See also...Announcements and News concerning..The Church.
SERMON: COME TO WORSHIP WITH US AND GET IT FIRST-HAND.
YOU DIDN''T COME DID YOU? I DIDN''T SEE YOU. HERE THEN IS SOMETHING FOR YOU ....ST. PAUL TELLS THE PHILLIPIANS: " WORK OUT YOUR OWN SALVATION."
REALLY: WOULD YOU NOT DESIRE THE BRIDE OF CHRIST, THE CHURCH, (THE HOLY INSTITUTION WHICH WILL PREVAIL AGAINST THE GATES OF HELL) TO BE WITH YOU ON THE DAY OF JUDGEMENT? KEEP STAYING AWAY FROM THE CHURCH AND I GUARENTEE, YOU WILL NOT BE A PART OF HER. "WORK OUT YOUR OWN SALVATON." (IN THE MEANTIME, PRAY FOR WISDOM AS SOLOMON DID, SINCE YOU ARE LACKNG THEREIN.)
THERE IS NOTHING MORE IMPORTANT THAN THE CHURCH IN THIS LIFE OR THE NEXT.
THE UNFORGIVEABLE SIN...BY RC SPROUL
“Assuredly, I say to you, all sins will be forgiven the sons of men, and whatever blasphemies they may utter; but he who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness, but is subject to eternal condemnation” (Mark 3:28–29).
I cannot tell you how many times in my teaching career very distraught Christians have come to me to ask about the unpardonable sin and whether they might have committed it. I suspect most believers have asked themselves whether they have done something unforgivable. It is not surprising that many people struggle with this issue because the precise nature of “the unpardonable sin” is difficult to discern and many theories about it have been set forth through church history. For instance, some people have argued that the unpardonable sin is murder and others have said that it is adultery, because they see the serious consequences that those sins wreak on the sanctity of life and the sanctity of marriage. But I can speak with full assurance that neither of those sins is unpardonable. There are two reasons for my assurance. First, Scripture shows us examples of people who committed these sins and were forgiven. Exhibit A is David, who was guilty of both adultery and murder, and yet, after his confession and repentance, he was restored fully to his state of grace. Second, and more important, when Jesus taught on the unpardonable sin, He said nothing about murder or adultery.
Amen
What, then, did Jesus say? He began in a radical way by saying, “Assuredly, I say to you.” Sometimes evangelical Christians who want to express agreement with something they have heard from a preacher or a teacher will say “Amen.” The word amen is transliterated from the Hebrew amein, which means “truth” or “it is true,” so those saying “Amen” are agreeing with what they have heard. But instead of giving His teaching and waiting for His hearers to say “Amen,” Jesus Himself said “Amen” before He gave His teaching. The word translated as “assuredly” here is the Greek equivalent of the word amein. In other words, Jesus announced that He was about to say something true. This was a way of saying, “Now hear this.” He was giving great emphasis to the teaching He was about to utter.
What is Blasphemy?
Jesus then stated that “all sins” can be forgiven, including “whatever blasphemies”—except for the specific blasphemy of the Spirit. Luke’s account of this teaching is even more specific: “Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man, it will be forgiven him; but to him who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit, it will not be forgiven” (Luke 12:10).
[Blasphemy] is desecration of the holy character of God… In a sense, it is the opposite of praise. —R.C. Sproul
At this point, we need to define blasphemy, and this verse from Luke gives us a clue as to what it is. The two phrases “who speaks a word against” and “who blasphemes” are parallel. Blasphemy, then, involves speaking a word against God. It is a verbal sin, one that is committed with the mouth or the pen. It is desecration of the holy character of God. It can involve insulting Him, mocking Him, or dishonoring Him. In a sense, it is the opposite of praise. Even casually using the name of God by saying, “Oh, my God,” as so many do, constitutes blasphemy. We can be very thankful that the unpardonable sin is not just any kind of blasphemy, because if it were, none of us would have any hope of escaping damnation. All of us have, at many times and in many ways, routinely blasphemed the name of God.
Blasphemy Against the Son of Man
Jesus’ statement that “Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man, it will be forgiven him” seems shocking in light of the abuse and mistreatment He later went through, culminating in His execution on a Roman cross. But we must remember how, as He hung on the cross, Jesus looked at those who had delivered Him to the Romans and mocked Him as He was dying, and said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do” (Luke 23:34). Even though these men opposed Christ to the point of executing Him, there was still hope of forgiveness for them. Likewise, in the book of Acts, Peter told the people of Jerusalem that they had delivered Jesus to the Romans and denied Him, but he added, “I know that you did it in ignorance, as did also your rulers” (Acts 3:17), and he called on them to repent. So, on at least two occasions, the New Testament makes it clear that forgiveness was possible for those who despised Christ so much that they killed Him. These accounts verify Jesus’ assertion that any sin against the Son of Man could be forgiven.
Blasphemy Against the Spirit
But what of blasphemy against the Spirit? To understand this difficult saying, we need to see that it came in the context of Jesus’ opponents charging Him with doing His work by the power of the Devil rather than by the power of the Holy Spirit. However, they were not slandering the Spirit—not quite. Their statements were directed against Jesus. So, He said to them: “You can blaspheme Me and be forgiven, but when you question the work of the Spirit, you are coming perilously close to the unforgivable sin. You are right at the line. You are looking down into the abyss of hell. One more step and there will be no hope for you.” He was warning them to be very careful not to insult or mock the Spirit.
Christians and The Unpardonable Sin
Humanly speaking, everyone who is a Christian is capable of committing the unforgivable sin. However, I believe that the Lord of glory who has saved us and sealed us in the Holy Spirit will never let us commit that sin. I do not believe that any Christians in the history of the church have blasphemed the Spirit.
Thanks be to God that the sin that is unpardonable is not a sin He allows His people to commit. —R.C. Sproul
As for those who are not sure they are saved and are worried they may have committed the unpardonable sin, I would say that worrying about it is one of the clearest evidences that they have not committed this sin, for those who commit it are so hardened in their hearts they do not care that they commit it. Thanks be to God that the sin that is unpardonable is not a sin He allows His people to commit.
The Church is the presence of divine Truth in our world (1 Tim
3:15). It is the manifestation of God’s love (1 Cor 1:26; 2 Cor
4:7) and, despite the weakness of its members, it is a sign of
God’s saving presence (2 Cor 4) and God gives it strength (Rev
2:8, 3:8). The Church is a communion of believers where God manifests
himself (see com. on Mt 16:18). This is why we say that the
Church is a sacrament of God (see com. on Mt 18:1). Various
rites of the Church, called sacraments, come from Christ
and his apostles; they express and make the saving action of
God present. Believers are in the world without being of the world (Jn 17:15).
The Church is at the service of the world to bring it to its true
goal (Mk 16:15; Col 1:20). It is not at the service of the world’s
designs (James 4:4) nor of human ideals of happiness, justice
and peace, which are always limited (Lk 12:13, 51), and which
forget the real situation of sinful humanity (Mt 4:1) and do not
understand salvation through the cross (Mt 16:23; Lk 24:26;
1 Cor 1:20). The Church can hope for a time of peace and the spread of the
Gospel (Rev 20:1). Its influence will be manifest (com. on Mt
13:31) and all kinds of human institutions will be under its protection
(Mt 13:32). Yet, there will be persecutions (see 251)
as well as scandals within the Church (Mt 13:47). In opposition
to the Church, the devil will favor false religions (Rev
13:11) and totalitarian regimes (Rev 13:2) and at times, will
give the impression that he has won (Rev 11:7, 13:14-17).
No one can approach God without having been purified of all sin
and impurity. What happens to all the believers who die in the
grace of God but are also filled with imperfections and human
desires? It has been a constant teaching of the Church that purification
takes place during death or after death: 2 Mac 13:43;
1 Cor 3:15.
FALSE TEACHERS
Do you know what the Bible says about false teachers like…
-2 Timothy 4:3,4 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth , and be turned aside to fables.
-Matthew 7:15,16 Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheeps clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. You will know them by their fruits.
-Acts 20:29-31 For I know this, that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock. Also from among yourselves men will rise up, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after themselves . Therefore watch, and remember that for three years I did not cease to warn everyone night and day with tears.
-2 Peter 2:1 But there were also false prophets among the people, even as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Lord who bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.
-2 Peter 3:16,17 as also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things, in which are some things hard to understand, which untaught and unstable people twist to their own destruction, as they do also the rest of the Scriptures. You therefore, beloved, since you know this beforehand, beware lest you also fall from your own steadfastness, being led away with the error of the wicked;
-Colossians 2:8 Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ.
-Hebrews 13:9 Do not be carried about with various and strange doctrines. For it is good that the heart be established by grace, not with foods which have not profited those who have been occupied with them.
The Bible is very, very harsh in its condemnation of people who change, twist or leave out parts of its doctrine.
MORE UPCOMING ON THE CHURCH; THE BRIDE OF CHRIST...INFILTRATED BY THE WORLD, FALSE TEACHERS, AND SATAN BUT NEVER COMPROMISED...KEPT HOLY AND RIGHTEOUS THROUGH CHRIST AND THE HOLY SPIRIT...
CHRISTMAS EVE
THIS GOSPEL OF ST. JOHN IS MOST FITTING TO DECRIBE WHO JESUS CHRIST IS. IT IS THE GROUND ZERO AND FOUNDATION OF OUR FAITH AS EVERYTHING RESTS SOUNDLY UPON THE INCARNATION: GOD MADE MAN; “THE WORD WAS MADE FLESH, AND DWELT AMONG US.” “EMMANUEL…GOD WITH US.”
YES, JESUS, WHICH MEANS “HE WHO SAVES” IS OUR KING OF HEAVEN AND EARTH, CREATOR OF BOTH, BORN LOWLY AND HUMBLY IN A MANGER ON A COLD WINTER’S NIGHT UNDER THE MOST MISERABLE OF CONDITIONS. GOD SETS FOOT OUT OF HIS MOTHERS WOMB ONTO THE EARTH. THE SON OF MAN WAS HERE FOR 33 YEARS AND MUCH DID HE DO.
WE ARE HERE THIS COLD WINTERS NIGHT CELEBRATING THE GREATEST DAY IN THE CHURCH CALENDAR; GOD’S PHYSICAL PRESENCE INTO HUMANITY, BORN OF WOMAN. THIS MAN CALLED JESUS IS THE ETERNAL WORD OF THE FATHER, TRANSFIXED IN HUMAN TIME, WRAPPED IN A BLANKET, BORN WITH THE MISSION AND OBJECTIVE TO SAVE MANKIND. YOU ARE HERE TONITE TO HEAR THE WORD MADE FLESH, THE BOUNDARY OF LIFE. YOU ARE HERE TO WORSHIP YOUR KING AND TO BE CLEANSED OF YOUR SINS, RENEWED AND STRENGTHENED IN HIM THROUGH THE SACRAMENTS AND GRACED THEREIN.
WE HAVE ACKWLEDGED OUR BAPTISM INTO THE BODY OF CHRIST AND WILL RECEIVE THAT BODY IN A FEW MINUTES. THE BREAD OF LIFE IS GIVEN FREELY FOR YOU AS WE REMEMBER HIM. THAT’S EXACTLY WHAT WE NEED, SPIRITED HEALTH FOOD. AND IT’S AS FREE AS THE GIFTS YOU WILL GET TODAY FROM YOUR LOVED ONES. THE GIFTS OF GOD ARE FREE TO THOSE THAT LOVE HIM. THIS IS WHAT YOUR BODY NEEDS, SOUL FOOD, DELIVERED TO YOU BY THE GREAT ONE HIMSELF. WE ARE GRACED BY THIS ACT THEY CALL THE LORD’S SUPPER.
WE ARE HERE TO GET PERSPECTIVE OF WHAT IS IMPORTANT TO US. WHAT DOES CHRISTMAS TELL US? WHAT’S IT ALL ABOUT?
THE 9TH CHAPTER OF ISAIAH CALLS THE MESSIAH THE PRINCE OF PEACE… IF PEACE IS THE OPPOSITE OF WAR, WE HAVE NONE. BUT IT IS NOT MEANT TO BE INTERPRETED IN THIS MANNER. PEACE IS NOT THE ABSENCE OF WAR, IT IS NOT THE ABSENCE OF PAIN, OR THE ABSENCE OF INJUSTICE. IT IS NOT THE ABSENCE OF STRIFE OR OF SICKNESS OR OF SUFFERING OR OF DEATH; RATHER, IT IS THE KNOWLEDGE THAT GOD IS WITH US. HELL, TO THE CHRISTIAN, IS NOT NECESSARILY FIRE AND SULPHER, IT IS IN FACT, THE ABSENCE OF GOD, FOREVER.
OUR AWARENESS OF GOD IN HISTORY, IN OUR LIVES, IN HUMAN EVENTS, BRINGS US CONTINUED AND RENEWED HOPE AND THE TREASURES OF TRUTH, JOY, AND PEACE. THIS IS THE CHRIST WHO IS THE PRINCE OF PEACE. THIS IS THE PEACE AND WELL-BEING WE WANT AND YEARN FOR.
WILLIAM BARCLAY, A PRESBYTERIAN SCHOLAR WRITES: “THE FACT OF JESUS’ COMING IS THE FINAL AND UNANSWERABLE PROOF THAT GOD CARES.” THIS ONE FACT THAT GOD CARES, FOREVER CHANGES OUR OUTLOOK AND PERSPECTIVE. GOD LOVES US SO MUCH THAT HE BECAME ONE OF US TO TELL US AND TO SHOW US AND TO TEACH US. HE DEMONSTRATES HIS LOVE FOR US AND HIS PURPOSE FOR US. THAT’S WHAT THE INCARNATION IS ALL ABOUT. GOD LOVED US ENOUGH TO SEND HIS SON TO BE THE BRIDGE SO WE COULD HAVE RELATIONSHIP WITH THE FATHER. CHRIST IS THE BRIDGE WE USE TO GET ACROSS THE VOID, THE HOLE OF DEATH AND SIN. WITHOUT HIM, WE DIE AND GOD KNEW IT! THIS WAS THE FIRST ACT OF GOD TO SAVE THE WORLD. HE CHOSE TO SAVE THE WORLD BY ENTERING HIS OWN CREATION. THIS IS THE JOY, THIS IS THE LOVE, THIS IS CHRISTMAS!
ARISTOTLE WROTE: “HAPPINESS IS THE MEANING AND PURPOSE OF LIFE, THE WHOLE AIM AND END OF EXISTENCE.” IF THE PHILOSPHER IS RIGHT, WHERE DO WE FIND THIS SO-CALLED HAPPINESS? IT’S BEEN SAID IT’S EASIER TO CATCH A BUTTERFLY WITHOUT A NET THAN TO CAPTURE HAPPINESS. BUT CHRISTMAS IS ABOUT JOY, NOT HAPPINESS.
IN ST. MATTHEW CH. 18 VS. 3 IT IS WRITTEN: “ IN SOLEMN TRUTH I TELL YOU THAT UNLESS YOU TURN AND BECOME LIKE LITTLE CHILDREN, YOU WILL IN NO CASE BE ADMITTED INTO THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN.” WHY DID JESUS SAY THIS? IT’S LARGELY DUE TO THE FACT THAT CHILDREN BARE CERTAIN QUALITIES THAT THE LORD INSISTS WE HAVE ALSO. LOVE, GENTLENESS, TRUST, INNOCENSE, WONDEROUS MYSTERY AND FAITH. THEY HAVE THE JOY AND INNOCENSE AND LOVE TO STAY DEPENDENT UPON THEIR PARENTS. THE FATHER WANTS US TO BE THIS WAY AGAIN, AS WE ONCE WERE.
“IN THE BEGINNING WAS THE WORD AND THE WORD WAS WITH GOD, AND THE WORD WAS GOD. HE WAS IN THE BEGINNING WITH GOD…AND THE WORD BECAME FLESH AND DWELT AMONG US AND WE HAVE SEEN HIS GLORY, FULL OF GRACE AND TRUTH”. THE WORD BECAME FLESH TO SHOW US HOW WE HUMANS SHOULD BE…ONLY JESUS WAS THE PERFECT HUMAN THAT EVER MANAGED TO LIVE LIKE GOD INTENDED FOR ALL OF US TO LIVE. THE WORD BECAME FLESH TO SHOW US OF A LOVING FATHER. THE WORD BECAME FLESH SO THAT IN THIS JESUS, WE SEE THE GLORY OF AN ONLY SON COMING FROM THE FATHER AND FILLED WITH ENDURING LOVE.
FINALLY, ST. PAUL WRITES: “ The grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all.” THIS IS THE MESSAGE OF CHRISTMAS MY DEAREST IN CHRIST: THAT AT THE BEGINNING, IN THE MIDDLE, AND AT THE END OF LIFE, GOD IS WITH US. ALL LIFE HAS BEEN CHANGED BY THE BIRTH OF CHRIST AND WE KNOW WHAT GOD HAS DONE.
WE HAVE A NEW AND TOTALLY DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE ….THAT IS THE GOOD NEWS….TRASH CAN CNN, AND HSN AND MSN…YOUR LIFE IS DEPENDENT UPON THE GOOD NEWS AT JCN…JESUS CHRIST OF NAZARETH.
I WISH YOU ALL A VERY BLESSED CHRISTMAS WITH YOUR FAMILIES AND IN YOUR LORD.
AND NOW, UNTO GOD THE FATHER, GOD THE SON, GOD THE HOLY SPIRIT BE ASCRIBED ALL MIGHT, POWER AND MAJESTY THAT IS JUSTLY DUE HIS NAME, NOW AND EVER AND UNTO AGES OF AGES….AMEN.
