Saturday, March 28
Read Hebrews 6:4-8
I have no doubt that yesterday’s topic was tough on many of us for a variety of reasons. While reading this passage a loved one may have come to mind who is running from God and no matter what we say they continue to stay as far away from God as possible. Some may have read the passage and wondered if it was speaking about them. Whatever the case, tomorrow we will gather to praise and worship our God. Are we willing to lay our burdens down at the feet of our high priest and ask him to do what he needs to do in our lives or the lives of a loved one or friend who needs to return to Christ?
Saturday, March 28, 2009
Friday, March 27, 2009
Friday, March 27
Read Hebrews 6:4-8
The “impossibleness” of restoration—This one little word can cause a whole heap of struggles in the lives of believers. It is one thing to admit it is possible to fall away. It is another thing entirely to say that there is a point where it is impossible to return. Read this passage again. . . The “impossibleness” does not speak to God’s inability to bring someone back. . . It speaks to the impossibility of our work bringing them back. While God may sometimes use us, conviction is not necessarily the work of the church body—especially with someone who already knows what we are going to say. The author of the letter is begging and urging his disciples not to fall away, because he knows he will no longer be able to be a voice in their life and growth in Christ. His description of the one who has fallen away is most definitely a Christian. They have tasted of the heavenly gift and have been partakers of the Holy Spirit. Now that they have fallen away, all that can be done is pray that God will somehow get through to them. It is impossible for us to get through and restore them. All of this is not to say that we give up. Instead, let’s move on to maturity and not continue to be babes in Christ.
Read Hebrews 6:4-8
The “impossibleness” of restoration—This one little word can cause a whole heap of struggles in the lives of believers. It is one thing to admit it is possible to fall away. It is another thing entirely to say that there is a point where it is impossible to return. Read this passage again. . . The “impossibleness” does not speak to God’s inability to bring someone back. . . It speaks to the impossibility of our work bringing them back. While God may sometimes use us, conviction is not necessarily the work of the church body—especially with someone who already knows what we are going to say. The author of the letter is begging and urging his disciples not to fall away, because he knows he will no longer be able to be a voice in their life and growth in Christ. His description of the one who has fallen away is most definitely a Christian. They have tasted of the heavenly gift and have been partakers of the Holy Spirit. Now that they have fallen away, all that can be done is pray that God will somehow get through to them. It is impossible for us to get through and restore them. All of this is not to say that we give up. Instead, let’s move on to maturity and not continue to be babes in Christ.
Thursday, March 26, 2009
Thursday, March 26
Read Hebrews 6:4-8
To commit “apostasy” is to fall away or to reject. These verses seem to make it very clear that it is possible to fall away or reject the gospel after believing. What would make this sort of thing possible? Why would someone want to leave the faith after receiving so much from God? Our answers are found in the verses we have been studying the past few weeks. Neglecting our faith and not pushing forward to maturity and growth in Christ can lead to falling away. In verse 9, the author acknowledges that he expects better things for the Hebrews. Part of the reason he expects more is because he is there to remind them of the great Christ they are following. He is there to urge them on to growth in Christ. He is there to see that they are spiritually fit so as not to fall to any traps of the enemy. To commit apostasy, one has to fight God. They may not literally hold their hand up in his face and deny him, but they do have to neglect the love and grace that he has bestowed upon them and neglect the guidance and direction of the Holy Spirit and the Church. Apostasy is possible, but it should not be seen as easy. I am confident of better things for you, too.
Read Hebrews 6:4-8
To commit “apostasy” is to fall away or to reject. These verses seem to make it very clear that it is possible to fall away or reject the gospel after believing. What would make this sort of thing possible? Why would someone want to leave the faith after receiving so much from God? Our answers are found in the verses we have been studying the past few weeks. Neglecting our faith and not pushing forward to maturity and growth in Christ can lead to falling away. In verse 9, the author acknowledges that he expects better things for the Hebrews. Part of the reason he expects more is because he is there to remind them of the great Christ they are following. He is there to urge them on to growth in Christ. He is there to see that they are spiritually fit so as not to fall to any traps of the enemy. To commit apostasy, one has to fight God. They may not literally hold their hand up in his face and deny him, but they do have to neglect the love and grace that he has bestowed upon them and neglect the guidance and direction of the Holy Spirit and the Church. Apostasy is possible, but it should not be seen as easy. I am confident of better things for you, too.
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
Wednesday, March 25
Read Hebrews 6:4-8
No doubt reading this passage often comes as a surprise while reading through Hebrews. The author has been direct, but now he gets direct and eternal, and for some people, downright scary. Over the next few days we will delve a little deeper into this passage, but today, meditate on this passage. Think and pray about what it is saying. Who do you think the author is talking about? Is it possible to “fall away”? What exactly is apostasy (the Greek word used for falling away)?
Read Hebrews 6:4-8
No doubt reading this passage often comes as a surprise while reading through Hebrews. The author has been direct, but now he gets direct and eternal, and for some people, downright scary. Over the next few days we will delve a little deeper into this passage, but today, meditate on this passage. Think and pray about what it is saying. Who do you think the author is talking about? Is it possible to “fall away”? What exactly is apostasy (the Greek word used for falling away)?
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
Tuesday, March 24
Read Hebrews 5:11-6:3
When asked if they were going to do something, older folks used to say, “Lord willin’ and if the creek don’t rise.” The modern cinema has used the same sort of saying among Muslims who will say, “If Allah wills it.” While in Israel, our guide would often tell us that we would go somewhere the next day “D.V.” (This was an abbreviation for Deo volente, which is Latin for “If God wills it.” In Hebrews 6:3, the author states his desire to teach the deeper things of the faith to his disciples yet acknowledges that whether he gets to do this or not is all in God’s hands. I think it important to point out for some, that growth in the deeper things of God is most definitely God’s will for all those he calls. The question is not whether or not God wants us to go deeper. HE DOES. There may be some question as to how we will learn these deep things, and who may be our teacher, but never doubt that growth in Christ is a necessary part of the Christian faith. Tomorrow we will begin our preparation for next Sunday’s lesson, if God is willing.
Read Hebrews 5:11-6:3
When asked if they were going to do something, older folks used to say, “Lord willin’ and if the creek don’t rise.” The modern cinema has used the same sort of saying among Muslims who will say, “If Allah wills it.” While in Israel, our guide would often tell us that we would go somewhere the next day “D.V.” (This was an abbreviation for Deo volente, which is Latin for “If God wills it.” In Hebrews 6:3, the author states his desire to teach the deeper things of the faith to his disciples yet acknowledges that whether he gets to do this or not is all in God’s hands. I think it important to point out for some, that growth in the deeper things of God is most definitely God’s will for all those he calls. The question is not whether or not God wants us to go deeper. HE DOES. There may be some question as to how we will learn these deep things, and who may be our teacher, but never doubt that growth in Christ is a necessary part of the Christian faith. Tomorrow we will begin our preparation for next Sunday’s lesson, if God is willing.
Monday, March 23, 2009
Monday, March 23
Read Hebrews 5:11-6:3
After all the talk of milk and solid food it should be fairly obvious that the author of Hebrews is very intent on having his disciples grow to maturity in Christ. After two weeks on this topic, today is assessment day. Over the past two weeks you have been asked in a variety of ways what types of practices and/or training you should follow to grow in Christ. Today look back over the past two weeks. Have you begun to make progress? In what ways have you made progress? In what ways could you build upon the successes you have had, however little they have been?
Read Hebrews 5:11-6:3
After all the talk of milk and solid food it should be fairly obvious that the author of Hebrews is very intent on having his disciples grow to maturity in Christ. After two weeks on this topic, today is assessment day. Over the past two weeks you have been asked in a variety of ways what types of practices and/or training you should follow to grow in Christ. Today look back over the past two weeks. Have you begun to make progress? In what ways have you made progress? In what ways could you build upon the successes you have had, however little they have been?
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