This blog is designed for the purpose of engaging with Christians in the Clayton-Garner NC area and elsewhere who recognize and celebrate our Lord Jesus Christ's preeminence in all things (Col. 1:15-18).
The five Solas:
Sola Scriptura - Scripture Alone,
Solus Christus - Christ Alone,
Sola Gratia - Grace Alone,
Sola Fide - Faith Alone,
Soli Deo Gloria - The Glory of God Alone.
In part 1, I hoped to establish that blasphemy is an “unpardonable” sin according to OT Mosaic law. In addition to the information I included there, it is worth considering that in the Ten Commandments, referring to taking the Lord's name in vain, it says "the LORD will not hold him guiltless who takes His name in vain."(Exod. 20:7, Deut 5:20). This is a type of blaspheme which is extremely common and might seem harmless from a human relationship/justice perspective (no one gets hurt), but it is very serious to God and He promises to personally hold guilty the one who commits it. All sin is against God, but sin that is directed toward/against God (blasphemy), is treated with a special seriousness.
Before we can go further, we must clear up any misconceptions about who is or can be forgiven for any sin, let alone the unpardonable sin. Salvation is found in Christ alone (John 14:6), by His grace alone (Eph. 2:1-10) and received through faith alone (Rom. 3:21-26). Further, it is the Holy Spirit who is given credit for our initial salvation and assurance/completion of salvation (John 3:3-5, John 6:37-40, John 10:26-29, Rom. 8:8-11, 1 Cor. 12:3, Titus 3:3-7, I John 4:13-15). While I will hold that all sin, including that of OT saints, must be atoned for by Christ at the cross, for this argument I desire only to prove and move forward on the assumption that for NT post-resurrection people, salvation requires faith in the person and work of Jesus Christ, is possible only through the regenerating work of the Holy Spirit, and is secured forever because it is the work of the Holy Spirit.
So far we see –
A. Blasphemy is an “unpardonable” sin according to OT Mosaic law.
B. No sin, of any kind, is forgivable except by grace through faith in Jesus Christ!
C. The Holy Spirit is the initiator and guarantor of our salvation.
In part 3, I will consider who is the intended audience of the teaching about the "unpardonable" sin.
The “Unpardonable Sin” or should it be “The Amazing Pardonability of Sin in Jesus Christ”. Before accusing me of heresy, remember the titles given to chapters and shorter sections of the Bible were not original to the text, but have been added to aid us in locating passages and giving us a preview of their subject matter.
I will attempt to prove from Scripture that the passage(s) below, regarding the “unpardonable sin”, is/are not for the purpose of teaching those who are lost just how lost and hopeless they are, or to cause doubts in the mind of believers about their salvation, but rather to give assurance of salvation to born again believers who may doubt God would save such as them.
Mark 3:28 “Assuredly, I say to you, all sins will be forgiven the sons of men, and whatever blasphemies they may utter; 29 but he who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness, but is subject to eternal condemnation”— 30 because they said, “He has an unclean spirit.”
Matt. “Therefore I say to you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven men. 32 Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man, it will be forgiven him; but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit, it will not be forgiven him, either in this age or in the age to come.
The issues at hand are clear – it is possible for all sins and blasphemies man commits to be forgiven, including speaking a word against the Son of Man. However, blasphemy against the Holy Spirit or speaking against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven - ever! What does blasphemy mean?
Biblical example of how serious God takes blasphemy –
Lev. 24:10 Now the son of an Israelite woman, whose father was an Egyptian, went out among the children of Israel; and this Israelite woman’s son and a man of Israel fought each other in the camp. 11 And the Israelite woman’s son blasphemed the name of the LORD and cursed; and so they brought him to Moses. (His mother’s name was Shelomith the daughter of Dibri, of the tribe of Dan.) 12 Then they put him in custody, that the mind of the LORD might be shown to them. 13 And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, 14 “Take outside the camp him who has cursed; then let all who heard him lay their hands on his head, and let all the congregation stone him. 15 “Then you shall speak to the children of Israel, saying: ‘Whoever curses his God shall bear his sin. 16 And whoever blasphemes the name of the LORD shall surely be put to death. All the congregation shall certainly stone him, the stranger as well as him who is born in the land. When he blasphemes the name of the LORD, he shall be put to death.
Is there any more serious sin we could imagine than showing contempt for God? If there were only one unforgivable sin, we could see how disrespecting God could be it! We still might think a warning is in order or God should take circumstances into account. This may be a young man called a “son” and he may have less sound teaching about God since his father was Egyptian. Maybe God would give some slack for the boy’s age and the bad influence of his Egyptian father, and since God isn’t visibly standing right in front of him, surely he could get a break. “No,” God says, “whoever blasphemes the name of the LORD shall surely be put to death”! This sin was still treated seriously at the time of Jesus as He was condemned to death for blasphemy (Mark 14:62-64) as was Stephen, even though he was not officially charged or put on trial (Acts 7:54-60).
Summary up to this point – blasphemy is to be punished by death; there are no amends or animal sacrifice to set aside the penalty!
Therefore, blasphemy is an “unpardonable” sin according to OT Mosaic law.
I was listening to a very popular TV "preacher" the other day and noticed a point in his message when he stood at the crossroads of Biblical truth and idolatry. After some welcomes, calisthenics involving raising bibles above their heads and a couple pretty funny jokes, the speaker came to a pivotal moment. I will paraphrase what he said as - God does not want you going around discouraged and defeated, but rather wants you to live a joyous and victorious life!
To this I say amen! The turning point comes with the next words that leave the speakers mouth. One choice is to say all hope, joy, peace and victory are available in Jesus Christ through the Holy Spirit and require nothing else on this earth to change.
We see this in the scriptures clearly -
Jesus said - John 16:33 These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”
The Holy Spirit spoke through Paul saying: Phil. 4:11 Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content: 12 I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. 13 I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
Col. 3:1If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. 2 Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. 3 For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory.
Being satisfied/thankful is actually commanded for Christians -1 Thess. 5:16 Rejoice always, 17 pray without ceasing, 18 in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. 19 Do not quench the Spirit.
And of course we have a clear word form the Lord about the Holy Spirit's role in these things - Gal. 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.
Any alternative emphasis, besides the biblical one, any suggestion that joy, peace, hope or the victorious life require things on earth to change is idolatry. These things (Joy, peace, etc.) come from the creator not the creation, they are in Jesus Christ by the power of the Holy Spirit!
Unfortunately, the speaker I was watching spent the rest of his time teaching that we should not be satisfied with our current situation, but rather we should seek other things from God to make our life better (give us joy, peace, victory, etc.). He did this by taking a scripture or two out of context and telling many stories of healing and financial gain of those who had faith. I got the impression that he would have been very offended at any Christian who suggested they could be content with Jesus Christ and salvation alone! We would have to be ignorant, lacking faith or both to be content with that, according to his teachings.
The evidence is in - health and prosperity preachers are simply idol peddlers who encourage the worship of the created things over the creator.
If you have been continually seeking "the blessings" through these TV ministries, I pray you will believe the gospel and live in the blessing you have in Jesus Christ! There are Bible teaching and Christ exalting churches out there to help you keep the creation centered idolatry that comes so natural at bay, while you grow in the knowledge of Jesus Christ through the word and Spirit.
It occurred to me today that this is a great slogan for idolatrous people. I think what it really means is that there is hope, but it will require change and our guy can do it. Maybe "hope in change" would more accurately communicate the intent of the slogan. It would be just as useful for any other political party, if not for copyright laws, as they could say our hope is in different changes or maybe in not changing things!
The bottom line is that this is an idolatrous, creation worshipping notion, that suggests hope lies in people and their ideas/plans/policies, rather than in the person and work of Jesus Christ!
I became acquainted with Elyse Fitzpatrick through my Biblical Counseling courses in Seminary. Although she primarily deals with women's issues, she has much to offer all believers through her Christ/Gospel centered counseling approach! Follow the link below to the source of the interview and click on the "audio" tab on the left side near the bottom - enjoy!
Matt. 28:19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.
John 8:31 Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. 32 And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”
John 10:26 But you do not believe, because you are not of My sheep, as I said to you.27 My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. 28 And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand. 29 My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father’s hand. 30 I and My Father are one.”
Acts 2:41 Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them. 42 And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers.
Eph. 4:11 And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, 12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ,
If someone desires no teaching, regardless of how much other "Christian" stuff they do, it is quite appropriate to assume they are lost. This is good to know as they can be treated/evangelised as if lost. Also, the ones teaching them need feel no guilt for their lack of response to teaching any more than a doctor should feel guilty when a dead patient does not respond to their medical treatment.
It is an undeniable truth that young children will pick what is not good for them over what is good for them much of the time. Disney or dentist? Peas or pie? Spelling or swimming? It is not too hard to predict their choices if these were the options!
It is a good thing God has provided parents to help make sure children get what they need. It would be quite a bad thing if children could pick and/or change their parents at will, especially if there were other parents in the neighborhood who believed all that mattered was giving the children what they want. They may say they are acting in love and point to their large number of children as proof their way is best. However, any good parent would see the truth and know that this is not love at all and it will do the child great harm in the end.
Such is the current state of church in America. I don't believe new ways of doing things are necessarily bad. I think we need to be always open to how we might best achieve the purposes for which the church was instituted. It is at this level that I take issue with so many new and some old churches that have departed from the basic call for the church and replaced it with a goal of increasing numbers by doing whatever works.
I don't want to oversimplify the work of the church, but surely some of the commands in the great commission in Matt. 28:18-20 are worthy of our highest priority - "make disciples", "teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you"! If teaching the word and calling folks to obey are the foundational/primary work of the church, then all attraction methods must be aimed at getting folks to the place where that mission will be accomplished.
Now, I would be glad to make the trip to the dentist as comfortable as possible, cook the peas with some seasoning and we can go swimming after school, but it does not take looking very deeply into the teachings of many numerically "successful" churches that say they are Bible teaching to see they are really just entertaining people with coffee, happening music and preaching psychology/health/wealth/stories without ever making the church a place to learn and apply the whole of the scriptures.
As a pastor who cares about the children of God - I hate this situation! We live in a day when to teach and apply the scriptures clearly to the life of the church is to be met, even by those who say they believe the Bible, with something like - "that can't be right, the big church down the street does....". Shame on them if they are growing by giving pie and withholding peas!
I can understand the temptation to want to feel successful and have a big church, but I pray this trend would come to a quick end and that God would call and provide strength to many men who would stay the course and do church as intended - even when most people will see it as an oddity! We must pray for each other!
To the church leader who uses entertainment to lead sheep away from the word - for the sake of having more sheep, I warn you to repent as you are doing exactly what Jesus warned about in Matt. 18:6-7. To the one who leads one of His children astray Jesus says - “it would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were drowned in the depth of the sea”
I have watched this several times on other people's blogs. I hate to copy, but this is such a refreshing contrast to the man centered and Christ minimizing stuff that passes for preaching in so many places today. To God, alone wise, be glory through Jesus Christ forever. Amen! (Rom 16:27 NKJV)
Pay particular attention to verse 30 and what God has provided in Christ so that such foolish, weak, and base beings as us could be His!
1 Cor. 1:26 For you see your calling, brethren, that not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called.27 But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty; 28 and the base things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen, and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are, 29 that no flesh should glory in His presence. 30 But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God—and righteousness and sanctification and redemption— 31 that, as it is written, “He who glories, let him glory in the LORD.”(NKJV)
Rather than wanting to have a part in our salvation - how about we just be satisfied with worshiping Christ for doing absolutely everything for us!
I watched a sermon from a church that sends invites by mail to my home regularly. They claim to be about reaching people with the Gospel, teaching them the Bible and sending them out to impact the world. I watched the forty minute sermon (see link below) on the movie Avatar and all the ways we need to be like the star in the movie. I heard the "preacher" say how their church will do whatever it takes to reach the lost including doing very loud music and strange sermon series (such as the one under discussion), because people were dying without Jesus and going to hell.
Agreed, but I wonder if anyone will really find out who Jesus is, let alone learn His word so as to be able to spread the truth about Him from listening to a sermon without the word, Jesus or His work as the focus. I fear that when he asked his listeners to invite Jesus into their hearts, they could not possibly have known what it means to repent and believe the gospel - unless they had been taught it elsewhere! If you want to be purely evangelistic, at least get that right by defining the Gospel and making its purpose/importance clear. If you want to make disciples (be a church), you need to actually teach the Bible. I fear what we have here and at so many "seeker" churches is really just the world gathering on Sunday morning to discuss and imitate the latest cultural trends while trying to be "good people" and earn their way to heaven.
I am amazed that many seem to look forward to everything in Heaven but Jesus. Someone shared some song lyrics with me the other day that made much of the sweet smelling flowers and the streets of gold in heaven, but Jesus was an after thought at best. This seems sadly appropriate when we have had decades of pray a prayer and we'll see ya there evangelism. If Christ is portrayed as needy and just pleased as punch if we will only say yes to Him, then we could certainly draw the conclusion that we can live as we like here, and when we get there He will help us enjoy an even more self-gratifying life.
Here we may have a gold watch, ring or tooth, but there we can walk on streets of gold! Here we may have a nice yard, there we will have much lovelier plants and flowers to enjoy. That may be good, but to love or desire anything more than Jesus Christ, whether here or in heaven is idolatry!
I know what the response would likely be "well loving Jesus is a given, we're just singing about all the good things He will provide", well maybe we think we believe that, but don't we think about, talk about and of course sing about the things we really do love the most.
What if Jesus is not the needy, just glad to have you and see you in heaven savior many preach. Suppose He is not desperate for our acceptance of Him, but rather due our absolute worship with every breath of our being and has redeemed us so we can fulfill that very purpose!
Our condemnation is for not worshiping Him, being unthankful and worshiping the created things-
Rom. 1:18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, 19 because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them. 20 For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, 21 because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. 22 Professing to be wise, they became fools, 23 and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man—and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things. (NKJV)
He should have preeminence in everything, especially in the church and I assume this includes music -
Col. 1:15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. 16 For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. 17 And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist. 18 And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence.(NKJV)
Even in Heaven it seems that the street of gold and almost unimaginable beauty of everything, including the foliage/flowers are underwhelming when compared to the glory of God in Jesus Christ!
Rev. 21:22 But I saw no temple in it, for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple. 23 The city had no need of the sun or of the moon to shine in it, for the glory of God illuminated it. The Lamb is its light. 24 And the nations of those who are saved shall walk in its light, and the kings of the earth bring their glory and honor into it. 25 Its gates shall not be shut at all by day (there shall be no night there). 26 And they shall bring the glory and the honor of the nations into it. 27 But there shall by no means enter it anything that defiles, or causes an abomination or a lie, but only those who are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life. (NKJV)
If we don't want Him most now and desire Him above all we look forward to in Heaven later - are we truly of those for whom heaven is made?
