Mike covers this doctrine Abundantly!
I continue to read Mike’s post almost daily, and find most all of what he writes aligns with my own current thinking. I use it as a catalyst for my own reflections. I do love it when he use the often neglected Geneva Bible Translation.
Some of my own thoughts and mind wanderings as I read this:
- My wife recently finished Dr. Steven Meyer’s latest book The Return of the God Hypothesis, and we listened to a recent 3 hour debate he was part of. Two of the things that struck me: 1) His more recent emphasis not only of design, but a designer, and more specifically God. 2) The person he debated, referred to two surveys he had taken of the “experts” and in his reckoning, as I recall he said that only some 3% of these scientific experts had a belief in God.
- Also along these lines of just who is behind, all we don’t know, I continue to be impressed by all the chatter and discussion, surrounding non-earth aliens, even inter-dimensional beings, and the book I read on The Unseen Realm or alternatively “demons” of some form. Perhaps not unlike what Paul mentions to the Ephesians.
Eph 6:12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Eph 1:21 Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come: - And let’s not forget the recent 2026 Barna Arizona Christian surveys of how few Americans actually have a Biblical Worldview. Gen Z was the lowest only 1% as they counted it…..
- If our Salvation was dependent on that full belief then those of faith would in fact be few:
- Mat 7:13 Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:
Mat 7:14 Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it. - One last thing, I will post after Mike’s link below my initial thoughts to connecting this to how the time is now to come to faith. The words of Isaiah triggered this:
- Isa 55:6 Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near:
Isa 55:7 Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.
Isa 55:8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. - Old John Newton said it correctly: “Amazing Grace”
- The Bible Study Book we are doing now is a good read on this for more detail. Check it out or one of the free PDF versions.
Ok, here are a few more verses to reflect upon:
Hebrews ( I’m one who believes Paul may have actually written this, though it can’t be proven.)
Heb 2:1 Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip.
Heb 2:2 For if the word spoken by angels was stedfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompence of reward;
Heb 2:3 How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him;
Heb 2:4 God also bearing them witness, both with signs and wonders, and with divers miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghost, according to his own will?
To day if ye will hear his voice…..
Heb 3:7 Wherefore (as the Holy Ghost saith, To day if ye will hear his voice,
Heb 3:8 Harden not your hearts, as in the provocation, in the day of temptation in the wilderness:
Heb 3:9 When your fathers tempted me, proved me, and saw my works forty years.
Heb 3:10 Wherefore I was grieved with that generation, and said, They do alway err in their heart; and they have not known my ways.
Heb 3:11 So I sware in my wrath, They shall not enter into my rest.)
Heb 3:12 Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God.
Heb 3:13 But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.
Heb 3:14 For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end;
Heb 3:15 While it is said, To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts, as in the provocation.
Heb 3:16 For some, when they had heard, did provoke: howbeit not all that came out of Egypt by Moses.
Heb 3:17 But with whom was he grieved forty years? was it not with them that had sinned, whose carcases fell in the wilderness?
Heb 3:18 And to whom sware he that they should not enter into his rest, but to them that believed not?
Heb 3:19 So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief.
To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts.
Heb 4:7 Again, he limiteth a certain day, saying in David, To day, after so long a time; as it is said, To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts.
Heb 4:8 For if Jesus had given them rest, then would he not afterward have spoken of another day.
Heb 4:9 There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God.
Heb 4:10 For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his.
Heb 4:11 Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief.
Heb 4:12 For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
Heb 4:13 Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do.
Rainbow Trout 