Therefore I tell you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven people,
but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven.
Matthew 12:31
As a young Christian, I feared I might have committed the unforgivable sin. But my dear pastor, our own Sharon’s father-in-law, said:
“Dee if you are worried about it you don’t need to be worried about it.”
In the same way, at the close of his marvelous sermon, Keller says essentially the same:
“If you are anxious about it, celebrate your anxiety.”
When we discussed this hard saying at my church, one woman said she’d always thought the unforgivable sin was suicide. How important it is that we understand this hard saying and be able to articulate it to others.
When the gospel penny dropped for Luther, he also understood that the stand the Catholic church then took against suicide (that it was damning, so the person could not be buried in the churchyard) was wrong. Watch the following and listen to Luther’s words to the congregation. (The captions should appear.) I’m eager for your thoughts.
I think all of Keller’s sermon is excellent, but the best is his last point, so please don’t miss it. For this reason, I’m spending 3 days on his last point. He makes the point that repeatedly in Scripture, and in the context of this “hard saying” that it is religious people who are in the most danger of the unforgivable sin. You’ll find out why. I really want everyone to see this — so please be sure to do Wed through Fri. even if you can’t do anything else.
Here is the link to the sermon — you can either stream it or download it. I recommend downloading as it is easier to stop and start. You’ll need to listen carefully and take notes.
https://gospelinlife.com/downloads/the-sin-against-the-holy-spirit-5191/
Part I. The Problem of Forgiveness (From the beginning up to 16:38)
Part II. The Power of Repentance (From 16:38 to 31:30)
Part III. The Danger of Goodness (From 31:30 to the end)
God Hunt Sunday
1.How have you seen God at work in your life this week?
2. What stood out to you from Luther’s words to his congregation? Agree or disagree?
Monday: The Problem of Forgiveness
3. Read Matthew 12:31-32. What is the promise and what is the warning? At this early juncture, what do you think this means?
4. Listen to the sermon up to 16:38 and answer
A. Anything spoken or done against Jesus can be forgiven! How is that evidenced in Scripture?
B. How is Jesus different from earthly Kings when it comes to taking offense? (Think of Esther and Xerxes)
C. Keller explains the nuanced truth of verse 30, for the reverse is spoken in Mark 9 when he says, “Whoever is not against me is with me.” What does Keller say Jesus means?
D. He gives the example of someone being attacked, his attacker is caught, but in the hospital he tells the police, “Never mind — I forgive him.” But the police say, “But it’s bigger than that — we can’t let someone who does this go free.” Keller says that is true cosmically as well. What does that mean and therefore what must be done?
E. What else stood out to you from this Part and why?
Tuesday: The Power of Repentance
5. Listen to Part 2 of the sermon from 16:38 to 31:30 and answer:
A. Keller said any external sin can be forgiven, but the internal sin of refusing the Holy Spirit when He wants to lead you to repentance cannot be forgiven. Do you agree or not and why?
B. What are some of the huge sins of saints in Scripture that God forgave? What did they have in common?
C. Keller says that our power of denial is so strong that we must have the Holy Spirit to lead us to repentance. Agree or disagree?
D. True repentance is a gift, for it isn’t natural, but supernatural. What did Keller say could make a difference when you are arguing in a marriage? Have you experienced this from your spouse? Have you done this?
E. What else stood out to you and why?
Wednesday: The Danger of Goodness
6. Listen to the rest of the sermon and answer
A. “What is the danger for religious people and why?”
B. What else stood out and why?
7. During our discussion on this in church, one man said he thought there was some justification for saying suicide was unforgivable. Many of us responded with shock. Then he clarified that as a counselor he didn’t feel he should assure his suicidal clients that they would be forgiven for taking their life. I have pondered that — I’m not a counselor, but it seems in my thinking that understanding grace is vital, especially for the severely depressed. Thoughts?
Thursday: The Pattern in Scripture of Gospel vs Religion
8. What were some of the examples of “pairs” in Scripture that God uses to contrast the proud religious person who will not respond to the Holy Spirit and the humble repentant person who does respond to the Holy Spirit?
9. When you look at the context of this hard saying in Matthew 12:22-29 you see religious people refusing to repent to the Holy Spirit’s truth — that Jesus is God. What do they say instead? And how does Jesus show the irrationality of their argument?
10. How do you see in Matthew 7:22-23 (and really all over the Sermon on the Mount) that there are those who are trusting in their good works but have never repented and are not forgiven?
10. Keller contrasts the two sons of the father from the parable in Luke 15.
A. How do you see the younger son responding to the conviction of the Holy Spirit and repenting in Luke 15: 18-19?
B. How do you see the older son refusing to repent and the father entreating him?
Friday: How This Sheds Light On Other Hard Scriptures!
For me, this was the most illuminating part, for I have always struggled with both of the following passages, but now I see what is happening. I’d like you to share your thoughts before you look at mine at the bottom if you can control yourself! 🙂 You may disagree with me, for indeed, these are hard passages. (I’m going to put my interpretation at the very end of Saturday.
11. How do you interpret Hebrews 6:4-6?
12. How do you interpret 1 John 5:16-17?
Saturday:
13. What is your take-a-way and why?
I think Hebrews 6:4-6 is talking about the religious person who is in church and has tasted the goodness of God, but has never seen the need to truly repent, but has hardened his heart against the Spirit’s conviction. He leaves the fellowship because “it didn’t work for him” but he never really knew Him for he never really repented and received forgiveness.
There are so many different interpretations of 1 John 5, and the one that previously made the most sense was wanting someone saved apart from Christ — it did no good to pray for that. I realize that was on the right track, but seeing how this is a resistance to the Holy Spirit in leading you to repentance and faith makes more sense. And now I think, but I could be wrong, that the “unto death” means they resist unto death. For after death, it is too late to pray for them, even though many do pray for the dead. Would love your thoughts!
154 comments
Friday: How This Sheds Light On Other Hard Scriptures!
For me, this was the most illuminating part, for I have always struggled with both of the following passages, but now I see what is happening. I’d like you to share your thoughts before you look at mine at the bottom if you can control yourself! 🙂 You may disagree with me, for indeed, these are hard passages. (I’m going to put my interpretation at the very end of Saturday.
11. How do you interpret Hebrews 6:4-6?
—In considering this passage I decided I needed to do what I would normally do and that is go back and see what one if my favorite commentators Warren Wiersbe had to say. Doing that helped me do what is needful in study and that is to consider not just verses 4 to 6 but to look at them in their context. He said Hebrews is being written to believers and that the issue is repentance of sin not one of salvation. He said if it were talking about salvation then that would mean salvation depends partly on our own good works and once we lost it we couldn’t get it back again. But he says the subject of the chapter is repentance—the believer’s attitude toward the Word of God.
Wiersbe says the writer of Hebrews closes this section in verses 9 to 20 with as solid a passage as there is on eternal security.
An important part of this is the meaning of key words in verse 6. The meaning of “fall away “ he pointed out it is not the Greek word apostasia where we get the English word apostasy but it is parapito which means “to fall beside, to turn aside , to wander”. It is similar to the word trespass as found in Galatians 6:1 (“if a man be overtaken in a fault [trespass]”). Weirsbe says so Hebrews 6:4 describes believers who have experienced the the spiritual blessings of God but who fall by the side or trespass because of unbelief. In doing so they are in danger of divine chastening. And he lists later verses in Hebrews 12: 5-13 there will be loss of reward and divine disapproval, but not loss of salvation.
Several years ago I had considered what the verse Galatians 5:4 on being fallen away from grace meant and had come to the conclusion then it was an issue not of losing one’s salvation. It is usually an issue of unbelief of some type and choosing to go one’s own way which results in stepping out outside of Gods grace where we live in bondage to our sin rather than in the freedom his grace affords us. Our fellowship with our God and Savior gets broken when we choose to live in sin although his grace never goes away we just don’t get to experience it by our own choices.
I am reminded by this teaching from Keller of the all important act of repentance for Salvation and by Wiersbe of the importance of continuing repentance for believers in our walk with Christ.
I am comforted in the thought that
God never changes toward me.
No matter what.
12. How do you interpret 1 John 5:16-17?
—John starts this section of scripture by giving us a strong verse on assurance of salvation. “I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life.” And then encourages us to have confidence in praying. And in praying if we see a brother (or sister) committing sin we are to ask God or pray for them. Our desire in prayer is for them to show true repentance and confession because we know God is quick to forgive and cleanse. There is no unpardonable sin but he states there is sin that leads to death. Frankly I’m not sure exactly what to think and what it is when he refers to sin that leads to death. It obviously is some deliberate sin that is going against God and his Word. So in not having clarity I hesitate to even speculate on that. At this point I feel compelled to continue to pray for those believers I know at this point who are living their sin out loud.
Bev — that explanation from Wiersbe on Hebrews 6 is one I’ve never heard (and I’ve heard many!) but is plausible. Just shows how very challenging that passage is and why we must interpret unclear passages in light of clear passages! Thank you!
Dee,
As I read the comments on Tim Keller’s sermon here and especially those about the last portion of the message, I am reminded of some of your words from the Feb. 6, 2015 blog where you shared my story of loss. So pertinent to our discussion here this week.
I just went back and found these two nuggets:
Tim Keller explains that because religion assumes we earn God’s favor, that when we suffer we are either angry at God (because we’ve been good and He hasn’t kept His part of the bargain) or at ourselves (because we haven’t been good enough so we think He is punishing us.) That is what Job’s friends assumed and brought greater pain to Job.
RELIGION GOSPEL
When circumstances in my life go wrong, I am angry When circumstances in my life go wrong,
at God or myself since I believe anyone who is good I struggle, but I know all my punishment
deserves a comfortable life. fell on Jesus and while God may allow this
for my training, He will exercise His
Fatherly love within my trial.
Yes — so interesting!
Dee, oh boy! This was kind of hard. So it was very timely that my friend, Madison, and I are in Lesson 6 of your book on Ruth. You had us do a practice called “structuring” on a verse to discover more light on it. So I did the same with the passage here but included verses 1-8.
So I am taking a stab at an interpretation: It seems like the writer of Hebrews is saying that if we are truly in Christ, we should not be going back to elementary teachings and we should be growing maturely. We are not to feed ourselves with spiritual milk anymore. That is if we are truly in Christ.
One can have the knowledge of God, and experience His goodness (he makes the rains fall on the just and the unjust from Matthew 5:45) but fall away. Like they have not been true believers after all! Jesus’ death was a ransom once and for all, for sins, past, present, and future. And once we confess, God promises to be just and forgive us all our sins and cleanse us. We disqualify the truth of God’s Word if we do not heed the Spirit’s conviction of our need for accepting Jesus as Lord and Savior.
And the fruit that comes from our lives is like the “land that drinks in the rain falling on it and that produces a crop…” vs. 7 and Matthew 7:66, 20
12. How do you interpret 1 John 5:16-17?
If any man sees his brother sin a sin
which is not unto death,
he shall ask,
and he shall give him life for them
that sin not unto death.
There is a sin unto death:
I do not say that he shall pray for it.
All unrighteousness is sin:
and there is a sin not unto death.
We can pray for any external (all unrighteousness) sins that God makes us aware of in another person. But we cannot do anything if another person refuses to believe what the Holy Spirit reveals about Jesus as Savior (sin unto death).
Beautifully done, Bing!
9. When you look at the context of this hard saying in Matthew 12:22-29 you see religious people refusing to repent to the Holy Spirit’s truth — that Jesus is God. What do they say instead? And how does Jesus show the irrationality of their argument?
They think Jesus is from the devil. They say He gets His power to cast out demons from the devil.
Jesus says that if He were from the devil then He would be casting out evil spirits, being an evil spirit! It didn’t make sense. It would be a “kingdom” divided that would not survive. He also points out that the religious ones also have exorcists…
10. How do you see in Matthew 7:22-23 (and really all over the Sermon on the Mount) that there are those who are trusting in their good works but have never repented and are not forgiven?
They didn’t admit that they needed anything from Him. He wants us to need Him.
10. Keller contrasts the two sons of the father from the parable in Luke 15.
A. How do you see the younger son responding to the conviction of the Holy Spirit and repenting in Luke 15: 18-19?
He is repenting of his actions to his father.
B. How do you see the older son refusing to repent and the father entreating him?
He only was concerned that he had worked so hard and was not recognized for that. He complained, did not feel that he should repent.
Saturday:
13. What is your take-a-way and why?
Because these are hard sayings and not clear cut they leave us to ponder and consider them from several angles. I have taken a little different view point but I am not hard and fast and could concur with you Dee in light of this week’s study it is possible the teaching from Hebrews is about the religious person but I lean toward Weirsbe’s interpretation.
But with the 1 John verses I am just not sure because of the term sin unto death. I think what you suggest makes sense.
I think most importantly that the principles being taught from these passages of scripture are clear in the importance of and need for repentance. I think we have had an “ easy believeism” in the American evangelical church and I feel sadly many young people have been influenced to assent to an easy gospel. One that has to do with feelings teaching that God is a loving God and waters down the Cross and the fact of sin. I fear many young people quickly set aside believing in God when life gets hard and their feelings make them think God has failed and it leads them to serve themselves without understanding what salvation really entails.
My takeaway is that we can have true assurance of our salvation based on God’s Word and we need to have a clear understanding of what repentance is. It is a requirement for salvation and we need to keep implementing it in our lives personally.
I agree with you on the easy believism. One of the things I love about the letter of 1 John is he shows us how the fruit in our life can give us confidence that we are in Him.
11. How do you interpret Hebrews 6:4-6?
This one goes back to the scripture where Jesus says that you can’t have two masters….you can’t have it both ways. You’re even in or you are out!
12. How do you interpret 1 John 5:16-17?
Because we are believers, it is not our intention to sin, however in this Babylon, in which we live, it may happen. We are aware that the devil prowls and we keep our eye out for him to strike.
Recently, we have added a morning wake up prayer to our day. I have told the kids that when they open their eyes they need to say, “Thank You God for this great day, thank You for our friends, food, and family. Amen.” This was their classroom prayer before meals and snacks, so they already know it. I have them add, to ask Jesus to “push away the devil today.” I really believe they have remembered this in the past few days before they have been “naughty.” This week was tough because I had to work and relied on their father to watch them often. He is not so good at managing them (I have sitters coming occasionally too) because he isn’t used to doing it. I do think this prayer helped them remember!
Great prayer!
Thursday
11. How do you interpret Hebrews 6:4-6?
I’m going to make this simple and I include verse 7 & 8 in how I interpret this…
“For soil that drinks the rain which often falls on it and produces crops useful to those for whose benefit it is cultivated, receives a blessing from God;”
“but if it persistently produces thorns and thistles, it is worthless and close to being cursed, and it ends up being burned.”
Hebrews 6:8 AMP
I believe genuine salvation will produce fruit. We cannot judge the heart. These verses remind me of the “good soil” parable.
Excellent!
Saturday:
13. What is your take-a-way and why?
No work can gain me a place in the family of God. Only through repentance and acceptance of Jesus’ sacrifice can I have that. When saved, I am always saved. Yet it is with sober awareness that I have a tendency of going back to works righteousness. I need to depend on the Holy Spirit for daily guidance and power over sin.
Religion is not the gospel. Any fruit of a Christian, like good works, is a result of gratitude to God who saved us through Jesus Christ. It is also a result of the Spirit’s inspiration and enabling us to be Christ-like.
Well said, Bing!
Religion is not the gospel. Any fruit of a Christian, like good works, is a result of gratitude to God who saved us through Jesus Christ. It is also a result of the Spirit’s inspiration and enabling us to be Christ-like.
Amen! Good works should not be a “badge of honor” for us, but a way to honor Christ and all that He has done !
Thank-you for this Ernema!
11. How do you interpret Hebrews 6:4-6? Those who have “been enlightened and have tasted of the heavenly gift and have been made partakers of the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come” have experienced all of the outward aspects of a Christian life, but have never been truly repentant. If, after all of that they denounce the faith, they won’t ever come back.
12. How do you interpret 1 John 5:16-17? All unrighteousness is sin, but for the repentant believer their sins are covered by Jesus’ sacrifice and they will have eternal life even though they sin (for we can never in our earthly lives be 100% sin free, even to think that we are is the sin of pride) so you can pray for their sins to be forgiven. But there is no point in praying for forgiveness for those who reject the Holy Spirit (the sin that leads to death), they first have to repent, have a changed heart internally, it is something only they can do through the Holy Spirit.
I agree Dawn — what do you think the unto death means? I explain my thought — but would love yours!
4. Listen to the sermon up to 16:38 and answer
A. Anything spoken or done against Jesus can be forgiven! How is that evidenced in Scripture?
Jesus’ own words in Matthew 12:31, “Every sin or blasphemy can be forgiven.” Keller cited some examples in Scripture, like David, who had a man murdered so that he could get his wife.
B. How is Jesus different from earthly kings when it comes to taking offense?
When Esther approached King Xerxes, without first being summoned to appear before him, she was risking her life, because doing so was a capital offense punishable by death. Ancient kings were treated with the utmost care and respect, because even speaking a word against them could result in imprisonment or death. Jesus, however, never said these words when spoken against: “How dare you speak to me like that?”
C. Keller explains the nuanced truth of verse 30, for the reverse is spoken in Mark 9 when he says, “Whoever is not against me is with me.” What does Keller say Jesus means?
Keller said that Jesus is saying, “There is no neutrality with me. You’re either with me, or against me.”
D. He gives the example of someone being attacked, his attacker is caught, but in the hospital he tells the police, “Never mind – I forgive him.” But the police say, “But it’s bigger than that – we can’t let someone who does this go free.” Keller says that is true cosmically as well. What does that mean and therefore what must be done?
Keller used Martin Lloyd Jones’ words, explaining that forgiveness is even a problem for God. Forgiveness is the greatest difficulty in the universe, the greatest problem. It’s not about a particular sin being unforgiveable. You must understand the enormity of the problem of sin and forgiveness, or you will be unchanged by Jesus and what He has done for you.
5. Listen to Part 2 of the sermon from 16:38 to 31:30 and answer:
A. Keller said any external sin can be forgiven, but the internal sin of refusing the Holy Spirit when He wants to lead you to repentance cannot be forgiven. Do you agree or not and why?
I agree with how Keller explained the style of Jesus’ teaching, to put things in a contradictory way to get us to think. One commentator said that it’s really not a contradiction, though, if you read the first part as externally, and the second part as internally. External reality versus internal reality. Every external action (there is no particular sin, word, or deed) that in itself, is unpardonable. This agrees with the entire Bible. “Pardon my sin, because it is great”, said David.
However, if you resist the work of the Spirit to lead you to repentance, no sin is forgivable.
B. What are some of the huge sins of saints in Scripture that God forgave? What did they have in common?
David and Paul. They both turned to God in repentance and faith.
C. Keller says our power of denial is so strong that we must have the Holy Spirit to lead us to repentance. Agree or disagree?
Our default reaction to being confronted with our wrong is denial, blame-shifting, self-justification, or excuses. AA knows this well. It is the job of the Spirit to help you to say, “I was wrong”, without being hopeless or blame-shifting. I do agree with this. Only the Spirit can open our eyes to see our sin; I know for myself, I can be so blind to my own sin, while so easily seeing it another. There is a remedy for everything if you repent!
D. True repentance is a gift, for it isn’t natural, but supernatural. What did Keller say could make a difference when you are arguing in a marriage? Have you experienced this from your spouse? Have you done this?
If you are in a marital argument, and you’re thinking that it’s 90% his fault, and only 10% my fault, be willing to take my 10%, without hopelessness, without anger, without blame-shifting – take full responsibility for my 10%, and see how it resolves. I have done this, not only in marriage, but when confessing other sins to God, because I know that even if I think I am only 0.1% at fault, I still am accountable for it, and likely, it’s more my fault than I am even aware of, because my heart can be deceitful.
E. What else stood out to you and why?
Keller said that even if an atheist wants to explore the Bible to see if it’s true, take the time to ask for God’s help, and when you get that help, don’t resist it. Don’t treat God like a salesman. If He is “knocking on the door”, don’t say you’ll answer when you feel like it. Get up and go! Because if you don’t, you won’t find Him. If you feel yourself being attracted to God or needing God, listen to it. I’ve always felt this way, that we can’t ever come to know God on our own, without Him first reaching out to us. Without Him, we wouldn’t ever have the desire to get to know Him.
6. Listen to the rest of the sermon and answer:
A. What is the danger for religious people and why?
The only people Jesus ever warned about this blasphemy against the Spirit were religious people. Mark 3, Luke 12, Matthew 12, Jesus is talking to religious, moral, “good” people. Keller also referenced Hebrews 6, “…if they fall away, it is impossible for them to be renewed to repentance.” Jesus says something similar in Matthew 7, when He says that many will say to Him, did we not prophesy, do miracles….and He will say, I never knew you. Who does Jesus especially warn religious people? Jesus often encounters “pairs of people” – a religious person and a non-religious person, and He calls them both to come in. It is most likely the religious person who misses out.
The religious viewpoint is often, we will be really good and moral, and then God will reward us and put the good guys back on top and punish the pagans.
Jesus redefined the Kingdom of God by coming in weakness and service, and by saying that it wasn’t the Romans who were the real problem for the Jewish people, but it was the sin and evil in their own hearts. It’s the humble people who are in and the proud who are out. Religion is the opposite of the gospel: I give God a good life and then God rewards me. The gospel is: God, through Jesus, gives me a perfect record and then I am accepted. It’s inside-out.
B. What else stood out and why?
Whenever I find myself saying, “Didn’t I do great deeds in Your name?” my thinking is wrong! God’s grace is never about me. Keller’s description of being a Pharisee inside the church was pretty frightening. People can be so self-deceived. I can be deceived, too. The Elder son never left home, but he was spiritually gone, but he couldn’t see it. The Father going out to plead with his eldest son is Jesus pleading with the Pharisees. My anxiety that I’m missing Him is a good sign that He’s working in me.
7. Thoughts about the suicide issue? Well, I’m not a counselor. That would be a tricky situation. I do not believe that suicide is an unforgiveable sin; if God can forgive a person for murdering another person, then God can forgive self-murder. It’s the person’s family and friends who really need the assurances. A few weeks ago, a classmate who graduated high school with my daughter took his own life. The family is, of course, devastated. Their mom was killed tragically about a year and a half ago, and this young man was unable to overcome his grief.
You always have such thoughtful answers Susan — and I need to watch for you at the end of the week or I miss them. So sad about that family.
8. What were some of the examples of “pairs” in Scripture that God uses to contrast the proud religious person who will not respond to the Holy Spirit and the humble repentant person who does respond to the Holy Spirit?
Simon the Pharisee and the “sexual outcast” woman in Luke 7; Nicodemus and the Samaritan woman; Zacchaeus and the respectable people; the younger brother and the elder son in the Parable of the Prodigal Sons.
9. When you look at the context of this hard saying in Matthew 12:22-29, you see religious people refusing to repent to the Holy Spirit’s truth – that Jesus is God. What do they say instead? And how does Jesus show the irrationality of their argument?
Unlike some in the crowd who wondered out loud if Jesus was the Son of David, the Messiah, the Pharisees dismissed Jesus’ miracle by saying that He could cast out demons because He gets his power from the prince of demons. Jesus shows how irrational this is by saying that any kingdom that is against itself is doomed. In other words, why would Satan want to enable Jesus to cast out his minions? If Satan is casting out Satan, he would be fighting against himself.
10. Keller contrasts the two sons of the father from the parable in Luke 15.
A. How do you see the younger son responding to the conviction of the Holy Spirit and repenting in Luke 15:18-19?
The son begins by saying to himself, “I will go home to my father and say…” I would say that he responded to the inner prompting of the Spirit to return to his father and admit that he sinned.
B. How do you see the older son refusing to repent and the father entreating him?
The older son was angry when he learned his brother had returned and dad had thrown a party to celebrate. He refused to go in to the party. The father came outside and entreated him to come in. The father seems very hurt and shocked at his son’s reaction and accusations of not ever being given anything. It is best shown visually in Rembrandt’s painting, in which there is such a contrast between the father and the elder son’s appearance. The father’s cloak wings out like a welcoming, warm mother bird, enfolding his younger son in an embrace, with his hands on his shoulders. The elder son’s cloak hangs downward and is closed, and his hands are clasped together, and there is no warmth in his facial expression.
11. How do you interpret Hebrews 6:4-6?
The NLT says, “For it is impossible to restore to repentance those who were once enlightened – those who have experienced the good things of heaven and shared in the Holy Spirit, who have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the power of the age to come – and who then turn away from God.”
I see the words enlightened, experienced, shared, tasted, turn away. It reminds me of maybe someone coming to a group that they are interested in (could be within Christianity or not) and meeting the members, attending some of the meetings or activities, enjoying it for the most part, being welcomed by the members, but then deciding not to fully commit and become a full member, and never returning. No amount of phone calls or entreating the person to come back works.
But this is also hard for me to understand, because would those described in this passage never have been true believers? To say that it is impossible to bring such people to repentance implies that they never belonged to God in the first place, because Jesus said that for those who belong to Him, no one can ever snatch them out of His hand. They cannot fall away, cannot be lost. I don’t think this is a believer, then, turning away from God. From there, one could also bring in the doctrine of predestination, which further complicates it. They are not called in the first place.
12. How do you interpret 1 John 5:16-17?
This passage talks about seeing a Christian brother or sister sinning in a way that does not lead to death, and the possibility of restoration for that person. On the other hand, there is a sin that leads to death. Might that be the sin of unbelief? The internal sin of resisting the Holy Spirit wanting to bring you to repentance?
Hebrews 6 is so hard. I think that is why we must interpret unclear passages in light of clear passages. I think “tasted” implies they didn’t receive — though Wiersbe’s interpretation above is interesting. And Sharon’s. Different — but just shows how hard it is.
And I agree with you on 1 John it is the internal sin of unbelief and I think unto death means all their life, even unto death. Thoughts — I respect you so!
Wow Dee! I read Bev’s post above with the commentary by Warren Wiersbe. When I consider differing interpretations among pastors and theologians on these passages, I remind myself that they (and we) are, after all, only human. Not everyone’s interpretation can be right (right?)? Much food for thought. So if, according to Wiersbe, it’s talking about believers falling into sin, and being in danger of divine consequences, it’s still hard for me to believe that they can never be brought to repentance, because elsewhere in Scripture it talks about how a believer cannot continue in sin (I think that’s in one of John’s letters). I don’t understand how a believer could harden himself forever against the Spirit? It’s certainly more comforting to think of this meaning a loss of reward or relationship rather than a loss of salvation. Though I don’t believe anyone, if truly saved, can lose their salvation. Otherwise we could never, ever have any assurance.
I woke up this morning thinking about my children, who used to read the Bible and go to church when they were kids and young teenagers, and one of them, I was with him when he prayed to receive Jesus, and he certainly was sincere, but now he and the others don’t want to go to church anymore, and as far as I know, God doesn’t figure into the equation of their lives. And I thought, does this verse in Hebrews mean that they are beyond being brought back, ever? Did they never really belong to Him in the first place?
I really appreciate your hard questions. Of course, only the Lord knows the heart of each one. I am struggling with the little sins Keller mentions that we tend to sweep under the rug. I know that I need to change some things in family relationships. The thought of God saying He never knew me was hard to hear. I’m thankful I’m feeling convicted. It’s been a thought provoking week. Praying tonight for your kids to come back to what they learned when they were young. Blessings to you, Susan, as you wait and pray. I’ve been re-reading Pilgrims Progress. It’s been comforting in a way.
Saturday:
13. What is your take-a-way and why? I have spent the week in a sick bed, recovering from un-confirmed covid. My doctor gave me antibiotics for a sinus infection and I had a bad reaction to the med on day 3. I have listened to Tim Keller’s sermon 2 times and read your thoughtful comments (of which I have learned alot! Thank-you!) I agree with the general concensis. The “external” and “internal” application of the passage really made sense to me. Dee, your parting comment about praying for the dead, is thought provoking. I always believed that praying for the dead happened in certain religions. However, quite a few years ago my daughter and I had a very strange experience. I was cooking dinner and heard loud report like a gun going off. My daughter was in her bedroom and heard it too and came running. We were both looking out our huge picture window standing under the vaulted ceiling fan when we both heard a tormented cry “helpppp meee” coming from the ceiling fan. I had no idea what it all meant, but felt the Holy Spirit urging me to pray, so we prayed. A few days later my cousin called to let me know our mutual friend, Bill, had died by suicide of a gunshot wound that day my daughter and I heard the strange sounds. A few years later after moving back to my home town, my daughter visited one of her friend’s homes for the first time and was told of a suicide that had occured there and what a great deal her parents got when they bought the home. My daughter noticed the vaulted livingroom ceiling and picture window were almost identical to the house we had lived in previously. It was Bill’s house. I was able to talk to Bill’s family and assure them of the peace God had given me regarding his death. They were Catholic and were not allowed to bury him in the family vault in the Catholic cemetary. I believe my witness gave his poor mother some peace. God bless you all on this Father’s Day! He is a Father to the Fatherless and a Husband to the widow.
Susan-It’s out of replies where you posted this but just wanted to respond because I completely agree with you “So I get the point Keller is making, and take it to mean to not take everything personally, when someone says something about me or about my faith. Yet, I had trouble with his statement about nothing should ever bother you.”
I admit sometimes when I listen to Keller and post notes of what he said, I can’t say I completely agree and in this case, I certainly can’t live up to that and don’t really expect myself to, I am just stating what he said! I think (and I would think he’d agree) some things should even offend us because they do offend God. When there is clear injustice and persecution…but yes, as you said, I think it was more pointing to not being easily offended by every small thing, and I do have a tendency towards that. I can be too sensitive, get my feelings hurt…when really I should remember my sufferings are nothing compared to what Christ paid for on the Cross, and I should not feel I have a “right” to be treated a certain way…
I’ve been working through these same thoughts. Is it possible to come to a place in our Christian walk where we are not offended because of our confidence in Christ? Is it possible for me to come to a place where I will no longer offend others, but have confidence that the Lord will make all things right? Such a challenging lesson this week.
Lizzy, I agree with your thoughts here!