as shown in the Gospels " Luke 24:42-49 and Matthew 28:19-20."
I agree with you that the scripture says to the Jews first, and then the Gentiles,
However, I would suggest that the Gospel was preached to them before the cross as well as Abraham.
Hebrews 3:17-19 - Hebrews 4:1-6.
"But with whom was he grieved forty years? was it not with them that had sinned, whose carcases fell in the wilderness?
And to whom sware he that they should not enter into his rest, but to them that believed not?
So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief. Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it. FOR UNTO US WAS THE GOSPEL PREACHED, AS WELL AS UNTO THEM: BUT THE WORD PREACHED DID NOT PROFIT THEM, NOT BEING MIXED WITH FAITH IN THEM THAT HEARD IT.
For we which have believed do enter into rest, as he said, As I have sworn in my wrath, if they shall enter into my rest: although the works were finished from the foundation of the world.
For he spake in a certain place of the seventh day on this wise, And God did rest the seventh day from all his works.
And in this place again, If they shall enter into my rest.
Seeing therefore it remaineth that some must enter therein, AND THEY TO WHOM IT WAS FIRST PREACHED ENTERED NOT IN BECAUSE OF UNBELIEF:
Also;
And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, PREACHED BEFORE THE GOSPEL UNTO ABRAHAM, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed. Galatians 3:8.
More about this blindness in part 2.
You are correct: Daniel is a prophecy of Christ, not antichrist.
Most don't understand the abomination that maketh desolated. It was SET UP the same time the daily sacrifice was destroyed .... Daniel 12:11
Hebrews 3:9 But Christ a Son over his own HOUSE, whose house we are .....
Matthew 23:38 Behold your HOUSES are left unto you DESOLATE ....
All men DIED, their house (BODY) was left desolate, no life, dead on the cross, then CHRIST ONLY arose.
All men arose a NEW CREATION; joint HEIRS of Christ, the body of Christ, the life now the SPIRIT of GOD.
Most don't understand the GREAT TRIBULATION.
Matthew 24:22 And unless those days be SHORTENED, no flesh should be SAVED ....
Christ and ALL MEN DIED on the cross, three SHORT days latter, ALL MEN were made ALIVE by the RESURRECTION.
ALL the wrath of God, that ALL MEN deserved, was POURED OUT on Christ, that was the GREAT TRIBULATION, three short(en) days, for the elects sake.
The same things is pictured in Revelation, all the 7 plagues and 7 vials had to be poured out before ANYONE could enter the TEMPLE, God Almighty and the LAMB are the TEMPLE .... Revelation 21:22
Revelations 15:8 ... NO ONE could enter the temple, until the seven plagues were fulfilled ......
God bless you!
WE are saved yet by FIRE ---- 1 Corinthians 3:13
Our God is a consuming FIRE ---- Hebrews 12:29
God is the WORD --- the word is GOD ---- John 1:1
I will baptise YOU with the HOLY GHOST and FIRE
You are BORN AGAIN by the WORD of GOD
Every time we read and study the WORD we are being judged and baptised with the FIRE OF THE LORD
FIRE is the judgement of GOD
Psalms 37:28 For the Lord loveth JUDGEMENT ....
2 Corinthians 5:10 .... we all must appear before he judgement seat .....
1 Peter 4:17 For the TIME IS COME that JUDGEMENT must begin at the HOUSE of the LORD
Hebrews 3:6 But Christ --- the WORD --- the SEED ---- the FIRE ---who is a son over his OWN HOUSE, whose House we are ...
The WORD of GOD is the FIRE OF GOD
And they were CAST ALIVE into the lake of fire --- the JUDGING WORD'S of GOD ----
You are save and born again by FIRE and WATER --- the living fire and the living water ---- the LAKE of FIRE ----
God bless you.
This I believe was the position & concern of each of the NT writers, not just in calling out evident sin in the Church, but for each one to examine themselves whether they were even in the Faith. In some cases this was clear (as in 1 John 2:18,19), and in others such as Hebrews 3:12-14: "Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God. But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end", a little unclear. The message here was for each one to encourage & counsel those being led astray by sin or deception, that they might turn back to holy living & not face the Lord's Discipline. But if they persisted, not holding their "confidence stedfast unto the end", it only showed that "they were not all of us", only displaying a show of godliness & religious experience, but inwardly knowing their deceitfulness & hypocrisy.
The Word is abundantly clear that the believer could never acquire or sustain his salvation by his efforts, rather, by the working of the Holy Spirit indwelling him ( Titus 3:4-7; Romans 8:9; Galatians 5:24,25). Unfortunately, alongwith the oft preached Gospel of salvation, i.e. 'from God & sustained by man', comes the rarely heard messages of 'life & power given to believers to know, to pursue & enjoy, which comes from the indwelling Spirit'.
It was nice to read your literal renderings of the verses you shared.
Your comment about the CARPENTER is scriptural.
Isaiah 41:7 So the CARPENTER (Christ), encouraged the goldsmith (YOU; the body of Christ, Christ does HIS WORKS by YOU, his body), and he (Christ) that smootheth with the hammer HIM (YOU; the POT, his body, he is the potter) that smote the anvil (YOU are the arm of Christ: as Christ is the arm of his Father), saying, It (YOU: sinful flesh) is ready for the sodering: and He (Christ) fastened IT (sinful flesh) with NAILS (to HIS CROSS), that IT (sinful flesh) should not be (re) moved.
Mark 6:1 Is not this the CARPENTER .....that made all things NEW: by his death and resurrection ....
You DIED with the CARPENTER on the CROSS, YOU and Christ were made ONE by HIS (and your) RESURRECTION.
Isaiah 44:13 The CARPENTER (Christ) stretcheth out his rule (YOU), he (Christ) maketh it (YOU) with a line, he (Christ) fitteth it (YOU) with planes, and he (Christ) maketh it (YOU) with the compass, and maketh it (YOU) after the figure of a MAN (CHRIST HIMSELF), according to the beauty of a MAN (CHRIST HIMSELF), that it (YOU; the new creation, the image of God) may remain in the HOUSE .... Hebrews 3:6 --- whose HOUSE YE ARE --- Psalms 23:6 ... and I (Christ) will dwell in the HOUSE (YOU) of the Lord forever .... Colossians 1:27 ... this mystery ... Christ IN YOU ...
Philippians 2:13 For it is GOD that worketh IN YOU both TO WILL and TO DO his good pleasure.
1 Corinthians 15:54 ...this mortal SHALL PUT ON immorality ....
1 Timothy 6:16 .... Christ ONLY hath immortality .... dwelling in the light ....
Philippians 2:5 Let this mind be IN YOU, which was also in Christ Jesus:
Philippians 2:6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be EQUAL to GOD.
2 Peter 1:4 Whereby are GIVEN TO US exceedingly great and precious PROMISES: that by these (promises) ye may be PARTAKERS of the DIVINE NATURE, having escaped the corruption (by the death of YOUR flesh on the cross) that is in the world through lust.
God BLESS YOU!