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Results from: Answered Bible Questions, Answers, Unanswered Bible Questions, Notes Ordered by Verse | ||||||
Results | Verse | Author | ID# | |||
1 | Hebrews 6:6 explained | Hebrews | John Reformed | 42080 | ||
Dear Tim, The following is from R.L. Dabney (The 5 Points of Calvinism). "It is objected, again, that the Bible is full of warnings to believers to watch against apostasy, like this in I Cor. x. 12: "Let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall." The sophism is, that if believers cannot fall from grace all these warnings are absurd. I reply, they are reasonable, because believers could fall from grace if were left to their own natural powers. In this sense, they naturally might fall, and therefore watchfulness is reasonably urged upon them, because God's unchangeable purpose of grace towards them is effectuated in them, not as if they were stocks or stones, or dumb beasts, but rational free agents, to be guided and governed by the almighty Spirit through the means of rational motives. Therefore, when we see God plying believers with these rational motives not to back slide, it is not to be inferred that he secretly intends to let them backslide fatally, but rather just the contrary. I will close with a little parable: I watch a wise, intelligent, watchful, and loving mother, who is busy about her household work. There is a bright little girl playing about the room, the mother's darling. I hear her say, "take care, baby dear, don't go near that bright fire, for you might get burned." Do I argue thus? Hear that woman's words ! I infer from them that that woman's mind is made up to let that darling child burn itself to death unless its own watchfulness shall suffice to keep it away from the fire, the caution of an ignorant, impulsive, fickle little child. What a heartless mother! But I do not infer thus, unless I am a heartless fool. I know that this mother knows the child is a rational creature, and that rational cautions are one species of means for keeping it at a safe distance from the fire; therefore she does right to address such cautions to the child; she would not speak thus if she thought it were a mere kitten or puppy dog, and would rely on nothing short of tying it by the neck to the table leg. But I also know that that watchful mother's mind is fully made up that the darling child shall not burn itself at this fire. If the little one's impulsiveness and short memory cause it to neglect the maternal cautions, I know that I shall see that good woman instantly drop her instruments of labor and draw back her child with physical force from that fire, and then most rationally renew her cautions to the child as a reasonable agent with more emphasis. And if the little one proves still heedless and willful, I shall see her again rescued by physical force, and at last I shall see the mother impressing her cautions on the child's mind more effectually, perhaps by passionate caresses, or perhaps by a good switching, both alike the expressions of faithful love." As you can see I lean towards believing that these warnings are "means" by which God instructs His own. To believe otherwise would force me to overthrow clearer verses that speak to our absolute security in Christ. Brother John Reformed |
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2 | Hebrews 6:6 explained | Hebrews | Morant61 | 42084 | ||
Greetings John! I still don't buy it my friend! There are a couple of problems with this approach. 1) The illustration is imperfect (as most are): For example, in the illustration - the mother is falliable. It is possible that she could be unattentive and during that time, her child could be severely burned contrary to the mother's wishes. So, she warns the child as an extra measure of caution. The purpose is that between her warning and her watchfulness the child will hopefully be kept safe. However, God needs no such extra meassure to keep us. Can God be unattentive? 2) Secondly, in my opinion, the logic of this arugment breaks down in the following way. Your quoted source says that the warning is based upon what might occur if we were left to our own devises. However, you don't believe that we are left to our own devices. Do you? Therefore, we are back to where we started. The warning is a warning of something that cannot possibly happen. Why warn against something that cannot happen? Your Brother in Christ, Tim Moran |
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3 | Hebrews 6:6 explained | Hebrews | John Reformed | 42086 | ||
Dear Tim, Do you believe that Christ is the author and finisher of our faith or do you rely on your own righteousness for your assurance of salvation. You must rely upon yourself because you are soverign over your destiny. God may plead and cry and exert all the power at His command, allto no avail against His own creation. Are there Frankenstiens lurking among the saints? John |
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4 | Hebrews 6:6 explained | Hebrews | Morant61 | 42094 | ||
Greetings John! There is a problem with assumed either/or questions. Often, there are other possibilities! Salvation is totally a work of grace, through faith. Yet, Scripture also affirms that this gift must be accepted. When someone responds to God's offer of salvation for the very first time, have they earned salvation? When someone repents, have they earned salvation? When someone believes, have they earned salvation? When I say that it is possible for someone to reject this gift, that doesn't mean that I'm relying on my own righteousness. You said: "God may plead and cry and exert all the power at His command, allto no avail against His own creation." Yet, isn't this exactly the case in Mt. 23:37, "‘‘O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing." Here, Israel choose against God's desire. We obviously don't see this issues the same way, but let's please stick to examining the Scriptures rather than assumptions about what I may or may not believe! ;-) I have stated over and over again that we cannot earn or un-earn our salvation. However, Scripture does say that we must accept, believe, confess, receive, ect... Your Brother in Christ, Tim Moran |
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