WHAT DO YOU THINK IT MEANS? by steve finnell

 What is your opinion of the meaning of Scripture? Does your opinion matter or should you believe what others tell you is the truth?

Hebrews 6:4-6 For in the case those who have once been enlightened and have tasted of the heavenly gift and have been made partakers of the Holy Spirit, 5 and have tasted the good word of God  and the powers of the age to come, 6 and then have fallen away, it is impossible to renew them again to repentance, since they again crucify to themselves the Son of God and put Him to open shame.(NASB)

What do you think Hebrews 6:4-6 means?

1. If you have received the gift of the Holy Spirit you cannot fall from grace.

2. If you fall away after receiving the indwelling gift of the Holy Spirit, then, you were never saved in the first place.

3. Those who stop believing in Jesus find is easy to repent and start believing again.

4. Saved believer can never fall away because God predestined them for salvation. They have have been saved by grace alone. John Calvin knows that God chooses some to be saved and others to be lost forever.

5. My denomination believes in eternal security. That many people could not be wrong. Once a Christian, there is nothing a person can do to lose his salvation.

As for me, I believe the writer of Hebrews. 

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Acts 2:36-38 "Therefore, let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus whom you crucified both Lord and Christ." 37 When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, "Brothers, what shall we do ?" 38 Peter replied: Repent and be baptized, every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ so that your sins may be forgiven. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. (NIV 1973)

What do think Acts 2:36-38 means?

1. The 3000 men were saved as soon as they heard Peter preach Jesus as Lord and Christ; because they believed.

2. The 3000 wanted to know what to do after they believed and were saved.

3. The 3000 repented and were baptized because their sins were already forgiven.

4. The 3000 received the gift of the Holy Spirit the minute they believed that Jesus was Lord and Christ.

5. The 3000 told Peter they would be baptized as a testimony of their faith, but it would not be essential to the forgiveness of their sins.

6. The 3000 told Peter that water baptism was a work and that works cannot save, however, they would be baptized so they could join the denominational church of their choice.

7. The 3000 told Peter to baptize their non-believing infant children so they could be forgiven of the guilt that they inherited from Adam and for all future sins and so they could be added to a denominational body of Christ. 

As for me I believe the writer of Acts.

The question is can man-made creeds save anyone?