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NASB | Hebrews 7:25 Therefore He is able also to save forever those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them. |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Hebrews 7:25 Therefore He is able also to save forever (completely, perfectly, for eternity) those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to intercede and intervene on their behalf [with God]. |
Subject: people who have never heard the Gospel ? |
Bible Note: Dear Dr. Aixen, Thank you for your very clear reply. Thank you, also, for very clearly stating my position in this respect. So often others purposefully misstate or misrepresent another person's point of view in order to weaken their opponent's argument. That puzzles me -- even when I've been tempted to do the same! :-) After all, as believers, we are move interested in seizing the truth of God above all other things. It is a rich treasure to us! Also, as I understand it, we may, indeed, discuss anything within the scope of Scriptural studies. The key is that we discuss with reason and without rancor, and be willing to back off when we sense the rise of clearly un-Spirit led emotions. Frankly, I'd rather that God's Word elicit discomfort in others than have my words do so! When His Word does it, it is always for His eternal purposes; when I do it, it is most often the result of my failure to be edifying to my readers! You wrote, "It is not clear to me why you would say that Psalm 19:4 speaks of the apostles and ministers of the Gospel." I apologize for being unclear. I didn't mean to say that Psalm 19:4 speaks of the Gospel, but rather that Paul uses it this way. (Although one might argue that since Scripture explains Scripture, that the original quotation would not mean something different than how it is used elsewhere.) This is actually the orthodox understanding of this passage. Let me see if I can explain it a bit more clearly. Romans 10 is about the presentation of the Gospel to Israel. Paul tells us that it is his heartfelt desire and prayer that they believe (v1). Although they have a zeal for God, they lack true knowledge of Him (v2). Consequently, they set up their own righteousness (v3). Although Moses described the righteousness of the Law, what they really need is the righteousness of Christ (v4-7). On the other hand, Moses was not speaking of the Law alone, but also of Christ (v8). Then Paul carefully articulates the Gospel message of belief in, submission to, and dependence on Christ (v9-11). Paul points out that in the response to the Gospel, there are no racial distinctions, but that all men who respond to the Gospel will be saved regardless of their heritage (v12-13). Paul then asks rhetorically, how can they respond to a Gospel that is not preached for them to hear (v14-15)? Many of the Jews, after hearing, refused to respond to the Gospel command, as was prophesied (v16). Faith, he goes on to say, is given when the Gospel is preached (v17). Verse 18 is our verse in question, where Paul precedes from there to the end of the chapter to argue that the Gospel message has been preached repeatedly to the Jews. Context can make a thought clear that might otherwise be misleading stated on its own. Furthermore, as I pointed out in my previous post, the sense of what Paul is saying here is also expressed in other of his epistles. I agree that all men everywhere are without excuse. I do not agree, however, with Pelegius that, "If I ought, I can." Rather, I affirm with Saint Augustine, "Lord, command what You will, and grant what You command." Nor can I agree that salvation can come through any other means than by faith alone, through grace alone, by Christ alone. I really can't say this any better than the divines of the seventeenth century when they wrote, "The Holy Scripture is the only sufficient, certain, and infallible rule of all saving knowledge, faith, and obedience, although the light of nature, and the works of creation and providence do so far manifest the goodness, wisdom, and power of God, as to leave men inexcusable; yet are they not sufficient to give that knowledge of God and His will which is necessary unto salvation. Therefore it pleased the Lord at sundry times and in divers manners to reveal Himself, and to declare that His will unto His church; and afterward for the better preserving and propagating of the truth, and for the more sure establishment and comfort of the church against the corruption of the flesh, and the malice of Satan, and of the world, to commit the same wholly unto writing; which maketh the Holy Scriptures to be most necessary, those former ways of God's revealing His will unto His people being now ceased. (2 Timothy 3:15-17; Isaiah 8:20; Luke 16:29, 31; Ephesians 2:20; Romans 1:19-21; Romans 2:14,15; Psalms 19:1-3; Hebrews 1:1; Proverbs 22:19-21; Romans 15:4; 2 Peter 1:19,20)" In Him, Doc |