#194 To Confirm

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P.O. Box 416, Gravette, AR 72736 501-787-6026 Dr. Arnold Murray, DRE

Newsletter # 194 - December 1994

***The Passover '95 Information Packets are now available. Please ",Tite or call to request an Information Packet, if you plan to attend. *** Are you confirmed in the prom- r.~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ taught us well on this subject in ises, knowledge and wisdom our Fa-II • Hebrews Chapter 5. ther offers you thrc;mgh Christianity? n- ltr nThe word conftrm IS often translated ~.I"..I \L.Ir-'.I"..I 4HEBREWS 5:12-13 For when for from the Greek word "bebaios" (beb'- l';;;iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii;;;;;;i)' the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again ah-yos). "Bebaios" means sure or stedfast which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need and comes from the prime word which means the very of milk, and not of strong meat. II For every one that base. Is the basis for your Christianity on sure and useth milk is unski/ful in the word of righteousness: for stedfast ground? Your eternal soul depends on how solidly you are-grounded in His Word: Your-faith a:ld ba---1s a babe_ His blessings on you will increase, if you will build These people had been Christians long enough to your Christianity on a solid base. have been learned in our Father's Word. But, they were not learned. They were immature Christians. HEBREWS 3:12-13 Take heed, brethren, lest there be

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in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God. 11 But exhort one another daily, while it is cal/ed To day: lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.

Many times I am asked, "why doesn't God answer my prayers?" The answer often may be found in verse twelve. They have departed from the living God. Don't allow the traditions of men to draw you away from His Word. The sin Paul speaks of is idolatry. If you are not worshipping God, you probably are worshipping some­ thing else. HEBREWS 3:14 For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold thl! beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end;

The beginning of our confidence is understanding God's plan. Allow this understanding to be your basis for faith and become partakers of Christ. HEB ' -17 While it is said, "To day if ye will hear His vo , harden not your hearts, as in the . provooatio,q." 1L F:oI:-SGlTlB,-when Jbey had MlHd, did. provoke: hOWbeit not al/ that came out of Egypt by Moses, 1L But with whom was He grieved forty years? was it not with them that had sinned, whose carcases fell in the wilderness?

What did the unbelievers do while Moses was re­ ceiving the ten commandments from God? They made a golden calf to worship. They departed from the living God, even after having witnessed miracles, and they paid the price. HEBREWS 3:18-19 And to whom sware He that they should not enter into His rest, but to them that believed not? 111 So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief

They lost the basis for their belief. Those today which are biblically illiterate are also in danger of losing the basis for their belief. Salvation and baptism are wonderful; however, after you have received them open your Bible and study to confirm your belief. Paul

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HEBREWS 5:14 But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.

What does your spiritual diet consist of! Are you feeding on the milk of salvation and baptism, or are you feeding on the meat of God's Word whereby you are able to discern the difference between good and evil? HEBREWS 6:1-2 Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God, 2. Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgement.

Paul teaches that we should lay the foundation for our Christianity once, and then move on into maturity. HEBREWS 6,'3-5 And this will we do, if God permit. For it is impossible for those who were once enlight­ ened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, §. And have tasted the good word of God. and_tha /Wwers..illlbJL WPLIt;lLQ come,

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Once you have tasted the good word of God and understand the mighty works of the coming age, you will have no need of milk or a sermon concerning salvation and baptism. HEBREWS 6:6 If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves' the Son of God afresh, and put Him to an open shame,

Preaching salvation to those that are already saved is similar to recrucifying Christ. After you have been saved abd fauk, repent. It is though some would doubt Christ had the ability to wash our sins away. Let's go to verse thirteen. HEBREWS 6:13-15 For when God made promise to Abraham, because He could swear by no greater, He sware by Himself. H Saying, "Surely blessing I will bless thee, and multiplying I will multiply thee," 1§. And so, after

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he had patiently endured, he obtained the promise.

When you patiently endure and study His Word, you obtain the promise of blessings in your life. HEBREWS 6:16-17 For men verily swear by the greater: and an oath for confirmation is to them an end of all strife. 1l Wherein God, willing more abundantly to shew unto the heirs of promise the immutability of His coun­ sel, confirmed it by an oath:

Immutable nleans not capable of change. Is your faith confirmed on something some man said, or is your faith based on the unchangeable promises of God? HEBREWS 6:18-19 That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us: Jj Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the veil;

Within, or behind, the veil is where Christ is. The words sure and stedfast in verse 19 are from the Greek word "bebaios". You must be anchored in God's Word and have a working knowledge of His overall plan to enter the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. HEBREWS 620 Whither the Forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made an High Priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.

The word Melchisedec is of Hebrew origin. "Melchi" means king and "sedec", the same as zadok, means justified or righteous. Jesus Christ is the King of the elect. He is unchangeable and forever. Let's turn to II Peter. 1/ PETER 1:3 According as His divine power hath given unto us al/ things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him That hath called us to glory and virtue;

Blind faith is a beautiful thing; however, there is so much more for you to base your Christianity on "through the knowledge of Him". lLEET(;B~A

Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises; that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.

The great and precious promises of God are yours, if you know what they are and claim them. The word lust in this verse does not mean sex. Some might read this and take off on a "holier than thou" rampage. This verse simply states that if you know and claim the promises of God, the Holy Spirit will intervene in your life allowing you to escape the desires of this world. /I PETER 1:5-7 And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; §. And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; 7 And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.

If you add these things to your faith, you will become a usable servant of the living God and find true peace of mind in this world. /I PETER 1:8-10 For if these things be in you and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

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But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins. 1Q Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall:

The word "sure" in verse ten is from the Greek word "bebaios". God has promised if you will base your calling and election on His Word, and add these things to your faith, "ye shall never fall". In conclusion, let's go to Colossians Chapter 2. COLOSSIANS 2:4 And this I say, lest any man should beguile you with enticing words.

Beguile might be better translated as deceive. Some might say, "Well, Pastor Murray I don't really know that much about the Bible. How do I know whether some preacher is trying to deceive me or not?" Stay away from preachers that tell you not to question what they say. Obtain the tools and learn how to check out what your preacher is teaching to make sure the teaching is in agreement with God's Word. COLOSSIANS 2:5-6 For though I be absent in the flesh, yet am I with you in the spirit, joying and be­ holding your order, and the stedfastness of your faith in Christ. § As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in Him;

Are you walking in Him? When life throws a prob­ lem your way do you ask Him to help you overcome the problem in the name of Jesus Christ? It will make your life much easier. COLOSSIANS 2:7 Rooted and built up in Him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abound­ ing therein with thanksgiving.

After you have been taught, teach others. You don't need to advertise or make a big production. Your family and other people you come in contact with will recog­ nize and seek out your council. All God given gifts make room for themselves. COLOSSIANS 2:8-9 Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ: ~ For in Him dwe/leth a/l the fulness of the Godhead bodily.

Friend, you don't need anything else. The fulness of the Godhead bodily is complete and perfect. COLOSSIANS 2:10 And ye are complete in Him, Which is the head of all principality and power:

Is there something missing in your life, or are you complete in Him? You may become complete in Him through an understanding of the Greek word "bebaios". Make God's Word the base which forms the anchor of your soul. Stand sure and stedfast in your faith in Jesus Christ by gaining a basic knowledge of Him. Be con­ firmed!