Bible Discussion Thread

Hello

Can someone explain what is meant in vs 27 that fearful looking for judgement is? I can't seem to shake that feeling of not being forgiven or going to far. the writer was talking to Hebrews and is that the context we should take? If so how do I apply these lessons to my life. I have asked for forgiveness and know that i am forgiven but a feeling of fear comes over me at times and it is a scary one. Can someone who has backslidden and lived a life of a drug addict like myself come back and really find forgiveness I knew better so I am without excuse and deserve to be sent to hell, but I really feel the Lord calling me back, there are times I am bold like proverbs 28 says to be, but other times I am almost over come with a paralyzing fear.

If I could add to the other very pertinent accurate comments given you. You would have read further & your heart should have been comforted to know the circumstances to which this letter was referring to. In a nutshell, the answer is in verse 29.

The writer was agonizing over some Jewish converts (to whom this letter was primarily directed to), who wouldn't let go of Judaism entirely & were in danger of abandoning the faith & reverting back to Judaism. Therefore, the writer took great pains to again explain to them the superiority of Jesus Christ Who gives life & the superiority of Christianity, over the 'old religion' which under Moses' Law only brought death (v 28). One can see the writer's desperate plea to them in verses 19-25. Then, even with all this, the warning went out: "For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins...Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace?"

The writer says that if they "sin wilfully after receiving the Truth, there's no more hope". What is this sin being written about, as we know that God is merciful & will always forgive us because of His Son's Sacrifice? The sin that is referred to is of APOSTASY: these converts were on the cusp of rejecting Christ & reverting back to Judaism - if they did, there was no other Sacrifice on offer (nor could be) that they could grab onto for salvation. If Judaism was their goal, then they would perish under the Law's penalty. See Hebrews 6:4-6, where a similar warning went out, of the impossibility to find salvation in any other or of returning back to Christ. If they so despised Christ (10:29) & turned their backs to Him, their end would be fearful.

Alec, these verses are not for you - you can rejoice in being forgiven.

Hi Alec, Sometimes the hardest people to forgive is ourselves, we know all too well our weakness and short comings, I haven't lived a life on drugs but can attest to a lot of short comings that I'm ashamed of and deserve the punishment of hell, but for as great a sinner that I am, I have a greater Savior that suffered on the cross for me, and all I need to do is repent and believe. When you look at the apostles, they spent three years with Jesus witnessing His preaching's and miracles, and yet when Judas betrayed Jesus, they were scattered, and Peter denied him three times. Just because we say that we're Christian and believe doesn't mean that we're not going to ever sin again, but when we do sin, we need to pray for forgiveness. I also believe that in times of doubt or weakness, that the Holy Spirit is there to comfort us and also to convict us through our conscience to keep us on the narrow road to the Cross. When you say you have the feeling of fear coming over you, maybe it's the Holy Spirit, telling you to come back to the Cross, count this as a blessing, because it sound like you're on the narrow road, and He wants to keep you there.

May God bless you on your journey.

Ephesians 2:8 "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:"

Matthew 18:21 "Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times?" Matthew 18:22 "Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven."

First of all, if you feel the Lord calling you back, why would you be afraid to return? As it say's, we will all be judged and I have the same story behind me. It would be more fearful to never feel that call and stay in the world of sin than to return as did the prodigal son. This passage has tormented me too many times but the rest of scripture assures me that God is always ready to accept repentance.