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Results from: Answered Bible Questions, Answers, Unanswered Bible Questions, Notes Ordered by Verse | ||||||
Results | Verse | Author | ID# | |||
1 | One more time, "fallen away"? | Mark 4:16 | Reformer Joe | 38562 | ||
Cyclist: Welcome back. Haven't seen you in a while! You wrote: "In one of my previous posts, in answer to a question regarding Heb 6:6, I responded that no person, not even a christian, can win some one who has fallen away back to repentance but the fallen away person could only be brought back in by the working of the Holy Spirit. Was this not a good interpretation of this verse?" I think it is a stretch, because the verse really seems to indicate that the way back would be barred if someone would actually fall away. Since our salvation is a work of the Holy Spirit in the first place, it is always impossible for Christians (on their own strength, wisdom, etc.) to win anyone to Christ in the first place apart from the Holy Spirit's direct intervention in the sinner's heart. It is remotely possible that such an interpretation could hold, but there really doesn't seem to be any evidence that that is what the inspired writer is saying. You also wrote about the churches in Revelation. i think that this is a very good passage to examine in light of the "eternal security" debate. First of all, the congregation as a whole is being addressed as a church, rather than as a group of individual believers. It seems to me what Christ is telling most of these churches is that because they are fulfilling their corporate role as a transforming presence for the kingdom of God, that Christ is going to remove His presence from among them. I see a great number of parallels in our churches today in the United States. How many congregations fit the description of being lukewarm or unfocused on Christ or reluctant to proclaim the whole counsel of God or more interested in church socials than reaching the lost or missions? Now there are undoubtedly true followers of Christ in most or all of these churches, but I am fearful that Christ will be removing his lampstand from the evangelical church in the United States precisely because we are no longer faithfully finishing the redemptive work that Christ commissioned us to take part in. However, I do not think it means that everyone in those churches will suddenly lose their salvation. Christ has largely abandoned the great churches in Europe after they abandoned His commission and His truth. The judgment will be the same for our churches here unless we return to our first love as well. God's kindgom will never perish, but He has never promised that the United States will remain a major player in world evangelization. We need to get on our knees and grieve and repent for the extremely poor stewardship of time and resources and other blessings that God has bestowed upon us that we may glorify Him. --Joe! |
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2 | One more time, "fallen away"? | Mark 4:16 | Cyclist | 38614 | ||
Reformer Joe, Thanks for the welcome back! I will Rejoice in the Lord always! From the rising of the sun to it's going down I will praise the Lord! Thanks for your post in response to my question. I will continue to pray and grieve for our Nation. I am going to go back and read the previous postings on this subject like Searcher56 suggested to me. I've been trying to follow all of the postings on this subject but did not see a posting that actually defined "fallen away" as it is written in Heb 6:6 maybe I missed it in one of the postings. Your brother in Christ, Cyclist |
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