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An influential Republican senator has called Jerusalem the capital of Israel, taking a stand on an explosive issue between Israel and the Palestinians. http://www.worthynews.com/top/news-yahoo-com-us-senator-calls-jerusalem-israels-capital-173044214-html/

I agree, Hebrews 6 definitely deserves close attention. If the author of Hebrews is indeed propounding that eternal salvation can be lost, the situation is even more serious than many realize. Hebrews 6:4 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, 5 And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, 6 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. I have met many Christians who believe that eternal salvation can be lost; however, I have met very few that believe that salvation, once lost, cannot be regained again. However, (if the author is propounding that eternal salvation can be lost) this is exactly what is asserted in Hebrews, "It is impossible....to renew them again unto repentance". Following this line, it can be deduced that a believer, take King David, for instance, is sizziling in Hell as we speak. He denied his Lord by his evil works I.e. murdering Uriah and stealing his wife -- and not only this, he lived in a state of unrepented sin for almost a whole year. How can this be, when it is taken into account that David is called, later in the Bible, a "man after God's own heart"? A man after God's own heart that is damned? The thought (for me) is almost inconceivable. Of course, I don't believe that the previous interpretation of Hebrews 6:4-6 is the correct one. The author of Hebrews is not speaking of a person who has lost their eternal salvation; simply of one who has lost the ability to repent. This is corroborated elsewhere in Scripture. Paul spoke of some believers whose sin was so grave that the church should: ...deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus. 1 Corinthians 5:5 Note that he says "that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus"; the person lost his/her life, not eternal salvation.

Paul Volcker and Zbigniew Brezinski both stated that American's standard of living has to be reduced, for globalization to succed. America's free trade agreements are not free. They are a form of collectivism, by distributing jobs to third world countries or also known as the 'race to the bottom.' America is just catching up with the problems the EU has been experiencing. France and Germany both told the people that they must accept lower wages and decreased benefits otherwise jobs would be shipped overseas. What was suggested to preserve jobs there? Lower the minimum wage. Along with our decreasing economy affecting the chain stores is the growth of internet shopping. One can get a better selection without having to drive around. Customers who have purchased the same object give their reviews and often save the individual headaches.

I love this song!! I think I have it on my ipod? Thank you for sharing it! God bless you!!! Hallelujah!!

I'd like to bring up a couple of things as food for thought... The scripture teaches that when we were born again, we were literally "purchased" by the blood of Christ on the cross. 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 says: Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s. (emphasis mine). 1 Corinthians 7:22-24 reiterates this thought: For he who is called in the Lord while a slave is the Lord’s freedman. Likewise he who is called while free is Christ’s slave. You were bought at a price; do not become slaves of men. Brethren, let each one remain with God in that state in which he was called. (emphasis mine). Again, the Apostles in the scripture refer to themselves as "doulos" translated variously as "slave", "bondslave", "bondservant", etc. There are several words for "slave" in Greek...and I find it very telling that the word they use (doulos) is that most abject form of slavery wherein one's own will is overshadowed by the will of the master. In the Old Testament we see the "bondslave". In Exodus 21:5-7 and Deuteronomy 15:16-18 we see the law of the bondservant...that once one made the decision to become a bondservant and have his ear pierced by the awl...he became a slave forever to his master...he could never walk away nor be sold. If we accept that the OT foreshadows the NT, then I propose that when we bowed our knee at the foot of the cross and were born-again as children of God, that we had "our ears pierced by the awl" and became His forever. Even the word "Christian" rightly translated means "slave of Christ". So then, tying this all together the question(s) would be: At what point do we as Christians out sin God's ability to forgive? At what point does Grace no longer abound? At what point does God, having purchased us with such a terrible price, sell us back to Satan?

Unfortunitely you are probably right. I wish I knew for sure where this is really all headed so I could run the other way. The answer isn't where to run. It is how to stand. Pro 28:1 The wicked flee when no man pursueth: but the righteous are bold as a lion. May Christ give you all you need as the night falls upon us. Peace in Christ Sam.

Forgive me. For I have not dived into this thread much to say the least, but a question for those who believe Hebrews was not talking about the 'saved'. Were the following people saved: 2 Corinthians 13:5 Can we fail the test? 1 Timothy 1:19-20 Hymenaeus and Alexander -- shipwrecked? 2 Timothy 1:14 all in Asia James 5:19-20 brethren straying from the truth? 2 Peter 2:14-15; 20-22 the righteous returning to their vomit? 3 John 9-10

What does this mean? Heb 6:4-8 NASB (4) For in the case of those who have once been enlightened and have tasted of the heavenly gift and have been made partakers of the Holy Spirit, (5) and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come, (6) and then have fallen away, it is impossible to renew them again to repentance, since they again crucify to themselves the Son of God and put Him to open shame. (7) For ground that drinks the rain which often falls on it and brings forth vegetation useful to those for whose sake it is also tilled, receives a blessing from God; (8) but if it yields thorns and thistles, it is worthless and close to being cursed, and it ends up being burned. Zoom in on the word "tasted" (geuomai in Greek) is the same word for Jesus tasting the gall on a sponge that was offered him on the cross with a stick. Matthew 27:34 (KJV) 34 They gave him vinegar to drink mingled with gall: and when he had tasted thereof, he would not drink. The passage in Hebrews refers to those who never drank of the Holy Spirit but only tasted. In other passages the Lord Jesus referred to those whose seed fell on rocky soil etc and did not grow root. Bottom line... these were never saved to begin with.

1 John 2:1-2 (NASB95) 1 My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous; 2 and He Himself is the propitiation for our sins; and not for ours only, but also for those of the whole world. My little children, ...written to believers I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. ...the divine intent And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous; ...practical application of fallen mankind with the imputed righteousness of Jesus Christ and He Himself is the propitiation for our sins; and not for ours only, but also for those of the whole world. ...the vastness of this account Christ created for mankind opens the availability of forgiveness to all But only those who receive it (accept it) will be saved. 1 Timothy 4:10 (NASB95) 10 For it is for this we labor and strive, because we have fixed our hope on the living God, who is the Savior of all men, especially of believers. The Savior of all men (potential) especially (or particularly) those who believe (actual). Once saved... you cannot sin your way out of salvation: 1 Corinthians 5:5 (NASB95) 5 I have decided to deliver such a one to Satan for the destruction of his flesh, so that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus. ...you cannot be taken from Jesus: John 10:27-29 (NASB95) 27 “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me; 28 and I give eternal life to them, and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of My hand. 29 “My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand. ...you will not walk away: Jeremiah 32:40 (NASB95) 40 “I will make an everlasting covenant with them that I will not turn away from them, to do them good; and I will put the fear of Me in their hearts so that they will not turn away from Me. In fact, if you could do these things, it proves you were never saved in the first place: 1 John 2:19 (NASB95) 19 They went out from us, but they were not really of us; for if they had been of us, they would have remained with us; but they went out, so that it would be shown that they all are not of us. The real question is... Are you TRULY saved?