[MarkBsnr]

Don’t be silly, sir.

We all receive different gifts in different amounts at different times in our lives. Everyone is different. To say that because I have received less capability for, say, patiences than you does not mean that I am a child of the devil. Are you saying that because, e.g. Tiger Woods received a much greater gift for playing golf than I, he’ll got to Heaven and I to hell?

Remember the parable of the talents. The servant who got 10 versus the servant who got one. The latter one was chastized not because he didn’t get as much as the first, but because he didn’t do anything with what he had.

Hmm. Hating sin. What form should the hating of sin take?

But if the Jews in Hebrews decide not to repent, it is predestined, is it not? Why would a letter to them make any difference?

[HarleyD]

We all receive different gifts in different amounts at different times in our lives. Everyone is different....Are you saying that because, e.g. Tiger Woods received a much greater gift for playing golf than I, he’ll got to Heaven and I to hell?

You missed the whole point. Everyone is a different vessel for use by God. God sometimes do great things through some like Paul or sometimes all He wants us to do is pour oil on His tired feet. There were some like Elijah who He wanted running up to Ahab and there were 7,000 who He wanted to hide. We all have a different job to do and God will help us fulfill it. God saves us and He promises to give us fruit from our lives, whatever fruit He wishes.

Remember the parable of the talents. The servant who got 10 versus the servant who got one. The latter one was chastized not because he didn’t get as much as the first, but because he didn’t do anything with what he had.

You're really stuck on this talent parable. God uses even non-believers to accomplish His will. The Old Testament is filled with examples of God raising up bad guys. In the parable it is obvious this person does not have a right sense of God, calling Him "hard" and "reaping where He did not sow...". Well, if he knew God he would have never made such claims and kept his mouth shut-but it's only a parable about tares in the church.

People who think they are doing such wonderful things for the Lord need to get a new perspective. I wouldn't make any claims that I have done anything for the Lord. I only realize how far short I fall. But I can rest assured that He is leading me in the path that He would like me to go. While this has puzzled me, it is reassuring.

Hmm. Hating sin. What form should the hating of sin take?

Depends. The Lord requires that we do justice, love mercy and walk humbly with our God. Anything that stops us from doing one of the three should be resisted.

I will add that Lot never showed the level of hatred of sin that he should have. The scriptures says that he "vexed" his soul. He didn't even want to leave when told the place would be destroyed. He still was saved but everything he owned was lost.

But if the Jews in Hebrews decide not to repent, it is predestined, is it not? Why would a letter to them make any difference?

There are two types of calling in scriptures; the outward and the inward calling of God. The outward calling is given to all men, so all men are without excuse. This is the word of God casted out to call men to repentance.

But no one comes to God, not one. If it were not for God pro-actively using the inward calling through the Holy Spirit on our particular hearts, no one would be saved. These are the examples throughout scripture; Abraham, Moses, Jacob, Samson, Samuel, Rehab, Ruth, Mary, Paul. God saves each Christian through the inward calling. Yet He uses the outward message of the gospel.

Hebrews is both the outward and inward calling of God. Not everyone who reads Hebrews becomes a Christian. But undoubtedly there have been people who have read the book of Hebrews, repented and have come to know Christ through it. That is the power of God working through His writings.