While the screaming and antics continue with one side of the political narrative that is flat out yelling that the “dangerous ‘religious’ terrorists” are trying to do X Y & Z to everyone … I want you to pause yourselves.
Let’s step back and calm ourselves. And really try to understand what God really wants from His children.
What is the ONLY sin that is unforgivable?
“Truly, I say to you, all sins will be forgiven the children of man, and whatever blasphemies they utter, but whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness, but is guilty of an eternal sin” Mark 3:28-29 ESV
Basically as I understand it … this act of blasphemy against the Holy Spirit is from someone attributes the Holy Spirit’s power to satan. What’s the context here? Jesus was casting out demons, and some of the religious leaders were saying Jesus was able to do that because of the power of satan knowing full well that it was the power of God / Holy Spirit.
So what else can be found that talks about the unforgivable sins in the scriptures?
Nothing.
This IS the grace of God here. This is how wide the blood of Jesus was shed for us. This IS His love for us.
Abortion? Forgivable.
Murder? Forgivable
Blasphemy against the Father or Son (Jesus Christ)? Forgivable.
Unspeakable evil acts done by humans to other humans? Forgivable.
But wait….
Here’s the catch: you must genuinely ask for forgiveness from God in your … heart … to receive His forgiveness.
Forgiveness isn’t automatically applied to the unrepentant.
“This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.”
1 John 1:5-10 ESV
Confession, repentance, forgiveness.
Confession = spoken before God with our ‘voice’ from our heart of the things we did wrong. (Denial to that inner Voice of the Holy Spirit is your major enemy here.)
Repentance = doing a 180 degree turn from what you’re doing.
Forgiveness = receiving His forgiveness / letting go of all of it.
Anyone who actually has genuinely gone through this process … truly understands they have no right to sit in His Throne of judgment… towards others.
I certainly don’t want that seat. I definitely don’t have enough wisdom to judge correctly over another human’s life. Only God has that type of understanding and knowledge.
So all these hateful statements being thrown at people who love God, are just that … hateful statements. Jesus kind of promised that to His own.
“Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”
Matthew 5:10-12 ESV
And how did Jesus respond to those who did ugly extremely painful acts against Him?
“And Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” And they cast lots to divide his garments.”
Luke 23:34 ESV
This was said as He was spiked through His hands and feet to a wooden cross struggling for every excruciatingly painful… breath … while He was dying.
How far have we suffered and been persecuted by other’s ugly words and evil actions towards us?
Let’s remember the advice Jesus gave to us about looking at another’s ‘sin’.
“Judge not, that you be not judged. For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you. Why do you see the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when there is the log in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye.”
Matthew 7:1-5 ESV
Let’s always first genuinely and humbly go to the Holy Spirit and ask if there is anything we need to repent of … before trying to deal with anyone else’s issues.
Brothers and sisters. Let’s continue to press in with the Holy Spirit and work on those issues that hinder the growth of His fruit within us.
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.”
Galatians 5:22-26 ESV
Let’s respond out of His direction and instructions to us … rather than out of our own natural reactions.
As the evil ramps up around us … we’ll have more and more opportunities to display His fruit in us.
selah