It's a Fearful Thing

The author of the letter to the Hebrews had an insight that could have only come from the Holy Spirit.  The writer of this letter is unknown; he does not identify himself for what ever reason.

Bible scholars say this letter bears evidence that the author was a second generation Christian, one well versed in the knowledge of the Old Testament.  Many have credited authorship to the Apostle Paul, and like the author, was also a friend of Timothy.  Who ever authored this letter wrote in a classic Greek style more so than any other New Testament writer including Paul.

This letter is the only book in the King James Bible that starts out with the word, "God."  It may just be my personal opinion, but I like to believe that the writer wanted to grab our attention to what he was about to put on parchment.  This letter to the Hebrews may be the single most important book in the Bible.  It speaks of Jesus as no other does.

Frequent warnings are given, that the reader might not reject the salvation or the priesthood of Jesus, the Mediator of God's grace.

Today I have chosen a portion of this letter to consider.  Hebrews 10:29-31 ...

"How much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite (injury, contempt, disdain) unto the Spirit of Grace?

For we know Him that hath said, 'Vengeance belongeth unto Me, I will recompense,' saith the Lord.  And again, 'The Lord shall judge His people.'

It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God."

Is this a warning ... or a promise?  I think, both.  We should heed the warning.

The writer has been speaking to Christian Jews who were being tempted to apostatize ... to abandon and renounce their belief in Jesus and return to the Jewish Law.  In doing so, he reminds them that under Moses' law ... by breaking it willfully and presumptuously, (failing to observe the limits of what was permitted or allowed) ... for which there was no sacrifice; this person died without mercy if there were two or three witnesses against him. 

So, how much greater punishment, suppose he shall be thought worthy of ... who trodden under foot the Son of God?  The author uses a "how much more" argument, and rightly so when we consider what he is saying.

Garbage could be "trampled down," but what was sacred was to be approached only with reverence, and trampling it under foot was the ultimate sin of disrespect.  Going back under the Law, would be counting the blood of Jesus, as unholy ... like garbage.

"We know Him that said this," the writer reminding them, God is the one who said, "Vengeance belongs to Me, I the Lord will recompense and bring judgment," quoting from Deuteronomy 32:35-36.  Even though this judgment was under the Law ... he adds perhaps the most fearful and true verse of scripture ever written ...

"It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God."     

This is not to be understood as a good thing, to fall into God's hands with sin in your life.  But in general, all mankind has fallen into, or is in the hands of God as their creator ... they are the work of His hands.  God cares for each one of them through His providence and they are subject to His sovereignty. 

But here, as the writer of Hebrews states ... it is to be taken in a bad sense ... as if to be arrested for a crime and to be brought before the bar of God, tried, convicted, and sentenced ... condemned to feel the fierceness of the wrath of Almighty God.  This my friend would be ... "a fearful thing."

While it is a dreadful thing to fall into the hands of men who have power over you, such as an invading army which shows no mercy ... how much more dreadful will it be to fall into the hands of God as a lost sinner ... to stand before the Judgment Seat, naked, speechless, without the righteousness of Jesus, having no one to speak on your behalf, waiting on His sentence to be pronounced on you.

There will be no appeals, there will be no rescue out of His hands.  He is "the living God" and His sentence will be ... unalterable.  This will be the fate of those who never accept Jesus as their Savior and Lord. 

But as believers, we choose to fall into the hands of our Savior and Lord for His loving care and protection ... and at death we commend our souls unto His hands.

What the writer of Hebrews is speaking about, for Christian Jews to abandon and renounce their belief in Jesus and to apostatize, must be considered a greater abhorrence (a feeling of repulsion or disgusted loathing) of sin, because it is committed against ... "the blood of Jesus."

That's what he was talking about when he said they ... "trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood ... as an unholy thing" ... like garbage. 

That's why he started with ... "How much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy ...?"  For those who commit this (may I say) seemingly greater sin against the blood of Jesus ... this scripture more than just alludes to a greater judgment; I believe it pretty well makes that judgment certain.

The author of this letter intended his plea to the Hebrews to persuade them not to abandon their faith in the blood of Jesus Christ, because doing so would bring a greater judgment upon them.

Because God is no respecter of persons ... can we as believers in the blood of Jesus for our salvation from sin ... also commit such a falling away and even come to the point where we "trodden under foot the Son of God" and discount the blood of Jesus as something other than what it is ... "a Holy thing."

The blood of Jesus is what saves you from sin.


Comments welcome.

Add To Your Faith

Today I want to look at what the Apostle Peter said we need to do, to make our calling and election sure.  (Meaning ... having no doubt, confident, certain, confirmed.)    

2nd Peter 1:1-10 ... (edited for clarity)

"Simon Peter, a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ, to them that have obtained like precious faith with us through the righteousness of God and our Savior Jesus Christ."

Okay, it's opinion time for me once again.  I feel that the above verse in the K.J.V. has one word out of place when compared with some of the oldest versions which read ... "through the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ."   One word out of place can change Peter's testimony, which is that Jesus is not only our Savior, but also our God ... meaning they are one in the same.  But that's just my opinion. 

Peter continues with ...

"Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord, according as His divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and goodness, 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."

Peter, having already stated that we have obtained the same "like precious faith" that he has, wants us to know that we have also been given by the resident power of God within us ... all things that pertain to life ... your spiritual life; although God also provides the things the natural life needs as well.  We have been given great promises in His Word that will, by faith, release God's divine nature and power within our soul, which will result in being able to escape the corruption of sin in the world.      

"And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith ..."  What?  I've got to think about that for a minute.  "Add to my faith?"  How?  Humm ... Peter isn't saying to add more faith to the faith we have.  God gave us the measure of faith when we were born again, when we accepted Jesus as our Savior and Lord.  So what are we to add to our faith?

"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."

Sounds a lot like the "fruit of the Spirit" in Galatians 5:22-23 that our lives are supposed to produce.  In fact, Peter goes on next and says that having things like patience and Godliness in your life will assure that you won't be unfruitful.

"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.  But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins."

Now here is the main point Peter is making ...

"Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall."

By doing what Peter states in this last verse, you are not making your salvation any more sure in the heart of God ... that was established on the cross of Christ ... but rather it becomes "a sure fact" in your heart and life by walking in such a manner described, so as to never fall ... to never stumble.

When Peter says ... "by doing these things, you shall never fall" ... I do not believe he is speaking of your salvation.  You did not receive salvation by doing good things.  That would mean your "works" saved you.  I also do not believe that if you don't have enough good works in your faith walk, that you will lose your salvation.  It doesn't work that way.

Another Apostle by the name of Paul alludes to this question in Philippians 2:12-13, where he says that we are to ... "work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.  For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of His good pleasure."

Paul is not saying to design your own type of salvation.  But if you did just that ... I'm afraid you would have much to fear and tremble about at the judgment day.

All Paul is saying by using the words "work out" according to the Greek rendering they were translated from is ... "to work fully, to accomplish, to perform."

When we look at the original Greek meaning of the key words in his following sentence, it is saying this ... 

"... it is God which worketh (to be active) in you ... to will (to determine as an active voice which leads us to accept reluctantly, but without protest) and to do (actively work) ... His good pleasure (satisfaction, delight, desire)." 

So, what it really comes down to is this ... by "adding to your faith" all the things that pertain to spiritual life ... that by adding these things you become partakers of the divine nature, (the resident power of God) who can then work His will in you, without your protest.
  
The Apostle Peter's last word on this was ... "give diligence (careful and persistent work or effort) to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall."




Comments welcome.

No Honor In His Own Country

One day Jesus came back to His old neighborhood where as a child and young adult He learned to work as a carpenter with His mother's husband Joseph.  In fact He was often called the carpenter's son, a label which people often used when speaking about Him in public conversation. 

Both Matthew and Mark wrote about this return trip back home to Nazareth where He was educated, where He grew up and made friends, and where His younger half brothers and sisters most likely still lived.

I want to look at both portions of scripture together since they are basically the same.  I will add to Matthew's account with a couple details that Mark adds to his story ... hoping they will still flow smoothly together.

Matthew 13:54-58 and Mark 6:1-6 (edited together for clarity) ...

"And when Jesus came into His own country (Nazareth in Galilee) ... when the sabbath day came, He taught in the synagogue.  Many hearing Him were astonished and said ... 'Where did this man get such wisdom that even mighty works are performed by His hands?  Is not this the carpenter's son?  Is not Mary His mother?  Are not His brothers ... James, Joses, Simon and Judas?  And are not His sisters here with us?'      

And they took offense at Him.  (They were repelled and hindered from acknowledging His authority, which caused them to stumble.)

But Jesus said to them, 'A prophet is not without honor except in his own country and in his own house.'

And He did not do many mighty works there because of their unbelief ... except that He laid His hands upon a few sick folk and healed them.  And Jesus wondered at their unbelief."

A prophet is not without honor ... This expression is generally true, although there might be some exceptions to it; but Jesus was not an exception.  Everywhere He went He had been honored much more than here in His home town.  Why?  Because they knew Him.  They knew His family ... He was one of them.

They took offense at Him ... Jesus came from humble beginnings.  And now, according to Luke 4:14-16 ...

"Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit into Galilee: and there went out a fame of Him through all the region round about.  He taught in their synagogues, being glorified of all.  And He came to Nazareth, where He had been brought up ..."

Jesus was a humble, kind and loving man.  But He was on a mission from God.  The words He spoke were given Him from God the Father.  No doubt He didn't sound like the young carpenter they remembered.  Jesus spoke with grace and wisdom with the power of God ... and now He healed the sick, and had power over devils.  He was becoming famous, and now He was back.  What would they make of Him?

Were His old companions and friends envious?  They could not imagine that Jesus was a prophet like the rumors said.  The educated and important people were indignant ... He was only the son of a carpenter ... they were too proud to be taught by Him.

What did Matthew say was the reason that Jesus, "did not many mighty works" there?

Because of their unbelief.  It wasn't because He lacked the power in and of Himself.  Wasn't He God, just wrapped in flesh? 

When I edited the two stories from Matthew and Mark together, I purposely left out what Mark wrote concerning why Jesus only healed a few people.  Honestly ... I didn't like the words Mark chose to use.

Mark said that Jesus ... "could do no mighty work there ..."

I just do not like this translation.  I really don't believe Mark was saying that Jesus was somehow limited in His ability.  Was there something greater here that Jesus couldn't conquer?

One day God asked Jeremiah this question ... "Is there any thing too hard for me?"  Well ... is there?  I would hope you would answer no to that question.

The fact is ... it's not that Jesus couldn't do what He was willing to do ... it's just that He wouldn't go beyond their belief in Him; whether it was faith or faithlessness, or as both Matthew and Mark put it ... their unbelief.

Unbelief ... is just doubt all grown up.  

It does need to be noted however, that there must have been, as Mark put it ... "a few sick folk" ... that had faith in Jesus, because He healed them.


Comments welcome.

Two Baptisms

In the following portion of scripture, water baptism and what is commonly spoken of as the baptism of the Holy Spirit are spoken of.  I want to take a quick look at both today.

Acts 19:1-7 ...

"And it came to pass, that, while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul having passed through the upper coasts came to Ephesus: and finding certain disciples, he said unto them, 'Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed?'  And they said unto him, 'We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost.'

And he said unto them, 'Unto what then were ye baptized?  And they said, 'Unto John's baptism.'  Then said Paul, 'John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus.'

When they heard this, they were (again) baptized (in water) in the name of the Lord Jesus.  (Most likely by Paul's assistants, not by Paul himself.)  And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them (Spirit baptism); and they spake with tongues, and prophesied.  And all the men were about twelve."

As believers in Jesus, these twelve had not been baptized (in water) since they had accepted Jesus as their Lord and Savior; (previously only for repentance of sin as John had taught) and therefore basically were not thought of as true Christians.  They must have also felt this as they talked with Paul, after which they were re-baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.

The Apostle Paul's teaching and instruction to these twelve men is basically the same as what the Apostle Peter said in Acts 2:38 ...

"Repent, and be baptized, each one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ ... and ye will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit."  Paul and Peter both teach salvation first, then baptism in water second.  Here in this setting, operating in the special anointing God had given him, Paul next lays his hands on the twelve men and they receive what is commonly called ... the baptism of the Holy Spirit.

The Apostle Paul in Romans 6:3-4, speaks of water baptism as if it were a real death we enter into ...

"Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?  Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life."

The nature of water baptism is like a burial by immersion.  When a person is immersed or submerged, as it were ... buried in water, (as a corpse is when laid in the earth, and covered with it) ... it is a representation of the burial of Christ, and of our burial with him.

As baptism is designed to represent the resurrection of Christ ... so likewise water baptism is designed to represent our new birth and our resurrection as a new creature in Christ.

Water baptism, in and of itself ... does not save anyone, has no influence on, nor is it essential to salvation.  Christ only is the cause and author of salvation.

If you get baptized before you are born-again through the blood of Jesus ... well, some people just get wet.  We get baptized in water ... not for salvation ... but because of salvation.

Now, concerning the second type of baptism ... just as you are totally immersed with water in the first baptism; in the Holy Spirit baptism ... not only are you filled with the Holy Spirit in a fuller measure than what you received of Him when you accepted Jesus as your Savior; you are immersed Spiritually and now have what is called a Paraclete, which means ... "one called along side of you" ... a companion, to aid and give counsel wherever you go.

In John 14:16, before His death Jesus said ... "I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Comforter, (Paraclete) that He may remain with you forever."

With this statement, it was as if Jesus was saying ... "I'm leaving, but I'm going to send My Holy Spirit, to replace what I do for you now.  And it won't be that the Holy Spirit will remain with you for just a few short years as I am now doing and then leave you; but He will be with you all your life as your constant guide and helper."

And Jesus did just that, beginning on the Day of Pentecost in the upper room and has continued baptizing believers ever since, as confirmed throughout the Book of Acts ... including two thousand years of testimonies from those who have witnessed the Spirit filled lives of Christians who have changed the world for Christ. 

Some may ask ... "Do you really believe in two baptisms?"

Yeah ... I do.  I've been swimming in that river for a long time now.  You say ... "What river are you speaking of?"

Jesus said in John 7:38 ... "He that believes on Me ... out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water."

The Apostle John then adds this narrative ... "But this spoke Jesus, of the Spirit, which they that believe on Jesus should receive; for the Holy Ghost was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified."

That river started flowing on the Day of Pentecost and it flows straight from the heart of God. 

That river is real, and the water's fine ... 

Come on in.



Comments welcome.