Falling Away

If I am still unconvinced that the Scripture references to being members of the body of Jesus are speaking of identity and nature, and the references to the Kingdom are speaking of commandments, obedience, and judgement, I will not be able to properly find the truth in passages like Hebrews 6:4-12. The two judgements that will be faced by every human (Revelation 20:11-15) are a watershed between these two subjects.

The Kingdom judgement happens when “books” are opened, and every person is judged according to their works, which are apparently all recorded in the books. The Identity judgement happens when another “book” is opened, which is the Lamb’s book of life. Anyone not found listed in that book is thrown in the lake of fire. All of the Roman Mythology about Purge-tory and buying mass to get your loved ones out of hell and being good enough according to your works to get into Heaven is clearly cast as myth by the view John had of these judgments.

Only one criterion is considered when the train track of your future is switched between Heaven and Hell: “Is your name in the Lamb’s book of life?” The judgments based on works are important, too, but they don’t determine my destiny with regard to whether my life is eternal or not.

Repentance is a word that means: I thought a certain way or believed a certain thing, then something happened, and my mind was changed. The writer to the Hebrews was not describing being born again, again, or whether I end up in Heaven, if I “fall away” after having experienced valid relationship with the Spirit of God. He was describing a mind that could not be renewed to truth.