Thursday, February 7, 2013

Continued Sinning, Turning Back & Destruction

Brothers and sisters, before we go on into Hebrews 10, I want us to look back in Acts and be reminded how Paul gave us serious warnings and was committed to warning believers. Do we truly see the value Paul placed on these warnings? Why is he so vehemently concerned about warning us if the only danger is we suffer here on earth for a vapor? Paul makes it very clear he is concerned that we finish the race and that we do not turn back. Paul was totally committed to warnings as is seen in Acts and Hebrews.

Do we understand this is a day of loving money, ear tickling, and false teachers? Do we understand there is is a war raging? It is about eternity and where we will dwell, along with those we love and those who we should be concerned about? Are we in the war? 

Acts 20 ISV
25“Now I know that none of you among whom I traveled preaching about the kingdom will ever see my face again. 

  • 26I therefore declare to you today that I’m not responsible for the blood of any of you,
  •  27because I never shrank from telling you the whole plan of God
  • 28Pay attention to yourselves and to the entire flock over which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers to be shepherds of God’sh church, which he acquired with his own blood. 
  • 29I know that when I’m gone, savage wolves will come among you and not spare the flock30Indeed, some of your own men will arise and distort the truth in order to lure the disciples into following them. 
  • 31So be alert! Remember that for three years, night and day, I never stopped tearfully warning each of you.

Hebrews 10  ISV
19Therefore, my brothers, since we have confidence to enter the sanctuary by the blood of Jesus, 20the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain (that is, through his flesh), 21and since we have a great high priest over the household of God, 22let us continue to come near with sincere hearts in the full assurance that faith provides, because our hearts have been sprinkled clean from a guilty conscience, and our bodies have been washed with pure water. 
  • 23Let us continue to hold firmly to the hope that we confess without wavering, for the one who made the promise is faithful. 
  • 24And let us continue to consider how to motivate one another to love and good deeds, 25not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another even more as you see the day of the Lordn coming nearer.
26For if we choose to go on sinning after we have learned the full truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, 27but only a terrifying prospect of judgment and a raging fire that will consume the enemies of God.o 28Anyone who violates the Law of Moses dies without mercy “on the testimony of two or three witnesses.”p 29How much more severe a punishment do you think that person deserves who tramples on God’s Son, treats as common the blood of the covenant by which itq was sanctified, and insults the Spirit of grace? 30For we know the one who said, “Vengeance belongs to me; I will pay them back,”r and again, “The Lords will judge his people.”t 31It is a terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living God!

32But you must continue to remember those earlier days, how after you were enlightened you endured a hard and painful struggle. 33At times you were made a public spectacle by means of insults and persecutions, while at other times you associated with people who were treated this way. 34For you sympathizedu with the prisoners and cheerfully submitted to the violent seizure of your property, because you know that you have a better and more permanent possession.

35So don’t lose your confidence, since it holds a great reward for you. 36For you need endurance, so that after you have done God’s will you can receive what he has promised. 37For
“in a very little while
the one who is coming will return—
he will not delay;
38but my righteous one will live by faith,
and if he turns back,
my soul will take no pleasure in him.v
39Now, we do not belong to those who turn back and are destroyed, but to those who have faith and are saved. (Please note: Hebrews is addressed to one group by Paul. That group is  "my brothers", yet he warns them of turning back.) 


                         You Are My All In All


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