CONTENDING
WITH THE CONTENDERS |
..."things are getting bad
when you have to contend with the contenders"..
IS
THIS THE ATTITUDE OF JESUS OR ELI? |
THE FOLLOWING IS A ..LETTER TAKEN FROM
THE "YOUR LETTER" SECTION OF THE MAGAZINE... CONTENDING EARNESTLY FOR THE FAITH,
WHICH IS HEADED UP BY PHILIP POWELL... DATED: DECEMBER 2001/ VOLUME 7.2/ ISSUE 24.
Dear Mr Bhayro
Could you please help me with understanding some scriptures? They are taken from the book
of Hebrews and they seem to be talking about losing your salvation? Here are the
scriptures: Hebrews 6:4-6, 10:26-31. Now I know I have sinned wilfully since being a
Christian so does that mean there is not hope for me? I seem to do it every day in some
way. The thing is every Christian I know has in some way or another sinned wilfully, so is
there some other interpretation than the plain reading of the text? I still love the Lord
and want to follow Him. This is very serious for me, please can you help?
Graham
England, UK
Many thanks for your letter Graham, which raises a
very serious point. The plain reading of the text is always the best way to take
something, but we must be careful not to read into the text something that isn't there.
For example, the first scripture you highlight states: "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, 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."
It is important that we understand just who t is meant in this passage by "if
they shall fall away", You have assumed, as many do, that this refers to
sin. But the context suggests otherwise. The author is writing to deter believers from
falling into the error of the Judaizers, who were trying to seduce gentile believers into
observing the Mosaic Law. Paul's purpose in the book of Hebrews is to establish once and
for all the perfection of the work of Christ, its total fulfilment of the Law, and its
superiority to the rabbinical traditions being forced upon gentile converts. The falling
away being discussed by Paul is |
|
not "sin" in general,
but apostasy away from the true gospel into the error of the Judaizers. This is confirmed
by the warning that such "crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and
put him to an open shame". This refers to those who, in turning to observe
the Jewish Law, are effectively saying that the sacrifice of Jesus was not enough.
This is borne out later on in verse 9: "But, beloved, we are persuaded better
things of you". Now, if this referred to sin, Paul would be saying that he
is persuaded that the believers to whom he is writing don't and won't sin ...
which is plainly wrong! As you say in your letter, we all sin! Paul is actually saying
that he is persuaded that these believers won't fall away from the truth into the apostasy
of the Judaizers.
The same point relates to the second pas- sage you refer to, in which Paul speaks
of those who "sin wilfully" in the same context as stating that
we can enter boldly into God's presence, because we are washed in the blood of Jesus. It
is in this context that the apostle tells us that we should "hold fast the
profession of our faith without wavering" - i.e. don't fall into the
Judaising heresy, because it annuls the efficacy of Christ's sacrifice!
This is the plain reading of the text as a whole - not taking a few misunderstood phrases
out of context. Regarding "sin", which is not doctrinal apostasy, meditate on
the words of John: "if we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and
the truth is not in us. It we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our
sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we
make him a liar, and his word is not in us' (1 John 1:8-10) and "if we say that we
have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we fie, and do not the truth: But if we
walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the
blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth (i.e. keeps on cleansing) us from all sin"
(1 John 1:6-7). (SB)
|
Comment by Pastor Paul Sheehan
... 090202
If men and women continue to water the word of God/Yah down all that shall remain is a few
people living outside the world’s largest religious camp that ever existed ..a
remnant.. and it will happen, sure and certain, where will you be seated?... inside or
outside the camp? Hebrews 13:13.
It is evident that the man (Graham) has an appetite for sin and that appetite is a daily
one and it is my understanding that he/Graham should be very much concerned about his
salvation for the simple reason ..sin is contagious in accord with scripture... 1
Corinthians 5:9-13.
Graham is carnal and looking for a way to justify his love for sin and at the
same time remain biblical ..no can do!.. sin and holiness are like oil and
water... Romans 6:14, 1 Corinthians 10:13.
Graham mentions the plain reading of the scripture, this is what most human
beings find hard to accept .. the plain truth .. the world hates it and most
churches today don't have it in their midst. However, it is the only way to be saved from
the wrath to come and hell fire eternal.. 2 Timothy 4:3,4.
As one young lady said to me as I preached on the city sidewalks of a very wild side of
the city I live in.. "Can't I follow Jesus and still go to night clubs, disco,
drink alcohol and have boyfriends"??? ...
My reply was, impossible!... that is impossible!… Matthew 10:32-42.
This young lady was in a Pentecostal church for some time and then left because she
couldn't do what she wanted in peace. When I met her she was about six years away from the
faith and all I could see was a young lady who was conquered by lust and selfishness
and bound by unforgiveness.
When I read this article from CEFTF I thought of this young lady, the story is.. many want
to have their cake and eat it too.. Jesus said you can't.
Siams reply to the man/Graham was that Paul was talking specifically to those who
would reconsider .. entering back into Judaism, which is only right in part. Hebrews
chapter ten in a nutshell basically says;
THE SACRIFICE OF THE CHRIST IS SUFFICIENT FOR ALL,
THERE IS NO NEED FOR ANY OTHER AND BY FAITH IN THE FINISHED WORK OF THE CHRIST WE SHALL BE
SAVED .. BUT IF WE IN ANY WAY NEGLECT SO GREAT A SAFETY AND PROVISION WHETHER IT BE BY
TURNING TO JUDAISM OR ALCOHOL OR SEXUAL IMMORALITY OR IDOLATRY OR ANY OTHER DOCTRINE
OUTRIGHT .. IT WAS CLASSIFIED BY PAUL THE APOSTLE AS .. SPIRITUAL RUIN .. V39 OF THE
SAME CHAPTER.
Although there is a lot of seduction going on by
Jewish believers in today’s world, there is far more seduction going on in the area
of .. the overlooking of plain truth .. for the appeasing of carnal supporters of
religious businesses in the earth.... (faith gives birth to obedience).
If people want to work their way around Hebrews 10:29 and direct it in a false
and acceptable direction for men and women, I say let them but it is a fearful thing to
fall into the hands of the living God and what shall they do in the end?.. Romans
6:15-23.
Mr Bhayro clearly says that Hebrews 6:4-6 is talking
about judaic error being fed to gentile believers . . as the falling away…
this is 50% correct.
This is true but it is also talking about (sin) and no greater sin can there be
than to overlook the work of the cross of the Christ. This very same passage tells about
those who had (the light) tasted of the realm of safety in the Christ, witnessed the power
and comfort of holy ghost and actually eat of the fruit of the living word and yet turned
away.
What is the difference between a man who
runs back to the world of sin and a man who turns from gospel grace to Judaism?..... there
is no difference what so ever.. they have turned and they have both.. crucified
the Christ afresh and put Him to open shame… however there is hope in true
repentance.... (therefore turn from your sin lest you fall away for ever).
In fact if any man or woman turn their back on the Christ, according to scripture they are
doomed... the ultimate insult to God.
Ultimately, living in sin ..will eventually lead you away from the Christ for sin leads to
unbelief and unbelief leads man away .. away where?.. away from following Him/the
Christ .... Hebrews 3:12-15.
Living in sin like our friend Graham can only ever amount to what we see in the church
world today .. beautiful buildings full of sin and humanism, saying no ones perfect you
know, we are all sinners aren’t we?. Colossians 1:2.
Finally, it is not just doctrinal sin that leads us away from the Christ, it is
all sin .. sin dulls our relationship with the Christ even to the point of departure/no
return/falling away.
P.S... I find that Mr Bhayro was playing a .. ELI .. with Mr Graham and
God doesn’t take kindly to such counsel and it is this soft, cuddly counsel that has
filled the pulpits of Fathers House for decades, resulting in spoilt, rebellious,
headstrong, unholy children.. Jude 22,23.
REFERENCE: I SAMUEL 2:12-36 1 SAMUEL 3:1-21
For more on sin, sinless living and salvation,
click on here:
NEWSLETTER NO:85
CONDITIONS OF SALVATION
STRENGTHENING THE DISCIPLES
The wages of sin is death/eternal death but the
gift of God is eternal life. "happy is he who does not condemn himself in what
he approves”. Rom 14:22A.
SOLA DEO GLORIA!
|