Can an Apostate Turn Back to God?
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 28 ก.ย. 2024
- But I think we can say on the basis of Manasseh, and a few handfuls of examples like this, where God will hear the prayer of the sinner, he will hear the prayer of the apostate, and we'll welcome you back. The lesson we should draw from this is, don't get into this mess. Okay, don't stop believing. Now, I don't care how that fits into your system. I really don't. We don't need systems. We need to pay attention to the text, and we need to be consistent across the Testaments. Check it out!
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#Bible #Theology #MichaelHeiser
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Does an apostate become reprobate?
Why does the New Testament say there is only one name by which we must be saved, and yet by the tongue of mankind, vs. the revelation of God, have created many names?
If you worship the God of the Bible, names matter.
The Name of Salvation
“Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12). The revealed name of salvation cannot be transliterated, transformed, or changed. To change the name revealed is to reject the name revealed. Hint: The name Jesus has only existed since the late 17th century. In the early 17th century, the name Iesus was used in English and is found in the 1611 KJV Bible. Iesous is a transliteration of Yeshua. Isa is Arabic. Yeshua is shortened from Yehoshua.
Question: Which one of the following is the name given among men by which we must be saved?
Jesus
Iesus
Iesous
Isa
Hey-zeus (pronunciation for Jesus in Spanish)
Yeshua
Yahshua (Y’shua, from YAHOSHUA)
If I reject the name of YAHSHUA, does it matter according to the Gospel?
Answer: 16 “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. 17 For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. 18 “He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God” (John 3:16-18).
“Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of YAHSHUA, every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that YAHSHUA the Christ is LORD, to the glory of God the Father” (Philippians 2:9-11). YAH means “I AM,” as in HaYAH (the I AM), and this is the essential Name of salvation according to the prophet Isaiah.
“Behold, God is my salvation,
I will trust and not be afraid;
‘For Yah, the Lord, is my strength and song;
He also has become my salvation’” (Isaiah 12:2 NKJV).
Christ told the people that He is YAH, the I AM.
Our only Savior “said to them, ‘Most assuredly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM” (John 8:58). YAH means I AM, and Shua means “my help,” as in my “salvation.”
THE NAZAREAN FELLOWSHIP FOR CHRIST
I turned away from God when I made the mistake of equating human 'representatives of God' with God's character.
When I wanted to return, after realising my foolishness, I was told I could not because God would not forgive me. A few people, both church leaders and lay people, said this.
It took me a few years, and searching God's Word for myself, to know that God would and did forgive me.
Thank you, Dr Heiser, for bringing your straight forward logic to this subject. God's Word truly does give us all the information we need. We just need to read it 🙂
Im so glad....
@@rachelg.cuesta1436 thank you 💖
@@rachelhayhurst-mason7846 How did you did it?
@@rachelg.cuesta1436 I read The Bible and prayed so much that God would show me the truth in my heart. I'm so grateful He did 🤗
@@rachelhayhurst-mason7846 In my case, im afraid of the unpardonable sin and to be an unbeliever... to not be born again.... since for 3 years I got back to my old ways ... and remembered many passages that spoke about this... I need help... Sometimes I feel God spoke to me and gave me the. chance to repent... But I took it for granted... and I dont wanna miss the chances if he give me one more. I haven't read the Bible properly ..... and I know I can't understand it by my own knowledge...
The way is narrow. Lord, keep us on track.
Yes 1 man wide! The Lord Jesus Christ!
HE is The Door!
The way to True Life!
@@P.H.888 amen, I agree fully.
✨🕊️❤️✨
Amen
Thank you. I needed to hear that. It applies to my own life and my own forgiveness.
Praise Jesus Christ 🙏
it's time to face reality: the bible is false, full of self-contradictions and false statements about the world. It's not the word of any god, but just some patchworked together archaic propaganda used for the justification of atrocities and unequality made up by various politician prophets. There is nothing supernatural: no magic, no angels, no demons, no gods. The earth is not 5000 years old, species change, the sky is not a dome, there is no water above the sky, the earth is not a single continent, the Sun wasn't created days after daylight, the stars don't change the seasons, there is no heaven above nor hell below, there are no monsters anywhere, there were races of giant humans, languages don't instanteniously get created and they are under constant change, no magician ever lived, magical miracles like healing, parting the sea, or necromancy do not exist. Only liars and scammers manipulating gullible people do.
I fell from grace trying to be in right standing with God by stopping a sin and He left me when I picked it back up. I feel hopeless and lost as I was walking with Him for 30 years. Please pray that God will grant me repentance as I long to be brought back to Him😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭
May God bless you and accept you with open arms through the Salvation of Jesus Christ our King.
I had this EXACT thing happen to
Me! The hopelessness that I felt was like hell without the flames and I wasn’t able to function in society or even at work…. It put me in a mental hospital twice!…. I couldn’t eat, or sleep or have a peaceful thought about God. I couldn’t pray, or anything…. I thought I was doomed for eternal hell, I thought it was too late…. It was because I was living in porn addiction while married and drinking alcohol all the time! Never reading the Bible and no relationship with Jesus. I lived in sin and thought “nothing will ever happen to me, God will understand” ohh boy was I wrong! He chastised me, hard!!
I spent 3 years crying myself to sleep, begging God for a second chance, crying and begging Jesus for his forgiveness and promising I’d give him everything if he forgave me…. But 3 years after it happened, i was driving home and thinking to myself, how much I missed serving God… then I remember telling God… not thinking he could hear me, “lord I may be going to hell but I can’t let my wife and 3 little boys go there too because I won’t lead them” and the Lord heard me from heaven and RESTORED ME!
He completely changed my heart and gave me such a love and desire for Jesus and for the word like I’ve never had!!! Now for almost 2 years I have read the Bible every single day and have been filled with the Holy Spirit and a FIRE to preach his word!! You need to make sure your heart is right friend…. Don’t just come back to God because you don’t wanna go to hell, He searches the heart. Come back to him because you miss him, because you wanna live in his love again….. Jesus knows everything….. be encouraged friend, I know that you’re gonna read this and say it won’t happen for me…. But I’m here to tell you, if God can forgive me and bring me back when I thought that my fate was absolutely sealed!! He can bring back ANYONE! There is ALWAYS Hope as long as your breathing…..
friend, if you have to cry to God and beg him for the next year, 2 years, 3 years…. If that’s what it takes, then DO IT!! Even if you don’t feel him, even if you think you’re going to hell!! Don’t just say “ohh well might as well live life in a crazy sinful lifestyle” no no no!!! Even when I was in the mindset that I was unredeemable, I STILL told people Jesus was the ONLY way, I still never denied him before men…. I believed and knew he was God and the only way and he could save them, but I believed he couldn’t forgive me…. Satan will use this as well…. Please just press into Jesus. Don’t let go! I know EXACTLY what you’re going through….. praying for you
I had a similar experience almost 4 years ago…. I was a backslidden Christian for almost 10 years, loving my sin and not walking with the Lord, not leading my wife or my boys, living in secret sin my whole marriage ….but the Lord put me in a place where it physically felt like he removed the Holy Spirit from me…. It was the most terrifying experience I’ve ever felt! I ended up in a mental hospital, I was crying out to God day and night. Not eating and weeping for months….. and no answer… he wasn’t hearing me. Friends, it felt like hell without the flames…. I had NO JOY, no peace, no love, NO HOPE! The hopelessness was the worst of it all!! Separation is exactly what I felt, I couldn’t even function in society with that separation feeling…. It was unbearable…. I couldn’t work, NOTHING Helped! Cause NO-ONE could help me!! just a fearful expectation of judgement to come….. it was so so terrifying words can’t describe it! God told me he was gonna show me what it was to live life without him…. And boy did he do it! I was distant from God for 3 years…And then a little over a year ago, I was sitting at my kitchen table and I told God…. lord, I may be going to hell but I can’t let my wife and 3 little boys go to hell so I will start reading and praying with them…. Even tho I’m heading to hell.. and as soon as I did that, he heard me! He changed my heart RADICALLY!! It was like I was born again all over again!! He filled me with the Holy Spirit, and Love for His word like I’ve never had… and love for Jesus like I’ve never had, and a desire to be Holy and obey him! Jesus is now my EVERYTHING!!! Not my job, not my money, not my wife, not my boys…. I looked for love in my sin and the things I cherished and Jesus showed me, HE IS ALL I HAVE!! HE IS MY EVERYTHING NOW! And I love him with ALL OF MY HEART AND SOUL!! It sometimes takes going through hell, literally…. To realize that. But God never let me go cause even in that state, I never denied Jesus as being God to others, I just believed I was unredeemable…. But I wasn’t!!! As long as we are breathing there’s hope! Jesus is so beautiful and everything friend!! HE is the treasure! Beg him to forgive you….. even if it takes 1,2,3,10 years!! Cry to him everyday.
@@anthony_martinez01 it’s not showing the comment that I shared? What are you referring too? Yes there is, do you have email?
I was Christian so many years and blindly followed Islam. Few days later after saying my shahada I was having huge attack I can't even explain what that was. I can't even breath but out of fear I was think "Jesus help me what I was done" and then I start feeling better. I ignore it after I feel good, but soon I notice the more I go aganist Christianity, the more I pray like Muslim, the more I read Quran the more attacks I have and only calling Jesus name help me. I was having also dreams that I was not even sure it was dreams. First dream I was seeing huge snake going through some wall and something in the dream telling me this is Israel wall,the snake was going on me and then I hear voice "call Jesus name" I did and the snake disappeared. Second dream I was prayed like Muslims by prostration to God but then I hear voice "stop praying like slave and start praying like my friend" and then In was showed the way how Christians pray.. the third dream I was attacked by bad spirits and calling Allah for help but without results then I hear voice "call Jesus name" I did and the attacks stopped. My fourth dream was that angel explained to me that allah is moon god because all prayers are based on the sun movements and all celebrations like Ramadan are based on moon... Jesus given me signs to coming back from Islam to Christianity and thanks God I did back to Christianity. Now I stay 100%. I don't know what was going wrong with me that I was Muslim
Wow you’re story is remarkable. The favor of God on your life is overwhelming. I believe God speaks in in His word as well as dreams and visions and your “supposed” dreams were certainly God’s voice to you at the time. I’m so glad to hear you’ve returned to the faith
May the face of God the Father shone upon you and be gracious unto you.
@@kitty7644 before I was converting to Islam I was saying short prayer. I was saying "God please in.Jesus name if Islam is false and you want bring me back then you gonna bring me back" and God did bring me back.
Praise God never leaves Jesus
Congrats, you went form one stupid religion to another.
But what if someone kept believing in the existence of Jesus but became an obedient and evil for years.Can he or she return?
Thank God for Dr. Heiser! I needed to hear this. I can relate to Manasses ' apostasy. I was a pagan, esoteric nazi / ethnosatanist yet God not only accepted but wellcommed me back!
I love it. I was involved in plenty of occult stuff myself, and this AFTER I had been saved. Great God didn't put up with that foolishness from me. He broke me, took away all that I had, until I got low enough to repent and come back. He'll walk away from the whole flock to look for the single lost lamb.
Also, there is no secret in all of esoteric knowledge that is greater or more mysterious and more intellectually satisfying than the mysteries of God. They are all small things compared to His divine mysteries.
What do you mean welcomed you back?
@LiGhTbOrN77 are you saying you were born again, and fell into pagan practice s...and God brought you back?
The story of Manasseh is a superb example of God's overwhelming grace and mercy to the most apostate of people. It is those who refuse to turn back to the Cross and choose to live reprobate lives that God can do nothing for, for they rejected that which God did for them.
God did nothing for anyone, as it does not exists. On the other hand however religious people cause a lot of damage to everyone with or without knowing. Face reality. magic does not exist.
The way I had to look at that scripture in Hebrews is that weather I’m near or far from God He was always still present with me. I have to look at that scripture as saying to me though I’ve fallen I’m not an apostate rather than because I’ve fallen I’m an apostate. I spent a year in prison from 2018 to 2019 and I watched God care for me every step of the way. He has remained faithful to me even though I truly didn’t deserve it. And here I am 3 years sober. Picked up my 3 year chip in today’s meeting even though my sobriety birthday is July 11th.
Congratulations......25 years here. I'll be praying for you and please keep me prayed up.........Blessings to you, Scott!✝⛪✝⛪✝⛪✝
@@marcusbuckner5582 I will. Thank you.
I think the problem here is that he interprets 2 Chron 33 wrongly.
When it says "God was moved by his prayer," how does this work with the very nature of God being unmoveable? 🤔
Also there is evidence suggesting that Mannasah did not come to repentance over and over again but only repented once and this hebrew passage deals with a falling away from an initial repentance which Mannasah does not seem to do.
No hope for apostasy.
He beings his video with
"I believe in this" while maintaining a disbelief in it.
Maybe it's because he is an apostate that he has a soft spot for apostates?
@@rogerwalters6443 where is the grace in your comments? "If we confess our sins, He is faithful to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from unrighteousness". We do not know the depths of God's love for us - as far as the east is from the west.
I learned something about the almond tree that applies to this teaching. There are two types of almond trees....one with pink flowers and one with white flowers. One is poisonous and the other is not. If you happen to mix a bad nut in with the good nuts....the one bad nut will ruin the whole batch. BUT there is something that can be done to the bad nut....it can be blanched....the poison can be drawn out then it can go be with the other nuts and all is well. We are told to do the same....isolate the nut that comes into the congregation spewing poison and if necessary give them over to satan, or, kick them out. the bad nut CAN be converted ......so can a lost soul. Those almond trees got something to say....they are the first trees to AWAKEN from the winter sleep and cover the tree with white flowers that could easily be mistaken for glory. The first fruit is a delicacy.....when it ripens the skin breaks and looks like an eye opening. Then inside is a hard shell.....kind of like our soul ....it takes the hits and insulates the heart....a pure white stone fruit. I think it is the white stone in Revelation with a name written that only our God knows.
Wow, thank you for sharing. I enjoy reading the comments for this reason. God bless you. :)
@@tonyschwartz6712 :) God bless
The almond flower is on the Menorah which is a representation of Jesus Christ, great insight. 🙏🏽👼🏼🕊
@@dizzybee4875 Here is some hope i just uncovered. Rabbi Kaduri said there would be a 4th government then the Messiah would come the following Sabbath. Gotta be the Sabbatical year which happens to begin on 9.6 at sundown. So, i just went to check and see how many days this 4th government will have been in place on 9.6 and yep, 96 days! THEN i went to see how many days since Kaduri's prophecy was released to the world....it was this..." He will lift the people, and prove that His word and law are standing." The first letter of each Hebrew word spelled Yehoshua!!! The Feast of Trumpets on 9.6 will have been 5335 days. Strongs 5335 is " Netsiach" or " HEAD OF THE FAMILY OF NETHINIM (Temple Assistants) !!! The term was originally in the book of Yehoshua (Joshua). It means " those set apart" and " the given ones". They were counted among the Avendi Shlomo....Avendi is Aramaic for " Made to Disappear"!!!!!! Strongs 5335 is also "Phasko" or I ASSERT, AFFIRM, PROFESS.
Add ALL this to the revelation given by Gad the Seer who was shown a rapture on a New Year. .....and the kicker......the amount of days since the Kaduri prophecy was released which was on the 1 year anniversary of his death, 1.28. 2007....well, 5335 days is 128,040 hours.....his birthday is encoded as is the number of judgment....40. Amazing! Jesus is coming. Keep your oil filled and your lamp lit! He is coming! God bless
@@dizzybee4875 One crazy thing.....I just caught your name, " Dizzy Bee"....i just got the Book of Bee delivered today!!!!
If my dad hadn’t found his way back, I wouldn’t exist. I’m grateful to God that he did.
Amen
Thank you for this amazing clarification and may the love of GOD be poured out into your heart!
Thanks Dr. Heiser. Looking forward to meeting you in Glory one day. Thank you Jesus for the ministry of Dr. Heiser.
I fully qualify as a Hebrews 6 apostate. For the past 4 months, I've deliberately, maliciously, arrogantly and so foolishly rejected Christ after full knowledge of the gospel truth and partaking in the Holy Spirit. I even shared my doubts with others, so in that sense, I have also publicly renounced Him and put His name to open shame. While I've always had mood swings and spiritual state swings, often riddled by doubt and disbelief and intrusive thoughts, this time feels different. I have committed blasphemy of the Holy Spirit.
3 days ago, a dear Christian friend called me and discussed Hebrews 6:4-6. I desperately want to repent but like Esau I've sought it with tears but have no hope for redemption. It's my fault and I completely understand if God is cutting me off permanently. I have betrayed Jesus in the worst possible way. I don't know if I truly feel convicted to repent or if it's just shame, like how Judas hung himself. I have tried multiple times to pray for forgiveness but I fear it's too late. I have this pull to just give up but I can't commit suicide, as that would just be taking the highway to the deepest, darkest place in hell imaginable.
I'm so lost. I want to truly get right with God and be the faithful servant I should be but I already know I've very likely passed the point of no return. What do I do?
If you were to the point of no return you wouldn’t care enough to ask this question. Return to the Lord and earnestly seek him and turn away from your sin and he will deliver you .
I have no idea who you are, but would be so interested to hear more of your story. Is there a chance scrupulosity has been involved? Please reach out if you feel inclined
Run to Jesus Christ and His saving gospel! Trust in Him alone for your salvation, HE IS MIGHTY TO SAVE!
I had a similar experience almost 4 years ago…. I was a backslidden Christian for almost 10 years, loving my sin and not walking with the Lord, not leading my wife or my boys, living in secret sin my whole marriage ….but the Lord put me in a place where it physically felt like he removed the Holy Spirit from me…. It was the most terrifying experience I’ve ever felt! I ended up in a mental hospital, I was crying out to God day and night. Not eating and weeping for months….. and no answer… he wasn’t hearing me. Friend, it felt like hell without the flames…. I had NO JOY, no peace, no love, NO HOPE! The hopelessness was the worst of it all!! Separation is exactly what I felt, I couldn’t even function in society with that separation feeling…. It was unbearable…. I couldn’t work, NOTHING Helped! Cause NO-ONE could help me!! just a fearful expectation of judgement to come….. it was so so terrifying words can’t describe it! God told me he was gonna show me what it was to live life without him…. And boy did he do it! I was distant from God for 3 years…And then a little over a year ago, I was sitting at my kitchen table and I told God…. lord, I may be going to hell but I can’t let my wife and 3 little boys go to hell so I will start reading and praying with them…. Even tho I’m heading to hell.. and as soon as I did that, he heard me! He changed my heart RADICALLY!! It was like I was born again all over again!! He filled me with the Holy Spirit, and Love for His word like I’ve never had… and love for Jesus like I’ve never had, and a desire to be Holy and obey him! Jesus is now my EVERYTHING!!! Not my job, not my money, not my wife, not my boys…. I looked for love in my sin and the things I cherished and Jesus showed me, HE IS ALL I HAVE!! HE IS MY EVERYTHING NOW! And I love him with ALL OF MY HEART AND SOUL!! It sometimes takes going through hell, literally…. To realize that. But God never let me go cause even in that state, I never denied Jesus as being God to others, I just believed I was unredeemable…. But I wasn’t!!! As long as we are breathing there’s hope! Jesus is so beautiful and everything friend!! HE is the treasure! Beg him to forgive you….. even if it takes 1,2,3,10 years!! Cry to him everyday. His mercy is more!!!
I would encourage you to read psalm 51, “The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise”. I have to believe this about God’s character, that He will not turn away a truly repentant heart.
Consistency across the Testaments, Yes and Amen ❤ Thanks, Mike!
The Prodigal Son parable teaches us that we can because our Heavenly Father will forgive us especially in light of the finished work of Christ which is the act that restores us if our motive in seeking restoration is not tainted or disingenuous
God already knows if and when we may fall away when He first calls us. He knows all.
I came out of NewAgeism and back to Jesus when I was 18 back in 2005. The Lord placed a calling on my heart to go into ministry. That lead me to attended BIOLA University in 2011 to study the Word of God. I had a roommate who was a Biblical Studies major. He became a youth pastor, and later moved to Portland. He now believes in a form if Hinduism/New Ageism and has a podcast talking about different Gurus. It is sad to see people you once knew fall away from Jesus who were once strong believers.
@Jon_Thunder You were saved, then went to New Age, and then back to Christ?
Very well presented. Thank you. One thing that sometimes causes apostasy is the behavior of pastors, elders, and even the common pew potato sheep.
Self-righteousness is a sin worse than drunkenness. When people become so pious from their restraint to sin, it's almost as if their works begin to justify their standing with Christ. Some people are just super strong-willed by nature and the flesh gets confused with the Holy spirit. Sure, they'll never say it, but deep down inside it just seems to be the case with how they treat other people. The collateral damage is far-reaching. Jesus specifically talked about the millstone, and I don't think many believers even stop to think about how they could have tossed millstones around people's necks with their self -imposed piety. As a matter of fact, I sure hope and pray I haven't done that as well.
Lord God spread these seeds, I pray they fall on Good Soil, produce good fruit, let your Will be done Abba in Jesus Christ name. Hallelujah! #JesusAlreadyWon! #BornAbove! #LoveBeyondConditions!
For almost ten years I rebelled in every way I could, and I insulted Him in every way I could think of. He still brought me back. He sent the woman whom I'm going to marry, and she led me back on His behalf. He never gives up on you. I think this passage is talking about how if you've met Him, and seen His work in your life, and then you choose to reject it, what more can be done? You've seen the Truth and rejected it. But He certainly welcomes you back after failures and even rebellion.
I came back.
Now, looking back, I see I was given the opportunity to accept the signs and synchronicities almost every 10 years, nearly to the day. In this last case, the 3rd time, it was to the day. August 15.
How did you come back
@@James-r9f4u I asked.
Thanks Mike. This is such high quality stuff. Bless you in Glory.
I feel im living the concequences of my sins, things in life became hard for me because of me (lost friends, arguing with my family, porn addiction, bad grades in college) and that God Doesnt hear me and that my heart is harden. I need hope that there is still a chance for me to repent.
Dear Rachel, as long as there is life, there is hope❣️ Don’t dwell on the past, but with God as your guide do your best day by day. We are all sinners, everyone of us walking this planet. Read the New Testament, read about and the words of Jesus. You will find so much comfort and peace regardless of your past mistakes. Jesus said, “ I am the way and the life “. To one of the criminals crucified with him he said “ Today you will be with me in Paradise
God Bless and keep you always!
Your heart isn't hardened against the Lord if you're concerned about it. Jesus is always faithful to receive you n forgive . We might have to face consequences for things we've done but He will forgive n restore.Be blessed dearest one.
Another excellent message. Thanks Dr., God bless you.
Exactly..thank GOD!!!!!!!! Especially when life sucks...thats the funny part. ...looking at death, or looking at homelessness. ..or looking at loneliness, or looking at hunger. ...or looking at a flat tire....or looking at a cancelled CC or looking at ripped shirt....or looking at birdshit on your shoulder. ....praise Him....it's just life...its not the end....
Good point. Thank you for standing your ground firmly against "systems" regurgitating their man fabricated misinterpretations. Stand firm on The Word at every moment. Be the salmon swimming against the current while the dead or weak salmon are carried away to be dumped in the sea.
You sound like an evolutionist….
@@uwekonnigsstaddt524 You are 180 degrees off.
ISAIAH55:8, For my Thoughts are Not your thoughts, neither my Ways your ways Saith the Lord>9.Mark10:27
With God all things are Possible Even All Things No Matter what Any Man or Scholar Thinks.
Exactly.
Sir, I believe in the Lord is my God, my King, my Savior, and mt Shepherd. But as of late, I have been struggling severely with backsliding and had fallen into sin too much, too much for my liking to the point that I recognized myself an apostate and has been struggling in the head on how to go about it.
I want to return to the Lord, but find myself hesitant to ask for forgiveness despite knowing it is open. I cannot help but imagine myself as a child who is afraid to come home to a Father who would openly have me...but it feels wrong to return if I were to wrong Him again, and it just keeps going. I know forgiveness from the Lord is infinite, and that He hates sin and loves the sinner, but I keep having thoughts and my own voice saying "you're an apostate, deserving of death, you're unworthy of salvation" and stuff like that on constant loop. I fear that I am not ready, nor can I ever be ready if God returns, and I know He will return soon.
What am I to do about this? What can a guy do to be a true son of God and deny temptation in it's entirety?
Hi, if I may....the way Dr. H. is using "apostate" here is as one that rejects and denies the faith and does not believe anymore. In that context, you are not an apostate since you clearly acknowledge the Lord as your God, King, Savior and Shepherd. So you are in the first group that Dr. H. mentions. And if Manasseh made it, so can you. That constant loop that accuses you is nonsense, it´s a lie. You are a sinner, so you DO QUALIFY for a Savior. Your experience is very common to many believers, that is, "struggling with the flesh." The good thing is that you are aware of it. Many believers are stuck in carnal lives and are not aware of it, now that is dangerous.
What can you do to live like a true son of God? Well, we got the whole Bible, especially the New Testament to help us. You can´t shrink back, you have to keep pressing forward. Jesus is your High Priest interceding for you. His throne today is one of grace, and you can come forward with boldness to receive grace and mercy for timely help. Yes you need to thoroughly confess your sins and repent, that is, to have a change of mind concerning all the sinful things. But it is not just an intellectual exercise; seek the Lord to grant you the adequate experiences of Christ and His Word, so that He within you makes the changes and then you cooperate with Him. His life within you will grow and you will deny temptations, you can overcome!
(There is too much to say)....We all need 3 basic things to run the Christian race: the Word, the Spirit and the Body: 1). The Word: for your daily food, knowledge of the truth, supply of life. 2:) The Spirit: for the experience of Christ, fellowship with the Lord, being filled and supplied with the Spirit. 3). The Body: for fellowship with other brothers, prayer companions, encouragement.
The Lord wants you to make it more than you do. He created you, He saved you, He´s calling you.
I definitely have to agree, and this is something I've believed for a long time. It always troubled me when pastors or church leaders would use that argument, that once you walk away from the faith, you are essentially cancelled. I can't agree with this, based on 2 things: the story of the Prodigal Son, and my OWN story of backsliding and eventual restoration. I think the argument is used irresponsibly, with the intent to invoke fear into the hearts and minds of young people (or young believers). I think it has the unfortunate side effect of driving people away, their reasoning being that there is an inconsistency or fallacy/flaw in the grace/faith/mercy/forgiveness argument.
@Cherie Tillapaugh Hott, Blessed be God, I was in prison for more years then you have fingers and thumbs, and God refused to let me go to hell.
Learn to let God be Judge and especially over His own word. God bless!!!
Again, Michael says God may choose to do or not to do. One must listen closely to what Michael says. At times it's heard to follow him when he toss up his many words of explanation(s). God bless!!!
What's your experience?
Please prayer I have a seared conscience and need the Holy Spirit back
How are you now?
@@KD-vt8ug Not good, u?
@@James-r9f4u same. What are you experiencing now?
Seek Him above everything else 🙏
I'm in the same boat :/
Apostasy and what is an apostate must be defined, It would clear things up. As Dr Sproul used to say about salvation, if you lose it, you never had it and if you have it, you’d never lose it.
The Bible has plenty of explanations of apostate probably the best thing to do is to go to Logos and search for logos9 online version ( that’s what I did ) and they have a bunch of study guides word guides and you can pull up a ton of information on what the Bible says about apostate
Dr Sproul looked at scripture through a Calvinist lens, rather than exegeting the text and comparing scripture with scripture. Some of his stuff is good, but most is coloured with this error. The statement you quoted is based on the Calvinist TULIP doctrines (created by men centuries later), not on comprehensive, sound scriptural exegesis. Dr Michael is closer to the biblical truth.
Thank you for this avenue.
Currently, I feel like I've become an apostate. Heart hardened. Feeling condemned by scriptures. Having evil thoughts that are catching me by surprise. And feeling very suicidal
Feeling cut off from God. Feeling like no more opportunity for me to make heaven again. Like I'm confined to hell. This is very very scary
I've had some demonic dreams which ended up scaring me. And leaving me in a state of panic/fear/condemnation
Back in 2014, I had a nervous breakdown.
I didn't know it was a nervous breakdown then, all I know is prior to that time, I started having a lot of condemnation and then the intrusive thoughts started coming and I could not fight it. I could not pray. I became very fearful and kept it to myself until one night I couldn't hold it anymore, I woke up in the middle of the night screaming ... It was as if the holy spirit left me
I wasn't myself.... My parents were as confused as I was. I was taken here and there
I became more stable, but I still felt that the holy spirit was gone. I thought and thought of where I got it wrong... I was just condemned on all of my thoughts. I tried praying, but it felt like I was just talking to myself
I knew something was terribly wrong with me
I tried talking with some christians then, but they were t really getting me as I wasn't making any much sense
I was being plagued by thoughts that I was going to die any time soon or lose my mind, or get hit by a car
I was in a church program in 2015, the preacher preached, and I listened... Then he shared a true life testimony about how God's love availed for a man who was at a dying moment.
Somehow, my faith latched on, that if God could have mercy on that man, me too I'll lay hold on his mercy
Before I knew it, in the days to come, I started loving the scriptures again and praying... I now had a new understanding of the scriptures and I had joy
It was like I became born again , again
But I still lived in fear, though I was still walking in obedience to God outwardly
I had fear in my heart
Though somehow, with prayers and the word I was able to get them down
I met my husband 2015 ending
And in 2016 Ending we got married. Around the time of our wedding, I'll admit even though we didn't engage in premarital sex, we were quite intimate.... I felt remorse about this , I prayed to God to forgive me.
But weeks to the wedding I started feeling panic all over again, similar to how the first attack began. Then fear played it's part as my dad was having dreams of dead people, I was scared and almost had another breakdown.
On the wedding day , I didn't want to get out of bed, I was under severe panic and eventually, I was taken to the hospital on the wedding day and treated for malaria
After the wedding, I was still battling this symptoms, and so I spoke with the pastor of the church that I attend, and with time, I was able to be strong in God again
But I kept having recurrent attacks over the course of our marriage, depression, panic and I kept praying and studying God's word.
Condemnation
When I got pregnant with my first child, it was tough. I thought I was going to die, the intrusive thoughts were daily... I didn't really understand what was happening
But I kept praying
I eventually had my daughter 2017ending
Still I continued to struggle with attacks in my mind , it was jumping from one issue to the other
At a time I struggled with bitterness and anger
I kept praying and studying for God's direction as it was causing me to be depressed
But in 2020 I had another breakdown, It was very serious
I was taken to the hospital but later referred to Neuropsychiatric hospital and I was diagnosed with a major depressive disorder
All these events were very traumatic
Yet, I felt cut off from God yet again
The intrusive thoughts were looming
I felt there's surely no way of getting out this time
I was still on medications but i continued searching online for christian help to these things
Finally I had a mini breakthrough
And I ran with it
The light came on again
But this time, the struggle was much,
I was fighting one battle in my mind after another
There are times I feel like something wanted me to accept a though pattern and I'll cry and pray and study in that area
So. From one battle to another
It was like I was living under a cloud
I got tired but was still able to hold on to God until very recently, I struggled so much with bitterness and anger and I couldn't get over it even though I knew it was wrong and prayed and studied
Recently, I felt cut off yet again, this time, the intrusive thoughts are worse, telling me there's no way out this time, I've exhausted all the grace available to me.
I feel battle weary and already felt condemned to hell
I have been very suicidal. Cos it's like it's either I end it now or continue to live in misery
I feel like those the bible call apostate
I tried praying but can't even do it. I tried studying the Bible but seem condemned by it.
I total shut down. Couldn't go to work , take care of my children , etc. Just there.
Earlier, each time I tried to fight these thoughts I'll encounter massive attacks that'll leave me running back in fear
Currently, I have never felt so cut off from God. I feel my heart is so hardened and I can't repent for all my sins again.
I don't just know what to do, I feel something is binding my heart, I don't feel joy, I don't enjoy anything again... And something in me is being thrilled about evil. I try to dissociate myself... I keep being tempted daily to end it.
My husband is saying I am allowing the devil to torment me. It's not like I want him to, but just that the only person I could run to from help feels cut off from me and I feel like I'm damned.
Please , is there a chance that there is any hope for me.
I am ashamed. I haven't left the house in a week plus, seem to be tormented in my sleep. I always wake up around 2 or 3 with wrong thoughts that leave me feeling like running away or killing myself cos how can I claim to be a Christian yet my thoughts are not okay 247. I don't feel like a Christian anymore. I need help
I've been here since July beginning
In this state
And it appears to be getting worse. The only prayer I've been muttering is God help me
But then the thoughts are telling me otherwise
That I'm just wasting my time. I just feel tired
And like I failed and disappointed God
The thoughts sometimes tell me to renounce God. And I'll just shake my head
Yes I am. I am always watching encouraging videos online cos if I drop my phone the thoughts will start again
No love in my heart again. It's like I am running on empty. Im not even running again
I feel all these are happening though because of the condemnation of being cut off from God.
Thanks in anticipation.
Remember Job.
Fun fact, I’m going through something similar to you, having evil manipulative thoughts and other evil thoughts. I plan to write a book about my spiritual life and my thoughts plus all the questions that I have. One thing I would like to confirm to you is that it doesn’t matter how you _feel_ when the Holy Spirit is working or not working. From my experience so far, I doubt one knows for sure that they are hell bound as long as they remain aware about the state of their soul, although I could of course be wrong. As far as the unforgivable sin goes, a possibility that I am trying to get answered/confirmed right now is that the unforgivable sin has to be committed by a heart that is filled with pride. My idea that I hope is true is that one has to know for a fact that they are committing the sin and they are never concerned about it at all (or they refuse to regret committing it) because of the pride that fuels them to the blasphemy. All in that last sentence instead of being able to commit the blasphemy as an intrusive thought, unwanted or not, just like any other unwanted intrusive thought that any person including a true Christian might have. Let us stay strong dude!
Also the possibility that I speak of about the unforgivable sin, I back up by two facts; one is that if I had never learned about the unforgivable sin, I would never have these intrusive thoughts about the unforgivable sin. Two is that it is in the Bible and we are not allowed to take away or add to the Bible. So, since I wouldn’t have intrusive thoughts about the unforgivable sin if I hadn’t learned of the unforgivable sin, yet it is in the Bible thus not to be taken out, I would want to conclude that one cannot commit the sin intrusively saying, “oh let’s see what happens when I do this eternally stupid thing for no reason” as if even though they know what happens, they don’t know what happens and are curious but they don’t know what they are doing to be fascinatedly curious about such a sin. After all, once a point like the unforgivable sin come to one’s mind, I don’t think they can forget about it, yet it’s in the Bible from Jesus Himself so we can’t just avoid the passage.
What I think I’m trying to say is that since it is in the Bible as a warning that needs to be seen, apparently one can commit the sin without having ever seen the Scriptures about the sin, meaning that they do it in a totally different way than I think, after all, why can I curse the Son of Man and be forgiven but not the Holy Spirit?? So ya I am currently not thinking that the sin can be done out of curiosity or intrusively. The primary motivation to do it would be super full of self-exaulting pride that refuses regret it or be concerned about it. R. C. Sproul once said that while being concerned is a good sign, you can do it and still be concerned about it. I would like to say I have enough evidence to disagree with Sproul on that particular point. The reason is in this question that I ask: “was Jesus being literal or figurative here? What does He really mean by the whole attributing the work thing?” I would think that a committer of the sin is not at all concerned, knows perfectly what he pridefully did, and vows to himself to work against the gospel for the rest of his life in hatred to Christ and prideful rejection of His grace thinking to himself, “I’m too smart to need God’s grace”-again, not intrusively but pridefully so that he refuses to regret saying that
Another question I ask myself all the time is this; what does Jesus want me to do since I (think) am an apostate? Well maybe at least sin as little as I can so that I won’t heap up as much wrath, but [Genesis 4:11-20] by God’s “common” grace and mercy I am still breathing even though God, who values eternity more than temporal and wants what best for me, knows that because I am still breathing, I can’t help but to store up more wrath, so maybe I DO have a chance at repentance as long as I can still breathe, I don’t know.
@@jaytee6936 I read somewhere that the unforgivable sin can’t be committed today. Only during Jesus’ ministry while he was performing miracles in their faces.
I think Jesus refers to this in the parable of the sower. The seed (word of God) that falls on rocky ground, and the person receives it with joy, but it doesn't take root and they fall away. It's not that they believe and backslid, but it sounds like they just turned away for the world instead. You can only serve one master.. the world, or God. Sadly, we've heard of many Christians recently that have publicly rejected Christ after serving him, and even though it is possible for them to come back, it just doesn't seem likely. That's up to them, and that's why we continue to pray for them.
This is happening to me.... And I feel like a goat.... I knew the truth and made a profession of faith but then I came to the conclusion that my faith was fake.. Now... Im scared..... Ive been wrong for so long
@@rachelg.cuesta1436 I feel this way as well, was a total believer and then fully rejected, am worried. Are you okay? What do you feel now
@@Adam-ii5kn Terrible... Because I feel im living the concequences of my sins, things in life became hard for me because of me (lost friends, arguing with my family, porn addiction, bad grades in college) and that God Doesnt hear me and that my heart is harden. I need hope that there is still a chance for me to repent.
@@rachelg.cuesta1436 where are you now?
@@rachelg.cuesta1436are you okay now?!
Praise the LORD💪❤️☦️😇🙏👍
I wanna share my Satanic Apostate story: I turned away from God and became a Satanist to try to push away God so I could do worldly things. I recently returned to God, and his Holy Spirit comforts me so much. I made the most blasphemous music against God and God has given me great assurance that he loves me, even as much as before my apostasy. So if you think you have committed the unforgivable sin, just know to keep praying for God’s mercy and strength to turn you from your sins and draw you closer to Lord Jesus, because we serve a merciful God.
Did he restore you immediately or was it a process? I did and said some horrible things a few months ago and I feel pike the Holy Spirit departed from me and I have been trying for the last 4 months to hear from God again, but I haven’t been able to feel his presence like I have before. I’m so scared that I did the unforgivable sin.
The example of Manasseh assumes he was a true believer in Christ before his repentance.
I think this passage has a clearer understanding than what has been presented. I think the key to understanding this text is found in Heb 6:6,8. The person in question "restore them again". to be restored again means there was something there at one time. I would define this as a person who had saving faith. What happened to this person who cannot be restored again? I think we find the answer in verse 8 "if it bears thorns and thistles, it is worthless and near to being cursed, and its end is to be burned". The person who cannot be restored again is described as a person who has brought forth thorns and thistles (instead of fruit). You probably know where I am going with this. Jesus gives a very clear definition of what thorns and thistles represent. Mat 13:7,22. Ground that received seed choked out and bears no fruit because thorns choked it out. Jesus defines exactly what he is saying in verse 22. The love of riches, the cares of this world, and other things choke to death this person. But I think that definition is too broad for this person in Hebrews. That would include almost everybody at some point in their walk with the Lord. Well, Jesus takes this very definition and narrows it tighter. Mat 7:15-19. Here he describes false prophets as people who bear fruit of thorns and thistles. What is the same between this description and the one in Hebrews other than the thorns and thistles is where they end up. Hebrews "it end is to be burned" Mat "thrown into the fire". I postulate that many of the well-known false prophets and so-called word of faith teachers today, who have their doctrine built solidly on covetousness, which is idolatry, whose god is mammon, I think many of them at one time had saving faith, but covetousness grabbed hold and there is no going back. They preach thorns and thistles and they glory in their shame. These are the ones Paul weeps about in Php 3:18-19 and the ones who have made themselves the enemy of God Jas 4:4. It is not a mystery who the writer of Hebrews is talking about and they are identifiable according to Jesus and the writer of Hebrews. Thorns and Thistles are how they are identified. They preach the doctrine of Balaam and Jezebel of Rev Ch 2. God gave Jezebel (probably an Elohim) and some of her followers in the church of Thyatira space to repent. They didn't repent. Why? The writer of Hebrews says it is simply impossible for them to repent.
I'd have to say that the author of Hebrews was speaking with a group of former believers, some of which were there witnessing the blessings, crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus. Hebrews 6 is not talking to those that come to Jesus long after, who must believe by faith alone, without seeing, either believe or don't. This is why Paul wrote Ephesians 6 for the Jews and gentiles and must determine their faith and guard that faith through the discernment of the Holy Spirit. Jesus said to Thomas, blessed is he the has seen and believes, blessed even more is he that has not seen yet can believe. Those who gave up on Jesus witnessed Him and believed yet some time afterwards turned back and when theirs heart convicted them tried to come back after denying Jesus and making therefore the sacrifice of Christ fresh again. This cannot happen. However we, living long after afterwards are continually bombarded by deceitful doctrine can sometimes fail in our faith, even deny Him for a short time yet still be received back into Jesus for we can only live by faith and not by sight. However those that did see and believed and witnessed all had no excuse, and I believe this is why the Jewish temple had to be destroyed to prevent people returning to a sacrificial system. We are the new temple of living stones, not created by men, and Jesus is the Chief cornerstone the builders rejected.
In response to what I said earlier is that nobody can know the heart of man ever but our Father in heaven. We must be very careful and never condemn somebody who has fallen away and denied Christ even. Even Peter denied Jesus three times and confessed his denial yet Jesus took him back. We don't fully understand everything about what Satan has done to us and what we ourselves do on our own. All it takes is pastor bent on destroying a church and introducing New Age philosophy to the congregation, mingled with just enough of the truth of the Bible, and his church will follow down that path with him. Not all but enough who want their ears tickled with some new thing, some new experience. If you're not aware, anything that has to do with Harry Potter, magic, mediums, seance, necromancy, witchcraft, are all abominations to the Lord, and thats written. The latest book that makes Jesus out to be anything then what He says to shake the faith of even a seasoned Christian. All of these self proclaimed book writers that have some secret knowledge of the life of Christ are charlatans and false prophets and base their proclamations on misleading quotes and assumptions and not on factual evidence. At any rate, if somebody's faith has been shaken to the point of denial, just be their to lift them up. Call upon the Lord, find the answers or find someone who can answer them. If their pastor fail in this regard find one that won't and ask for help. Do what you can to bring them back to the truth.
@@jamesniswender2346 Peter did not deny Jesus, he denied being with Jesus.
@@droe2570 Luke 22:34 'And He said, "I say to you, Peter, the rooster will not crow today until you have denied three times that you KNOW Me."
Luke 22:58 "A little later, another saw him and said, "You are one of THEM too!" But Peter said, "Man I am NOT!"
Jesus himself said Peter would deny knowing him, not being with him. Here are some usages of the greek word from other parts of the bible:
Englishman's Concordance
εἰδέναι (eidenai) - 11 Occurrences
Luke 20:7 V-RNA
GRK: ἀπεκρίθησαν μὴ εἰδέναι πόθεν
KJV: not tell whence
INT: they answered not they knew from where
Luke 22:34 V-RNA
GRK: με ἀπαρνήσῃ εἰδέναι
KJV: deny that thou knowest me.
INT: me you will deny knowing
John 14:5 V-RNA
GRK: τὴν ὁδόν εἰδέναι
KJV: how can we know the way?
INT: the way know
This proves that Jesus meant "know" in a sense of knowing He is the Way, or knowing that He is God. The reference in verse 58 shows that someone was associating Peter with "Christians", to which he denied. This is a clear case of apostasy.
@@jamesniswender2346Peter denied Jesus but did not betray or count his coming sacrifice as nothing or insufficient after tasting the powers of the world to come. You cannot reject the only sacrifice for sin stay in that state of your own free will and be brought to repentance. If you keep rejecting the spirit of truth then God will let you have a spirit of deception and you will die in your sin.
The answer here is a resounding yes! What many fail to see is that the path of truth and faith really do diverge. Staying on either path seems to get you half-way somewhere, fortunately. Even if one seems rougher at times you can be fairly certain that both of them are.
I think the metaphorical crossroads are points where a person's own ability to reason is exposed. Man's logic and arrogance of and from it are like directional markers along the ways.
Still learning from the dr. Love and miss you
Most apostates don’t leave to worship other gods but because they are no longer able to believe what they are told.
They want to be honest with themselves and I think it is commendable in God’s eyes!
I believe that once you are a true believer, the Holy Spirit seals you and you become “in Christ”, transferred from the kingdom of darkness to the kingdom of light, freed from the bondage of sin… how could this be undone? Of course, we still sin because we still live in flesh. But how can we rip ourselves away from someone we are united with? Even in our doubts and sins, God is still within us and we will eventually listen to His voice, even if we have stopped for a short season. If a person never “comes back” they were never saved.
I came back 30 years later after falling into new age beliefs and fake doctrines which are rooted in unbelief but I don’t know if my repentance was acccoeted by The Lord because of verses like these and others which talk about persevering til the end. Do you think you can come back to Jesus after falling into unbelief ?
Whoever calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. If you believe in Him, He accepts you. I see no reason for you to fear. The prodigal son was once in his father’s house, left it, and ended up coming back after squandering his inheritance. You are no different. He was waiting with open arms for you to realize you needed to come back.
Thank you!
“I don’t care how this fits into your system. We don’t need systems. We need to pay attention to the text, and we need to be consistent across the testaments. That’s what we need.”
Like Michel Heiser also recommend Bob Wilkin,God bless brothers and sisters
The letter to the Hebrews was written to Jews who were returning to Judaism because of persecution. Paul makes a lengthy argument that Jesus is the only way, the only priest and sacrifice. Essentially, to turn back and once again rely on animal sacrifices for forgiveness is to kill or crucify the idea of Jesus as the only atonement. The priests tried to remove Jesus by crucifying Him in order to remove him from the picture. This is what these departing believers are doing and also making it an impossibility for repentance and faith to be restored. They are removing the offense, Jesus from their lives.
*I just thought of a* *very real verse in Job* *2:10** where he said* *to his wife; What?* *Shall we Receive* *Good at the Hand of* *GOD, and Shall We* *Not Receive Evil.!!*
I was born homosexual. But beyond that my body had chemical imbalances. More estrogen less testosterone. That's what I dealt with as a kid. In my teenage years I knew God had already given me the choice. My parents already ruined my childhood foundation. At 17 I knew I needed God to save me from my curse. But I couldn't ......I violated my body and dealing disease. I am 25 no college degree no foundation filed chapter 13 and I realized I need God Evan more now than ever. But I know that the day I die I'm not going to heaven. I have accepted the darkness in my early 20s. I denied God so early and started letting demons live through me. If God can save me from my addiction and sin it will be through the prayer of my family and friends because I have no self control. I might Evan die before I'm 40. I'm 25 I live in Chicago and what's so interesting is when I try to change and put things to the side it's like the world makes all those things easily available for me when I try to fast. I know Ive done enough damage and heavenly violations it's probably too late. But I see God through my neices and nephews and it makes me so sad that I can't sacrifice my sin
If you never were a born again believer and committed apostasy you can call on god for forgiveness he forgives ALL sin. Just call out to Jesus !!🙏
I chose not too because I'm not willing to change my sexuality so that is my point. If this was going to destroy me then I feel like God created me and should have blocked my brain from these issues to keep me safe so now I just wonder the earth until I'm gone. But it's a lesson for my family to see how far someone who once believed go so far away and listen to the rulers of planet earth I'm aware but in my DNA I don't care. I'm a risky human
RIP Dr Heiser. I respect much of his work and how it's transformed my understanding to see the ultimate work of Christ in this universe. Praise God for a brother like Dr. Heiser. But I would have to disagree minorly with his take on this. Regarding the "impossible" I believe the Pillar commentary is correct and consistent on this view with the rest of scripture. Dr. Heiser was asking for consistency, and I believe he forgot to mention that God does "harden" people. Dr. Heiser understands "impossible" to mean that outside of God, there is No Other Possible Way to Salvation (which is true) and therefore the impossibility. But this is not consistent with the actual text as Verse 7-8 of Hebrews 6 gives us the reason for that impossibility:
"7 Land that drinks in the rain often falling on it and that produces a crop useful to those for whom it is farmed receives the blessing of God. 8 But land that produces thorns and thistles is worthless and is in danger of being cursed. In the end it will be burned." - NIV
The reason it is impossible for these reprobates to return is because God Himself has finally cut them off and cast them out. i.e... Pharoh, King Saul, and Judas Iscariot and the likes of these. It is "impossible" for these reprobates to return not because they were "non-elects" or "reprobated from eternity pass" (all of which Dr Heiser does not believe in neither do I, but it's just an example of other heretical theoloy). The impossibility here is that God has finally rejected them. This is the consistency throughout scripture that Dr. Heiser missed. I call this "the point of no return." And only God knows when the reprobates has become so harden that God Himself will give them over to their own sinful desires and seal the deal - Romans 1:26. This therefore harmonizes perfectly with the prodigal son and the reprobate stories and all the warning passages of being cut off.
Manessah was still a prodigal son. Paul of Tarsus was still a prodigal son. But King Saul was not neither was Judas Iscariot. Scripture gives us a glimpse of that exact moment Judas was given over in John 13:
John 13:26-27 ...” Then, dipping the piece of bread, he (Jesus) gave it to Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot. 27 As soon as Judas took the bread, Satan entered into him. So Jesus told him, “What you are about to do, do quickly.”
God gave Judas over to Satan at that moment.
Then later, Jesus expanded on reprobation in John 15:
15 “I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. 2 He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful."
then John 15:5-6 "5 “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. 6 If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned."
and then the master and wicked servant passages with the wicked servant being cut into pieces and assigned a place with the hypocrites where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth!!! - Matt 24:45
Being cut off and reprobated is very real or else King Jesus would just be giving hypothetical rhetoric nonsense. smh.... Let King Jesus be true and all men liars! God Bless!
Hebrews 6:4 I believe is talking about the hebrews going back in moses teaching. I've read hebrews many times. It looks like if you read it the whole book is telling you they were being persecuted for there faith. So they were bringing in the mosaic law with faith in Jesus.
Another person said this and I tend to agree with this interpretation. It would appear to refer to going from being a Christian and trusting Christ, to going back to the sacrificial system - where your sacrifices were made publicly.
There is nothing wrong with the mosaic law mixed with Jesus ❤
Vean también este video con Subtítulos en Español en nuestro canal de habla hispana
th-cam.com/video/-c7uMn1i_oM/w-d-xo.html
I find this to be so harsh! What teenager who was raised Christian doesn’t have a rebellious period? Especially since they’re surrounded by peers who believe other things and they don’t want to be “closed minded” and assume they were raised with the true religion and everyone they know is wrong. I mean I hope I’m not alone in this!
I worry that I’m going to be rejected now because I only recently came back to the lord in a serious way after being out in the world for several years. I really hope that trying to be closer to god and to live a holy life is not futile for me. 😢
How are you doing now?
I always find it best to interpret the Bible with the exact meaning of the words that were written down when people start to inject their views that's when we have a different Jesus that is being preached a different gospel. You're either going to take God's word and accept it or you're going to twist it and make it mean what you want it to mean and therefore you don't have God's word at all.
God is Truth
God is Light
God is Love
Love is patient and kind long suffering
1cor 13
God doesn’t want Anyone to be lost.
If people can’t come back then they have found a Weakness in God!
Impossible ‼️
There are several scriptures where the meaning isn't always in the exact words. Context is very important.
Love what mike says. I just wish he would do more teaching on eschatological systems. 🤣
You might want to check out the naked Bible podcast, especially his introduction to Revalation. Mike goes into why he does not agree with most Eschatological systems... mostly because most of those systems don’t include the whole counsel of God meaning they lack foundation from the old testament. And most of the imagery in revelation comes from the old testament. Hope this helps. It opened my eyes.
@@WyntrWolf I know. I listen to him all the time. I was trying to be ironic. :)
@@troystevens459 And I was trying to be helpful, how ironic, 😂
Someone out there will probably want to hear it or see it… God bless
Isn't the pint though that Manasseh's repentance was as a Jew before Christs sacrifice. And Hebrew's is talking of the Christian post Passion?
Why did Paul and the early church continue to sacrifice as shown in Acts 21:26 which is long after Jesus' death on the cross? Sacrifices only stopped because the Temple was destroyed. The sacrifices and offerings were always symbolic and respectful. They'll continue to be in the lead up to Jacob's trouble and in the Millennium.
How does this passage possibly factor into this? (Numbers 15:29-31, YLT) for the native among the sons of Israel, and for the sojourner who is sojourning in their midst-one law is to you, for him who is doing anything through ignorance. 'And the person who doth aught with a high hand-of the native or of the sojourner-Jehovah he is reviling, and that person hath been cut off from the midst of his people; because the word of Jehovah he despised, and His command hath broken-that person is certainly cut off; his iniquity is on him.'
Jesus said "He that believes in me has (present tense) everlasting life and shall not come into condemnation..." So how long does everlasting life last and how does this jive with people who did believe but bailed?
Believing = Trusting and Obeying. Not just believing that there actually is a God. Faith is a verb = Action by default.
I have committed just about every sin except for murder but I have never once, that I can remember, that I have ever stopped believing in Christ or the Holy Bible! I even try to convince others of how true the Bible predicted past, present, and future events. This gives me some comfort that even though I still live in sin that I still have hope of salvation! Thanks Dr for giving perspective on this particular passage!
That is not what the Dr. Is saying. If you are still living in sin, then you are risky judgment. The King the Dr. Talked about repented of his sin, before he was forgiven. He did not continue in his old ways after that. You need to get out of sin if you want to be saved. For by sin you will be judged even though you believed in Christ. While we are still alive we need to repent from out sin. If not, we will die in our sin. So I encourage you to not continue to live in sin, when you know it is a sin. God help you be more righteous.
@@etheligidigba410 I certainly do not agree what you wrote or at least the way you worded your warning of what, continuing in sin ? Dying in sin? Has God saved you by you not sinning today?So this is your advice to him . Live like I do and do not sin! The guy is telling us that he still sins and thankful to learn that God will certainly judge his unconfessed sin but he hasn’t lost his hope to be with Jesus one day. I do hope your reply hasn’t discouraged him to greatly.
@@ronniehart8052 How can repentence discourage him? He only have to call on God if he truly want to be saved! The words ethel igidigba wrote wasn`t any threat or shouldn`t do any harm to him, those words are only Biblical. When Jesus started His ministry He preached and urged people to repent! If this man knows he lives in sin he have to repent, otherwise Jesus can`t save him. I can`t hope to come to heaven without repentence.
But repentence is also a gift. I need Gods grace to be able to repent, and if Jesus wount give me that grace then i can`t repent at all.
But to live on a hope that Jesus will save me one day is to stick my head in the sand. It`s not about Jesus, It`s a personal thing though God has done everything for us to come to Him then He also will save us if we are willing to repent.
So we can`t fool God, He knows what`s in our hearts. He knows if anyone is serious or not. If a person is serious, he`ll repent. If he woun`t repent...well, maybe he`s not so serious after all.
@@etheligidigba410 to quote Dr. Heiser: "that which cannot be gained by moral perfection cannot be lost by moral imperfection."
@@ronniehart8052 I wasn't discouraged him. You misunderstand me. The person talked about still living in sin but, thankful to God. I was just trying to encourage him to repent from those sins because, our sins do matters, and we could die in those sins if we don't repent from them. Jesus told the people that if they don't repent and believe, that they would die in their sins, and repentance will be too late.
We are not imperfect. God knows this. But we must strive to live a sinless life. Jesus said to carry our cross Daily and follow him. That cross is our struggle against sin. Paul said he die to himself every single day. That is his struggle against sin and the things his flesh desires. It's one thing to sin out of ignorance or even weakness. But to sin, and live in sin willfully will have consequences. I personally believe so. We all sin. I too sin. But I believe forgiveness comes with true repentance. I was just encouraging the brother to not live in sin. Especially one that he is aware of or can do something about it.
Amen Doc…. Amen
Was manassah an apostate or an unbeliever who repented?
But it says mannassa then new he was god so this wouldnt have anything to do with someone who already had manessas experiance then turns again?
Menassa found God after all the idolatry and rebellion so this doesn’t apply to an apostate. I am trying to get the true meaning of Hebrews 6:4-8 which I fell away from the faith after being saved. My only hope is that God said he will have compassion on who he’ll have compassion on and mercy on who he’ll have mercy on 🙏
@dawnalaia9984 Thanks for your honesty, I wish the best for you in your walk with God.
Very good
Only one sin can't be forgiven as far as i know, Peter was forgiven for denying even knowing Jesus 3 times
I would like to interject this brief observation, Manasseh was Israelite and the second less in value though also important was how many steps from Adam he was we are so far removed from Adam that I feel a lot of what is wrong with today is the greatness of sin as opposed to the holiness of God we have tipped the scale and have made to the point of no return. God's plan is well under way now so much so that those who truly turn from God not just one who sin. Anyway just a humble opinion one among many and there for not a fact :-)
So I'm a believer I've seen Jesus do things in my life then my pops died and in my pain instead of staying in Jesus I turned to chasing women whilst I was married and doing cocaine then I got addicted to pain meds ...I let go of cocaine I then lost my mom and I went further in my addiction and started my cocaine addiction again I got caught and did probation 4 months otil I was to b done with my probation I got caught again buying cocaine so I went to jail for a year all the while I was pleading to the lord to get me out of this mess and pain I've been in that I put myself in . He did he plucked me out and set me in jail and I lost contact with everyone family etc. Then when I was ready he came in and put me back together when I got out of prison I left my girlfriend of 13yrs ( side) but the drugs got even worse I've tried to stop and I can't I've even gone and bought knowing I was wrong and got high I'm sick over this I don't want to do anymore cocaine but I do so what I'm asking is am I an apostate? Is it too late for me🥺
I had a similar experience almost 4 years ago…. I was a backslidden Christian for almost 10 years, loving my sin and not walking with the Lord, not leading my wife or my boys, living in secret sin my whole marriage ….but the Lord put me in a place where it physically felt like he removed the Holy Spirit from me…. It was the most terrifying experience I’ve ever felt! I ended up in a mental hospital, I was crying out to God day and night. Not eating and weeping for months….. and no answer… he wasn’t hearing me. Friend, it felt like hell without the flames…. I had NO JOY, no peace, no love, NO HOPE! The hopelessness was the worst of it all!! Separation is exactly what I felt, I couldn’t even function in society with that separation feeling…. It was unbearable…. I couldn’t work, NOTHING Helped! Cause NO-ONE could help me!! just a fearful expectation of judgement to come….. it was so so terrifying words can’t describe it! God told me he was gonna show me what it was to live life without him…. And boy did he do it! I was distant from God for 3 years…And then a little over a year ago, I was sitting at my kitchen table and I told God…. lord, I may be going to hell but I can’t let my wife and 3 little boys go to hell so I will start reading and praying with them…. Even tho I’m heading to hell.. and as soon as I did that, he heard me! He changed my heart RADICALLY!! It was like I was born again all over again!! He filled me with the Holy Spirit, and Love for His word like I’ve never had… and love for Jesus like I’ve never had, and a desire to be Holy and obey him! Jesus is now my EVERYTHING!!! Not my job, not my money, not my wife, not my boys…. I looked for love in my sin and the things I cherished and Jesus showed me, HE IS ALL I HAVE!! HE IS MY EVERYTHING NOW! And I love him with ALL OF MY HEART AND SOUL!! It sometimes takes going through hell, literally…. To realize that. But God never let me go cause even in that state, I never denied Jesus as being God to others, I just believed I was unredeemable…. But I wasn’t!!! As long as we are breathing there’s hope! Jesus is so beautiful and everything friend!! HE is the treasure! Beg him to forgive you….. even if it takes 1,2,3,10 years!! Cry to him everyday. His mercy is more!!!
How did they get inside the Holy Of Holies without dying?
Was the ark still in there by then?
Manasseh was not in the age of Grace, tho, so his turning away was not as atrocious as that of a Christian, born again, who turns away from FULL GRACE!
I did this. Im in a very dangerous place. Im scared
How are you now? Please help
@@brystoncollins5416 are you ok?
@@rachelg.cuesta1436 I’m ok, how are you now?
@@brystoncollins5416 What did you do to be ok?
@@rachelg.cuesta1436 Are you better now?
Clearly logical...
I have great difficulty in seeing a Dawkinista recovering from their virus these days…
Dawkinstas are probably celebrating “evolution” as it kills the weaker living organisms in society. They won’t say it openly, but they are probably enjoying it. Love your avatar
If evolution kills the weaker ones, then why are they ruling the world. The heroes are chained and paraded in the streets.
certainly
Heiser is eisegeting (inserting) "faith" and "salvation" and "regeneration" onto the listed traits in Hebrews 6. Rather, those traits, especially faith, are conspicuously missing from that list. Hebrews mentions faith an astonishing number of times, and here "faith" is absent. The writer is giving a warning to our benefit. If a car full of children breaks down at the freeway, and it's too hot so the children must exit, they will then be warned about the danger of the traffic. Do we then assume the warning would not be given unless there is a guarantee that at least one child shall go into the traffic even after being warned? No, that would be absurd, yet that is the logic which Heiser has applied to this warning in the Bible. The purpose of the warning is it is the guardians way of protecting the children, and thus the guardian succeeds and no children get hurt; this is the standard scenario and thus the most straightforward application of the text.
To be clear, let's make the wording more similar: "if you go into that traffic, it is impossible for you to be safe". That is a hypothetical. The text in Hebrews 6 is a hypothetical. The reason "faith", "regeneration", "salvation" and all other specifically salvific terms are not mentioned is because inserting the trait of saved-by-Jesus would make the hypothetical absurd. The writer states that the warning is his argument for why the readers should move from milk to maturity; and, in context of the book, it seems likely that not moving on to maturity is being equivocated with not having faith, similar to using sin as an argument of lack of faith regarding those who fell in the wilderness (Hebrews 3 v17-19).
In John chapter 11, Jesus tells Martha:
"I am the resurrection and the life: he that trusts in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live; and whosoever lives and trusts in me shall never die."
If it were possible for a saved person to fall away, then Jesus lied to Martha. Therefor, the warning in Hebrews 6 highlights that being enlightened and partaking in the Holy Spirit are not proof that one has truly trusted Christ nor that one is made a new creation in Him. I know people struggle with this, but Judas was healing people by the Holy Spirit, he partook of Him, but it is never written of Judas that he had faith. What Jesus said to Martha is one example, among plenty, which proves the hypothetical in Hebrews 6 is merely-hypothetical when applied to one who has trusted in Jesus; but if one has experienced enlightenment and partaking of God and power of the Aeon To Come, yet done so without trusting Jesus, then his house is empty and will be filled with seven worse spirits. Jesus says in Luke 11:
"He that is not with me is against me, and he that gathers not with me scatters. When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walks through dry places, seeking rest and finding none. He says: I will return unto my house whence I came out. And when he arrives, he finds it swept and furnished. Then he goes and takes to him seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter in and dwell there, and the last state of that man is worse than the first."
We do know explicitly, from the account in Matthew 12, that Jesus was applying that specifically to the Jews of that generation who would not let Jesus enter their "houses" which is likely their bodies. This fits well, because Hebrews 6 is specifically addressing the Hebrews and warning them that they need to trust Jesus. In such case of such trust, Jesus enters them and the unclean spirit does not return to an empty and furnished house.
It's important to note, that someone experiencing supernatural enlightenment and supernatural power, that may likely describe very few apostates. 1st John chapter 2 explains that apostates are those who go out from us so it is obvious they were never of us; "of us" referring to being of the Fellowship Of Faith In Christ which is the Church. I think very few apostates ever experienced the power of the Aeon To Come and partaking in the Holy Spirit and enlightenment. I have experienced all of those, rather intensely, and I understand that unbelievers can have similar experience when one or multiple unclean spirits leave them, such that the only thing that assured me was that by grace I was saved via being born into a faithful new creation who is God's workmanship in Christ Jesus unto good works which were before ordained that I should walk in them. My assurance was not the experiences, though they made things apparent to me, but the assurance is that Christ promises that because I trust Him I will never die. I certainly consider it an impossibility that I could apostatize, because Jesus has promised I will never die, but if I apostatize I will die in my sins. Now, to remain sure we are in the Faith, we must test ourselves (2 Corinthians 13 v5), but we test ourselves to be sure, not to remain unsure! If we are never sure, then we don't merely test ourselves, but we must strive to attempt to meet the test and become sure, and it's a perspective of relying on works which is a faithless unsaved dead persons perspective.
I don't know why Dr Heiser is on a crusade to convince people that Jesus was lying when He described the promise of eternal life to those who trust in Him. The biggest point of Hebrews, is that if you trust Jesus you are assured, so never put trust elsewhere because you cannot trust two masters (so-to-speak). Trusting experiences of enlightenment and experiences of partaking in the Spirit, that will not save anyone; trusting that God's promises are true and assured specifically in Christ Jesus, that is to have been made alive and never die. Don't let Heiser take you captive to fear. 1st John 4 states that love casts out fear, and that God is love. In 2nd Timothy chapter 1 it is written that God has not given us the spirit of fear; but instead of power, and of love, and of a wholesome mind. Back to this same book, Hebrews chapter 2: it is written that we are set free from fear of death, and it's obvious this is because we know we will never die because we trust the promises of God in Jesus Christ.
"Because it fit Him, for Whom is everything and by whom is everything, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings. For both He that sanctifies and they who are sanctified are all of one, for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren, saying: I will declare Your name unto my brethren; in the midst of the congregation will I sing praise unto You. And again: I will put my trust in Him. And again: Behold I and the children which God has given me. Because as much, then, as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, He also Himself likewise took part of the same, so that through death He might destroy him that had the power of death, that is the Devil; and deliver them who, through fear of death, were all their lifetime subject to bondage."
Be not in bondage brethren, but be assured that He who has started a good work in you will finish it, as Paul by the Spirit Of God told the Philippians that he was confident of this for them. Why was Paul confident? It was because Jesus is worthy of trust and Jesus stated the promise.
Because of Hebrews 10:26 and because people are warned not to fall into unbelief. How can one be sure that they haven't been moved beyond salvation when this scripture plainly states there is a line. If one has decided that salvation is about as valuable as a soup then you basically have told God I don't need you in my life. That would be similar to what they where attempting to do by going back to the synagogue. You would make an example that you have not abided in Christ even though you had revelation.
@@drummerboy737 Ephesians chapter 2 does not say that we are His workmanship in Christ Jesus unto falling away. Hebrews 10 v26 is reiterating what the chapter was saying all along: do not sacrifice animals because that is to deny Christ's sacrifice, but instead trust Christ to remove your sin from you. See, the Hebrews had two categories for sin and for sin sacrifice; one category was unwilled sin, and the other was willful sin. Hebrews 10 v26 is telling them that even if their sin is willful, it remains true that there is no more sacrifice for sins, and the context makes it clear this is because Christ's sacrifice IS sufficient even against willful sin.
Now, why would they be tempted to sacrifice? Because they broke Moses' Law. But, if they sacrifice an animal they insult Christ's sacrifice and are even more worthy of death than they were for breaking Moses' Law. Thus, the point is it's futile to sacrifice an animal because that is an even worse sin than the willful sin which they seek atonement for.
The Chapter is all about Christ's sacrifice removing/destroying sin, which animal sacrifice did not. The word "satan" is "adversary", and so in Hebrew thought the word "adversary" goes hand in hand with temptation to sin. The adversaries, which are devoured by fiery indignation, are the sins which Christ's sacrifice IS sufficient against. Although we have sinned willfully, we can trust Christ to purify us by destroying our sins with fiery indignation. God takes revenge for us, so we do not try to avenge ourselves (Romans 12). Here in Hebrews 10, we do not attempt to avenge our own sin by sacrificing animals, but instead "vengeance is mine says Yhvh". The point is Jesus is God and He takes revenge against our sins by His sufficient sacrifice, so we do not try to defeat sin by an animal sacrifice.
The point of the book of Hebrews is to trust in Jesus Christ. Trust Jesus to destroy your sin; don't get discouraged by your sin; He will destroy your sin as He promises; your sin is not able to invalidate the atonement which comes by the sacrifice of Jesus Christ the Lamb Of God, even if it's willful sin, so it remains that there is no need to sacrifice an animal. Even if you sin, you know that Jesus will keep His promise, because it is His righteousness that saves us and He is sufficiently worthy.
Now, Drummerboy, where in all this do you see any indication that Jesus will reject someone for breaking the Law of Moses willfully? How do you get that from the text? It's not there. Heiser is calling Jesus a liar; do not let Heiser trick you into declaring Jesus as somewhat less than fully sufficient and trustworthy; THIS is what the warning at Hebrews 10 v26 is about, it's warning you against adding something to Christ's finished work.
YOU DON'T GET TO TAKE CREDIT FOR REMAINING FAITHFUL!
JESUS MAKES YOU FAITHFUL!
THANK JESUS!!!
YOU ARE NOT YOUR OWN SAVIOR!!!
It's all Jesus.
That said; be faithful, because you are only saved if you endure to the end. If my preaching sounds confusing, remember the Scriptures "It pleased God to, by the foolishness of preaching, save them that trust" (1st Corinthians 1 v21)
Jesus is worthy such that, if you have a saving trust in Him, even if it's as slight as a mustard seed, you are now alive eternally and will never die... unless Jesus lied to Martha (John 11).
"Let God be true, but every man a liar."
Heiser is a man, as am I. When I am wrong, don't listen to me. When Heiser calls Jesus a liar, don't listen to him. Choose faith in Jesus; don't choose to make it about yourself and whether or not you follow through. God places before you life and death; choose life. If you are His workmanship, He will not fail, and you will never die. You cannot miss the target, because God's seed remains in you, and you cannot miss the target because you are born of God (1st John 3 v9). In this context, you are the projectile, and you cannot miss because God Himself took aim, and the target is eternal life. The Good News is good news indeed!
Hallelujah!!!
God bless you Drummerboy.
Don't dare describe Christ's promises as less than true.
Don't dare count Christ's sacrifice as less than sufficient.
And don't dare trust a trust which is less than saving trust.
Jesus really is worthy. The Gospel really is true. It's a free gift, and if we attempt to contribute, then we divide our trust and place some of our trust in ourselves.
Just trust Jesus.
"Let each man be convinced in his own mind".
@@joshgellock That means we better do our due diligence and strive to agree with God; it does not mean anything we think is acceptable no matter what it is.
False Gospels don't save. Don't perish with Heiser, but rather preach the Gospel to him.
@@NicholasproclaimerofMessiah who you to judge your neighbor? There is one Lawgiver and Judge.
The scriptures: "The Lord is gracious and merciful"
Nicholas: You better agree with me or you aren't saved
Perhaps the above is a bit dramatic, but so many keyboard warriors think everyone on the internet needs to agree with them or they aren't saved, or they're a false prophet, or whatever. We have not even met, and you and I know nothing of each other, save the words we share on these tiny boxes. Be wise with your words.
Do you even know my take on the scripture? Or have you made a bold assumption because I quoted Paul that each of us need to be convinced in our own mind?
Also, please stop using caps. We can all read here. Thanks.
So is saying that the apostasy that Paul is talking about is turning to other gods? I’d appreciate someone’s response. Thanks!
What about Solomon? Was he saved?
doesn't matter what the bible says in thst sense the fact ya'll still in the bible for answers like it is some type of answer key to life and salvation is foolish
of course apostates can repent and go back to God, but it isn't like they was ever actually with God to begin most have never even actually been with God meaning actually one of His true children very few have actually been a true child of God
attending church worship services and doing bible study doesn't make anyone a true child of God.
you is just a pharisee and or a hireling and only just a believer people who are just believers who are not obeying God won't go to heaven
religious believers, disobedient believers, sinning believers all perish in hell
you isn't saved from hell just simply by having belief in and of God Jesus Christ
Jesus Christ taught many different things and He made it quite clear it isn't belief alone that saves people to heaven
What about Esau who could not find a place of repentance though he sought it carefully with tears
Esau was seeking his father’s repentance about his decision about the inheritance.
@@1920s Sounds true to me , thanks 😊
Amen.
Is Dr. Heiser saying that apostasy is the actual rejecting of Christ as Savior and as the only way out of sin and to the Father and _not_ backsliding? Or does backsliding count as apostasy?I worry, you see, because after being born again for a few years I fell into an extremely lengthy period of frequent grievous sin. I worry that this was a type of apostasy even though i didn't technically renounce Jesus. That thought never entered my mind. If anything I'd beg for forgiveness from Him, but then fall again. I've since legitimately repented (5 or 6 years ago) and have no desire to return to living like that, but I worry it may be too late.
@Highlightning, Michael Heiser is not pastoral in relationship to you or anyone else, he is just committing from his studies.
From your repentance did you receive peace within yourself towards God, has
He answered prayer or your wishes, and out of know where prevented harm???
I wrote out several scriptures concerning peace. Romans 2:10, Gal. 5:22, phil. 4:7
Col. 1:20, 1 Thess, 2 Thess 3:16.
Only God gives us peace within, SaTaN seeks confusion at every turn.
The bible says there's no peace for the wicked, but I you are beyond that, so let
reign in your heart and beThankful!!!
@@willielee5253 thanks for replying! No steady peace. Peace for me, however (and I'm sure many others like me out there), has always been difficult. I do want to explain that I committed my life to Christ as a teenager. I was not a church kid and knew almost nothing of the bible at the time. What happened to me after making that decision was the most wonderful experience of my life to date. The day that I surrendered to Him went by like any normal day. The instant I woke up the next morning, though...
I was immediately aware of His presence inside me and all around me. I was consciously aware of Him being consciously aware of me. I felt His love for me (it's the same love He has for you , friend). It was the first time in my life I had actually felt loved. That's not an exaggeration. And joy, the most wonderful inexpressible joy, was flowing up and out of me. I understood Him to be the most compassionate, understanding, loving, even "cool" person in existence. I felt clean , brand new . Also, I had the strongest sensation of having been propelled across a vast chasm at impossible speed. It was the most wonderful experience of my life to date. He had caused me to be born again. I had never heard that term before. Very shortly after that prayers began to be answered. I never ever thought that He would do that.
He answered prayer so often and sometimes so dramatically that I came to depend on Him to answer. The backsliding began about 4 years later and gradually. I got into a profession that I felt He was leading, but I allowed myself to become deceived over time that I was being a witness for Christ but instead was seeking my own glory. This lead into terrible sins. I'd repent, then fall again over and over. The fact that this went on for so long has made me wonder if I I didn't lose my salvation. My praying become much less frequent and the answers all but stopped.
I know I'm typing a novel here. Please bear with me. There's no super short answer. One example of a prayer I felt He answered was back in 2003. Things were rough. I was in bad financial shape. My car had been totaled (my life saved by a miracle in that high speed collision) and the one I had next broke down 2 or 3 times going to and from work every day. Literally 2 to 3 times. lol It was winter. I had just gotten off of work and was heading for the car and was praying. In part of that I asked Him, "am I even still in Your hands?" Well...on the way home that car broke down again right in the middle of the freeway during rush hour. I almost wept from frustration. Suddenly I heard someone shouting from my left. I looked up and on the opposite side of the freeway with a tow truck was a Latino man. I rolled the window down and he shouted again, "Hey man! You need a ride?" I told him that I sure did but didn't have much money. No problem, he told me. He drove around, pulled in front of my car, and told me to get in the cab and stay warm. When he was done hooking up he hopped in truck and the first thing out of his mouth was, "Don't worry, man. You're *in the Lord's hands* !"
You'd think that that would be a wake up call, perhaps. It wouldn't be for another 10 years before I finally made a flint faced decision to repent whole heartedly. That's when the crushing anxiety really set in, and horrific regret over that prolonged sinful living. How, I still wonder, could I have done that to Him? _Why_ did I do that? It's hard to describe unless one has also met Him, but my heart _longs_ for Him. There is nothing outside of Him. Literally nothing. He _is_ life. I worry that perhaps I'm like Judas, who was so grieved, as you know, that he took his own life over what he had done to Jesus. I'm not suicidal, though. And I pray constantly for restoration from all of that.
I'll share another quick thing that I think (I hope) was Him communicating with me. A few months ago I was praying at work. I thought to Him either "I hope you haven't cast me off" or "please don't cast me off". It may have been both. Part of a verse began bouncing slowly around inside my head, "Fear not nor be afraid". I decided to do a web search for those words. It wasn't the verse in my head, but I decided to click on the very top result first, which was Isaiah 41 (ESV). My eyes went straight to verses 9-10:
9 you whom I took from the ends of the earth,
and called from its farthest corners,
saying to you, “You are my servant,
I have chosen you *and not cast you off* ”;
10 fear not, for I am with you;
be not dismayed, for I am your God;
I will strengthen you, I will help you,
I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
It was exceedingly encouraging to me. Still, the crushing agony of guilt, shame, and regret comes back in waves. Each worse than the last. Oh, I feel I should explain that I don't generally use the Bible like a fortune cookie. Another "theme" that seems to be in play for me personally is Micah 7:8-9 (ESV):
8 Rejoice not over me, O my enemy;
when I fall, I shall rise;
when I sit in darkness,
the Lord will be a light to me.
9 I will bear the indignation of the Lord
because I have sinned against him,
until he pleads my cause
and executes judgment for me.
He will bring me out to the light;
I shall look upon his vindication.
And other passages similar to that thought keep popping up. It seems as if He's saying to me, "You must endure this for a time, but I will help you through". I _hope_ !
Wow, that was quite a lot there. lol I hope I didn't manage to dissuade you from reading all of that. :)
@@highlightning6693 My story is wosrt, but much much too much, and that is why even wrote you.
Excepting your failings or falls but forgiving yourself is all together necessary.
That was a long road to travel, but the end puts you at His feet.
I'm 73 years old and as you didn't grow up in Church but at 18teen He brought me in, where I only was there for 9 months, twice told and went to prison between the two times.
To make it shorter, from 18 to 73, I was out side of Christ theologically but before God. Don't ask me to explain, but He does as He please.
Some people's life story is beyond the norm as far as Christianity goes.
If you are not under a Minister or Church Pastor who has experienced something similar to your life story, you will be an oddity unless you succeed beyond anyone's imagination. Point blank.
This was a recurring scripture that God kept trying to relay to me while I was trying to get a grip. Jeremiah 29:11, "For I know the thoughts...saith the LORD...of peace...not of evil, to give you an expected end.
There is no magic scripture, just you believing He does love you and you are His and His glory before God. He intends to prove you are, was and will
worth the price He paid in full.
And from what I see, even at any cost.
Isaiah 42:8, His name and glory is upon you otherwise He would have given you up to hell, death and the grave. No way, does He say by leaving alive until you come full knowledge of His everlasting love and redemption He provided for and me.
That why I went on about you having peace.
Remember it is SaTaN desire to keep us confused and in doubt. If you walk an inch he trys to take mile, and the battle go on.
But those that believe that He is and a
rewarder of those that diligently seek Him, is how I brought through.
@@highlightning6693 First of all I got with the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews Organization and gave according to Genesis 12:3 and Isaiah 58:6-12. I kept reading and rereading until that scripture sealed itself to me
with understanding.
I'll relate that you.
Another thing is I read and reread the Old Testement only for more then 50 times
to better pin point Christ's every word to
better understand the New Testement through His Ministry.
I watched David Pawson's videos, Derek Prince's videos and many Michael Heiser's but especially Derek and David's videos. Night after night, one after the other. Of late I've listened to Dr. Hugh Ross the scientist.
People say a lot of things, but you do have to impress God and prove your love as well.
Ever few haven't failed. Ever few who don't get angry with God. But we all sin ssy Apostle John. And all need Atonement time and time again and more.
@@highlightning6693 When you have time, post. I'm retired, so I'm open for talk now
or more later. Just post, I will eventually reply.
If you want post more, go for it.
So what *does* it mean that it’s “impossible…to restore them again to repentance”? I agree that it’s not impossible for an apostate to return to the faith because there are many examples of apostates returning to the faith…but why does the writer to the Hebrews say that it *is* impossible? How are we suppose to understand this text?
The best explanation I have seen is that it is impossible because they have had full revelation and chose something else and don't want to come back. This is saying that there is no sacrifice left for their sins and they have put their faith in another so they will no longer want to repent, hence it is impossible to renew them. Repentance is something we do, not God. We are the ones who repent. God is the one who saves. They have fallen away. In the context of the verse, this was speaking about new Christians (possibly those who were never saved), who go back to the old law and think it can save them. It does not mention if that person who has fallen away tries to come back to the faith. One thing that is interesting is that it says it is impossible to renew them to repentance, not impossible to renew them to salvation. The wording makes me think that a true apostate will never come back because they have hardened their heart and will not repent.
@@SP-hs6bj yes, a true apostate would not be able to repent. Hence, anyone who repents, by definition, is not the kind of 'apostate' mentioned here, and need not worry, just turn again to Jesus for forgiveness & ask Him to help you walk in obedience to Him from now on.
@@cord11ful thank you!
I think it’s bc apostate doesnt have holy spirit so he can’t himself approach God or repent… it is impossible bc he is spiritually dead. But for God all things are possible. Even raising someone from dead. God does this to some people when He knows the best time. I myself was an apostate and it was impossible for me to repent, but God gave me later Holy Spirit back and I repented.
@@kaislikkkoWhat did you do to recieve the Holy Spirit again. I lost it due to being disobedient. Can you help me please I really need help.
Huh?? There is nothing to suggest in 2 Kings or 2 Chr that Manasseh was ever a believer in Yahweh prior to his crying out to Him near the end of his life, therefore he certainly doesn't fit the template of one who has believed and taste of the heavenly gift and fallen away. The only description of him in scripture is that he did evil in the site of the Lord.
Manasseh was the fourteenth king of the Kingdom of Judah.Manasseh was king of the southern kingdom of Judah and the son of the godly king Hezekiah so his father raise him.in believing in One God- this tell all that he was belive before disbelieving and then returning back.. Read my comment below and you see how Jesus bring me back to Him from Islam
The one thing that bothers me with using the example of Manasseh in this line of argumentation is this: the addressees of these passages in Hebrews were already believers being warned, in Manasseh's case it is much more than likely that he never had believing-loyalty before he was carried off to Babylon. He was nominal in his belief, vacant of the faith his father Hezekiah had when he entered into his path of wickedness. It seems to me that he found actual personal faith in Yahweh whilst in his distress... Not at any time before. Therefore, like any of us, maybe as nominal professing believers doing all kinds of evil things, who then actually get saved is one thing. Being a genuinely saved believer who then turns away for good or past some point of 'no return' is another matter - what Hebrews is precisely warning about. The equivalency here does not seem satisfying. Thoughts?
Manasseh father was beliving in One God that mean his son was raised as Jew, he later in adult life fall from beliving in one God ,but later return... Israel as nation in many cases shows act of apostasy, because many times after they belive in One God they started to worship other gods,even worship gold calf after beliving in One God was act of apostasy, but God always bring them back(not all.but many of them). Go read Bible and see in Old Testament how many times Jews fall out from faith,but later God bring them back. Apostasy can be follow by 2 groups of people those who names are not written in the Book of Life so they will never return and those whose names are written so they fall out are short term. The sign that your name are written in Book of Life are this that Jesus will always fight for you back like He saying "I am good Shepherd and when one my sheep get lost I will search for her ,find her and bring back to my herd" so not everyone that started praying to other gods are without hope. They are many Christians who convert to other religions or become atheists and later God bring them back. Jesus said "no one can take His people away from Him"-if anyone name written in Book of Life even if go astray it will always come back they is no other options it will be tomorrow,week,one month ,or after 10 years if the name is in Book of Life the God will always bring back
Nah
Important also to draw the distinctions between apostasy and backsliding - the 2 are not the same thing.
the prodigal son was not an apostate, he was however a backslider.
As a 75 year old apostate and former indoctrinated Catholic I can honestly say I'm better off with my own understanding of how the world works instead of this childish crap.
Excellent. Agree they can be redeemed. If the conscience is cauterized (1Tim 4:1)though, I think it’s a very difficult state to recover from.
Yahweh knows the hearts.....He leeds an apostate back on track..only we do not see sometimes what kinda track...afterwards we can say: if this or that didn,t happened i wouldn,t find my way back to Yahweh"
It happened to me....
In the most unbelievable directions....
And when i figured out that it was (and still is) Yahweh...i can only smile, feeling humble and say thank you...
And every time i do...i bet They smile up there 😀😀😀😀
@@anitaendinand awesome Anita.
@@bobmedsker4460 ❤️❤️🙏🏻🙏🏻
Can I ask you were born again then fell away and then was restored ? Do you have the Holy Spirit back too?
th-cam.com/video/gDCCzzwy_Nk/w-d-xo.html
Here is a link to another lady who left the faith and deconverted. The first and foremost reason was a Calvinistic reading of Roman's 9 when she was introduced to Calvinism at the age of 17. That changed everything about her trust in the Bible regarding it being moral and just. It is really sad that looking at Roman's 9 in the light of determinism really can send you off the deep end.
coming late to this. question: If someone who was once a believer in Jesus repudiates that belief (maybe even professes atheism or "converts" to Islam or something else) then later realizes their mistake, is that person in the "impossible" category? I have some family members who have rejected their faith in Jesus that I pray for. Am I wasting my time?
Do you think you are wasting your time?
Same here. Not sure if they will or can repent. I'm in the same boat.
@@charlotteroath9904 yes you can always repent. I converted to Islam, but Jesus given me so many signs that I back to Christianity. Now I stay 100% Jesus is Lord and Saviour. You can always come back even if you was praying to many gods like Hindus do and realise it is wrong you can always back. The very fact you think to back to Christ it showing that Holy Spirit still working on you.
You are never wasting your time praying for them, or anyone. I turned away from my Christian faith for 30 years, believing in New Age nonsense/Eastern mysticism lies. God called me back a couple of years ago very unexpectedly from my perspective. He gave me the ability to see it had all been lies, and that He was who the scripture said He was, and Jesus was the way, truth and life. I bet people prayed for me through those years of deception. Never give up on anyone! God doesn't! God bless you and your family members!
At any point did you ever question if jesus really walked the earth or deny the real gif deny or god ?and refer to god as the universe and maybe think an advanced alien race created humans …I ask seriously bec this is what I did and believed bec I was SO deceived. Recently I feel like my eyes were completely opened back up to when I was a born again Christian decades ago and recently have my life again to Jesus but learnt of Hebrews 6 and some other verses and realized once you turn away in disbelief you can never come back to god, which is horrifying 😢
Idk if you will even see this comment but if you do I’d love to hear your answer
I have a friend who attests to believe in Jesus. However , he looks for a logical /scientific answer to everything. Including the divinity of Jesus. Is that a form of apostasy?
I wouldn't think it is. Almost everything natural can be explained through science BUT... if he tries to force a natural explanation for the supernatural he will fail. Different categories.
@@wishyouthebest9222 I had a conversation with my friend. He has sadly informed me that just because some TH-cam video he doubts the divinity of Christ. Apparently there are accounts of 2 men a thousand years before Jesus claiming to be the messiah and had disciples He says Jesus borrowed the story from them. SMH.
@@nunyabeeswax9463 Tell him about InspiringPhilisophy here on youtube. He deals with every popular misconception people make about JESUS in these regards. Most of the accounts actually couldn't be dated back at the time people claim them to be. Most even can be proven to be later developments, wich borrowed from Christianity.
You're right. SMH!
@@nunyabeeswax9463 The Truth is Jesus's Divinity is unparalleled. His sacrifice on the cross makes Him a Holy Example of what divinity looks like. If God exists and morality is not subjectively theoretical but objectively real then Christ is the only hope anyone has to be remitted of sins. This matches the description of a loving God. A God which doesn't love doesn't sacrifice. A Just God which doesn't Judge sin is a corrupt tyrant or a servant of imperfection. Jesus is the Perfect Image of the invisible Perfect God.
The shroud of Turin started my belief in Jesus and it took some digging into to really see any truth to what it meant. It isn't standalone but it answered my prayer for God to give me evidence which I could see. The problem is that it isn't absolute but the question is why on earth would it even exist even as a forgery if indeed it was a later rendition when it cannot be replicated. There are probably millions of evidences for Christ but it takes someone really wanting to know.
@@nunyabeeswax9463one does not have to believe in Jesus as God the father to be saved. The trinity doctrine is not the door to salvation
👍
They went back to Judaism and the animal sacrifice
Agreed. That is my understanding of this verse as well.
Dr. Heiser, your example is clearly wrong unless you view salvation as simply a cerebral philosophy.
"For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted the heavenly gift, and have become partakers of the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come, if they fall away, to renew them again to repentance, since they crucify again for themselves the Son of God, and put Him to an open shame." - Heb 6:4-6 NKJV
Manasseh was never born again. He never was a partaker of the Holy Spirit, that is the Holy Spirit may have been on him but was never in him producing a born again spirit within him. Manasseh never tasted of the powers of the age to come. He was never baptized in the Holy Spirit or experience the gifts of the Holy Spirit as delineated in the New Testament. He was never a partaker of what Christ brings to a person today. He was never a partaker of the New Covenant. Being born again is an existential reality. A person's spirit is literally born again, it is not a creed or a philosophy - it is a new creation. Manasseh knew nothing of that.
A person who has experienced new birth retains their free will and can, insanely, cast away that state by consciously turning back to sin with the conscious intent of throwing off Christ. Once they have, like a dog returning his vomit, they are once again unsaved. God could of course redeem them again. All that God would have to do is have Jesus come back into the earth and die a second time to redeem such a person and create another Church. That is NOT going to happen.
In such a state the person who does this finds themselves as "worse than an infidel." that is, unlike an infidel they cannot be born again a second time.
Did you ever sin since you were 'saved'?
@@incorectulpolitic Just take the tme to read my post above. The answer is clearly there.
@@DonaldBuckley7202 you believe people did not receive the Holy Spirit before Christ? I’m confused brother 😊
@@codyalexander3290 Wow. Where did you come up with this question? How does this relate to anything I've said?
He is a far better teacher and christian than those angry calvinists who hate and condemn everyone who is not approving their false gospel.
Reading some comments, I too am one who turned from the faith early adulthood due to the way people treated me in church and went off the deepest end I could possibly go. From new age movement and reading satanic bible, hypnosis and trying to astral project. Not to say all the terrible addictions. God saved me at 28. Its been 6 years and the last 4 I probably spent atleast 1 full year total doing cross cultural missionary work. Walking streets of poor countries preaching the gospel and giving out bibles. This isnt to say the devil hasnt fought hard against me and he used many scriptures like this to bring doubts into my mind. But what I know is God did something in me and now He gets all the glory for my life.
Me too
Very good Dr Heiser! I love when you speak Jesus like this. Love you in Christ
Breathing a great sigh of relief. 😢✝️👍
We Serve A Merciful and Forgiving GOD !!! RE-READ 1 JOHN 1:9-2:1 & Quiver in Fear that you REPENT & Seek the LORD's Mercy before the RAPTURE, or your DEATH,(whatever comes 1st). The time between your ignorance & your return to repentance, OH PRODIGAL ONE,..... May the MERCIFUL GOD NOT CLOSE THE DOOR ON YOU,......My Friend.
Just like the prodigal son, not worthy by human standards but loved dearly by the father who welcomed him back.
I love all of Dr Heiser's Teaching!
Me too
Me three!
Have you taken Dr. Heiser's class? Awakeningschooloftheology.com
@@philosophyze I have signed up for this August 1st session. But I have listened to most of his online , TH-cam, Miqlat and naked Bible podcast etc
@@philosophyze I’ve got most of his book, have yet to sign up. I’ve signed up to Alpha and Omega Ministries’s teaching with Dr. James White