The Daily Word of Righteousness

Clearing the Conscience of the Worshiper, #10

How much more severely do you think a man deserves to be punished who has trampled the Son of God under foot, who has treated as an unholy thing the blood of the covenant that sanctified him, and who has insulted the Spirit of grace? For we know him who said, "It is mine to avenge; I will repay,"and again, "The Lord will judge his people."  It is a dreadful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. (Hebrews 10:29-31)

The above passage obviously refers to a Christian, someone who has treated as being unholy the blood of Christ that had made him holy. If the new covenant were an eternal forgiveness, then this passage does not apply.

Against whom does the Lord avenge Himself? Against His people!

You need to persevere so when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised. For in just a very little while, "He who is coming will come and will not delay. But my righteous one will live by faith. And if he shrinks back, I will not be pleased with him."  But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who believe and are saved. (Hebrews 9:36-39)

Under the new covenant, perseverance through many difficulties is required. Those who endure to the end are the people who finally are saved.

"The righteous one will live by faith." The following chapter of the Book of Hebrews informs us what it means to live by faith. Living by faith has nothing whatever to do with belief in a doctrinal position. Rather, it is speaking of living in the Presence of the Lord and doing His will. The eleventh chapter of the Book of Hebrews is a record of the obedient acts of the patriarchs, not of their belief in doctrine.

To live by faith is to turn away from our own pride and wisdom and to do justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with God.

We understand the Lord Jesus Christ came to save us from our sins, not in our sins. We are not merely forgiven so we can go to Heaven when we die. We actually are converted from a sinful adamic personality into a life-giving spirit, who is filled with the Presence of God and can have fellowship with God.

The Lamb of God takes away the sin of the world, He does not just forgive the sin of the world. If our understanding is correct, He is coming in the Spirit to His people to help them remove the graveclothes of sin. We must walk before the Lord very carefully and prayerfully in these days so we do not miss the hour of our visitation. (from Clearing the Conscience of the Worshiper)