By: Gen. Jim – 11-28-24
Hebrews 10 should be read carefully. We find words like (NKJV) “hold fast” – v.23; “If we sin willfully” – v.26; “trample the Son of God underfoot” – v.29; “insulted the Spirit of grace” – v.29; “do not cast away your confidence” / “draws back” – vv.35 & 38. After the author has put forth warnings he finishes with, “But we are not of those who DRAW BACK to PERDITION, but of those who believe to the saving of the soul” – v.39. The word “perdition” means “destruction” (note: the word “perdition” is also found in Jn. 17:12; Phil. 1:28; 2 Thes. 2:3; 1 Tim. 6:9; Heb. 10:39; 2 Pet. 3:7; Rev. 17:8,11, all meaning (apōleia) ruin or loss (physical, spiritual or eternal): damnable (damnation), destruction, die, perish, waste: (taken from apollumi = to destroy fully, perish, or lose (lit. or fig.), mar.
You see, “to destroy” does not mean to annihilate as many believe, but to suffer eternal damnation of soul. The soul will live on – in Heaven or Hell (see all my teachings on this).
Fall Away?
Heb. 6:6 is debated (start in v.4 first, read to v.6 “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.” “If they (the ones in v.4) FALL AWAY…” The correct Greek reading is: “If they have fallen away…” (“Fall”: Greek: parapiptō = to fall aside, i.e. (fig.) to apostatize: – fall away).
There are those who argue (hotly!) that it is impossible to fall away! Really? Other translations use, “turn away.” Heb. 6:4-8 refers either to believers who turned from (“have fallen away”) their salvation or to unbelievers who came close to salvation but then turned away. I believe it refers to the first class. The second class, does not repent, have not been enlightened, experienced good (spiritual) things of heaven & shared in the Holy Ghost, have tasted the good Word of God etc.: “If they fall away (how can one fall from something they never had, e.g. eternal salvation (speaking of the second class of people) to RENEW them AGAIN to repentance…” The second class was never saved, hence, could not “fall away”!!!
The author uses agricultural analogy verses 7 & 8 to bring out the truth that if there is real spiritual life, there will be some evidence of it. We, today, see no real spiritual fruitfulness. The author of Hebrews knew about what was real & not real: The true believer would be blessed; the fakes, flakes, & snakes would be cursed, for they had fallen away from the very spiritual Life that only comes by & thru Jesus Christ the Lord.
Tasted
Greek: “geuomai” = to taste; by implication to eat; figuratively to experience (good or ill): – eat. [see 1 Peter 2:3 // Ps. 34:9 // Heb. 6:4,5]
I heard one “Once Saved Always Saved” or OSAS-er tell me that Heb. 6:4, “And have tasted the good word of God,” v.5 & “have tasted the heavenly gift” (salvation is a gift) meant that one seeking salvation tasted it & rejected it by spitting it out: That is a real stretch. The Greek word “geuomai” literally means to “eat” (figuratively or literally) & eating is swallowing not spitting it out. What some will not say in order to protect their pet doctrines (false). To taste is to eat & to eat is to experience the gift of salvation. There are other words that are used for taste/tasted that will be fitting in the sense of tasting something but not eating it. (see Strong’s Concordance for other Gk. words).
Consider Rom. 11:22,23,24
These verses (in NKJV) use the “if” word 4 times: “For if God did not spare the natural branches (Jews), He may not spare you either (spiritual Jews). Therefore, consider the goodness & severity of God: on those who fell (sinning Jews), severity; but toward you, goodness, if you CONTINUE in His goodness. Otherwise, you also will be cut off (or cut out of the vine/olive tree = Jesus). And they also, if they do not CONTINUE in unbelief, will be grafted in, for God is able to graft them in again (if they repent that is). For if you were cut out of the olive tree which is wild by nature, & were grafted contrary to nature into a cultivated olive tree, how much more will those, who are natural branches, be grafted into their own (Jewish) olive tree?”
The Jews’ failure to believe in Christ is a warning to Gentile Christians to be on guard against any semblance of anti-Jewish arrogance & careless living. The modern church is just that –arrogant, believing they can live like HELL & still go to Heaven. They believe once saved always saved or once in grace always in grace. Spiritual Israel of today is just as rebellious & sinful as ancient/natural Israel. (With exceptions always
If You Hold Fast
“Moreover, I declare to you the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received & in which you stand, by which also you are SAVED, if you HOLD FAST that Word…” – 1 Cor. 15:1,2.
Q. “What happens to those who once believed (received eternal salvation) & then turned to unbelief?” It is BELIEF & FAITH that saves us & it is CONTINUANCE that keeps us saved.
Q. “Does the LORD/Lord allow some “special sin allowances” & others He/They do not?” Nowhere in the Bible, especially the New Testament, do we find such a thing.
For the Jewish/Hebrew people, i.e. natural Israel we find this: “Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one! You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, & with all your strength.” – Deut. 6:4,5
For the Born-Again Christians, i.e. Spiritual Israel we read this: “Jesus said… ‘you shall love the LORD you God with all your heart… soul & mind.’” – Mt. 22:37, basically repeating Deut. 6:4,5 (see also Deut. 10:12,13). Again, in Deut. 30:6 this is repeated somewhat.
2 Masters?
Lk. 16:13: “(Jesus says) No servant can serve two masters…” Although He referred to money (mammon), He does make it plain that we’re to serve Him & Him alone. The New Testament authors make the same case.
Greek: “Mammon” // mammōnas = confidence, i.e. fig. wealth, personified, avarice (defiled). If we’re to speak strictly about $$ then what can be said of all the believers, esp. “ministers,” who go for the riches of this world I call them “money grabbers.” Avarice can be what anyone deems wealth to them. Loving the world, as in 1 Jn. 2:15,16, is preached against. How can one love the world & love the LORD/Lord at the same time? So, you see, avarice includes loving the world, i.e. “stuff & things” in the world. How many are obsessed with “love of self?”
There was a time when ministers taught from the Bible, preached against sins & sinning. This has all but disappeared (with exceptions). The main theme today is “get rich” & have “fun in the Son.” We have a new generation that has been raised up by greedy ministers, sinning ministers, lustful/prideful minsters who despise the “Old Time Religion.” They prefer the upbeat. Old Time songs have been discarded for Rock N Roll/ Rap Crap music (if we can call those out & worldly fashions brought in. I was preaching in a church in Hawaii where many men/women came in with bathing suits on. We (wife & I) were in Ukraine some years ago – we went there, to Kiev, hoping to meet some folks that survived the communist years where by believers had to live underground) but instead we found Rock N Roll music & all the trappings of Babylon USA churchianity. The young woman who greeted the “saints” coming to service wore a see-through pants suit, you literally could see her underwear/bra as plain as day. (note: Now Ukraine is being bombed day & night, God’s punishment? only He knows). As far as the U.S. goes, we’ve fallen from grace decades ago. Today the U.S. is basically in the hands of the radical “Left” – House/Senate/President. Slow Joe is about worthless as can be – a CURSE for sure!!! Will God allow us to go completely under Communism is something to think about.
With the election of D. Trump for the 47th Prez we’ll see how America fairs. For sure the woke/commie rebels will raise HELL, that we can count on!
Words Of The Spirit – Sell Out
Those who lend an ear to the devil and his demons are doing so to their own devastation, ruination, destruction, and damnation. Fools they are who being caught up in self love, give way to the enticements to fame, fortune, false peace, and delusional happiness. It is stupidity to sell out for the devil and his demons and become vessels of dishonor because of the desire to make a “good show in the flesh.” I have not intended for people to self destruct by such choices and yet they do because they are wanting to be set up in the way that is their own destruction and damnation. This is because they are operating according to the lusts and longings of their own wicked hearts and in such they are utterly devastated and destroyed. I do not want you to be hasty to go in the way of dishonor and disrespect towards Me. Rather it is My intention that you would be eagerly accepting My Way as the Way that is intended and provided for you each and every day. There are multitudes who have chosen the way of death and damnation because they are full of pride and self love as well as self preservation. They are not willing to lay their lives down for My Kingdom nor will they walk in the steps of Jesus. They are the ones who join in for a season but when persecution and prosecution, as well as prison become realities, they turn back and refuse to continue. Then in a desire to cover their tracts, they turn to the absurdity of their own ways and refuse to admit that they were ever in the “Christian Way”. They are unfaithful and untrue and take up other lovers of the things that are worldly not godly. Such ones as these no matter how much they seek to prove themselves are inwardly haunted because they once knew Me then turn aside. No matter the outward displays of contentment and satisfaction with their own choices, they are not satisfied and cannot “get satisfaction” because they have not kept their vows to Me. As they are tossed about by the waves of the sea of iniquity they are in danger of drowning in the very waters of death they have chosen. So often those who turn back become bigger “sell outs” for the devil than the average sinners because they have willfully chosen to deny the truth and to come under the rule of demons rather than My rule.
Why should I the Living God treat kindly the ones who have proven to be traitors towards Me and gone a whoring after lies? I do not want My people to go after lies, I want them to continue to believe and trust in Me for I am the One who is indeed well able. It is a good thing to keep your focus, your vision upon the One you are meant to SELL OUT FOR AND THAT IS ME THE LIVING GOD. Be glad that you have not chosen the way of fools nor have you chosen to depart from Me as the One you love more than anything, any place, or any persons. Those who put Me as the Most Honorable High God who they respect and want to please will be honored by Me and found well pleasing. It is a wonderful thing to be loved by Me and counted as faithful, because they have not defrauded Me nor stolen My glory. Remember above all else that I reign supreme and as I am the Lord and Master of your souls be glad that you can serve Me with the giving of thanks and praise. Even when you are put in situations of impending danger turn to Me and know I will be with you as your shield and rearguard, rejoice in Me each day!