THE UNFORGIVABLE SIN!

MARK 3:29

"Anyone who blasphemes the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven.  This is a sin with eternal consequences!"

What does it mean to blaspheme the Holy Spirit?  Why is this a sin that can never be forgiven? What are the eternal consequences of blaspheming the Holy Spirit?  While here on earth, in practical terms, what do you have to do or fail to do that is blaspheming the Holy Spirit?  What is it that amounts to the unforgivable sin.   Everyone needs to know the answer to these questions. The eternal consequences of this sin is eternal separation from God and death and damnation.

Anyone who speaks abusively against, or maliciously misrepresents the Holy Spirit can never be forgiven of their sin.  They are guilty of an everlasting trespass against God.  When a person is insulting or contemptuous and lacks reverence for God and His Holy Spirit they are committing a blasphemy.  Blasphemy is represented by speaking evil of God and is in effect cursing the Lord and His Spirit.  It includes attributing evil to God or denying Him some good attribute.  All other sins can be forgiven, but the blasphemy directed toward the Holy Spirit.  

Blasphemy of the Holy Spirit is an individual action toward God that is never repented of during the life of the sinner.  It is a rejection of God and the non acceptance of the deity of the Lord.  The result of this rejection is that the sinner never asks for mercy or forgiveness from a God they do not respect.  They will never receive God's forgiveness or mercy and especially His Salvation.  This leads to eternal separation from God and it will never end.  That is what is meant by damnation and death eternal.  They are dead in their sin.  Rejecting the Holy Spirit of God is therefore the unforgivable sin.  You make the choice and you receive the consequences. Do not reject God and His Holy Spirit.  Repent now and believe in God.  Ask for the mercy and Salvation of the Lord.  Do not commit THE UNFORGIVABLE SIN against His Holy Spirit! 

THE SABBATH!

MARK 2:27

"The sabbath was made to meet the needs of the people,  and not people to meet 

the requirements of the sabbath.

In short, the sabbath was made for man, not man for the sabbath!  Why did the Lord rest from the creation on the seventh day?  Why did He labor for six days to make the world and the universe?  In that God is omnipotent and does not need rest, why did He establish the symbolism of the seventh day of rest?  Did He know the limitations of man?  Why should we be burdened by the traditions and admonitions others?  Which day of the week is the real sabbath?  Who is the Lord of the Sabbath, man or God?  How does the sabbath apply to us in our present day?

The Lord tells us that the sabbath was made for man to meet his needs.  Man was not made for the sake or requirements of a sabbath.  God is complete and not in need of anything, thus He did not require a sabbath, man did.  Jesus was questioned about the actions of David and his followers who broke with priestly traditions when they ate the consecrated bread on the sabbath.  First Jesus made it clear that He is the Lord of the Sabbath,  and then He made it clear that the sabbath was made for man not for God.  Then Jesus enlarged the topic when He wanted to know from the priests if it was proper to do good deeds on the sabbath.  Was it all right to save the life of an animal or a person on the sabbath?  Did the traditions and priestly requirements serve God or man on the sabbath.  God made the Sabbath for man!

Even today many questions arise about what to do and what not to do on the sabbath.  What is allowed by God and what is prohibited?  The most important thing to learn from the truth for today is that God created the sabbath to meet the needs of His people and not the people to meet His requirements on that day.  The correct answer is spiritual and not fleshly.  It is made to give man a day of rest and refreshment.  It is a day to honor God and do what is righteous.  Do not let traditions and ideas imposed by priests take away the joy and pleasure that God intended.  Do not let questionable laws or instructions destroy the intentions of the Lord.  The sabbath was made for you, enjoy it and keep it holy and seek righteousness and rest and refresh yourself.  It is THE SABBATH! 

THOSE WHO KNOW!

MARK 2:17

"I have not come to call  those who think they are righteous,  but , THOSE WHO KNOW  they are sinners."

Do healthy people think that they need a doctor?  Do people who believe they are righteous think they need a Saviour?  Do you believe you are a righteous person, a good person?  If you do, what do you think about the scripture that tells us that no one is good, no not one.  What do you think about the Word that everyone has come short of the Glory of God.  Do you remember the Lord's reaction to the prayer in the temple of the man who said, " God have mercy on me for I am a sinner?"  That man was justified by the Lord as he left the temple.  Are you one of  THOSE WHO KNOW that you are a sinner?  Do you know that you need mercy and the Salvation of God?  

A lot of people , just like the pharisee in Luke 18:13, think that they are righteous.  Worse than that they hold others in contempt that do not meet there standards.  It was the priests life that needed a spiritual doctor, not the humble publican.  The tax collector assumed a position humility  and even beat his chest as a sign of contrition.  He asked for the mercy of God and recognized that he was a sinner.  He did not think he was righteous, he was one of THOSE WHO KNOW  that they are sinners.  Jesus did not come to call those who think they are righteous.  Jesus Christ came to save sinners!

Our prayer should be that the Lord helps us to know that we are sinners and unrighteous.  If not we can not obtain the mercy and righteousness of the Lord.  Help us to know and understand that we are always in the process of becoming more righteous and more like you until the end.  Help us to not think or assume that we are better than others or more righteous than others.  Thank the Lord that His mercies are new every morning and He forgives us of our sins.  Thank you that if we are faithful to confess our sins, you are faithful to forget them. Thank you Lord that I am one of THOSE WHO KNOW they are sinners.  Do you know?

THE MESSAGE OF JOHN THE BAPTIST!

MARK 1:4

"John the Baptist preached that people should be baptized to show that they had turned to God, to receive forgiveness for their sins."

 Should all believer's be baptized?  Why should we listen to John's admonition to be baptized?  Is baptism for anyone and everyone, regardless of their beliefs?  In fact baptism should be an outward expression of your inward belief that you turned to God, to receive His forgiveness of sin?  Can the symbolic act of baptism be done in only one certain way?   If  baptism is just an act of contrition done spiritually to express our true feelings and the belief in our heart, why would we not want to it?  Have you been baptized?

John was sent with a specific message, to prepare the way for the Lord.  John fulfilled Isaiah's prophecy about the Messiah and that the coming of Jesus had been foretold.  John expected people to respond to his invitation and die to their sin and rise up from the water as a new spiritual person.  The baptism was for those who asked God to forgive them or their sins and help them to die to the old flesh nature of man.  It was an invitation to those who believed in God and His Word.  It was an announcement of the Salvation of the Lord.  He preached that the kingdom of God was close at hand.  With the coming of Jesus he learned that the Lord had arrived.  

John baptized those who confessed their sin.  Not all people could or would be baptized by him. Those John baptized had one prerequisite, that they had turned to God to receive forgiveness of their sins.  Baptism is an outward expression of your inward beliefs.  If you believe in God, you will want to and feel the need to be baptized.  The Lord was baptized by John,  that should be enough of an example to convince anyone of its importance.  If you are a follower of Jesus can you do anything less?  Baptism is not a prerequisite of Salvation, and it is not a requirement to be saved or receive eternal life, but, it is an expression of your heart toward God!  Did you hear what John said and what the Word said?  Listen to THE MESSAGE OF JOHN!   

YOU ARE NOT ALONE!

MATTHEW 28:20

"Be sure of this,  I am with you always,  even to the end of the age!"

Have you ever felt all alone?  Have there been times in you life when you felt distanced from your family or spouse?  Have you ever lost a close personal friend?  When you go through these difficult times and the pressures of this world seem to be crashing down on you,  is there always someone you can depend on?  If you have lost your parents, where do you go for comfort?  Does this loss create a lot of fear and anxiety on your part?  Then thank and praise the Lord, for as believer's we are never alone.  The Lord promises, I AM WITH YOU ALWAYS, EVEN TO THE END OF THE AGE!

In this scripture and the truth for today, Jesus was teaching His disciples an important fact.  He wanted them to be sure that wherever they were and what ever they were doing the Lord never left there side.  The Lord is right there with us and He will never leave us throughout all eternity.  So even if you lose a parent or a child or a spouse or friend, you will never be without the Holy Spirit of God and the Lord will be with you until the end of time.  Since Jesus has no ending, He will be with you always!

What comfort and security we have when we come to a knowledge of this truth.  You can feel your fears and anxieties melting away.  This assurance of the love of God is never ending and a promise that will be kept.  We do not have to feel as though we are alone and on our own.  We have one relationship that will never end.  Our promise from Jesus is that our relationship with Him is not subject to the frailties of this world or this life.  Be sure of this, Jesus said, I will be with you always, even to the end of this age.  YOU ARE NOT ALONE! 

 

IS JESUS THE MESSIAH?

MATTHEW 26:63

"The chief priest said to Jesus,  I demand in the name of the living God,  tell us if you are the Messiah, the  Son of God."

This is the question above all questions.  You had to have asked yourself this same question.  Is Jesus Christ the Messiah?  Is Jesus Christ the Son of God?  Is Jesus Christ the Lord God?  Think of how many people have asked themselves the same questions.  The Jewish Priests then, and the ones of today continue to question whether Jesus Christ is the Messiah, the son of God.   Can you think of any more important question?  The answer has eternal consequences and the correct answer will determine where you spend your eternal life.  The correct answer leads to life and the wrong answer leads to death and separation from God forever.  This question demands an answer!

There are people today who say that Jesus never said nor did He claim to be the Messiah, the Son of God.  These scriptures in Matthew should put to rest any false claims about what Jesus said.  In direct answer to the high priest, Jesus replied, you have said it!  Then Jesus continued and told Caiaphas, the high priest, that he would see Jesus seated in the place of power at God's right hand.  Caiaphas understood exactly what Jesus had said,  he knew that Jesus had plainly said that he was the Messiah, the Son of God.  We know this because Caiaphas tore his robe and cried out blasphemy!  There was no ambiguity and there was no doubt about the answer to the question are you the Messiah, the Son of God.  Jesus affirmed it and He claimed it!

Jesus Christ is the Son of God and He is the Messiah.   Jesus Christ is the Lord God.  He said so and it is the most important truth for today and for all time.  Jesus was and is the Salvation that people have looked for and waited for their whole lives.  He is our Salvation.  All you have to do is hear what Jesus said and then believe in Him.  The choice to believe is individual and must be made by everyone.  Do not be like the priests and spit in His face and beat Him and mock Him.  Do not reject your Messiah, your Lord, your God, your Saviour.  Jesus is the Messiah , the Son of the living God.  He told us so, now we need to just listen! 

HATE EVIL!

PROVERBS 8:12-13

"I, wisdom, live together with good judgement.  I know where to discover knowledge and discernment.  All who fear the Lord, HATE EVIL.   Therefore I hate pride and arrogance, corruption and perverse speech."

Do you hate someone or something?  The world is filled with  hatred, evil pride and arrogance. We live in an R rated culture.  Perversions of all kinds are promoted and attempts are made to portray them as acceptable alternatives to the life style God intended for us.  It is almost unacceptable to use the word SIN, or speak out about perverted or twisted behavior without being condemned ourselves.  If you fear the Lord you will HATE EVIL.

As believer's we know that to love the Lord and to fear the Lord we must hate evil.  If we want wisdom and good judgement and knowledge and discernment we must we begin by fearing the Lord.  This reverent fear and worship of the Lord causes enmity with evil and perversion.  The conflict is clear cut between good and evil.  Godly wisdom is what allows us to possess knowledge and discretion and prudence in our choices and actions.  We are very uncomfortable around the perverted mouth full of twisted speech, arrogance and pride.  We HATE EVIL!

How should we reconcile the fact that we should love our neighbor and at the same time hate evil?  If your neighbor is sinning, you can hate the evil but love your neighbor.  The Lord wants us to separate the evil acts from the soul that can be saved.  Remember we too have sinned and come short of the glory of God.  No one is good, no not one.  So we need to treat others as we want to be treated.  We need to hate the evil but love the person.  Use God's knowledge to show yourself wisdom and understanding that allows the separation of the evil from the person.  God is love and we must learn to love one another, if we want to be more like Him.  We can do this, we can learn to love the one who is sinning, and still HATE EVIL!