Tag: saved

We are made Partakers of Christ

~ iolaHC ~ Leave a comment

Hebrews 3:14-19 For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end; While it is said, To day if you will hear his voice, harden not your hearts, as in the provocation. For some, when they had heard, did provoke: howbeit not all that came out of Egypt by Moses. But with whom was he grieved forty years? was it not with them that had sinned, whose carcases fell in the wilderness? And to whom sware he that they should not enter into his rest, but to them that believed not? So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief. 

‘For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end.’ After warning Christians that they can fall into sin and apostasy and be cut off from God by sin, as Israel was, the apostle lays down the condition they must meet to be finally saved. It is to hold the original “confidence stedfast unto the end.”

‘To day if you will hear his voice, harden not your hearts, as in the provocation.’ This is the 12th Old Testament prophecy in Hebrews (3:15; Ps. 95:7-8) and it is fulfilled. This is the third time today is used to emphasize it is the present – NOW – when God’s voice is heard (3:7, 13, 15). Make the best of time while you have it; listen to God.

‘Sware he that they should not enter into his rest.’ God still swears that: The soul that sinned, shall surely die (Ezek. 18:4). Whosoever sinned against Me, him will I blot out of My book (Ex. 32:32-33; Rev. 3:5; 22:19). When a righteous man sins he will die for his iniquity (Ezek. 18:26; 33:18). The wages of sin is death (Rom. 6:23; 8:12-13; Gal. 5:21; 6:7-8). If you live after the flesh you will die (Rom. 8:12-13). The unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God (1Cor. 6:9-11). If any man defiles the temple of God, him shall God destroy (1Cor. 3:17; 6:9-11; Rom. 8:12-13; Rev. 21:8). They which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God (Gal. 5:19-21). They that commit such things are worthy of death (Rom. 1:21-32). If we deny Him he also will deny us (2Thess. 2:12). Every man will be judged according to his deeds (Rom. 2:6). He that sowed to the flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption (Gal. 6:7-8). These scriptures and many others like them apply to everybody. God is under oath to enforce these laws regardless of who is guilty, a sinner or a professing Christian.

According to the Scriptures

~ iolaHC ~ Leave a comment

1Corinthians 15:1-4 Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also you have received, and wherein you stand; By which also you are saved, if you keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless you have believed in vain. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures… 

‘The gospel which I preached unto you, which also you have received, and wherein you stand.’ Man’s five-fold responsibility to the gospel: It must be studied, as preached by the apostles through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit (15:1; Mark 16:15). It must be received (15:1; John 1:12). It must be obeyed (15:1; Rom. 1:5; 6:17). It must be kept in memory – held fast (15:2; Heb. 3:6; 10:23; 12:14). It must be believed from the heart that will lead to obedience to every command and a life conformed to Christ’s image (15:2; Rom. 1:16; 10:9-10; John 3:16-20; 1Pet. 2:21-23).

‘By which also you are saved’ – Four main parts to the gospel of salvation: Death of Christ (15:3; 4:14-21; Rom. 5:6-10; Col. 1:20; Heb. 9:15); burial of Christ (15:4; Matt. 26:12; John 12:7; Rom. 6:4; Col. 2:12); resurrection of Christ (15:4, 12; Rom. 14:9; 2Cor. 5:15; 1Thess. 4:14); manifestation of Christ after the resurrection (15:5-8).

‘Keep in memory’ [Greek: katecho] holdfast.

‘What I preached unto you.’ What Paul preached – by the unction of the Holy Spirit – included in the four main parts to the gospel of salvation.

‘Believed in vain’ – It is possible to believe in vain or to no purpose (Luke 8:13; Jas. 2:19).

‘According to the scriptures’ – referring here to how that Christ died for our sins as quoted in Psalm 16:10; 22:1; Isaiah 52:14; and 53:1-12.

‘According to the scriptures’ referring here His burial and resurrection on the third day as quoted in Psalm 16:10; Isaiah 53:12; Jonah 1:17; Matthew 12:40 and Luke 11:29.