Just

With an active discussion of Hebrews 6 this week, I am attempting to see what this confusing passage has to say about God the Father.

 

6:4-6 brings much question to interpretation, and seems to contradict much of what I have heard about God protecting His children from being snatched out of His hand. (John 10:28-29). But after looking into various commentaries and journals and after discussion in class, I see some consistency in God's character, not the opposite. In various OT accounts, God has denied repentance to His people who choose to renounce Him. There have been many who "experienced God's benefit, but still scorned the law" (Nongbri article). In the wilderness generation, God provided His people with His protection, His guidance, food and water, and a promise of their forefather's land. Still, the Isrealites refused to believe and trust God even after being enlightened of God's promises and tasting of His power and provision. Because of their lack of faith and renunciation of God, He refused to offer them repentance and denied them the Promise Land. But "GOD IS NOT UNJUST" verse 10 tells us.

 

Verse 7 gives hope that if we are drinking in God's word, accepting His work within us and His promises, we will receive blessing. His grace is offered time and time again but if we completely deny Him, He is still just in denying us repentance.  The argument that there is a distinct God of the OT-- a God of justice and wrath, and a God of the NT--a God of love and mercy, is false. He is both, always. There is always love, there is always the offer of grace and mercy, but there is always justice. If our purpose as humans is to bring praise and glory to God, does he not have the right to deny us repentance if we choose to scorn His name?  Numbers 14, Daniel 9:11-12 and Deut. 11:26-28 are Old Testament examples of God's people scorning the name of the Father and Him removing their opportunity to repent.