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Thread: Punishment for Insulting the Spirit of Grace (Part 1)

  1. #1

    Punishment for Insulting the Spirit of Grace (Part 1)

    Punishment for Insulting the Spirit of Grace (Part 1)
    http://vindicatinggod.blogspot.com/2...spirit-of.html

    March 27

    Punishment for Insulting the Spirit of Grace (Part 1)


    Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace? (Heb. 10:29)

    There seems to be a contrast between the words "punishment" and "grace". Hebrews says that there is a punishment for rejecting what the blood of Jesus has done and insulting the Spirit of grace. But isn't grace to be received freely? Why must one feel threatened with punishment if all that God has done was through grace?

    This appears to contradict what John tells us about God's love: "There is no fear in love: but perfect love casteth out fear, because fear hath punishment; and he that feareth is not made perfect in love." (1 John 4:18; American Standard Version). It may help us more when we look at a passage in the 12th chapter of Hebrews:

    Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord: Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled (Heb. 12:14-15)

    When we interpret Scripture with Scripture we come to a better understanding of God's methods and His mode of bringing about punishment. We see from the above passage that it is possible for us to fail, or fall short of God's grace. God's mode of punishment is to allow the circumstances in one's life that His grace would have protected them from to take place (James 4:6-7; 1 Pet. 5:5-9).

    Paul said, "I do not frustrate the grace of God" (Gal. 2:21a) This means that grace can be frustrated, or rather, as the Strong's dictionary defines the word, grace can be "set aside, disesteemed, neutralized, violated, cast off, despised, disannulled, brought to nought," and "rejected."

    To "despite" means "to treat contemptuously" and "to insult with malice, hatred, or spite." Basically, when one does this they are pushing the Spirit of grace away from them. Therefore, God is not issuing threats in order to force compliance through fear. He is simply warning of the natural and spiritual consequences that come from forsaking Christ and despising His grace.
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    Quest (03-29-2016)

  3. #2
    Senior Member Colonel's Avatar
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    I think you are spiritualizing the terminology involved in the first verse a bit too much.

    trodden under foot the son of God
    has counted the blood an unholy thing
    has insulted the Spirit of grace

    From what I read many years ago, all three were part of a ritual that was performed physically and verbally at one time and was required of people who wanted to return to Judaism or a form of it, from Christianity.

    That isnt to say that we cant learn something from this warning which was very real to the audience of the letter. There are other ways of getting to where one is blaspheming the Holy Spirit and is beyond the point of no return, the Pharisees nearly did that when they watched Jesus perform miracles by the Holy Spirit and then accused him of being possessed by the devil.

  4. #3
    Punishment for Insulting the Spirit of Grace (Part 1)
    http://cvbibleteachingcenter.blogspo...spirit-of.html

    March 28

    Punishment for Insulting the Spirit of Grace (Part 2)

    Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace? (Heb. 10:29)

    Yesterday we saw how this passage can make God appear to be vindictive. However, we learned from further study that it is not so much that God is seeking “payback” for offending Him. The passage is actually teaching that when people reject His grace He is left with no choice but to allow them to suffer that which grace had freed them from.

    This describes God’s method of what we understand to be punishment. It is important that we understand the method by which God is said to punish if we are to understand the truth concerning His loving character. Many people read statements like the one in Heb. 10:29 and think that God directly energizes events that bring punishment upon people. An often stated but little recognized principle of Scripture is the fact that when we push God away, we lose His protection.
    For example we read statements in Scripture such as “The Lord is with you, while ye be with him; and if ye seek him, he will be found of you; but if ye forsake him, he will forsake you” (2 Chron. 15:2b) and “because ye have forsaken the Lord, he hath also forsaken you” (2 Chron. 24:20b; see also 12:5). In Jeremiah punishment is directly connected to God's forsaking, or rather, removing His presence and protection:

    And when this people, or the prophet, or a priest, shall ask thee, saying, What is the burden of the Lord? thou shalt then say unto them, What burden? I will even forsake you, saith the Lord. And as for the prophet, and the priest, and the people, that shall say, The burden of the Lord, I will even punish that man and his house (Jeremiah 23:33-34)

    Remember that all of this comes about because the people have first forsaken God. The curses in Deut. 28 are the results of the people forsaking God, pushing Him away, and He in turn forsaking them and leaving them to suffer the consequences of their rebellion (Deut. 31:16-17; see also Psalm 81:10-16). When we reject the Blood of Jesus and the Spirit of grace we reject all the benefits that accrue from it.
    Christ's Victory Bible Teaching Center
    Web site: http://www.cvbibleteachingcenter.org


    Vindicating God Ministries
    (A Unique New Bible Teaching Ministry)
    Web site: http://www.vindicatinggod.org
    Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/vindicatinggod
    Gab: https://gab.com/victoriousword
    Minds: https://www.minds.com/victoriousword/
    MeWe: https://mewe.com/i/troyedwards15

  5. #4
    Quote Originally Posted by Colonel View Post
    I think you are spiritualizing the terminology involved in the first verse a bit too much.

    trodden under foot the son of God
    has counted the blood an unholy thing
    has insulted the Spirit of grace

    From what I read many years ago, all three were part of a ritual that was performed physically and verbally at one time and was required of people who wanted to return to Judaism or a form of it, from Christianity.

    That isnt to say that we cant learn something from this warning which was very real to the audience of the letter. There are other ways of getting to where one is blaspheming the Holy Spirit and is beyond the point of no return, the Pharisees nearly did that when they watched Jesus perform miracles by the Holy Spirit and then accused him of being possessed by the devil.
    Colonel, you may THINK that I am overspiritualizing it but I am interpreting the Scripture by the Scripture. Your method of understanding the passage is to interpret the passage from what you read about the rituals of Judaism. Sorry, but I think I will stick with the Bible's understanding of this whole thing.
    Christ's Victory Bible Teaching Center
    Web site: http://www.cvbibleteachingcenter.org


    Vindicating God Ministries
    (A Unique New Bible Teaching Ministry)
    Web site: http://www.vindicatinggod.org
    Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/vindicatinggod
    Gab: https://gab.com/victoriousword
    Minds: https://www.minds.com/victoriousword/
    MeWe: https://mewe.com/i/troyedwards15

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    Quest (03-29-2016)

  7. #5
    Senior Member Colonel's Avatar
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    What other scriptures discuss the three components ? Trampling the Son under foot for instance.

  8. #6
    Super Moderator Quest's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Colonel View Post
    What other scriptures discuss the three components ? Trampling the Son under foot for instance.
    Not sure about the tradition of Judaism but the NT makes it clear, IMHO that all actions imminate from a condition of the heart...so to me this passage is addressing God's view of people who trample the Son underfoot from the heart...the actions that follow are just corresponding...

    Seems to me VW has interpreted correctly a he addresses the attitude of the heart...one that may or may not be followed with a physical demonstration of that attitude.

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