Paul never strayed from the message
of the crucified Christ's centrality to the gospel. He was indeed
a champion of declaring that work which Christ performed as
being the beginning and the end of the redemption of the Lord's
people. There is no clearer statement of this truth found anywhere
in the scriptures than in the epistle to the Hebrews. By His
own blood He entered in once into the holy place, having obtained
eternal redemption for us. This is the end of all argument
about what Christ did and the extent to which He did it. The
book of Hebrews begins with an unequivocal statement of the
finality of God's purpose in the sending of His only begotten
Son. God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in
time past unto the fathers by the prophets, hath in these last
days spoken unto us by his Son. Paul wrote to the Colossians,
for in him dwelleth all the fullness of the Godhead bodily. Paul often
alluded to the patriarchs and the history of God's dealing
with Israel whenever he preached the gospel. Yet he never failed
to declare that Christ was the very basis of the hope of Israel.
So he uses the example of all those who died in faith in order
to stir up his hearers to hold on to that truth which is the
very substance of their profession. He is not doubting their desire
to be steadfast, yet his exhortation and his admonitions are strong
nonetheless. For as he said, but without faith
it is impossible to please him. For he that cometh to God must
believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that
diligently seek him. He identifies those to whom his
words are addressed as those who will not turn aside from
that confession which they have made. But we are not of them
who draw back unto perdition, but of them that believe to the
saving of the soul. Much of Paul's emphasis throughout
his writings is the declaration of God's sovereign choice of
the people in Christ from before the foundation of the world.
This is a much maligned and hated doctrine by the rank and file
of those who profess to be the followers of Christ in the present
day, but has in times past been a most widely recognized truth.
Some think that it is possible for a man to move in and out
of faith according to the whims of his flesh. This gives rise
to the notion that a man can be saved and then lost, perhaps
numerous times, according to his obedience, devotion, and
faith. Paul defines quite clearly that there is a demarcation between
those that are of the flesh and those that are of the Spirit.
For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh,
but they that are after the Spirit do things of the Spirit. This
is what the Lord told Nicodemus of when he taught him the necessity
of being born again, or born from above. That which is born
of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is
spirit. Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again. A doctrine that is popular in
some circles is often defined as once saved, always saved.
Now this doctrine arises out of the basic truth of God's preservation
of his people, but it is an errant doctrine in the hands of those
who teach that a man can obtain this salvation by an act of his
free will, rather than the sovereign grace of God bestowing faith
upon his elect. Thus we see many who bring forth
no evidence of the operation of faith, nonetheless assured
of their eternal bliss because they have made the decision for
Christ, led Him into their hearts, or been baptized and or joined
the Church. Paul declares that he is only
encouraged by the evidence which he sees in these believers among
the Hebrews as he speaks of observing in them the things that accompany
salvation. So what are those things which
accompany salvation? Clearly, the first is faith.
Now, faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence
of things not seen. This faith is not a feeling nor
an act of the will, but is a gift bestowed by Him who is its author
and finisher. Secondly, there is hope, which
hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast,
which entereth into that within the veil. Hope is the result
of the Spirit's calling. Because you are sons, God has
sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying,
Abba, Father. Finally, there is love. For in
Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth anything nor uncircumcision,
but faith which worketh by love. Are these things in you? If you would like a free transcript
of this broadcast, email us at 4the4 at windstream dot net.