HEBREWS 4-6 [Just made the video- so today you get ‘real time’-
P.S.- to my kids- the carnival looks good- maybe we will go today? Text me-
dad.]
CHAPTER 4:
NEW NOTES BELOW-
.SABBATH REST
‘Let us therefore fear [Jews in the first
century, not Christians in the 21st century! At least in this
context] lest a promise being left us of entering into his rest [now defined as
the New Covenant rest. Paul is telling Israel God has left you a promise of
rest in Messiah, where you will cease from your own works [law], beware Israel , our
forefathers missed out on the promise because of unbelief, don’t do the same!]
any of you should come short of it, for unto us was the gospel preached [1st
century Israel] as well as unto them [Israel at the edge of entering the
promised land had the gospel [good news] preached to them by Joshua and Caleb,
they gave the ‘good report’ that the land was great and it was there for the
taking, of course they didn’t believe and therefore couldn’t take it] but the
word did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it.
For WE WHICH HAVE BELEIVED [the remnant of
Jews who were believing in the first century were entering into the rest of the
New Covenant of grace, they left off trying to be made righteous by the law,
they ceased from their own works] do enter into rest…for he spake in a certain
place of the 7th day on this wise, and God did rest the 7th
day from all his works, and again, if they shall enter into my rest. Seeing
therefore it still remains that some must enter therein, and they to whom it
was first preached entered not in because of unbelief: again he limits a
certain day in David [Psalms] today if you will HEAR HIS VOICE [as opposed to
the voice of the law/Moses] harden not your hearts. For if Joshua [my king
James says ‘Jesus’ this is because the translation is the same] had given them
rest then he would not have spoken of another day, there remaineth therefore a
rest TO THE PEOPLE OF GOD! [Jewish people ‘of God’ not gentile converts!].
Well, we covered a lot here. Paul takes the creation account, the verses that
will later speak of a future rest for Gods people, and then a verse from Psalms
where David prophesies that there still remains a future rest. He puts them all
together to show Israel
that God has ordained a future ‘7th day’ for his people to enter
into. He uses the 7th day as a symbol of Gods ‘day of Grace and
rest’.
He then shows Israel that it really wasn’t
speaking of the rest of the Promised Land after all, because eventually Israel did
inherit it, but yet David still spoke of it in the future tense. So Paul
concludes that the future rest of the 7th day that ‘Gods people’
[Jews] still must enter is the offer of grace to the 1st century
Jew. Wow! This is why some theologians feel Paul was a little too loose with
the scriptures. I think this stuff is great! Paul basically was using all of
his understanding as a first century theologian [Pharisee] and was absolutely
proving Christ to Israel
in a way that none of the other Apostles could do. He was the only Pharisee out
of all the Apostles, one born out of due time. This is obviously why Jesus
chose him. It is so important to see the connections that Paul is making here.
If Israel were following the timeline that Paul is giving, they will see that
their own Old Testament scriptures testify that there was a future ‘place of
rest’ that would be offered to them as a nation.
And Paul also shows that in history, Israel had a
pattern of not entering into ‘this rest’ because of unbelief. And then he says
‘but the rest that Joshua finally did give them [the promised land] wasn’t
really the true rest after all, because David still spoke of it in a future
tense’ then he says ‘see, there remaineth therefore a rest to the people of
God’. Seeing this in context clears up many wrong interpretations of these
passages. You can still read Hebrews as a Christian and get wonderful
principles, but you must see it in context to truly understand what its saying.
‘For he that hath entered into rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as
God did from his’ amazing, Paul says just like God ceased from creative
activity on the ‘7th day’ so likewise when we enter into the
covenant of grace, we too will cease from the works of the law. This is so
significant to the Jewish community whom Paul is addressing. He is showing
them, in their language [Old Testament] the same things he writes to the
gentiles in Galatians and Romans.
He is using the story of Genesis to show the
truth of grace. Out of all the Apostles, Paul is unique in his ability to see
Jesus in all of these Old Testament stories. No one could have made a better
apologetic for the Christian faith than Paul. ‘Let us labor therefore to enter
into that rest, lest any man fall into the same example of unbelief’ Now, I
have heard it taught that this is telling Christians to ‘work for your rest’.
This would be a complete contradiction to this entire letter. But if you see
this in context, that the recipients of this letter are 1st century
Jews who are already under the bondage of the law, then you read this as ‘those
of you Jews who are always working to try and make yourselves righteous, you
need to stop working for this, but instead let all your labors and struggles
end up at the Cross’ in essence ‘labor [struggle] to see these things I am
showing you, and if you do you will find rest’ in the New Covenant of grace!
‘Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens,
Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession, for we have not an high
priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities, but was in
all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come
boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to
help in time of need.’ This of course applies to all of us. Paul and other New
Testament writers saw redemption in a way that naturally included everybody. It
was only those who rejected it thru unbelief that were missing out. This is why
you will see statements made like ‘Jesus is the savior of all men, specially of
those that believe’ there was a real sense in the early church that Jesus
really redeemed everybody.
They were not preaching universal salvation in
the sense that everybody will be saved. But the gospel was presented in a way
that simply included everybody. So here Paul says ‘we have a high priest’ he is
including Israel
in the ‘we’. I also like to apply these verses to all of us. How many times do
we feel intimidated to come before Gods throne? We feel unworthy and God seems
unapproachable. Sort of like Saint John of the Cross who experienced the ‘dark
night of the soul’ as well as Mother Theresa. There are times where believers
feel separated from God's real presence. It is during these times when God says
‘come boldly, I too have experienced weakness and separation thru the
incarnation. I know what it is like. Come to me, I can see what you feel like,
I can feel your feelings of weakness and inadequacy, come to me for help my
child’. In the next chapter we will read this in depth. Jesus and all the high
priests of the law were able to identify with man because they were at one time
in mans shoes. This is one of the great realities of the incarnation.
NEW NOTES-
.SABBATH REST
Remember
context- in this chapter the writer is appealing to his Jewish brothers.
And he reminds
them of their own history- he says ‘just like our forefathers died in the
wilderness- because they did not BELIEVE’-
So beware- if
you now reject this new offer of REST- it will be because of UNBELIEF.
The writer is
making an argument for Justification by Faith here.
He spiritualizes
the promise of the Promised Land- and the story of Creation and Sabbath Day.
He says ‘ok- God
RESTED himself on the 7th Day of Creation’.
This REST [a type
of rest found in Christ and the New Covenant- based on Faith/Grace- NOT WORKS -The
law].
Was not the Rest
promised to Israel when they entered the Promised Land.
Why?
Because King
David says many years later- in Psalms 95- that a Rest is still in the future.
What Rest?
The 1st
century offer of Grace- thru Faith- not works.
See how important
context is?
So- when he says
‘there still remains a REST TO THE PEOPLE OF GOD’- He is not talking to Christians-
as this verse is often seen.
No- in the
letter of Hebrews- the People of God are the Jewish nation- who now must
‘labor- work- strive’ to believe the Promise of Messiah- and enter into rest.
These verses
only make sense in this context.
Preachers often
teach the verse ‘strive to enter into rest- people of God’.
And apply that
to Christians- who are already ‘in rest’.
No- that’s the
wrong setting for these verses.
But- to the 1st
century Jew- under the law- then it makes sense.
They were at a transition
stage- they were still under the law [works] and they had to beware- because
this present promise of grace- just like the Old Testament Promise of entering
into the Promised Land- is based on faith.
So- when the
writer says ‘if you strive- and hear this Gospel of Grace- you can enter into
the Sabbath Day Rest’ [a symbol of the covenant of Grace].
And have Rest.
See?
NOTE- It’s not
an ‘accident’ that the writer quotes from Psalms 95- written by Kind David.
Jesus is
identified as ‘The Son of David’ so it’s thru the Davidic line that the promise
of Rest would ultimately be fulfilled.
In a sense the
writer is saying ‘The Joshua that lead our Fathers into the Promised Land was
not the Real One- but the Joshua of the New Testament [Jesus and Joshua are the
same word in the Hebrew/Greek English translation] has now come thru the Line
of David- and he will lead us into the True Rest- if you Believe’
Psalm 95:6 O come, let us worship and bow down: let us kneel
before the LORD our maker.
Psalm 95:7 For he is our God; and we are the people of his
pasture, and the sheep of his hand. To day if ye will hear his voice,
Psalm 95:8 Harden not your heart, as in the provocation, and as in
the day of temptation in the wilderness:
Psalm 95:9 When your fathers tempted me, proved me, and saw my
work.
Psalm 95:10 Forty years long was I grieved with this generation,
and said, It is a people that do err in their heart, and they have not known my
ways:
Psalm 95:11 Unto whom I sware in my wrath that they should not
enter into my rest.
Genesis 2:1 Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all
the host of them.
Genesis 2:2 And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had
made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made.
Genesis 2:3 And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it:
because that in it he had rested from all his work which God created and made.
Hebrews 4:1 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.
Hebrews 4:2 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.
Hebrews 4:3 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.
Hebrews 4:4 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.
Hebrews 4:5 And in this place again, If they shall enter into my
rest.
Hebrews 4:6 Seeing therefore it remaineth that some must enter
therein, and they to whom it was first preached entered not in because of
unbelief:
Hebrews 4:7 Again, he limiteth a certain day, saying in David, To
day, after so long a time; as it is said, To day if ye will hear his voice,
harden not your hearts.
Hebrews 4:8 For if Jesus had given them rest, then would he not
afterward have spoken of another day.
Hebrews 4:9 There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God.
Hebrews 4:10 For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath
ceased from his own works, as God did from his.
Hebrews 4:11 Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest
any man fall after the same example of unbelief.
.
CHAPTER 5:
NEW NOTES BELOW-
HIGH PRIEST.
TIME TO MOVE ON.
‘For every high priest taken from among
men…who can have compassion on the ignorant and on them that are OUT OF THE WAY
, for that he himself is compassed about with infirmity’ God once again
emphasizes the reality of calling men with faults and weaknesses into
leadership. Why? Because according to the law men who themselves have
weaknesses could then have compassion and not judge others who are ‘out of the
way’. I spent the day yesterday with some homeless friends, a lot of them are
‘out of the way’. They never seemed to transition into the normal routines of
life. Many of them will eventually share their experiences of being rejected as
kids by their parents. Others have had an abusive childhood. For different
reasons they are ‘out of the way’. They also are used to being treated badly by
society. One of the guys is a true believer. He is even ordained as a deacon
for a homeless church, he reads and teaches the word. Really stands out as a
follower of Christ. He is homeless. He told me how sometimes he will go and
just sit on church property so he can sense God and spend time praying apart
from the other hangouts where guys are drinking and doing drugs. Sometimes the
church will call the cops and tell him to move. Now I know the church doesn’t
realize he is truly a believer, but it shows you how society treats those who
are ‘out of the way’.
God chose you,
fully knowing your weaknesses and faults, you might think that your faults
disqualify you for service, God says they are part of the requirement to be a
priest! ‘Christ glorified not himself to be made a priest… thou art a priest
forever after the order of Melchisedec’ once again Paul will use his great
knowledge of the Old Testament to teach something new. He goes to the story of
Melchisedec in the Old Testament. This person was a real priest who Abraham
paid tithes to. Later we will read that this means the priesthood of Jesus is
superior to that of the law. Many use this verse to justify tithing for
gentiles, but it really is showing the superiority of grace over law. Now Paul
also finds a prophetic Old Testament verse that says Jesus is a priest from
this order. What order? Well there have only ever been 2 priests in this
‘class’ and that was Melchisedec and Jesus. In essence Melchisedec was simply a
real person who functioned as a priest before the Levitical priesthood was
established. The fact that Paul finds this obscure verse showing that Jesus
came from this ‘line’ of priests as opposed to Levi shows that Christ’s priesthood
is outside of the law. This is the main reason for Melchisedec’s historical
existence. Some teach that he was a preincarnate appearance of Christ because
we will read he had no beginning of days or end of life. I kind of lean towards
this meaning there is no record in scripture of him having a birth or death. I
don’t see Melchisedec as a preincarnate appearance of Christ. I do find it
interesting how God raised up a man, before Christ, for the sole purpose of
later saying of Jesus ‘you are a priest forever after this order’. In my mind
God did it for this sole reason.
We know Jesus was slain before the foundation
of the world. So basically God raised this priest up just so Jesus could be
traced thru his lineage as opposed to Levi. The significance is great in the
mind of Paul, because once again this makes the case for Israel to come
out of the old system of law [Levi] and come to a priesthood that cannot trace
its roots back to the law. This is solely a grace argument; it is not some
strange teaching that shows a preincarnate Christ who walked the earth forever.
‘Called of God an high priest after the order of Melchisedec, of whom we have
many things to say [I just said some of them!] and hard to be uttered, seeing
ye [1st century Israel ,
NOT CHRISTIANS!] are dull of hearing. For when for the time ye ought to be
teachers [God raised Israel
up to be a ‘teaching nation’ in the midst of a pagan world. The purpose of God
for them as a nation was to influence all the nations around them with the true
God. This is why God ordained ways for ‘proselytes’ to come and become
partakers of Gods blessings on Israel .
This is very important to see here, because as we go into chapter 6 this will
be the context to clear up many wrong views of this letter] you have need that
one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God’.
As we go into chapter six I will show you how
‘the first principles of the Word of God’ are all the elementary teachings of
the law, not the message of the Cross! Paul is rebuking Israel because
they had a long time to fully get grounded in the law, it was now time for them
to move on from these ‘basic teachings’ and into Christ. Paul says they need to
be ‘re taught’ the basics again because they are unable to see the pictures
that Paul has been painting for them thru this ‘old testament canvas’. So in context,
Paul is not telling Christians to ‘move on from the Cross’ as many teach. But
he is telling Israel
‘move on from the elementary principles of the law’ unto Christ. This is why it
is so important to read this letter in context.
NEW NOTES
[4-2015]
HIGH PRIEST.
TIME TO MOVE ON.
‘High priest-
after the order of Melchizedek’-
Once again we
see the writer quoting from Psalms [2, 110].
The point the
writer is making- about Melchizedek- is that Jesus comes in a symbolic way- not
thru Levi- the priestly tribe of the law.
But thru another
line [Judah too].
Melchizedek was
indeed a real person- a priest talked about in the bible- and we will read
later that he had no ‘father or mother’- but a type of Christ- without beginning
or end.
Most see this as
meaning there is no record of a father or mother- so he fits the type.
Others think
this man was a pre-incarnate appearance of Christ-
Either way- the
point is Jesus is not a ‘law’ priest- but outside the law.
Showing the
readers [Jews] that they too need to move on from the base principles of the
old covenant- and receive Jesus as the final high priest.
Now- context- he
says ‘the time has come that you should be teachers- but have need to be taught
again’.
Ok- I don’t see
this as speaking to Christians- but talking to the 1st century Jewish
people- the ‘time has come’-
We read in
Galatians ‘in the Fullness of time’.
Israel was
supposed to move on in the reality of Jesus as the Messiah- and enter the
fullness of the Kingdom.
Then as Gods
completed people- they would ‘teach the nations’ of the glory of God [in
Christ].
Much like what
the early disciples did-
But- if Israel rejects
Christ- as a nation- then they will forfeit this special calling they had.
We will read
later that they needed to ‘move on from the elementary principles’-
Once again- not
telling Christians to ‘move on’ [which makes no sense].
But all the elements
of the ‘doctrine of Christ’ were indeed contained in the law.
These ‘base
elements’ are now fulfilled in Christ.
Hebrews 5:5 So also Christ glorified not himself to be made an
high priest; but he that said unto him, Thou art my Son, to day have I begotten
thee.
Hebrews 5:6 As he saith also in another place, Thou art a priest
for ever after the order of Melchisedec.
Hebrews 5:10 Called of God an high priest after the order of
Melchisedec.
Hebrews 5:11 Of whom we have many things to say, and hard to be
uttered, seeing ye are dull of hearing.
Hebrews 5:12 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.
Psalm 110:1 The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand,
until I make thine enemies thy footstool.
Psalm 110:2 The LORD shall send the rod of thy strength out of
Zion: rule thou in the midst of thine enemies.
Psalm 110:3 Thy people shall be willing in the day of thy power,
in the beauties of holiness from the womb of the morning: thou hast the dew of
thy youth.
Psalm 110:4 The LORD hath sworn, and will not repent, Thou art a
priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek.
CHAPTER 6:
NEW NOTES-
CAN CHRISTIANS BE FORGIVEN- IF
THEY FALL?
CAN THEY CRUCIFY CHRICT- AGAIN?
WHO ARE THE LAPSY?
‘Therefore leaving the principles of the
doctrine of Christ [in Colossians Paul teaches that the ‘principles/ elementary
teachings’ are the law. The law contained all the elementary doctrines of
Christ, it held all the ‘shadows’ but not the reality! Here the principles are
not Christian doctrine, but law], let us go on unto perfection’ Now, it is
commonly taught that Paul is exhorting believers to move on to maturity. While
it is true that Paul teaches this elsewhere, here he is not teaching it. Here
he is telling Israel
‘leave the basics of the law and move on to Christ’. Why is this important to
see? Because if you don’t see it this way, then you will have a doctrine that
says to believers ‘you must move on from the Cross’ many well meaning preachers
have done this, this is why context is so important. When you see it in
context, Paul is not saying ‘move on FROM the Cross’ but ‘move on INTO the
Cross’!
‘Not laying again the foundation of repentance
from dead works [law], and of faith towards God, of the doctrine of baptisms [washings-
Israel had all types of doctrines of baptisms [plural] this is why when John
the Baptist came baptizing people in the Jordan, they didn’t say ‘what in the
world is this guy doing’ they had the ‘doctrine of baptisms’ engrained in their
law! The whole sacrificial system and the tabernacle had all types of lavers
{wash basins} and things] ‘and of the laying on of hands [Moses ‘ordained’ 70,
you had the ‘laying on of hands’ taught in the law] and of the resurrection of
the dead and eternal judgment’ Now, all these verses without a doubt describe
the law. It is easy to read these verses as applying to the New Covenant, but
they really aren’t. In context why would Paul be telling young believers [who
these are not! They are Jews on the verge of transition] to leave all the
fundamental teachings of Christianity? But he is telling Israel to move
on from the basic elements of the law into the reality of what the law was
foreshadowing. That is Christ! ‘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’ Israel had Gods Spirit anointing her Kings for thousands of
years before the Spirit ever came on the day of Pentecost. They had ‘exclusive
rights’ to the things of God pre-Cross. They were made partakers of the Holy
Ghost! They were enlightened in a way that no other nation was, they had
prophets and priests administrating the things of God all thru out their
history.
In context Paul is saying ‘if you Jews, who
have had this favorable position all thru out your history, if you ‘fall away’
from God at this point by not continuing with his revelation of Messiah, then
it is impossible to renew you AGAIN unto repentance’ Part of their system of
law was repentance. All the animal sacrifices and works of humility were for
this purpose. Paul is warning Israel
‘if you miss this opportunity to believe, don’t think that you can keep
bringing your animal sacrifices of repentance anymore, it is impossible to
renew that’ Now do you see? No more arguments over whether these are Christians
who lose their salvation, or whether these were those who professed but didn’t
possess, that’s silly! In context you now know what this means. That’s why I
said in the introduction of this commentary that you can’t read a book on
mechanics and apply it directly to the human body. But you can glean principles
from it that will benefit you. So we see here the great finality of the
sacrifice of Jesus. We see its sufficiency to cover and REMOVE all our sins. We
see the great doctrine of redemption thru the offering of Jesus. What we don’t
see is Christians losing their salvation and being told ‘you can never re
dedicate [renew] yourself back again!’ ‘And have tasted the good word of God
[Israel was reading scripture thousands of years before Gentiles even knew
their was scripture!], and the powers of the world to come, if they shall fall
away, to renew them again unto repentance, seeing they CRUCIFY UNTO THEMSELVES
THE SON OF GOD AFRESH, and put him to an open shame’ Here it is real important
to understand context. How many believers who have struggled with sin have been
told ‘you are crucifying Jesus afresh’? Paul never dealt with believers using
this language. He told the Corinthians that because they were God’s dwelling
place, and the Spirit of God lived in them, that God would judge those who were
in unrepentant sin. But he never used this type of language. So why use it
here?
If Israel rejects Messiah and
continues to ‘keep open’ the sacrificial system post Cross, in essence she
would be saying ‘we want the sacrifice to continue’ or ‘let’s keep crucifying
the Son of God afresh’. In Israel ’s
mind this would be what they were saying. Paul says ‘don’t do this’ in essence
this is an argument, once again, to move on from the law and its sacrifices
unto Christ. ‘For the earth that drinketh in the rain that cometh oft upon it,
and bringeth forth herbs meet for them by whom it is dressed, recieveth
blessing from God, but that which beareth thorns and briers is rejected, and is
nigh unto cursing, whose end is to be burned’ In the parables one of the main
themes is Israel not bringing forth fruit to God. The parable of the vineyard,
the cursing of the fig tree.
In John 15 the branches not bearing fruit are
cut off and burned. In all of this imagery Jesus is saying to Israel ‘the time
has come for you to produce fruit, the only way a branch can do it is if it is
connected to the vine[Jesus], if you reject me you will never produce fruit and
your ultimate destiny is judgment’ Paul reiterates that theme here! ‘But we are
persuaded better things of you, that which speaks of salvation… for God will
not forget your work and labor of love that you have showed towards believers’
Many of the recipients of this letter were those who Paul had preached to in
various cities. He would often preach to the Jews on a Sabbath day. After his
departure some believed, others were in transition. They still treated the
believers well and sort of shared a common fellowship. To these who were not
fully converted yet, Paul says ‘God won’t forget how you treated his children,
I am persuaded that you will go all the way and show fruits of salvation in
Messiah’. ‘Be followers of those who thru faith and patience inherited the
promises’ Paul will go thru the rest of this chapter showing how Abraham
received promises from God and after many years of waiting he would get the
promise.
Paul is telling Israel ‘you have waited many
years for the promise [Messiah] do like the fathers did, inherit it thru faith
and patience’ Paul is showing Israel that the patient waiting for their Messiah
was part of the plan. When the promise shows up all you have to do is recognize
the time and believe in the promise. Israel was at a dangerous
transition time, she could [and did] miss the fulfillment of the promise!
‘Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and
which entereth into that within the veil: wither the forerunner is for us entered,
even Jesus, made an high priest forever after the order of Melchisedek’ we are
going to get into Melchisedek again in chapter 7. Paul lays the groundwork, he
is telling Israel ‘we have a great high priest who has entered into Gods
presence for us, he is from another tribe [Judah] and therefore you must come
out from the ‘law tribe’ [Levi] and into the grace tribe [Judah] and you must
leave the Aronic priesthood [law] and enter in to the Melchisedek priesthood
[New Covenant]. Everything Paul points to is for the purpose of getting his
Jewish brothers to embrace Messiah and the New Covenant, Paul sees everything
thru this lens. He is persuaded that Jesus is the only way!
NEW NOTES-
In this study
I’m trying to make the case that the writer is appealing to the 1st
century Jew- and when we read ‘there remains a rest to THE PEOPLE OF GOD’ OR
‘those who were once enlightened- and tasted of the heavenly gift and were
partakers of the Holy Spirit’- that in context- these are indeed references to
the Jewish person- in the 1st century.
How can that be?
Because all of
these covenant blessings- were indeed aspects of the 1st covenant
[law] and were unique to Israel.
Then- when we
read things like ‘if these shall fall away- repentance is impossible’-
Why?
If the Jewish
person- at the time of Christ in the 1st century ‘falls away’-
meaning he does not continue in the covenant promises of God- thru the law and prophets-
which find fulfillment in Christ-Then yes- he ‘fell away’.
Then- if he continues
in the old sacrificial system of the law- he in a way ‘crucifies Christ again’.
How?
The animal sacrifices
were a type/symbol of Christ to come.
And if you
reject Christ as the Messiah- the last and final sacrifice- then in a theological
way- you ‘crucify Christ again’.
In Hebrews this
is a theme- we read things like ‘there is no future repentance’.
The church has
struggled over these verses for centuries- in the early days of Christianity
there were those who ‘re-lapsed’ [called the Lapsy].
They denied the
faith- in order to save themselves from death.
Then later- the
question was asked ‘can they be received back into the church’.
Well- these verses
in Hebrews- were an obstacle- because they seemed to say there was no future repentance
for those who ‘fell away’.
Yet- that seems
to contradict the concept of Grace and Mercy- which are indeed part of the new Covenant.
We read of the Apostle
Peters’ denial of Christ- and yet Jesus did forgive him.
So- does the
bible contradict?
No- not if you
read it in the context I’m showing you.
In the New Testament-there
is no ‘repentance’ for those who reject Christ- who ‘blaspheme the Holy
Spirit’-
Meaning they resist
the revelation of God [the Spirts witness] about his Son.
And yes- that
indeed is the only sin that cannot be forgiven- because it rejects the only solution
to sin- which is the final sacrifice of Christ.
See?
Hebrews 6:1 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,
Hebrews 6:2 Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of
hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment.
Hebrews 6:3 And this will we do, if God permit.
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,
Hebrews 6:5 And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers
of the world to come,
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.
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Note- Do me a favor, those who read/like the posts- re-post
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