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In a recent post on the "Is Jesus the only path to God?" thread, the following comment was made:
Quote:
Those before Christ will be in heaven because they believed God. Romans 4:3
I'm starting this thread with this comment in mind.
The entire eleventh chapter of Hebrews speaks of various individuals from Old Testament times -- some whose stories we are familiar with and others we have never heard of -- people, it said, who lived exemplary lives and accomplished great things through their faith, but who never actually received their promised inheritance, or the promise perfection in the life to come. The last two verses (verses 39 and 40) of Hebrews 11 read as follows:
First, from the King James Bible: And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise: God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect.
And now, from the New English Bible: These also, one and all, are commemorated for their faith; and yet they did not enter upon the promised inheritance, because, with us in mind, God had made a better plan, that only in company with us they should reach their perfection.
So, God has a plan for these people that includes us, and our involvement is the only way in which they can attain perfection. I'd be interested to know what everybody thinks this is talking about.
In a recent post on the "Is Jesus the only path to God?" thread, the following comment was made:
I'm starting this thread with this comment in mind.
The entire eleventh chapter of Hebrews speaks of various individuals from Old Testament times -- some whose stories we are familiar with and others we have never heard of -- people, it said, who lived exemplary lives and accomplished great things through their faith, but who never actually received their promised inheritance, or the promise perfection in the life to come. The last two verses (verses 39 and 40) of Hebrews 11 read as follows:
First, from the King James Bible: And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise: God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect.
And now, from the New English Bible: These also, one and all, are commemorated for their faith; and yet they did not enter upon the promised inheritance, because, with us in mind, God had made a better plan, that only in company with us they should reach their perfection.
So, God has a plan for these people that includes us, and our involvement is the only way in which they can attain perfection. I'd be interested to know what everybody thinks this is talking about.
It just means they believed God in anticipation of the new covenant, Jesus Christ.
It just means they believed God in anticipation of the new covenant, Jesus Christ.
I know they believed in Him. That's what the entire first 38 verses are talking about. I'm asking for your thoughts on verses 39 and 40, which speak of the fact that their faith was not enough to perfect them and that they can receive their promised inheritance only through us.
I know they believed in Him. That's what the entire first 38 verses are talking about. I'm asking for your thoughts on verses 39 and 40, which speak of the fact that their faith was not enough to perfect them and that they can receive their promised inheritance only through us.
But that's not what it says, Jimmie. It doesn't say "just like us;" it says, "they without us should not be made perfect."
I believe you're complicating that which is simple. After all, what can we do? These ancient heroes of the faith, who died not having received the promise, needed the realization of the promise in Christ to make them perfect; by that promise we also are saved.
I believe you're complicating that which is simple.
No, I don't think so. I think it's pretty straightforward in what it says, but I don't want to comment further until I have received a few more answers.
Quote:
After all, what can we do? These ancient heroes of the faith, who died not having received the promise, needed the realization of the promise in Christ to make them perfect; by that promise we also are saved.
Well, thanks for your opinion. I'm looking forward to hearing what everybody else has to say.
In a recent post on the "Is Jesus the only path to God?" thread, the following comment was made:
I'm starting this thread with this comment in mind.
The entire eleventh chapter of Hebrews speaks of various individuals from Old Testament times -- some whose stories we are familiar with and others we have never heard of -- people, it said, who lived exemplary lives and accomplished great things through their faith, but who never actually received their promised inheritance, or the promise perfection in the life to come. The last two verses (verses 39 and 40) of Hebrews 11 read as follows:
First, from the King James Bible: And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise: God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect.
And now, from the New English Bible: These also, one and all, are commemorated for their faith; and yet they did not enter upon the promised inheritance, because, with us in mind, God had made a better plan, that only in company with us they should reach their perfection.
So, God has a plan for these people that includes us, and our involvement is the only way in which they can attain perfection. I'd be interested to know what everybody thinks this is talking about.
Yea, he was talking about the Jews....Since Hebrews is a letter to the Jews in the diaspora....
So, God has a plan for these people that includes us, and our involvement is the only way in which they can attain perfection. I'd be interested to know what everybody thinks this is talking about.
The plan was for Jesus to do what none of them COULD do because they had not evolved enough. The fields were not ripe for the harvest until the time of Christ. My 2 cents.
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