Some have trouble with the Unpardonable Sin, “which is blasphemy of the Holy Spirit”. Many think that it still applies today. When you look at the context of scripture there’s hard evidence that it doe’s not.
In Matthew 12:22-24 Jesus was accused for casting out demons through Beelzebub instead of using the Holy Spirit, which is what He claimed. When you look at the blasphemy that’s when the Pharisees ignorantly suggest that the Holy Spirit is rather a demon in Jesus and not a pure and righteous part of God. Look at the specific words.
Mark 3:30 explains what the Pharisees did to specifically commit this. Notice the personal word there “He”. “So because they were saying He had an unclean spirit” It’s a personal attack in the there and now. Jesus is no longer on the earth, which means it cannot apply in the context it did in the 1st century AD.
Jesus + Holy Spirit + blasphemy (Pharisees) = Unpardonable sin. You take Jesus away and Blasphemy of the Holy Spirit is no more.
Jesus is at the right hand of the Father, not here with us.
Hope that’s insightful with the things of God.
Friday, October 16, 2009
set apart!
Matthew 18:21-35
Rabbinical theology suggest you forgive someone 3x if they do wrong. Peter thought he might please Jesus by stepping it up and forgiving 7x. Jesus says none of those are sufficient, but 70x7 which is 490x you should forgive. That's not the point though.
490 is merely an example. What Jesus meant was you should forgive unumerable times. Jesus points out if you could forgive that much that it might just become part of you; therefore becoming more like Him.
The man in this story was forgiven his debt of what would amount to in our day as millions of dollars. He turned around and pointed out a man in debt to him demanding he be paid back immidiately.
If Jesus made you pay back your debt you'd be dead. He has forgiven us of all our our debt, why can't we forgive others?
Rabbinical theology suggest you forgive someone 3x if they do wrong. Peter thought he might please Jesus by stepping it up and forgiving 7x. Jesus says none of those are sufficient, but 70x7 which is 490x you should forgive. That's not the point though.
490 is merely an example. What Jesus meant was you should forgive unumerable times. Jesus points out if you could forgive that much that it might just become part of you; therefore becoming more like Him.
The man in this story was forgiven his debt of what would amount to in our day as millions of dollars. He turned around and pointed out a man in debt to him demanding he be paid back immidiately.
If Jesus made you pay back your debt you'd be dead. He has forgiven us of all our our debt, why can't we forgive others?
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
Limitations are Godless!
Limiting God is not a new concept, but it is a dangerous one.
The rich young ruler had a great calling to give everything to the poor and follow Jesus. Man would suggest that this is impossible. We can't see a minute into the future. God says whats impossible with man is possible with God.
Impossible is a word presented to the limitations of man in Matthew19:26.
Notice He uses the words hard and easy when it comes to His illustrations. he never says impossible with Him, just a bit challenging. Maybe He presents the hard so we ask for His mighty power
The second you start limiting God is the second Satan starts targeting you.
The rich young ruler had a great calling to give everything to the poor and follow Jesus. Man would suggest that this is impossible. We can't see a minute into the future. God says whats impossible with man is possible with God.
Impossible is a word presented to the limitations of man in Matthew19:26.
Notice He uses the words hard and easy when it comes to His illustrations. he never says impossible with Him, just a bit challenging. Maybe He presents the hard so we ask for His mighty power
The second you start limiting God is the second Satan starts targeting you.
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
Monday, September 28, 2009
Church growth Jesus' way!
If you talked to 1 person everyday assuming this starts at age 10 and you give 60 years making you 70 at this point that's 21,900 people you talked to. This is low ballin it by the way, You'll probably live longer.
Assume again that all these conversations result in you just simply talking about jesus, or inviting them out to your church. Now you may have established long term relationships. Again we low ball and say that 10,950 (half of 21,900) come to know the Lord and find a church, that would actually be a large number. Again this is 1 person doing this. What would the church look like?
My wife and I were able to lead 2 girls to the Lord Saturday. Sometimes you get 2 in one day and 0 on the other it may eqaul out to 7 per week.
If you love your church and love people inevitably a great deal of those people talked to will end up serving with you on the front lines. It's how we can build the church.
Attract
Recruit
Retain
Invest
Assume again that all these conversations result in you just simply talking about jesus, or inviting them out to your church. Now you may have established long term relationships. Again we low ball and say that 10,950 (half of 21,900) come to know the Lord and find a church, that would actually be a large number. Again this is 1 person doing this. What would the church look like?
My wife and I were able to lead 2 girls to the Lord Saturday. Sometimes you get 2 in one day and 0 on the other it may eqaul out to 7 per week.
If you love your church and love people inevitably a great deal of those people talked to will end up serving with you on the front lines. It's how we can build the church.
Attract
Recruit
Retain
Invest
Saturday, September 26, 2009
Religous freedom and unity. READ!
This happened yesterday at Capitol Hill in Washington. Over 50,000 Muslims gathered to express their desire for peace among religion.
That's nice to want that, but it's not what Jesus says is okay.
Here it is Christians: When people ask you as Christ followers why aren't you okay with religous unity what are going to say?
We are not going to be the good guys when we say that Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life, and NO ONE goes to the Father except through Me. The moment we disagree with spiritual unity is the very moment it gets harder to be a Christ follower.
Pray hard for strength.
Friday, September 25, 2009
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