Verses thirty-two through thirty-nine: In the first three verses of this extremely important passage we find the Apostle Paul applauding the Hebrew Christians for 3 precious and enduring acts on their part: 1) their “illumination”–conversion from Judaism based on the teachings of the Pharisees, to true Christianity based on the teachings of the Law, the prophets and the preaching of the apostles, 2) the persecution they endured at the hands of both the Jews and the Romans for their stand for Jesus Christ and against the Pharisees and priests, and 3) their faithfulness in helping him even though doing so had cost them greatly.

In verses 35-37 Paul warns the Hebrew Christians that if they “cast away” their relationship with the Lord due to the persecution they were enduring they would lose what God had promised to those who “endure to the end” (Mat. 10:22)–eternal life. Some of the Hebrew Christians were in danger of losing their “recompense of reward” due to a lack of patience. In verse 36 the apostle focuses on a Truth that is summarily rejected by the Counterfeit Church. Let us read it together: “for AFTER you have DONE THE WILL OF GOD you will (then and only then) receive the promise–eternal life. Satan has hidden this Truth from his parishioners for some 1700 years. The Truth concerning when salvation is received–at the second coming of Jesus Christ–and under what conditions–obedience to His Word/Truth/Law–has never changed. See Hope and Salvation and God’s Royal Law. The church, following the lead of Satan’s false prophets, refutes God’s Words relative to salvation due to self-imposed ignorance of those Words. Today the devil’s heathenistic doctrines and customs are declared from pulpit and podium to be “God’s Truth.” Ignorance and/or unbelief on the part of both ministry and laity guarantee that this deadly set of lies will remain part of the church’s foundational principles until the Great Tribulation when God’s Word will be recognized for what it is–the Truth that has for so many centuries been rejected by those who claim to be His people. Today, according to recent polling information, the Holy Bible is the most purchased, most stolen, least read, least understood, most rejected “Best Seller” in the history of printing.

Paul speaks to this fact in verse 38 in which he warns that those who will be justified (forgiven) by the Lord must live by faith–unquestioned belief in the Word of God (Rom. 10:17). But if ANY MAN rejects ANY PART of that Word, that man will be rejected by Him: “It is not the hearers of the Law that are just(tified) before the Lord, but the doers (obeyers) of the Law shall be (remain) justified (until His return)”–Romans 2:13. James warns that he who knows God’s Word and does not obey it is “deceiving himself” (Jam. 1:22). Verse 39 MUST be studied in conjunction with verse 38. Recall that one must not merely BELIEVE God’s Word in order to be saved, but must also DO it. But notice that verse 39 mentions only faith (“believing”) in reference to the “saving of the soul.” This is where the unwitting church goes off track. See Bait and Switch. Satan has blinded the eyes of church people to such verses as Romans 2:13 and James 1:22 which proclaim that one must OBEY God’s Word in order to inherit eternal life. It is for this reason that the Lord commands us to “STUDY” His Word (2 Tim. 2:15) and to do so “PRECEPT UPON PRECEPT, PRECEPT UPON PRECEPT, LINE UPON LINE, LINE UPON LINE, HERE A LITTLE, THERE A LITTLE.” Only those who do so can be taught by Him (Isa. 28:10,13). L.J.