guilty by association

Although that clever line (once heard in a Linkin Park song) means something different than what I'm referring too, stick around and you'll understand.

We've been going through Hebrews and for the past 3 weeks we've been in chapter 6. Our leader (Mr. Brad Cockrell) has said that this is one of the most controversial passages of scripture in the bible. Naturally everyone in class was curious as to why. He explained that many people don't know whether the author is talking to Christians or Jews that have not yet accepted Christ. Here is the scripture so we're on the same page

"therefore let us move beyond the elementary teachings about Christ and be taken forward to maturity, not laying again the foundation of repentance from acts that lead to death, and of faith in God, instruction about cleansing rites, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead and eternal judgement. And God permitting, we will do so. It is impossible for those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, who have shared in the Holy Spirit, who have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the coming age and who have fallen away, to be brought back to repentance."

this is as far as we've gotten but I want to break this down. When first reading this without understanding completely I was under the impression that the author was addressing Christian's who have accepted Christ and tasted His goodness and then have turned their back on God and fallen away for them to come back to repentance. This would definitely imply that you can loose your salvation...a battle I struggled with for many years.

Now growing up in the Baptist church of course they always preach that 'once saved always saved'. Reading this verse made me think otherwise...but thanks to the Lord revealing to Brad the truth about the scripture I now understand.

Let's start with 'move beyond elementary teachings...' This is talking to the Jews that had not yet believed in their heart that Jesus was Lord. They were still doing the "elementary" things that the old testament had taught them and lists them accordingly (cleansing rites, laying on of hands referring to laying on sins to the sacrifice, resurrection of the dead and eternal judgement, etc). This leads us to the main controversy, 'It is IMPOSSIBLE for for those who have once been enlightened...to be brought back to repentance.' This is not talking about Christians, believers in Christ who have given their lives 100% to the Lord. It is talking about those who affiliate with Christians and Christ, but have not yet made a life changing decision. A good example brought by someone else in our class said it's like wine tasters. They swish the wine around in their mouths but spit it out because they want the taste but they don't want the effect of the wine. This is who this scripture is talking about. People who saw Christ's miracles, who took part in the actions of the Holy Spirit, BUT NEVER GAVE THEIR LIVES TO CHRIST.

When he explained this my mind was literally blown. I felt like so many gray areas were clearing up. Another person came to me and explained that this is why Judas was able to betray Christ. :O WHAT?! oh my gosh! makes sense!! For so long I had wondered why could someone who loved Him, and was a follower of Him turn his back on the one who loves him? Because he was affiliated with Christ, he partook in the miracles, he witnessed everything, but he did not submit to Christ as authority. Man what a revelation. (Hints by title - guilty in Christ's eyes if you're only associated with Him and not surrendered)

Yet, countering this argument you could also ask...well what exactly counts as becoming a Christian? Another point I struggle with against some people in the church. Some are very heavy on, oh you say the prayer and you're a Christian - BAM! The bible says "if you confess with your mouth and believe in your heart that Jesus is Lord you will be saved". That's great and all but there's so much more there. It's not just saying oh ya I believe in God. Proclaiming that Jesus is LORD requires full submission to His authority in your life and laying down everything that you desire in order to do His will. This isn't a I said a prayer when I was 8 years old, but haven't done anything since then to live for Christ, but I'm saved! NO! It's becoming more and more clear to me the people that God will say to "depart from me, for I never knew you". It breaks my heart to have the veil lifted from my eyes and see the lies the enemy has fed many of our brothers and sisters, and how their confession of an 8 year old heart means nothing if your life is empty without a personal relationship with Christ. I will leave with hope though...

There's a story in Luke about a rich man and Lazarus. When the rich man dies he is in hell and sees Lazarus with Abraham in the heavens. He cries out saying please let him dip his finger in water to cool my tongue because I am in agony. But Abraham says that he cannot and that a great chasm has been fixed between them that neither can go to the other. There's a Flyleaf song called Chasm that refers to this exact passage and I want to share the lyrics of the chorus

"please give me something, I'm so thirsty, I'm so thirsty.
oh please, let me warn them, don't you come here, don't bring anyone here.
the chasm isn't fixed yet, drink this water.
drinking ever deeper, Living Water."

the hope is in the last two lines. There is no chasm here on earth between those saved and those not. Those that are living with a blanket over their eyes still have a chance to be won for the Lord. So I leave with this, what are you doing to make a difference? Are you sitting on your couch day after day wasting time while people are dying spiritually? Or are you pouring into people, leaving yourself open and alluring for those who are desperately seeking something more? Be inviting, be open and most of all don't let opportunities pass you up, because you never know when the chasm for someone else might close and the hope they once had is gone.