Tuesday 5 July 2011

How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation?



Heb 2:1  Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip.
Heb 2:2  For if the word spoken by angels was stedfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompence of reward;
Heb 2:3  How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him;
Heb 2:4  God also bearing them witness, both with signs and wonders, and with divers miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghost, according to his own will?
Heb 2:5  For unto the angels hath he not put in subjection the world to come, whereof we speak.
Heb 2:6  But one in a certain place testified, saying, What is man, that thou art mindful of him? or the son of man, that thou visitest him?
Heb 2:7  Thou madest him a little lower than the angels; thou crownedst him with glory and honour, and didst set him over the works of thy hands:
Heb 2:8  Thou hast put all things in subjection under his feet. For in that he put all in subjection under him, he left nothing that is not put under him. But now we see not yet all things put under him.
Heb 2:9  But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man.
Heb 2:10  For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings.
Heb 2:11  For both he that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of one: for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren,
Heb 2:12  Saying, I will declare thy name unto my brethren, in the midst of the church will I sing praise unto thee.
Heb 2:13  And again, I will put my trust in him. And again, Behold I and the children which God hath given me.
Heb 2:14  Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil;
Heb 2:15  And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.

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This is one of "those passages" that is brought up by those who believe we can "lose our salvation". All things need to be taken together and in context. Jesus says He will never lose those who are His. He does, however, also give warnings. We can lose spiritual blessings and gifts, and perhaps some people might risk the loss of these in desiring the temporary satisfactions of the lusts of the flesh over those gifts that are precious and from God. I'm not saying I have this down perfectly, and that I am going to receive all spiritual gifts God is desirous for me to have. This is an area that He does give us some free range to botch it up, and I do believe that His love and grace covers a multitude of sins. However, I also believe that we can have alot more joy and peace if we don't "neglect so great a salvation" which have been affirmed through the signs of His forgiving grace in our lives.

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1Pe 4:1  Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin;
1Pe 4:2  That he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God.
1Pe 4:3  For the time past of our life may suffice us to have wrought the will of the Gentiles, when we walked in lasciviousness, lusts, excess of wine, revellings, banquetings, and abominable idolatries:
1Pe 4:4  Wherein they think it strange that ye run not with them to the same excess of riot, speaking evil of you:
1Pe 4:5  Who shall give account to him that is ready to judge the quick and the dead.
1Pe 4:6  For for this cause was the gospel preached also to them that are dead, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit.
1Pe 4:7  But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer.
1Pe 4:8  And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins.
1Pe 4:9  Use hospitality one to another without grudging.
1Pe 4:10  As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.
1Pe 4:11  If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God; if any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth: that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.
1Pe 4:12  Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you:
1Pe 4:13  But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.
1Pe 4:14  If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified.
1Pe 4:15  But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evildoer, or as a busybody in other men's matters.
1Pe 4:16  Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf.
1Pe 4:17  For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?
1Pe 4:18  And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?
1Pe 4:19  Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator.

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When the time comes for suffering and tribulation we will rejoice and not think it is God punishing us because He hates us, but rather that He is allowing us the privilege of partaking of the suffering that Christ also suffered. That knowledge and that intimacy will sustain us through the worst of time, and ultimately through our pains of physical death, the end of our mortality here. That intimacy will free us from the manipulations of those who will try to force their earthly powers over us to try to subject us to their will. They will have no power over us because they can kill our bodies but they can never kill our soul, nor separate us from the love of Jesus.

4 comments:

  1. I've been going back and looking at some of Tex's posts at the camp. He seems to think that these "warning" verses are not for salvation..but position, rewards, etc. That reminds me of the "outer darkness" stuff you were talking about some time back and also the virgins parable. I believe salvation is a done deal, it is placement in the world to come that is spoken of a lot I think.

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  2. Hi Ma,

    I agree that our salvation is a done deal, and that there are eternal rewards that are effected by how we use the time we have now...and I'm seeing a little more that whether we use the gifts God gives us, or not, also has an effect on the quality of our relationship with Him that we have now, as well as the way we will react to the coming persecution. Some will take the coming persecution really hard, and many will cave in to tptb's demands out of fear for their lives and personal comfort. The enemy knows how to attack us where we really hurt, he did it to Job, he did it to the early Christians under Nero and under many others during several other purges, and I believe it will happen again. We are still yet in "the quiet before the storm", so pray that we use the time wisely to store up His riches inside our hidden parts, so that when the famine of the Word of God comes, we will eat of our "hidden manna".

    :)

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  3. Hi Susan, Wonderful post & comments. Shaping us with His Word, more, more, more we need to gather of it.

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  4. Hi Musemater,

    I think there is a time coming soon, how soon? God knows! In the meantime we need to use the time (redeem the time) wisely.

    Eph 5:15 Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise,
    Eph 5:16 making the best use of the time, because the days are evil.
    Eph 5:17 Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.

    Col 4:2 Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving.
    Col 4:3 At the same time, pray also for us, that God may open to us a door for the word, to declare the mystery of Christ, on account of which I am in prison--
    Col 4:4 that I may make it clear, which is how I ought to speak.
    Col 4:5 Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best use of the time.
    Col 4:6 Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.

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Comments are always welcome, however spam will be removed.

Colossians 4:6 Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.

If a comment is mocking or otherwise unfruitful it will be removed. If a comment is completely irrelevant to the post it likewise will be removed. If the post contains an audio or video teaching and it is obvious that the commenter has not listened to the presentation the comment may (or might not) be posted and I probably won't reply.