(Re: *OSAS? / *NOSAS / *Unto the end)
Note that the Bible does not teach once-saved-always-saved, but shows that initially saved people, that is, Christians, will obtain ultimate salvation only "if" they continue in the faith to the end (Hebrews 3:6,12,14, Colossians 1:23). And there is no assurance that they will choose to do that, instead of wrongly employing their free will to depart from the faith, to no longer believe, to commit apostasy (Luke 8:13; 1 Timothy 4:1; 2 Timothy 4:3-4; 2 Thessalonians 2:3, Hebrews 3:12, Matthew 13:21), to the ultimate loss of their salvation (Hebrews 6:4-8, John 15:6; 2 Timothy 2:12b, Mark 8:35-38, Hebrews 10:38-39, Matthew 24:9-13).
Also, even if Christians do continue in the faith, they will obtain ultimate salvation only if they also patiently continue to the end in obedience to God, and do good works (Romans 2:6-8, James 2:24, Matthew 7:21, Philippians 2:12b; 2 Corinthians 5:9, Hebrews 5:9; 2 Peter 1:10-11, Hebrews 6:10-12, Philippians 3:11-14; 1 John 2:17b), as in works of faith (1 Thessalonians 1:3, Galatians 5:6b, Titus 3:8) (not works of the letter of the Old Covenant Mosaic law). And there is no assurance that they will choose to do that, instead of wrongly employing their free will to become utterly lazy without repentance, to the ultimate loss of their salvation (Matthew 25:26,30, John 15:2a).
Also, even if Christians do continue in faith and good works of faith, they will obtain ultimate salvation only if they also continue to the end to repent from every sin that they commit (Hebrews 10:26-29; 1 Corinthians 9:27, Matthew 7:22-23, Galatians 5:19-21). And there is no assurance that they will choose to do that, instead of wrongly employing their free will to commit unrepentant sin, to the ultimate loss of their salvation (Luke 12:45-46; 2 Peter 2:20-22, Romans 8:13; 1 John 5:16, James 5:19-20).
Also, Christians will obtain ultimate salvation only if they get water-immersion (burial) baptized into Jesus Christ's death for our sins (Mark 16:16; 1 Peter 3:21, Romans 6:3-11, Colossians 2:12, Galatians 3:27, Acts 2:38). And there is no assurance that they will choose to do that (cf. Acts 22:16a).
Also, Christians will obtain ultimate salvation only if they partake of the divine flesh and blood of the bread and wine of Communion (John 6:53, Matthew 26:26-28; 1 Corinthians 10:16; 1 Corinthians 11:27-30). And there is no assurance that they will choose to do that (cf. John 6:60,66).
Also, Christians will obtain ultimate salvation only if they forgive everyone for every wrong (Matthew 6:14-15). And there is no assurance that they will choose to do that (Matthew 18:21-35).
Also, Christians will obtain ultimate salvation only if they do all that they can (Romans 12:18) to make reparations to and peace with everyone whom they have ever wronged (Matthew 5:23-26, cf. Acts 24:16). And there is no assurance that they will choose to do that.
Also, Christians will obtain ultimate salvation only if they help other Christians in need (Matthew 25:34-46). And there is no assurance that they will choose to do that (3 John 1:10b).
Also, Christians will obtain ultimate salvation only if they provide for their families (1 Timothy 5:8). And there is no assurance that they will choose to do that.
Also, Christians will obtain ultimate salvation only if they do not commit the unforgivable sin, which is blaspheming God's Holy Spirit (Mark 3:29). An example of blaspheming the Holy Spirit is saying that an act performed by the power of the Holy Spirit (e.g. Matthew 12:28) was performed by Satan (Mark 3:22-30). There is no assurance that Christians will never choose to say that (cf. 1 Corinthians 14:39b; 1 Thessalonians 5:19).
Also, Christians will obtain ultimate salvation only if they do not remove words from the book of Revelation, and then publish the altered text as if it were the original, without repentance (Revelation 22:19). And there is no assurance that they will never choose to do that (cf. 2 Corinthians 4:2).
Also, Christians will obtain ultimate salvation only if they do not worship the future Antichrist, and his image, and do not willingly receive his mark on their right hand or forehead (Revelation 14:9-12, Revelation 13:16-18). And there is no assurance that they will not choose to do that (1 Timothy 4:1).
Christians will obtain ultimate salvation only if they continue in God's goodness to the end (Romans 11:20-22). And there is no assurance that they will choose to do that (Luke 12:45-46).
Christians will obtain ultimate salvation only if they overcome to the end (Revelation 3:5, Revelation 2:11, Revelation 2:26). And there is no assurance that they will choose to do that (Revelation 21:7-8).
All of this is said not to engender any unhealthy fear in Christians, but the healthy fear which all Christians are supposed to have (e.g. Romans 11:20-22).
And all of this is said not to engender any despair in Christians, but the healthy, close-clinging to the person of Jesus Christ Himself, which all Christians must continue in (John 15:4-6). For while God makes it possible for Christians to do the right things (Philippians 2:13) toward their ultimate salvation (Romans 2:6-8, Philippians 2:12b, Matthew 7:21), this is possible only so long as they continue to abide in Jesus. For on their own, apart from Jesus, they cannot do anything good (John 15:4-5).
Also, Jesus Christ is not a hard taskmaster. He will never give Christians more work to do for Him than they can easily bear (Matthew 11:28-30). So if Christians ever get stressed out that Jesus is asking them to do too much, then it is not Jesus asking them to do whatever is stressing them out (Luke 10:40-42). They need to take a step back and ask Jesus what particular spiritual work He is actually asking them as individuals to do (Mark 13:34, Romans 12:6-8).
(See Mark 13:34 above)
--
*Hebrews 3:12 / *Heb. 3:12 -
This means that it is possible for Christians to commit apostasy (e.g. Luke 8:13).
--
*Hebrews 3:13 / *Heb. 3:13 -
(Exhort one another daily)
See Hebrews 10:25 below.
~
(Lest any of you be hardened)
Hebrews 3:6-15, like 1 Timothy 4:1-2, means that it is possible for Christians to depart from the faith by hardening their hearts with unrepentant sin (Hebrews 3:13).
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*Hebrews 4:8 / *Heb. 4:8 -
Here the person referred to as "Jesus" is the man named "Joshua" in the book of Joshua in the Old Testament. For "Jesus" (Greek: "Iesous": G2424) is the Greek version of the name "Joshua" (Hebrew: Yehowshuwa: H3091), just as, for example, "Juan" is the Spanish version of the English name "John". The book of Hebrews (in the KJV) uses "Jesus" because that book was originally written in Greek, while the book of Joshua (in the KJV) uses "Joshua" because that book was originally written in Hebrew.
(See also Acts 7:45 and Zechariah 6:11 above)
Hebrews 4:8 means that if the Joshua in the book of Joshua had given the ancient Israelites the New Covenant rest which can be found only in the New Covenant faith in Jesus Christ (Hebrews 4:3a, Matthew 11:28-30), then after the time of Joshua, God would not have foretold through David the (at the time of David) still-future New Covenant rest (Hebrews 4:7-8, Psalms 95:7b-8,11, Hebrews 4:3). King David lived about 400 years after Joshua. And the New Covenant was not inaugurated until the Cross of Jesus Christ (Matthew 26:28, Hebrews 9:15-17, Hebrews 10:19-20, Matthew 27:51a), which was about 1,000 years after David.
--
*Hebrews 4:9-11 / *Heb. 4:9 -
Hebrews 4:9 There remaineth therefore a rest [Greek: sabbatismos: G4520] to the people of God.
10 For he that is entered into his rest [katapausis: G2663], he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his.
11 ¶Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest [katapausis]...
This refers to the continual, New Covenant, sabbath-like rest which only Christians enter (Hebrews 4:3a, Matthew 11:28-30).
This is not the only-one-day-of-the-week sabbath rest of the (now abolished) letter of the Old Covenant Mosaic law (Exodus 20:10, Ephesians 2:15-16, Colossians 2:14-17; 2 Corinthians 3:6-18). Nor is it the one-time rest of God Himself on the day after He created the world (Genesis 2:2-3). For since then, God Himself has worked, even on the sabbath day (John 5:16-18), just as Christians are to work for God every day of the week (Luke 9:23), while ceasing from their own works (Hebrews 4:10b), as in those done apart from abiding in Jesus Christ (John 15:4-5), every day of the week (Hebrews 4:3a,10-11a, Luke 9:23).
(See also the "Sabbath" and "Law" sections of Ephesians 2:15 above)
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*Hebrews 5:9 / *Heb. 5:9 -
The obedience required for the ultimate salvation of Christians (Hebrews 5:9) includes both their good works of faith (Romans 2:6-8, James 2:24, Matthew 7:21; 1 John 2:4) and their repenting from every sin that they commit (Hebrews 10:26-29; 1 Corinthians 9:27, Luke 12:45-46).
(See Ephesians 2:8 above, and Hebrews 10:26 below)
Verses such as Romans 6:12,16 and Ephesians 6:5-8 show that the concept of obedience (Greek: hupakouo: G5219) in Hebrews 5:9 is tied to actions.
--
*Hebrews 6:4-8 / *Heb. 6:4 -
This shows that Christians, who have repented and become partakers of God's Holy Spirit, can ultimately lose their salvation because of subsequently wrongly employing their free will to "fall away", to commit apostasy, to stop believing (like in Luke 8:13, 1 Timothy 4:1, and 2 Thessalonians 2:3), just as other Bible verses show the same thing (John 15:6; 2 Timothy 2:12b, Mark 8:35-38, Hebrews 10:38-39, Matthew 24:9-13).
One way that a Christian could be brought to the point where he commits apostasy would be if he finds a particular sin to be very pleasurable, so pleasurable and so fulfilling (in the short term) that he continues in it over time until his heart becomes hardened by the deceitfulness of sin (Hebrews 3:13), to where his love for God grows cold because of the abundance of iniquity (Matthew 24:12), to where he quenches the Spirit (1 Thessalonians 5:19), to where he sears his conscience as with a hot iron (1 Timothy 4:2), to where he begins to listen to the lies of demons and latch onto them, to the point where he departs from the Christian faith (1 Timothy 4:1). In a wrong desire to continue in their lusts without repentance, Christians can reach the point where they are no longer able to endure the sound doctrine of the Bible, and instead seek out and latch onto other teachings which will help to support them in their lusts (2 Timothy 4:3-4).
Another way that a Christian could be brought to the point where he commits apostasy would be if he has a terror of being tortured and killed during a persecution against Christians, so that during such a persecution he renounces his faith in Jesus Christ and the Gospel to avoid being tortured and killed (Mark 8:35-38; 2 Timothy 2:12). Some Christians will fall away in this sense (2 Thessalonians 2:3) during the future Tribulation of Revelation chapters 6 to 18 and Matthew 24 (Matthew 24:9-13, cf. Matthew 13:21, Luke 8:13), when the future Antichrist will take power over the earth, make war against Biblical Christians (not in hiding), and physically overcome them in every nation (Revelation 13:7-10, Revelation 14:12-13, Revelation 20:4-6, Matthew 24:9-13).
There will be no way to repent from committing apostasy (Hebrews 6:4-8), and worshipping the future Antichrist and his image, and willingly receiving his mark on the forehead or right hand, even if this is done just to keep from getting killed (Revelation 13:15-18). Whoever does these things, even if he had been a Christian before, will end up suffering punishment from God in fire and brimstone forever (Revelation 14:9-12). So Christians must be willing to be killed, even by getting beheaded (Revelation 20:4-6), before they would ever do any of these things (Revelation 14:12-13).
This ties in with the fact that a Christian can ultimately have his name blotted out of the Book of Life if he does not overcome to the end (Revelation 3:5, Revelation 2:26). An example of Christians ultimately "overcoming" (Greek: nikao: G3528), or "getting the victory" (nikao) (Revelation 15:2), is found later in the book of Revelation, in Revelation 15:2, which refers to those Christians who will be willing to be killed by the future Antichrist instead of worshipping him to save their mortal lives during the future, worldwide persecution against Biblical Christians (Revelation 13:7-10, Revelation 14:12-13, Revelation 20:4-6, Matthew 24:9-13). Christians will be able to spiritually "overcome" the Antichrist and Satan by not loving their lives to the death (Revelation 12:11).
(See also Luke 10:19 above, and the first entry under Job above)
~
(Re: Is it unhealthy to fear falling away?)
A fear of falling away does not have to be unhealthy. And it can keep Christians from becoming complacent to the point where they will fall away.
~
(Re: *Partakers of the Spirit)
In Hebrews 6:4 the original Greek word (metochos: G3353) translated as "partakers" is used to refer to a true, Christian "partaking" (Hebrews 3:1,14, Hebrews 12:8), a true, Christian "fellowship" (Hebrews 1:9). And there can be no fellowship between God's Holy Spirit and a non-Christian. For there can be no fellowship between righteousness and unrighteousness (2 Corinthians 6:14). And only Christians can be righteous (Romans 3:25-26; 1 John 1:9).
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*Hebrews 6:5 / *Heb. 6:5 -
(Re: An age of grace?)
See section 2 of Ephesians 1:21 above.
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*Hebrews 6:6 / *Heb. 6:6 -
This does not deny that Christians can fall away, for it refers only to apostate Christians being unable to be renewed again to repentance in the sense of a second time, like they had repented the first time when they became Christians (1 John 3:9). And Hebrews 6:6 refers only to apostate Christians being unable to crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh in the sense of a second time, after they had received salvation through their belief the first time in Jesus Christ's crucifixion for their sins (Romans 3:25-26).
(See Hebrews 6:4 above)
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*Hebrews 6:9 / *Heb. 6:9 -
(Re: Means that Hebrews 6:4-8 is only hypothetical?)
No, for Hebrews 6:4-8 shows that... (See Hebrews 6:4 above)
Hebrews 6:9 simply means that the writer of the book of Hebrews was persuaded that the first century AD Christians whom he was originally addressing were not apostate.
~
(Re: Means that works only accompany salvation?)
Hebrews 6:9 does not contradict Hebrews 6:10-12's clear indication that it is also "through" (Hebrews 6:12) faith and patience in continuing to perform good works of faith to the end that Christians will inherit the promise of ultimate salvation from hell (Romans 2:6-8, James 2:24, Matthew 7:21). So faith and works of faith both accompany those headed for ultimate salvation (Hebrews 6:9) and are necessary to bring it into effect (Hebrews 6:10-12), just as, for example, money in our pockets can both accompany us on our way to a stadium and be necessary to bring our entrance into that stadium into effect (cf. 2 Peter 1:10-11).
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*Hebrews 6:20 / *Heb. 6:20 -
(*Melchisedec)
Jesus Christ is high priest forever "after the order of" Melchisedec (Hebrews 6:20) because of Jesus' divine/human power of an endless life (Hebrews 7:16-17). Because Jesus is God (John 1:1,14), even as a human it was not possible for Him to remain dead (Acts 2:24).
Melchisedec himself could have been made in the same way that Adam was made (Genesis 2:7), that is, miraculously by God without any human father or mother (Hebrews 7:3). And so, like Adam, Melchisedec can be a human. And Jesus Christ, even though He is both God and a human (John 1:1,14), can receive the Melchisedechian high priesthood (Hebrews 6:20) just as Jesus can receive the human throne of King David (Luke 1:32).
Regarding Melchisedec's "endless life" (Hebrews 7:3,15-16), it can be that he never fell into sin and so never became mortal, just as Adam was immortal before he fell into sin (Genesis 2:17). And because Melchisedec was not descended from Adam, he had no original sin either (Romans 5:19a).
But how can Melchisedec have "neither beginning of days" if he was created like Adam? In the same way that Jesus Christ eternally pre-existed His incarnation (John 1:1,14)? And if Melchisedec eternally pre-existed his incarnation, how can he be only "like" the Son of God (Hebrews 7:3)? It can be that Melchisedec is a distinct incarnation of God, besides Jesus, yet one who was not born like Jesus was.
~
(Re: Is Melchisedec Jesus Christ Himself?)
No, for Jesus Christ is "another" priest who is only "after the similitude" of Melchisedec (Hebrews 7:15). Similarly, Melchisedec was only "made like unto" the Son of God (Hebrews 7:3), meaning that Melchisedec was a past (and is a still "continually" existing: Hebrews 7:3) incarnation of God who is only "like" Jesus (the Son of God) in that Melchisedec had no human father (Hebrews 7:3) just as Jesus had no human father (Luke 1:34-35). But Jesus did have (and still has) a human mother (Mary), while Melchisedec was made (like Adam) without any mother (Hebrews 7:3). And so, like Adam is called the son of God (Luke 3:38), Melchisedec can also be called the son of God. But Jesus is still the only begotten (only born) Son of God (John 3:16,36; 1 John 2:23) because He is the only person ever born without any human father (Luke 1:34-35). Also, Melchisedec is different from Adam in that Adam did have a beginning of days and an end of life (Genesis 5:5), whereas Melchisedec had no beginning of days and has had (and will have) no end of life (Hebrews 7:3).
--
*Hebrews 7:1-10 / *Heb. 7:1 / *Heb. 7:8 -
(Re: Tithing was done by Abraham before the Mosaic law)
But so was physical circumcision (Genesis 17:10). And just as physical circumcision is not a part of the New Testament/New Covenant law which is applicable to Christians (Galatians 5:2), neither is tithing.
Also, Abraham tithed only one time (Genesis 14:20) and it was the spoils of war (Hebrews 7:4, Genesis 14:14-24).
(See the "Tithing" and "Law" sections of Ephesians 2:15 above)
~
(Re: But Hebrews 7:8 was written as part of the New Testament, not the Old Testament)
In Hebrews 7:8, "here" refers to the Old Testament practice of giving tithes to Levites (Hebrews 7:5-10), and "there" refers to when Abraham gave a tithe of some spoils of war only one time to Melchisedec (Hebrews 7:1-10).
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*Hebrews 7:14 / *Heb. 7:14 -
Jesus Christ, as far as His humanity is concerned (that is, through His mother Mary), is descended from Judah (Hebrews 7:14) through Nathan the son of King David (Luke 3:23-32). That is why at His Second Coming, Jesus will sit on the earthly throne of his human forefather David (Luke 1:32, Isaiah 9:7) and restore the Davidic kingdom of Israel (Acts 1:6-7, Acts 3:20-21).
(See paragraphs 4-5 of Acts 1:6 above. Also, see Matthew 1:18 above)
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*Hebrews 7:18-19 / *Heb. 7:18 -
This means that all Christians, whether Jews or Gentiles, should stop trying to keep the letter of the Old Covenant Mosaic law. For it has been "disannulled". (It has not been "refreshed", as is sometimes claimed.)
~
(Re: Does it mean that only the one law about tithes going to Levi has been disannulled?)
No, Hebrews 7:18-19 means that the letter of the entire Old Covenant Mosaic law has been disannulled.
(See the "Law" section of Ephesians 2:15 above)
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*Hebrews 7:25 / *Heb. 7:25 -
This does not require once-saved-always-saved, for Jesus Christ's intercession is based on His sacrificial blood (Hebrews 7:27), which only covers sins which are...
(See "past" under Hebrews 10:26 below. Also, see the "NOSAS" section of Hebrews 3:6 above)
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*Hebrews 7:27 / *Heb. 7:27 -
(Once)
See Romans 6:10 above.
In Hebrews 7:27, "the people" are the elect.
(See Romans 9:11 above)
--
*Hebrews 8:2 / *Heb. 8:2 -
This refers to the literal temple building in heaven (Revelation 11:19) which is the true temple in that the earthly temples of the Jews have been only shadows/copies of it (cf. Hebrews 8:5).
--
*Hebrews 8:4 / *Heb. 8:4 -
This means that Jesus Christ is not a Levitical/Aaronic priest of the letter of the Old Covenant Mosaic law. He cannot be, because regarding His human nature (that is, through His mother Mary), He was born from the tribe of Judah (Hebrews 7:14a, cf. Romans 1:3, Luke 3:31c-33), which tribe under the letter of the Old Covenant Mosaic law is not allowed to participate in the strictly Levitical/Aaronic priesthood (Hebrews 7:14b, Exodus 30:30). But other verses show that Jesus is the Melchisedechian high priest of the New Covenant (Hebrews 7:11-17, Hebrews 9:11-28).
Even though Jesus Christ is God (John 1:1,14, John 10:30, John 20:28), at the same time He is also fully human as Christians are human (Hebrews 2:16-17, Luke 24:39, 2 John 1:7), so that He might be their fully-human mediator/high priest forever (1 Timothy 2:5, Hebrews 2:17, Hebrews 7:24-26), no matter whether they are still alive on the earth or have died and gone to heaven (cf. 2 Corinthians 5:8, Philippians 1:21,23).
Hebrews 8:4 was written before the destruction of the second Jewish temple in Jerusalem in 70 AD, while the non-Christian Jews were still mistakenly enforcing in the temple the rules of the Levitical/Aaronic priesthood of the letter of the Old Covenant Mosaic law, not realizing the truth that...
(See the "Law" section of Ephesians 2:15 above)
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*Hebrews 8:6 / *Heb. 8:6 -
The better covenant (Hebrews 8:6) which is sealed in Jesus Christ's own blood (Hebrews 13:20, Hebrews 9:15-28) is the New Covenant (Hebrews 8:8, Hebrews 12:24) which is made only with Israel (Hebrews 8:8,10).
(See the "Tribes" section of Romans 11:17 above)
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*Hebrews 8:11 / *Heb. 8:11 -
This quotation from Jeremiah 31:34 was fulfilled in the first century AD (1 John 2:27,13).
--
*Hebrews 8:12 / *Heb. 8:12 -
See Hebrews 10:17 below.
--
*Hebrews 8:13 / *Heb. 8:13 -
This means that when the prophet Jeremiah in the sixth century BC prophesied in Jeremiah 31:31-34 about the first century AD making of the New Covenant (Matthew 26:28, Hebrews 9:15-17; 1 Corinthians 11:25; 2 Corinthians 3:6), which would not be according to the letter of the Old Covenant Mosaic law (Jeremiah 31:32, Romans 7:6), Jeremiah's prophecy, as soon as it was made, had immediately made the letter of the Mosaic-law covenant "old", and headed inexorably toward a future extinction (Hebrews 7:18-19). This extinction occurred not (as is sometimes claimed) in 70 AD, but...
(See "decades earlier" under Matthew 24:3(space) above)
Also, this has nothing to do (as is sometimes claimed) with the still-future passing away of heaven and earth (2 Peter 3:7,10-12) or the subsequent creation of the New Heaven and New Earth. For...
(See the "Full preterism?" section of 2 Peter 3:10 below)
~
(Obsolete)
Hebrew 8:13's original Greek word (palaioo: G3822) translated as both "made old" and "decayeth" can mean to "declare obsolete" (Strong's Greek Dictionary).
--
*Hebrews 9:8 / *Heb. 9:8 -
See Matthew 27:51 above.
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*Hebrews 9:10 / *Heb. 9:10 -
This means that under the New Covenant all foods are in themselves okay for all Christians, whether Jews or Gentiles, to eat. For it shows that the meats laws of the letter of the Old Covenant Mosaic law were only temporary "until the time of reformation", meaning until the first century AD time of the disannulling of the letter of the Old Covenant Mosaic law and its replacement by the New Covenant of Jesus Christ (Hebrews 7:18-19, Hebrews 8:13, Hebrews 10:9b, Hebrews 7:12, Hebrews 8:6-7).
(See Romans 14:14 above, and the "Law" section of Ephesians 2:15 above)
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*Hebrews 9:11-12 / *Heb. 9:11 -
This shows that even before 70 AD, Jesus Christ had already entered into the holy place in heaven, after He had already obtained eternal redemption for Christians.
(See section 2 of Hebrews 10:10 below)
~
Hebrews 9:11-12,24 refers not to the future, literal, third Jewish temple building in Jerusalem, but to the literal temple building in heaven (Revelation 11:19).
(See Revelation 11:1 below)
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*Hebrews 9:12 / *Heb. 9:12 -
(Once)
See Romans 6:10 above.
~
(Eternal redemption)
See paragraph 2 of Romans 6:23 above.
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Next entry / Prior / Table of Contents
Dec 24, 2018
Note that the Bible does not teach once-saved-always-saved, but shows that initially saved people, that is, Christians, will obtain ultimate salvation only "if" they continue in the faith to the end (Hebrews 3:6,12,14, Colossians 1:23). And there is no assurance that they will choose to do that, instead of wrongly employing their free will to depart from the faith, to no longer believe, to commit apostasy (Luke 8:13; 1 Timothy 4:1; 2 Timothy 4:3-4; 2 Thessalonians 2:3, Hebrews 3:12, Matthew 13:21), to the ultimate loss of their salvation (Hebrews 6:4-8, John 15:6; 2 Timothy 2:12b, Mark 8:35-38, Hebrews 10:38-39, Matthew 24:9-13).
Also, even if Christians do continue in the faith, they will obtain ultimate salvation only if they also patiently continue to the end in obedience to God, and do good works (Romans 2:6-8, James 2:24, Matthew 7:21, Philippians 2:12b; 2 Corinthians 5:9, Hebrews 5:9; 2 Peter 1:10-11, Hebrews 6:10-12, Philippians 3:11-14; 1 John 2:17b), as in works of faith (1 Thessalonians 1:3, Galatians 5:6b, Titus 3:8) (not works of the letter of the Old Covenant Mosaic law). And there is no assurance that they will choose to do that, instead of wrongly employing their free will to become utterly lazy without repentance, to the ultimate loss of their salvation (Matthew 25:26,30, John 15:2a).
Also, even if Christians do continue in faith and good works of faith, they will obtain ultimate salvation only if they also continue to the end to repent from every sin that they commit (Hebrews 10:26-29; 1 Corinthians 9:27, Matthew 7:22-23, Galatians 5:19-21). And there is no assurance that they will choose to do that, instead of wrongly employing their free will to commit unrepentant sin, to the ultimate loss of their salvation (Luke 12:45-46; 2 Peter 2:20-22, Romans 8:13; 1 John 5:16, James 5:19-20).
Also, Christians will obtain ultimate salvation only if they get water-immersion (burial) baptized into Jesus Christ's death for our sins (Mark 16:16; 1 Peter 3:21, Romans 6:3-11, Colossians 2:12, Galatians 3:27, Acts 2:38). And there is no assurance that they will choose to do that (cf. Acts 22:16a).
Also, Christians will obtain ultimate salvation only if they partake of the divine flesh and blood of the bread and wine of Communion (John 6:53, Matthew 26:26-28; 1 Corinthians 10:16; 1 Corinthians 11:27-30). And there is no assurance that they will choose to do that (cf. John 6:60,66).
Also, Christians will obtain ultimate salvation only if they forgive everyone for every wrong (Matthew 6:14-15). And there is no assurance that they will choose to do that (Matthew 18:21-35).
Also, Christians will obtain ultimate salvation only if they do all that they can (Romans 12:18) to make reparations to and peace with everyone whom they have ever wronged (Matthew 5:23-26, cf. Acts 24:16). And there is no assurance that they will choose to do that.
Also, Christians will obtain ultimate salvation only if they help other Christians in need (Matthew 25:34-46). And there is no assurance that they will choose to do that (3 John 1:10b).
Also, Christians will obtain ultimate salvation only if they provide for their families (1 Timothy 5:8). And there is no assurance that they will choose to do that.
Also, Christians will obtain ultimate salvation only if they do not commit the unforgivable sin, which is blaspheming God's Holy Spirit (Mark 3:29). An example of blaspheming the Holy Spirit is saying that an act performed by the power of the Holy Spirit (e.g. Matthew 12:28) was performed by Satan (Mark 3:22-30). There is no assurance that Christians will never choose to say that (cf. 1 Corinthians 14:39b; 1 Thessalonians 5:19).
Also, Christians will obtain ultimate salvation only if they do not remove words from the book of Revelation, and then publish the altered text as if it were the original, without repentance (Revelation 22:19). And there is no assurance that they will never choose to do that (cf. 2 Corinthians 4:2).
Also, Christians will obtain ultimate salvation only if they do not worship the future Antichrist, and his image, and do not willingly receive his mark on their right hand or forehead (Revelation 14:9-12, Revelation 13:16-18). And there is no assurance that they will not choose to do that (1 Timothy 4:1).
Christians will obtain ultimate salvation only if they continue in God's goodness to the end (Romans 11:20-22). And there is no assurance that they will choose to do that (Luke 12:45-46).
Christians will obtain ultimate salvation only if they overcome to the end (Revelation 3:5, Revelation 2:11, Revelation 2:26). And there is no assurance that they will choose to do that (Revelation 21:7-8).
All of this is said not to engender any unhealthy fear in Christians, but the healthy fear which all Christians are supposed to have (e.g. Romans 11:20-22).
And all of this is said not to engender any despair in Christians, but the healthy, close-clinging to the person of Jesus Christ Himself, which all Christians must continue in (John 15:4-6). For while God makes it possible for Christians to do the right things (Philippians 2:13) toward their ultimate salvation (Romans 2:6-8, Philippians 2:12b, Matthew 7:21), this is possible only so long as they continue to abide in Jesus. For on their own, apart from Jesus, they cannot do anything good (John 15:4-5).
Also, Jesus Christ is not a hard taskmaster. He will never give Christians more work to do for Him than they can easily bear (Matthew 11:28-30). So if Christians ever get stressed out that Jesus is asking them to do too much, then it is not Jesus asking them to do whatever is stressing them out (Luke 10:40-42). They need to take a step back and ask Jesus what particular spiritual work He is actually asking them as individuals to do (Mark 13:34, Romans 12:6-8).
(See Mark 13:34 above)
--
*Hebrews 3:12 / *Heb. 3:12 -
This means that it is possible for Christians to commit apostasy (e.g. Luke 8:13).
--
*Hebrews 3:13 / *Heb. 3:13 -
(Exhort one another daily)
See Hebrews 10:25 below.
~
(Lest any of you be hardened)
Hebrews 3:6-15, like 1 Timothy 4:1-2, means that it is possible for Christians to depart from the faith by hardening their hearts with unrepentant sin (Hebrews 3:13).
--
*Hebrews 4:8 / *Heb. 4:8 -
Here the person referred to as "Jesus" is the man named "Joshua" in the book of Joshua in the Old Testament. For "Jesus" (Greek: "Iesous": G2424) is the Greek version of the name "Joshua" (Hebrew: Yehowshuwa: H3091), just as, for example, "Juan" is the Spanish version of the English name "John". The book of Hebrews (in the KJV) uses "Jesus" because that book was originally written in Greek, while the book of Joshua (in the KJV) uses "Joshua" because that book was originally written in Hebrew.
(See also Acts 7:45 and Zechariah 6:11 above)
Hebrews 4:8 means that if the Joshua in the book of Joshua had given the ancient Israelites the New Covenant rest which can be found only in the New Covenant faith in Jesus Christ (Hebrews 4:3a, Matthew 11:28-30), then after the time of Joshua, God would not have foretold through David the (at the time of David) still-future New Covenant rest (Hebrews 4:7-8, Psalms 95:7b-8,11, Hebrews 4:3). King David lived about 400 years after Joshua. And the New Covenant was not inaugurated until the Cross of Jesus Christ (Matthew 26:28, Hebrews 9:15-17, Hebrews 10:19-20, Matthew 27:51a), which was about 1,000 years after David.
--
*Hebrews 4:9-11 / *Heb. 4:9 -
Hebrews 4:9 There remaineth therefore a rest [Greek: sabbatismos: G4520] to the people of God.
10 For he that is entered into his rest [katapausis: G2663], he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his.
11 ¶Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest [katapausis]...
This refers to the continual, New Covenant, sabbath-like rest which only Christians enter (Hebrews 4:3a, Matthew 11:28-30).
This is not the only-one-day-of-the-week sabbath rest of the (now abolished) letter of the Old Covenant Mosaic law (Exodus 20:10, Ephesians 2:15-16, Colossians 2:14-17; 2 Corinthians 3:6-18). Nor is it the one-time rest of God Himself on the day after He created the world (Genesis 2:2-3). For since then, God Himself has worked, even on the sabbath day (John 5:16-18), just as Christians are to work for God every day of the week (Luke 9:23), while ceasing from their own works (Hebrews 4:10b), as in those done apart from abiding in Jesus Christ (John 15:4-5), every day of the week (Hebrews 4:3a,10-11a, Luke 9:23).
(See also the "Sabbath" and "Law" sections of Ephesians 2:15 above)
--
*Hebrews 5:9 / *Heb. 5:9 -
The obedience required for the ultimate salvation of Christians (Hebrews 5:9) includes both their good works of faith (Romans 2:6-8, James 2:24, Matthew 7:21; 1 John 2:4) and their repenting from every sin that they commit (Hebrews 10:26-29; 1 Corinthians 9:27, Luke 12:45-46).
(See Ephesians 2:8 above, and Hebrews 10:26 below)
Verses such as Romans 6:12,16 and Ephesians 6:5-8 show that the concept of obedience (Greek: hupakouo: G5219) in Hebrews 5:9 is tied to actions.
--
*Hebrews 6:4-8 / *Heb. 6:4 -
This shows that Christians, who have repented and become partakers of God's Holy Spirit, can ultimately lose their salvation because of subsequently wrongly employing their free will to "fall away", to commit apostasy, to stop believing (like in Luke 8:13, 1 Timothy 4:1, and 2 Thessalonians 2:3), just as other Bible verses show the same thing (John 15:6; 2 Timothy 2:12b, Mark 8:35-38, Hebrews 10:38-39, Matthew 24:9-13).
One way that a Christian could be brought to the point where he commits apostasy would be if he finds a particular sin to be very pleasurable, so pleasurable and so fulfilling (in the short term) that he continues in it over time until his heart becomes hardened by the deceitfulness of sin (Hebrews 3:13), to where his love for God grows cold because of the abundance of iniquity (Matthew 24:12), to where he quenches the Spirit (1 Thessalonians 5:19), to where he sears his conscience as with a hot iron (1 Timothy 4:2), to where he begins to listen to the lies of demons and latch onto them, to the point where he departs from the Christian faith (1 Timothy 4:1). In a wrong desire to continue in their lusts without repentance, Christians can reach the point where they are no longer able to endure the sound doctrine of the Bible, and instead seek out and latch onto other teachings which will help to support them in their lusts (2 Timothy 4:3-4).
Another way that a Christian could be brought to the point where he commits apostasy would be if he has a terror of being tortured and killed during a persecution against Christians, so that during such a persecution he renounces his faith in Jesus Christ and the Gospel to avoid being tortured and killed (Mark 8:35-38; 2 Timothy 2:12). Some Christians will fall away in this sense (2 Thessalonians 2:3) during the future Tribulation of Revelation chapters 6 to 18 and Matthew 24 (Matthew 24:9-13, cf. Matthew 13:21, Luke 8:13), when the future Antichrist will take power over the earth, make war against Biblical Christians (not in hiding), and physically overcome them in every nation (Revelation 13:7-10, Revelation 14:12-13, Revelation 20:4-6, Matthew 24:9-13).
There will be no way to repent from committing apostasy (Hebrews 6:4-8), and worshipping the future Antichrist and his image, and willingly receiving his mark on the forehead or right hand, even if this is done just to keep from getting killed (Revelation 13:15-18). Whoever does these things, even if he had been a Christian before, will end up suffering punishment from God in fire and brimstone forever (Revelation 14:9-12). So Christians must be willing to be killed, even by getting beheaded (Revelation 20:4-6), before they would ever do any of these things (Revelation 14:12-13).
This ties in with the fact that a Christian can ultimately have his name blotted out of the Book of Life if he does not overcome to the end (Revelation 3:5, Revelation 2:26). An example of Christians ultimately "overcoming" (Greek: nikao: G3528), or "getting the victory" (nikao) (Revelation 15:2), is found later in the book of Revelation, in Revelation 15:2, which refers to those Christians who will be willing to be killed by the future Antichrist instead of worshipping him to save their mortal lives during the future, worldwide persecution against Biblical Christians (Revelation 13:7-10, Revelation 14:12-13, Revelation 20:4-6, Matthew 24:9-13). Christians will be able to spiritually "overcome" the Antichrist and Satan by not loving their lives to the death (Revelation 12:11).
(See also Luke 10:19 above, and the first entry under Job above)
~
(Re: Is it unhealthy to fear falling away?)
A fear of falling away does not have to be unhealthy. And it can keep Christians from becoming complacent to the point where they will fall away.
~
(Re: *Partakers of the Spirit)
In Hebrews 6:4 the original Greek word (metochos: G3353) translated as "partakers" is used to refer to a true, Christian "partaking" (Hebrews 3:1,14, Hebrews 12:8), a true, Christian "fellowship" (Hebrews 1:9). And there can be no fellowship between God's Holy Spirit and a non-Christian. For there can be no fellowship between righteousness and unrighteousness (2 Corinthians 6:14). And only Christians can be righteous (Romans 3:25-26; 1 John 1:9).
--
*Hebrews 6:5 / *Heb. 6:5 -
(Re: An age of grace?)
See section 2 of Ephesians 1:21 above.
--
*Hebrews 6:6 / *Heb. 6:6 -
This does not deny that Christians can fall away, for it refers only to apostate Christians being unable to be renewed again to repentance in the sense of a second time, like they had repented the first time when they became Christians (1 John 3:9). And Hebrews 6:6 refers only to apostate Christians being unable to crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh in the sense of a second time, after they had received salvation through their belief the first time in Jesus Christ's crucifixion for their sins (Romans 3:25-26).
(See Hebrews 6:4 above)
--
*Hebrews 6:9 / *Heb. 6:9 -
(Re: Means that Hebrews 6:4-8 is only hypothetical?)
No, for Hebrews 6:4-8 shows that... (See Hebrews 6:4 above)
Hebrews 6:9 simply means that the writer of the book of Hebrews was persuaded that the first century AD Christians whom he was originally addressing were not apostate.
~
(Re: Means that works only accompany salvation?)
Hebrews 6:9 does not contradict Hebrews 6:10-12's clear indication that it is also "through" (Hebrews 6:12) faith and patience in continuing to perform good works of faith to the end that Christians will inherit the promise of ultimate salvation from hell (Romans 2:6-8, James 2:24, Matthew 7:21). So faith and works of faith both accompany those headed for ultimate salvation (Hebrews 6:9) and are necessary to bring it into effect (Hebrews 6:10-12), just as, for example, money in our pockets can both accompany us on our way to a stadium and be necessary to bring our entrance into that stadium into effect (cf. 2 Peter 1:10-11).
--
*Hebrews 6:20 / *Heb. 6:20 -
(*Melchisedec)
Jesus Christ is high priest forever "after the order of" Melchisedec (Hebrews 6:20) because of Jesus' divine/human power of an endless life (Hebrews 7:16-17). Because Jesus is God (John 1:1,14), even as a human it was not possible for Him to remain dead (Acts 2:24).
Melchisedec himself could have been made in the same way that Adam was made (Genesis 2:7), that is, miraculously by God without any human father or mother (Hebrews 7:3). And so, like Adam, Melchisedec can be a human. And Jesus Christ, even though He is both God and a human (John 1:1,14), can receive the Melchisedechian high priesthood (Hebrews 6:20) just as Jesus can receive the human throne of King David (Luke 1:32).
Regarding Melchisedec's "endless life" (Hebrews 7:3,15-16), it can be that he never fell into sin and so never became mortal, just as Adam was immortal before he fell into sin (Genesis 2:17). And because Melchisedec was not descended from Adam, he had no original sin either (Romans 5:19a).
But how can Melchisedec have "neither beginning of days" if he was created like Adam? In the same way that Jesus Christ eternally pre-existed His incarnation (John 1:1,14)? And if Melchisedec eternally pre-existed his incarnation, how can he be only "like" the Son of God (Hebrews 7:3)? It can be that Melchisedec is a distinct incarnation of God, besides Jesus, yet one who was not born like Jesus was.
~
(Re: Is Melchisedec Jesus Christ Himself?)
No, for Jesus Christ is "another" priest who is only "after the similitude" of Melchisedec (Hebrews 7:15). Similarly, Melchisedec was only "made like unto" the Son of God (Hebrews 7:3), meaning that Melchisedec was a past (and is a still "continually" existing: Hebrews 7:3) incarnation of God who is only "like" Jesus (the Son of God) in that Melchisedec had no human father (Hebrews 7:3) just as Jesus had no human father (Luke 1:34-35). But Jesus did have (and still has) a human mother (Mary), while Melchisedec was made (like Adam) without any mother (Hebrews 7:3). And so, like Adam is called the son of God (Luke 3:38), Melchisedec can also be called the son of God. But Jesus is still the only begotten (only born) Son of God (John 3:16,36; 1 John 2:23) because He is the only person ever born without any human father (Luke 1:34-35). Also, Melchisedec is different from Adam in that Adam did have a beginning of days and an end of life (Genesis 5:5), whereas Melchisedec had no beginning of days and has had (and will have) no end of life (Hebrews 7:3).
--
*Hebrews 7:1-10 / *Heb. 7:1 / *Heb. 7:8 -
(Re: Tithing was done by Abraham before the Mosaic law)
But so was physical circumcision (Genesis 17:10). And just as physical circumcision is not a part of the New Testament/New Covenant law which is applicable to Christians (Galatians 5:2), neither is tithing.
Also, Abraham tithed only one time (Genesis 14:20) and it was the spoils of war (Hebrews 7:4, Genesis 14:14-24).
(See the "Tithing" and "Law" sections of Ephesians 2:15 above)
~
(Re: But Hebrews 7:8 was written as part of the New Testament, not the Old Testament)
In Hebrews 7:8, "here" refers to the Old Testament practice of giving tithes to Levites (Hebrews 7:5-10), and "there" refers to when Abraham gave a tithe of some spoils of war only one time to Melchisedec (Hebrews 7:1-10).
--
*Hebrews 7:14 / *Heb. 7:14 -
Jesus Christ, as far as His humanity is concerned (that is, through His mother Mary), is descended from Judah (Hebrews 7:14) through Nathan the son of King David (Luke 3:23-32). That is why at His Second Coming, Jesus will sit on the earthly throne of his human forefather David (Luke 1:32, Isaiah 9:7) and restore the Davidic kingdom of Israel (Acts 1:6-7, Acts 3:20-21).
(See paragraphs 4-5 of Acts 1:6 above. Also, see Matthew 1:18 above)
--
*Hebrews 7:18-19 / *Heb. 7:18 -
This means that all Christians, whether Jews or Gentiles, should stop trying to keep the letter of the Old Covenant Mosaic law. For it has been "disannulled". (It has not been "refreshed", as is sometimes claimed.)
~
(Re: Does it mean that only the one law about tithes going to Levi has been disannulled?)
No, Hebrews 7:18-19 means that the letter of the entire Old Covenant Mosaic law has been disannulled.
(See the "Law" section of Ephesians 2:15 above)
--
*Hebrews 7:25 / *Heb. 7:25 -
This does not require once-saved-always-saved, for Jesus Christ's intercession is based on His sacrificial blood (Hebrews 7:27), which only covers sins which are...
(See "past" under Hebrews 10:26 below. Also, see the "NOSAS" section of Hebrews 3:6 above)
--
*Hebrews 7:27 / *Heb. 7:27 -
(Once)
See Romans 6:10 above.
In Hebrews 7:27, "the people" are the elect.
(See Romans 9:11 above)
--
*Hebrews 8:2 / *Heb. 8:2 -
This refers to the literal temple building in heaven (Revelation 11:19) which is the true temple in that the earthly temples of the Jews have been only shadows/copies of it (cf. Hebrews 8:5).
--
*Hebrews 8:4 / *Heb. 8:4 -
This means that Jesus Christ is not a Levitical/Aaronic priest of the letter of the Old Covenant Mosaic law. He cannot be, because regarding His human nature (that is, through His mother Mary), He was born from the tribe of Judah (Hebrews 7:14a, cf. Romans 1:3, Luke 3:31c-33), which tribe under the letter of the Old Covenant Mosaic law is not allowed to participate in the strictly Levitical/Aaronic priesthood (Hebrews 7:14b, Exodus 30:30). But other verses show that Jesus is the Melchisedechian high priest of the New Covenant (Hebrews 7:11-17, Hebrews 9:11-28).
Even though Jesus Christ is God (John 1:1,14, John 10:30, John 20:28), at the same time He is also fully human as Christians are human (Hebrews 2:16-17, Luke 24:39, 2 John 1:7), so that He might be their fully-human mediator/high priest forever (1 Timothy 2:5, Hebrews 2:17, Hebrews 7:24-26), no matter whether they are still alive on the earth or have died and gone to heaven (cf. 2 Corinthians 5:8, Philippians 1:21,23).
Hebrews 8:4 was written before the destruction of the second Jewish temple in Jerusalem in 70 AD, while the non-Christian Jews were still mistakenly enforcing in the temple the rules of the Levitical/Aaronic priesthood of the letter of the Old Covenant Mosaic law, not realizing the truth that...
(See the "Law" section of Ephesians 2:15 above)
--
*Hebrews 8:6 / *Heb. 8:6 -
The better covenant (Hebrews 8:6) which is sealed in Jesus Christ's own blood (Hebrews 13:20, Hebrews 9:15-28) is the New Covenant (Hebrews 8:8, Hebrews 12:24) which is made only with Israel (Hebrews 8:8,10).
(See the "Tribes" section of Romans 11:17 above)
--
*Hebrews 8:11 / *Heb. 8:11 -
This quotation from Jeremiah 31:34 was fulfilled in the first century AD (1 John 2:27,13).
--
*Hebrews 8:12 / *Heb. 8:12 -
See Hebrews 10:17 below.
--
*Hebrews 8:13 / *Heb. 8:13 -
This means that when the prophet Jeremiah in the sixth century BC prophesied in Jeremiah 31:31-34 about the first century AD making of the New Covenant (Matthew 26:28, Hebrews 9:15-17; 1 Corinthians 11:25; 2 Corinthians 3:6), which would not be according to the letter of the Old Covenant Mosaic law (Jeremiah 31:32, Romans 7:6), Jeremiah's prophecy, as soon as it was made, had immediately made the letter of the Mosaic-law covenant "old", and headed inexorably toward a future extinction (Hebrews 7:18-19). This extinction occurred not (as is sometimes claimed) in 70 AD, but...
(See "decades earlier" under Matthew 24:3(space) above)
Also, this has nothing to do (as is sometimes claimed) with the still-future passing away of heaven and earth (2 Peter 3:7,10-12) or the subsequent creation of the New Heaven and New Earth. For...
(See the "Full preterism?" section of 2 Peter 3:10 below)
~
(Obsolete)
Hebrew 8:13's original Greek word (palaioo: G3822) translated as both "made old" and "decayeth" can mean to "declare obsolete" (Strong's Greek Dictionary).
--
*Hebrews 9:8 / *Heb. 9:8 -
See Matthew 27:51 above.
--
*Hebrews 9:10 / *Heb. 9:10 -
This means that under the New Covenant all foods are in themselves okay for all Christians, whether Jews or Gentiles, to eat. For it shows that the meats laws of the letter of the Old Covenant Mosaic law were only temporary "until the time of reformation", meaning until the first century AD time of the disannulling of the letter of the Old Covenant Mosaic law and its replacement by the New Covenant of Jesus Christ (Hebrews 7:18-19, Hebrews 8:13, Hebrews 10:9b, Hebrews 7:12, Hebrews 8:6-7).
(See Romans 14:14 above, and the "Law" section of Ephesians 2:15 above)
--
*Hebrews 9:11-12 / *Heb. 9:11 -
This shows that even before 70 AD, Jesus Christ had already entered into the holy place in heaven, after He had already obtained eternal redemption for Christians.
(See section 2 of Hebrews 10:10 below)
~
Hebrews 9:11-12,24 refers not to the future, literal, third Jewish temple building in Jerusalem, but to the literal temple building in heaven (Revelation 11:19).
(See Revelation 11:1 below)
--
*Hebrews 9:12 / *Heb. 9:12 -
(Once)
See Romans 6:10 above.
~
(Eternal redemption)
See paragraph 2 of Romans 6:23 above.
-
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