The Unforgivable Sin Pt 2

ZNA-330

910714AM

Eternal Sins (Part 2)

Mark 3:28-30

Remember

I. God Forgives Sin (Mark 3:28)

A. God is by His very nature forgiving • Micah 7:18-19

B. God By His Repeated Example Forgiving • Adam and Eve, Patriarchs, Moses, David, Israel, Peter and Apostles, Paul, The Church C. God By His Infinitely Powerful To Forgive – Mark 3:28 Murderous Moses, Depressed Elijah, Denying Peter, Wistful Samson, Doubting Thomas, Deceptive Jacob…In fact Christ named 16 specific sins in his ministry and all but one was forgivable. But blaspheming the Holy Spirit was the point of no return. Our Lord spoke of the sins of:
I. SOME SPECIFIC SINS
A. Sacrilege (Mark 11:15-18) In cleansing the temple of the moneychangers, He condemned their sin of sacrilege (that is, violating the temple which was consecrated to God and showing irreverence toward hallowed things). Christ cleansed the temple at the beginning and end of his ministry (see also John 2;12-16). B. Hypocrisy (Matt. 23:1-36) In His scathing condemnation of the hypocrisy of the Sadducees, scribes, and Pharisees, our Lord pointed out several specific ways they showed that hypocrisy. (1) They did not practice what they preached (vv. 1-4) (2) They sought to exalt themselves by encouraging the adulations of the people (vv. 5-12) (3) They escaped performing their oaths by trying to make a difference between swearing by the temple and swearing by the gold of the temple (vv. 16-22). (4) They scrupulously tithed but neglected to promote justice (v. 23). (5) Outwardly they appeared to be righteous, but inwardly they were hypocrites (v. 25).

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C. Covetousness (Luke 12:15) Sensing this was the root problem of the man who wanted the Lord to settle a dispute he had with his brother, the Lord warned the crowd against the sin of greed. D. Blasphemy (Matt 12:22-37) By ascribing the miracles of Christ to the power of Satan, the Pharisees were blaspheming. However, they could right the situation by a correct confession of Christ. E. Transgressing the Law (Matt 15:3-6) To avoid having to care for aged parents, the scribes devised a way to dedicate the money that would have been used for that purpose to the temple, eventually to receive it back. This, the Lord said, was a direct violation of the commandment to honor parents. F. Pride (Matt 20:20-28; Luke 7:14) Pride of position or seeking places of honor has no place in the life of the true servant. G. Being a Stumbling Block (Matt 18:6) Doing something that might cause others to sin is itself a sin. H. Disloyalty (Matt 8:19-22) Putting comforts or even proper duties before loyalty to Christ is sin. I. Immorality (Matt 5:27-32) This sin can be committed in the body, in the heart, or in marriage. J. Fruitlessness (John 15:16) Because believers have been chosen to bear fruit, not to do so would be contrary to God’s purpose. K. Anger (Matt 5:22) Anger, the Lord cautioned, can lead to murder. L. Sins of Speech (Matt 5:33; 12:36) The Lord warned against perjuring oneself by failing to keep a promise made under oath. He also said that we shall be accountable for all our useless words. M. Showing Off (Matt 6:1-18) Parading one’s supposed piety is sin. This may be done in doing good things like almsgiving, prayer, and fasting but doing them with a view to attracting praise from men rather than approval from God. N. Lack of Faith (Matt 6:25) Having anxiety concerning one’s needs shows lack of faith in God’s provision. O. Irresponsible stewardship (Matt 25:14-30; Luke 19:11-27). Both parables illustrate the need for responsible

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stewardship on the part of Christ’s followers. The talents represent different abilities given to different people, while the minas, which were distributed equally, represent the equal opportunity of life itself. The servants who did not use their abilities and opportunities were condemned for their irresponsible conduct. P. Prayerlessness (Luke 18:1-8) We ought to pray at al times and never lose heart.

I am sure this list could be lengthened, but it certainly demonstrates how many particular sins the Lord spoke of.

All these and many more can be forgiven but…

II. There Is A Sin That Can Never Be Forgiven: Blaspheming The Holy Spirit A. This is not plain blasphemy defined as “defiant, irreverent speaking again, questioning, defaming, mocking a Holy God.” B. This is not something that a born again Christian can commit because it is eternal and unforgivable.

Note Hebrews: 6:19 – Christian has anchored soul – not drifting and lost 7:16 – Christian has indestructible life 8:12 – Christian sins forgotten 9:14 – Christian has been cleansed by God 10:22 – Christian has assumed salvation C. This is a willful rejection of conviction by the Holy Spirit about Jesus Christ Let’s Note Biblical Examples: 1. First century Jews in Apostolic period § Hebrews 2:3-4 = Neglect salvation offe43d / Holy Spirit attested § Hebrews 3:12-19= Evil unbelieving Apostenai fall away, leave, depart, step aside § Hebrews 6:4-8 = Fallen away

These are the seed that falls on thorny and stony ground – starts and ends

2. Religious leaders in Christ’s day Matthew 12:32, Mark 3:30 3. Cain, Genesis 4:1-7 = Self righteousness, even when knew God’s way ⇒ Wanted to be in God’s family His own way! Look at Jude 11, 1 John 3:12 4. Balaam – Numbers 22-24 Balaam wanted to be God’s man, share God’s truth without obedience to God’s Word. ⇒ Numbers 23:10 die death not live life

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So, who can commit the unforgivable, unpardonable, eternal sin? ä A person that commits a special kind of blasphemy v It is in full awareness of the truth v It is against full conviction v It involves rejection of divine illumination v It causes that person to turn aside Apostenai – Apostasize from known truth v It involves hard heartedness at conviction that only the Spirit gives v It is damnable for eternity ⇒ Hebrews 3:12-19 Today if hear voice- Don’t Harden!