Two Groups of People

[Coliseum]

If I may @Heleadethme, take a moment to share some thoughts regarding this passage that you quoted: "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, And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, 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."

Part of a problem I see sometimes is bringing too much into an argument, so my hope is to unravel this thought you expressed above. During that time, these hearers were not Christians but Jews who were just starting to hear the Apostles talk about this Christ who was coming onto the scene. Ever been to a grocery store and you are given a small portion of food on a toothpick to taste? These were Jews being given a taste of something they never heard before. But the problem is that many of them didn't want to go buy the whole meal. They tasted, and said, "Eh! It's ok, but I'm not convinced." These were Jews that were still sacrificing animals in the Temple, and were saying, "Nah. What these guys are saying sounds ok, but it's not good enough for me. I'm going back to the official place of worship I was brought up under and remain, doing the things I was taught." "Eh! Ok, but no cigar. I just can't believe it." It was their hearing the Word, but not believing it---tasting it, but not buying into it---unwilling to turn to God and accept His grace. These passages were not meant for Christians who are believers, who tasted the Word, repented, and bought the whole meal. You cannot be part of God's elect---a Christian---and not be a Christian simultaneously. You either believe, or you don't. These were Jews first hearing, and many not turning in repentance to God's grace. How then could they expect anything more. They were turning back to their old way, their old sacrificial system when the greatest sacrifice was in front of them. What greater was there?

[George]

2 hours ago, Margo1945 said:

quite frankly, many I have gotten to know here show NO signs of being saved .. some show signs but many do not .. my opinion based on some I have gotten to know here .. believing in Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour is not all that is needed .. it is the beginning only 

You really should get out of the judging someone's salvation business ... its post like this that get reported for good reason.  I'm leaving this up for educational purposes only. 

[Alive]

2 minutes ago, Coliseum said:

If I may @Heleadethme, take a moment to share some thoughts regarding this passage that you quoted: "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, And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, 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."

Part of a problem I see sometimes is bringing too much into an argument, so my hope is to unravel this thought you expressed above. During that time, these hearers were not Christians but Jews who were just starting to hear the Apostles talk about this Christ who was coming onto the scene. Ever been to a grocery store and you are given a small portion of food on a toothpick to taste? These were Jews being given a taste of something they never heard before. But the problem is that many of them didn't want to go buy the whole meal. They tasted, and said, "Eh! It's ok, but I'm not convinced." These were Jews that were still sacrificing animals in the Temple, and were saying, "Nah. What these guys are saying sounds ok, but it's not good enough for me. I'm going back to the official place of worship I was brought up under and remain, doing the things I was taught." "Eh! Ok, but no cigar. I just can't believe it." It was their hearing the Word, but not believing it---tasting it, but not buying into it---unwilling to turn to God and accept His grace. These passages were not meant for Christians who are believers, who tasted the Word, repented, and bought the whole meal. You cannot be part of God's elect---a Christian---and not be a Christian simultaneously. You either believe, or you don't. These were Jews first hearing, and many not turning in repentance to God's grace. How then could they expect anything more. They were turning back to their old way, their old sacrificial system when the greatest sacrifice was in front of them. What greater was there?

Very good! I would add that the 'backdrop' to this was the Jews' expectation of the Messiah. This suffering and dying Christ was not the 'messiah' they had been hoping for. They looked for an earthly deliverer and missed the part about the 'atonement'.

[frienduff thaylorde]

8 minutes ago, DustyRoad said:

@Margo1945, you've made it clear that you don't grasp/understand the work of Jesus Christ. Your salvation depends entirely upon YOU... this is what you keep harping on over and over and over and over again. When confronted with scriptures which exposes the false teaching of works salvation you cling to it all the more desperately! Many of us can tell you're in the dark because you keep railing about how those of us who trust in Jesus Christ do "whatever we want because we have it made." Good of you to recognize that the Lord doesn't lose those who belong to him (hence why we do in fact "have it made")... but you're one who assumes evil of EVERYONE.

The blood of Jesus Christ purchased a holy nation for God; he didn't purchase us so we could be saved one moment... lost the next... saved again but WHOOPS!, lost again... that's how it works in Works Land. 

Did peters salvation depend on HIM .   was peter trusting in himself WHEN he said what he did about working out your own salvation . NO .

Was paul not trusting in JESUS finished work , when he said ,   IF you continue IN HIS GOODNESS otherwise YOU TOO will be cut off .   NO .

There are many other warnings in that bible , and they are given us for a reason ,  SO WE HEED THEM and remain FOLLOWING and OBEYING CHRIST who is the savoir , FIRM TO THE END .

FIRM to the end .    That was why there are so many warnings all over that bible . SO we heed them , not omit them , BUT HEED THEM .

GOD desires none to perish ,    GOD knows what will destroy our walk , HE Knows what will harden a heart

So did paul and others .  And its WHY the real ones warned lots to CONTINUE TO THE END .  TO  flee all sin , all evil

to exhort daily lest any DID become hardened through sin .  TO let it not be once named among you as becometh saints .

TO correct fast any who did err , to keep leaven far from the church .   And a whole pattern was set up to keep the church safe and any who did err ,   TO repent .

Sin is deadly and its end is death .  And who we serve ,  IS whose we are .     We need those stern warnings in that bible , BACK AT THE FRONT AGAIN .

Be encouraged dusty .    I pray we will all return to ONLY ,   as in ONLY BIBLE reading .   I promise in time things will become clearer and clearer .

Let us all feast only more and more and only more and more ON ONLY the bible .

Edited December 28, 2019 by frienduff thaylorde

[frienduff thaylorde]

Just now, DustyRoad said:

I know where my salvation, hope, and strength lies: in Jesus Christ, the Son of God and the Lamb without spot or blemish. He's the one who saved me and sent God's Spirit to dwell with me; I'll continue to trust in him. Thanks for the encouragement. 

That's right ,   JESUS alone .

Which brings up another good question .

If any one of us were to look in a phone book we could see same names .   I mean how many men alone have the name of jose rodriguez .     Many do .

But are they all the SAME MAN .

Many today use the name of JESUS , and they believe HE has saved them .  The only problem is ,   IS it another JESUS they follow , OR is it the BIBLICAL JESUS ALONE they follow .

This is no accusation against anyone , not you or any .    ITS JUST TRUTH .

We better KNOW its the real JESUS we love and follow and not the many versions of his name which men through precepts have invented .

Cause those jesuss    cannot save .       LEARN well and well learn those bibles my friends .     AND FOLLOW THE LAMB FAITHFUL unto the end .

[Sower]

1 hour ago, Margo1945 said:

I do not have any clue what you are saying here .. all I know is I responded to a post that was headed with your name just as this one is headed with "7 minutes ago, Sower said:"

"I do not have any clue what you are saying here"

Exactly!   There's the rub.....

[Sower]

You're quiet welcome, Sonshine........

Be not weary in well doing.......

[Firm Foundation]

6 hours ago, Blood Bought 1953 said:

If Church history proves anything, it proves that majority means nothing......the majority is wrong most of the time....the majority of Churches say you must repent of your sins to be saved and that is not even in the Bible....Turning to God ( True Repentance That Saves) and putting your Faith in the Finished Work Of The Cross is what saves......

I am not saying the majority is always right.  I am just saying everyone has the same Bible and we are divided over OSAS.  You are clearly not in the majority.  There is an effort being made to make it appear most believe OSAS, when they don't.

[1to3]

Funny, no one seems to bring up Matthew13 the parable of the sower that our Lord and Savior Christ Jesus personally gave to his disciples, that applies to today as well..

And nobody seems to bring to remembrance the vision John got from  God's Holy Spirit to write down in revelation, you know the warning to the seven churches?  the warning,  the warnings from God .

Rev ch 3

11 I am coming soon. Keep safe what you have, so that no one will rob you of your victory prize. 12 I will make those who are victorious pillars in the temple of my God, and they will never leave it. I will write on them the name of my God and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which will come down out of heaven from my God. I will also write on them my new name. 13 "If you have ears, then, listen to what the Spirit says to the churches! 14 "To the angel of the church in Laodicea write: "This is the message from the Amen, the faithful and true witness, who is the origin of all that God has created. 15 I know what you have done; I know that you are neither cold nor hot. How I wish you were either one or the other! 16 But because you are lukewarm, neither hot nor cold, I am going to spit you out of my mouth! 17 You say, "I am rich and well off; I have all I need.' But you do not know how miserable and pitiful you are! You are poor, naked, and blind. 18 I advise you, then, to buy gold from me, pure gold, in order to be rich. Buy also white clothing to dress yourself and cover up your shameful nakedness. Buy also some ointment to put on your eyes, so that you may see. 19 I rebuke and punish all whom I love. Be in earnest, then, and turn from your sins. 20 Listen! I stand at the door and knock; if any hear my voice and open the door, I will come into their house and eat with them, and they will eat with me. 21 To those who win the victory I will give the right to sit beside me on my throne, just as I have been victorious and now sit by my Father on his throne. 22 "If you have ears, then, listen to what the Spirit says to the churches!"

[Sower]

28 minutes ago, Firm Foundation said:

I am not saying the majority is always right.  I am just saying everyone has the same Bible and we are divided over OSAS.  You are clearly not in the majority.  There is an effort being made to make it appear most believe OSAS, when they don't.

          "I am not saying the majority is always right"
                                     
                          The Majority
                 It's called heard instinct
              There's safety in numbers.

From;  Revival Outside the Walls, stats:
      

 

77% of all Americans believe that personal salvation is a result of good works. 

69% of churchgoers believe that everyone will go to Heaven.

56% of all Americans believe the Holy Spirit is a force but not a person. 

3 out of 4 Christians (74%) seldom have a “spiritual conversation” with anyone. 
52% of all “Christians” believe that non-Christian faiths can lead to eternal life.
More than half of all young people (ages 18-24) don’t believe the Bible is God’s inspired word. 
93% of practicing Christians aren’t comfortable to have a conversation about the Lord with their own grandchildren.
69% of churchgoers believe that everyone will go to heaven.
59% of Millennial's believe that pornography is morally acceptable.  
Half of all Americans have never read the Bible.  
 70% of those attending church one or more times a month never share their faith with a stranger.
51% of U.S. churchgoers say they’ve never heard of the term, “The Great Commission”. 
51% of Americans say the Bible was written for each person to interpret as he or she chooses.
70% unchurched people have never been invited to church in their whole lives.
51% of churchgoers don’t believe that sharing their faith is an essential obligation of their Christian life.  
Nearly half of young Evangelicals (ages 18-29) favor same-sex marriage.
 70% of all young people who grow up in church leave the church by their 20's.
65% of all “Christians” believe there are multiple paths to Heaven.
Almost 50% of all Evangelicals, 18-29 years of age, favor same sex marriage.
Two thirds of those who are 18-34 years of age, do not believe pre-marital sex is ever wrong. 
55% of those attending church at least once a month have not had a 'born again' experience.
More than 50% of all Evangelicals believe there is more than one way to Heaven.  
75% of regular church attenders do not believe that sharing their faith is important.  

                  Being in the majority is no guarantee

Majority may rule on earth, for a time.  Then comes eternity...