We note also that the writer of Hebrews not only exhorts
them to HOLD FAST but he adds WITHOUT WAVERING. This word 'waver'
is 'aklines' in the Greek and it means 'without bending or inclining' and
it was for the benefit of those who were wavering that this epistle was
written. Some had already forsaken Christ and had gone back to Judaism
for in v.25 the writer said, "Not forsaking the assembling of yourselves
together as the manner of some is." They were going through severe
persecution and had gone back to the shadow, after having come to Christ,
the substance. In v.32 he speaks about a great fight of affliction;
in v.33 he says they were a gazing stock by reproaches and afflictions;
and in v.34 he mentions the spoiling of their goods. It was these severe
trials that had caused some to go back and others were wavering, or 'inclining
or bending,' as the Greek has it.
It was for this reason that in chap.3-12 he said, "Take
heed brethren, lest there be in any of you, an evil heart of unbelief,
in departing from the living God." It is quite evident that a man
cannot depart from the city of Chicago if he has never been there; but
if he is there, he can depart or remain at his own will or desire.
Likewise if we could not depart from God, and be lost, the warning would
be entirely unnecessary and superfluous.
The apostle Peter refers to these trials in I Pet.2, 19-20;
3,14-17 and we herewith quote I Pet.4,12-13: "Beloved, think it not
strange concerning the fiery trial as tho some strange thing happened unto
you. But rejoice inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's suffering:
that, when His glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding
joy."
We now come to the most important part of this chapter which is v.26-29 which we quote herewith:
26, "But if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins,
v.27, But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries.
v.28, He that despised Moses' law died without mercy under two or three witnesses:
v.29, 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?"
There have been some strange and extraneous conclusions
drawn from these four verses by Eternal Security, and also by their opponents.
Had they all realized that this subjects deals entirely with wavering JEWISH
CHRISTIANS who were going back to Jewish sacrifices, they would not have
advanced the unscriptural interpretations that they have. There is
nothing here that refers to a fallen Christian who is usually called a
backslider. When we sin we lose our fellowship. But when we
repent and confess to God, He renews our fellowship. If we refuse to repent,
and come back to God, we lose our sonship also, and if we die in that state,
we will be eternally lost just like any other sinner.
But because Sonship and Fellowship has not been taught,
many Christians when they fail God, feel that they have backslid as they
call it. Had they realized that only their fellowship was marred,
they would not have been so discouraged in the times of their failures
when overcome by some sin in the flesh.
Others have been so 'indoctrinated' in what is called
'backsliding," that when they failed God, they just felt that they could
not live a Christian life, and so gave up in despair. Others had
a fault or habit that they did not overcome at once and when overtaken,
they felt that they were backslid, and so did not continue in the Christian
race. All this is due to making the word 'backslide' mean something
that it does not mean. It is a significant fact that neither the
words 'backslid, backslide, backsliding' or 'backslider' are to be found
anywhere in the New Testament. Just because a believer loses his
fellowship, that is no sign that he is a backslider, as the term is usually
used. We would be much better off if we never used the words 'backslide'
or 'backslider.' But you ask, "What should we call a man who fell
from grace and has gone back into the world?" James said in ch.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 - shall save a SOUL FROM DEATH."
James called him a sinner, and that's just what he is, no more, no less.
Then there are others who have taken another extreme
view and have seized the last clause of v.26 which reads, "there remaineth
no more sacrifice for sin." They have taught if a man once was saved
and fell away from God, he could not get back to God. Some called
this the unpardonable sin, and some have even gone so far as to call this
the blasphemy of the Holy Ghost. They said, "If we sin wilfully after
we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth NO SACRIFICE
FOR SINS." But this is not what the writer said. The writer
said, "NO MORE SACRIFICE FOR SINS," meaning NO MORE SACRIFICES or NO OTHER
SACRIFICE; because Christ was the last sacrifice that God accepted.
After Christ was crucified, the Jews kept up their temple sacrifices but
they were no more accepted than was Cain's. The veil into the most
holy was rent from top to bottom, showing that the power that did it came
from above and not from earth. The rending of the veil was indicative
of the fact that the way to God had been made open thru the death of Christ,
and it was possible for all men to come unto Him by faith, and faith only.
Then there are those who taught that if a man was once
convicted of sin by the Holy Spirit, and refused to yield and be saved;
that he had sinned against the light and there was no sacrifice for his
sins. Such teaching is all nonsense and some sinners who have heard
it, have been lost because they felt that there was no hope for them.
The truth of the matter is, that there are some who fought off conviction
at one time in a revival, and were gloriously saved in a subsequent revival
at a much later date. This proves that such teaching is entirely
erroneous.
The writer was endeavoring to press on the minds of the
wavering Jewish Christians, that there would be NO MORE SACRIFICES for
sins since Christ was the last one and the antitype of all previous sacrifices.
That is why he said, "There remaineth NO MORE SACRIFICE for sins."
Since all the sacrifices pointed to Christ the substance, to go back to
bullocks, goats and heifers, was to go back to the shadow, Heb.10-1.
The sin referred to in v.26 is not any common sin prevalent
in many of God's people. The word 'wilfully' in this verse is 'hakousios'
in the Greek and it means 'willingly, voluntarily', and it means a premeditated
sin such as that of Judas and of Ananias. Many fall away from Christ
but their sin is not voluntary or premeditated and therefore it is not
wilful. They fall due to some weakness of the flesh or some temptation
of Satan.
It is interesting to note here that this wilful sin is
mentioned as happening, "After we have received the knowledge of the truth."
This word 'wilfully' is mentioned only once in the New Testament and never
mentioned outside of the book of Hebrews, which is very significant in
itself. This expression, "the knowledge of the truth" is found only
twice more in the New Testament. Once it is mentioned in the positive
and once in the negative, and in both cases it refers to experimental knowledge,
and not to head knowledge or knowledge from observation. We quote
both passages for comparison with v. 26.
I Tim,2,3-4, "For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior: who will have all men to be saved and come unto THE KNOWLEDGE OF THE TRUTH."
II Tim.3-7, "Ever learning and never coming to THE
KNOWLEDGE OF THE TRUTH."
In the last verse Paul speaks of some who learn but never
come to THE KNOWLEDGE OF THE TRUTH. It is one thing to know the way TO
CHRIST but it is entirely a different matter TO KNOW CHRIST. The waverers
mentioned in chap.5,11-14 had indeed learned TO KNOW CHRIST, but they had
not grown up in Him and were still babes and in need of milk instead of
meat.
Eternal Security would have us to believe that those referred
to in v.26 refers to those Jews of Christ's and the apostles' days, who
were convinced that Jesus was the Christ, the Son of God; but after coming
into this knowledge, they refused to go on and be saved. We do not
doubt that there were some in those days that did come to that knowledge
and did not go on, but we emphatically deny that this scripture refers
to them in any way whatsoever. We also realize that there are some
today in some churches who have never been born again and have dome to
this realization. But owning to the necessity of giving up their
profession, they refuse to go on and be saved for fear of losing their
prestige. We likewise deny that this scripture refers to them in
any way at all because church members of that caliber were unknown to the
writer in that day. It is quite evident that church members who are
unsaved have never come to THE KNOWLEDGE OF THE TRUTH.
Let us look at this word 'knowledge'. This usual
word for 'knowledge' in the Greek is 'gnosis' but this is a different word,
the word here is 'epignosis' which means 'full knowledge.' Not only
is it 'epignosis' in chap.10-26 but the same word is used in I Tim.2-4
and II Tim.3-7 which we quoted above. Likewise the word 'knowledge'
in II Pet.2-20 is translated from this word 'epignosis' showing that those
referred to by Peter, had a 'full knowledge' and not a superficial, auditory
knowledge of the plan of salvation, as Eternal Security would have us to
believe.
We also find that the expression "the knowledge of the
Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ", or its equivalent, is found five times
in the New Testament as follows: Eph.1-17, 4-13; Phil.3-8; II Pet.1-8
and 2-20. Also the expression "the knowledge of God" is found five
times as follows: Rom.11-33; II Cor.10-5; Col.1-10 and II Pet.1-2.
In all these ten passages, it is experimental knowledge that is referred
to and not head knowledge although Eternal Security refuses to accept II
Pet.2-20 as it is too hard on their doctrine.
In taking a comprehensive view of ch.10,26-29, we note
that the plural pronoun 'we' is mentioned twice in v.26 whereby the writer
includes himself with those written to in his warning and admonition.
Then in vs.27-28 he places disobedience to New Testament light, on the
same plane as disobedience to Old Testament light with the same penalty
involved, which is death.
Continuing our comprehensive view of v.29, we note that the pronoun
'ye' is mentioned once which refers to those to whom he is writing. Then
we note that the pronoun 'he' is mentioned twice. This is a very important
item. This 'he' is a definite reference to those Jews as individuals or
as a collective body, whom he refers to in v.25 to whom he said, "Not forsaking
the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is." Those
who had left their assembly, were those who had gone back to Judaism and
to the Jewish sacrifices. It was for this cause that he said in v.26, "there
remaineth NO MORE sacrifice for sins." The writer puts v.29 in the form
of a question: "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 to the Spirit of grace?" This 'HE' is accused of
three things as emphasized above in capital letters. First 'HE' hath trodden
under foot the Son of God; second, 'HE' hath counted the blood - an unholy
thing; and third, 'HE' hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace. All
three accusations are in the past tense showing that it really happened
and was an accomplished fact. And not only so, but to clinch the matter
the writer said in part, "the blood of the covenant, wherewith 'HE' was
SANCTIFIED." This 'HE' was sanctified thru the blood indeed, and 'HE' certainly
is a potential witness against Eternal Security.
"But" objects Eternal Security, "they were sanctified provisionally
when Jesus died for the whole world." NONSENSE! Jesus died to JUSTIFY THE
SINNER who believes, not to sanctify him. In John 17-17 Jesus prayed for
His own and said, "Sanctify them (believers) thru thy truth; thy word is
truth." In Rom.4-25 we read, "Who (Christ) was delivered for our offences
and raised for our justification." In John 3-16 God gave His son to die
for the WORLD that whosoever believeth might have everlasting life- being
JUSTIFIED BY HIS BLOOD, Rom.5,9-11. But in Eph.25-26, Christ gave Himself
for THE CHURCH that He might SANCTIFY IT - by the word. The book of Romans
is the most wonderful treatise that we have on the plan of salvation, but
neither the word 'sanctify' or it's derivatives is ever used with this
subject. It is used once in the entire book and that is in chapter fifteen
where it says that the Gentiles are sanctified by the Holy Ghost. It is
believers who are sanctified and not sinners. Here 'HE' of Heb.10-29 had
received experimental sanctification for the writer said, "the blood of
the covenant, wherewith HE WAS SANCTIFIED."
But we hear Eternal Security object again and quote Heb.13-13: "Wherefore
Jesus also, that He might sanctify the people with His own blood, suffered
without the gate." They ask, "Does not this teach that the people were
provisionally sanctified?" Yes, THE PEOPLE were provisionally sanctified
indeed, but THE PEOPLE mentioned here are the justified ones who became
believers and not those who never accepted the Lamb of God. There was no
use to provide sanctification for the man who did not accept justification.
In the Old Testament, the brazen altar was for the sacrifices of all the
people but the brazen laver was only for the use of the priest. The brazen
altar speaks of justification while the brazen laver speaks of sanctification.
See notes Scofield Bible p.104, 111 and 1133.
The word 'sanctified' is found in ch.10 three times as follows: v.10,
"By the which will we are sanctified thru the offering of the body of Jesus
Christ;" v.14, "For by one offering He hath perfected forever them that
are sanctified;" v.29, "who hath trodden under foot the Son of God and
hath counted the blood of the covenant wherewith he was sanctified, an
unholy thing." Thus in v.10 he says, "WE ARE SANCTIFIED", and in v.29 he
say, "HE WAS SANCTIFIED." It is beyond comprehension how anyone can say
that there is a particle of difference between these scriptures and how
any one would make v.10 refer to experimental salvation and v.29 to provisional
salvation or sanctification.
In The Life and Epistles of St. Paul, Connebeare and Howson have the following note in regards to ch.10,26-29:
"The preceding passage and the similar passage, ch.6,4-6, have proved
perplexing to many readers. Yet neither passage asserts the impossibility
of the apostates' repentance. What is said amounts to this--that for the
conversion of a deliberate apostate, God has (according to the ordinary
laws of His working) no further means in store than those which already
have been tried in vain. It should be remembered also, that the parties
addressed are not those who had already apostatized, but those who were
in danger of doing so, and who needed the most earnest warning."
Thus we see that this standard authority recognizes the fact that those
referred to in ch.6,4-6 and ch.10,26-29, had once been really saved but
were in danger of going back to Judaism.
In ch.10-32 the writer said, "But call to remembrance the former days,
after ye were illuminated, ye endured a great fight of afflictions." No
one, no not even Eternal Security would are to say that these Hebrews were
not illuminated because the word 'illuminated' is in the past tense. This
shows that it was an accomplished fact and of course they were the very
ones to whom this epistle was written. This word 'illuminate' is 'photizo'
in the Greek and this is the only place where the word 'illuminate' is
used in the New Testament. But the word 'photizo' is twice translated 'enlightened'
as follows:
Eph.1-18, "The eyes of your understanding being ENLIGHTENED; that ye might know what is the hope of His calling among the Gentiles."
Heb.6,4-6, "For it is impossible for those who were once ENLIGHTENED,
and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy
Ghost - if they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance."
Thus Eternal Security makes the word 'enlightened' (gr.photizo) of ch.6,4-6
to mean a mental or intellectual enlightment only, while acknowledging
that the word 'enlightened' of Eph.1-18 is a spiritual enlightment. Likewise
they admit that the word 'illuminated' of ch.10-32 means a spiritual enlightment,
not knowing that the two words of ch.6-4 and 10-32 are both identically
the same and both being 'photizo' in the greek, the same as Eph.1-18. There
Paul referred to "The eyes of their understanding being enlightened" and
we know that they were saved and filled with the Holy Ghost as mentioned
in Acts ch.19,1-6.
This then proves our statement that chastisement does not necessarily
bring every one back to God who once has known Him. The same sun that shines
on the clay, also shines on the wax. The wax softens under its influence
but the clay hardens under its influence. So also is it with those who
have fallen away from God. Some yield to the Spirit's influence and come
back to God, but others harden their hearts and become reprobates. If this
was an impossibility, why should Paul even mention the matter at all?
THE END
In this book we have only dealt with Eternal Security as it applied
to the Book of Hebrews. If our readers desire more information, we will
refer them to our other two books on this subject. The one being entitled,
Sonship and Fellowship, a happy medium between two extremes; the title
of the other one being, Judas Iscariot of Kerioth Judah, Son of Simon or
Son of Satan? We are also planning on publishing a larger book entitled,
Eternal Security thoroughly Examined and Completely Refuted. In that book
we take up the matter systematically and refute it step by step. It is
entirely different than the other three books and will contain over a hundred
pages.
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