Hebrews 3:6 But Christ is faithful as a son over God’s house. And we are his house, if we hold on to our courage and the hope of which we boast.

This is a somewhat difficult passage, because it doesn’t seem to fit an “eternal security” narrative. Peter speaks of us being built together into God’s house as living stones, (1 Peter 2:5) and Paul speaks of believers being God’s household. (Ephesians 2:19) Why then do we have this passage that says we are God’s house if we hold onto our confidence (NIV says “courage”) and hope? I think it’s a matter of whether we are able to enjoy the benefits of being God’s house. To go to Peter’s analogy, we might be living stones, but if we aren’t aware of Who lives in the building, it’s no different for us than if we were just rocks in a field. God really does everything, but we receive it all by faith. If we discard the faith, then we no longer receive the benefits of what God has done and is doing. Faith is ultimately a choice, an act of our will, because God provides it as a gift, (Ephesians 2:8-9) but we have to receive it. Salvation is ultimately God’s business, because we can save no one. The whole issue of whether salvation can be lost once gained has created major splits in the Church, and the only one happy about that is the devil. The point is that salvation is precious indeed, and is to be both cherished and shared.

I am not going to make dogmatic statements as to who is or isn’t saved, but I must never stop sharing the Biblical guidelines for salvation. I have seen people, even in this church, who seemed to be on fire, even, but who then fell away. I can only pray God’s grace for them. At the very least they are currently not enjoying the blessings of participation in the household of God. However, God knows who are His, (2 Timothy 2:19) and I often don’t. Just the other day we had someone show up here completely unannounced, inquiring about funerals. She was baptized well over 30 years ago but has not been active in church for most of the time since, quite possibly because of marriage to an unbeliever. I’m sure she’s been taken off of the church roll where she was baptized, but God hasn’t forgotten her. I expressed a warm invitation to her, and would not be surprised if she shows up for worship this morning. I am not to be pushing people away, but rather expressing God’s invitation as clearly and as winningly as the Lord enables me to.

Father, thank You indeed for those who are Yours, though I don’t know them all. Thank You for the lady who came Friday, and for her two friends who came along to give her moral support. I pray that she would be restored to full participation in Your family and that her friends would enter in as well. Father, I have felt for many years that You had many “free agent” children in this city. I pray that they would all be brought to full participation in the Body of Christ, and as a result many more be brought to repentance and faith, for their salvation and Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!