We Must Humble Ourselves

    The unpardonable sin has been a concept that has caused a great
deal of pain and misery throughout the ages of the church and even
today so many are plagued by whether or not they have committed the
"biggie".  This verse is found in Mark 3:29 and reads, "but he who
blasphemes against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness, but is
subject to eternal condemnation."

    I have heard a number of preachers tell those who are concerned
about if they have committed this sin, that "if you are troubled about
having committed this sin, then you have not committed it."  I am
sorry, but to me, this is a spiritual cop-out.  It is to completely
leave God out of the decision and try's to convince that person merely
by human logic.  To use reasoning rather than the word of God.

    Rather than making their mistake, lets see what the word of God,
the Bible has to say.  Hebrews 6:4-6 says, "For it is impossible for
those who were once enlightened, and have tasted the heavenly gift,
and have become partakers of the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the
heavenly gift, and have become partakers of the Holy Spirit, and have
tasted the powers of the age to come, if they fall away, to renew them
again to repentance, since they crucify again for themselves the Son
of God, and put Him to open shame."

    This passage obviously refers to those who are genuine believers
as they are "partakers" of the Holy Spirit.  They have been born again
and have known the fellowship of God through Jesus Christ, but have
for some reason or another, rejected that fellowship to return to
their old life of sin and shame.  They have not merely backslid a
little, but have made a complete turn-around.  They have not
considered fellowship with the Holy Spirit of the living God worth
anything and have then treated Him as something unclean.  They have
committed that same sin that the scribes did when back in Mark, when
they said that Jesus had an unclean spirit.
 
    For an example, Acts 5:1-11 gives the story of Ananias and his
wife Sapphira who in giving their offerings to the Lord, sinned by
claiming to have given it all but held some back.  Peter said to them,
".... Why have you conceived this thing in your heart?  You have not
lied to men but to God."  It was then that they fell dead.  No time
for repentance.

    Then in Hebrews 12:15-16, "looking diligently lest anyone fall
short of the grace of God;.... lest there be any fornicator or profane
or godless person like Esau, who for one morsel of food sold his
birthright.  For you know that afterward, when he wanted to inherit
the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no place for repentance.

    Hebrews 10:26-39 explains this walk of faith by saying that "For
is we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth,
there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a certain fearful
expectation of judgment, and fiery indignation which will devour the
adversaries."

    What then should we do?  The obvious answer is that we should
humble ourselves and fall down in prayer before a merciful God to see
if there is to be forgiveness for us.  That is what King David did
after committing adultery with Bathsheba and then murdering her
husband.  He found forgiveness and was known as a "man after God's own
heart."

Frank Cooke