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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: Works in the Christian experience? |
Bible Note: Joe, Peter was saved by faith in what Christ said to him. Jesus told him, "The words that I speak to you are truth and life." People in the OT were saved by faith in God. Many of these people believed that God would one day send the Messiah to pay the full price for their sins. They looked forward to Christ's work on the cross, while we look back to it. Their righteousness was credited to them until Christ paid the full price of redemption. Hebrews makes it clear the Christ's sacrifice redeemed them - Heb 9:15. When that price was paided, I believe that Christ took them from Abraham's bossom to heaven. OT saints were 'saved' - delivered from the wages of sin, eternal death in Hell, but I don't think that they went to heaven until Christ's sacrifice. OT saints did not have the Holy Spirit to permanently indwell them. Often, He 'came upon' them to empower them to speak or act on God's behalf. But disobedience usually made Him leave (Saul, David). God did not indwell them. And OT saints could not go running into the Holy of Holies. They were credited forgiveness and righteousness but they were not made so. We can enter into the Holy of Holies. We are now the temple of God. The temple of God is holy, and that is what you are. Peter was saved before Christ's death by placing his faith and trust in Christ. But Christ made it very clear to His disciples to wait for the Holy Spirit. Much of what Christ taught them in His 3 years of public ministry went over their heads. They were forever asking Him what He was talking about. But Christ said that when the Holy Spirit came to them, He would cause the disciples to not only remember what Christ said, but He would explain it to them. Note: I don't believe we are righteous sinners. God calls us saints 63 times in the New Testament. As bad as the Corinthian church acted, Paul called them saints. No offense, Joe, but study the NT word sinner. It is most often used of Gentiles and unbelievers. It is never used of saints, those in Christ. James does use it but there were unbelievers in every assembly then as there are now. If one think that he is just a 'sinner saved by grace,' then one doesn't fully understand what Christ died to do. Jesus didn't come just to get men out of hell and into heaven. He came to get Himself out of heaven and into men. Peace and God bless, Bill Mc |