For it is impossible, in the case of those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, and have shared in the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the age to come, and then have fallen away, to restore them again to repentance, since they are crucifying once again the Son of God to their own harm and holding him up to contempt.

Hebrews 6

For it is impossible, in the case of those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, and have shared in the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the age to come, and then have fallen away, to restore them again to repentance, since they are crucifying once again the Son of God to their own harm and holding him up to contempt. Hebrews 6:4-6

I continue my study of Hebrews, assisted by the commentary Christ Centered Exposition: Exalting Jesus in Hebrews. This morning, I maintain my focus on Hebrews 6:1-8, as I lean on my commentary and explore what the commentary describes as the second division "The Danger of Irreversible Apostasy," which looks at Hebrews 6:4-8. Here, the commentary addresses what it refers to as "some of the most difficult verses in the entire New Testament."  Apostasy is often debated within the church and many worry whether they can lose their salvation.  The commentary explores several available scholarly interpretations for this text and ultimately describes apostates as those who left the faith, but "showed they were not truly part of the faith in the first place."  It goes on to offer that this text "is a caution for individuals who have tasted the things of Christ but have not become genuine Christians." Scripture references offered by the commentary that support how true believers cannot lose their salvation include John 5:24; Romans 8:39; 11:29; 1 Corinthians 1:6-8; Philippians 1:6; 2 Thessalonians 3:3.  Matthew 13:24-30 and the Parable of the Weeds is offered as a clear connection to this story and how the second and third soil best represent those who never had genuine faith and fall away.  The commentary wraps for this text by sharing an encouragement: "[h]appily, Hebrews does not end with this warning. The author assures believers that he had to write the warning for the unbelievers in the church needing to hear it. Pastorally, he is not seeking to put insecurity in the hearts of Christians. Believers who are faithfully following Christ’s commands can be confident in their salvation. If we seek assurance of our faith, we will find it by doing the things faithful Christians do. We will grow out of the elementary things and into maturity."

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me, keeps me, and who helps me stay on track with my faith and gives me Your Word, my church, my brothers and sisters in Christ, the Holy Spirit...all to stay on track and not fall away.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of such blessings.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

For it is impossible, in the case of those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, and have shared in the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the age to come, and then have fallen away, to restore them again to repentance, since they are crucifying once again the Son of God to their own harm and holding him up to contempt.

Hebrews 6

For it is impossible, in the case of those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, and have shared in the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the age to come, and then have fallen away, to restore them again to repentance, since they are crucifying once again the Son of God to their own harm and holding him up to contempt. Hebrews 6:4-6

I continue my study of Hebrews, assisted by the commentary Christ Centered Exposition: Exalting Jesus in Hebrews. My focus this morning is Hebrews 6:1-8, and my initial unaided observations of this text.  Hebrews 6 picks up from Hebrews 5:11-14 where the author exhorts the audience of Jewish believers to shake themselves from spiritual and moral sluggishness - they are urged to grow in their spiritual maturity.  This call is of course meant for all believers.  Do not allow yourself to be stuck in a spiritual rut where you are not growing in your relationship with God.  The remedy provided is "discernment trained by constant practice," and this is principally accomplished through daily time with God in study and prayer, but also through other spiritual disciplines such as corporate worship, service to God and others, etc.  Hebrews 6:1 continues with this exhortation, and it includes a stern warning to those who do not grow in their faith. This stern warning is described in v4-6.  Note the word "impossible" in v4.  If believers allow themselves to be taken off course from their faith journey, and they then allow themselves to be taken away from their faith (apostasy) by the Great Deceiver (Satan), then there is no turning back. An ominous warning indeed!  Believers stay on course!

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who keeps me on track - thank You God!  I am not deserving of Your grace, compassion, and patience.  My sin is great and it continues.  Please forgive me, and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

For the Lord comforts Zion; he comforts all her waste places and makes her wilderness like Eden, her desert like the garden of the Lord; joy and gladness will be found in her, thanksgiving and the voice of song.

Isaiah 51-53

For the Lord comforts Zion; he comforts all her waste places and makes her wilderness like Eden, her desert like the garden of the Lord; joy and gladness will be found in her, thanksgiving and the voice of song. Isaiah 51:3

I continued my deep dive of Isaiah, based on the Precept Upon Precept study series - on Day 2 of Lesson 19, I once again focus - more deeply this time - on Isaiah 51. My commentary shares the following divisions for this chapter:

1. Listen to Me! The God of Abraham will again create righteousness from nothing (v1-6)
2. Listen to Me! The God of the Exodus will again make a way for His people (v7-11)
3. How dare you fear man more than Me? Through you I will establish eternity (v12-16)
4. Wake Up! The time has come for your tormentors to fall (v17-23)

The commentary then notes the following applications:

1. Listen to the Word of the Lord and feed our hearts on His past achievements in scripture so that we may be filled with a powerful hope, no matter how bleak the circumstances.
2. We should learn to fear God and obey Him more than we fear human beings, no matter how threatening or powerful they appear.
3. We should fully embrace the future this chapter clearly unfolds: for the present universe, total destruction; for the believers, a new heaven and new earth in which they will worship God eternally in joy; for the wicked tormentors, a cup of wrath.  These themes should strongly color the way we live every day-pursuing righteousness in the fear of the Lord and seeking to deliver the prisoners held by chains of sin.

In particular, I am struck by application #1 and #2 and rest in Isiah 51:3 where God reminds us of how He comforts us and turns our wilderness circumstances into Eden - and we can find joy and gladness in Him, no matter our circumstances.  

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God and I trust in You for You turn all of wilderness experiences into Eden and You have redeemed me from the bondage of sin.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of my salvation....the greatest gift of all time.  My sin is great and it continues.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

But when envoys were sent by the rulers of Babylon to ask him about the miraculous sign that had occurred in the land, God left him to test him and to know everything that was in his heart.

2 Chronicles 32

But when envoys were sent by the rulers of Babylon to ask him about the miraculous sign that had occurred in the land, God left him to test him and to know everything that was in his heart. v31

God wants us to use our lives to proclaim His greatness.  All of us are miracles and He has he worked wonders in our lives - He wants to use us to reach others.  I am doubtful that God left Hezekiah in the sense Hezekiah was unable to communicate with God.  God is everywhere and accessible for all of us - it is more likely that God stopped working in the same way He had been (see v30 where it says "He succeeded in everything he undertook."). 

This speaks to the "dry spells" in our lives where many of us feel that God has stopped working in our lives.  This is not possible. 

God will be with us to the very end of the age (Matthew 28:20).

God is alive and active (Hebrews 4:12-13).

When we claim that God is not working in our lives we must look more vigorously for Him to see what He is doing because He is doing SOMETHING.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who is always with me and always working in my life - thank You Jesus!  I am not worth such a God.  I worry.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength. Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others. Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.