Repentance often involves an acknowledgement of wrongdoing and an awareness of one's limitation.
We all is born into this world with a fallen nature and must be born again.
Being born again means being born from above. (Born of Christ Spirit)
Israel was to repent from dead works as seen throughout the new testament particularly from the book of Hebrews.
Especially Hebrews 6:1-4.
Israel inability to produce fruit is not a testimony of Israel, it is a lesson to all!
This shows the whole world as they look in that while God is in their midst and carrying them on eagles wings it doesn't change the heart of man.
For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope. Romans 15:4.
SALVATION.
We preach repentance with salvation.
The key to repentance is not what you turn from.
It's who you turn to!
Our Lord Jesus Christ.
Jesus came to cleanse the inside the cup with the outside!
Hi prayer warriors I'm asking for agreement. I'm born again Spirit filled tongues and prophetic for over 24 25 years. I lost everything with my two little boys in 2000 who took us down on a drug called GHB so I had to sell everything move on an island at my parents house. The devil knew I was very vulnerable and insecure at the time so there was an open door and I met this guy who came in on a white horse but was very beguiling and demonic. Prior to this I was very Spirit-filled for the church went through a renewal of for three and a half years so I had the spirit without measure that was very filled with the Holy Spirit those time went on his demons started manifesting and for 24 years there's been nothing but arguing rivalry fighting strife contention cursing me. I married Satan himself this man isn't saved he doesn't care about God he beguiled me and I fell for it being so vulnerable. His demons in him are being used to try to destroy me. I'm a mess spiritually mentally and especially physically on skin and bones I don't know where God is in my life I feel numb from the battle I'm going to more doctors and you can imagine. I fear that I have lost my salvation due to Hebrews 6:3 through 6 or it is impossible for those who are once enlightened and it tasted the Heavenly gift and it become partakers of the Holy Spirit have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age if they fall away to renew them again to repentance since they crucified again for themselves putting them to an open shame. I don't sense the Holy Spirit I pray to God my prayers don't get answered I don't know where the Lord is in my life and I think being married to this guy I reacted to his demons and the Holy Spirit left because it was so much strife and anger and rage and fighting I have repented over and over I take communion but I feel nothing I'm just numb inside. Pray for your prayers that God will give you wisdom thank you God bless you all Allison
Thank you for sharing these pieces of scripture. Perhaps you may have missed Hebrews 6:4-6 which is another verse, along with the ones you have shared, that some use to show that salvation can be lost. However, they all fall short of proving the loss of salvation.
In 2 Peter 2:20-22, Peter is speaking to Hebrew people. Nothing in these three verses show that Peter is referring to saved individuals losing their salvation.
A person can receive knowledge of Jesus Christ and the gospel message of salvation and still never surrender their life to Christ. This is the same thing we see in Hebrews 10:26. Knowledge of the truth does not save anyone. A person must receive Jesus Christ and be born of His Spirit in order to be saved.
If you ever do a study of Judaism and what it means for a Jewish person to receive Jesus as their Savior, it puts these scriptures you've shared into a much clearer perspective.
You see, for a Jewish person to receive Christ, they would be completely cut off from society. They would no longer be allowed in their temple, they would lose their job, and no one would hire them. Their own family would disown them. Their family would consider them dead and literally hold a funeral for them if they denounced Judaism and received Christ as their Savior.
Hebrews 6:12 - That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises.
This word slothful is a Greek word (NOTHROI) that means lazy.
Hebrews 7:3 - Without father, without mother, without descent, having neither beginning of days, nor end of life; but made like unto the Son of God; abideth a priest continually.
Melchisedec was without father, and notice how it's translated. It doesn't say he did not have a father. The Greek text indicates that there is no record of a father. No record of a mother, and he is without descent. There's no record. Obviously, he came from somewhere. He was a man. He was real. There were no records at all about this guy.
Having neither beginning of days, nor end of life;
That is, we have no idea where he came from, how old he was, when he died, if he died, whatever!
But made like unto the Son of God;
There is a parallel between Melchisedec and Christ. But this text says that he was made like to the Son of God. It doesn't say he was the Son of God. That's important!
Abides a priest continually. The parallel here is that we know that Jesus had a birth. We know who His mother is and who His Father is. But that's not the parallel. The parallel is that Jesus, let's put it this way, the Christ never had a beginning, and doesn't have an end. And that's why the Lord's priesthood is according to Melchisedec, because Melchisedec is parallel to the eternal existence of Christ.
Hebrews 8:2 - For there was a tabernacle made; the first, wherein was the candlestick, and the table, and the shewbread; which is called the sanctuary.
There are never any candles mentioned in the scripture, even though it's in the translation. It's translated lamp. And there was a lamp and a table in what is called the holy place.
One of them is a person that's excitingly, with joy, hears the word. But then when tribulations come, and by the way that's how you grow, through trials and tribulations, but when the tribulation came, they quit because it's not exciting anymore.
Now it's down to living life. Now it's down to trusting the Lord, and learning how to live by faith! And to the flesh, sometimes it's not as exciting as it first was. So, they quit! And remember what I shared with you before, the indication in the bible that a person is saved is that they make it all the way to the end. All saved people make it all the way to the end.
A person who is not saved can look, and act, and talk, and believe just like a normal believer. They may even see some of these people driving cars full of Jesus bumper stickers, and then one day, they just disappear.
So, just because a person is enlightened to the truth, enlightened by the Holy Spirit, and has tasted of these things, that does not make them a saved person. Again, the proof that one is saved is that they make it to the end. Why? Because we are kept by the power of God for salvation!
So, he encourages the believers to move past the foundation doctrines and elements of the things of the Lord, mainly because the people who stay in that area can either be saved or unsaved. There's some that taste of the Holy Spirit, they partake of the Holy Spirit, they get the knowledge and enlightenment of the basic truths and foundations of the things of Christ, and they might even in their mind believe that it's true.
But he's showing them that moving on shows you're saved. Right now, you're dull of hearing. I won't say that you're not saved, but you're dull of hearing. So, I encourage you in your Spiritual growth to get your senses exercised by God's word. If not, you'll just drop out and it will just prove that you're not the real thing!
Hebrews 6:6 - 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.
We have the sixth thing in Verse 6, and I'll share with you the literal translation. It says if they shall fall away. There's no "if" in the Greek text. It's just after having fallen away. They've already done it. It's after having fallen away. And you can see in all these things that he's listing that they are all past tense.
Verse 4 started off by saying it's impossible for these people. Verse 6 says to renew them again unto repentance; Impossible!
Seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to open shame. These are Hebrews and Jews who went back into Judaism and denounced the whole thing, and were back professing their unbelief, and hatred and anger toward the Lord, and they were doing it publicly.
That doesn't mean that a Gentile can't do that. There are many people over the years that have. A person can be in a group with believers and seem just like everyone else but not be saved. They can be sitting in your church, participating just like everyone else, and still not be saved.
They can even give up their old lifestyle and seem to be following the Lord and then after some time just walk away and go right back to where they were before. And people might wonder what happened because they seemed like a believer.
Well, if you understand the Parable of the Sower, you know what happened. Only one out of the four people that received the seed gets saved. There are three others that heard the same thing that the saved person hears, but they have different reactions.
Hebrews 6:5 - And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come,
Again, we see the word tasted. All these tastes, it's like sampling. A non-believer can sit in with believers and receive the same ministry of God's Spirit to that group, even in their own life, as to the truth of Christ, but still not be saved.
And the powers of the world to come. They were actually there to participate. I recall the ten lepers that approached Jesus and wanted their healing. So, Jesus healed the ten lepers and sent them on their way, and only one of them stopped and returned to worship the Lord. And the Lord turns to the disciples and says weren't there ten lepers?
Nine of them just took their healing and took off. Only one turned to worship Christ. There are people who participate in the powers of God's Spirit moving in amongst His people, and they're not even saved.
Hebrews 6:4 - 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,
Please notice in this verse all the past tense verbs. The word enlightened (PHOTIZO) means to have your mind illuminated to the truth. Some say that only believers can be enlightened but that's not true. We are told in John 1:9 that the light, who is Christ, enlightens every man coming into this world. Every person is enlightened to the truth.
Paul tells us in Romans Chapter 1 (beginning at Verse 18) that no one has an excuse when standing before God, because even creation testifies to the very attributes of God. In other words, the Holy Spirit uses creation as an initial enlightenment for every human being. But that doesn't mean that every human being hears the gospel message.
Every person is enlightened but not everybody responds in the same way. A person can be enlightened to the truth about Christ and still refuse to receive Him. So, these people were being enlightened but they weren't saved.
Secondly: and have tasted of the heavenly gift. They've participated with the things of Christ. They have participated with the Holy Spirit. They don't have Him living inside, but they tasted of that heavenly gift that God gives to His people. They're sitting in amongst God's people and they're participating. They are getting a taste.
And were made partakers of the Holy Ghost. Please notice the emphasis. They were partakers, that is they were in this interaction and the Holy Spirit was ministering to them. They were partaking of the Holy Spirit as He was enlightening them.
But please notice that it says they were partakers of the Holy Spirit. The emphasis is the Holy Spirit, not Christ. The Holy Spirit's the one that's ministering. They didn't know Christ. They never received Him.
I would like to spend a little bit of time going over Hebrews 6:4-6 because there's a salvation issue here.
In these verses, the writer describes the salvation process, but he also describes people who are not saved. Please know that there's a mixed group we are dealing with in the book of Hebrews. There are Hebrews that believe, and there are Hebrews that have been enlightened to the truth, they know the truth, they understand the truth but have never surrendered their life to Christ. Those are the ones who are thinking of going back and giving up the whole Christian thing because of the persecution, and the hardship.
So, in Verses 4 through 6, the salvation process, I would like to share some details on this and hopefully you're able to understand it, and it will make this text clearer.
There are many teachers that use this text to show that a believer can lose their salvation, not understanding that he's talking to people who have been listening and receiving the truth, and understanding the truth, but then ready to go back and not make that final surrender to Christ, because they say you can't be enlightened unless you're a Christian. But that simply is not true. A non-believer can be enlightened to the truth and still remain unsaved their entire life. So, an enlightened person does not mean that the person is saved.
I think we are to judge the teachings (doctrines) of what others profess in their religion against the Bible to see if these doctrines are true or false. We are to reject false doctrines whether they are professed by one who professes to be Christian or of any other religion. We can do this privately, making note not to follow these teachings or the religion or sect that teaches false doctrines contrary to what the Bible teaches us. And, at times we may be called by the Holy Spirit to reject false teachings openly such as in a discussion or forum for debate.
Therefore, it is vital for every Christian to go on to maturity as Paul exhorts in these verses:
Ephesians 4:14-15 - That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;
Hebrews 5:12-13 - For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat.
Hebrews 6:1-3 - 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,
Ephesians 4:13 - Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ.
By maturity, Paul is certainly speaking of going deeper into the truths taught to the church by the apostles of which we have laid out for us in the NT. It involves thinking seriously and thoroughly on the doctrines one has learned and seek to understand them to a greater degree to strengthen our faith and knowledge of God in Jesus Christ, His work of salvation, how God has worked over the course of history to bring to fullness His eternal plan and purpose, see pt. 2
You are right, the word "even" doesn't appear in the grk text. As you said it was probably used to emphasize Jesus' person.
The grk says:
Acts 9:17,"...the Lord sent me, Jesus, who appeared to you on the way that you were coming..."
1 Thessalonians 1:10, "And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, Jesus, who releases of us from the coming wrath."
Hebrews 6:20, " Where forerunner for us Jesus entered, becoming high priest for ever according to the order of Melchisedec".
1 John 5:6, "He is who came through water and blood, Jesus Christ; not in water only, but in water and blood. And the Spirit is that bears witness, because the Spirit is the truth."
The text I am using is the majority text which is almost the same as the received text.
Hi Cheryl1655. I understand what you are thinking & could be confusing, as several verses in the NT have this phrase, "even Jesus" ( Acts 9:17, 1 Thessalonians 1:10, Hebrews 6:20, 1 John 5:6). I couldn't detect the word 'even' appearing in the Greek (our Greek reading/speaking brothers could verify this), so I surmise that the KJB translators added this word to emphasize the One Who was being spoken/written of. It's probably like us saying, "the Lord, that is, Jesus", or "Whither the forerunner is for us entered, the very One called Jesus", when we want to correctly or emphatically point to Jesus alone. So these verses don't speak of two different people, just the One called Jesus.
Around 2000 years ago or much probably 67AD was written the book of Hebrews. Hebrews 6:1-3 say:
1 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,
2 Of the doctrine of BAPTISMS, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal Judgment.
3 And this will we do, if GOD permit.
Hebrews 5:12-14
12 For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of GOD; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat.
13 For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the Word of righteousness: for he is a babe.
14 But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.
Around 2000 years ago or much probably 60/65AD was written the book of Matthew. JESUS said: Matthew 24:14 and 32-35
14 - This Gospel of the Kingdom shall be preached in ALL THE WORLD for a witness unto ALL NATIONS; and then shall the END
come. (The TESTIMONY OF OUR LORD JESUS IS THE SPIRIT OF PROPHECY, UNDERSTAND? Revelation 19:10)
32 Now LEARN a parable of the fig tree; When his branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is nigh:
33 So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, KNOW THAT IT IS NEAR, even AT THE DOORS.
34 Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled.
35 Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.
GET READY
Philippians 3:20-21
20 For our conversation is in heaven(heaven? Ephesians 1:3-8); from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ:
21 Who shall CHANGE our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto His glorious body, according to the working whereby He is able even to subdue all things unto Himself.
We should "always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect" ( 1 Peter 3:15). We prepare by studying God's Word for ourselves, listening to sound Bible teachers, and staying in close fellowship with Jesus. Those practices keep our own lives pure so that we are not hypocrites who preach one thing but do another Galatians 6:1.
Evangelism provides eternal benefits. Jesus encouraged His followers to "store up treasure in heaven" ( Matthew 6:19). That treasure consists of rewards for what we did on earth in His name and for His glory. It is not self-centered to make choices that will ensure eternal treasure for ourselves. Jesus told us to! Our service to Him can be as simple as offering a cup of cold water to one of His own ( Matthew 10:42). The parable of the unjust steward underscores the importance of doing whatever we can to bring people to faith in Christ ( Luke 16:1-13).
4. Evangelism is an overflow of the "hope that is within us" ( Hebrews 6:19; 1 Peter 3:15). When two people fall in love, they cannot help but let everyone around them know it. Joy shows on their faces; stars glitter in their eyes. They are eager to tell anyone who will listen about the wonderful person they love. So it is when we've fallen in love with Jesus. We cannot help but tell people about Him every chance we get. We think about Him all the time. We're drawn to His Word, to worship services, and to others who love Him. We look for opportunities to share His truth with someone who is far from Him. If Jesus is not at the forefront of our minds, we have a spiritual problem and need to address that first before we can share the "hope that is within us."
There are several speculations on what the mark may be, a literal mark, a computer chip, symbols, and more but the mark of the beast will be based on worship. It is the false prophet, the second beast who causes people to worship the first beast and his image. The number 666 goes back to Babylon, the 36 gods numbered 1 through 36, 6 columns and 6 rows the numbers were arranged in such a way that the sum of any given row, column, or diagonal was 111, and therefore the sum of all six rows or all six columns was 666, like 18+20+22+21+17+13 =111, 1+2+3 to 36=666.
We are told to have faith and patience Luke 21:19Hebrews 6:12 and hear in Revelation 13:10 and Revelation 14:11 that if we are strong in our faith and patience we will have the steadfastness and endurance (the meaning of patience) to not give into the temptation of the three who is to come, Satan, the beast out of the bottomless pit and the beast who will be the false prophet, even if we face death, the hour of temptation, Rev. 3:10.
Something like this was done in the past in the Decian persecution in 250 AD. The decree ordered sacrifices be performed in the presence of a Roman magistrate, it was a signed and witnessed certificate, issued to that effect. People had to perform a sacrifice to the Roman gods and the well-being of the emperor.
Christians were put to death for refusing to perform the sacrifices, many others apostatized and performed the ceremonies, and others went into hiding. Those who compromised were able to prosper economically. By way of contrast, those who did not have the certificate were unable to buy or sell and suffered economic hardship. Buying and selling was done in marketplaces ruled by Rome. This may be similar to what is coming but a mark instead of a certificate.
Being Born Again, see John 3:9, Jesus told Nicodemus its Like the Spirit is like the Wind, One the Spirit is in you, you are in Christ Sitting on the Right Hand of God
After being Born Again, it you went to an Altar and asked Jesus to Save You, You Committed a SIN, You entered into a Contract and You will Get Pride Out of Contract, this will Cause you to Fall under Condemnation/Control of the Devil, 1st Tim 3:6, and Revelations 12:9 see AskElm com for SECRETS HIDDEN over 1,800 Years and its GOOD NEW!
No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us. HEREBY KNOW WE THAT WE DWELL IN HIM, AND HE IN US, because he hath given us of his Spirit.
And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world.
Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God.
And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.
What John is saying is that no man has seen God at any time but if we love one another God dwells in us. In other words God today can manifest himself through believers in loving one another, "and the world sees That!
John 13:34-35, "A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.
"What makes this so unique?" What's new about it? Isn't it listed in the Commandments? What's unique and new about it is that he causes it!
Look at verse 35.
"By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.
John 3:16
"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son,.
( God gave us his Spirit that causes us to love the Brothern.)
God's Spirit, "The Holyspirit" causes those who loves God to love his brother also. 1 John 4:21"
Romans 5:5.
And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.
It is the Holy Spirit who regenerate you to become a believer and He indwells ever believer who confesses Jesus as Savior.
So, if you are a believer, then He dwells in you.
You ask how can you know? It is by faith from first to last that we believe the gospel and all that Jesus promised. He promised the Holy Spirit would live in us, and He does. We believe in Him trusting that He is truthful in all that He said and promised.
And I will put my spirit within you, "AND CAUSE" you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them.
Ezekiel 36:27.
The apostle Paul says that "for we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus" ( Ephesians 2:10). The word "workmanship" means "that which is made, a work of art." It refers to a "masterpiece." What Paul's saying is that all God's children are His masterpieces.
Philippians 2:13 For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.
Dead Works.
In the Bible the phrase "dead works" is found in the book of Hebrews.
Hebrews 6:1-3.
"Repentance from dead works".
Repentance means to change the way we think. We need to change the way we think about dead works.
From the outside looking in we can't tell the difference between dead works and good works. They can look very much the same outwardly. They can be the same works, but they have different motives.
Praying can be a dead or good work.
Attending church can be a dead or good work.
Reading the Bible can be a dead or good work.
Telling others about Jesus can be a dead or good work.
That's why Jesus said what he said in Matthew 7:22-23.
Prophesying, casting out demons, performing miracles in the name of Jesus are all outwardly good things. But Jesus will reject "many" who do those things. Why? Because their hearts are wrong. These people have the wrong motivations for the things they do.
Dead works are any attempt to find favor, earn acceptance or be made righteous before God by one's own effort, ability or willpower.
Religion puts the emphasis on doing right. In contrast, Jesus and the apostles put the emphasis on believing right, because when we believe right we will naturally do right as a consequence.
If we can't tell outwardly, then how do we know what a good work is?
do you perceive what the Holy Spirit of Truth is revealing here?
Hebrews 6:1
therefore leaving the doctrines of Christ---not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works. meaning sinning & repenting as a way of a Christian life
one of these doctrines was that of baptisms, its in the plural form, He's distinguishing from John's, which was only a type & shadow of Christ baptism. John only reach to the cleansing of the flesh, symbolic of the ritual cleansing of the Jewish law, which he was under.
Christ, the Substance brought the better things to come, the baptism that John point to & desired, it reaches to the heart, the center & seat of our very being. Hebrews 9:14
Cleansing out the seeds of the evil one. Hebrews 10:22 evil conscience--his presence must be there Mark 7:21
Thus, Holy Spirit is revealing there's Ephesians 4:5 that's required to reach to this state of perfection were we sin no more.
Friends, as I lay here, after responding to bro Dan last thread, I continue to feel the springs from the Fountain of Life bubbling up within me, my cup is running over, so I added then added again to that which I received,
Come on; Zechariah 13:1Isa 55:1-4 the Grace of God/ Light Rev 22:17
lets us Micah 4:2 the Jerusalem Gal 4:26 in Spirit & in Truth
concerning the power of the resurrection of Christ within us, Paul reveals this when stating "not I but Christ lives in me"
the Father had prepared another body for His Son to live & move & have His being in, & where Christ goes He brings His Father with Him, John 14:23
Folks,
this is the abundant life that Christ came to bring us, Life behind the veil, the Holy of Holies, there is no sin or sinning in His dwelling, which dwelling place is within our hearts. 1Cor 3:16,17
the Corithians hadn't not reach the baptizmal of Christ, yet they were believers & were living in a measure of the Grace of God. Holy Spirit had strong extortations toward them to stop living in the flesh, the veil. though they did not lack behind in many of the graces of God.
indicating, we must press on to perfection Hebrews 6:1
2 Peter 2:20. They had the knowledge of the Lord and Savior; they were saved and had escaped the pollutions/sins of the world. Can we escape sin outside of Christ? They choose to go back to a life of habitual, intentional, and willful sin. And their punishment will be worse, Luke 12:47-48.
Galatians 6:9 This to me is obedience, It says unless we faint, to me that is to give up, quit, intentionally turn away, we reap life everlasting. Colossians 1:23 "If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel". If we continue that is a choice, we must make that is not given that is our obedience.
Jude 1:21 We are to keep ourselves, the Holy Spirit helps us, but this is something we do and if we do, He will keep us from falling. 2 Peter 1:10 If we do, it is not done for us, we have been given but it is up to us to obey and do, if they have forgotten they had to know it to forget it. If We Do!!! we shall never fall. Hebrews 6:13-16 What Abraham did, in his faith, he waited for a long time he endured. He did not faint or grow weary or turn his back to God, the evidence of his faith, just like when he drew back the knife.
This is not about a Christian who is struggling and battling sin regardless of how long they struggle they are still in the race and if they repent and return in the light will be forgiven and in the grace of God. As David said restore unto me the joy of thy salvation, Psalms 51:12. We all are in a battle with our flesh and sin daily. We can lose the joy of salvation and if we come under repentance, we will still be in God's grace but without repentance, we will be cut off.
(According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness,) through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:
(Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.)
Paul lists what's added in 2 Peter 1:5-7. "And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, and to virtue knowledge.
And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness.
And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.
Verse 8!
"FOR IF THESE THINGS BE IN YOU", and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
The contrary to "these things being in you" is seen in is verse 9.
BUT HE THAT LACKETH THESE THINGS IS BLIND, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins.
In verse 10 Paul is telling us to "give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall:
He is saying if according to Christ divine power hath he given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, and whereby we are given exceeding great and precious promises and by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. " Make your calling and election sure: for "IF YOU ARE DOING THESE THINGS", ye shall never fall.
Hebrews 6:13-16.
When God performed this covenant with Abraham, he put Abraham to sleep. IT WAS UNCONDITIONAL!
Genesis 15:1-12.
Matthew 24:13.
This is to take place during the great tribulation period.
However, I'm not going to get into that on this thread.
This is how I interpret those verses, perhaps some can help and improve on this.
IV. This miserable defection from primitive times, when the glory of Christianity was the purity of its professors, I cannot but call the second and worst part of the Jewish tragedy upon the blessed Saviour of mankind. For the Jews, from the power of ignorance, and the extreme prejudice they were under to the unworldly way of his appearance, would not acknowledge him when he came, but for two or three years persecuted, and finally crucified him in one day. But the false Christians' cruelty lasts longer: they have first, with Judas, professed him, and then, for these many ages, most basely betrayed, persecuted, and crucified him, by a perpetual apostasy in manners, from the self-denial and holiness of his doctrine; their lives giving the lie to their faith. These are they that the author of the epistle to the Hebrews tells us, "Crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to open shame:" Hebrews 6:6 whose defiled hearts John in his Revelation styles, "The streets of Sodom and Egypt, spiritually so called, where also our Lord was crucified." Rev11:8 And as Christ said of old, a man's enemies are those of his own house, so Christ's enemies now are chiefly those of his own profession; they spit upon him, they nail and pierce him, they crown him with thorns, and give him gall and vinegar to drink. Matt27:34 Nor is it hard to apprehend; for they that live in the same evil nature and principle the Jews did, that crucified him outwardly, must needs crucify him inwardly; since they that reject the grace now in their own hearts, are one in stock and generation with the hard-hearted Jews, that resisted the grace that then appeared in and by Christ.
Maybe Matthew 6:14-15 can be applicable to such a situation, "For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses"
What about Matthew 5:8, "Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.". If in our heart dwells bitterness, hostility, passions, ...?
Some thoughts about the unpardonable sin. Firstly in general all unrepentant sin is unpardonable. But there are cases in a christian life that a sin can become unpardonable. It seems that there is a line that if one crosses, there is no return. I would call it "a line of repentance". When one crosses that line it seems they will never repent any more whatever happens in their life
1. An individual apostasy from God that goes on and on for a long time and christians are moving further and further away from God while their heart gets more and more hardened and their conscious becomes less and less sensitive, seems they eventually cross the line of no return. It is the situation described by Paul in Hebrews 10:26-29 and Hebrews 6:4-8.
2. Blasphemy against the HS. The word Blasphemy in anc grk has the meaning of giving somebody a bad reputation, lke calling demonic the actions of the HS. It is unpardonable. Again people who do that have already crossed the repentance line. Why? Because one who in purpose and with full knowledge of what is doing(not just repeat what he heard from somebody else) fights against God, there is noway he will ever repent.
3. Lying to the Holly Spirit, like Ananias and Sapphira did. They were not given any chance to repent(apart from being questioned by Peter), they immediately fell down dead. So trying to cheat on the Holly Spirit is unpardonable.
4. As a final one that will occur in the future. Receiving the mark of the beast is also unpardonable. This indicates that people who will accept the mark will have knowledge of what they will be doing.
"For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death." ( 2 Cor. 7:10).
Hebrews 6:4-9
4 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,5 And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come 6 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.7 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:8 But that which beareth thorns and briers is rejected, and is nigh unto cursing; whose end is to be burned.9 But, beloved, we are persuaded better things of you, and things that accompany salvation, though we thus speak.
Perhaps the second set of verses from Hebrews helps to explain the first passage. In some sense; the wicked wish to turn away from all they have been enlightened with which in some sense explains why they can't be renewed into repentance since they have decided with all the evidence given to turn back to their sins. They have in some sense repented from committing to God and turned back to the world; flesh and the Devil being ashamed of what they consider foolish ways of ignorance apart from their own wisdom. Whether repentance can mean turning from God back to wickedness may be questionable; what is scary here is that much like Lucifer all the evidences of God's glory is seen and because of pride is rejected. As Jesus Himself said in John 10:1 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber. WE MUST NOT BE ASHAMED OF GOD'S METHOD to be admitted into heaven; it is the narrow way to life that must be followed ( Matthew 17:13-14). More in next post.
Simply put; the Holy Spirit is the method of displaying Christ's presence on earth. Hebrews 6:4-8 as well as 1 Peter 2:3 show that those who have tasted the heavenly gift and other things of the Spirit as well as the powers of the coming age to be renewed once again to repentance once fallen away. This ties in for several reasons to the text in Matthew 12:31. We must remember first of all that much like Satan Himself Christ's works were made manifest for all men to see and thus nothing more could be done after witnessing undeniable miracles such as blind being healed which had never been seen in O.T. times. Also; of course the Pharisees accused him of using the power of Beelzebub to perform His miracles; despite the fact that the Spirit even before the church age was there such as with John the Baptist to convict the world of sin; righteousness and judgment to come. ( John 16:8). The Pharisees denied the Divinity of Christ and that was after all they saw and Christ saying that He was the I AM ( John 8:58). Therefore they wouldn't accept worshipping Him and His Divinity as a member of the Godhead was hidden from them. Therefore Satan was truly their God. ( John 8:44).
Satan Himself was built on pride and self-exaltation therefore was mad enough to desire worship for himself despite being in heaven and seeing God's glory and no doubt the earth and the rest of Creation therefore he was given no chance of repentance ( Job 38:7). We see singing in that verse; something Lucifer as Cheribum was designed to do in charge of worship but it was turned to evil. By default then Satan is the God and loyalty of all who do this to the Spirit; most will sin and admit God is righteous or simply hate God or be afraid (as in the sixth seal); eventually Satan will be sent for those who LOVE not the truth but a lie ( 2 Thess. 2:10). Like it or not Antichrist will eventually blasphemy God and yet all those not in the Book of Life will worship him and be damned ( Rev. 13:8).
P1: Re-read some scriptures last evening and would like to write them here.
All of John Chapter 13 ; Chapter 14
John 1:4 "In him was life; and the life was the light of men."
Colossians 1:15 "Who is the image of the invisible God, the first born of every creature."
Romans 8:32 "He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?"
Hebrews 1:8 "But unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is forever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom."
John 1:3 "All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made."
Hebrews 1:3 "Who being the brightness of his glory and express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;"
Romans 8:29 "For whom he did foreknowledge, he did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the first born among many brethren."
1 Corinthians 1:29 "That no flesh glory in his presence"
John 1:14 "And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we behold his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth."
Luke 1:31 "And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS."
Matthew 1:19 "Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a publick example, was minded to put her away privileges."
Isaiah 53:1 "Who hat believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the Lord revealed?"
Philippians 2:5 - 6 "Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God."
Hebrews 6:20 "Whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made an high priest after the order of Melchisedec."
You stated, "the apostles had not been told the Gospel will also be given to the Gentiles, the time had not come. There were another 3.5 years after Jesus's ministry before the apostles were told the gospel of Christ will be given to the Greeks/Gentiles.
I agree with Gigi, The Apostles were told to go out to preach the gospel to the whole world and I believe the old economy "if that's the correct term to use" ended at the crucifixion when the veil was rent from top to bottom.
The timing of the beginning and ending of what God ordained in the old and in the new covenant was totally of God, "Not according to man's response to it"
The OT scripture said salvation would go out to the Gentiles by the seed which shall come. some expected it in the New Testament as seen in Luke 2:30-32. For mine eyes have seen thy salvation, which thou hast prepared before the face of all people. A light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel.
Also.
Jesus said in John 2:19-22 he would tare the temple down and build it again in 3 days.
That was the end of temporary temple that only served as a shadow of what was to come. Hebrews 9:6-11.
When he rose from the grave, he went to the disciples and see here what he said in Luke 24:42-48.
And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.
And ye are witnesses of these things!
Concerning the veil being rent from top to bottom.
Here is what was accomplished at the death and resurrection of our Lord.
Here in Hebrews 6:17-20 we see Jesus as our "forerunner" and High Priest.
We have been once and for all cleansed and can now enter therein with a clear conscience. See Hebrews 9:8-26.
Also.
Hebrews 10:8-22.
The veil being rent signifies the end of the old covenant and the resurrection ushered in the new covenant.
The commission came right afterwards. Luke 24:42-49. and Matthew 28:19-20.
Repentance often involves an acknowledgement of wrongdoing and an awareness of one's limitation.
We all is born into this world with a fallen nature and must be born again.
Being born again means being born from above. (Born of Christ Spirit)
Israel was to repent from dead works as seen throughout the new testament particularly from the book of Hebrews.
Especially Hebrews 6:1-4.
Israel inability to produce fruit is not a testimony of Israel, it is a lesson to all!
This shows the whole world as they look in that while God is in their midst and carrying them on eagles wings it doesn't change the heart of man.
For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope. Romans 15:4.
SALVATION.
We preach repentance with salvation.
The key to repentance is not what you turn from.
It's who you turn to!
Our Lord Jesus Christ.
Jesus came to cleanse the inside the cup with the outside!
More on this later.
God bless
(Part 1):
Thank you for sharing these pieces of scripture. Perhaps you may have missed Hebrews 6:4-6 which is another verse, along with the ones you have shared, that some use to show that salvation can be lost. However, they all fall short of proving the loss of salvation.
In 2 Peter 2:20-22, Peter is speaking to Hebrew people. Nothing in these three verses show that Peter is referring to saved individuals losing their salvation.
A person can receive knowledge of Jesus Christ and the gospel message of salvation and still never surrender their life to Christ. This is the same thing we see in Hebrews 10:26. Knowledge of the truth does not save anyone. A person must receive Jesus Christ and be born of His Spirit in order to be saved.
If you ever do a study of Judaism and what it means for a Jewish person to receive Jesus as their Savior, it puts these scriptures you've shared into a much clearer perspective.
You see, for a Jewish person to receive Christ, they would be completely cut off from society. They would no longer be allowed in their temple, they would lose their job, and no one would hire them. Their own family would disown them. Their family would consider them dead and literally hold a funeral for them if they denounced Judaism and received Christ as their Savior.
Hebrews 6:12 - That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises.
This word slothful is a Greek word (NOTHROI) that means lazy.
Hebrews 7:3 - Without father, without mother, without descent, having neither beginning of days, nor end of life; but made like unto the Son of God; abideth a priest continually.
Melchisedec was without father, and notice how it's translated. It doesn't say he did not have a father. The Greek text indicates that there is no record of a father. No record of a mother, and he is without descent. There's no record. Obviously, he came from somewhere. He was a man. He was real. There were no records at all about this guy.
Having neither beginning of days, nor end of life;
That is, we have no idea where he came from, how old he was, when he died, if he died, whatever!
But made like unto the Son of God;
There is a parallel between Melchisedec and Christ. But this text says that he was made like to the Son of God. It doesn't say he was the Son of God. That's important!
Abides a priest continually. The parallel here is that we know that Jesus had a birth. We know who His mother is and who His Father is. But that's not the parallel. The parallel is that Jesus, let's put it this way, the Christ never had a beginning, and doesn't have an end. And that's why the Lord's priesthood is according to Melchisedec, because Melchisedec is parallel to the eternal existence of Christ.
Hebrews 8:2 - For there was a tabernacle made; the first, wherein was the candlestick, and the table, and the shewbread; which is called the sanctuary.
There are never any candles mentioned in the scripture, even though it's in the translation. It's translated lamp. And there was a lamp and a table in what is called the holy place.
Hebrews 6:6 Continued
One of them is a person that's excitingly, with joy, hears the word. But then when tribulations come, and by the way that's how you grow, through trials and tribulations, but when the tribulation came, they quit because it's not exciting anymore.
Now it's down to living life. Now it's down to trusting the Lord, and learning how to live by faith! And to the flesh, sometimes it's not as exciting as it first was. So, they quit! And remember what I shared with you before, the indication in the bible that a person is saved is that they make it all the way to the end. All saved people make it all the way to the end.
A person who is not saved can look, and act, and talk, and believe just like a normal believer. They may even see some of these people driving cars full of Jesus bumper stickers, and then one day, they just disappear.
So, just because a person is enlightened to the truth, enlightened by the Holy Spirit, and has tasted of these things, that does not make them a saved person. Again, the proof that one is saved is that they make it to the end. Why? Because we are kept by the power of God for salvation!
So, he encourages the believers to move past the foundation doctrines and elements of the things of the Lord, mainly because the people who stay in that area can either be saved or unsaved. There's some that taste of the Holy Spirit, they partake of the Holy Spirit, they get the knowledge and enlightenment of the basic truths and foundations of the things of Christ, and they might even in their mind believe that it's true.
But he's showing them that moving on shows you're saved. Right now, you're dull of hearing. I won't say that you're not saved, but you're dull of hearing. So, I encourage you in your Spiritual growth to get your senses exercised by God's word. If not, you'll just drop out and it will just prove that you're not the real thing!
Hebrews 6:6 - 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.
We have the sixth thing in Verse 6, and I'll share with you the literal translation. It says if they shall fall away. There's no "if" in the Greek text. It's just after having fallen away. They've already done it. It's after having fallen away. And you can see in all these things that he's listing that they are all past tense.
Verse 4 started off by saying it's impossible for these people. Verse 6 says to renew them again unto repentance; Impossible!
Seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to open shame. These are Hebrews and Jews who went back into Judaism and denounced the whole thing, and were back professing their unbelief, and hatred and anger toward the Lord, and they were doing it publicly.
That doesn't mean that a Gentile can't do that. There are many people over the years that have. A person can be in a group with believers and seem just like everyone else but not be saved. They can be sitting in your church, participating just like everyone else, and still not be saved.
They can even give up their old lifestyle and seem to be following the Lord and then after some time just walk away and go right back to where they were before. And people might wonder what happened because they seemed like a believer.
Well, if you understand the Parable of the Sower, you know what happened. Only one out of the four people that received the seed gets saved. There are three others that heard the same thing that the saved person hears, but they have different reactions.
Hebrews 6:5 - And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come,
Again, we see the word tasted. All these tastes, it's like sampling. A non-believer can sit in with believers and receive the same ministry of God's Spirit to that group, even in their own life, as to the truth of Christ, but still not be saved.
And the powers of the world to come. They were actually there to participate. I recall the ten lepers that approached Jesus and wanted their healing. So, Jesus healed the ten lepers and sent them on their way, and only one of them stopped and returned to worship the Lord. And the Lord turns to the disciples and says weren't there ten lepers?
Nine of them just took their healing and took off. Only one turned to worship Christ. There are people who participate in the powers of God's Spirit moving in amongst His people, and they're not even saved.
Hebrews 6:4 - 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,
Please notice in this verse all the past tense verbs. The word enlightened (PHOTIZO) means to have your mind illuminated to the truth. Some say that only believers can be enlightened but that's not true. We are told in John 1:9 that the light, who is Christ, enlightens every man coming into this world. Every person is enlightened to the truth.
Paul tells us in Romans Chapter 1 (beginning at Verse 18) that no one has an excuse when standing before God, because even creation testifies to the very attributes of God. In other words, the Holy Spirit uses creation as an initial enlightenment for every human being. But that doesn't mean that every human being hears the gospel message.
Every person is enlightened but not everybody responds in the same way. A person can be enlightened to the truth about Christ and still refuse to receive Him. So, these people were being enlightened but they weren't saved.
Secondly: and have tasted of the heavenly gift. They've participated with the things of Christ. They have participated with the Holy Spirit. They don't have Him living inside, but they tasted of that heavenly gift that God gives to His people. They're sitting in amongst God's people and they're participating. They are getting a taste.
And were made partakers of the Holy Ghost. Please notice the emphasis. They were partakers, that is they were in this interaction and the Holy Spirit was ministering to them. They were partaking of the Holy Spirit as He was enlightening them.
But please notice that it says they were partakers of the Holy Spirit. The emphasis is the Holy Spirit, not Christ. The Holy Spirit's the one that's ministering. They didn't know Christ. They never received Him.
I would like to spend a little bit of time going over Hebrews 6:4-6 because there's a salvation issue here.
In these verses, the writer describes the salvation process, but he also describes people who are not saved. Please know that there's a mixed group we are dealing with in the book of Hebrews. There are Hebrews that believe, and there are Hebrews that have been enlightened to the truth, they know the truth, they understand the truth but have never surrendered their life to Christ. Those are the ones who are thinking of going back and giving up the whole Christian thing because of the persecution, and the hardship.
So, in Verses 4 through 6, the salvation process, I would like to share some details on this and hopefully you're able to understand it, and it will make this text clearer.
There are many teachers that use this text to show that a believer can lose their salvation, not understanding that he's talking to people who have been listening and receiving the truth, and understanding the truth, but then ready to go back and not make that final surrender to Christ, because they say you can't be enlightened unless you're a Christian. But that simply is not true. A non-believer can be enlightened to the truth and still remain unsaved their entire life. So, an enlightened person does not mean that the person is saved.
I think we are to judge the teachings (doctrines) of what others profess in their religion against the Bible to see if these doctrines are true or false. We are to reject false doctrines whether they are professed by one who professes to be Christian or of any other religion. We can do this privately, making note not to follow these teachings or the religion or sect that teaches false doctrines contrary to what the Bible teaches us. And, at times we may be called by the Holy Spirit to reject false teachings openly such as in a discussion or forum for debate.
Therefore, it is vital for every Christian to go on to maturity as Paul exhorts in these verses:
Ephesians 4:14-15 - That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;
Hebrews 5:12-13 - For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat.
Hebrews 6:1-3 - 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,
Ephesians 4:13 - Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ.
By maturity, Paul is certainly speaking of going deeper into the truths taught to the church by the apostles of which we have laid out for us in the NT. It involves thinking seriously and thoroughly on the doctrines one has learned and seek to understand them to a greater degree to strengthen our faith and knowledge of God in Jesus Christ, His work of salvation, how God has worked over the course of history to bring to fullness His eternal plan and purpose, see pt. 2
You are right, the word "even" doesn't appear in the grk text. As you said it was probably used to emphasize Jesus' person.
The grk says:
Acts 9:17,"...the Lord sent me, Jesus, who appeared to you on the way that you were coming..."
1 Thessalonians 1:10, "And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, Jesus, who releases of us from the coming wrath."
Hebrews 6:20, " Where forerunner for us Jesus entered, becoming high priest for ever according to the order of Melchisedec".
1 John 5:6, "He is who came through water and blood, Jesus Christ; not in water only, but in water and blood. And the Spirit is that bears witness, because the Spirit is the truth."
The text I am using is the majority text which is almost the same as the received text.
1 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,
2 Of the doctrine of BAPTISMS, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal Judgment.
3 And this will we do, if GOD permit.
Hebrews 5:12-14
12 For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of GOD; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat.
13 For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the Word of righteousness: for he is a babe.
14 But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.
Around 2000 years ago or much probably 60/65AD was written the book of Matthew. JESUS said: Matthew 24:14 and 32-35
14 - This Gospel of the Kingdom shall be preached in ALL THE WORLD for a witness unto ALL NATIONS; and then shall the END
come. (The TESTIMONY OF OUR LORD JESUS IS THE SPIRIT OF PROPHECY, UNDERSTAND? Revelation 19:10)
32 Now LEARN a parable of the fig tree; When his branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is nigh:
33 So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, KNOW THAT IT IS NEAR, even AT THE DOORS.
34 Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled.
35 Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.
GET READY
Philippians 3:20-21
20 For our conversation is in heaven(heaven? Ephesians 1:3-8); from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ:
21 Who shall CHANGE our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto His glorious body, according to the working whereby He is able even to subdue all things unto Himself.
The Word is GOD, GOD Himself, self-executing
Part 2.
We should "always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect" ( 1 Peter 3:15). We prepare by studying God's Word for ourselves, listening to sound Bible teachers, and staying in close fellowship with Jesus. Those practices keep our own lives pure so that we are not hypocrites who preach one thing but do another Galatians 6:1.
Evangelism provides eternal benefits. Jesus encouraged His followers to "store up treasure in heaven" ( Matthew 6:19). That treasure consists of rewards for what we did on earth in His name and for His glory. It is not self-centered to make choices that will ensure eternal treasure for ourselves. Jesus told us to! Our service to Him can be as simple as offering a cup of cold water to one of His own ( Matthew 10:42). The parable of the unjust steward underscores the importance of doing whatever we can to bring people to faith in Christ ( Luke 16:1-13).
4. Evangelism is an overflow of the "hope that is within us" ( Hebrews 6:19; 1 Peter 3:15). When two people fall in love, they cannot help but let everyone around them know it. Joy shows on their faces; stars glitter in their eyes. They are eager to tell anyone who will listen about the wonderful person they love. So it is when we've fallen in love with Jesus. We cannot help but tell people about Him every chance we get. We think about Him all the time. We're drawn to His Word, to worship services, and to others who love Him. We look for opportunities to share His truth with someone who is far from Him. If Jesus is not at the forefront of our minds, we have a spiritual problem and need to address that first before we can share the "hope that is within us."
See part 3.
There are several speculations on what the mark may be, a literal mark, a computer chip, symbols, and more but the mark of the beast will be based on worship. It is the false prophet, the second beast who causes people to worship the first beast and his image. The number 666 goes back to Babylon, the 36 gods numbered 1 through 36, 6 columns and 6 rows the numbers were arranged in such a way that the sum of any given row, column, or diagonal was 111, and therefore the sum of all six rows or all six columns was 666, like 18+20+22+21+17+13 =111, 1+2+3 to 36=666.
We are told to have faith and patience Luke 21:19 Hebrews 6:12 and hear in Revelation 13:10 and Revelation 14:11 that if we are strong in our faith and patience we will have the steadfastness and endurance (the meaning of patience) to not give into the temptation of the three who is to come, Satan, the beast out of the bottomless pit and the beast who will be the false prophet, even if we face death, the hour of temptation, Rev. 3:10.
Something like this was done in the past in the Decian persecution in 250 AD. The decree ordered sacrifices be performed in the presence of a Roman magistrate, it was a signed and witnessed certificate, issued to that effect. People had to perform a sacrifice to the Roman gods and the well-being of the emperor.
Christians were put to death for refusing to perform the sacrifices, many others apostatized and performed the ceremonies, and others went into hiding. Those who compromised were able to prosper economically. By way of contrast, those who did not have the certificate were unable to buy or sell and suffered economic hardship. Buying and selling was done in marketplaces ruled by Rome. This may be similar to what is coming but a mark instead of a certificate.
Hope this helps.
God bless,
RLW
After being Born Again, it you went to an Altar and asked Jesus to Save You, You Committed a SIN, You entered into a Contract and You will Get Pride Out of Contract, this will Cause you to Fall under Condemnation/Control of the Devil, 1st Tim 3:6, and Revelations 12:9 see AskElm com for SECRETS HIDDEN over 1,800 Years and its GOOD NEW!
I would like to add to what Gigi has shared.
1 John 4:12-16.
No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us. HEREBY KNOW WE THAT WE DWELL IN HIM, AND HE IN US, because he hath given us of his Spirit.
And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world.
Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God.
And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.
What John is saying is that no man has seen God at any time but if we love one another God dwells in us. In other words God today can manifest himself through believers in loving one another, "and the world sees That!
John 13:34-35, "A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.
"What makes this so unique?" What's new about it? Isn't it listed in the Commandments? What's unique and new about it is that he causes it!
Look at verse 35.
"By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.
John 3:16
"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son,.
( God gave us his Spirit that causes us to love the Brothern.)
God's Spirit, "The Holyspirit" causes those who loves God to love his brother also. 1 John 4:21"
Romans 5:5.
And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.
I hope this helps. God bless.
It is the Holy Spirit who regenerate you to become a believer and He indwells ever believer who confesses Jesus as Savior.
So, if you are a believer, then He dwells in you.
You ask how can you know? It is by faith from first to last that we believe the gospel and all that Jesus promised. He promised the Holy Spirit would live in us, and He does. We believe in Him trusting that He is truthful in all that He said and promised.
Part 1
And I will put my spirit within you, "AND CAUSE" you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them.
Ezekiel 36:27.
The apostle Paul says that "for we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus" ( Ephesians 2:10). The word "workmanship" means "that which is made, a work of art." It refers to a "masterpiece." What Paul's saying is that all God's children are His masterpieces.
Philippians 2:13 For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.
Dead Works.
In the Bible the phrase "dead works" is found in the book of Hebrews.
Hebrews 6:1-3.
"Repentance from dead works".
Repentance means to change the way we think. We need to change the way we think about dead works.
From the outside looking in we can't tell the difference between dead works and good works. They can look very much the same outwardly. They can be the same works, but they have different motives.
Praying can be a dead or good work.
Attending church can be a dead or good work.
Reading the Bible can be a dead or good work.
Telling others about Jesus can be a dead or good work.
That's why Jesus said what he said in Matthew 7:22-23.
Prophesying, casting out demons, performing miracles in the name of Jesus are all outwardly good things. But Jesus will reject "many" who do those things. Why? Because their hearts are wrong. These people have the wrong motivations for the things they do.
Dead works are any attempt to find favor, earn acceptance or be made righteous before God by one's own effort, ability or willpower.
Religion puts the emphasis on doing right. In contrast, Jesus and the apostles put the emphasis on believing right, because when we believe right we will naturally do right as a consequence.
If we can't tell outwardly, then how do we know what a good work is?
See part 2.
do you perceive what the Holy Spirit of Truth is revealing here?
Hebrews 6:1
therefore leaving the doctrines of Christ---not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works. meaning sinning & repenting as a way of a Christian life
one of these doctrines was that of baptisms, its in the plural form, He's distinguishing from John's, which was only a type & shadow of Christ baptism. John only reach to the cleansing of the flesh, symbolic of the ritual cleansing of the Jewish law, which he was under.
Christ, the Substance brought the better things to come, the baptism that John point to & desired, it reaches to the heart, the center & seat of our very being. Hebrews 9:14
Cleansing out the seeds of the evil one. Hebrews 10:22 evil conscience--his presence must be there Mark 7:21
Thus, Holy Spirit is revealing there's Ephesians 4:5 that's required to reach to this state of perfection were we sin no more.
Friends, as I lay here, after responding to bro Dan last thread, I continue to feel the springs from the Fountain of Life bubbling up within me, my cup is running over, so I added then added again to that which I received,
Come on; Zechariah 13:1 Isa 55:1-4 the Grace of God/ Light Rev 22:17
lets us Micah 4:2 the Jerusalem Gal 4:26 in Spirit & in Truth
in love & truth
the Father had prepared another body for His Son to live & move & have His being in, & where Christ goes He brings His Father with Him, John 14:23
Folks,
this is the abundant life that Christ came to bring us, Life behind the veil, the Holy of Holies, there is no sin or sinning in His dwelling, which dwelling place is within our hearts. 1Cor 3:16,17
the Corithians hadn't not reach the baptizmal of Christ, yet they were believers & were living in a measure of the Grace of God. Holy Spirit had strong extortations toward them to stop living in the flesh, the veil. though they did not lack behind in many of the graces of God.
indicating, we must press on to perfection Hebrews 6:1
Part four,
2 Peter 2:20. They had the knowledge of the Lord and Savior; they were saved and had escaped the pollutions/sins of the world. Can we escape sin outside of Christ? They choose to go back to a life of habitual, intentional, and willful sin. And their punishment will be worse, Luke 12:47-48.
Galatians 6:9 This to me is obedience, It says unless we faint, to me that is to give up, quit, intentionally turn away, we reap life everlasting. Colossians 1:23 "If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel". If we continue that is a choice, we must make that is not given that is our obedience.
Jude 1:21 We are to keep ourselves, the Holy Spirit helps us, but this is something we do and if we do, He will keep us from falling. 2 Peter 1:10 If we do, it is not done for us, we have been given but it is up to us to obey and do, if they have forgotten they had to know it to forget it. If We Do!!! we shall never fall. Hebrews 6:13-16 What Abraham did, in his faith, he waited for a long time he endured. He did not faint or grow weary or turn his back to God, the evidence of his faith, just like when he drew back the knife.
This is not about a Christian who is struggling and battling sin regardless of how long they struggle they are still in the race and if they repent and return in the light will be forgiven and in the grace of God. As David said restore unto me the joy of thy salvation, Psalms 51:12. We all are in a battle with our flesh and sin daily. We can lose the joy of salvation and if we come under repentance, we will still be in God's grace but without repentance, we will be cut off.
See part 5.
Part 7.
2 Peter 1:10.
Let's take this from verses 3-4.
(According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness,) through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:
(Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.)
Paul lists what's added in 2 Peter 1:5-7. "And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, and to virtue knowledge.
And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness.
And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.
Verse 8!
"FOR IF THESE THINGS BE IN YOU", and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
The contrary to "these things being in you" is seen in is verse 9.
BUT HE THAT LACKETH THESE THINGS IS BLIND, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins.
In verse 10 Paul is telling us to "give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall:
He is saying if according to Christ divine power hath he given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, and whereby we are given exceeding great and precious promises and by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. " Make your calling and election sure: for "IF YOU ARE DOING THESE THINGS", ye shall never fall.
Hebrews 6:13-16.
When God performed this covenant with Abraham, he put Abraham to sleep. IT WAS UNCONDITIONAL!
Genesis 15:1-12.
Matthew 24:13.
This is to take place during the great tribulation period.
However, I'm not going to get into that on this thread.
This is how I interpret those verses, perhaps some can help and improve on this.
God bless you brother.
IV. This miserable defection from primitive times, when the glory of Christianity was the purity of its professors, I cannot but call the second and worst part of the Jewish tragedy upon the blessed Saviour of mankind. For the Jews, from the power of ignorance, and the extreme prejudice they were under to the unworldly way of his appearance, would not acknowledge him when he came, but for two or three years persecuted, and finally crucified him in one day. But the false Christians' cruelty lasts longer: they have first, with Judas, professed him, and then, for these many ages, most basely betrayed, persecuted, and crucified him, by a perpetual apostasy in manners, from the self-denial and holiness of his doctrine; their lives giving the lie to their faith. These are they that the author of the epistle to the Hebrews tells us, "Crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to open shame:" Hebrews 6:6 whose defiled hearts John in his Revelation styles, "The streets of Sodom and Egypt, spiritually so called, where also our Lord was crucified." Rev11:8 And as Christ said of old, a man's enemies are those of his own house, so Christ's enemies now are chiefly those of his own profession; they spit upon him, they nail and pierce him, they crown him with thorns, and give him gall and vinegar to drink. Matt27:34 Nor is it hard to apprehend; for they that live in the same evil nature and principle the Jews did, that crucified him outwardly, must needs crucify him inwardly; since they that reject the grace now in their own hearts, are one in stock and generation with the hard-hearted Jews, that resisted the grace that then appeared in and by Christ.
conti....
Maybe Matthew 6:14-15 can be applicable to such a situation, "For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses"
What about Matthew 5:8, "Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.". If in our heart dwells bitterness, hostility, passions, ...?
Some thoughts about the unpardonable sin. Firstly in general all unrepentant sin is unpardonable. But there are cases in a christian life that a sin can become unpardonable. It seems that there is a line that if one crosses, there is no return. I would call it "a line of repentance". When one crosses that line it seems they will never repent any more whatever happens in their life
1. An individual apostasy from God that goes on and on for a long time and christians are moving further and further away from God while their heart gets more and more hardened and their conscious becomes less and less sensitive, seems they eventually cross the line of no return. It is the situation described by Paul in Hebrews 10:26-29 and Hebrews 6:4-8.
2. Blasphemy against the HS. The word Blasphemy in anc grk has the meaning of giving somebody a bad reputation, lke calling demonic the actions of the HS. It is unpardonable. Again people who do that have already crossed the repentance line. Why? Because one who in purpose and with full knowledge of what is doing(not just repeat what he heard from somebody else) fights against God, there is noway he will ever repent.
3. Lying to the Holly Spirit, like Ananias and Sapphira did. They were not given any chance to repent(apart from being questioned by Peter), they immediately fell down dead. So trying to cheat on the Holly Spirit is unpardonable.
4. As a final one that will occur in the future. Receiving the mark of the beast is also unpardonable. This indicates that people who will accept the mark will have knowledge of what they will be doing.
Blessings.
"For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death." ( 2 Cor. 7:10).
Hebrews 6:4-9
4 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,5 And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come 6 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.7 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:8 But that which beareth thorns and briers is rejected, and is nigh unto cursing; whose end is to be burned.9 But, beloved, we are persuaded better things of you, and things that accompany salvation, though we thus speak.
Perhaps the second set of verses from Hebrews helps to explain the first passage. In some sense; the wicked wish to turn away from all they have been enlightened with which in some sense explains why they can't be renewed into repentance since they have decided with all the evidence given to turn back to their sins. They have in some sense repented from committing to God and turned back to the world; flesh and the Devil being ashamed of what they consider foolish ways of ignorance apart from their own wisdom. Whether repentance can mean turning from God back to wickedness may be questionable; what is scary here is that much like Lucifer all the evidences of God's glory is seen and because of pride is rejected. As Jesus Himself said in John 10:1 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber. WE MUST NOT BE ASHAMED OF GOD'S METHOD to be admitted into heaven; it is the narrow way to life that must be followed ( Matthew 17:13-14). More in next post.
Satan Himself was built on pride and self-exaltation therefore was mad enough to desire worship for himself despite being in heaven and seeing God's glory and no doubt the earth and the rest of Creation therefore he was given no chance of repentance ( Job 38:7). We see singing in that verse; something Lucifer as Cheribum was designed to do in charge of worship but it was turned to evil. By default then Satan is the God and loyalty of all who do this to the Spirit; most will sin and admit God is righteous or simply hate God or be afraid (as in the sixth seal); eventually Satan will be sent for those who LOVE not the truth but a lie ( 2 Thess. 2:10). Like it or not Antichrist will eventually blasphemy God and yet all those not in the Book of Life will worship him and be damned ( Rev. 13:8).
All of John Chapter 13 ; Chapter 14
John 1:4 "In him was life; and the life was the light of men."
Colossians 1:15 "Who is the image of the invisible God, the first born of every creature."
Romans 8:32 "He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?"
Hebrews 1:8 "But unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is forever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom."
John 1:3 "All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made."
Hebrews 1:3 "Who being the brightness of his glory and express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;"
Romans 8:29 "For whom he did foreknowledge, he did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the first born among many brethren."
1 Corinthians 1:29 "That no flesh glory in his presence"
John 1:14 "And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we behold his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth."
Luke 1:31 "And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS."
Matthew 1:19 "Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a publick example, was minded to put her away privileges."
Isaiah 53:1 "Who hat believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the Lord revealed?"
Philippians 2:5 - 6 "Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God."
Hebrews 6:20 "Whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made an high priest after the order of Melchisedec."
P2 follows
You stated, "the apostles had not been told the Gospel will also be given to the Gentiles, the time had not come. There were another 3.5 years after Jesus's ministry before the apostles were told the gospel of Christ will be given to the Greeks/Gentiles.
I agree with Gigi, The Apostles were told to go out to preach the gospel to the whole world and I believe the old economy "if that's the correct term to use" ended at the crucifixion when the veil was rent from top to bottom.
The timing of the beginning and ending of what God ordained in the old and in the new covenant was totally of God, "Not according to man's response to it"
The OT scripture said salvation would go out to the Gentiles by the seed which shall come. some expected it in the New Testament as seen in Luke 2:30-32. For mine eyes have seen thy salvation, which thou hast prepared before the face of all people. A light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel.
Also.
Jesus said in John 2:19-22 he would tare the temple down and build it again in 3 days.
That was the end of temporary temple that only served as a shadow of what was to come. Hebrews 9:6-11.
When he rose from the grave, he went to the disciples and see here what he said in Luke 24:42-48.
And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.
And ye are witnesses of these things!
Concerning the veil being rent from top to bottom.
Here is what was accomplished at the death and resurrection of our Lord.
Here in Hebrews 6:17-20 we see Jesus as our "forerunner" and High Priest.
We have been once and for all cleansed and can now enter therein with a clear conscience. See Hebrews 9:8-26.
Also.
Hebrews 10:8-22.
The veil being rent signifies the end of the old covenant and the resurrection ushered in the new covenant.
The commission came right afterwards. Luke 24:42-49. and Matthew 28:19-20.
God bless.