Danger of Rebellion
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Rebellion is when one publicly opposes and resists the established government or ruler in this case God himself.
Rebellious teenager
speeding vs fighting the cops
right to rule - power or inherent to God
Therefore let us leave the elementary doctrine of Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God, and of instruction about washings, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment. And this we will do if God permits. For it is impossible, in the case of those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, and have shared in the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the age to come, and then have fallen away, to restore them again to repentance, since they are crucifying once again the Son of God to their own harm and holding him up to contempt. For land that has drunk the rain that often falls on it, and produces a crop useful to those for whose sake it is cultivated, receives a blessing from God. But if it bears thorns and thistles, it is worthless and near to being cursed, and its end is to be burned. Though we speak in this way, yet in your case, beloved, we feel sure of better things—things that belong to salvation. For God is not unjust so as to overlook your work and the love that you have shown for his name in serving the saints, as you still do. And we desire each one of you to show the same earnestness to have the full assurance of hope until the end, so that you may not be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.
Foundation of Faith
Foundation of Faith
Therefore let us leave the elementary doctrine of Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God, and of instruction about washings, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment.
repentance from dead works and faith toward God - salvation
Instructions about washings - reference to Baptism
laying on of hands - prayer, and ordination
Resurrection - new life
eternal Judgement - either hell (deserved) or heaven (grace through Christ)
The Person of Faith
The Person of Faith
For it is impossible, in the case of those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, and have shared in the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the age to come,
once been enlightened - those who believe the Gospel accept Jesus as Lord
Tasted the Heavenly gift - most likely a reference to gift of grace and mercy through Jesus The Goodness of God
Shared in the Holy Spirit- they have seen the works of the Spirit drawing men to God teaching them the truth and granting wisdom beyond years
Tasted the Goodness of the Word - they have learned the truth of the word and its value to ones life
The powers of the age to come - seen miracles and wonders of God
All descriptions of people of faith
Tasted implies not a sampling but a dinner
Not a mere witness of but one who has experienced
Shared in it they were part of it
These are Christians
Rebellious Apostates
Rebellious Apostates
For it is impossible, in the case of those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, and have shared in the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the age to come, and then have fallen away, to restore them again to repentance, since they are crucifying once again the Son of God to their own harm and holding him up to contempt. For land that has drunk the rain that often falls on it, and produces a crop useful to those for whose sake it is cultivated, receives a blessing from God. But if it bears thorns and thistles, it is worthless and near to being cursed, and its end is to be burned.
It is impossible for Christians who have fallen away to restore them again to repentance
Wait a minute pastor does that mean they lost their faith what about assurance of salvation. Once saved Always saved right?
Not quite.
First let me point out that I do not believe one can lose their salvation.
It is not lost in the sense of cannot be found for God himself lives with in us
Whoever keeps his commandments abides in God, and God in him. And by this we know that he abides in us, by the Spirit whom he has given us.
Neither can we lose it because we mess up fail or somehow screw up our salvation through sin.
But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
This is the idea of breaking the law and speeding
Neither can we lose it because it was stolen from us
Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? As it is written, “For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.” No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
What then is meant by falling away
I believe this points to outright rebellion against God
Rebellion is when one publicly opposes and resists the established government or ruler in this case God himself.
Two examples come to mind
First the Israelites rebellion against God when they refused to enter the promised land because of their fear and God caused them to wander in the wilderness till the whole generation died.
Second is Satan himself when he sought to overthrow God and was Cast down out of heaven.
In both cases they rejected the authority of God.
some might wonder how this sin is different than others
Most of us have been guilty of speeding at some point or another some of us might even think the speed limits should be higher especially in certain places. However most people would not think of attacking Cops or Congressmen because of our views. The first is like most sin we speed and thereby break the law with our without intent either way it is not rebellion. Yet if we were to take up arms against the cops the enforcers or the congressmen the law makers then we have become rebellious
This then is the issue discussed here those who have been genuinely converted who have had a relationship with God and who then rebelled against his authority and rejected him.
How does this happen
Maybe through tragic death of a loved one
Seeming harsh and unfair circumstances
In some way or another God has not lived upto our expectations of what he should have done or who he ought to be and then they reject him and his authority and often these are the most vocal people against God. They seek to poison others and turn them away as well and they hate him.
For these he says it is impossible for them to be restored.
Now why is it impossible
If one already has believed that God is the God of the Bible and that Jesus is the son of God and has been granted authority over all things and then rejects that authority by what means would you convince them to return. They are like Satan in that they know the power of God and yet refuse to submit to him.
Since one must submit to the lordship of Christ to be saved Romans 10:9-10
because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.
The writer continues to explain that in so doing they have spat upon the sacrifice of Christ and rejected it and if one rejects the authority of God and the Grace of God then what other hope is there?
NONE!!!
They are compared to thorns and briars that are good for nothing except to be burned up.
What a terrible state to be in and a terrifying one. So how would one know if they have become an apostate
The Enduring Hope
The Enduring Hope
Though we speak in this way, yet in your case, beloved, we feel sure of better things—things that belong to salvation. For God is not unjust so as to overlook your work and the love that you have shown for his name in serving the saints, as you still do. And we desire each one of you to show the same earnestness to have the full assurance of hope until the end, so that you may not be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.
in your case we feel sure of salvation
for these reasons
The work and love you have shown and are showing
The Just nature of God
Therefore do not slack but be earnest
be imitators of the faithful
seek the goodness of God
be plugged in
earnestly seek to serve
be patient in the bad times knowing God will bring greater rewards if we endure with patience
DON’T QUIT, DON’T REBEL