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Atwood and eternally-grateful, I will answer both of your posts in one.
Atwood, I must confess that the OLAL questions was really tongue in cheek. I know of no such doctrine, just was having a little fun.
You both mentions that verse 9 tells what he was talking about and I completely agree. He said I am PERSUADED BETTER things of you. That means he "BELIEVED" that they would not fall into that category! Which also means that they COULD HAVE FALLEN INTO THAT CATEGORY! And that is exactly the reason that he wrote this unto them. It was a warning.
Atwood, I must confess that the OLAL questions was really tongue in cheek. I know of no such doctrine, just was having a little fun.
You both mentions that verse 9 tells what he was talking about and I completely agree. He said I am PERSUADED BETTER things of you. That means he "BELIEVED" that they would not fall into that category! Which also means that they COULD HAVE FALLEN INTO THAT CATEGORY! And that is exactly the reason that he wrote this unto them. It was a warning.
Sorry bro, But vs 7 and 8 would reject this though. Again Context. which you overlooked.
[SUP]7 [/SUP]For the earth which drinks in the rain that often comes upon it, and bears herbs useful for those by whom it is cultivated, receives blessing from God; [SUP]8 [/SUP]but if it bears thorns and briers, it is rejected and near to being cursed, whose end is to be burned.
You also continue to comment on the main context of the saying, "it is impossible to be renewed to repentance"
why is that?
You also both admonished me to read on. I hope you will give me the benefit of the doubt as I give to you that when I stop at a scripture in my posts, it is to emphesize a point and not that I haven't read on. But since you both pointed this out, let us not skip verses 7 and 8 to get to 9. Verses seven and eight re-emphesize the point he was making. He uses the analogy of the ground getting rain so that it will bear fruit for those who labor in it. Hopefully we can all agree that the rain is analogous of the Holy Ghost being poured out, and the land is us. The ground is expected to bring forth fruit because of the rain. And when the ground brings for fruit, it is blessed of God. But when that same ground that is receiving rain does not bring forth fruit it is cursed and burned. Which burned in this case would be analogous of hell fire. So when an individual that has been a partaker of the rain, does not produce the expected fruit, they are rejected. So that further emphesizes having once been saved and being rejected. That field will get no more rain, its going to be burned.
At this point Paul tells them, I am persuaded better things of you, or in other words, I am persuaded that you will do better than that. If it was impossible for them to fall away, then there is no point in Paul even telling them this in the first place. And there is no point in him saying I am "persuaded" better things. He would have just said, "Don't worry, it is impossible for this to happen to you."
At this point Paul tells them, I am persuaded better things of you, or in other words, I am persuaded that you will do better than that. If it was impossible for them to fall away, then there is no point in Paul even telling them this in the first place. And there is no point in him saying I am "persuaded" better things. He would have just said, "Don't worry, it is impossible for this to happen to you."
You got the context all mixed up. It does not support your theory, because it is talking baout blessing or lack of (reward) and not the person himself.
And I actually mentioned those verses in my last post. And you claimed I skipped it?
That passage says it quite clearly.
A child of God has the ability to be used. If he allows himself to be used, he will recieve blessing, if not. He will see his blessing (reward) burned. And be NEAR TO BEING CURSED.
Again, Just like 1 cor 12. Gold silver precious stone, wood hey straw.
Some will stand in front of God with no rewards, having everything burned, Yet he himself will be saved (STILL) even though as through fire (ie near to being cursed, whos end is to be burned.
It is not the person who will be burned, but his reward.