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NASB | Acts 8:13 Even Simon himself believed; and after being baptized, he continued on with Philip, and as he observed signs and great miracles taking place, he was constantly amazed. |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Acts 8:13 Even Simon believed [Philip's message of salvation]; and after being baptized, he continued on with Philip, and as he watched the attesting signs and great miracles taking place, he was constantly amazed. |
Subject: I have a related question for anyone... |
Bible Note: "I still remember the first time I actually read the view that these warnings were "dire warnings, of course they can't happen"! I was literally rolling on the floor. I found it in some of the commentaries in my father-in-law's library." Actually, it was the avoidance of passages like these and James 2 and most of 1 John and Jesus' warnings in the Gospels that aided my growing dissatisfaction with my previous theological environment. You wrote: "1) The phrase 'received the knowledge of the truth', as I've expressed in other posts, is used only five times. All the other occurances appear to be synonymous with saving faith." I must have missed those other posts. Could you please cite just the references to the other four occurrences? "2) Sanctified by the blood doesn't appear to be a legitimate description of someone who only appears to be a believer." You would seem to be right, but my ignorance of Greek poses a problem for me working this out. The way the NASB reads (which is similar to most English translations) is "has regarded as unclean the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified." Gramatically speaking, could one be sanctified by the "covenant" rather than the "blood"? And secondly, since Hebrews makes continuous references to Old Testament typology, were those who were circumcized and part of the covenant community of Israel not "sanctified", whether they were to become scoundrels or blameless men? Could we say that the Israelite children were sanctified by the blood of the covenant? I think it is important to keep in view that the writer of Hebrews has been making a connection between Moses as foreshadowing and Christ as the true reality. "3) Insulting the Spirit of Grace doesn't appear to be something that a unbeliever could do, especially if your Calvinist! :-) After all, how could the Spirit be insulted that someone who is unable to respond, failed to respond! ;-)" Because most Calvinists believe in the idea of a non-efficacious "common grace" as well. God reveals Himself in nature to all human beings, when He does not have to. God especially revealed himself to the descendents of Jacob throughout history, giving them the Torah, the prophets, the land, provision, and the rest of the Old Testament Scriptures. This follows the logical progression of Romans 1-3. The Jew does have an advantage, Paul emphatically states, and he goes further when he is speaking of them as a nation: "God has not rejected His people whom He foreknew..." --Romans 11:2a "From the standpoint of the gospel they are enemies for your sake, but from the standpoint of God's choice they are beloved for the sake of the fathers; for the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable." --Romans 11:28-29 I hold that Romans 11 goes far in helping us understand Hebrews 10, because there we also find a warning to Gentile believers that they who have been "grafted in" can be grafted out again. I guess that to sum up, my understanding of Hebrews 10 ties in with my belief in the parallel between Old Testament Israel and the visible church, and between faithful members of OT Israel and the elect Christians. Outwardly, both groups are in some sense grafted in and partakers of God's grace by being members of the community and receiving revelation that others are not privy to. However, the reprobate will ultimately reject this revelation, trampling underfoot the blood of the covenant and insulting the Spirit of grace, suppressing the truth in unrighteousness, etc. --Joe! |