Forgiving the Unforgivable- How?
Forgiving the Unforgivable.
There shouldn't be such a thing, should there? It's contradictory. There is no list in the Bible that says this sin is forgivable, that one isn't. You might argue that obviously in the Old Testament that any sin that you were put to death for committing was unpardonable because of the fact it warranted immediate death. However, all sin truly warrants death, right? For the wages of sin is death... Ro. 6:23.
Then you might say that this is the only unforgivable sin... '{12:10} And whosoever shall speak a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but unto him that blasphemeth against the Holy Ghost it shall not be forgiven.'
So if you can even be forgiven for speaking against Jesus, the innocent of God, God's Son, the Sinless One then truly that's the worst of the worst that can be forgiven. But where do we who live our lives day to day and are confronted with sins that seem unforgivable, where do we find forgiveness, or the ability to forgive?
The Lord's prayer says... Matthew {6:12} And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
We are forgiven as we forgive. It's scary to think that we will be forgiven as we forgive when we find it so hard to forgive. Does God find it hard to forgive? It had to be harder than we can imagine for Him to sacrifice His own son, yet in our mind we can think of so very many horrific things that people do to one another that are unforgivable, or rather seemingly unforgivable. We say Jesus wasn't sinned against in this particular way, surely if He had been God would never forgive the one who did that to Him, to His Only Son.
Are there those who are unforgiven? Obviously those who blasphemeth against the Holy Spirit. We are told outright they are unforgiven and why? Because it is the Holy Spirit who pricks our hearts, who strives with us to bring us to the point where we can seek forgiveness, repenting and putting away of our sins. If we deny, if we blasphemy we are...
Dict.
blasphemy (blàs´fe-mê) noun
plural blasphemies
1. a. A contemptuous or profane act, utterance, or writing concerning God or a sacred entity. b. The act of claiming for oneself the attributes and rights of God.
2. An irreverent or impious act, attitude, or utterance in regard to something considered inviolable or sacrosanct.
Excerpted from The American Heritage® Dictionary
...committing a contempuous or proface act, utterance, writing against God. We are claiming attributes and rights of God. We are committing irreverent, impious acts against God.
Sin is being against God. Permanently being against God is unforgivable.
If anyone lives against God, if anyone commits acts that are against God, they are sinning. The act itself warrants death. The severity of the acts varies but death is death. In the end people will suffer as they have sinned if they've gone unrepented, unforgiven.
Here's another thing to think of... Matthew {7:1} Judge not, that ye be not judged. {7:2} For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.
Can we forgive the unforgivable? Can we hold up our own lives to inspection and say our sins aren't as bad as anothers? That for some reason our sins are undeserving of death but theirs are? Can we say while I've picked a pocket or two, they'f robbed banks; while I've had lascivious thoughts they've committed the acts of the lasciviousness; while I've wanted to kill they've actually murdered someone so surely they deserve death and not forgiveness, but I deserve it more. This reminds me of this...Luke {18:11} The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men [are,] extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican.
{18:12} I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess. {18:13} And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as [his] eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner. {18:14} I tell you, this man went down to his house justified [rather] than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall
be exalted.
We can't extol our own virtues, we can't pit our seemingly less sinful sins against those who seemingly have great sins.
Again we can go back to the whole business about some sins warranted death in the Old Testament while other sins didn't so surely that is putting degrees on sin and which are really bad and which aren't. Today we have laws that tell us murdering someone means putting them in jail if caught, while thinking about it doesn't. Stealing someone's treasures warrants jail time, but again...just thinking about it doesn't. We've determined that some crimes in some states are punishable by death and some crimes aren't. We have to have such determinations don't we, or we'd live in a world of complete chaos.
Yet, a lot of crimes are committed, crimes worthy of jail and worthy of death and they go unpunished. Sometimes they go unpunished because we choose to let them be that way. Pardoned, forgiven, undeserving of both and yet given both.
Why is it we desire forgiveness and yet find it so hard to forgive the seemingly unforgivable?
How often should we forgive? Matthew {18:21} Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times? {18:22} Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven.
Endlessly forgiving...
Forgiving the unforgivable.
Forgive as we'd be forgiven. Our supposed lesser sin is as worthy of death in the realm of eternity if not forgiven, just as the largest sin in existence is the same. And if we would be forgiven at all we have to extend forgiveness ourselves-- but how?
Matthew {6:14} For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: {6:15} But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses
But how?
Matthew {18:23} Therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened unto a certain king, which would take account of his servants. {18:24} And when he had begun to reckon, one was brought unto him, which owed him ten thousand talents. {18:25} But forasmuch as he had not to pay, his lord commanded him to be sold, and his wife, and children, and all that he had, and payment to be made. {18:26} The servant therefore fell down, and worshipped him, saying, Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay thee all. {18:27} Then the lord of that servant was moved with compassion, and loosed him, and forgave him the debt. {18:28} But the same servant went out, and found one of his fellowservants, which owed him an hundred pence: and he laid hands on him, and took [him] by the throat, saying, Pay me that thou owest. {18:29} And his fellowservant fell down at his feet, and besought him, saying, Have patience with me, and I will pay thee all. {18:30} And he would not: but went and cast him into prison, till he should pay the debt. {18:31} So when his fellowservants saw what was done, they were very sorry, and came and told unto their lord all that was done. {18:32} Then his lord, after that he had called him, said unto him, O thou wicked servant, I forgave thee all that debt, because thou desiredst me: {18:33} Shouldest not thou also have had compassion on thy fellowservant, even as I had pity on thee? {18:34} And his lord was wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due unto him. {18:35} So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses.
But how?
Help us Lord to learn how. Help us.
Amen.
5/18/10
Consent Not
My son, if sinners entice thee, consent thou not.
If they say, Come with us, let us lay wait for blood, let us lurk privily for the innocent without cause:
Let us swallow them up alive as the grave; and whole, as those that go down into the pit:
We shall find all precious substance, we shall fill our houses with spoil:
Cast in thy lot among us; let us all have one purse:
My son, walk not thou in the way with them; refrain thy foot from their path:
For their feet run to evil, and make haste to shed blood.
Surely in vain the net is spread in the sight of any bird.
And they lay wait for their own blood; they lurk privily for their own lives.
So are the ways of every one that is greedy of gain; which taketh away the life of the owners thereof.
Pro 1:10-19
Consent not.
Have you ever gone against your better judgment in situations where others are tempting you to do things that are inappropriate? Have you ever gone along with others at their urging to do something wrong? Seriously. Have you been guilty of this on a lesser level than robbery? In small things do we consent to sinners when we're enticed by them? When we know right from wrong, when our hearts convict us of right from wrong and yet we still do things unbecoming of a Christian, what does that say? Our faith is weak? We are weak? We are treading on dangerous ground when we follow a path that isn't of God and we know it. But to live in this world today it seems like it is the ONLY path to follow unless we run to the hills to become hermits without any outside influences to tempt us in the ways of the world.
Paul talked about how it was better to remain unmarried because the heart could be fully God's that way and not torn between God and an ungodly spouse. The Bible says how it's better to lose everything and gain eternity. The Word also says the way is narrow. We are told that mothers, brother, sisters, fathers, daughters and sons will all be capable of pulling us from the right way. Yet we don't want to think of things like that, we just don't. We want to believe we can have it all and yet with it all comes a lot of compromising and we try to believe the compromises will be accepted, that God will understand.
In our weekly Bible study we talked about how narrow the path is and how few that are going to find it and it's no wonder at all is it. In a delusional mind, in a mind clouded by half-truths and false hopes people believe they're good and they're going to heaven no matter what but the Bible paints a different story. The words came from our Savior's lips--
Mat 7:14 Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.
FEW. This is from our Savior Himself! FEW. So why do so many have the attitude that it's easy and everyone will eventually find eternal life?
Proverbs 1:10-19 talks about temptation to evil... about consenting to sinners enticing. By the grace of God may we NOT consent and by His grace may we not be the ones doing the tempting. May we seek the Lord and the narrow way the strait gate, may we find life in Him and Him alone in love. By His mercy.
Amen.
5/18/11
1Jn 5:14 And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us:
1Jn 5:15 And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.
If we KNOW that He hears us- WHATSOEVER we ask, we KNOW that we have the petitions that we desired of him.
We know because we are asking ACCORDING to HIS WILL. As long as we ask according to HIS will He hears us and will grant our petitions.
Yes, yes, and yes, this has been my focus lately but I think it needs to be. When we pray we have to pray according to God's will, not our will. CAN we do this? Seriously, can we do this? We get so caught up in our own will we scarcely can pray for God's will. We are so incredibly self-centered that whenever we pray we put self into it to the point we are asking God to do our will. Answer our prayers, which in truth are HIS prayer if it is for HIS will, yes?
God's will and our will, this is what it's all about-- bending our will to God's, submitting our will to God's, surrendering our will to God's will, giving up self to God. Can we do this? Can we? We who are so incredibly wrapped up in our selves, can we give that up to God? It's easy to say yes, but so very hard to do. In fact it's impossible for us to do, and only possible for our Savior to do for us.
Joh 14:16 And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever
The Comforter abiding with US forever.
Mar 13:11 But when they shall lead you, and deliver you up, take no thought beforehand what ye shall speak, neither do ye premeditate: but whatsoever shall be given you in that hour, that speak ye: for it is not ye that speak, but the Holy Ghost.
It is NOT ye that speak BUT the Holy Ghost!
We will need to speak, we will be required to speak and when that day comes we won't be the one speaking, why? We won't be the one speaking because the HOLY GHOST will be speaking THROUGH us. God will be speaking through us. For it is NOT YE that speak. We will be a vessel to be used by God. This is a moment of complete self-surrender. God speaking through us, not us speaking- no self involved whatsoever, us being used by God. So amazing! So wondrous!
Is it any wonder that over and over Jesus' example is one of serving others? He spent all of His ministry preaching the gospel of the kingdom of heaven while healing multitudes, tending to all those around Him. Jesus didn't stay in one place but journeyed to bring His message to many. The healing and preaching went hand in hand. The giving was a CONSTANT message to us. The Son of God was NOT selfish. Every time He healed someone that was time He gave to them, His time, His love. We must remember Jesus was human- Jesus became tired and hungry just as we do. The work He was called on to do wasn't easy. Just imagine how much energy it took from Him to be so in demand working so incredibly hard. It's too easy for us to believe that He had endless stores of energy, but He had our FLESH, and any one with our flesh body has the same needs we have. Seriously, this is something we don't consider enough. Our Savior was our example in all things and He knew when He needed to rest, He knew when He needed to eat, He knew when He thirsted, He knew when He needed to be alone to pray. Jesus had physical LIMITATIONS! Too many shake their heads to that, believing that because He was a God He didn't have to feel things the way we feel things- they're wrong! Jesus EMPTIED Himself and became HUMAN. Jesus relied upon His Father just as WE have to rely upon our Heavenly Father.
The example of our Lord is something we need to hold up every single day. Our Savior's selflessness, pure selflessness!
By His grace may we become selfless, through Him may we become selfless, so selfless that the Holy Spirit will be able to completely use us, speaking through us when that day comes.
In His LOVE!
Amen.
There shouldn't be such a thing, should there? It's contradictory. There is no list in the Bible that says this sin is forgivable, that one isn't. You might argue that obviously in the Old Testament that any sin that you were put to death for committing was unpardonable because of the fact it warranted immediate death. However, all sin truly warrants death, right? For the wages of sin is death... Ro. 6:23.
Then you might say that this is the only unforgivable sin... '{12:10} And whosoever shall speak a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but unto him that blasphemeth against the Holy Ghost it shall not be forgiven.'
So if you can even be forgiven for speaking against Jesus, the innocent of God, God's Son, the Sinless One then truly that's the worst of the worst that can be forgiven. But where do we who live our lives day to day and are confronted with sins that seem unforgivable, where do we find forgiveness, or the ability to forgive?
The Lord's prayer says... Matthew {6:12} And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
We are forgiven as we forgive. It's scary to think that we will be forgiven as we forgive when we find it so hard to forgive. Does God find it hard to forgive? It had to be harder than we can imagine for Him to sacrifice His own son, yet in our mind we can think of so very many horrific things that people do to one another that are unforgivable, or rather seemingly unforgivable. We say Jesus wasn't sinned against in this particular way, surely if He had been God would never forgive the one who did that to Him, to His Only Son.
Are there those who are unforgiven? Obviously those who blasphemeth against the Holy Spirit. We are told outright they are unforgiven and why? Because it is the Holy Spirit who pricks our hearts, who strives with us to bring us to the point where we can seek forgiveness, repenting and putting away of our sins. If we deny, if we blasphemy we are...
Dict.
blasphemy (blàs´fe-mê) noun
plural blasphemies
1. a. A contemptuous or profane act, utterance, or writing concerning God or a sacred entity. b. The act of claiming for oneself the attributes and rights of God.
2. An irreverent or impious act, attitude, or utterance in regard to something considered inviolable or sacrosanct.
Excerpted from The American Heritage® Dictionary
...committing a contempuous or proface act, utterance, writing against God. We are claiming attributes and rights of God. We are committing irreverent, impious acts against God.
Sin is being against God. Permanently being against God is unforgivable.
If anyone lives against God, if anyone commits acts that are against God, they are sinning. The act itself warrants death. The severity of the acts varies but death is death. In the end people will suffer as they have sinned if they've gone unrepented, unforgiven.
Here's another thing to think of... Matthew {7:1} Judge not, that ye be not judged. {7:2} For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.
Can we forgive the unforgivable? Can we hold up our own lives to inspection and say our sins aren't as bad as anothers? That for some reason our sins are undeserving of death but theirs are? Can we say while I've picked a pocket or two, they'f robbed banks; while I've had lascivious thoughts they've committed the acts of the lasciviousness; while I've wanted to kill they've actually murdered someone so surely they deserve death and not forgiveness, but I deserve it more. This reminds me of this...Luke {18:11} The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men [are,] extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican.
{18:12} I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess. {18:13} And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as [his] eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner. {18:14} I tell you, this man went down to his house justified [rather] than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall
be exalted.
We can't extol our own virtues, we can't pit our seemingly less sinful sins against those who seemingly have great sins.
Again we can go back to the whole business about some sins warranted death in the Old Testament while other sins didn't so surely that is putting degrees on sin and which are really bad and which aren't. Today we have laws that tell us murdering someone means putting them in jail if caught, while thinking about it doesn't. Stealing someone's treasures warrants jail time, but again...just thinking about it doesn't. We've determined that some crimes in some states are punishable by death and some crimes aren't. We have to have such determinations don't we, or we'd live in a world of complete chaos.
Yet, a lot of crimes are committed, crimes worthy of jail and worthy of death and they go unpunished. Sometimes they go unpunished because we choose to let them be that way. Pardoned, forgiven, undeserving of both and yet given both.
Why is it we desire forgiveness and yet find it so hard to forgive the seemingly unforgivable?
How often should we forgive? Matthew {18:21} Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times? {18:22} Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven.
Endlessly forgiving...
Forgiving the unforgivable.
Forgive as we'd be forgiven. Our supposed lesser sin is as worthy of death in the realm of eternity if not forgiven, just as the largest sin in existence is the same. And if we would be forgiven at all we have to extend forgiveness ourselves-- but how?
Matthew {6:14} For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: {6:15} But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses
But how?
Matthew {18:23} Therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened unto a certain king, which would take account of his servants. {18:24} And when he had begun to reckon, one was brought unto him, which owed him ten thousand talents. {18:25} But forasmuch as he had not to pay, his lord commanded him to be sold, and his wife, and children, and all that he had, and payment to be made. {18:26} The servant therefore fell down, and worshipped him, saying, Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay thee all. {18:27} Then the lord of that servant was moved with compassion, and loosed him, and forgave him the debt. {18:28} But the same servant went out, and found one of his fellowservants, which owed him an hundred pence: and he laid hands on him, and took [him] by the throat, saying, Pay me that thou owest. {18:29} And his fellowservant fell down at his feet, and besought him, saying, Have patience with me, and I will pay thee all. {18:30} And he would not: but went and cast him into prison, till he should pay the debt. {18:31} So when his fellowservants saw what was done, they were very sorry, and came and told unto their lord all that was done. {18:32} Then his lord, after that he had called him, said unto him, O thou wicked servant, I forgave thee all that debt, because thou desiredst me: {18:33} Shouldest not thou also have had compassion on thy fellowservant, even as I had pity on thee? {18:34} And his lord was wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due unto him. {18:35} So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses.
But how?
Help us Lord to learn how. Help us.
Amen.
5/18/10
Consent Not
My son, if sinners entice thee, consent thou not.
If they say, Come with us, let us lay wait for blood, let us lurk privily for the innocent without cause:
Let us swallow them up alive as the grave; and whole, as those that go down into the pit:
We shall find all precious substance, we shall fill our houses with spoil:
Cast in thy lot among us; let us all have one purse:
My son, walk not thou in the way with them; refrain thy foot from their path:
For their feet run to evil, and make haste to shed blood.
Surely in vain the net is spread in the sight of any bird.
And they lay wait for their own blood; they lurk privily for their own lives.
So are the ways of every one that is greedy of gain; which taketh away the life of the owners thereof.
Pro 1:10-19
Consent not.
Have you ever gone against your better judgment in situations where others are tempting you to do things that are inappropriate? Have you ever gone along with others at their urging to do something wrong? Seriously. Have you been guilty of this on a lesser level than robbery? In small things do we consent to sinners when we're enticed by them? When we know right from wrong, when our hearts convict us of right from wrong and yet we still do things unbecoming of a Christian, what does that say? Our faith is weak? We are weak? We are treading on dangerous ground when we follow a path that isn't of God and we know it. But to live in this world today it seems like it is the ONLY path to follow unless we run to the hills to become hermits without any outside influences to tempt us in the ways of the world.
Paul talked about how it was better to remain unmarried because the heart could be fully God's that way and not torn between God and an ungodly spouse. The Bible says how it's better to lose everything and gain eternity. The Word also says the way is narrow. We are told that mothers, brother, sisters, fathers, daughters and sons will all be capable of pulling us from the right way. Yet we don't want to think of things like that, we just don't. We want to believe we can have it all and yet with it all comes a lot of compromising and we try to believe the compromises will be accepted, that God will understand.
In our weekly Bible study we talked about how narrow the path is and how few that are going to find it and it's no wonder at all is it. In a delusional mind, in a mind clouded by half-truths and false hopes people believe they're good and they're going to heaven no matter what but the Bible paints a different story. The words came from our Savior's lips--
Mat 7:14 Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.
FEW. This is from our Savior Himself! FEW. So why do so many have the attitude that it's easy and everyone will eventually find eternal life?
Proverbs 1:10-19 talks about temptation to evil... about consenting to sinners enticing. By the grace of God may we NOT consent and by His grace may we not be the ones doing the tempting. May we seek the Lord and the narrow way the strait gate, may we find life in Him and Him alone in love. By His mercy.
Amen.
5/18/11
1Jn 5:14 And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us:
1Jn 5:15 And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.
If we KNOW that He hears us- WHATSOEVER we ask, we KNOW that we have the petitions that we desired of him.
We know because we are asking ACCORDING to HIS WILL. As long as we ask according to HIS will He hears us and will grant our petitions.
Yes, yes, and yes, this has been my focus lately but I think it needs to be. When we pray we have to pray according to God's will, not our will. CAN we do this? Seriously, can we do this? We get so caught up in our own will we scarcely can pray for God's will. We are so incredibly self-centered that whenever we pray we put self into it to the point we are asking God to do our will. Answer our prayers, which in truth are HIS prayer if it is for HIS will, yes?
God's will and our will, this is what it's all about-- bending our will to God's, submitting our will to God's, surrendering our will to God's will, giving up self to God. Can we do this? Can we? We who are so incredibly wrapped up in our selves, can we give that up to God? It's easy to say yes, but so very hard to do. In fact it's impossible for us to do, and only possible for our Savior to do for us.
Joh 14:16 And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever
The Comforter abiding with US forever.
Mar 13:11 But when they shall lead you, and deliver you up, take no thought beforehand what ye shall speak, neither do ye premeditate: but whatsoever shall be given you in that hour, that speak ye: for it is not ye that speak, but the Holy Ghost.
It is NOT ye that speak BUT the Holy Ghost!
We will need to speak, we will be required to speak and when that day comes we won't be the one speaking, why? We won't be the one speaking because the HOLY GHOST will be speaking THROUGH us. God will be speaking through us. For it is NOT YE that speak. We will be a vessel to be used by God. This is a moment of complete self-surrender. God speaking through us, not us speaking- no self involved whatsoever, us being used by God. So amazing! So wondrous!
Is it any wonder that over and over Jesus' example is one of serving others? He spent all of His ministry preaching the gospel of the kingdom of heaven while healing multitudes, tending to all those around Him. Jesus didn't stay in one place but journeyed to bring His message to many. The healing and preaching went hand in hand. The giving was a CONSTANT message to us. The Son of God was NOT selfish. Every time He healed someone that was time He gave to them, His time, His love. We must remember Jesus was human- Jesus became tired and hungry just as we do. The work He was called on to do wasn't easy. Just imagine how much energy it took from Him to be so in demand working so incredibly hard. It's too easy for us to believe that He had endless stores of energy, but He had our FLESH, and any one with our flesh body has the same needs we have. Seriously, this is something we don't consider enough. Our Savior was our example in all things and He knew when He needed to rest, He knew when He needed to eat, He knew when He thirsted, He knew when He needed to be alone to pray. Jesus had physical LIMITATIONS! Too many shake their heads to that, believing that because He was a God He didn't have to feel things the way we feel things- they're wrong! Jesus EMPTIED Himself and became HUMAN. Jesus relied upon His Father just as WE have to rely upon our Heavenly Father.
The example of our Lord is something we need to hold up every single day. Our Savior's selflessness, pure selflessness!
By His grace may we become selfless, through Him may we become selfless, so selfless that the Holy Spirit will be able to completely use us, speaking through us when that day comes.
In His LOVE!
Amen.