Hebrews 6:4-6:

Hebrews 6:4-6: "For it is in;possible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, and have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, 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."

 

Someone recently asked me what this passage means.  I decided that I will put my response on this blog, since I haven't put an entry here for a couple of days, and since we recently discussed another passage in Hebrews in connection with this week's lectionary reading.  People generally get into difficulty on this passage in one of two ways.

 

Some people think that perhaps the passage means that if they sin as a Christian, especially if that sin is willful and in full awareness of the wrongdoing, salvation might be lost, and they might be in peril of their eternal life.  This fear seems to come more often from those who were raised with a concept of God that was very frightening and terrible.  It is clear, however, when we read the body of Scripture both in the Old and New Testament that this cannot possibly be the interpretation.  The sins of King David are well-known.  The apostle Paul confesses his own sins and shortcomings in various passages of the epistles, particularly in Romans 7.  And a reading of 1 John will confirm that, while a Christian certainly is not permitted to sin habitually, none of us is without sin.  The "falling away" referred to in these verses of Hebrews 6 does not refer simply to committing sin, but to a denial of Christ, a rejection of the Christian truth.

 

But this brings us to the second and more common and more difficult misinterpretation of the passage.  What about a person who makes their profession of faith in Christ and then denies the teachings of the faith.  Can that person not be recovered? Do we not teach the final perseverance of the saints, or the doctrine commonly referred to as "eternal security?"

 

I certainly do teach and believe in the doctrine of the perseverance, or, as R. C. Sproul refers to it, the "preservation" of the saints.  I do affirm eternal security.  I believe that there are many who go forward at a crusade or make professions of faith, and give the appearance of receiving Jesus Christ, who get caught up in an emotional experience, and then deny or leave the faith.  It's not unlike the seed that were sown on the various types of soil, with varying results.  There are people who get a taste of being part of the body of Christ, who have a subjective experience, but who never truly acknowledge Jesus Christ as the Lord and Saviour, the Way, the Truth, and the Life, the only Mediator between God and man, and the Son of God.  They never really affirm what the Scriptures teach about God and Christ.

 

Another way to express what I'm saying would be this:  It is impossible for a person who truly receives the Holy Spirit and is adopted into the household of faith, ever to fall away.  Their sins are already forgiven.  They are already acquitted of all charges against them for all eternity.  God does not change His mind.  He will preserve His elect to the very end.  So if a person who once seemed to be in Christ should fall away and renounce Jesus or reject the sacrifice of Christ on the cross, that person was never really a Christian to begin with. God will not lose any who truly belong to Him through Jesus Christ.  On this point, the Scriptures of the New Testament seem clear, and the Scriptures of the Old Testament give us illustrative foundational truth.  Romans 8-11, along with many other Scriptures, are helpful in this area.  I think also of Ephesians 1.  It is very important to observe one of the primary principles of reformed Scriptural interpretation--namely, to let Scripture interpret Scripture.

  

 

 

Hebrews 1:1-4, 2:5-12; October 2-8, Year B:

In this lectionary reading, we see that Christ is set above the prophets, heir of all things, participant in creation. We need not be looking for the "next big thing."  Christ *is the last word.  This passage hearkens back to the Transfiguration, and to God's affirmation of His Son on the banks of the river Jordan at Chris's baptism.  This is not to be understood is setting Christ above the Bible or the written word, but simply to make clear that this is God's most complete and final revelation of Himself.

 

This is also meant to repel Gnostic heresies that somehow Jesus was not fully human and fully divine.  The writer of Hebrews, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, wanted to make it perfectly that Christ was both fully human and fully divine.  This comes through very clearly in the opening words of the epistle.

 

The passage also reminds us of Christ's office as Priest and King, and shows His Excellency, majesty, and points to His sacrifice.

 

As the fathers spoke in times past to the Jews, now Christ speaks to us.  Christ as Lord demands our obedience; but He also provides the way to make that obedience possible, by the Holy Spirit.  

 

In Hebrews 2, we are pointed back to Psalm 8.  We are reminded again of Christ's redeeming work in creation.  We are reminded of His identification with us and the fulfilling of the purposes of God.  (Read Romans 5:6-10 and Luke 22:22.)  We are set apart through Christ by His atoning blood.  As Christ depended on God the Father, so we must depend upon the Father and the Son for our salvation.  Hebrews 2 is, in a sense, the application of Hebrews 1.  It is the reminder that gospel is better than law--not because it contradicts law, but because it accomplishes law. Therefore, we are to give heed to God's ordained way of salvation.

 

We cannot deny the rightful place of the law; but we are provided a way of escape from its judgment.  In fact, it is even worse to neglect the gospel than it is to disobey the law.  Again the, we come face to face with the finality of God's revelation in Christ. God has borne witness to His Son, not only by the Transfiguration and by His word on the banks of the river Jordan, but by various other signs and miracles.

Aside from the basic truths which are taught here, the contemporary significance of this portion of Hebrews is in its insistence on Christ as God's final revelation to mankind, despite the cries of some that "all roads lead to God."  We reject "New Age" openness to other religions.  We reject universalism and the kind of misguided tolerance that seems to undercut any zeal for evangelism.  I even heard one minister suggest that he was waiting to see what God would do next.  His belief was that Jesus was all well and good for His time, but He was waiting to see God's next revelation for *our day.  (Apparently, this minister didn't believe Hebrews 1:1-4 means what it says.)  

 

Many of the world's religions may contain some truth; but any religion, no matter what it calls itself, that does not recognize Christ as Lord and Savior, the only Begotten Son of God, and the "only mediator between God and man" is not Christianity, and is therefore, a flawed religion.  Those who do not acknowledge Jesus Christ, as He is presented in the Bible, are subject to eternal condemnation and punishment!  That's not my opinion; it's the foundational truth of Christian faith.

 

              

"To Live is Christ, ...."

In Philippians 1:21, we read: "For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain."

 

I think I have gained a new appreciation for what this verse really means.  It doesn't mean that Paul was absolutely indifferent to his own life.  He would certainly take necessary precautions and would avoid subjecting himself to unnecessary danger.  Throughout the epistles, he reminds his readers to discipline themselves, making no provision for the flesh.  He speaks of the body as the "temple of the Holy Spirit."  Clearly, Paul was not interested in a hedonistic lifestyle.

 

No, what Paul is saying is that if it pleases God to take him out of this world, whether through suffering for the cause of Christ or in some other way, he will gladly submit himself to the will of God.  He will also take care, however, to keep himself physically and mentally ready to do the work of God whenever the opportunity arises. 

 

This insight came to me as I was considering my own life and work.  There are easy things we can do to make sure that we do not unnecessarily jeopardize our own health or ability to be involved in the work of Christ.  For a 560-year-old guy who's a little overweight, this is a good thing to remember.  I rejoice at the prospect of going to heaven; but I dare not be careless about the journey God has given me to complete on earth.  This, I suppose,  is part of what it means to be Christ-centered rather than self-centered.

   

The Problem of Illegal Imigration:

Who would have ever thought that as I traveled down the highway during our recent vacation trip, I would find that there are now Hispanic radio stations in places like Knoxville, Tennessee, Roanoke, Virginia, and a growing number of such stations in the Nashville, Tennessee, area? 

 

Like most Americans, I am not against immigration to the U.S.  I am against illegal immigration into our country.  That shouldn't be a controversial position; but to some Christians, it may be. Some seem to think that the Bible requires us to disregard our own laws, show love and kindness to the aliens within our borders, and even give the illegal immigrants sanctuary and provide them with all manner of social services.  I've even heard some comments to the effect that since so many of these illegal residents are such hard workers, we should welcome them with open arms and be glad they're here.

 

I do not have the solution to this problem; but a few thoughts, both from a spiritual and political point of view, seem relevant.  First of all, when God tells the Israelites to treat the aliens within the borders with kindness, He is referring to those who are not Israelites, not to groups of people who came in illegally and demanded their rights.  Second, I certainly think that Christians should treat other people with love and respect; but that does not require me to take lightly the violation of immigration laws, any more than it would require me to disregard laws against breaking and entering if somebody came into my house illegally.

 

For generations, we have taken pride in the fact that we had one of the longest sections of unguarded borders of any nation in the world.  It seems to me that this is a luxury--you might call it a civility--we can no longer afford.  It's doubtful at this point that we could gather up all of the twelve million illegals who are in the country and immediately deport them.  That probably would be neither desirable nor humane.  Many suggestions have been made as to minimal requirements the illegal residents should have to meet in order to stay in this country--the commitment to learn English, the commitment to become citizens, the payment of a fine, etc.  And we also have the problem of what to do about employers who, knowingly or otherwise, hire illegal aliens.

 

As I say, I don't have the solution to this problem; but I do know that many constructive proposals have been made from all across the political spectrum.  I also know that our nation, individually and collectively, is paying a price for inaction on this problem--and the price will only get higher.  What troubles me most is the distinct possibility that *nothing substantive will be done!  With all the expressed concern and apparent hand-wringing of the politicians, the issue appears too hot for anyone to handle.  The problem isn't going away.  Christian love does not mean blind permissiveness or indifference to the legal system.  It's a difficult issue; but it demands serious and systematic action.