What about the “If”s in Hebrews?

November 23, 2020 at 3:21 pm | Posted in Uncategorized | 5 Comments
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Question: There are a lot of “if”s in the Book of Hebrews. Many of them make it sound like it’s possible for a Christian to lose his or her salvation. Is it possible that the writer of Hebrews believed that Christians could lose their salvation?

Answer: The author of the Book of Hebrews is the Holy Spirit. The human instrument which He used to write it is not certainly known. For a long time it was believed by most Bible commentators that the Apostle Paul was used to write it, and I still believe that to be the case, although the majority view has changed, and most Bible scholars now believe someone other than Paul was used to write it. Regardless, though, of the identity of the human instrument, the Holy Spirit would not cause or allow the teaching of one book of the Bible to contradict the teaching of other books of the Bible. We need to establish that first and foremost.

By my count, there are 24 “if”s in the Book of Hebrews. Some of them, like Hebrews 3:6, 3:14, 6:6, and 10:38, do deal with the doctrine of the eternal security of the believer, or what some would call the perseverance of the saints.

But Christ as a son over his own house; whose house are we, if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end.

Hebrews 3:6

One of the key themes in Hebrews is that Christ is greater and better than all the Old Testament types which foreshadowed Him. In Hebrews 3:6 the Holy Spirit is showing that Moses was a faithful servant in God’s covenant “house” (the nation of Israel), but Christ is actually the “Son” in His own Father’s true spiritual household of faith, and that we who truly belong to Him will demonstrate our own brotherhood and sonship in that household by continuing to find our hope and joy in Him despite any persecution, trials, or suffering we experience between now and “the end” (the time when our faith becomes sight). This thought is reiterated a few verses later:

For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end;

Hebrews 3:14

Note how the “if”s do not imply that true “house members” and true “partakers” may fail to hold fast to the end. Rather, they indicate that failure to hold fast reveals false converts to be: (1) mere squatters in God’s household and; (2) people who appeared to partake of Christ without really doing so. (This is similar to the thought stated in Colossians 1:23.)

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 6:6

Here the Holy Spirit uses an “if” to illustrate a hypothetical. For those who say that true believers can lose the salvation granted to them by God in Christ, they would have to (in order to be consistent) also admit that “re-salvation” would be impossible. Of course, this would make God a liar, which is the real impossibility – as explicitly stated later in the same chapter (vv. 17-19).

Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him.

Hebrews 10:38

Of course, those who “draw back” demonstrate that that are not the “just.” In other words they were never truly justified, unlike those who have believed “to the saving of the soul,” as shown in the very next verse.

The word “if” can be used in different ways. My daughter likes to play a game called “the floor is lava.” She hops from chair to couch to pillow to desk, trying not to let her feet touch the floor. I tell her that, IF the floor was really lava, I know she wouldn’t be so daring. No one hearing me say that would actually believe that our living room floor might suddenly turn to lava, but it makes a point.

On the other hand, I sometimes tell her, “IF you jump on the couch like that again, you are going to be in trouble.” That gives the “if” a whole different connotation. In a similar way “if” has various applications in Hebrews.

It can be a warning word, as in Hebrews 3:7. God will not be pleased IF we spurn His Word.

It can be a conditional word (Hebrews 3:8). Jesus would not tell us something IF it weren’t true.

It can be a hypothetical word (Hebrews 7:11). IF we could perfectly obey God’s law, we wouldn’t need a Savior. Obviously, it is established throughout Scripture that we can not be perfect, just as it is established that God’s salvation is a gift given by Him to those who are truly saved, and that it is not a gift of temporary life, but of eternal life, which, by its very definition and nature, can never be lost, refused, stolen, rejected, given back, or taken away.

Is Saul Also Among the Prophets?

November 19, 2020 at 3:32 pm | Posted in I Samuel | 6 Comments
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I like to point out places in Scripture which might be the origin of, or would at least remind us of, some common expression. For example, the saying about “the blind leading the blind” comes from Matthew Chapter 5. The expression, “You can see the handwriting on the wall,” is from Daniel Chapter 5.

In the first few chapters of I Samuel, we see several humorous events by which God showed not only His own people, but their enemies, the Philistines, that He is sovereign and far above the limitations of man to do His will.

In Chapter 5 the Philistines had captured the Ark of the Covenant, the symbol of God’s presence on earth among His people. They placed the Ark in their temple before a statue of their false god, Dagon. However…

And when they of Ashdod arose early on the morrow, behold, Dagon was fallen upon his face to the earth before the ark of the LORD. And they took Dagon, and set him in his place again.

I Samuel 5:3

The next day, not only was the statue of Dagon lying prostrate before the Ark, but nearby were its chopped-off hands and head! We might say that ol’ Dagon certainly experienced some “ups and downs.”

By Chapter 6 the Ark had caused so much trouble that the Philistines were ready to get rid of it. But their lords and priests had other ideas. They wanted to appease the God of the Ark without the actual embarrassment of sending it back to the Israelites, so they hooked it up to a cart pulled by two milk cows which had just given birth. These animals’ natural instinct would have been to turn around and go right back to their calves. However…

And the kine took the straight way to the way of Bethshemesh, and went along the highway, lowing as they went, and turned not aside to the right hand or to the left; and the lords of the Philistines went after them unto the border of Bethshemesh.

I Samuel 6:12

When these cows arrived in Bethshemesh, they were killed for burnt sacrifices by the Israelites. One might wonder how long the Philistines waited to see if their cows would return. Perhaps they decided to go back and worship their false god, Dagon “until the cows come home.”

The Bible does not tell us whether these phrases became proverbs among the Philistines, but it does tell of a proverb that became popular among the Israelites. In Chapter 10 the people of Israel got their wish. They wanted a human king so they would be like the other nations, and now they had one. His name was Saul, and one of the signs given to him by Samuel that God was with him as king occurred when he encountered a company of prophets.

And when they came thither to the hill, behold, a company of prophets met him; and the Spirit of God came upon him, and he prophesied among them. And it came to pass, when all that knew him beforetime saw that, behold, he prophesied among the prophets, then the people said one to another, What is this that is come unto the son of Kish? Is Saul also among the prophets? And one of the same place answered and said, But who is their father? Therefore it became a proverb, Is Saul also among the prophets?

I Samuel 10:10-12

Apparently, Saul had not been known as an especially spiritual person. This expression, which became a proverb – “Is Saul also among the prophets?” – came to be used when someone unexpectedly stepped totally out of character. Here was Saul, the son of Kish, the quiet country farmer from the tribe of Benjamin, suddenly worshipping and proclaiming the Word of the Lord enthusiastically! Would the people you know at work, or the people who only know you outside of church, be surprised to see you in Sunday School? When you sing a praise song to the Lord are you acting completely outside of your normal character? The marks of spiritual maturity are steadfastness and consistency.

Hiding Among the Stuff

November 17, 2020 at 10:52 am | Posted in I Samuel | 6 Comments
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Saul had been anointed king but nobody other than Samuel knew about it yet. There were three signs that would let Samuel know he was really king.

One, His father’s missing donkeys had been found and returned. This would let Saul know that God can solve your problems. (Saul would turn out to be something of a control freak.)

When thou art departed from me to day, then thou shalt find two men by Rachel’s sepulchre in the border of Benjamin at Zelzah; and they will say unto thee, The asses which thou wentest to seek are found: and, lo, thy father hath left the care of the asses, and sorroweth for you, saying, What shall I do for my son?

I Samuel 10:2

The King James Bible translates the Hebrew word for donkey as “ass,” which is often a source of humor in Sunday School classes today. Forgive me for being irreverent, but Saul needed to learn to let God cover his a**.

The second sign was that at Tabor three pilgrims would meet Saul and feed him. He needed to learn that God could meet his needs. He would later have an issue hoarding up the enemy’s goods he was supposed to destroy.

Then shalt thou go on forward from thence, and thou shalt come to the plain of Tabor, and there shall meet thee three men going up to God to Bethel, one carrying three kids, and another carrying three loaves of bread, and another carrying a bottle of wine:

I Samuel 10:3

The third sign would be that Saul would meet some prophets and join them in worshiping. He needed to learn that God could give him power to do something he wouldn’t normally do. God would equip him for service. Saul would have a problem later with relying on his own power or seeking power somewhere else.

After that thou shalt come to the hill of God, where is the garrison of the Philistines: and it shall come to pass, when thou art come thither to the city, that thou shalt meet a company of prophets coming down from the high place with a psaltery, and a tabret, and a pipe, and a harp, before them; and they shall prophesy:  And the Spirit of the LORD will come upon thee, and thou shalt prophesy with them, and shalt be turned into another man.

I Samuel 10:5-6

And it came to pass, when all that knew him beforetime saw that, behold, he prophesied among the prophets, then the people said one to another, What is this that is come unto the son of Kish? Is Saul also among the prophets?  And one of the same place answered and said, But who is their father? Therefore it became a proverb, Is Saul also among the prophets?

I Samuel 10:11-12

The expression, “Is Saul also among the prophets?” came to mean suddenly stepping out of character and doing something unexpected.

After this Saul went back home to the farm. He was supposed to await word from Samuel to meet him at Gilgal. Samuel preached and then called Saul to come forward, but where was he?

When he had caused the tribe of Benjamin to come near by their families, the family of Matri was taken, and Saul the son of Kish was taken: and when they sought him, he could not be found.  Therefore they enquired of the LORD further, if the man should yet come thither. And the LORD answered, Behold, he hath hid himself among the stuff.

I Samuel 10:21-22

This must have been embarassing for Saul. Imagine being called on in church to come forward, only to be found hiding in the kitchen. Some people who are unfaithful in church attendance are hiding out of fear, knowing that the preaching of God’s Word will produce conviction over their sin, but some, like Saul, are probably also hiding among the “stuff.” They are working on home improvement projects or trying to earn extra money to acquire more, or nicer, material possessions.

Saul had trouble accepting leadership because he was ruled by his emotions – whether it was fear, anger, or jealousy.

The Depths of Wisdom

November 12, 2020 at 11:18 am | Posted in Job | 2 Comments
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Job was confounded and exasperated. You would be too if you were getting harassed by your “friends” the way that he was. He began to point out some of the wickedness in the world that seems to go unpunished.

Men groan from out of the city, and the soul of the wounded crieth out: yet God layeth not folly to them.

Job 24:12

Injustice in the city, wickedness in the country, oppressors of the poor, murderers, adulterers, thieves: Where is God while all this is going on? My best friend in elementary school still believed in Santa Claus several years after I found out the truth. I was under strict instructions not to spill the beans, but one day in the second grade, walking home after school, some junior high age kids were lying in wait to bully us. They began to taunt my friend over the fact that Santa Claus wasn’t real. When he stuck to his guns, they challenged him with this question: “If Santa Claus is real, why doesn’t he bring food to all those starving kids in Africa? Huh?” After the confrontation I tried to console him with the explanation that Santa was strictly in the toy business, and that world hunger was beyond his pay grade, but the damage had been done; my buddy’s worldview had been seriously shaken. Sadly, some people are skeptical about God’s existence, or at least his goodness, based on this same line of reasoning. The mistaken idea that sinful people would be better off under a system of meritorious reward-and-punishment fails to take into account our true nature as fallen human beings, and God’s grace and mercy. Bildad fell into this error in Job Chapter 25, warning Job to stop claiming to be righteous, but in Chapter 26 Job responded by admitting that God is in control of everything. He did not want to accuse God of allowing his afflictions and hardships because He had fallen asleep on the job, or was incapable of controlling the situation.

He stretcheth out the north over the empty place, and hangeth the earth upon nothing.

Job 26:7

The Bible stated that the Earth was suspended in space way before this idea was scientifically explained or accepted.

He bindeth up the waters in his thick clouds; and the cloud is not rent under them.

Job 26:8

God controls the weather. Jesus said, “Peace, be still,” and the storm ended. God created all the elements and everything in nature, and He can control them.

In Chapter 27 Job began to warn his friends about judging him.

Let mine enemy be as the wicked, and he that riseth up against me as the unrighteous.

Job 27:7

If Job turned out to be right, and if God justified him, then his accusers would fall into the category of the ones that they said deserved punishment. Then he started to teach them a lesson:

I will teach you by the hand of God: that which is with the Almighty will I not conceal.

Job 27:11

Some people feel so much guilt over their past that they think they can’t do anything for God. If God has allowed you to suffer, He’s given you a gift. Don’t be a bad steward of that gift. Share the lessons you’ve learned, and the wisdom and patience you’ve gained through suffering, with others.

Job and his friends were pretty much at a stalemate by Chapter 28. There may have been other people around, too. Job made it clear that he was tired of their so-called “wisdom.” He began to compare wisdom to precious jewels and metals mined from the earth. To achieve their full value these metals must be purified, refined. That’s how man’s wisdom is. If a man is going to be truly wise, then God must refine that wisdom.

Surely there is a vein for the silver, and a place for gold where they fine it. Iron is taken out of the earth, and brass is molten out of the stone.

Job 28:1-2

But where shall wisdom be found? and where is the place of understanding? Man knoweth not the price thereof; neither is it found in the land of the living.

Job 28:12-13

God understandeth the way thereof, and he knoweth the place thereof.

Job 28:23

Before we can teach anybody else, or even before we can understand ourselves, we’ve got to acknowledge that all true wisdom comes from God. We’ve got to acknowledge that He’s almighty, and that any wisdom we impart to others is by His hand.

For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is.

I Corinthians 3:11-:13 

Man’s wisdom is like wood, hay, and stubble. It’s easy to find, cheap, plentiful, and highly flammable. But if we go down deeper, we’ll find gold, silver, and precious stones. These are more valuable and rare, but only useful if they’ve been refined. Below them all is the True Foundation – the Rock.

The Church’s one foundation
Is Jesus Christ her Lord,
She is His new creation
By water and the Word.
From heaven He came and sought her
To be His holy bride;
With His own blood He bought her
And for her life He died.

S.J. Stone

That was Job’s conclusion was on the subject of wisdom:

And unto man he said, Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding.

Job 28:28

If I don’t fear God enough to obey him, then I’m a fool, plain and simple. If I don’t have enough sense to come in out of the rain when it’s raining evil, then I’m just a soaking wet idiot with only myself to blame. Pray to God and ask Him for wisdom.

The Leadership Style of Jesus?

November 9, 2020 at 3:22 pm | Posted in Uncategorized | 2 Comments
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Question: What kind of leadership style did Jesus use? It seems like a good leader would want a group of advisers to criticize him regularly, rather than just yes-men. Also, a good leader does not want to make followers; he wants to make new leaders.

Answer: This is tricky, because there are a ton of leadership books, and several of them use Jesus as a role model for leadership. I don’t have the time to read them all, and I’m sure some of them make some really good points.

HOWEVER, Jesus did not come into this world for the purpose of demonstrating the preferred method for starting a business, leading a corporation, directing an organization, or spear-heading a “movement.” He came into this world to live a sinless life, teach the truth, reveal God to mankind, die for the sins of His people, rise from the grave, and ascend back into Heaven.

I could probably, if I was so inclined, take some tested and successful business leadership rules and foist them onto the way Jesus led His Disciples, but, remember, He did not ask for their input when He bluntly said, “Follow Me” (Matthew 4:19, 8:22; 9:9; Mark 2:14; Luke 5:37, 9:59, 18:22; John 1:43, 21:19). He did not take a consensus of opinions when determining to carry out the will of His Father (John 4:32-34). He did not manipulate the Disciples into “letting Him lead” them. Proverbs 11:14 says there is safety in a multitude of counsellors, but, when it comes to obeying the Word and the will of God, Jesus did not see any benefit in getting input from the Disciples. Once, when Peter tried to rebuke Jesus and to show that he wasn’t just a “yes-man,” Jesus called Him Satan (Mark 8:31-33)! And, while you might make the argument that Jesus commissioned His followers to become leaders themselves, He reminded them that all the ultimate authority would always remain with Him, and that they were never to stop following Him (Matthew 28:18-20).

When Recitation Time Becomes Shoutin’ Time

November 5, 2020 at 11:25 am | Posted in Joshua | 3 Comments
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Now these are the kings of the land, which the children of Israel smote, and possessed their land on the other side Jordan toward the rising of the sun, from the river Arnon unto mount Hermon, and all the plain on the east:

Joshua 12:1

Joshua Chapter 12 reads, at least at first glance, like a mere itemization of the kings and cities which Joshua and his people had managed to defeat, but it starts out talking about victories that happened way before the crossing of the Jordan and the victory of Jericho.

Sihon king of the Amorites, who dwelt in Heshbon, and ruled from Aroer, which is upon the bank of the river Arnon, and from the middle of the river, and from half Gilead, even unto the river Jabbok, which is the border of the children of Ammon;

Joshua 12:2

And the coast of Og king of Bashan, which was of the remnant of the giants, that dwelt at Ashtaroth and at Edrei,

Joshua 12:4

These victories went back to the time of Moses. Sihon and Og were mighty kings who had been defeated on the eastern side of the Jordan.

Them did Moses the servant of the Lord and the children of Israel smite: and Moses the servant of the Lord gave it for a possession unto the Reubenites, and the Gadites, and the half tribe of Manasseh.

Joshua 12:6

Two and a half tribes of the 12 tribes of Israel would continue living on what might not technically be the “promised” land of Canaan proper, but would nevertheless be a fertile and blessed location. It was very wise for the Holy Spirit to have Joshua remind the people (and us) of their importance. Sadly, as Christians, we still struggle at times with a spirit of divisiveness or factionalism. We have a human tendency toward cliqueishness and alliance-forming. Please remember that God’s Church – and the local church to which you belong – is not made up of identical carbon copies. The worldwide Christian Church includes people from all nationalities, locations, and different cultures. The local church to which you belong might very well be made up of people from different backgrounds, economic classes, skin colors, and even secondary beliefs. The eastern tribes were still Israelites, still God’s people. Fellow Christians who disagree with you on what to wear, styles of music, or some worship preferences, are still your brothers and sisters in Christ. Some things can’t be peaceably disagreed upon in ministry – Jesus as God, the Virgin Birth, the Bible as the Word of God, God as creator of the world – but don’t try to exclude true Christians who don’t think about every questionable issue exactly like you do.

Starting in Joshua 12:7,  the rest of the chapter is a list of conquered kings and geographical areas that were conquered, and, despite a little poetical flair at the beginning, you could be excused for thinking this is somewhat tedious…

In the mountains, and in the valleys, and in the plains, and in the springs, and in the wilderness, and in the south country; the Hittites, the Amorites, and the Canaanites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites: The king of Jericho, one; the king of Ai, which is beside Bethel, one; The king of Jerusalem, one; the king of Hebron, one; The king of Jarmuth, one; the king of Lachish, one; The king of Eglon, one; the king of Gezer, one;

Joshua 12:8-12

… and so forth. If you were called upon – as a somewhat disinterested third party – to pray a public prayer of thanksgiving about these tremendous, miraculous, victorious blessings, these fulfillments of ancient promises, these wonderful works of God, you might just say, “Thank You, Lord, for all that You’ve done. Thank You for giving those people victory over Canaan.” I know I’m guilty of praying that way at times. However, if you or your loved ones had been in the actual battles, if you personally stood to inherit Arad or Adullam or Bethel, you wouldn’t be so concise or cavalier. Let somebody ask me about the time God healed my daughter, or the time my wife and I didn’t know how we would pay our house note or buy groceries until God suddenly provided, or the time we went to 14 churches trying to find out where God wanted us to be until He brought us to the perfect place for us, or the time that He arranged the complex and intricate surgery that saved me from going blind! Somebody who didn’t know me or hadn’t experienced those things with me might get bored hearing me recite the things God has done in my life, but I wouldn’t! Part of Joshua 12 may seem about as inspiring as a grocery list or as exciting as the outline for an AP History study guide to some people, but it’s really a praise song! We might read it in a monotone, but for Joshua and the Israelites, this was shoutin’ time! For the Israelites standing victoriously in Canaan land, this was like a combination of your most exciting childhood Christmas morning and the reading of your rich uncle’s will in which he gave you the best property you could ever dream of having. This is like the day you tore up your mortgage or the day one of your children for whom you had been praying for decades finally came to Christ! Maybe we should be more specific, detail-oriented, and even long-winded in our prayers – both the requests and the thanksgiving sections.

Donkey King

November 2, 2020 at 1:43 pm | Posted in I Samuel | 10 Comments
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During the 20 years which passed between I Samuel Chapters 7 and 8 the people recognized Samuel as God’s prophet and judge. When he grew old he made his sons judges, too, but this did not turn out the way Samuel would have wanted.

And his sons walked not in his ways, but turned aside after lucre, and took bribes, and perverted judgment. Then all the elders of Israel gathered themselves together, and came to Samuel unto Ramah, And said unto him, Behold, thou art old, and thy sons walk not in thy ways: now make us a king to judge us like all the nations.

I Samuel 8:3-5

This ostensibly contributed to the people’s desire for a human king to rule over them, but God knew the real reaon for this wish was:

That we also may be like all the nations; and that our king may judge us, and go out before us, and fight our battles.

I Samuel 8:20

God’s people are not supposed to “be like” other people. Israel was supposed to be an “example” to its neighbors. Don’t listen to people who call you judgmental because you are not tolerant of sin. Israel had one God. They had God’s Law. They sacrificed to Him in certain prescribed ways. They dressed a certain way. They had laws concerning their hair and not mutilating their bodies. They were supposed to be different from pagans in their hearts, their deeds, and their appearance. As the Church, we must not use the world’s methods to do God’s work.

Samuel warned the people: you can do what want, but you will have to live with the consequences.

And he said, This will be the manner of the king that shall reign over you: He will take your sons, and appoint [them] for himself, for his chariots, and [to be] his horsemen; and [some] shall run before his chariots. And he will take your daughters to be confectionaries, and to be cooks, and to be bakers. And he will take your fields, and your vineyards, and your oliveyards, even the best of them, and give them to his servants.

I Samuel 8:11-14

He will take the tenth of your sheep: and ye shall be his servants. And ye shall cry out in that day because of your king which ye shall have chosen you; and the LORD will not hear you in that day.

I Samuel 8:17-18

Why wouldn’t they listen?  Because, in their minds, they had seen this king thing work with other people.

Saul was Israel’s first human king. Outwardly, he looked like the ideal king, and he did have some good characteristics. However, there was no evidence of inwared spirituality. David – the king who would ultimately succeed Saul – is identifed in the Bible with sheep, but Saul is identified with donkeys.

And he had a son, whose name was Saul, a choice young man, and a goodly: and there was not among the children of Israel a goodlier person than he: from his shoulders and upward he was higher than any of the people. And the asses of Kish Saul’s father were lost. And Kish said to Saul his son, Take now one of the servants with thee, and arise, go seek the asses.

I Samuel 9:2-3

Donkeys are stubborn, willful, and disobedient.


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