Tue, Jul 25th - 10:46AM

STUDIES IN HEBREWS

CHAPTER 11

Brothers and sisters, much love and peace to you in God the Son of God Jesus Christ who has given us His eternal love and peace in God our Father, and witnessed by the Holy Spirit. We are coming to the end of this study at some point. However, no study truly ends as we can keep going back to find much spiritual food for our every need.

It is clear that God’s intentions and purposes in Jesus Christ is to forever separate Christians from the Mosaic Law of sin, punishment, death curse and condemnation, because we are now wed to Christ under His New Covenant. There is not to be a shred of the Mosaic Law to be mixed in with the New Covenant of Jesus Christ. Even the buildings in which the body of Christ chooses to meet in, God absolutely forbids for any of them to be called or named a tabernacle, sanctuary, or having an altar. The true tabernacle and sanctuary with its altar are now in heaven through the atoning work of Jesus Christ. Howbeit on earth God dwells in His people- the living spiritual temple built by God.

The Holy Spirit presses in hard through Paul the apostle on these Jewish believers, that through hearing and believing the gospel they will bear the fruit of steadfast faith, and us also dearly beloveds. The New Covenant is set indelibly in our spirits, hearts, and minds as the only covenant that we need, and the only covenant that saves. As we prepare to study the next chapter here in Hebrews 11, Paul continues to teach on faith giving many examples. In earlier chapters, Paul had taught about the long sufferings, and willingness of God to deal patiently with unbelievers, but the Bible also declares that there comes a time when the patience of God ends with the unrepentant. However, God never includes any believer among them.

God tests, tries and proves the faith of every believer the same as He did His Son Jesus Christ. He left us His Word to make it easy for us to know Him and enabled us with the Holy Spirit, through faith in Christ, so that we have the power to obey Him out of love and trust, and to teach others as we are taught, as well as share the gospel to a lost and dying world. Holy people, thank God for His Word. The Bible teaches us to teach itself, DEFENDS ITSELF, interprets itself, proves itself within the context of scripture without error nor contradiction of any kind as it was sent down from heaven with the Holy Spirit to ensure its eternal inerrant truth in that IT IS IMPOSSIBLE FOR GOD TO LIE.

IS ETERNAL SALVATION PERMANENT OR TEMPORARY? This is an easy test of faith, brothers and sisters, we know that GOD FOR WHOM IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO LIE absolutely declares:  Heb 5:9 And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him;

It's absolutely clear that eternal salvation is the only kind of salvation that God has:

 Act 4:12Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.

Brethren, feel free to study further on your own the Bible's absolute power to defend/preserve the saint (G40 hagios) so that none shall ever fall away or be lost, and the Bible's absolute power of offense against any that attempt to pervert scripture to blaspheme against God and His people.

The answer to the question is either yes or no. There is only one correct answer that the authentic Christian will answer with a cheerful bold steadfast YES salvation is permanent.  If there is any amongst us who answered no I pray they will repent. There are irreversible, and terrible consequences for anyone who calls God a liar and impenitently rejects, denies, or refuses to believe the inerrant everlasting truth of God’s Word:  Rev 21:8

But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.

Dearly beloveds, find chapter 11 laid out in preparation for the upcoming study of this chapter for us to look into that we can find spiritual nourishment that we need, personal questions answered, and comfort given directly from our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, Mediator/High Priest of the New Covenant in the presence of God, the Holy Spirit already standing by awaiting you, me, us. 

Let us not hesitate to meditate, reflect, pray, and apply the word to our lives and put it in practice daily in private and in public, this is God's command to all of us His sons and daughters, priests under our Saviour Lord Jesus Christ, Mediator and High Priest of the New Covenant. 

God grows us in His word and desires that we grow to maturity in the whole gospel of God, even that we mature in our faith. Faith has been badly perverted and abused by certain so- called word of faith carnal movements and others ,focused only on earthly gain, that lie and claim that faith can be bought with money, and or manipulated to gain earthly wealth possessions, win the lottery, get a car, house, etc. 

However, it is in the Word of God that we will get the eternal truth of the who, what, when, where and why of faith. Brothers and sisters, let us have our plates, and glasses prepared to eat and drink in the Lord Jesus knowing the Holy Ghost will again prepare a spiritual feast for us in the presence of God our Father, with plenty to take home afterwards.

The Triumphs of Faith

Heb 11:1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

Heb 11:2 For by it the elders obtained a good report.  

Heb 11:3 Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.

Heb 11:4 By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh.  

Heb 11:5 By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God. 

Heb 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. 

Heb 11:7By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith.

Heb 11:8 By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went. 

Heb 11:9 By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise:

 Heb 11:10 For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.

Heb 11:11 Through faith also Sara herself received strength to conceive seed, and was delivered of a child when she was past age, because she judged him faithful who had promised.  

Heb 11:12 Therefore sprang there even of one, and him as good as dead, so many as the stars of the sky in multitude, and as the sand which is by the sea shore innumerable.

Heb 11:13 These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.  

Heb 11:14 For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country.  

Heb 11:15 And truly, if they had been mindful of that country from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned.  

Heb 11:16 But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city.

Heb 11:17 By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son,  

Jas 1:12; 1Pe 1:7.

Heb 11:18 Of whom it was said, That in Isaac shall thy seed be called:  

Heb 11:19 Accounting that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead; from whence also he received him in a figure.   

Heb 11:20 By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning things to come.  

Heb 11:21By faith Jacob, when he was a dying, blessed both the sons of Joseph; and worshipped, leaning upon the top of his staff.  

Heb 11:22 By faith Joseph, when he died, made mention of the departing of the children of Israel; and gave commandment concerning his bones.

Heb 11:23 By faith Moses, when he was born, was hid three months of his parents, because they saw he was a proper child; and they were not afraid of the king's commandment.  

Heb 11:24 By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter; 

Heb 11:25 Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season;Heb 11:26 Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward. 

Heb 11:27 By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible.

Heb 11: 28Through faith he kept the passover, and the sprinkling of blood, lest he that destroyed the firstborn should touch them.

Heb 11:29 By faith they passed through the Red sea as by dry land: which the Egyptians assaying to do were drowned.  

Heb 11:30 By faith the walls of Jericho fell down, after they were compassed about seven days. 

Heb 11:31By faith the harlot Rahab perished not with them that believed not, when she had received the spies with peace.               

Heb 11:32 And what shall I more say? for the time would fail me to tell of Gedeon, and of Barak, and of Samson, and of Jephthae; of David also, and Samuel, and of the prophets: 

Heb 11:33 Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions,  

Heb 11:34 Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens.  

Heb 11:35 Women received their dead raised to life again: and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection:  

Heb 11:36 And others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment: 

Heb 11:37 They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented;  

Heb 11:38 (Of whom the world was not worthy:) they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth.  

Heb 11:39 And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise: 

Heb 11:40 God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect.

love and truth, serola

Mon, Jul 17th - 5:12PM

Heb 10:32But call to remembrance the former days, in which, after ye were illuminated, ye endured a great fight of afflictions;

I. Call to remembrance: to call to remembrance, to remind, to admonish.

II.to remember, to remember and weigh well and consider.

Illuminated: to enlighten, spiritually, imbue with saving knowledge, to give understanding to.

Endured: to remain i.e. abide, not recede or flee:

A. to persevere, under misfortunes and trials to hold fast to one's faith in Christ.

B. to endure, bear bravely and calmly: ill treatments.

Afflictions: externally, a suffering, misfortune, calamity, evil, affliction.

i.of the sufferings of Christ.

ii.also the afflictions which Christians must undergo in behalf of the same cause which Christ patiently endured.

Heb 10:33Partly, whilst ye were made a gazingstock both by reproaches and afflictions; and partly, whilst ye became companions of them that were so used.

I.Gazingstock:  to set forth as a spectacle, expose to contempt.

I.Afflictions: a reproach.

Such as Christ suffered, for the cause of God, from his enemies.

Paul wants them to remember, to keep in mind that they had greatly suffered, paid a heavy- and to some a shocking price for being followers of Jesus Christ. They had become pariahs, outcasts to their unbelieving families and friends, persecuted by the gentiles and unbelieving Jewish community at large, and likely suffered heavy losses of income and profession as well. Despite all of this they had stood firm, remained faithful, and did not cowardly separate themselves from other persecuted Christians so as to escape from continued persecution themselves.

Dearly beloved, we know that it is improper for any of us to tell any Christian that after salvation life will be a a bed of roses, with no discomfort, no troubles, and no stress. The Bible teaches differently. We know from scriptures that Paul among others had taught them otherwise: Act 14:22Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God.

1Pe 4:16Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf.

Heb 10:34For ye had compassion of me in my bonds, and took joyfully the spoiling of your goods, knowing in yourselves that ye have in heaven a better and an enduring substance.

Despite all the terrible persecutions these Hebrew Christians had suffered, they did not shun nor abandon Paul in His time of dire need but greatly aided him although this would not have been easy. Better enduring substance -all the imperishable eternal blessings and riches of Christ as opposed to any temporal earthly losses.

Heb10:35 Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward.

I. Confidence: free and fearless confidence, cheerful courage, boldness, assurance.

Paul exhorts his brethren that since they believed and trusted that God would greatly reward them for their faithfulness to Christ there was absolutely no need for them to give up or throw away their steadfast stance in faith to God. Here some might think that Paul was warning them against back sliding, which is a term not used of Christians. However, the following verses gives us a better understanding.

Heb 10:36For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise.

It is absolutely clear that these Hebrew Christians had done the will of God, remained faithful to Lord Jesus although they had been under relentless and likely protracted persecution/duress. The issue now is that they had grown impatient for the promised reward. Its clear that Paul was not accusing them of turning away from the gospel. Our trials have a purpose and are supposed to produce fruit-good fruit in us: Rom 5: 3-4. Clearly the expected fruit of patience under tribulation was not evident, which is why Paul tells them they have need of it. In fact, we all need patience under our trials and tribulation.

Heb 10:37For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry.

Paul exhorts them that according to the mind/will of God He is coming there will be no delay, and it is His business alone.

Heb 10:38Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him.

Every believer is commanded and enabled by God to live by faith, for it is the only way that the Christian can live, with the evidence of obedience in practice daily publicly and privately.

Some might say in error, saints (G40 hagios) that Paul teaches that its possible for these believers to draw back unto perdition, otherwise he would not have said it. We know the Bible gives us many examples of those wicked persons who turn back to perdition. However, we know, dearly beloveds, that God warns His children all through the New Covenant, but it is never in the sense that God expects that they will choose to willfully disobey Him and fall away. Furthermore, like the great loving Father God He is, He warns His children of danger, so that they can avoid that very thing. God guides, guards and disciplines His children to keep them on the right path.

Heb 10:39But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul.

The above verse can truly be seen in a comprehensive way as declared by Paul; the authentic Christian is not of them who turn away from God back to perdition. No, the Christian is one who remains steadfast, and immovable out of love, faith and trust in God regardless of trials and tribulations, of which the Bible gives a great many examples of such righteous godly persons.

Mon, Jul 10th - 5:15AM

STUDIES IN HEBREWS

HEBREWS CHAPTER 10 VS 26-31

Brothers and sisters, thanks, praises and blessings to God our Father who in eternal love has freely blessed us with all spiritual blessings: Eph 1:3-23 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:

It is almost too much to take into our hearts of the great, awesome kindness, love, mercy, and abundant generosity of the endless eternal blessings of God our Father to us through Lord Jesus Christ God the Son of God. Therefore, let us take great care to remind one another that no one can buy salvation nor blessings from God for He has given us everything as a free gift.

Sadly, there are some who believe in error that Abram was blessed by God because he gave a tithe to Melchizedek. By mere human reasoning they believe in error that God commands all Christians to tithe to receive blessings from God. However, we know that the Bible defends itself, interprets itself within context of scripture, validates/proves itself without error. This is why God commands us to stay within the safety of the scriptures because God is right all the time and all the time God is right without error for all eternity. 

We know that Abram was blessed by God and rich before he ever met Melchizedec:  Gen 13:2And Abram was very rich in cattle, in silver, and in gold.

Melchizedek blessed Abram before He gave a tithe: Gen 14:19And he blessed him, and said, Blessed be Abram of the most high God, possessor of heaven and earth: 20And blessed be the most high God, which hath delivered thine enemies into thy hand. And he gave him tithes of all.

 We clearly see that Melchizedek never commanded Abram to give a tithe. The Bible explains what the Act of Abram meant: Heb 7:1-28.  There are always some looking for a loophole to compel Christians to tithe based on Jacobs voluntary tithe, or the Law. Christians are not under the Mosaic law, but under grace.

The absolute truth of the New Covenant of Jesus Christ is that Christian giving in support of ministries/charitable works etc. is completely up to and in the hands of the giver: 2Co 9:7Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.

There is a tithe for Christians, however it is related solely between the Christian and our High Priest Jesus Christ and can never be demanded by nor given directly to a mere man on earth. However, let me say briefly that Jesus Christ our High Priest changes everything in His New Covenant He receives our tithes in heaven: Heb 7:8And here men that die receive tithes; but there he receiveth them, of whom it is witnessed that he liveth.

Christ in His omniscience, omnipotence, omnipresence lives in us with God our Father and the Holy Ghost-WE ARE ONE IN AND WITH THE TRINITY. Our good works have been prepared for us beforehand. Jesus sees all of our works that we do out of love and obedience to Him or not, evaluates their eternal spiritual worthiness or not and lays them up in heaven in store for us, from which we will receive rewards or punishment in heaven. However, our inheritance is eternal as a gift from Jesus to His people which can never be lost since we did not work for any of them.

Jesus encourages every believer:   Mt 6:¹⁹Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: ²⁰But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: ²¹For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

Obviously, Jesus is not saying that being rich is a sin, however, when we love riches more than God it is sin, for we cannot love and serve two masters. Feel free to study this further on your own-the right vs wrong way of the Christian use of earthly riches.

At the time of the earthly ministry of Lord Jesus, dearly beloveds, the Aaronic priesthood had thoroughly corrupted itself, robbing the people by perverting the Law. They also allowed the Pharisees, Sadducees among others of which the Law makes no mention, to pervert and teach their version of the Law because they all paid their tithes to the high priest. Had the Aaronic priesthood actually obeyed the law themselves and protected the law, both of these groups among others would have been put to death for adding and taking away from the Law:  Deu 4:2

Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish ought from it, that ye may keep the commandments of the LORD your God which I command you.

We understand and know that we are not to add nor take away from the gospel of Lord Jesus Christ.

Jhn 3: 19And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.

20For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.

Jhn 3:21But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.

The willfully impenitent are ultimately characterized by unbelief regarding salvation. The impenitent  are not passive, but actively pervert the gospel in different ways such as falsely claiming that after being saved, the saved person remains a sinner who must personally confess each and every sin to God continually thereafter to be forgiven, restore fellowship and be made right with God, to prevent being lost and going to hell at death; or that the blood of Jesus is merely a metaphor or figure of speech and of no value in salvation, or that salvation is not permanent, but that it can be lost when people sin, just as it was under the Mosaic Law. Any who willfully reject the truth of the gospel are blatantly blaspheming the eternal perfect sinless body and blood of Jesus Christ.

They never teach the truth that in the fellowship of all believers as eternally forgiven peoples, we are to help one another in repenting and overcoming of sins, and looking more and more like Christ over time, as God commands:  Jas 5:16Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.

Jo 4:17Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world.

No such persons are harmless, climbing up another way into the fold, parasitic saboteurs, who deliberately seek to defame, blaspheme the word of God to destroy the believers faith, trust and relationship with God and turn men away to follow them into perdition:1Ti 4:1Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; 2 Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron:

Christ or Judgment 

Heb 10:26For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, 

Willfully: voluntarily, willingly, of one's own accord; to sin wilfully as opposed to sins committed inconsiderately, and from ignorance or from weakness.

We know, dearly beloveds, that Paul is graciously and patiently reteaching these Hebrew Christians the gospel that they had once known and let slip, but now know that the scriptures are to be retained and lived.  The above verse is not teaching that these believers are in danger of losing their salvation. Nor is it teaching that Christians as a whole can lose their salvation. We know the scriptures defends itself, interprets itself within the context of scriptures and proves itself without error.

Israel under the Law had a terrible pattern of always sinning, being forgiven and returning to sinning-abandoning God. God allowed them to make atonements via the sacrifice of the body and blood of animals for certain sins, but apostasy merited the death penalty and never forgiveness.  

Paul is warning these Hebrew brethren and us too, that under the New Covenant of Jesus Christ, when anyone hears and fully understands the truth of the gospel and continues to persistently and willfully reject it he or she has doomed themselves for all eternity, seeing that outside of the one- time sacrifice of Lord Jesus Christ, there are no additional, or alternative sacrifices for the forgiveness of sins. Persistent unbelief is forbidden by God and is absolutely not the character or mark of an authentic believer. The standard for the authentic believer is found in faith in Christ without doubt and wavering.

However, the Bible likens the apostates in this way among others:

2Pe 2:22But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire.

Jesus Christ declares: Mat 7:18A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.

FURTHER CONTEXT OF SCRIPTURE:

Heb 6:⁴For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, ⁵And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, ⁶If 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. ⁷For the earth which drinketh in the rain that cometh oft upon it, and bringeth forth herbs meet for them by whom it is dressed, receiveth blessing from God  ⁸But that which beareth thorns and briers is rejected, and is nigh unto cursing; whose end is to be burned. ⁹But, beloved, we are persuaded better things of you, and things that accompany salvation, though we thus speak. ¹⁰For 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.

There are no bad good Christians nor good bad Christians. There is no comingling of darkness with light, good with evil. The Bible is explicit: 1Th 5:5 Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness.

Some might say that there is no such thing as sinless perfection. We should boldly respond there is ONE of sinless perfection in whom all the kingdom of God eternally rests, even our Saviour and Lord Jesus Christ Mediator/High Priest over the house of God forever.

Heb 10:27But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries.

Paul warns them and us too that God does not have frenemies. Anyone who rejects His Son Jesus Christ is also the enemy of God and the Holy Spirit too. Therefore, such persons should most certainly be fearful of the judgement and incendiary hell fire God has prepared for His adversaries. Again, and again the apostate is those who fully knowing the truth of the gospel choose not to believe it at all.

Heb 10:28He that despised Moses' law died without mercy under two or three witnesses: Deu 17:2-7.

Despised: to set aside, i.e. (by implication) to disesteem-see as worthless, neutralize or violate:—cast off, despise, disannul, reject, slight.

Once a man or woman under the Law had been carefully examined and found to have turned away from the Law there was no further defense, there was absolutely no mercy, no chance of a reprieve, no delay of sentence, but a certain cruel and brutal death by stoning.

Heb 10:29Of 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 unto the Spirit of grace?

We know, holy brethren, that those who reject the Son of God whose body and blood suffices to bring eternal forgiveness and save all who believe from their sins to the extent that no further sacrifices are needed nor necessary are deserving of worse punishment than that given to apostates under the Law. The apostate dishonors, defames and dares to judge the blood of Jesus as worthless, trampling on Him and His immaculate eternal atonement as utterly worthless, of no redeeming quality or value, thereby calling the Witness of the eternal gospel, the Holy Spirit of Truth a liar.

Heb 10:30For we know him that hath said, Vengeance belongeth unto me, I will recompense, saith the Lord. And again, The Lord shall judge his people.  

Heb 10:31It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. 

Here Paul warns that vengeance, payback, and retribution, DIRECTLY from God is absolutely inescapable, inevitable for those who reject the Son of God and have called the Holy Spirit a liar. Such persons should be very, very afraid for their day of judgement and eternal punishment in the lake of eternal fire and brimstone is coming and it will last forever from the God who lives forever and has the power to punish forever. Don’t mess with God!

Love and truth, serola

Postscript: 

Can an authentic Christian lose their salvation? The answer is no. Eternal life means eternal. Forever means forever without exception: John 10:28; Romans 6:23; Titus 1:2; 1 John 2:25; 1 John 5:11:

I John 3:  6Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither known him.

1 John 3:8He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning.

Wed, Jul 5th - 5:22AM

STUDIES IN HEBREWS

HEBREWS CHAPTER 10 VS 23-25

Brothers and sisters, holy family of God, priests under our Glorious High Priest/Mediator Saviour, Lord and King, Jesus Christ God the Son of God, let us pour out to Him abundant libations of love offerings, worship, thanks, and peace offerings for His undying love, mercy and eternal truth. Our Great Shepherd’s eyes never close in sleep, for He ever holds us in His nail scarred hands- all who believe, in Him. Nothing and no one shall ever snatch us away from Him nor God our Father: Jhn 10:28-29; Amp Jhn 10: 30 “ I and the Father are One [in essence and nature].”; Mat 28:20; Rom 8:35-39; Jde 1:24.

 Act 19:19 Many of them also which used curious arts brought their books together and burned them before all men: and they counted the price of them, and found it fifty thousand pieces of silver. 20 So mightily grew the word of God and prevailed.

Curious Arts: sorcery, magical arts, witchcraft, often found in connection with idolatry and fostered by it.

These believers were so convicted of the eternal truth of the gospel that their eyes were opened to see that God absolutely forbids all such practices of magic. They turned to God, not caring about the cost of their books, that they burned publicly having found the greatest treasure in all eternity of salvation through faith in Jesus Christ.

 Phl 3:8 Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,

Paul the apostle, having found the very Christ turned away from the sect of the Pharisees seeing it and the loss of His place in it as dung in comparison to his place in the eternal, everlasting truth of the gospel. 

Before Christ went to the cross, He condemned the scribes and Pharisees as hypocrites:  Mar 7:7 Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. 8 For laying aside the commandment of God, ye hold the tradition of men, as the washing of pots and cups: and many other such like things ye do. 9 And he said unto them, Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition.

Even today, there are some who worship the religious schools where they attended, identify themselves as made ministers by their religious schools, not by Christ, which is idolatry. Some go forth demanding to be accepted as experts, without testing or question but as superior to the body general. Their goal is to preach not the word of God, but the doctrines of their religious schools often reflected in their obsessions about various -ologies, narrow debates around words and questions related to the end times, not about living and loving for Christ’s sake. Most of them have never opened their lips to tell a lost soul about Christ that they might believe and be saved. If the shoe does not fit, there is no need for anyone to put it on here.

Holy people, we know that the world is in a handbasket, on a pair of roller-skates slipping on a banana peel hastening to the day of the wrath of God and eternal judgment. Therefore, it behooves us all to rest on the infallible gospel of Jesus Christ and be saved rather than on the doctrines of mere men and perish. We know that God does not compromise or bargain with anyone ever, we are either a friend of God or an enemy of God. God does not have frenemies: Luk 11:23 He that is not with me is against me: and he that gathereth not with me scattereth.

Brethren, let us go into the Word, in the presence of God our Father to sit at the Lord’s table where the Holy Ghost will lead us into all truth: Jhn 16:13 Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.

Heb 10:23Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;)

Hold Fast: to hold fast, keep secure, keep firm possession of; to get possession of, take, to possess.

Without Wavering:  not leaning, i.e. (figuratively) firm:—without wavering, not inclining, firm, UNMOVED.

Saints (G40 hagios), we know that we are rooted and have entered into that blessed steady state of true spiritual Sabbath rest because we are fully convicted, convinced, and fully persuaded in and of the eternal truth, faithfulness and promises of Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, we remain steadfast despite our changing circumstances, conditions, or situations, because Jesus Christ remains faithful and unchanged forever.

Heb 10:24And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works:  

Fueled by the eternal incendiary love of our King Jesus Christ who gave all of Himself to and for us, dearly beloveds, let us stir up one another with that same incendiary love which will compel our hearts and hands to love and do all the good that we can for one another and all men.

Heb 10:25Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.

God commands us to assemble together locally for worship, fellowship, to strengthen, comfort, profess our love for God and one another, and to conduct the affairs of the church as the body general. He forbids any of us from forsaking to do so. This does not prevent the gathering of two or more for fellowship outside of the general gathering of believers. There is emphasis on gathering more than ever because time is running out. There is no excuse for those able to gather not to do so.

Unfortunately, some read the above passage to mean in error that God commands Christians to worship only on Sunday the Sabbath day. Some say it is because Lord Jesus rose on a Sunday. The scriptures show no such teachings by Christ. 

However, the Bible declares that Jesus worked on the Sabbath:  Jhn 5:18Therefore the Jews sought the more to kill him, because he not only had broken the sabbath, but said also that God was his Father, making himself equal with God.

Some believe that Christians are still held to the Mosaic Law to keep the Sabbath in order to be blessed. However, the Mosaic Sabbath clearly declares:  Exo 31:15 Six days may work be done; but in the seventh is the sabbath of rest, holy to the LORD: whosoever doeth any work in the sabbath day, he shall surely be put to death.

We know that recently the supreme court of America sided in favor of a Christian man whose company would not let him have the day off to worship on a Sunday. However, the court of God is higher than the court of man.

Nevertheless, in some cases there is no help for those Christians who quit their jobs because they were required to work on Sunday, leaving their families in a bad situation.

We have to stick with the New Covenant as God commands: Rom 14:5 One man esteemeth one day above another: another esteemeth every day alike. Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind.

Rom 14:6 He that regardeth the day, regardeth it unto the Lord; and he that regardeth not the day, to the Lord he doth not regard it. He that eateth, eateth to the Lord, for he giveth God thanks; and he that eateth not, to the Lord he eateth not, and giveth God thanks.

The bottom line is this, brothers and sisters: Col.2:16 Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days 17 Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ.

Judge: properly, to distinguish, i.e., decide (mentally or judicially); by implication, to try, condemn, punish:—avenge, conclude, condemn, damn, decree, call in question, sentence.

Again, dearly beloveds, God commands us to not stop assembling together for worship, however, God gives us the freedom to choose which day(s) we gather together to worship Him, without condemnation.