True or False: Grace is harder than Law

[votivesoul]

Originally Posted by mfblume

This reminds me. Where in the New Testament did they take Canaan and make it representative of Heaven? I know it's in the hymns and songs, but where in the Bible? I see it used to typify a place of rest where we cease from our works as God did from His.

Heb 3:14-4:9....For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end; ..(15)....While it is said, To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts, as in the provocation. ..(16)....For some, when they had heard, did provoke: howbeit not all that came out of Egypt by Moses. ..(17)....But with whom was he grieved forty years? was it not with them that had sinned, whose carcases fell in the wilderness? ..(18)....And to whom sware he that they should not enter into his rest, but to them that believed not? ..(19)....So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief. ..(4:1)....Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it. ..(2)....For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it. ..(3)....For we which have believed do enter into rest, as he said, As I have sworn in my wrath, if they shall enter into my rest: although the works were finished from the foundation of the world. ..(4)....For he spake in a certain place of the seventh day on this wise, And God did rest the seventh day from all his works. ..(5)....And in this place again, If they shall enter into my rest. ..(6)....Seeing therefore it remaineth that some must enter therein, and they to whom it was first preached entered not in because of unbelief: ..(7)....Again, he limiteth a certain day, saying in David, To day, after so long a time; as it is said, To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts. ..(8)....For if Jesus had given them rest, then would he not afterward have spoken of another day. ..(9)....There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God.

Good stuff! The cities were already built. The farms and vineyards already created. The wells and cisterns already dug out.

Labor to enter into that rest. Fight to get into Canaan, but once there, embrace the new life God made sure was already waiting for you.

[shazeep]

Originally Posted by good samaritan

People should make their calling and election sure.

a review of the OP interpretation of this would be helpful, maybe; i've forgotten it, ty.
i seem to be getting a lot of resistance @ For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith, at least, let me put it that way.

[good samaritan]

Originally Posted by shazeep

a review of the OP interpretation of this would be helpful, maybe; i've forgotten it, ty.
i seem to be getting a lot of resistance @ For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith, at least, let me put it that way.

2Peter 1:1-10 should be read for its context. To me it is like Joshua telling the people to choose who they will serve. We must seek spiritual fruit in our lives.

[Aquila]

Originally Posted by thephnxman

Apostasy = fallen away = fallen from grace

You mean that the "steady progression" is unrepentant sin, right?

I believe that some sins will lead to apostasy if unrepented of. If we continue in them we are resisting the Holy Spirit (Acts 7:51). If we continue resisting the Spirit we become hardened to the Spirit's conviction and as a result we quench the Holy Spirit (I Thessalonians 5:19). Once we've quenched the Spirit and we continue in sin, we then grieve the Spirit (Ephesians 4:30). We're not lost yet. However, this is when corrective judgments typically come our way to get our attention from the outside that we might turn and repent. If we continue to resist the Spirit we insult the Spirit (Hebrews 10:29). If we continue to insult the Spirit a line can be crossed... a line that moves into blasphemy of the Holy Spirit (Matthew 12:31-32) and counting the very blood that that saved them an unholy thing (Hebrews 10:29). Now the wayward saint of God has crossed the line into apostasy and will never return.

I do not believe that it is easy to be lost. Jesus didn't die for a greasy grace that could slip right through your fingers. However, continued and intentional rebellion will cause one to eventually lose their soul.

[shazeep]

Originally Posted by good samaritan

2Peter 1:1-10 should be read for its context. To me it is like Joshua telling the people to choose who they will serve. We must seek spiritual fruit in our lives.

very nice, i agree. The dispute of "they are all lost" has to me always been about the one who utters it, and not those lost being accused. That most are lost is not being disputed; that many who would label themselves True in their faith, yet have abandoned humility is.