Subject: To whom do we belong? |
Bible Note: 10:39 But we are not of those who shrink back to destruction, but of those who have faith to the preserving of the soul. This verse sums up the chapter. The writer of Hebrews seems absolutely certain in the security of a true believer (the righteous one). Therefore the one who shrinks back was not righteous to begin with. John speaks to this issue saying that those who went out from amongnst the fellowship of believers did so because they were not believers at all, but mere professors: 1 John 2:19 "They went out from us, but they were not really of us; for if they had been of us, they would have remained with us; but they went out, so that it would be shown that they all are not of us." I don't intend this in an unkind way, but I find it somewhat ironic that a person who takes the name of New Creature can fail to see the fullness of what being a "new creature" means. How can it be that a new creature should, like a dog, return to it's own vomit? I find this idea to be contrary to scripture. If you are correct that new creatures may become old dead creatures, then the new creation must be preserved through human effort (works of righteosness). How can this be when the Bible says "the just shall live by faith"? Faith is a gift from God and the gifts of God are irrevocable. John Reformed |