Originally Posted by
classyT
Tom,
About falling away...I have been trying to find the best explanation and I came across a guy named Les Feldik. He has a TV program and I have met him several times at local bible studies. I have never met anyone who understood Grace better than Les and he NEVER mixed law with Grace. He has a ranch or a farm or something and he doesn't have a income from his teachings. I have sent him letters picking his brain and he has called me on the phone to explain. Actually I have talked to him twice on the phone. He teaches the Bible like no one I have ever met and uses the KJV and makes it very easy to read. I have no idea why I am giving you his background except to say...he is Smart and knowledgeable in the Word and very approachable. Anyway, I looked up his take on that verse and especially the "falling away" that i promised to discuss. I agree with him on this issue so I hope you take the time to read it.
Hebrews 4:6a ( Les Feldik is teaching this...)
"If (scary word isn't it?) they (these people who had this much understanding) shall fall away…"
We're going to stop right there. This word that is translated "fall away" and I put it on the board ahead of time, in the Greek is 'parapipto.' Now I'm not a Greek scholar and you don't have to be, but here's one instance where it pays to see the difference. This word is the only time it's used in the whole New Testament. Where it's translated in verse 6 that "if they shall fall away," it is a "parapipto," whereas the other word that we're most familiar with like in II Thessalonians chapter 2 that "unless there is a falling away first" – that term is "apostasia" and it, too, is translated "falling away." But it does not have the connotation that this one does.
And I'm going to show you why, because since it's the only time it's used in the Greek in our whole New Testament, even the Greek scholars have a hard time really nailing it down. But, I went through enough and found that one great linguist of days gone by said, "The only way you can understand this term – parapipto – is to realize what it means in the Hebrew." And so the Hebrew word is "mahal." M-A-H-A-L. We're going to look and see what that word "mahal" really is talking about.
Let's come all the way back to Numbers chapter 5, and let's just drop down to verse 12. Remember what we're showing - that this Hebrew word "mahal" is the best parallel with the Greek word "parapipto" which is only used in Hebrews chapter 6.
And I'm taking the time to show the difference because I want you to see that this falling away in Hebrews chapter 6 is far worse than the normal term to fall away or to be apostasia. Let's start with verse 11.
Numbers 5:11-12
"And the LORD spake unto Moses saying, 12. Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, If any man's wife go aside, and commit a (what's the word?) trespass (that's the Hebrew word "mahal") against him," (her husband)
And what does she do? She commits adultery with another man. Now of course, we know that adultery was common in Israel just like it is today, but this is a unique situation from the word "mahal." It is when this woman literally "turns her back with scorn" on her husband. She doesn't just get caught in a moment of temptation and weakness but she, of her own volition, with a scornful turning her back to her husband goes and commits adultery, now that's the word mahal translated 'trespass.' Alright, the next one is in Ezekiel chapter 14, and we'll start with verse 14. This is the same Hebrew word.
Ezekiel 14:12-13
"The word of the LORD came again to me, saying, 13. Son of man, when the land sinneth against me by trespassing (mahal) grievously, then will I stretch out my hand upon it, and will break the staff of the bread thereof, and will send famine upon it and will cut off man and beast from it:"
Is that the term that was used with backsliding that we looked at in the last program? No. Backsliding would bring in God's mercy and grace but this "scornfully turning the back" is an apostasy or a "parapipto" that is so scornful in it's act that God has nothing left but judgment. He can't deal with it in mercy and grace. Now see, that's what makes the difference then.
Aright, flip all the way back to Hebrews chapter 6 and this is what makes the difference, I think, in these verses in Hebrews that so many people have got all confused and are shook up about. This is not the common ordinary believer who has suddenly fallen into sin and he's not lost. He hasn't scornfully rejected the things of God, but rather he's just simply been human and he's been caught in a moment of weakness and he falls, like we saw in our last program. The man in Corinth that was restored, and forgiven. Can you see that?
But these people made a scornful turning of the back on these things that God had revealed to them. Now then, since this is a much different situation of an apostatizing, look what the result will be.
Hebrews 6:6
"If they shall fall away, (or if they shall turn their backs scornfully on these things that are now revealed to them, it is impossible) to renew them again unto repentance; (it's impossible) seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame."
What are we dealing with? We're dealing with people who have claimed to be believers. Now, I'm going to keep it in the Hebrew element first. And then we'll jump up to where we are today. Even these Hebrews to whom Paul is now writing, have made a semblance of believing. They have gone along with all these things, but then when they really were pressed to make a decision to move on forward, what did they scornfully do? They went back under the Law and there was no more of God dealing with them.
Now I know I have taught, and I will continue to teach, that God never gives up on a lost person. But, it would seem to indicate that someone who has made a profession of faith without really becoming a believer and then at one point in time, they scornfully, like the ones we've looked at in King Saul, what did he do? He just scornfully went his own way. What was his end? Suicide.
Judas. Three years he trafficked along with Jesus and the eleven, playing the perfect hypocrite. But in the final analysis, when it was time to really show his colors, what did he do? He scorned the Lord and went and sold Him for thirty pieces of silver. And ends up committing suicide.
Ok, that ends what Les Feldik had to say. What do you think?
I hope you read all that because he explain i better than I could.
But when push comes to shove i really do not believe that these jews were NOT believers at all...they were tasting, the were partaking..Paul could have easily used the terms like believers that were filled with the Holy Spirit..but he didn't. He used surface words. because that is as far as the Jews got....he was constantly encouraging them to move on in their walk. Ok, i think I have given you all i can on the subject. I doubt you will change your mind but perhaps you can consider it for a least a second or two. ;)
