I N D E X
116
PERFECTION
PERDITION
116
OR
The miraculous gifts of the Acts were foretastes of the age to come. It will be seen that a great place is occupied
in this list by the Holy Spirit and His gifts. This we find is likewise true of Hebrews. There, as we find in Hebrews
10, the punishment that followed the violation of the law of Moses is small when compared with that which shall
follow the despising of the Holy Spirit's witness of Christ:
`How shall we escape, if we neglect ... which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by
them that heard Him; God also bearing them witness, both with signs and wonders, and with divers miracles, and
distributions of holy spirit, according to His own will? For unto the angels hath He not subjected the world to
come, whereof we speak' (Heb. 2:3-5 not AV JP).
One quotation from Hebrews 10 we now include, as bearing out the strong emphasis placed upon the Holy Spirit
here - `and done despite unto the Spirit of grace' (Heb. 10:29).
This falling away which occupies so large a place in Hebrews is variously referred to as `letting slip',
`neglecting', `hardening hearts as in the provocation', `lest any fall under the same example of unbelief', `forsaking
the assembling of selves together', `sinning wilfully after full knowledge', `drawing back unto perdition'.
The falling away was after enlightenment and partaking of the Holy Spirit, and herein lies the extreme danger.
This aspect of teaching in Hebrews is but the application to the Hebrews of the teaching of the Lord given in
Matthew 12:31,32:
`All ... sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven to men, but blasphemy against the Spirit shall NOT BE FORGIVEN unto men.
And whoever may speak a word against the Son of man it shall be forgiven: but whoever may speak against the
Holy Spirit, it will in no wise be forgiven him, neither in this age, nor in the coming one' (not AV JP).
Here is the sore punishment awaiting those who, after having all the confirmation of the Holy Spirit sent down
from heaven, and after having embraced the witness and having become partakers of the Spirit's gifts, fall away.
They echo the fatal words of Numbers 14, appointing themselves a captain to return to Egypt. The more one
penetrates into the structure and atmosphere of Hebrews, the more marked the gracious distinctions of the
dispensation of the Mystery become. Let us try the things that differ and approve those things that are more
excellent, at the same time learning from these other records the essential need for growth in grace.
`Things that Accompany salvation' (Heb. 6:7-9)
The character of the falling away of Hebrews 6:4-6 may be understood by a consideration of the illustration
which immediately follows in verses 7 and 8. The figure is that of a field. The Greek word translated `earth', ge,
stands for `land, as distinct from water; or earth as distinct from heaven; or region or territory, used of one special
land, or country, as distinct from other countries, in which peoples dwell, each on its own soil' (The Companion
Bible, Appendix 129/4).
`For land which hath drunk in the rain which often comes upon it, and which bringeth forth vegetation useful to those
for whom also it is cultivated, receives blessing from God; but that yielding thorns and thistles is disapproved
and near to a curse; the end of which is for burning' (Heb. 6:7,8 not AV JP).
Two words are of special importance as indicating the line of teaching that we are to observe here, the word
`disapproved', which in the A.V. is rendered `rejected', and the word `near' or `nigh' unto cursing. Adokimos =
`disapproved' is best understood by observing the context of the word in 1 Corinthians 9:27. The scene is the
Corinthian racecourse.
`Know ye not that they which run in a race course run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain. But
every one that striveth in the games, in all things useth self-control; They indeed then that a corruptible crown
they may receive; but we an incorruptible. I therefore so run, not as uncertainly. I am boxing, as not beating air,
but I am beating my body under, and leading it captive, lest by any means having proclaimed the contest to
others, I myself should become disapproved' (1 Cor. 9:24-27 not AV JP).
The verses that follow, viz. 1 Corinthians 10, are very strongly reminiscent of Hebrews 3 and 4. The argument
hinges upon the `all' and the `many'. All may have passed out from Egypt as the redeemed of the Lord, but all did
not enter the promised land. We now see that the whole of Hebrews 6 is dealing with the question of `going on unto