Hebrews and the Warnings in Hebrews

[Iconoclast]

Salvation is a free gift of God, available to anyone who receives it by faith in Jesus. "And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely." See Revelation 22 KJV

"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting life."

John 3:16 KJV

Jn 1:13 gives the only reason some receive it...
Not of the will of man, but of God.

 

[Van]

I understand what you're saying. But I only depend on the KJV, as I believe it is translated from the most accurate manuscripts. Can you find the same phrasing in the Received Text?

Sure, the intended meaning of the inspired text does not change. God decides "whosoever will."

 

[SavedByGrace]

Boulomai...decreed, destined and purposed

your Greek is FAULTY much like Reformed1689!

 

[Guido]

Hebrews 2:1-4 tells the lost not to neglect so great a salvation. The Greek word translated "neglect" refers to being careless with or to lack regard for something. So the idea is the person has heard and understood the gospel, but has not accepted or fully accepted the gospel.

Well, if Hebrews is warning against unbelievers hearing the gospel and neglecting it, then is it not also saying that works must accompany salvation? since in the passage following the warning in Hebrews 6, the author tells the readers: "For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have shewed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister.”

What if someone thinks they believed the gospel but feels as though they have no works?

 

[Van]

Well, if Hebrews is warning against unbelievers hearing the gospel and neglecting it, then is it not also saying that works must accompany salvation? since in the passage following the warning in Hebrews 6, the author tells the readers: "For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have shewed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister.”

My position addresses specific passages, so do not ascribe my views to the entire book.

Hebrews 6:10 is addressing those saved, thus the things that accompany salvation.

 

[Guido]

O wait, it says, "and things that accompany salvation..." and then goes on. Never mind. I understand now.

 

[Guido]

Van, thank you. I just realized that.

 

[SavedByGrace]

Well, if Hebrews is warning against unbelievers hearing the gospel and neglecting it, then is it not also saying that works must accompany salvation? since in the passage following the warning in Hebrews 6, the author tells the readers: "For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have shewed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister.”

What if someone thinks they believed the gospel but feels as though they have no works?

NO sinner can be saved by any "good works", salvation is from the Grace of God.

 

[Van]

What if someone thinks they believed the gospel but feels as though they have no works?

Paul teaches we are to examine ourselves when we take communion to see if we are "of the faith."

If we feel convicted, that our lives miss the mark, that does not mean we are not saved. Our "Helper" will bring to our mind our shortcomings so that we can strive to do better in the future. But on the other hand, if you feel no remorse for ignoring the example and instruction of Christ, that does not bode well for your soul.

Always remember, Christ uses "broken reeds."

 

[Guido]

It is saying that the author is persuaded that they are saved and will receive the promises.

 

[George Antonios]

I have so long endeavored to comprehend Hebrews, believing myself to have salvation for my faith in Christ and the gospel, but not discerning the meaning of the epistle, because of the warnings that taken together confound my understanding, having searched out sundry interpretations thereof, but being unable to settle on one for contradictions within them, which so long disturbed me because of my fear I was lost.

So what do you think is the meaning of Hebrews and its warning passages?

Long story short: the doctrinal passages in Hebrews 3, 6, & 10, that speak of potential loss of salvation, are doctrinally aimed at the tribulation period, not the church age.
You are saved in the church age. Your bread-and-butter are Paul's epistles to the churches, not the Hebrews. You can't lose your salvation like someone in the tribulation can.

 

[Guido]

Long story short: the doctrinal passages in Hebrews 3, 6, & 10, that speak of potential loss of salvation, are doctrinally aimed at the tribulation period, not the church age.
You are saved in the church age. Your bread-and-butter are Paul's epistles to the churches, not the Hebrews. You can't lose your salvation like someone in the tribulation can.

Then why does the exhortation following the warning in Hebrews 10 say, "But we are not of them that draw back unto perdition, but of them that believe to the saving of the soul"?

 

[Iconoclast]

It is saying that the author is persuaded that they are saved and will receive the promises.

The elect always persevere unto the eternal state.

 

[Iconoclast]

Then why does the exhortation following the warning in Hebrews 10 say, "But we are not of them that draw back unto perdition, but of them that believe to the saving of the soul"?

The elect do not draw back to perdition. They are safe and secure in Jesus

 

[Guido]

Sorry I think I used a phrase from the KJV again. I have been doing that. But I repented of doing that.

 

[Guido]

I mean I didn't do it in my original post but in something I wrote. I'll get back to the subject. I just need to take a break for a while.

 

[Van]

Hebrews 6:4-6 (KJV)

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.

1) "once enlightened" refers to being exposed to the gospel, both hearing it and understanding it, thus enlightened.

2) "tasted the heavenly gift" again refers to hearing and understanding the gospel, but not accepting it or fully accepting it, thus tasted.

3) "partakers of the Holy Ghost" refers to hearing and understanding the inspired word of God, either from the gospel directly by reading God's word, or indirectly from born anew witnesses (the powers of the world to come).

4) If they should reject the good news, it is impossible to bring them to the thresh hold of repentance, unless they change their mind, because there is no other gospel among men whereby they might be saved.

 

[Guido]

Since to every believer is given life which goes on through eternity, through faith in the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ, life neither proven nor merited by works, though any scripture signify such that is contrary, it must be a dispensation other than the present, to which that scripture ought to be applied.

I just wrote that because I felt like my language was too weak.

 

[Guido]

Hebrews 6:4-6 (KJV)

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.

1) "once enlightened" refers to being exposed to the gospel, both hearing it and understanding it, thus enlightened.

2) "tasted the heavenly gift" again refers to hearing and understanding the gospel, but not accepting it or fully accepting it, thus tasted.

3) "partakers of the Holy Ghost" refers to hearing and understanding the inspired word of God, either from the gospel directly by reading God's word, or indirectly from born anew witnesses (the powers of the world to come).

4) If they should reject the good news, it is impossible to bring them to the thresh hold of repentance, unless they change their mind, because there is no other gospel among men whereby they might be saved.

I'm just having trouble with the passage following the warning, because it seems to link good works with being saved. I know we're supposed to do them, but I don't think that we need to do them to merit or prove our salvation.

 

[Guido]

I'm just having trouble with the passage following the warning, because it seems to link good works with being saved. I know we're supposed to do them, but I don't think that we need to do them to merit or prove our salvation.

So does the word persuaded mean absolute certainty or just being mostly confident?