Quote:
Originally Posted by donfriesen1
The writer of Hebrews in ch3,4 refers to those, who at Kadesh refused to enter into rest, refusing to believe and to enter the promised land. Those who refused were judged. They were to die in the wilderness and not given another opportunity to enter the land.
Strangely, these were not given any opportunity for repentance for this unbelief. They were not given another chance.
|
They had 40 years to get their act together and consistently and repeatedly failed to do so.
Quote:
|
The writer of Hebrews then continues. He says in ch6, of those in the Church Age, that any who are enlightened, that it is impossible that they be renewed in repentance if they turn away. Does the writer thus make a comparison between those OT who refused to enter rest and those NT who have tasted of the heavenly gift? What does this teach the NT saint?
|
It teaches that the Christian who apostasizes and turns away from faith in Christ has no expectation of being saved. It is impossible to renew them to repentance does not mean it is impossible for them to repent, but that it is impossible to renew them to repentance, which I understand to mean it is impossible for preaching to re-convert them.
The use of the admonition in chapter 3 and 4 is to warn people against rejecting the Gospel while pretending they still have a covenant relationship with God. That is, the Judean is warned that rejecting Christ while still claiming to follow God and his Covenant would not avail, they would like the Exodus generation be barred from inheriting the promises of God.