Mixed with Faith

Good morning and welcome in everyone.  Today, we are going to take a look at a passage of scripture from the book of Hebrews.

Hebrews 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.

When we are baptized by submersion into the Christian life, all of the past sins that we have committed are completely washed away by God. Like a courtroom that expunges a record, God completely cleanses our inner consciences. What an incredible gift of God’s grace to a sinful world. But baptism is only the first step of the Christian walk. Remember that a walk is many steps that are put together, one of which is mortifying sinful behavior in our lives. We must completely reject the things of the carnal nature and walk each day in the truth of scripture. This is the only way that we can become transformed from sinners into Saints. Genuine faith will result in obedience, a quality that the Philippian Church was filled with.

“Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.” Philippians 2:12

Many people know the Bible inside and out, but that in and of itself isn’t enough to get us to heaven. The Christian life is more than just knowledge, it is about faithful application of scriptural teachings to our daily living. Even certain Jews knew the Old Testament, but the problem was, it wasn’t mingled with faith in them that heard it. After all, if they truly possessed faith, they wouldn’t have crucified their Lord and ours.  It is only through faith that we can eventually become pleasing unto God.

“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.” Hebrews 11:6

The path of salvation begins with baptism, but there will be people who have been baptized who simply will not make it all the way to heaven. Jesus taught this in the parable of the sower. This is one of the reasons why the disciples warned the church over and over again not to be deceived. Turning from sin is a must, in order to obtain eternal life. Sin will be punished by God, both now and forever.

Galatians 6 ⁷ Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. ⁸ For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.

Although we have great hope for people in the church, some of them who have been educated in Scripture, will reject the path of repentance, turning their ears from the truth and completely deny the will of God.

“Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.” 2 Timothy 3:5

The reason this happens is because they love their sins more than Jesus. Some of them will get caught up in the snares and temptations of this world. Two wrongs don’t make a right, and nothing good is going to happen for those who choose to sin against the will of God. It will get far worse. 

“For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning.” 2 Peter 2:20

Sadly, some of them will refuse the path of repentance and reconciliation, and eventually leave the church. 

1 John 2 ¹⁸ Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time. ¹⁹ They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us.

God lovingly saves us from our past sins through baptism, but if people refuse to submit to biblical truth, they will eventually be destroyed with the rest of the impenitent. Many of them claim to believe in Jesus, but they never believed in Him enough to obey the truth of scripture. Like Jews of old, without faith they will never obtain the promised Land.

“I will therefore put you in remembrance, though ye once knew this, how that the Lord, having saved the people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed them that believed not.” Jude 1:5

The Christian life has been called a race, but like any marathon you must cross the finish line in order to win. To obtain the prize of eternal life, we must shun the wicked works of the flesh, and go on unto perfection. 

“Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God,” Hebrews 6:1

We are called to go and sin no more, but some people will be incapable of doing that.

“Having eyes full of adultery, and that cannot cease from sin;…. 2 Peter 2:14

God Word cannot have any effect in one’s life if they really don’t believe that it was written by God’s Holy Spirit. 

2 Peter 1 ²⁰ Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. ²¹ For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.

In order for scripture to have any results in somebody’s life, they must believe that it is God’s Word. Many men who were filled with the Holy Spirit communicated the truths of scripture to the church, yet many people over the years still continue to reject the things that they taught. Some people even claim Paul was in the flesh when he wrote certain passages, which has resulted in them changing certain things that he taught. Because of their own arrogance they have come out with their own wicked perversions of the Bible, and their damnation is just. In their own pride, they think they know better than the one that God chose to write much of the New Testament that we have today. Even Peter was in complete agreement with what Paul was writing in his Epistles, so to disagree with Paul, is to disagree with the rest of the Apostles.

2 Peter 3 ¹⁵ And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you; ¹⁶ As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction.

The only way that genuine repentance will happen in one’s life is if they sincerely believe that scripture is the Word of God.

“For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe.” 1 Thessalonians 2:13

People can know the Bible very well, but knowledge by itself is not enough to obtain eternal life. You must believe it enough that it completely transforms your entire life. Repentance is required to get to heaven and you will never be able to do the will of God, if scripture is not….

……Mixed with faith

Let’s think about these things for right now.  We can be found on your web browser by searching, tlkjbc  where you can find our diaries distributed through various platforms. We are not associated, nor affiliated with any other religious groups. You can get our entire podcast feeds directly, along with transcripts at tlkjbc.com or I suppose that you could find us somewhere up here, in the Great Northern Minnesota woods. Peace to you all, and Lord willing, we will talk with you some more tomorrow. Till then, bye bye everybody.♥️