Why Apostasy Is A Blessing To The Church + Q & A - [ Hebrews 6 vv. 4 - 6 ] by James White

[@chrismclaughlin1073]

Here are the time codes (click "Read more" to see them all): Reading the sermon text (Hebrews 6) 2:28 Begin sermon 4:55 Q&A 1. Please explain Critical Theory and Intersectionality 24:42 2. What are the markers of someone that is going to apostatize? 35:54 3. Can you give discernment on counseling someone close to you who has walked away? 40:42 4. Does Hebrews 6:6 refer to the unpardonable sin or can they repent from this? 49:40 5. What is the difference between backsliding and apostasy? 54:09 6. What does it mean to "hand someone over to satan for the destruction of their flesh" in 1 Corinthians 5? 59:01 7. For those who provide Biblical counseling, how best can we minister to those who are struggling with definitional doubts about the faith? 1:04:05 Pastor James provides some prayer requests on upcoming debates and travel. 1:07:17

[@BeksWorld]

Very helpful. Thank you

[@GodCenteredTheology]

Excellent teaching!

[@bmoore5868]

I have a lot of respect for Dr. White even though I'm not necessarily sold on his Calvinistic interpretation of Scripture. One question I've never heard Calvinists answer adequately on Hebrews 6 would be : If the ones described in danger of falling away in Hebrews 6 were fake believers why would the author want to renew them again to repentance? If their original repentance wasn't genuine why renew them to it? If it was genuine it puts the Calvinist position in question.

[@unbelievablepancake]

Well said! Nor would this fit in the context of the letter.

[@LucianUmbrarescu1994]

The key word is "again". Renewed again. Impossible to renew again. To redo the work of Chris - this is to demand Christ, to crucify Christ again for yourself.

[@КлюевСергей-э5с]

@@unbelievablepancake The thing is- it’s not about backsliding into sin. It’s about forgetting Christ for good.

[@luvminiwheaties]

Same concern for me. The rest seems like it can be divided into the Calvinistic interpretation. But this line is hard. The only way out that I see is an answer given by the brandplucked website by will Kenny and he says it is referring to renewing them to the state of possible repentance again, not that they repented, and can’t repent again. But then, what is total depravity for then

[@luvminiwheaties]

I find it near impossible to bring in non-elect/unregenerate/unbelievers/unsaved people into these passages in Hebrews. For one, where did they come from? 2. Look at other places prior of who the “us’es” and “we’s” and “ours” are referring to, for example, in chapter 1 it says he purged “our” sins which can only refer to the elect, so why would it change in the warning passages.

[@brettschlee7090]

Wow... he preaches/teaches on Heb. 6... and the first question (in South Africa of all places!) is on critical theory and intersectionality! If this doesn't show how important (and dangerous!) these ideas are, I don't know what does.

[@isaacleillhikar4566]

"Yeah but, Im a man married to a woman." That means I'm a lesbian transgendered man.

[@Jeremiah6071]

I like the guy. I don't know if he is right about apostates retaining their salvation. It seems like a common view though among those I respect and listen too. I hope their right. With complex issues like these I tend to defer to more knowledgeable people. It's like with my kid. If she has a slight cough, I give her meds. If she is wheezing and running a fever of 103, I take her to a doctor. =D

[@bmoore5868]

unless I am missing the intent of your comment he's not saying apostates retain their salvation rather he's asserting they never had it in the first place

[@myopenmind527]

Do you believe Islam is true? Could you believe Islam is true? If after careful consideration one no longer believes the #claims of Christianity then one cannot with integrity pretend to believe. What is wrong with not believing if you no longer think that there are good reasons to believe??

[@Jeremiah6071]

I don't think anyone should pretend to believe. I know there are many people who cannot believe. I was one of them for a long time. Oddly enough it was studying microbiology in college in California that convinced me of creation. Of course that didn't make me a Christian. I think I had an aversion to Christianity because frankly a lot of Christians that I encountered growing up in the bible belt were pretty screwed up and in many cases just bad people. I liked that certain Hindu teachings seemed to at least on the surface match with certain scientific findings, but further investigation showed that not to be the case. Buddhism was really good and even as a Christian I think it offers a lot. After investigating those two, I started looking into Islam. On it's surface I liked it. Unlike the "Christians in name only" I had often encountered in my youth, they were ridiculously devoted. Their faith was so strong that the fear of death was completely gone. So, I got online and I ordered a free copy of the quran. I began reading it and I noticed a strong spiritual presence, but not in a good way. The thoughts going through my mind scared me. As if possessed I just called out loud Yahweh, Yeshua, Elohim help me. Why I chose those 3 words/names is beyond me and I don't really think it was significant. I'm sure God would have heard me either way, but immediately a feeling of peace came over me and at that point I just knew. Seems kind of cheesy to say a feeling of peace. Really it was so much more, but it's hard to put an experience like it into words. I may not understand everything, I have no doubt that Christianity is true. That is my story and it's not unique. What I hope you take from it, if you even read this, is that only God can prove Christianity and I hope you try and get him to prove it to you. Seek him on a personal level and not by listening to the claims of people.

[@myopenmind527]

KTTGHMTJWYCBLAC my definition of faith is: “Pretending to know things that you cannot know”.

[@Jeremiah6071]

@@myopenmind527 That is why dictionaries are so important. There is no "my truth". Something is either true or false. Likewise, there is no "my definition". Faith really just means to believe in someone or something. It might be blind faith with is without any evidence or it may be evidence based faith. I think many people use the word to mean blind faith without qualifying it as blind faith and that is a mistake.

[@pamdelaney5149]

@@Jeremiah6071 Great comments! I was drawn to God when I studied the kidneys in anatomy class. I didn't come to the full realization of the Gospel of Christ Jesus until six years ago, but it was a start to know we were indeed created by the most genius, amazing creator. The key to finding Christ Jesus is humility. Nothing keeps us from God like pride. I still struggle with pride... but I know I must cling to Christ Jesus, His sacrifice on the cross, and His resurrection three days later. So beautiful, so merciful, so simple, and so so humbling. God bless you and yours, Brother!

[@Jeremiah6071]

@@pamdelaney5149 Thanks Pam and I can certainly see how the kidneys would lead one to question the Darwinian narrative. It amazes me how educated people who really understand biology at a microscopic and physiological level can come to the conclusion that it is anything other than created by an intelligence. Of course there are usually other factors in rejection. Often it's fear of judgement and a disdain for restrictions, particularly of a sexual nature. In my experience anyway.

[@fbee6844]

How can you live a Godly life without being saved? Wth?