Vol. 37, No. 10 October, 2013
THE UNPARDONABLE SIN. WHAT IS IT?
WHO CAN COMMIT IT?
Dr. George Mills
“Whosoever speaketh against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven him. Neither in this world, neither in the world to come.” (Mt. 12:24-34)).
This question comes to me in many ways; “Preacher, do you think that I have committed the unpardonable sin?” This publication goes into many prisons, jails, and various institutions where men and women are housed for years and some for life. “Have I gone too far?” some want to know.”Have I reached the place where God will not hear me if I call on Him?” It is not uncommon for me to receive this kind of questioning. Let me say this, and then I will say some other things about this subject…If this is bothering you…if you are concerned about this, then, in my opinion, I do not believe that you have gone too far. If you had reached the place where God no longer speaks to your heart, then I do not believe you would have any concern about God, or yourself or eternity whatsoever. So if you are concerned about your relationship with God, my answer would be NO! You have not committed the unpardonable sin. However, I would not wait another moment. I would, “Call upon Him while He is near.” We do live in bad times. People do commit terrible things. The lives of so many are in such disarray that we wonder how this could happen to anyone, BUT IT DOES!
Let me say this; The only convicting Power that God has on earth to lead man/woman to forgiveness is the Holy Spirit., (John 16:7-15). The verses in Matthew 12 clearly teach that a man who rejects every plea of the Holy Spirit can be brought to the place in life where God will no longer deal with him. Other than the things I have just said, I am nobody’s judge. I cannot tell. I cannot read hearts and tell when someone has reached that state where he/she has “crossed the line.” I believe that this text is a clear warning about our responsibility to receive Christ, TODAY! Let me mention some of the sins that seem to be troubling to so many…
MURDER. Is murder the unpardonable sin?
This is a great growing problem in our society. It would be easy for me to choose any paper from any city and print the shootings, the stabbings, the acts of violence by man against man. One human taking the life of another human is condemned in the Law Of God. “Thou shalt not kill.” Just recently here in our city, a vehicle stopped in front of a residence, and shots rang out as the home was peppered with bullets. Two innocent teen-age girls were left dead. That same night a lady waiting at a bus stop had her purse taken away and an innocent man was shot down. A customer in the local Post office was robbed and shot. Unsafe streets, unsafe neighborhoods, crime, violence, Murder for hire. It is nothing to hear about killers who have been proven guilty of committing many murders. You read your papers, you listen to the news reports, and you know what I am speaking about. This is a day of violence. Murder is being committed by children. Drugs, video games, unsupervised young people form gangs. As the Bible says, “blood touches blood. Three teenagers in Colorado shot and killed a jogger just because they were bored. A child in a baby stroller was shot in the face while his mother was being robbed. MURDER, MURDER, MURDER. Without Christ, man is capable of anything. When a nation forsakes the foundational truths on which it was founded,well, we see the results. But I do have some good news, the Good News of the Gospel of Jesus Christ! The Gospel tells us of God’s Love. King David was “a man after God’s heart.” King David was one of the greatest men of history, but he committed some of the greatest sins against God; Adultery and Murder. He committed adultery with Bathsheba, then he had her husband Uriah killed. He suffered much for his sins. You can read about his confessions in Psalm 32, Psalm 51. He was forgiven by the Grace of God, but there was much reaping for his wrong for the rest of his life. The Apostle Paul was another of the great men of history. Paul confessed his hatred for this new movement called the “Church.” and went out to stop it. He confessed that he imprisoned and beat the ones who believed in Christ and that he consented to the death of Stephen, (Acts 22:19-20). Although they were guilty of murder, David and Paul found GRACE. I have heard and read the testimony of some who have been convicted of murder , who were on death row in prison,who heard, or read about the Gospel of Jesus Christ and found forgiveness of their great sin. I have no reason to doubt their conversion. I know that some confessions are not real, but some are! God is willing to forgive all who trust in the Finished work of Jesus Christ. “But as many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His Name.”(Jn 1:12). The problem is the heart, not the weapon. Jesus said, “For out of the HEART proceedeth evil thoughts, MURDERS, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witnesses, blasphemies. These are the things which defile a man.” (Mt 15:19-20). This comes from the heart, but murder is not the Unpardonable sin.
ABORTION. Is Abortion the unpardonable sin?
This too is a horrible blight on society. When I think of the millions of abortions, the “doctors” who perform such, the clinics, and not caring for the unborn, and women who say, “it’s my body, I can do what I want to do with it.” NO YOU CAN’T! There are many laws, still in the books that say NO, YOU CAN’T DO ANYTHING YOU WANT TO DO WITH YOUR BODY. “These six things doth the LORD hate yea, seven are an abomination unto Him. A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood.” (Pr. 6: 16-19). Nothing could be more innocent than a child in it’s mother’s womb! When does life begin? Life begins at conception! When the seed is planted in the womb, with that seed the genetic make-up of both parents comes alive in the womb and begins it’s journey from there to eternity. Read Psalm 139:13-19, Psalm 22:9-10, Luke 1:41-44. Life is in the womb! Many a young girl, after a lustful encounter, perhaps in the back seat of an automobile has found herself with child and sought help, and through the efforts of some abortionist, her child was killed, aborted! She knows that she has done wrong and wonders, and wonders. Questions come to her mind. Will God forgive me for that? Will I ever get over this? Is my child still alive, somewhere? YES! Sometimes these questions are so troubling that they lead to other things, things like alcohol, or drugs. Anything to soothe a troubled mind. When we do wrong and seek forgiveness from God, He is there to forgive! I am so glad of that ! “ALL have sinned and come short of the glory of God.” When we receive Christ as our Saviour, He forgives, He forgets, and He gives peace of mind and heart. The encounter in the back seat was wrong, the abortion was wrong, but a turning to the Loving God we serve is God’s answer for our sin, no matter how bad our sin may have been. Abortion is WRONG, but abortion is NOT the unpardonable sin.
ADULTERY. Is Adultery the unpardonable sin?
This is the common thing today. It is practiced secretly, and sometimes openly. Sexual relations and affairs with someone other than the one to who you are married. This is a great heart breaker. More than just two people are involved in so many ways. God knew the endless results of such a relationship so He placed in His Law, “Thou shalt not commit adultery.”(Ex. 20:14). But this goes on and on, but very few ever stop to think about the results. We could mention the unwanted children,(there is no such thing as an illegitimate child, illegitimate parents, yes, but no illegitimate child) the deadbeat dads. On and on the list goes. But there is hope for the adulterer. Read John 8:3-11. A woman caught in the act of adultery was brought to Jesus. If she was caught in the act, that means there was a man involved. (I suppose he is still running). Christ told her accusers, “He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her.” They were convicted by their own conscience and left one by one. “Where are thine accusers? Hath no man condemned thee? She said no man LORD. Jesus said, Neither do I condemn thee, go and sin no more.” Yes, there is always hope in Christ.
HOMOSEXUALITY. Is Homosexuality the unpardonable sin?
I do not believe that homosexuals are born homosexual. “Male and Female” created He them” God made man and God made woman. Homosexuals are made by society. We learn from our environment. A child must have a Father and a Mother in his/her life and he/she learns from the parents just what his/her position in life is. So many of the children in this society have been left with only one parent to learn from. Now, let me thank the single parents out there who have been left to raise children alone and are doing a great job. However, you are in the minority. This has been presented to this generation as an acceptable alternate lifestyle. Even the military, and all areas of government promote this as “acceptable.” It is reported that 13% of men and 5% of women are practicing homosexual. But what does God say about this?
God destroyed civilizations in the past because of this sin.(Romans 1:21-32. “God gave them up, God gave them up, God gave them over to a reprobate mind.”
God will destroy again because of this sin. “And turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrha into ashes condemned them with an overflow, making them an ensample unto those that after should live ungodly.” (2Peter 2:6).
This sin is condemned in the Law of God. Take a few moments and read Leviticus 20. The Law is very clear concerning sexual sins…..
Lev. 20:10.Adultery…
Lev. 20:11.Sexual relations with stepmother
Lev. 20:12 Sexual relations with daughter in law.
Lev. 20:13…..
Lev. 20:14.Sexual relations with mother-in-law.
Lev. 20:15-16. Bestiality.
Lev. 20:17..Sexual relations with sister.
Lev. 20:19. Sexual relations with Aunt.
Lev. 20:21. Sexual relations with sister-in-law.
ALL OF THESE ARE WRONG!
I believe that we can look at the above list from the Law of God and agree,. These sins are wrong! They pollute society, produce unhealthy births!
Now, take a look at the very middle of the Law of God in Leviticus 20:13,
“If a man also lie with mankind as he lieth with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination.”
The same Law that condemns the sexual acts in the above verses condemns the sin of homosexuality also. These Laws are NOT “Readers Choice!!”All are sin as clearly written in the Law of God. May I say that there is hope, in the Bible, Hope in Christ for the Homosexual. “Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the Kingdom of God? Be not deceived, neither fornicators nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate (Homosexual) nor abusers of themselves with mankind…shall inherit the Kingdom of God. AND SUCH WERE SOME OF YOU, but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the Name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of God.” (1Cor. 6-9-11). According to these verses there is hope in Christ for everyone. Some of the Corinthian believers were saved and delivered from the homosexual lifestyle. No one has any animosity or ill-will toward anyone who has adopted this, or these lifestyles. It is the SIN, and not the sinner. We are glad to share with you the Good News of the Gospel of Jesus Christ who said, “I am come that they might have life, and have it more abundantly.”
SUICIDE. Is Suicide the unpardonable sin?
Every day over 1,000 people in America commit suicide. This is the 10th most common cause of death, and the second most common cause of death among teens. Among the group that should be the happiest, some are turning to suicide. Pressures of life, jobs, family problems, finances., sickness, mental disorder, grief. Physical pain, broken heart. The list keeps on and on. Many see only one way out. But this is never the right answer.
“How about Christians. Do Christians take this way out?” I am afraid that some do. This has happened among my own kin folks. Some who knew Christ and publicly made their stand for Him, took this route. I believe they were saved, but some of the pressures of life listed were just too much. So they took their life. I believe that we will meet again on Heaven’s shore, because of their Faith in Christ. While they were here we walked together and talked about Christ, and there, we will do that again! Thank God for His GRACE! NO, I do not believe that suicide is the unpardonable sin.
WITCHCRAFT, CULTS, Is this the unpardonable sin?
I must bring this to a close because of space. I wanted to give everyone assurance that CHRIST IS ABLE! TRUST HIM ALONE!
Some have said that they have dealt with witchcraft,and made vows which were blasphemy. “Have I gone too far?” Please take a few moments and read Acts 16:16-20. A young girl at Philippi who was demon possessed and practiced forms of witchcraft was saved, and probably one of the first members of the Church there. In Acts 19, many at Ephesus who were involved in witchcraft, sorcery, magic, called upon the name of the Lord Jesus, and brought their articles, books, curious art works together to the apostles to be burned. So mightily grew the Word of God and prevailed. (Acts 19:13-20).
If these things are not, what then, is the unpardonable sin?
The unpardonable sin is a sin of the HEART!
The unpardonable sin is a willful rejection of Christ!
“Because I have called, and ye refused, I have stretched out my hand and no man regarded. But ye have set at naught all my council, and would none of my reproof. I also will laugh at your calamity, I will mock when your fear cometh. When your fear cometh as desolation, and your destruction cometh as a whirlwind, when distress and anguish cometh upon you. Then shall they call upon me, BUT I WILL NOT ANSWER, they shall seek me early but they shall not find me.” (Prov. 1:24-33).
Today, if you are not saved, Christ has been there for you all of your life. He has been calling, knocking at your heart’s door. If you continue to refuse Him, Tomorrow, He may not be knocking.
An old song says…
There’s a line that is drawn by rejecting the Lord,
Where the call of His Spirit is lost,
As you hurry along,
with the pleasure mad throng,
Have you counted, have you counted the cost?
“TODAY if ye will hear His voice, harden not your hearts.”(Heb. 3:7-15)
Everything that I have mentioned in this message, and so much more are things that God has no problem in forgiving and making life anew. The worse thing that a man or woman can do is to live here and die without Christ.
That’s the UNPARDONABLE SIN!
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THINK ABOUT IT..The last thing Christ did while He was here on earth was to save a THIEF hanging on a cross next to Him, and take him to glory.
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FROM MY HEART
By Mildred Mills
FORGETTING THE PAST
So many of us as Christians dwell on the past and are burdened down with the “only ifs” in our lives. We stay so busy thinking about the “woulda,” “shoulda,” “couldas,” and especially the “if onlys,” and all these thoughts keep us from going forward in our Christian walk. We are stuck in the past and can’t get moving to do a work for the Lord. Forget the past and go forward for the Lord! Satan uses the “if onlys” and the “woulda”, “shoulda,” “couldas” to keep us down with a sense of defeat and a “what’s the use” attitude. Our past is forgiven, the future is ours, and The Lord wants us to go forward serving Him with all our hearts, never looking back and facing the future with a smile. “Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended, but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before.” (Phil. 3:13).
If you have never trusted Jesus Christ for forgiveness, tell Him now that you believe He died on the cross so you could have forgiveness for your sin. Ask Him now to come into your heart and He will forgive not only your past sin, but your present sin and your future sin. Lord Jesus we are so thankful that “Calvary Covers It All.”
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THE BEAUTY OF JUSTIFICATION
“Be it known unto you therefore men and brethren, that through this Man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins. And by Him all that believe are justified from all things from which ye could not be justified by the Law of Moses.”
Justification is the act of God whereby He calls the sinner Just, or, Justified, or, just as though he never sinned. Through the work of Christ, God can justify the sinner, and not violate His Law. The debt of sin has been paid for at Calvary. Now, that’s Beautiful!
THE BASIS OF JUSTIFICATION…Paul stood and preached his message;
The Death of Christ. Acts 13:28-29.
The Burial of Christ. Acts 13:29.
The Resurrection of Christ. Acts 13:30-37.
There you have it, the BASIS of Justification. May I add that you cannot leave out one of these and be Justified. (1Cor. 15:1-4, Ro. 10:9-10)
THE BLESSINGS OF JUSTFICATION. (Acts 13:38). Forgiveness of sins. “In who we have Redemption through His Blood, the forgiveness of sins according to the riches of His Grace. (Eph 1:7). “Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven.” (Ro. 4:7). FORGIVEN, what a beautiful word.
THE BENEFITS OF JUSTIFICATION. “Justified from ALL things.” The Law could not justify us. Paul states in Ro. 3:20, “Therefore by the deeds of the Law shall no flesh be justified in His sight, for by the Law is the knowledge of sin.” The Law could only show our condition but it could do nothing about our condition . The Law was our schoolmaster to bring us to Christ that we might be justified by faith. (Gal 3:24). The Beauty of Justification.
THE BOUNDS OF JUSTIFICATION. Acts 13:39 says, “All that believe.” There are not bounds, no limits, no barriers in Justification. We are not partly justified, but JUSTIFIED! It matters not what a life may have been. It matters not about race, or gender, age or creed. The rich man, the poor man, the beggar, the Doctor, the Judge, the moral, the immoral and all in between. “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. There are no bounds or boundaries. The invitation includes you.
THE BITTERNESS OF JUDGMENT. In the midst of this great text Paul reminds the Jews of an awful history.“I work a work.” (41) refers to the Book of Habakkuk, 1:5-6). God told the prophet that He is working a work. In that, He said that the Chaldeans will come down upon Israel and utterly destroy the land. The people did not repent so God raised up that army. The land was leveled by the invading forces of Nebuchadnezzar. People are still talking about that work of God these centuries later. In our text in Acts 13, God says to the nation again, “Beware.” (v40).”Turn to God. . Believe the message about the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.” Of course, the nation did not turn to Christ. The Roman General Titus came and leveled the city again. This is part of that “Work of God.”
THE BEAUTY OF JUSTIFICATION. Our text in Acts 13 tells of the gentiles turning to God. V47 says that “Salvation is unto the ends of the earth.” The Great Commission is to take the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the uttermost part of the earth. Take it to the islands of the sea. Take it to the jungles, to the cities, to the great and small. Take it to the heathen lands where people are living in ignorance and idolatry. And wherever you take this Gospel, whoever will believe the message of Jesus Christ are Justified from all things, from all sin. Oh the BEAUTY OF JUSTIFICATION!
How about you my dear friend. Have you turned to Christ in faith, believing all about His finished work on the cross for you? If this is true, I rejoice in that fact. If this is not true in your life, this could be the greatest day of your life. If you are troubled, or confused about the Gospel. Trust the Holy Spirit to end your trouble and confusion now. Open your heart to Christ. Tell Him that you receive Him, NOW! He is there, where you are. You may ask, “How do I receive Him?” The Bible says, “Ask, and ye shall receive.” Do that now, and begin TODAY to live FOREVER. That’s the BEAUTY OF JUSTIFICATION!
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You can spell Justification like this….
“JUST-IF-I’D”never sinned….Oh the beauty of it all!!
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TEEN TALKS THAT MATTER
By Ashley Stevens
MORE OF YOU JESUS, LESS OF ME
It is common to get wrapped up in our busy lives. We tend to get selfish and the only person we think about is ourselves. The first step to overcoming selfishness is to admit it and to be honest with yourself about it. This can often be the hardest step of them all. It is not very easy for us to look at ourselves in the mirror and honestly recognize we are selfish. The importance of admitting we are selfish is to take all of that weight off and throw it away. This will bring great relief.
The next step to overcoming selfishness is at the end of the day examine yourself to see if you were selfish towards the people around you. You need to take the time to examine your thoughts, words, attitude, and actions. Start by being honest with yourself and stay away from blaming others and making excuses.
Lastly, walk in love. Make First Corinthians 13:4-8 a daily reminder. Memorize it until it becomes big in your life and every time you tend to become selfish, make it the first thing that pops into your mind. Remember, love kills selfishness.
Remember the saying, “More of you Jesus, less of me.” Let the light of God shine within you, and allow God to take your hand and help you not to focus so much on yourself, but more of Him, the One who laid down His life for you.
Until next time, Ashley Stevens
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THY WORD IS SETTLED! (KJB)
As I was stopped at a traffic light I saw a small drinking cup in the intersection. Traffic would pass by in one direction and the wind from vehicles would cause the cup to spin in one direction. The light would change and the cup would spin in another direction. There it was..just spinning. I said, that is the way of so many today. Just spinning with whatever wind of doctrine that blows. “Lord, help me not to just spin with the wind but to be settled in Thy Word.”
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WHAT SALVATION IS NOT
Pastor George Mills
If you are not genuinely saved today I trust that you will take a few moments and read this message. If you are saved, perhaps you may see some things that will help you to reach someone for Christ. Recently I was listening to a radio preacher who was making light of “Just receiving Jesus.” He evidently thinks that there is more, or something else, or some work we must do.. The preacher went on to say that “Salvation is a process.” By that I suppose that he believes that there are several “steps” in receiving Salvation. The question is, did Jesus suffer all of the pain of Calvary, did He take upon Himself the sin of every man, did He suffer so, and then make salvation so complicated that you cannot understand it? NO! Let me say that Jesus Christ paid for ALL SIN in His Finished work of Redemption.. As I said, the Work is finished. All that we can do is receive it, or reject it. There is nothing we can add to that or take away from. Follow me closely as I share with you WHAT SALVATION IS NOT.
SALVATION IS NOT REMORSE. Remorse; “a deep sense of guilt.” I believe that when we receive Christ we will have that deep sense of guilt in realizing that our sin placed Him on the cross. But we are not saved by a deep sense of guilt. Some insist that we must continually be remorseful. Not so! Salvation sets us free, at liberty , free, in Christ.
SALVATION IS NOT IN REGRET. Regret; “to feel sorry about, or, to mourn.” Since the moment I received Christ I have regretted the life I lived before I was saved. I have regretted every ungodly deed and every wasted day. But I cannot spend my time there in “regretsville.” Let me move on to “forgetsville.”
SALVATION IS NOT IN REFORM. Reform; “to make better by removing faults.” Stopping things, quitting things, changing things, doing better, giving more. When we receive Christ we will stop some things, and start some things, and change some things, and rearrange some things. We will “turn over a new leaf” and quit and turn and turn and quit. These things have their place in our growth as a Christian but they do not add a single thing to Salvation.
SALVATION IS NOT IN REFRAINING. Refraining; “to keep oneself from doing.”If you vow never to do that again, if you stop, determined never to do that again. If you say that I will never, never, never do that again. If you have REMORSE, or REGRET. If you REFRAIN or if you REFORM, no matter how good your intentions may be, these will never save you. All of these things mentioned, (and so many more) are HUMAN EFFORT, and HUMAN EFFORT never saved anybody.
SALVATION IS RECEIVING CHRIST! The greatest text in the Bible is in the third chapter of John’s Gospel. Jesus said to a good, moral, religious, teacher of the Law, “Ye must be born again.” That;’s it, “BORN AGAIN!” How then are we born again? “Is it not in doing these things?”NO! Now, get this verse, “But as many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His Name.” (Jn. 1:12). “How do I receive Him?” Again, the Bible is very clear, “Ask, and ye shall receive.” Christ is wherever you are. His Holy Spirit is there, bidding entrance to your heart and life. He will never knock down the barriers in your life and come in unbidden by you. He will hear the cry of the repentant heart.
Remember, you cannot be remorseful enough, regretful enough, reformful enough, or refrainful enough. Now, That’s a little bit of what Salvation is and is not. Have you got it? Then enjoy it, share it, rejoice in it.
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“A real Christian is an odd number anyway. He feels supreme love for one he has never seen, talks everyday to someone he cannot see, expects to go to Heaven on the virtue of someone else, empties himself in order to be full, goes down in order to get up, is strongest when he is weakest, he is richest when he is poorest,he dies so he can live, forsakes in order to have, sees the invisible, hears the inaudible.” …A.W. Tozier
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BECAUSE HE LIVES
By Pastor George Mills
“.. Because I live, ye shall live also.”
(John 14:19)
On His Cross He sealed my pardon,
He died to set the sinner free,
For He purchased my Salvation,
Shed His blood for even me.
In the tomb He sweetly rested,
Satan’s host had sealed the door,
Satan’s victory was established,
Christ was dead for evermore.
On a lovely Sunday morning,
Just about the break of day,
Satan’s hopes were doomed forever,
For the stone was rolled away.
Now He lives on high in Heaven,
Now He lives within my heart,
Now He is alive forever,
For His Salvation to impart.
Precious Saviour we are longing,
For that day is sure to come,
When the Church will be completed,
And we’re safely gathered home.
Every Word will come to fulfillment,
We will see the One who forgives,
There to live with Christ forever,
All is well, BECAUSE HE LIVES!