Subject: Snatch? |
Bible Note: Well, I did a word study on the word knowledge, since it would seem like a key to understanding the verse. One could make a point that the word doesn't necessarily mean experiential knowledge, but it would be weak. I can't in clear conscience say that the word doesn't mean what it looks like. But, let me add these thoughts. 1. There seems to be a parallel here to what Jesus said about driving out a demon and not filling the place, but sweeping it clean and the demon returns and brings with him seven demons that are worse. 2. Since I am sealed with the Holy Spirit, and He cannot deny Himself, it would seem difficult at best for me to renounce Christ, when his alter-ego is sealed in me. 3. God promised to finish the work that He started because he is faithful. 4. Paul seemed to deal with Christians that went astray. Leaving the flesh to be destroyed, with the confidence that the spirit would be saved. To sum up: God is faithful when we are not, He knew we would fall. God has a plan for when we won't listen, and being turned over to Satan for the destruction of the flesh sounds like a worse state to me. The Holy Spirit cannot deny Himself, so we can't casually walk away from God. We would have to tear ourselves free from the greatest force on earth, the force that kept Jesus on the cross, God's incredible love. I believe that as a believer, we are secure in the love of God, we have a holy and righteous fear of God, and we know in the depths of our being that God is the answer to all of our needs, and therefore choosing to leave is not even a possibility to the redeemed, to those that have been changed from the inside out. |