A few months before I left for the race, I became friends
with a guy I had met at an event through my internship. Since he was an
Atheist, we had LOTS of conversations about religion and God in general. It was
awesome to hear his reasons for believing what he believed and just to be
challenged on what I believed and why I believed it. (Growing up in town where
everyone is a “Christian” doesn’t leave a lot of room for faith or really
understanding why you believe something)
Anyway, most of the time, I could defend my reasons for
believing in God and could answer questions he had. But when he told me the
Bible said he was going to Hell because he had already denied God and “fell
away” so there was no point in trying to believe in him now, I couldn’t find an
answer. I didn’t even know that the Bible said that.
Well, he was partially
right…
It may have taken me four months to find what he was
referring to but I finally found it the other day and have been bringing it up
to the other girls on my team. Actually, it has sparked up some great
conversations between us and more questions. Alysa, a girl on my team, even
asked her pastor at home to talk about the Unpardonable Sin.
Here’s the verse…
“Therefore I say to you, every sin and blasphemy will be
forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will NOT be forgiven men. Anyone who speaks a word against
the Son of Man, it will be forgiven him; but whoever speaks against the Holy
Spirit, it will not be forgiven him, either in this age or in the age to come.”
(Matthew 12:31&32)
And again…
“Assuredly, I say to you, ALL sins will be forgiven the sons of men, and whatever blasphemies they
may utter; but he who blasphemies against the Holy Spirit NEVER has forgiveness, but is subject to eternal
condemnation because they said, “He has an unclean spirit.” (Mark 3:28-30)
If you’re sitting there thinking, well that sucks, I thought
that everyone could be forgiven of all sins…because the Bible also says, “The blood of
Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from ALL sin.” (1 John 1:7)
And again…
“Their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no
more.” (Hebrews 10:17…quoting Jeremiah 31:34)
that’s exactly what I was thinking…
So, it’s easy to see how I (and my friend) could be so
confused.
Here’s what Alysa’s pastor said that gave me an answer I not
only have never heard of, but have never even thought of….I think it’s a pretty
good answer…
He brought up the point that the verse, taken in its entire
context, was addressing the people who specifically were attributing Jesus’
miracles to evil spirits, or to the devil himself. They were saying that Jesus
got his power from the devil and was performing healings and other miracles in
the name of Beelzebub. Therefore, they were blaspheming the Holy Spirit because
they were not only discrediting the spirit, but they were saying it was of an
unclean spirit.
I’ve thought of this before. Here is what I have not even
thought of…
All this was taking place while Jesus was on earth.
(Obviously, because people were saying this to his face and behind his back)
Therefore, if you are committing the Unpardonable Sin, it has to be while
Jesus is on earth. Now, this can only take
place two times, once when Jesus
was on earth before and when he returns.
If you are still confused, it’s obviously ok. It’s also ok
if you don’t agree with me either because I didn’t even know this verse existed
until a couple of weeks ago.
So, I’m glad my friend brought it up so I could word vomit
my thoughts to all of you.
Any thoughts??
