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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, |
Bible Question:
Dear JVH0212, While Harper's observation may be true, and is most certainly true from God's point of view, no one on earth can claim knowledge of a person's salvation or condemnation. This knowledge is privy to God alone. We can only measure a few outward signs, but cannot measure the heart of man. 'Once saved, always saved' and ' one cannot be born again, again' are true *theological* statements. But there remains great doubt about our ability to truly know who is saved and who is not. As a minister, I offer a few practical examples: Person A goes to a 'revival' meeting, 'gives his heart to the Lord,' is told that he is born again, and gets a New Testament. He goes to church a few times, but the pastor is a stinker. So, he goes back to the bars. Later, he remembers the words of hope and returns to the Lord and returns to church. In the meantime the old pastor is fired, and a real shepherd is now in charge. He receives Person A into the fold, cares for him, and he becomes a fine Christian man. (This scenario is not so outlandish as one might think!) Is Person A saved? Person B is born into a Christian family. At age 12 she goes to a church camp. There is a great meeting with an altar call. She goes up, asks for forgiveness and professes Christ as Savior and she is prayed for. (she may even receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit and speak in tongues) Person B is 'on fire for the Lord!' A few years later, attending public high school, parents divorced, she gets in with the 'wrong crowd.' (It happens, folks!) Again, a few years later she repents, and turns toward God. Her Mom's pastor says, "Sorry, you had your (one) chance." Is Person B saved? Are these ridiculous? Was the 'first' experience just and illusion or 'wrongly discerned?' Will the second experience 'take' until death? I don't know, and neither does anybody (but God). Theology is fine, but just wait until you are in the counselor's chair :-) In Jesus' name, charis |
Bible Answer: Only God knows ... But, saying a prayer, going forward, et. al. does not mean one called on Him for their salvation. We cannot say if anyone was born again. Is going to bars, running with the wrong crowd any worse than going 1 MPH over the speed limit or honoring your parents? All are sins. If people like Mother Theresa did not accept Chirst into their heart, they are lost. On the other hand, there are people who accept the Lord minutes before they die. BTW Satan can copy "speaking in tongues" as well as other things. |