Principles of living a set apart, godly life [13] – Repentance [11 of 12]

 Inevitably there are some who seem to embrace the Christian faith but then, for one reason or another, they fall away and perhaps if they are disillusioned enough, they even begin and continue to ridicule and scorn the Messiah that they once seemed to embrace. Whilst they persist in this wayward scornful attitude, the writer of the letter to the Hebrews has this to say. ‘Therefore, sending away the beginning teaching on the basis of maturity…. we will do this if God permits, because the once-enlightened, tasting of the heavenly gift, becoming sharers of the set-apart Breath 5 and tasting the virtue of God’s utterance and also intended age power, 6 falling alongside, are unable to restore themselves again penetrating into a change of mind and perception afterwards, crucifying again the Son of God and putting him to open shame’, (Hebrews 6 v 1, 3 – 6). Verses 4 - 6 are difficult verses to translate precisely and I have presented them as best as I can. The reference seems to be to those who have made a profession of faith in the past, but who have then turned away and are now treating the gospel with scorn, openly and actively ridiculing the Messiah. Whilst they remain in such an attitude of mind they are crucifying the Son of God all over again. Such an obstinate and active opposition of mind renders them unable to change their minds after further thought or after a re-presentation of the gospel. They are simply too opposed to the Messiah and the gospel to be persuaded. 

Esau is presented as another example of someone who was unable to show evidence of thinking again. He had sold his birthright – his right to an inheritance – and when he realised what he had missed out on, he tried to show that he had changed his mind. The author of the letter to the Hebrews says this about him. ‘Because you know that even afterwards, wishing to inherit the honour and praise, his change of mind and perception afterwards was rejected after examination, because he found no place even though he sought after it with tears’, (Hebrews 12 v 17). Esau pleaded with tears in his eyes that he had changed his mind about selling his birthright and that he wanted to turn back and reverse his decision. But on closer examination his plea was rejected because it was determined that he simply wanted the honour and praise that he had forfeited by his actions.

Finally we have this statement with regard to the unexpectedly long period of time that seemed to be occurring without the Lord returning. Many Christians, including the Apostle Paul, considered that the return of the Lord was imminent. Yet as time went on it appeared to be delayed. But Peter declared, ‘The Lord is absolutely not delaying the promise in the way that some think of delay, but is patient toward you, not intending any to perish but on the contrary, all to enter and hold penetration into a change of mind and perception afterwards’, (II Peter 3 v 9). Despite Paul’s belief that Jesus was returning very soon, he qualifies this by saying elsewhere that the Lord will not return until the full number of Gentiles are brought in, (Romans 11 v 25). And John says that he will not return until the full number of martyrs have come in, (Revelation 6 v 11).

Principles of living a set apart, godly life [12] – Repentance [10 of 12]

 Christian leaders did not merely keep repeating the basic message of the gospel. Like the writer of the letter to the Hebrews, they urged Christians toward growth and maturity, and to more advanced teaching. ‘Therefore, letting go from the beginning word of the Messiah on the basis of maturity, not carrying once more the laying of a foundation of a change of mind and perception afterwards away from dead actions and entrustment on the basis of God to the point of obedience….’, (Hebrews 6 v 1). Once an individual changed their mind and moved towards persuasion within the Messiah, the foundations about baptism and obedient godly behaviour were taught such that teaching and instruction could then build on these foundations to enable the Christian to move towards further establishment. The focus moved towards more advanced teaching and towards Christians living a godly life day-by-day. 

Needless to say, some Christians fell into error, exercising speech and behaviour that God disapproves of. If such errors were serious enough, such as bringing the gospel into disrepute, such Christians incurred admonishment from the Apostles and overseers.  

When Christians were admonished and corrected by the Apostle Paul because of their wayward behaviour, some of them experienced grief and sadness. Paul responded by saying, ‘I am not joyful that you were grieved and pained, but that you grieved penetrating into a change of mind and perception afterwards; because you were grieved down from God in order that you suffer loss within nothing from out of us. 10 Because down from God, grief works down to penetrate into a change of mind and perception afterwards without regret, but grief of the orderly arrangement works down death’, (II Corinthians 7 v 9, 10). For various reasons, despite embracing the good news of the Messiah, the Christian life is not all smiles and glib happiness. For example, a Christian’s wayward speech and behaviour can lead them to grief and sadness. In these verses Paul explains the difference between grief down from God that leads to a change of mind; and the grief within the world that leads to insensitivity and unresponsiveness to God. 

 

And of course, Christians encounter enticements and opposition of one kind or another when they declare their faith in the Messiah. When attempts are made by Christians to restore their brothers and sisters who are in error, such wayward Christians may react with opposition and they may resent such interventions. How are concerned Christians instructed to respond to such resentment and opposition? ‘But, bond-servant of the Lord, it is not necessary to quarrel but to be gentle toward all, able to teach, patiently forbearing, correcting those setting themselves in opposition within gentleness in case at some time God offers a change of mind and perception afterwards penetrating into knowledge of truth’, (II Timothy 2 v 24, 25). Paul says that such opposition or resentment does not present well-meaning Christians with a justification to engage in quarrels and arguments. The Greek philosophers on Mars Hill had invited Paul to speak about the gospel, but when they heard about the resurrection some of them reacted with scornful ridicule. Paul did not then engage in passionate arguments and disputes with them, he did not engage in ‘apologetics’ in order to try and justify the gospel to them. Instead he exercised spiritual discernment and walked away, not willing to throw pearls in front of swine.