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NASB | Hebrews 6:4 For in the case of those who have once been enlightened and have tasted of the heavenly gift and have been made partakers of the Holy Spirit, |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Hebrews 6:4 For [it is impossible to restore to repentance] those who have once been enlightened [spiritually] and who have tasted and consciously experienced the heavenly gift and have shared in the Holy Spirit, |
Subject: WHO is Hebrews 6:4-11 refering to? |
Bible Note: Hi, brother Hank! I am confident that I am less knowledgeable, and a much less worthy servant of our Lord than are you, sir. I hope you will be patient, therefore, with my response to your post. The following is meant to be gentle and respectful. Your friend was expressing the fundamental tenets of another ism: Lutheranism. Very simplistically: Calvinism has roots in Lutheran theology which has roots in Augustinian theology, which has roots in Pauline theology, etc. The labels are not about the men themselves (although people like to argue from that standpoint), but are about the specific doctrines that are taught. (This is also true, by the way, for Arminianism, Pelagianism, etc.) Whereas Calvinism and Arminianism do, indeed, make inquiry into the moral and soteriological mechanics of the human will -- and Lutheranism does not -- there is no scriptural prohibition for such inquiry. In fact, church history shows that at least some of God's revelation is not understood except in a progressive fashion. (A perfect example of this is the careful Scriptural reasonings of Athanasius in the doctrine of the Trinity.) The scripture calls us to seek, study, learn, reason, ask, etc. When we read the statements of Aquinus, Luther, Calvin, Harmensen, Beza, Wesley, Parham, or Kung we ought to search the scriptures to see if these things be so. (Would that we knew the Scriptures as well as any of these men!) I know that we can say, "Because God said so." Dear brother, if I could, I would make every doctrine be examined in the light of Scripture by every believer. We should never, no! NEVER be satisfied that we know enough! (Please see Paul's prayer for us in Ephesians 1:17-23.) In Him, Doc (your fellow Southern Baptist) |