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In this study we will look at some scripture passages that are misunderstood and see how some have interpreted them to mean unconditional eternal security. Many of these arguments play on a persons logic, but a persons logic is not always in line with the Word of God, it is normally carnal. In this study there are some quotes from some others showing their view points on some scripture passages. I do not agree with their view point, I only show them so we can see how others interpret the passages. These interpretations that they have are held by many believers.
(John 10:28 KJV ) And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.
This passage is quoted by many to prove that those who "accept the Lord as their personal Saviour" are eternally secure, their future salvation is guaranteed.
The power of God. To comfort His disciples lest they fear for their eternal security, Jesus taught,
28 And I give unto them eternal life; and
they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck
them out of my hand.
29 My Father, which gave them me, is
greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out
of my Father's hand.
John 10:28-29
We are secure because we rest in the hands of Jesus. His power is greater than the power of any other who might seek to rob us of our salvation. "Man" is italicized because it is not in the original. Our chief enemy is not a man but Satan, and the verse teaches that we are safe even from Satan's power. "Neither shall any [including Satan] pluck them out of my hand."
http://themoorings.org/doctrine/issues/gospel/assur.htmlIf you looked just at these two verses you would say I'm eternally secure in the hand of Jesus and nothing can separate me from him. But to interpret scripture you have to read the whole context to see how it is used. We must be careful to interpret the scriptures in the light of the entire Word of God.
1Co 2:12, 13 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.
Isa 28:9, 10 Whom shall he teach knowledge? and whom shall he make to understand doctrine? them that are weaned from the milk, and drawn from the breasts. For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little:
To interpret the Word of God we must compare scriptures with scriptures.
In John chapter 10 Jesus is giving us a parable about a shepherd and his sheep. A parable is a story that gives a comparison to teach some lesson.
A parable is a succinct story, in prose or verse, which illustrates one or more instructive principles, or lessons, or (sometimes) a normative principle.
So in order to understand the instruction or principles that Jesus is giving in the 10th chapter of John, we need to read all of the parable and take some notes.
(John 10:1-5 KJV ) Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber. But he that entereth in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out. And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice. And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers.
(John 10:6-9 KJV ) This parable spake Jesus unto them: but they understood not what things they were which he spake unto them. Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep.All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them. I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.
So far we have seen several principles. It is through Jesus only that some one enters the kingdom, and can be saved. A person can not go over the wall, they must go through the door, Jesus. Thieves and robbers do not go through Jesus. Believers are to be like sheep and follow the voice of the shepherd, God's word.
(Joh 14:6 KJV) Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
(Psa 95:6-8 KJV) O come, let us worship and bow down: let us kneel before the LORD our maker.For he is our God; and we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand. To day if ye will hear his voice, Harden not your heart, as in the provocation, and as in the day of temptation in the wilderness:
(John 10:10 KJV) The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.
Now in this verse we are warned about the thief that is trying to steal, kill, and destroy us. The thief Jesus is talking about is false preachers and teachers that climbed in some other way. Some times the thief is identified as Satan, although it is his workers that transform themselves into the apostles of Christ, that Jesus is referring to here.
(2Co 11:13, 14 KJV) For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.
(John 10:11-15 KJV ) I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep. But he that is an hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth: and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep. The hireling fleeth, because he is an hireling, and careth not for the sheep. I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine. As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep.
Now we are introduced to an hireling. A preacher who is just working for the money, he does not really care for the sheep, the believers. We see that Jesus is building on this teaching, using what is called progressive revelation. First we see a description of a thief and robber and now a hireling. Jesus also refers to his death, saying "I lay down my life for the sheep." We also have the picture of a wolf coming in to catch the believers. The wolf also is a another name for a false preacher.
(Mat 7:15 KJV) Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.
(Act 20:28-31 KJV) Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood. For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them. Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears.
(John 10:16-18 KJV ) And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd. Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again. No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father.
Jesus states that he has other sheep, that is other believers. He is referring to the Gentiles that will believe in him. So there will be one fold or as Paul stated in Ephesians one new man, there is one church the body of Christ.
(Eph 2:13-16 KJV) But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ. For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us; Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace; And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby:
(Joh 10:19-24 KJV) There was a division therefore again among the Jews for these sayings. And many of them said, He hath a devil, and is mad; why hear ye him? Others said, These are not the words of him that hath a devil. Can a devil open the eyes of the blind? And it was at Jerusalem the feast of the dedication, and it was winter. And Jesus walked in the temple in Solomon's porch. Then came the Jews round about him, and said unto him, How long dost thou make us to doubt? If thou be the Christ, tell us plainly.
From verses 19 to 24, the Jews argued about Jesus' message. Jesus enters the temple and the Jews came in to him and ask Jesus to tell them plainly if he were the Christ.
(John 10:25-27 KJV ) Jesus answered them, I told you, and ye believed not: the works that I do in my Father's name, they bear witness of me. But ye believe not, because ye are not of my sheep, as I said unto you. My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:
Jesus tells them that he already did tell them who he was, but they did not believe him. In 2 Corinthians chapter four, we are told people do not believe because Satan blinds their minds and in John Chapter six, that every one that has learned of God the Father, comes to Jesus.
The word of God is spiritually discerned, it is not recognized by our natural senses. Those that have ears to hear, believe in Jesus, hear his voice and follow him. To follow is referring to being a doer of the Word. In the prophets it says they that come to Jesus, he will teach them his ways and that they walk in his paths.
(2 Cor 4:4 KJV) In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.
(John 6:45 KJV) It is written in the prophets, And they shall be all taught of God. Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me.
(Isa 2:3 KJV) And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.
(Mic 4:2 KJV) And many nations shall come, and say, Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, and to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for the law shall go forth of Zion, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.
(James 1:22 KJV ) But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.
(Luke 11:28 KJV ) But he said, Yea
rather, blessed are they
that hear the word of God, and keep it.
Now lets reread John 10:28 in the light of what we have learned from the rest of the parable.
(John 10:28 KJV ) And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.
The first thing we will look at is that no man plucks them out of his hand.
G726 ἁρπάζω harpazo¯ har-pad'-zo From a derivative of G138; to seize (in various applications): - catch (away, up), pluck, pull, take (by force).
The word pluck and catcheth are the same word, G726 ἁρπάζω harpazo¯.
(Mat 13:19 KJV ) When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not, then cometh the wicked one, and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart. This is he which received seed by the way side.
(John 10:12 KJV ) But he that is an hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth: and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep.
(John 10:28 KJV ) And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.
We can see that the wolf catches them or plucks them, and that the wicked one steals the word of God from them.
Some of the believers are plucked and some are not, so what makes the difference?
One thing that has been constant in the parable is the sheep hear Jesus' voice. They heard him in the first part of the parable, then the people did not understand, so Jesus added to it. He pointed out the sheep heard his voice but not the thieves and robbers. Then the people come to him again and again the sheep heard his voice but this time Jesus added "and follow him."
Jesus said the way into his hand is by hearing his voice and following him. We as believers are under under-shepherds, but we are not to follow them blindly. Jesus said if the blind lead the blind, they both will fall into a ditch. We are to be like the Bereans and search the scriptures daily to test what is being taught.
We are in Jesus hand of safety only when we are doing the word, walking in the ways of Jesus, being a Christian. The disciples were first called Christians in the book of Acts. The word Christian means one who looks like Jesus or one who follow Christ. Jesus said the works that he did we shall do also; and greater works than these shall we do.
(Mat 15:14 KJV) Let them alone: they be blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch.
(Acts 17:11 KJV) These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.
We need to hear the Lord, through his word and follow him, which is being a doer of his word, keeping his commandments, and then we are secure in his hand and none can pluck you out. If Satan the thief can steal the word from you he has plucked you. For he comes to steal, kill, and destroy you. So give all diligence to make your calling and election sure. Be on the lookout for him and stand fast, and lose not the things you have wrought, so you will be able to receive a full reward.
(1Jn 2:3-7 KJV) And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments. He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him. He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked. Brethren, I write no new commandment unto you, but an old commandment which ye had from the beginning. The old commandment is the word which ye have heard from the beginning.
(2Jn 1:8, 9 KJV) Look to yourselves, that we lose not those things which we have wrought, but that we receive a full reward. Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son.
(John 10:28 KJV ) And I give unto them eternal life;. . .
Tit 1:2 In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began;
Mar 10:30 But he shall receive an hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the world to come eternal life.
Rom 5:21 That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord.
1Ti 6:12 Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.
1Ti 6:19 Laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life.
Jud 1:21 Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.
Mat 25:46 And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.
We can see that God has promised eternal life from before the world began. We are told that in this life we will "receive an hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions;" and in the age to come " and in the world to come eternal life." So it is in the age to come that we inherit eternal life.
(Heb 10:14) For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified.
CHRIST'S ONE OFFERING When we say
that the believer in the Lord Jesus is eternally secure,
we base it upon a number of lines of scriptural
testimony. In the first place, we rest it upon the
perfection of Christ’s one offering upon the cross.
Personally, I never can understand how thoughtful
people, taught by the Holy Spirit of God, can carefully
read the Epistle to the Hebrews and not see that
throughout that Epistle the writer is contrasting the
many sacrifices offered under law with the one sacrifice
of our Lord Jesus Christ. That to which he particularly
calls attention is this: under law every time an
Israelite sinned, he needed a new sin offering, and
every year the nation had to celebrate the great day of
atonement when a new offering was presented to God for
the people. Why? Because those sacrifices could never
take away sin, they simply covered sin for the time
being. But we are told in Hebrews
10 that when the Lord Jesus Christ came into
the world and offered Himself without spot to God, the
effect of His sacrifice was eternal. Verse 14 makes this clear: “For
by one offering He hath perfected for ever them that
are sanctified.” Perfected for how long? “Oh,”
says somebody, “as long as they are faithful.” No, that
is not what it says. “He hath perfected for ever.”
Why? Because the sacrifice is all-efficacious.
http://www.gotothebible.com
This description, interpretation of Heb 10:14, sounds good and correct if you only take that verse. But that is not how you interpret the Bible. To just take this verse is to pull it out of the context of how it is used, so lets look at the passage more closely.
(Heb 10:15-17 KJV ) Whereof the Holy Ghost also is a witness to us: for after that he had said before, This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them; And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more.
(Heb 10:18-25 KJV ) Now where remission of these is, there is no more offering for sin. Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh; And having an high priest over the house of God; Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;) And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.
(Heb 10:26-31 KJV ) For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries. He that despised Moses' law died without mercy under two or three witnesses: Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace? For we know him that hath said, Vengeance belongeth unto me, I will recompense, saith the Lord. And again, The Lord shall judge his people. It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.
Now we have looked at the rest of the passage we get a different picture. Yes there is only one sacrifice once for all. This offering is all-efficacious. That is the very pint that is being made, there is only one sacrifice. So if you trodden under foot the Son of God there is no more sacrifice that you can make, But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation. You need to note that this is a warning, to God's people.
Note the pronouns
So we can see God is talking to believers not to sin wilfully. For if we sin wilfully we are counting the blood of the covenant an unholy thing and we know It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. We read in Heb chapter 12 verse 18 and 22 For ye are not come unto the mount that might be touched, but we are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and in verse 25 See that ye refuse not him that speaketh. For if they escaped not who refused him that spake on earth, much more shall not we escape, if we turn away from him that speaketh from heaven: Are you getting the message that God gave us in the book of Hebrews.
The message of Hebrews is how important it is to hear what Jesus said and be obedient to it.
Heb 1:1,2 God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;
Heb 2:3 How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him;
Heb 3:7 Wherefore (as the Holy Ghost
saith, To day if ye will hear his
voice, Harden not your hearts, as in the
provocation, in the day of temptation in the wilderness:
THE SPIRIT'S PERSEVERANCE In the second
place, we base the doctrine of the eternal security of
the believer upon the perseverance and omnipotent power
of the Holy Spirit of God. Look at Philippians 1:6 . Writing to
these saints, the apostle says, when he thanked them for
their fellowship in the gospel from the first day until
now, “Being confident of this very thing, that He
which hath begun a good work in you will perform it
until the day of Jesus Christ.” Do you see that?
Who began the good work in you if you are a believer in
the Lord Jesus? The Holy Spirit of God did. It was He
who convicted you of sin; it was He who led you to put
your trust in Christ; it was He who through the Word
gave you the witness that you were saved; it is He who
has been conforming you to Christ since you first
trusted the Lord Jesus. Having thus taken you up in
grace, the Holy Spirit has a definite purpose in view.
He is eventually going to conform you fully to the image
of the Lord Jesus Christ, and He never begins a work
that He does not intend to finish. “Being confident
of this very thing, that He which hath begun a good
work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus
Christ.” If when you were a poor sinner the Holy
Spirit had power sufficient to break down your
opposition to God and to bring to an end your unbelief
and rebellion, do you think for one moment that He does
not have power enough to subdue your will as a believer
and to carry on to completion the work that He began?
http://www.gotothebible.com
Hear in this passage we have the same thing as in the Hebrews passage, H.A. Ironside interpretation sounds good and correct if you only take that verse. But we have to say again that is not how you interpret the Bible. To just take this verse is to pull it out of the context of how it is used, so lets look at the passage more closely.
(Phil 1:6 KJV ) Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:
Question why could Paul make this statement? To answer this question you only need to read verse 7, so lets read verse 6 and 7 together.
(Phil 1:6 -7 KJV ) Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ: Even as it is meet for me to think this of you all, because I have you in my heart; inasmuch as both in my bonds, and in the defence and confirmation of the gospel, ye all are partakers of my grace.
Strong’s Dictionary Grace 5485. charis, khar'-ece; graciousness (as gratifying), of manner or act (abstr. or concr.; lit., fig. or spiritual; espec. the divine influence upon the heart, and its reflection in the life; including gratitude)
So we can see
that Paul was confident to say this because the
Philippians were partakers of the grace of God; the divine
influence upon Paul's heart, and its reflection in his
life. But does this mean it is a guarantee that they will
be conformed to Christ as H.A. Ironside stated? "He
never begins a work that He does not intend to finish"
"do you think for one moment that He does not have power
enough to subdue your will as a believer and to carry on
to completion the work"
Yes God's will is to finish the work. But God does not subdue your will, if this were the case Paul would not have instructed the Philippians believers to work out your own salvation with fear and trembling in chapter 2 verse 12. Also in 2 Pet 3:9 God said "not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance" if God override our wills, all would be saved, not just some.
(Phil 2:12 KJV ) Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.
We need to look further in Philippians to see Paul's concern for the Philippians.
(Phil 2:13-18 KJV ) For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure. Do all things without murmurings and disputings: That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world; Holding forth the word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither laboured in vain. Yea, and if I be offered upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, I joy, and rejoice with you all. For the same cause also do ye joy, and rejoice with me.
(Phil 2:19 KJV ) But I trust in the Lord Jesus to send Timotheus shortly unto you, that I also may be of good comfort, when I know your state.
So we see as we read on in Philippians that Paul was concerned about their eternal state. Paul did not believe they were eternally secure. Paul was hoping to send Timotheus to see if their faith was holding. Paul was concerned that Satan had puled them away and his labor had been in vain. Paul had the same concern for the Thessalonians. He said they were his rejoicing, a crown of rejoicing in the day of Christ, unless he ran and labored in vain, the tempter have tempted you, and our labour be in vain.
(1 Th 2:19, 20 KJV) For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Are not even ye in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at his coming? For ye are our glory and joy.
(1 Th 3:5 KJV) For this cause, when I could no longer forbear, I sent to know your faith, lest by some means the tempter have tempted you, and our labour be in vain.
(Phil 4:1 KJV ) Therefore, my brethren, dearly beloved and longed for, my joy and crown, so stand fast in the Lord, my dearly beloved.
Ti 4:1 Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;
Heb 3:12 Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God.
Depart G868 ἀφίστημι
aphiste¯mi af-is'-tay-mee
From G575 and G2476; to remove, that is, (actively)
instigate to revolt; usually (reflexively) to desist,
desert, etc.: - depart, draw (fall) away, refrain,
withdraw self.
1Ti 6:10 For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.
Erred G635 ἀποπλανάω apoplanao¯ ap-op-lan-ah'-o From G575 and G4105; to lead astray (figuratively); passively to stray (from truth): - err, seduce.
Jas 5:19, 20 Brethren, if any of you
do err from the truth, and
one convert him;
Let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of
his way shall save a soul from
death, and shall hide a multitude of sins.
2Pe 3:17 Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness.
Error G4106 πλάνη plane¯ plan'-ay Feminine of G4108 (as abstraction); objectively fraudulence; subjectively a straying from orthodoxy or piety: - deceit, to deceive, delusion, error.
Fall G1601 ἐκπίπτω ekpipto¯ ek-pip'-to From G1537 and G4098; to drop away; specifically be driven out of one’s course; figuratively to lose, become inefficient: - be cast, fail, fall (away, off), take none effect.
(2 Tim 2:15 KJV) Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
| (2 Pet 3:16 KJV) | (2 Pet 3:16 NLT) |
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As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction. |
speaking of these things in all of his letters. Some of his comments are hard to understand, and those who are ignorant and unstable have twisted his letters around to mean something quite different from what he meant, just as they do the other parts of Scripture--and the result is disaster for them. |
We must be careful to interpret the Scriptures in the light of the entire Word of God and not to wrest the Scriptures, or twist passages out of context, perverting the Scripture to say what it does not really mean.
We are assured eternal security, but only to those who remain in the faith until the end. The book of Hebrews is a warning against backsliding, giving instruction and warnings to remain in the faith without wavering.
(Heb 10:14) For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified.
Once and for all to declare you not guilty for ever, always saved
If you take just this verse that is what it could mean, but that is not what it is saying in its context. This passage is not encouraging you, that you are declared not guilty for ever, it is warning you of how sires it is to sin, to trampled Jesus under your feet.
This passage is saying we have only one sacrifice for our sins, and if we continue to sin wilfully after receiving the knowledge of the truth we are in danger of Judgment and fiery indignation.
We need to walk in the light, and come boldly to the throne of grace, confessing our sins, and being cleansed from all unrighteousness, recovering grace to help in time of need.
(1 John 1:9 KJV ) If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
(Heb 4:15-16 KJV ) For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.
(Ezek 33:1-20 KJV ) Again the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, Son of man, speak to the children of thy people, and say unto them, When I bring the sword upon a land, if the people of the land take a man of their coasts, and set him for their watchman: If when he seeth the sword come upon the land, he blow the trumpet, and warn the people; Then whosoever heareth the sound of the trumpet, and taketh not warning; if the sword come, and take him away, his blood shall be upon his own head. He heard the sound of the trumpet, and took not warning; his blood shall be upon him. But he that taketh warning shall deliver his soul. But if the watchman see the sword come, and blow not the trumpet, and the people be not warned; if the sword come, and take any person from among them, he is taken away in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at the watchman's hand.
So thou, O son of man, I have set thee a watchman unto the house of Israel; therefore thou shalt hear the word at my mouth, and warn them from me. When I say unto the wicked, O wicked man, thou shalt surely die; if thou dost not speak to warn the wicked from his way, that wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand. Nevertheless, if thou warn the wicked of his way to turn from it; if he do not turn from his way, he shall die in his iniquity; but thou hast delivered thy soul. Therefore, O thou son of man, speak unto the house of Israel ; Thus ye speak, saying, If our transgressions and our sins be upon us, and we pine away in them, how should we then live? Say unto them, As I live, saith the Lord GOD, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die, O house of Israel ? Therefore, thou son of man, say unto the children of thy people, The righteousness of the righteous shall not deliver him in the day of his transgression: as for the wickedness of the wicked, he shall not fall thereby in the day that he turneth from his wickedness; neither shall the righteous be able to live for his righteousness in the day that he sinneth. When I shall say to the righteous, that he shall surely live; if he trust to his own righteousness, and commit iniquity, all his righteousnesses shall not be remembered; but for his iniquity that he hath committed, he shall die for it. Again, when I say unto the wicked, Thou shalt surely die; if he turn from his sin, and do that which is lawful and right; If the wicked restore the pledge, give again that he had robbed, walk in the statutes of life, without committing iniquity; he shall surely live, he shall not die. None of his sins that he hath committed shall be mentioned unto him: he hath done that which is lawful and right; he shall surely live.
Yet the children of thy people say, The way of the Lord is not equal: but as for them, their way is not equal. When the righteous turneth from his righteousness, and committeth iniquity, he shall even die thereby. But if the wicked turn from his wickedness, and do that which is lawful and right, he shall live thereby. Yet ye say, The way of the Lord is not equal. O ye house of Israel , I will judge you every one after his ways.
