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NASB | Luke 8:13 "Those on the rocky soil are those who, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no firm root; they believe for a while, and in time of temptation fall away. |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Luke 8:13 "Those on the rocky soil are the people who, when they hear, receive and welcome the word with joy; but these have no firmly grounded root. They believe for a while, and in time of trial and temptation they fall away [from Me and abandon their faith]. |
Bible Question:
Hbr 6:4 For [it is] impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, Hbr 6:5 And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, Hbr 6:6 If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put [him] to an open shame. I have never been able to fully understand these verses. I believe that it's possible for a believer to "fall away". I know the Old Testament speaks often of "backsliding" and that God will deal with the backslider to the point that scripture even says "Turn, O backsliding children, saith the LORD; for I am married unto you:..." Jer. 3:14. I suppose the part of these scriptures that I would like explained is "if they shall fall away". What is the determining factor that indicates that the believer has fallen away to the point that it is impossible to renew them unto repentence? Isn't the only unforgiveable sin blasphemy of the Holy Ghost? Is that what this means? I have read these verses many times and have heard many opinions of their meaning, but have never been truly satisfied with any interpretation I've found. |
Bible Answer: Hi, budderfligh... Welcome to the forum! To "fall away" means to abandon the faith. When a person goes through all the motions, but in the face of the difficulties of living the Christian life, returns to all those things that characterized their life in the world, they may well fit in this category. Read the parable of the sower in Luke 8. Abandoning the Lord for the world is a very serious indication that a person has deep spiritual problems. That's why the author of Hebrews uses such strong language. Better not to begin at all, than to lay one's hand on the plow and turn back. It becomes very clear what we actually love, by how we live. In Him, Doc |