The Apostle Paul received his gospel straight from Jesus Christ through revelation.  He wrote: “It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God” (Heb. 10:31).  Question: to whom and about whom was the Apostle Paul writing?  Answer: Paul was writing to and about his “HOLY BRETHREN” WHO WERE “PARTAKERS OF THE HEAVENLY CALLING” WHOSE “HIGH PRIEST” WAS “JESUS CHRIST” (Heb. 3:1).  These were people who had heard the Gospel preached by the Lord’s apostles, whose Words they had to obey in order to receive “SO GREAT A SALVATION” (Heb. 2:3).  “Therefore, WE (Paul included) must pay close attention to the things that were spoken (by the apostles) in order not to let them (their Words) slip away” (Heb. 2:1).  To do so, Jesus said in Luke 10:16, would prove that they “despise Me, and he who despises Me despises My Father also.”  After giving His Son for man’s sins, what do you suppose His attitude toward those who disobey Him?  The whole of professing Christendom says, “No problem.  He can’t see our sins through Christ’s blood.”  Is the church right?  God has the definitive answer.

In Hebrews chapter 3 verses 1-12 Paul answers the question posed in the title of this series as only Paul can.  Let us examine his answer.  In verse one he addresses his “holy brethren” (converted Israelites in God’s church), telling them about their Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ whose “house” (temple) each of those who obeyed Him was (1 Cor. 3:16).  However, there were those within the church who did not obey Him.  It was about such people that Paul wrote abotu in his letter to the Galatian churches (1:6-9).  It was also to such that he was writing in this segment of his letter to the Hebrew Christians.  He makes this clear in verses 6-12 where he states that they (Paul included–“we”) would continue to be Christ’s house/temple IF they (“we”) obeyed His “voice” (Words)–His Gospel preached by His apostles and prophets upon which the New Testament Church was founded (Eph. 2:20).  Paul goes on to remind them that an entire generation was not allowed to enter the Promised Land (their “rest”) because they did not believe and obey the God who brought them out of Egypt, Who would later come to earth as Jesus of Nazareth.  Read The God of the Old Testament.  Key word–Old.  In Psalm 95:11 God said that He was “grieved” with that generation because they sinned in their hearts (minds) and did not know (obey) His ways.  “So I swore in MY WRATH that they would not enter into My rest”–the Kingdom of God (Heb. 3:10,11), symbolized by their entrance into the Promised Land–Canaan.

In verse 12 Paul warns those in the Lord’s church who were not obeying His Words: “Take heed, BRETHREN, lest there be in any of YOU an EVIL HEART OF UNBELIEF which would cause you to DEPART FROM THE LIVING GOD.”  In verses 18.19 Paul compares sinners in the church to those who died in the desert because they “believed not” and were not allowed to enter the Promised Land.  Explanation: note the word “belief” is often used by New Testament writers in place of the word “obey.”  The reason is that man does what he believes.  The true saint’s belief (faith) is based solely on God’s Word (Rom. 10:19).  Simply put, faith is taking God at His Word.  Period.  If we do not obey (work) His Word, then our faith is dead (James 2:10,14,17,18,20,24,26).  Professing God while disobeying Him (sinning) proves that one has dead faith.  The generation of Israelites who died in the wilderness of Sinai had dead faith.  they knew and believed His Word but did not trust Him to fulfill it.  Recall that the Apostle Peter believed Christ’s Word and walked on water.  He then began to doubt and went under.  Peter sinned and got wet.  The Israelites sinned and died.  They did not receive God’s promise because of their lack of faith that He would protect them (Heb. 3:19), which was a sin.  Peter lost his faith in Christ’s Word and sinned.  Was He angry at Peter?  Was He angry at Israel?  Yes, He was.  Just as he was angry at the disciples when they failed to heal the boy (Mat. 17:14-20).  He expected them to do so.  By doubting, they sinned.   Referring to the Old Testament Israelites, He said: “I was GRIEVED WITH THEM BECAUSE THEY ERRED IN THEIR HEARTS BY DEPARTING FROM MY WAYS.  SO I SWORD IN MY WRATH THAT THEY WOULD NOT ENTER INTO MY REST”–would not receive His promise (Heb. 3:10,11).  Was He angry with them?  Absolutely.  Remember, this is the God Who is the same yesterday, today and forever, Who changes not, in whom there is no shadow of turning.  His methods change, but HIS TRUTH, HIS WAYS, HIS WILL, HIS LIGHT, HIS GOSPEL–HIS WORD DOES NOT CHANGE.  Sin is still the breaking of His Law, and the wages of sin is still death.  Each time a church person sins he “crucifies Christ afresh” (Heb. 6:6).  Note that PAUL IS WRITING TO SINNERS IN GOD’S CHURCH.  In Romans 2:5,6 Paul told sinners in the church Rome church that if “YOU” continue to sin after coming to the knowledge of God’s Truth, “YOU” treasure (save) up “YOUR” sins against (until) the day of judgment.  He will render to EVERY MAN (in the church) according to his DEEDS.”  God knows the hearts (minds) of men.   GOD DOES NOT FORGIVE REPEATED SINS.  RATHER, HE ACCUMULATES THEM AND WILL USE THEM AGAINST SINNING CHURCH PEOPLE ON THE DAY OF JUDGMENT.  It was for this reason that He told the man at the well in Bethesda whom He had healed and forgiven, to “SIN NO MORE LEST A WORSE THING COME UPON YOU.”  In other words, “If you sin again I will curse you with a disease worse than the one I place on you for your previous sins.”  The man understood that his sins had brought on his sickness.  He understood that sickness is the result of sin, as is all other curses God places on those who call themselves His children.  He explained this to them in Leviticus 26 and Deuteronomy 28.  An entire generation of God’s chosen people suffered and died in the wilderness of Sinai because of their sins–the result of their unbelief in and disobedience to His Words.  Paul asks how much worse punishment is deserved by those who deliberately sin after their God had died on a cross for them?  He says that to sin after coming to the knowledge of God’s Truth is to “trod under foot the Son of God” and to “count the blood He shed which sanctified Him as an unholy thing and to despise the Spirit of grace.”  “Vengeance is mine,” the Lord proclaims, “I WILL REPAY” those who sin against Him, especially church people who believe Him but do not obey Him, who own His Holy Scriptures but refuse to obey them.  To them Paul issues this warning: “It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God” (Heb. 10:28-31).  So where does the church’s “Don’t worry about sin; just remember to repent.  After all, Jesus died so that we can sin and get away with it” mantra stand with Him?  Honest people know the answer.

Let us remember the Words of Jesus when describing the fate of the five foolish virgins (Mat. 25).  Recall that initially there were ten “virgins”–church members in good standing with God.  Initially, there was no difference among them.  They each had a lamp, oil, a wick, etc.  They were all “virgins”–right with God.  But over time half of them began listen to Satan’s “I have an easier way” voice.  Like Adam and Eve before them they refused to reject his voice and soon became its victims.  Sin became “natural” due to Adam’s sin they had supposedly inherited.  But all was well; church life went on as usual.  All ten virgins seemed to be in good standing with God.  Then the Bridegroom arrived and the five sinning “virgins” were exposed.  Were they allowed into the marriage feast?  No.  Instead they were sent into outer darkness where there was much “wailing and gnashing of teeth.”  The five wise (obedient) virgins could not hear them over the joyful noises being made at the feast.  Realize that all ten were called “virgins”–church members.  But recall that both sheep and goats are together in the pasture, and that both wheat and tares are in the same field together.  However, in the end one is accepted and the other is rejected.

Let us allow God to define a true, obedient “virgin.”  Turn to Revelation 14:4 and there you will find Him describing those who had been washed in the blood of Jesus Christ during their earthly lives and had then obeyed Him until their deaths.  Note that God calls these His “firstfruits”–those who had been “redeemed from among men.”  These are those faithful few who stood with Christ when all around them were falling for Satan, who clung to His Words when billions were quoting his words and into whose house they entered each sun god day where they worshiped him.  These are those who had been ridiculed and rejected by Satan’s so-called Sinners Saved By Grace.  These are those who will rise in the first resurrection, who will spend eternity with Christ, and with Him, will rule and reign over the entire universe forever.  These are they who will “follow the Lamb wherever He goes,” exactly as they had done during their human lives.

Is God mad at you?  Not if you are obedient to His Words.  If not, His anger is profound.  The word “wrath” is used approximately 300 times in the Holy Scriptures.  There is only one reason for God to display such anger–sin.  Turn on the news.  Is He pouring out His wrath on the churched and the unchurched alike?  The question is not if God is mad at man, but rather WHY?  The answer is the same today as it was in the Garden of Eden–sin.  This is incredibly easy to prove.  The problem is that man, including churchman, does not want proof.  It’s so much easier to hear, read, believe and obey Satan’s version of the Lord’s Truth/Word (Jn. 17:17).  According to the devil, one need only to attend church on Sunday.  Or better yet, just turn on the t.v. or radio most any time day or night.  Satan will be one’s host.  The Counterfeit Church denies everything written in this series.  Fortunately, salvation will not come through Satan’s Catholic/Protestant Church System.  Only individually can we be saved.  For Sinners Saved By Grace, the church is her Golden Calf.  True believers do not have a calf that will lead them back to Egypt where they can sin with impunity.  They have a Lamb to show them the way to salvation–the way of righteousness and holiness.  Read Romans 5:21 and 6:22 for proof.

Is God mad at those who trod His Son under foot? who count His shed blood as nothing? who despise the Holy Spirit of Grace?  Look at the world today.  Is He pouring out His wrath on the world, including the so-called “Christian nations?”  Is He sparing the self-named “church?”  Let us honestly answer those questions.  L.J.