not saved. Among the unbelievers there were some who had an aware ness or a knowledge of the true Christian doctrine. Yet they had not yet committed themselves to the Lord Jesus Christ as Saviour. The pas sages about which you have asked have absolutely nothing to do with believers. These are not even back sliders but rather are unsaved in dividuals. Heb. 6:4 refers to “those who were once enlightened’’. As in the first century so even today there are those who could talk the Gospel language and were familiar with the doctrinal terminology but who were not born again. These had fallen away which represents apostasy. Pe ter was a believer who repented of his denials before the death of our Lord. He certainly was renewed and restored. The reason these can’t be is that they have crucified to them selves the Son of God afresh, putting Him to an open shame. The final proof is in verse 9, “But, beloved, we are persuaded better things of you.” If verses 4 to 6 are telling about salvation what could possibly be better than that? These “other things” precede salvation but do not necessarily eventuate in salvation. There is nothing said here about be ing bom again, being made an heir of God, a possessor of eternal life, a partaker of the divine nature, and other terms which are found in Scrip ture when reference is made to sav ing faith and eternal life. The same is true in the 10th chapter. In this passage reference is made to the Lord Jesus Christ trodden under foot. This is one of the very char acteristics of apostates. Q. Gaviota, Calif. — “Will you please discuss commandments, laws and precepts as to which is which. How can we recognize them when we read the Bible, applying them to our every day life? I understand the ten commandments because they are definite.”
A. In the original text, these are all the translations of the same basic word. The classic example of this is the 119th Psalm. In each of the 176 verses there is some statement con cerning the law of God. Possibly the word, “commandment” is as clear to our minds as any. The term is one of authority which is to be obeyed. We are to walk in the Lord’s will and way, led by His Holy Spirit each step of every day. Q. Richmond, Calif. — “Could you please discuss the last part of Acts 13:18 which reads, ‘And as many as were ordained to eternal life be lieved’ ”? A. This deals with the salvation of the Gentiles which the Jewish peo ple at that moment had not come to understand fully. Here we see the wonderful blessing of divine sover eignty where all is ordained, chosen, foreseen, and ordered of God. This doesn’t mean that these were going to be ordained to eternal life whether they believed or not. The means is also from God. This is a good exam ple of the sovereign will of God and the human response blending p r- fectly. Q. San Pedro, Calif. — “Is the King James Version, which seems to in clude the Scofield Bible, becoming such a problem to the user today that the latest translations should be taught in order for young people to understand? For myself, I will stick to the Scofield Bible, but I wanted to know whether I was wrong.” A. You are right in adhering to this position. More accurately, however, we should refer to the Authorized (King James) Version with the Sco field Reference Notes. If there is a problem for young people to under stand this, it is the fault of the adults who suggest doubts and ques tions on various passages. There is certainly enough in the King James 23
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