Christmas 2012

The NEW living translation and study of HEBREWS 6:1-8 "So let us stop going over the basic teachings about Christ again and again. Let us go on instead and become mature in our understanding. Surely we don’t need to start again with the fundamental importance of repenting from evil deeds[a] and placing our faith in God. You don’t need further instruction about baptisms, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment. And so, God willing, we will move forward to further understanding.

For it is impossible to bring back to repentance those who were once enlightened—those who have experienced the good things of heaven and shared in the Holy Spirit, who have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the power of the age to come— and who then turn away from God. It is impossible to bring such people back to repentance; by rejecting the Son of God, they themselves are nailing him to the cross once again and holding him up to public shame. When the ground soaks up the falling rain and bears a good crop for the farmer, it has God’s blessing. But if a field bears thorns and thistles, it is useless. The farmer will soon condemn that field and burn it." Many attend church, many read the bible, many like the Pharisees have it cemented in their mind about our Father, His Son, and the Holy Spirit, and they are unwilling to allow the Holy Spirit to REVEAL the TRUTH in their hearts, therefore they are unable to make a commitment that Jesus Christ is the eternal Son of God, the King of Kings, Lord of Lords and the One who offers salvation to the lost.

The writer of Hebrews is specifically talking to Jews who had heard the good news that Jesus Christ obolished the law, and that we are saved by grace, not of works. People have witnessed transformations of others who accept Jesus as Lord, yet they turn from God's salvation plan and walk away from Christ, NOT FULLY surrendered to the Supremecy of Christ, and they continue to add knowledge and confidence in their ways, NOT in the ways of God. Over and over, God confounds those who consider themselves wise in this world. UNLIKE a knife, TRUTH becomes sharper with use. The TRUTH of the GOSPEL of Jesus Christ that is heard, yet not accepted does a body no good. Jesus warns:: “Not everyone who calls out to me, ‘Lord! Lord!’ will enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Only those who actually do the will of my Father in heaven will enter. On judgment day many will say to me, ‘Lord! Lord! We prophesied in your name and cast out demons in your name and performed many miracles in your name.’ But I will reply, ‘I never knew you. Get away from me, you who break God’s laws.’ Mat 7:21-23