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The Unpardonable Sin
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And the multitude cometh together again, so that they could not so much
as eat bread. And when his friends heard of it, they went out to
lay hold on him: for they said, He is beside himself. And the scribes which
came down from Jerusalem said, He hath Beelzebub, and by the prince of
the devils casteth he out devils. And he called them unto him, and
said unto them in parables, How can Satan cast out
Satan? And if a kingdom be divided against itself, that kingdom cannot
stand. And if a house be divided against itself, that house cannot stand.
And if Satan rise up against himself, and be divided, he cannot stand,
but hath an end. No man can enter into a strong man's house, and spoil
his goods, except he will first bind the strong man; and then he will spoil
his house. Verily I say unto you, All sins shall be forgiven unto the sons
of men, and blasphemies wherewith soever they shall blaspheme: But he that
shall blaspheme against the Holy Ghost hath never forgiveness, but is in
danger of eternal damnation: Because they said, He hath an unclean spirit.
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(Mark 3:20-30)
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Many professing Christians seem to stumble at this teaching of Jesus, one
of the outcomes of which is the "do not judge" syndrome. Because people
are unsure of the significance of the specific Scriptures it seems safer
to keep quiet rather than show some brother or sister where they are in
Spiritual error and helping them out of it for fear of offending the
Holy Spirit that might be in them and therefore committing the unpardonable
sin.
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However, we shall see that the unpardonable sin is committed by those to
whom the Good News has been preached but is rejected by their unrighteousness,
or who accept the presence of the Holy Spirit in their lives (Spiritual
rebirth), but then fall away.
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Let's place all the Scriptures on the subject together in one lump and
see what we can learn therefrom.
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Leading up to the one above:
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And when the scribes and Pharisees saw him eat with publicans and sinners,
they said unto his disciples, How is it that he eateth and drinketh with
publicans and sinners? When Jesus heard it, he saith unto them,
They that are whole have no need of the physician,
but they that are sick: I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to
repentance. And the disciples of John and of the Pharisees used
to fast: and they come and say unto him, Why do the disciples of John and
of the Pharisees fast, but thy disciples fast not? And Jesus said unto
them, Can the children of the bridechamber fast,
while the bridegroom is with them? as long as they have the bridegroom
with them, they cannot fast. But the days will come, when the bridegroom
shall be taken away from them, and then shall they fast in those days.
No man also seweth a piece of new cloth on an old garment: else the new
piece that filled it up taketh away from the old, and the rent is made
worse. And no man putteth new wine into old bottles: else the new wine
doth burst the bottles, and the wine is spilled, and the bottles will be
marred: but new wine must be put into new bottles. And it came to
pass, that he went through the corn fields on the sabbath day; and his
disciples began, as they went, to pluck the ears of corn. And the Pharisees
said unto him, Behold, why do they on the sabbath day that which is not
lawful? And he said unto them, Have ye never read
what David did, when he had need, and was an hungred, he, and they that
were with him? How he went into the house of God in the days of Abiathar
the high priest, and did eat the shewbread, which is not lawful to eat
but for the priests, and gave also to them which were with him? And
he said unto them, The sabbath was made for man,
and not man for the sabbath: Therefore the Son of man is Lord also of the
sabbath.
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(Mark 2:16-28)
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And he entered again into the synagogue; and there was a man there which
had a withered hand. And they watched him, whether he would heal him on
the sabbath day; that they might accuse him. And he saith unto the man
which had the withered hand, Stand forth.
And he saith unto them, Is it lawful to do good on
the sabbath days, or to do evil? to save life, or to kill? But they
held their peace. And when he had looked round about on them with anger,
being grieved for the hardness of their hearts, he saith unto the
man, Stretch forth thine hand. And he stretched
it out: and his hand was restored whole as the other. And the Pharisees
went forth, and straightway took counsel with the Herodians against him,
how they might destroy him. But Jesus withdrew himself with his disciples
to the sea: and a great multitude from Galilee followed him, and from Judaea,
And from Jerusalem, and from Idumaea, and from beyond Jordan; and
they about Tyre and Sidon, a great multitude, when they had heard what
great things he did, came unto him. And he spake to his disciples, that
a small ship should wait on him because of the multitude, lest they should
throng him. For he had healed many; insomuch that they pressed upon him
for to touch him, as many as had plagues. And unclean spirits, when they
saw him, fell down before him, and cried, saying, Thou art the Son of God.
And he straitly charged them that they should not make him known. And he
goeth up into a mountain, and calleth unto him whom he would: and
they came unto him. And he ordained twelve, that they should be with him,
and that he might send them forth to preach, And to have power to heal
sicknesses, and to cast out devils:
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(Mark 3:1-15)
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Now that it's put into perspective, please read Mark 3:20-30 again
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Here are others:
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But the Pharisees said, He casteth out devils through the prince of the
devils.
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(Matthew 9:34)
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It is enough for the disciple that he be as his master,
and the servant as his lord. If they have called the master of the house
Beelzebub, how much more shall they call them of his household?
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(Matthew 10:25)
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And Jesus knew their thoughts, and said unto them, Every
kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and every city
or house divided against itself shall not stand: And if Satan cast out
Satan, he is divided against himself; how shall then his kingdom stand?
And if I by Beelzebub cast out devils, by whom do your children cast them
out? therefore they shall be your judges. But if I cast out devils by the
Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God is come unto you. Or else how can
one enter into a strong man's house, and spoil his goods, except he first
bind the strong man? and then he will spoil his house. He that is not with
me is against me; and he that gathereth not with me scattereth abroad.
Wherefore I say unto you, All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven
unto men: but the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall
not be forgiven unto men. And whosoever speaketh a word against the Son
of man, it shall be forgiven him: but whosoever speaketh against the Holy
Ghost, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, neither in
the world to come. Either make the tree good, and his fruit good;
or else make the tree corrupt, and his fruit corrupt: for the tree is known
by his fruit. O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak
good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.
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(Matthew 12:25-34)
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And he was casting out a devil, and it was dumb. And it came to pass, when
the devil was gone out, the dumb spake; and the people wondered. But some
of them said, He casteth out devils through Beelzebub the chief of the
devils. And others, tempting him, sought of him a sign from
heaven. But he, knowing their thoughts, said unto them, Every
kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and a house divided
against a house falleth. If Satan also be divided against himself, how
shall his kingdom stand? because ye say that I cast out devils through
Beelzebub. And if I by Beelzebub cast out devils, by whom do your sons
cast them out? therefore shall they be your judges. But if I with
the finger of God cast out devils, no doubt the kingdom of God is come
upon you. When a strong man armed keepeth his palace, his goods are in
peace: But when a stronger than he shall come upon him, and overcome him,
he taketh from him all his armour wherein he trusted, and divideth his
spoils.
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(Luke 11:14-22)
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The people answered and said, Thou hast a devil: who goeth about to kill
thee? Jesus answered and said unto them, I have done
one work, and ye all marvel. Moses therefore gave unto you circumcision;
(not because it is of Moses, but of the fathers;) and ye on the sabbath
day circumcise a man. If a man on the sabbath day receive circumcision,
that the law of Moses should not be broken; are ye angry at me, because
I have made a man every whit whole on the sabbath day? Judge not according
to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment. Then said some
of them of Jerusalem, Is not this he, whom they seek to kill? But, lo,
he speaketh boldly, and they say nothing unto him. Do the rulers know indeed
that this is the very Christ? Howbeit we know this man whence he is: but
when Christ cometh, no man knoweth whence he is. Then cried Jesus in the
temple as he taught, saying, Ye both know me, and
ye know whence I am: and I am not come of myself, but he that sent me is
true, whom ye know not. But I know him: for I am from him, and he hath
sent me. Then they sought to take him:
but no man laid hands on him, because his hour was not yet come.
And many of the people believed on him, and said, When Christ cometh, will
he do more miracles than these which this man hath done? The
Pharisees heard that the people murmured such things concerning him; and
the Pharisees and the chief priests sent officers to take him.
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(John 7:20-32)
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They answered and said unto him, Abraham is our father. Jesus saith unto
them, If ye were Abraham's children, ye would do
the works of Abraham. But now ye seek to kill me, a man that hath
told you the truth, which I have heard of God: this did not Abraham. Ye
do the deeds of your father. Then said they to him, We be not born
of fornication; we have one Father, even God. Jesus said unto
them, If God were your Father, ye would love me:
for I proceeded forth and came from God; neither came I of myself, but
he sent me. Why do ye not understand my speech? even because ye
cannot hear my word. Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts
of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode
not in the truth, because there is no truth in him.
When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the
father of it. And because I tell you the truth, ye believe me not.
Which of you convinceth me of sin? And if I say the truth, why do ye not
believe me? He that is of God heareth God's words: ye therefore hear
them not, because ye are not of God. Then answered the
Jews, and said unto him, Say we not well that thou art a Samaritan, and
hast a devil? Jesus answered, I have not a devil;
but I honour my Father, and ye do dishonour me. And I seek not mine
own glory: there is one that seeketh and judgeth. Verily, verily, I say
unto you, If a man keep my saying, he shall never see death. Then
said the Jews unto him, Now we know that thou hast a devil. Abraham is
dead, and the prophets; and thou sayest, If a man keep my saying, he shall
never taste of death. Art thou greater than our father Abraham, which is
dead? and the prophets are dead: whom makest thou thyself? Jesus answered,
If I honour myself, my honour is nothing: it is my Father that honoureth
me; of whom ye say, that he is your God:
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(John 8:39-54)
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There was a division therefore again among the Jews for these sayings.
And many of them said, He hath a devil, and is mad; why hear ye him? Others
said, These are not the words of him that hath a devil. Can a devil open
the eyes of the blind?
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(John 10:19-21)
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One thing immediately stands out, not so? In every example Jesus was speaking
of the religious leaders of the day. They were the descendants of the Old
Covenant priestly system and were the Scriptural teachers of the day.
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The people looked up to them, but both John the Baptist and Jesus called
them some bad names.
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Why were they called these names?
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O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak
good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.
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(Matthew 12:34)
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Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites!
for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward,
but are within full of dead men's bones, and of all uncleanness.
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(Matthew 23:27)
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As we see, because they were evil - they did not have spiritual or soulish
righteousness inside them.
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I keep coming back to this most revealing Scripture:
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**A Psalm of David.** LORD, who shall abide in thy tabernacle? who shall
dwell in thy holy hill? He that walketh uprightly, and worketh righteousness,
and speaketh the truth in his heart.
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(Psalms 15:1-2)
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And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee:
and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.
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(Genesis 12:3)
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For various self-ish and unholy reasons they could not see the presence
of the Holy Spirit in Jesus of Nazareth.
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Let's go back to Leviticus:
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And the LORD said unto Moses, Speak unto the priests the sons of Aaron,
and say unto them, There shall none be defiled for the dead among his people:
But for his kin, that is near unto him, that is, for his mother,
and for his father, and for his son, and for his daughter, and for his
brother, And for his sister a virgin, that is nigh unto him, which hath
had no husband; for her may he be defiled. But he shall not defile
himself, being a chief man among his people, to profane himself.
They shall not make baldness upon their head, neither shall they shave
off the corner of their beard, nor make any cuttings in their flesh. They
shall be holy unto their God, and not profane the name of their God: for
the offerings of the LORD made by fire, and the bread of their God,
they do offer: therefore they shall be holy. They shall not take a wife
that is a whore, or profane; neither shall they take a woman put
away from her husband: for he is holy unto his God. Thou shalt sanctify
him therefore; for he offereth the bread of thy God: he shall be holy unto
thee: for I the LORD, which sanctify you, am holy. And the daughter
of any priest, if she profane herself by playing the whore, she profaneth
her father: she shall be burnt with fire. And he that is the high
priest among his brethren, upon whose head the anointing oil was poured,
and that is consecrated to put on the garments, shall not uncover his head,
nor rend his clothes; Neither shall he go in to any dead body, nor defile
himself for his father, or for his mother; Neither shall he go out of the
sanctuary, nor profane the sanctuary of his God; for the crown of the anointing
oil of his God is upon him: I am the LORD. And he shall take
a wife in her virginity. A widow, or a divorced woman, or profane, or
an harlot, these shall he not take: but he shall take a virgin of his own
people to wife. Neither shall he profane his seed among his people: for
I the LORD do sanctify him. And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, Speak
unto Aaron, saying, Whosoever he be of thy seed in their generations
that hath any blemish, let him not approach to offer the bread of
his God. For whatsoever man he be that hath a blemish, he shall
not approach: a blind man, or a lame, or he that hath a flat nose, or any
thing superfluous, Or a man that is brokenfooted, or brokenhanded, Or crookbackt,
or a dwarf, or that hath a blemish in his eye, or be scurvy, or scabbed,
or hath his stones broken; No man that hath a blemish of the seed of Aaron
the priest shall come nigh to offer the offerings of the LORD made by fire:
he hath a blemish; he shall not come nigh to offer the bread of his God.
He shall eat the bread of his God, both of the most holy, and of
the holy. Only he shall not go in unto the vail, nor come nigh unto the
altar, because he hath a blemish; that he profane not my sanctuaries: for
I the LORD do sanctify them. And Moses told it unto Aaron, and to
his sons, and unto all the children of Israel.
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(Leviticus 21:1-24)
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And then to Malachi:
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A son honoureth his father, and a servant his master: if then I
be a father, where is mine honour? and if I be a master,
where is my fear? saith the LORD of hosts unto you, O priests, that
despise my name. And ye say, Wherein have we despised thy name? Ye offer
polluted bread upon mine altar; and ye say, Wherein have we polluted thee?
In that ye say, The table of the LORD is contemptible. And if ye
offer the blind for sacrifice, is it not evil? and if ye offer the
lame and sick, is it not evil? offer it now unto thy governor; will
he be pleased with thee, or accept thy person? saith the LORD of hosts.
And now, I pray you, beseech God that he will be gracious unto us: this
hath been by your means: will he regard your persons? saith the LORD of
hosts. Who is there even among you that would shut the doors for
nought? neither do ye kindle fire on mine altar for nought.
I have no pleasure in you, saith the LORD of hosts, neither will I accept
an offering at your hand. For from the rising of the sun even unto the
going down of the same my name shall be great among the Gentiles;
and in every place incense shall be offered unto my name, and a
pure offering: for my name shall be great among the heathen, saith
the LORD of hosts. But ye have profaned it, in that ye say, The table of
the LORD is polluted; and the fruit thereof, even his meat,
is contemptible. Ye said also, Behold, what a weariness is it!
and ye have snuffed at it, saith the LORD of hosts; and ye brought that
which was torn, and the lame, and the sick; thus ye brought an offering:
should I accept this of your hand? saith the LORD. But cursed be
the deceiver, which hath in his flock a male, and voweth, and sacrificeth
unto the Lord a corrupt thing: for I am a great King, saith the
LORD of hosts, and my name is dreadful among the heathen.
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(Malachi 1:6-14)
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And now, O ye priests, this commandment is for you. If ye will not
hear, and if ye will not lay it to heart, to give glory unto my
name, saith the LORD of hosts, I will even send a curse upon you, and I
will curse your blessings: yea, I have cursed them already, because ye
do not lay it to heart. Behold, I will corrupt your seed, and spread
dung upon your faces, even the dung of your solemn feasts; and one
shall take you away with it. And ye shall know that I have sent this commandment
unto you, that my covenant might be with Levi, saith the LORD of hosts.
My covenant was with him of life and peace; and I gave them to him for
the fear wherewith he feared me, and was afraid before my name. The law
of truth was in his mouth, and iniquity was not found in his lips: he walked
with me in peace and equity, and did turn many away from iniquity. For
the priest's lips should keep knowledge, and they should seek the law at
his mouth: for he is the messenger of the LORD of hosts. But ye
are departed out of the way; ye have caused many to stumble at the law;
ye have corrupted the covenant of Levi, saith the LORD of hosts. Therefore
have I also made you contemptible and base before all the people, according
as ye have not kept my ways, but have been partial in the law. Have we
not all one father? hath not one God created us? why do we deal treacherously
every man against his brother, by profaning the covenant of our fathers?
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(Malachi 2:1-10)
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This means today, because Jesus commanded the disciples to go out and preach
the word, and because we are also disciples, we should do so as well, at
every opportunity. We are the priests of the New Covenant and if any of
us preach or teach anything unbiblical in insincerity, with tongue in cheek;
whether a "reverend" or lay teacher we are sinning against the Holy Spirit
who we (perhaps) claim is living inside of us.
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But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall
be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies,
even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift
destruction. And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of
whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of. And through covetousness
shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now
of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not.
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(2 Peter 2:1-3)
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These are wells without water, clouds that are carried with a tempest;
to whom the mist of darkness is reserved for ever. For when they speak
great swelling words of vanity, they allure through the lusts of the flesh,
through much wantonness, those that were clean escaped from them who live
in error. While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants
of corruption: for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought
in bondage. For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world
through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again
entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than
the beginning. For it had been better for them not to have known the way
of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy
commandment delivered unto them.
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(2 Peter 2:17-21)
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Going back to basics: we learn about God and the Godhead by studying His
word under the guidance of the Holy Spirit. As we know, there is no other
way.
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The teachings that you read on this web site are nothing but the jam on
top of the bread and butter of your continuing salvation.
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Or should we say the sauce on top of the steak. The eating of the meat
is the progressive teaching that you receive from the Holy Spirit.
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But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye
need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you
of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught
you, ye shall abide in him.
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(1 John 2:27)
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Remember what Paul taught us:
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But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you
than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. As we said
before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto
you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.
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(Galatians 1:8-9)
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Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in any
thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you. Nevertheless,
whereto we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us
mind the same thing. Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them
which walk so as ye have us for an ensample. (For many walk, of whom I
have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies
of the cross of Christ: Whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly,
and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.)
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(Philippians 3:15-19)
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This surely means then, that anyone who teaches another gospel, such as
infant baptism, which is unscriptural, is committing the unpardonable sin
against the Holy Spirit.
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Now we come to a most interesting teaching.
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Many Christians believe that if we see professing Christians in willing
sin, especially those in positions of authority, who teach another gospel,
we should pray for them, that God may turn His face to them so that they
should come to the truth and repent.
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This is unbiblical and a waste of time as we shall see.
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God chose the children of Israel out of all the nations of the earth. In
effect, He gave them the chance to get to know Him. No other nations had
this chance.
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That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth
of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope,
and without God in the world:
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(Ephesians 2:12)
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However, the chance was there on an individual basis.
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Say unto them, As I live, saith the Lord GOD, I have no pleasure
in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live:
turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die, O house of Israel?
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(Ezekiel 33:11)
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The New Covenant of God through the Lord Jesus Christ is there for each
and every individual of every nation who shall accept that Covenant.
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As a result of accepting the only way of achieving the chance that there
is, the Holy Spirit comes to live in us to teach all Truth and to comfort
us.
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If ye love me, keep my commandments. And I will pray
the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide
with you for ever; Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot
receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him;
for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.
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(John 14:15-17)
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Those who do not come into Covenant with God through the blood of Christ
Jesus shall not receive the Holy Spirit. They have heard the "foolishness"
of preaching, but failed to react to it.
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They shall not be forgiven this sin, this rejection of God's offer to them
of the Holy Spirit.
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Remembering that the children of Israel in the Old Covenant are paralleled
in the New Covenant by the church, let's firstly see what God's instructions
are to His chosen people and then to the church.
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The word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD, saying, Stand in the gate
of the LORD'S house, and proclaim there this word, and say, Hear the word
of the LORD, all ye of Judah, that enter in at these gates to worship
the LORD. Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, Amend your ways
and your doings, and I will cause you to dwell in this place. Trust ye
not in lying words, saying, The temple of the LORD, The temple of the LORD,
The temple of the LORD, are these. For if ye throughly amend your
ways and your doings; if ye throughly execute judgment between a man and
his neighbour; If ye oppress not the stranger, the fatherless, and
the widow, and shed not innocent blood in this place, neither walk after
other gods to your hurt: Then will I cause you to dwell in this place,
in the land that I gave to your fathers, for ever and ever. Behold, ye
trust in lying words, that cannot profit. Will ye steal, murder, and commit
adultery, and swear falsely, and burn incense unto Baal, and walk after
other gods whom ye know not; And come and stand before me in this house,
which is called by my name, and say, We are delivered to do all these abominations?
Is this house, which is called by my name, become a den of robbers in your
eyes? Behold, even I have seen it, saith the LORD. But go ye now
unto my place which was in Shiloh, where I set my name at the first,
and see what I did to it for the wickedness of my people Israel. And now,
because ye have done all these works, saith the LORD, and I spake unto
you, rising up early and speaking, but ye heard not; and I called you,
but ye answered not; Therefore will I do unto this house, which
is called by my name, wherein ye trust, and unto the place which I gave
to you and to your fathers, as I have done to Shiloh. And I will cast you
out of my sight, as I have cast out all your brethren, even the
whole seed of Ephraim. Therefore pray not thou for this people, neither
lift up cry nor prayer for them, neither make intercession to me: for I
will not hear thee.
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(Jeremiah 7:1-16)
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Therefore pray not thou for this people, neither lift up a cry or prayer
for them: for I will not hear them in the time that they cry unto
me for their trouble.
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(Jeremiah 11:14)
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The following passages of Scripture of the New Covenant all have one common
denominator:
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Wherefore I say unto you, All manner of sin and blasphemy
shall be forgiven unto men: but the blasphemy against the Holy
Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men. And whosoever speaketh a word against
the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but whosoever speaketh against
the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, neither
in the world to come.
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(Matthew 12:31-32)
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If any man see 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.
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(1 John 5:16)
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Ye stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist
the Holy Ghost: as your fathers did, so do ye. Which
of the prophets have not your fathers persecuted? and they have slain them
which shewed before of the coming of the Just One; of whom ye have been
now the betrayers and murderers: Who have received the law by the disposition
of angels, and have not kept it.
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(Acts 7:51-53)
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For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness. He therefore
that despiseth, despiseth not man, but God, who hath also given unto us
his holy Spirit.
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(1 Thessalonians 4:7-8)
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Holding faith, and a good conscience; which some having put away concerning
faith have made shipwreck: Of whom is Hymenaeus and Alexander; whom I have
delivered unto Satan, that they may learn not to blaspheme.
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(1 Timothy 1:19-20)
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There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in
purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day: And there was a
certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores,
And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man's table:
moreover the dogs came and licked his sores. And it came to pass, that
the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom: the
rich man also died, and was buried; And in hell he lift up his eyes, being
in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. And
he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus,
that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for
I am tormented in this flame. But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou
in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things:
but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented. And beside all this, between
us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from
hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come
from thence. Then he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest
send him to my father's house: For I have five brethren; that he may testify
unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment. Abraham saith
unto him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them. And he
said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they
will repent. And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets,
neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.
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(Luke 16:19-31)
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Reading the following Scriptures should further clarify matters:
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And the people spake against God, and against Moses, Wherefore have ye
brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? for there is
no bread, neither is there any water; and our soul loatheth this
light bread. And the LORD sent fiery serpents among the people, and they
bit the people; and much people of Israel died. Therefore the people came
to Moses, and said, We have sinned, for we have spoken against the LORD,
and against thee; pray unto the LORD, that he take away the serpents from
us. And Moses prayed for the people. And the LORD said unto Moses, Make
thee a fiery serpent, and set it upon a pole: and it shall come to pass,
that every one that is bitten, when he looketh upon it, shall live. And
Moses made a serpent of brass, and put it upon a pole, and it came to pass,
that if a serpent had bitten any man, when he beheld the serpent of brass,
he lived.
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(Numbers 21:5-9)
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And they sent messengers to the inhabitants of Kirjathjearim, saying, The
Philistines have brought again the ark of the LORD; come ye down, and
fetch it up to you.
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And the men of Kirjathjearim came, and fetched up the ark of the LORD,
and brought it into the house of Abinadab in the hill, and sanctified Eleazar
his son to keep the ark of the LORD. And it came to pass, while the ark
abode in Kirjathjearim, that the time was long; for it was twenty years:
and all the house of Israel lamented after the LORD. And Samuel spake unto
all the house of Israel, saying, If ye do return unto the LORD with all
your hearts, then put away the strange gods and Ashtaroth from among
you, and prepare your hearts unto the LORD, and serve him only: and he
will deliver you out of the hand of the Philistines. Then the children
of Israel did put away Baalim and Ashtaroth, and served the LORD only.
And Samuel said, Gather all Israel to Mizpeh, and I will pray for you unto
the LORD. And they gathered together to Mizpeh, and drew water, and poured
it out before the LORD, and fasted on that day, and said there,
We have sinned against the LORD. And Samuel judged the children of Israel
in Mizpeh.
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(1 Samuel 6:21 - 7:1-6)
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If ye will fear the LORD, and serve him, and obey his voice, and not rebel
against the commandment of the LORD, then shall both ye and also the king
that reigneth over you continue following the LORD your God: But if ye
will not obey the voice of the LORD, but rebel against the commandment
of the LORD, then shall the hand of the LORD be against you, as it was
against your fathers. Now therefore stand and see this great thing, which
the LORD will do before your eyes. Is it not wheat harvest to day?
I will call unto the LORD, and he shall send thunder and rain; that ye
may perceive and see that your wickedness is great, which ye have
done in the sight of the LORD, in asking you a king. So Samuel called unto
the LORD; and the LORD sent thunder and rain that day: and all the people
greatly feared the LORD and Samuel. And all the people said unto Samuel,
Pray for thy servants unto the LORD thy God, that we die not: for we have
added unto all our sins this evil, to ask us a king. And Samuel
said unto the people, Fear not: ye have done all this wickedness: yet turn
not aside from following the LORD, but serve the LORD with all your heart;
And turn ye not aside: for then should ye go after vain things,
which cannot profit nor deliver; for they are vain. For the LORD
will not forsake his people for his great name's sake: because it hath
pleased the LORD to make you his people. Moreover as for me, God forbid
that I should sin against the LORD in ceasing to pray for you: but I will
teach you the good and the right way: Only fear the LORD, and serve him
in truth with all your heart: for consider how great things he hath
done for you. But if ye shall still do wickedly, ye shall be consumed,
both ye and your king.
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(1 Samuel 12:14-25)
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According to all these words, and according to all this vision, so did
Nathan speak unto David. Then went king David in, and sat before the LORD,
and he said, Who am I, O Lord GOD? and what is my house,
that thou hast brought me hitherto? And this was yet a small thing in thy
sight, O Lord GOD; but thou hast spoken also of thy servant's house for
a great while to come. And is this the manner of man, O Lord GOD?
And what can David say more unto thee? for thou, Lord GOD, knowest thy
servant. For thy word's sake, and according to thine own heart, hast thou
done all these great things, to make thy servant know them. Wherefore
thou art great, O LORD God: for there is none like thee, neither
is there any God beside thee, according to all that we have heard
with our ears. And what one nation in the earth is like thy people,
even like Israel, whom God went to redeem for a people to himself,
and to make him a name, and to do for you great things and terrible, for
thy land, before thy people, which thou redeemedst to thee from Egypt,
from the nations and their gods? For thou hast confirmed to thyself
thy people Israel to be a people unto thee for ever: and thou, LORD,
art become their God. And now, O LORD God, the word that thou hast spoken
concerning thy servant, and concerning his house, establish it for
ever, and do as thou hast said. And let thy name be magnified for ever,
saying, The LORD of hosts is the God over Israel: and let the house
of thy servant David be established before thee. For thou, O LORD of hosts,
God of Israel, hast revealed to thy servant, saying, I will build thee
an house: therefore hath thy servant found in his heart to pray this prayer
unto thee. And now, O Lord GOD, thou art that God, and thy words
be true, and thou hast promised this goodness unto thy servant: Therefore
now let it please thee to bless the house of thy servant, that it may continue
for ever before thee: for thou, O Lord GOD, hast spoken it: and
with thy blessing let the house of thy servant be blessed for ever.
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(2 Samuel 7:17-29)
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If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and
pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear
from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.
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(2 Chronicles 7:14)
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I have heard of thee by the hearing of the ear: but now mine eye seeth
thee. Wherefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes. And
it was so, that after the LORD had spoken these words unto Job,
the LORD said to Eliphaz the Temanite, My wrath is kindled against thee,
and against thy two friends: for ye have not spoken of me the thing
that is right, as my servant Job hath. Therefore take unto you
now seven bullocks and seven rams, and go to my servant Job, and offer
up for yourselves a burnt offering; and my servant Job shall pray for you:
for him will I accept: lest I deal with you after your folly, in
that ye have not spoken of me the thing which is right, like my
servant Job. So Eliphaz the Temanite and Bildad the Shuhite and
Zophar the Naamathite went, and did according as the LORD commanded them:
the LORD also accepted Job. And the LORD turned the captivity of Job, when
he prayed for his friends: also the LORD gave Job twice as much as he had
before.
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(Job 42:5-10)
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The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding
have all they that do his commandments: his praise endureth for
ever.
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(Psalms 111:10)
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The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge
of the holy is understanding.
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(Proverbs 9:10)
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Read this one carefully. Hath what? What shall be given him?
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For whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he
shall have more abundance: but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken
away even that he hath. Therefore speak I to them in parables: because
they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand.
And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Esaias, which saith, By hearing
ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and shall
not perceive: For this people's heart is waxed gross, and their
ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any
time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their
ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted,
and I should heal them.
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(Matthew 13:12-15)
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And when he was at the place, he said unto them, Pray
that ye enter not into temptation.
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(Luke 22:40)
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But though he had done so many miracles before them, yet they believed
not on him: That the saying of Esaias the prophet might be fulfilled, which
he spake, Lord, who hath believed our report? and to whom hath the arm
of the Lord been revealed? Therefore they could not believe, because that
Esaias said again, He hath blinded their eyes, and hardened their heart;
that they should not see with their eyes, nor understand with their
heart, and be converted, and I should heal them. These things said Esaias,
when he saw his glory, and spake of him. Nevertheless among the chief rulers
also many believed on him; but because of the Pharisees they did not confess
him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue: For they loved
the praise of men more than the praise of God.
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(John 12:37-43)
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These things have I spoken unto you, that ye should
not be offended. They shall put you out of the synagogues: yea, the time
cometh, that whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service.
And these things will they do unto you, because they have not known the
Father, nor me.
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(John 16:1-3)
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I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for
them which thou hast given me; for they are thine.
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(John 17:9)
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Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also
which shall believe on me through their word;
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(John 17:20)
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But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom
of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and
women. Then Simon himself believed also: and when he was baptized, he continued
with Philip, and wondered, beholding the miracles and signs which were
done. Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria
had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John: Who,
when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the
Holy Ghost: (For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were
baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.) Then laid they their hands
on them, and they received the Holy Ghost. And when Simon saw that through
laying on of the apostles' hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them
money, Saying, Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay hands,
he may receive the Holy Ghost. But Peter said unto him, Thy money perish
with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased
with money. Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter: for thy heart
is not right in the sight of God. Repent therefore of this thy wickedness,
and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee.
For I perceive that thou art in the gall of bitterness, and in the
bond of iniquity. Then answered Simon, and said, Pray ye to the Lord for
me, that none of these things which ye have spoken come upon me. And they,
when they had testified and preached the word of the Lord, returned to
Jerusalem, and preached the gospel in many villages of the Samaritans.
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(Acts 8:12-25)
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And when they had preached the gospel to that city, and had taught many,
they returned again to Lystra, and to Iconium, and Antioch, Confirming
the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the
faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom
of God. And when they had ordained them elders in every church, and had
prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord, on whom they believed.
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(Acts 14:21-23)
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And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge
and in all judgment;
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(Philippians 1:9)
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Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with
thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of
God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds
through Christ Jesus.
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(Philippians 4:6-7)
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Since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus, and of the love which
ye have to all the saints, For the hope which is laid up for you in
heaven, whereof ye heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel;
Which is come unto you, as it is in all the world; and bringeth
forth fruit, as it doth also in you, since the day ye heard of
it, and knew the grace of God in truth:
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(Colossians 1:4-6)
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For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease
to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge
of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding;
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(Colossians 1:9)
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For from you sounded out the word of the Lord not only in Macedonia and
Achaia, but also in every place your faith to God-ward is spread abroad;
so that we need not to speak any thing. For they themselves shew of us
what manner of entering in we had unto you, and how ye turned to God from
idols to serve the living and true God; And to wait for his Son from heaven,
whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from
the wrath to come.
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(1 Thessalonians 1:8-10)
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Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may have free
course, and be glorified, even as it is with you:
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(2 Thessalonians 3:1)
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And this will we do, if God permit. For it is impossible for those who
were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made
partakers of the Holy Ghost, And have tasted the good word of God, and
the powers of the world to come, If they shall fall away, to renew them
again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God
afresh, and put him to an open shame. For the earth which drinketh in the
rain that cometh oft upon it, and bringeth forth herbs meet for them by
whom it is dressed, receiveth blessing from God: But that which beareth
thorns and briers is rejected, and is nigh unto cursing; whose end is to
be burned. But, beloved, we are persuaded better things of you, and things
that accompany salvation, though we thus speak. For God is not unrighteous
to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have shewed toward his
name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister. And we
desire that every one of you do shew the same diligence to the full assurance
of hope unto the end: That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who
through faith and patience inherit the promises.
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(Hebrews 6:3-12)
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Pray for us: for we trust we have a good conscience, in all things willing
to live honestly.
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(Hebrews 13:18)
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Here are two verses that seem to contradict the teaching that we must not
pray for the unrepentant "believers":
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But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them
that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which
despitefully use you, and persecute you;
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(Matthew 5:44)
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Bless them that curse you, and pray for them which
despitefully use you.
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(Luke 6:28)
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Have another look. They sin against you, not the Holy Spirit.
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The following Scriptures clarify matters:
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Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know
not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots.
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(Luke 23:34)
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And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin
to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep.
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(Acts 7:60)
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And labour, working with our own hands: being reviled, we bless; being
persecuted, we suffer it: Being defamed, we intreat: we are made as the
filth of the world, and are the offscouring of all things unto this
day.
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(1 Corinthians 4:12-13)
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To recap, if anyone is spiritually reborn, receives the gift of the Holy
Spirit and the manifestations of the Spiritual world and then falls away;
or who professes Christianity and wilfully teaches anything different from
the word of God, either they don’t have the Holy Spirit inside them, but
another spirit; or they don’t have any spirit, being uninterested in learning
the truth and rather being led by the god of this world; they are lost
and in danger of eternal damnation.
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And the LORD said unto Cain, Where is Abel thy brother? And he said,
I know not: Am I my brother's keeper? And he said, What hast thou
done? the voice of thy brother's blood crieth unto me from the ground.
And now art thou cursed from the earth, which hath opened her mouth
to receive thy brother's blood from thy hand;
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(Genesis 4:9-11)
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Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power
and signs and lying wonders, And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness
in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that
they might be saved. And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion,
that they should believe a lie: That they all might be damned who believed
not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.
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(2 Thessalonians 2:9-12)
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But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren
beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to
salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth:
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(2 Thessalonians 2:13)
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