SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 2/11/2022 9:25 AM
My Worship Time Focus: PT-2 “The
Anathema”
Bible Reading & Mediation Reference: Matt.
12:31-32
Message of the verses: “31 “Therefore I
say to you, any sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven men, but blasphemy against
the Spirit shall not be forgiven. 32 "And whoever shall speak a word
against the Son of Man, it shall be forgiven him; but whoever shall speak
against the Holy Spirit, it shall
not be forgiven him, either in this age, or in the age to come.”
I guess it is safe to say that this is the heart of
this section from Matthew that we have been looking at for a few days or so,
and that is what is called the unpardonable sin. Jesus says that even blasphemy is forgiven,
just like any other sin is forgiven when it is confessed and repented of. An unbeliever who blasphemes God can be forgiven. Let us look now at 1 Tim. 1:12-14 for some
aid from the Apostle Paul’s pen “12 I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has
strengthened me, because He considered me faithful, putting me into service, 13
even though I was formerly
a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent aggressor. Yet I was shown mercy
because I acted ignorantly in unbelief; 14 and the grace of our Lord was more than abundant,
with the faith and love which are found in Christ Jesus.” Now we will add verse fifteen here “15 It is
a trustworthy statement, deserving full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into
the world to save sinners, among whom I am foremost of all.” I
think that we can all remember that Peter also blasphemed Christ, as the record
is found in all the gospel accounts but we will look now at Mark 14:71 “But
he began to curse and swear, "I do not know this man you are talking
about!" In the 21st
chapter of John’s gospel we find how Christ restored Peter when Peter was about
to go back to fishing for fish again, and after Jesus restored Him Peter began
to fish again for souls. It is good to
be restored by the Lord for sinful things that we do. Remember what I have said very often in these
Spiritual Diaries “The successful Christian life is a series of new beginnings.”
John
MacArthur writes “Even a believer can blaspheme, since any thought or word that
sullies or defames the Lord’s name constitutes blasphemy. To question God’s goodness, wisdom, fairness,
truthfulness, love, or faithfulness is a form of blasphemy. All of that is forgivable by grace. Speaking to believers John said, ‘If we
confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to
cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9).”
Now
we want to get to the point that Jesus is making here where He talks about when
He says blasphemy against the Spirit shall not be forgiven, and this is the
exception. Even the person who blasphemes
Jesus, who dares to speak a word against the Son of Man…shall be forgiven. Son of Man designates the Lord’s humanity,
which He experienced in His time of humiliation and as He served during His
incarnation. It is possible that a
person’s perception may not allow him to see more than the Lord’s humanity, and
if he only misjudges at that even and speaks against Him in His humanness, then
such a word against the Son of Man can be forgiven. MacArthur adds “When a
person rejects Christ with less than full exposure to the evidence of His
deity, he may yet be forgiven of that sin if, after gaining fuller light, he
then believes.”
As
we end this second SD on this very mishandled subject about the unpardonable it
is my hope and prayer that all who will be reading these Spiritual Diaries will
truly understand the truths about this subject, and hopefully will never have
to think that they have committed the “unpardonable sin.”
2/11/2022 9:51 AM
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