People who want half-fare ticket’s to heaven, paying only in faith without works, without faith, must remember that it is distinctly printed on all such tickets, that the company assumes no liability in case of disaster. A man travels on cheap fare at his own eternal risk. “Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead.”
Heb 6:1 Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God,
Heb 6:2 Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment.
Heb 6:3 And this will we do, if God permit.
Heb 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,
Heb 6:5 And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come,
Heb 6:6 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.
Heb 6:7 For the earth which drinketh in the rain that cometh oft upon it, and bringeth forth herbs meet for them by whom it is dressed, receiveth blessing from God:
Heb 6:8 But that which beareth thorns and briers is rejected, and is nigh unto cursing; whose end is to be burned.
Heb 6:9 But, beloved, we are persuaded better things of you, and things that accompany salvation, though we thus speak.
Heb 6:10 For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have shewed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister.
Heb 6:11 And we desire that every one of you do shew the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end:
Heb 6:12 That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises.
In contemplation of these verses this morning a beautiful word picture has developed for me! In todays language Paul is saying: “If God permits, we will do this! We will leave off preaching the death, resurrection, and accession of Christ, we want to show you how to truly repent from your works of sin and have a repentance that need not be repented of; we want to spend our time teaching you how to become partakers of the divine nature and how to escape the corruptions that are in the world through lust. For if we truly have accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour in our lives we are not going to go back to repeating those dead works. For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love which you do in His name, because of your deep love for Him. So serve one another! And our desire is that you will continue in good works until Jesus comes. Don’t be slothful, work hard and through your faith (Which is an action verb not a passive mental accent to some doctrine or creed) you will inherit the promises.”
Let us heed Paul’s admonition and not repeat the same prayers of “Lord forgive my sins of the past!” But let us trust that He has already forgiven that which we have asked pardon for, and live a life of freedom from sin through the power of the indwelling Spirit of God. Then be faithful to minister to the saints and do all we can to encourage and help the fallen.
Blessings from the Most Holy Place above, where Christ our great High Priest is nearly finished with the bookwork. Praise Him!!! How shall we stand?