I have pretty much quit watching tv again. There is nothing on television that doesn't glorify some sin and I don't need to watch stuff that glorifies the sin that my Lord hates. I consider that disloyalty to Him. Since I am not watching tv, I've got to do something with my time ...hehehehe. Here I am!!
Hebrews 5:9-14 [Jesus Christ] being made perfect, became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey Him; called of God an high priest after the order of Melchisedec. Of whom we have many things to say, and hard to be uttered, seeing ye are dull of hearing. For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk and not strong meat. For everyone that useth milk is unskillful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe. But strong meat belongeth to them that are full of age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.
(This is just ONE of MANY passages that says something like what it says up there in that first sentence...Jesus became the author of salvation to all them that obey Him (Emphasis mine). That sounds so different from, "Jesus became the Savior of whoever said a prayer asking Him into their hearts and He remains that Savior no matter what the person's life choices have been. They are saved because they have been added to our church roll, they must just be backslidden.")
I wonder about the phrase, "dull of hearing". The NIV says, "it is hard to explain because you are slow to learn". It is hard to explain all these amazing things that Jesus has done because you are slow to learn. Is it that we are slow to learn or is it that we don't want to learn? I think it is that we don't want to learn. We don't seem to have any problems learning other things, like football stats and schedules, work related information, which restaurant has the best steak or fries the best catfish, etc. to infinity AND BEYOND!
As a mother who teaches at home I know that my children learn what they are interested in and the rest has to be force fed. They WANT to know about the things that are on their hearts. We have learned about lots of things, but what they like to talk about and meditate on is what is on their hearts. I'm the same way, aren't you?
I think what the writer of Hebrews is saying here is that the things of God and Christ haven't been on their hearts and even the fundamental things really need to be re-taught (next verses). Why was this the case?
Well, he goes on to say that some people aren't even saved!! Chapter six verses one thru three says (my paraphrase) let's move on past these elementary doctrines on to REAL life in Christ. Let's really allow Him to work in us and do some things for His glory!!!
But then, he goes right on to talk about people "falling away" and "produc[ing] thorns and thistles" and the end He has for these. :/ It's like he's saying, "Hmmm, y'all aren't learning and you aren't growing. You don't understand the elementary principles of the faith. Let's get past this if God permits. The problem might be that you aren't truly saved, you heard about Christ and you made a profession of faith but there are no fruits in your life to show that you are truly His. None."
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Friends, where are we? Are we moving toward maturity or are we "dull of hearing"? It would be wise to ask the Lord to speak on this issue, to our own hearts. If I am "dull of hearing" I better find out why!! Our salvation does NOT depend on one thing that we have done. If we put our faith in a prayer that someone might have even tricked you into praying we are putting our faith in the wrong thing, our works. Salvation is a work of the Lord and our faith is in HIM. We can't know who is saved and who isn't, but examining our own fruit and the fruit of others (especially those in leadership roles) is not sin, it's a command of scripture. We are to examine ourselves and light of scripture and we can know the WE know.
Next post will be more on the subject of testing our faith to see if we are IN the faith at all. And then, if we are, we need to be busy learning how the Lord wants to use us to bring Him glory.
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