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Falling Away

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Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Dec 16, 1897

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 23, No. 49.

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Falling Away

Falling Away.—'If they shall fall away' (Heb. 6: 6), does not imply falling because of discouragement or ignorance. It is deliberate apostasy. The class indicated by the pronoun 'they' had been enlightened, had tasted of the heavenly gift, Christ Jesus, had been made partakers of the Holy Ghost, had eaten of the good Word of God, and the powers of the world to come had come into their lives. Verses 4, 5. Their falling away is deliberate choice of sin. Having known God's means of salvation, and turned from them, by what means can God or his servants renew them again? Only the Word of God can truly point out sin (Rom. 7: 7), but they have turned from that. Only the Spirit of God can bring conviction (John 16: 7-11), but this they have relinquished after knowing its power. It is deliberate choice of sin. It is sinning wilfully, or willingly, that is, of choice (Heb. 10: 26), and God will not force our will.