Now the just shall live by faith:
but if any man draw back, my soul
shall have no pleasure in him. But
we are not of them who draw back
unto perdition; but of them that
believe to the saving of the soul.
Hebrews 10:38-39
Yesterday I could not write my blog as I had some teeth pulled and a new upper denture put in place: still getting used to having something in my mouth that is not food: Ha!
I do hope your Christmas was a memorable and enjoyable one, and that Jesus was center in your thoughts in the midst of celebration. New Years Day is next: I pray that you celebrate this time to look back and to examine, see what was good and what was not so good and make the changes necessary so that 2016 is good.
Well, that does it, the writer of Hebrews has gone to preaching: faith, a person must have faith for the just will not live by non-faith, but by faith. By this faith and not shrinking back as to turn away from what is known to be pleasing to God will only bring upon that person God's displeasure. What is this "perdition?" The Greek word: "άπώλεκαν" is accusative, singular, and means ruin or loss, destruction, to die, to perish, or a destiny. Those who draw back from God have only perdition in their future. I am not speaking of sins that we commit out of our human nature, or those we commit that we may not be aware of, no, we can repent from those sins for there is no drawing back as those who will not believe. Only those who believe will be saved. Period! Faith comes by hearing, hearing the word of God (Romans 10:17). This faith is a free gift, you cannot earn it (Ephesians 2:8-9). But you can accept the gift and this you do when you believe. This is not some simple belief, not some decision that is of a faith that is not Authentic Christian Faith, for, and this is important, you must by this faith convert: "and side, Verily I say unto you, except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven"(Matthew 18:3). When a person desires to have Authentic Christian Faith, faith in God, that faith must be founded upon the sure word of God not some paraphrase, or added words to Scripture. Sometimes what is translated is not a true translation rather a person(s) preconceived or presupposition that is being written as in the NIV, "Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ' (Romans 10:17, NIV). Or: "So faith follows the thing, in turn the thing heard is through the word about Christ" (Romans 10:17, New World Translation: Jehovah Witnesses).Let us look at the NIV where the word, the word message is not in the original manuscripts, nor is the word "Christ is not in the original manuscripts, Although in some later versions from the 6th century, and from one that is unsure as it is too corrupted to be surely noted as fact, what has been done in the "Critical Text" is to use it rather than the early manuscripts that were available but did not fit their theological bent, these are added making this a person's paraphrase. The word in Greek "apa" could mean "consequently" but faith follow the "thing," well that word is not in any Greek manuscript. It sounds good when it is translated to hear "the message" even if it is said to be about Christ. What message about Christ is being taught? What thing about Christ is being taught? Here is the Greek with my adding the English to it: Αρα (Wherefore) ή (the) λέγω (word), έξ (out) άκοής (hearing), ή (the) δέ (but) άκοή (hearing) διά (through) ρήματος (spoken word) θεου (of God) (Romans 10:17). If it was "about "Christ" or "God" then this could and does allow for a person to say just about anything they want, if it is "about" and not actually true.
Why so much about this? Garbage in: garage out! What God calls weakness, we call strength and our lives are not brought into subjection to Him, there is no real conversion. Truth from Scripture as Scripture actually tells us about the truth of God, not a man's idea of truth. We need to abandon to God and this abandonment will not be a real truthful abandonment if not founded upon the word of God from Scripture actually translated as a Greek person would hear it, not by what someone has added that would draw a person from God.
Let us draw closer to God, to our Savior Jesus Christ and become as little children willing to listen to Him and follow Him.
They will be mine, says the LORD Almighty,
"in the day when I make up my treasured
possession. I will spare them, just as in
compassion a man spares his son who serves him.
Malichi 3:17
How are you planning to serve God in 2016?
Richard L. Crumb
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