Southern California Strategic Perspectives Conference III 2008. Intelligence, insight, and inspiration. Various speakers bring you up to date on strategic perspectives for the coming year.
A GLIMPSE OF HEBREWS, PART 2:: A Major Biblical Enigma
The Epistle to the Hebrews is widely regarded as one of the most difficult of books, enigmatic to those who fail to recognize the status of (and the issues confronting) the specific readers who are being addressed. In our previous article on this challenging book, we focused on the mysteries surrounding its authorship and its role in the Trilogy on Habakkuk 2:4.1
But perhaps the most disturbing concern seems to center around its ostensible attack on the eternal security of the believer, particularly in the lengthy sentence in Hebrews 6:
For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame.
Hebrews 6:4-6
Since the readers of this Epistle were definitely saved believers, this would seem to create a paradox regarding eternal security.
NAN'S CORNER: Reflections of His Image: Jesus—A New Way to Worship
King's High Way Monthly Article
Continuing our study on worship, we said worship is important because it releases blessings in two directions: we come into the Lord’s presence by loving and adoring Him; He, then, makes Himself known by communicating His Love back to us through revelation, insight and love. Worship, in other words, is a two-way communication. It consists of not only receiving God’s Love, but also loving Him in return. To love Him (agapao) means to totally give ourselves over to Him with all our heart, mind and soul.
The key to worship, however, is that it can only be done “in the spirit” and not in the flesh. It’s only by the Spirit that we can apprehend God and it’s only by the Spirit that we can hear Him. John 4:24 tells us that since God is a Spirit, those that worship Him must worship Him “in spirit and in truth.” (Truth, here, simply means in sincerity and honesty.) (Romans 1:9)
So, learning how to worship the Lord in spirit is critical. And, it’s not a once-a-week function, but should dominate our lives seven days a week. Sunday worship is meaningless, unless it is preceded by six days of cleansing, loving and communing with the Lord.
Compiled from public and private sources, Dr. Chuck Missler, an internationally known business executive, outlines our current economic predicament and defensive steps you can take to lessen the impact of the impending economic crisis.
