Subject: Does Heb 6 support "always saved"? |
Bible Note: New Creature: "Since when is extra-Bibical reference material suppose to be our final standard for truth, especially when it flys in the face of what is plainly taught in God's innerant word? once again concerning the word "enlightened" found in Heb. 6:4" Since when are you or Strong the final authority on what "flys in the face of what is plainly taught in God's innerant word"? Strong's comes from a theological point of view that preclude's it from identifying enlightenment with baptism. And as far as I know Strong's is not part of the canon of inerrant scriprture. So the last time I looked Strong's is extra biblical too. I think Justin Martyr, who died for the faith in Christ, which he taught, might have at least as clear an understanding of "enlightenment " in Christ as Strong who who had a rather more distant persepctive by 1800 years. What Strong's has to say about the word can be applied to Christ who is the light of the world. You may say that enlightement is about hearing the word and about faith and I say yes too, but I also say that baptism is the sacrament of faith and also incorporates the word. That is were we seem to part company in our basis for interpretation of this passage of Hebrews. St.Paul points out that when we are baptised we are baptised into Christ (Romans 6:1-11). So we can say we are baptised into the Light of the world, who is Jesus Christ (John 1:9, 8:12, 9:1-11; Eph 5:8). The problem here, I think, is that you believe baptism is a mere symbol, I believe it is a scrament that has an effect of transmitting grace because it is Christ who is working and that it is He who baptizes through his body, the Church and it is He, Christ, into whom we are baptised. You separate grace and baptism, I do not. I say that to be bathed (baptised) in Christ is to be bathed in Light. So I ask: Is Jesus Christ the light of the world and are we baptised into Christ who is our Light or not? Emmaus |