Posted on 05/21/2021 12:51:08 AM PDT by Pilgrim's Progress
“The man that wandereth out of the way of understanding shall remain in the congregation of the dead” (Proverbs 21:16).
We have heard of those that have escaped from a burning building only to remember some trinket left inside the blaze which caused them to run back inside the building and perish. The irony of the tragedy is that some worthless object was counted more precious than life, and the days that were remaining were forfeited. Now, there are those that have found themselves at the very border of life and death, but before crossing over to life—chose death.
The writer of Hebrews, I believe Paul (though some suggest it might have been Apollos) speaks of this in two of the more difficult passages concerning the eternal security of the believer. No doubt, we are all familiar with the phrase “once saved, always saved.” This was coined by those that do not believe that eternal means eternal--as a way to poke fun at those that do. Through the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, God is able to impute Christ’s righteousness to all that will come by faith and receive the free gift of eternal life. Well, a gift is a gift, and that gift has been fully bought and paid for by the One that took our place on Calvary. It is free, and something that is free is not subject to recall.
Many understand this truth, and yet are not saved. They have the mental understanding of the concept of salvation by grace through faith and have come very close to receiving it for themselves—but they have done what so many others have done before them. They, like old Felix in Acts 24:25 said, “Wait a bit. Go thy way for this time, when I have a convenient season, I will call for thee.” But they never did. They even trembled under conviction, as did Felix—but they told God “No!” Make no mistake, friend, to tell God to wait is the same as telling Him no.
“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, And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame” (Hebrews 6:4-6).
“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 . . . Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him” (Hebrews 10:26-27, 38).
Both of these passages speak of drawing back from the Word of truth. In a short devotional, it is not possible to develop the thought beyond this but suffice it to say that Paul was speaking not of the readers of his letter, but to another crowd. Consider:
“But, beloved, we are persuaded better things of you, and things that accompany salvation, though we thus speak . . . But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul” (Hebrews 6:9; 10:39).
“The man that wandereth out of the way of understanding shall remain in the congregation of the dead.
If anyone would like to be added to the ping list, please let me know either by post or by p.m.
For more books on all topics of the Bible, visit my web site at:
Bump.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.