Once you have started in the way of righteousness, pressing toward the inheritance, do not draw back. To do so is to "fail of the grace of God."

See that ye refuse not him that speaketh. For if they escaped not who refused him that spake on earth, much more shall not we escape, if we turn away from him that speaketh from heaven: (Hebrews 12:25)

The Christian, having come to the heavenly Zion, is exhorted to keep listening to the voice of God.

Here we have the true concept of salvation. Notice the following:

Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life. (John 5:24)

John 5:24 is one of the axioms used by Evangelical teachers to prove that salvation is a ticket to Heaven. Once you make a decision for Christ you can never be condemned no matter what you do.

The problem of interpretation here is the idea of static versus dynamic. Jesus is not speaking of a static episode in which you assume a correct theological posture and never again can be troubled by the Lord's demands.

John 5:24 is not a static ticket. It is a dynamic that begins to operate once the individual receives Christ. Every moment of every day we are to be hearing Him who speaks from Heaven.

Every moment of every day we are to be believing in God and seeking His will.

Every moment of every day we are to be living in the Life of God.

Under these circumstances we are free from condemnation.

Under these circumstances we have passed from death unto life.

This is the true grace of God and eternal life.

But the moment we begin to fall away, to leave the way of righteousness, to cease hearing Him who continually is speaking from Heaven, to draw back, to come short of the grace of Godùin that moment we are in danger of Divine judgment and possible destruction.

It is my burden that American Christians understand that God's grace in Jesus Christ is not a ticket to Heaven that they buy when they "make a decision for Christ." God's grace is a journey through the wilderness in which we are tested continually. There always is the danger we will lose our confidence in the Lord and turn back toward the world.

If this were not the case the writer of the epistle would not draw the analogy with the Jews who died in the wilderness.

The Book of Hebrews is a stern warning to Christians and is very much needed in America today.

God has begun to shake all things in the heavens and upon the earth. All that is not founded in Christ will be removed from God's Kingdom. Make sure your life is hidden with Christ in God.

Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear: (Hebrews 12:28)

Grace is defined by Evangelicals as "unconditional forgiveness." Let us apply that definition to the above passage.

Let us have unconditional forgiveness whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear.

I would suggest that we define grace as God's Presence in Christ enabling us to do all God has commanded.

Let's try inserting that to see if we come out any better.

Let us have God's Presence in Christ enabling us to do all God has commanded whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear.

Come any closer?

To be continued.