Monday, June 19, 2006
HISTORIC BLASPHEMY
Matt. 12:31-32. "Therefore I say to you, any sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven men, but blasphemy against the Spirit shall not be forgiven.
32. "And whoever shall speak a word against the Son of Man, it shall be forgiven him; but whoever shall speak against the Holy Spirit, it shall not be forgiven him, either in this age, or in the age to come.
Mark 3:28-30. "Truly I say to you, all sins shall be forgiven the sons of men, and whatever blasphemies they utter; 29. but whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness, but is guilty of an eternal sin" 30. because they were saying, "He has an unclean spirit."
Matthew spells out the generality of blasphemy in that any sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven men. Herein lays the hope even of the most heinous individual. No one, as long as he has breath, is without opportunity to repent of his infractions. Passing over the last part of Matt 12:31 (but blasphemy against the Spirit shall not be forgiven.) we focus on more of that which will be forgiven. Whoever shall speak a word against the Son of Man [Jesus], it shall be forgiven him. This passage is closed to the era of Christ’s life on earth which both Peter and Paul found pardon.
Peter’s blasphemy is found when Jesus is on trial in Mark 14:66-72 And as Peter was below in the courtyard, one of the servant-girls of the high priest came, 67. and seeing Peter warming himself, she looked at him, and said, "You, too, were with Jesus the Nazarene." 68. But he denied it, saying, "I neither know nor understand what you are talking about." And he went out onto the porch. 69. And the maid saw him, and began once more to say to the bystanders, "This is one of them!" 70. But again he was denying it. And after a little while the bystanders were again saying to Peter, "Surely you are one of them, for you are a Galilean too." 71. But he began to curse and swear, "I do not know this man you are talking about!" 72. And immediately a cock crowed a second time. And Peter remembered how Jesus had made the remark to him, "Before a cock crows twice, you will deny Me three times." And he began to weep.
Paul (Saul) was in agreement with the stoning of Stephen and put Christians in prison (Acts 8:1, 3). He had chosen the side that would actively scatter. His confession is found in 1Tim. 1:12-1 I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has strengthened me, because He considered me faithful, putting me into service; 13. even though I was formerly a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent aggressor. And yet I was shown mercy, because I acted ignorantly in unbelief; 14. and the grace of our Lord was more than abundant, with the faith and love which are found in Christ Jesus. 15. It is a trustworthy statement, deserving full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, among whom I am foremost of all. 16. And yet for this reason I found mercy, in order that in me as the foremost, Jesus Christ might demonstrate His perfect patience, as an example for those who would believe in Him for eternal life. 17. Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.
32. "And whoever shall speak a word against the Son of Man, it shall be forgiven him; but whoever shall speak against the Holy Spirit, it shall not be forgiven him, either in this age, or in the age to come.
Mark 3:28-30. "Truly I say to you, all sins shall be forgiven the sons of men, and whatever blasphemies they utter; 29. but whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness, but is guilty of an eternal sin" 30. because they were saying, "He has an unclean spirit."
Matthew spells out the generality of blasphemy in that any sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven men. Herein lays the hope even of the most heinous individual. No one, as long as he has breath, is without opportunity to repent of his infractions. Passing over the last part of Matt 12:31 (but blasphemy against the Spirit shall not be forgiven.) we focus on more of that which will be forgiven. Whoever shall speak a word against the Son of Man [Jesus], it shall be forgiven him. This passage is closed to the era of Christ’s life on earth which both Peter and Paul found pardon.
Peter’s blasphemy is found when Jesus is on trial in Mark 14:66-72 And as Peter was below in the courtyard, one of the servant-girls of the high priest came, 67. and seeing Peter warming himself, she looked at him, and said, "You, too, were with Jesus the Nazarene." 68. But he denied it, saying, "I neither know nor understand what you are talking about." And he went out onto the porch. 69. And the maid saw him, and began once more to say to the bystanders, "This is one of them!" 70. But again he was denying it. And after a little while the bystanders were again saying to Peter, "Surely you are one of them, for you are a Galilean too." 71. But he began to curse and swear, "I do not know this man you are talking about!" 72. And immediately a cock crowed a second time. And Peter remembered how Jesus had made the remark to him, "Before a cock crows twice, you will deny Me three times." And he began to weep.
Paul (Saul) was in agreement with the stoning of Stephen and put Christians in prison (Acts 8:1, 3). He had chosen the side that would actively scatter. His confession is found in 1Tim. 1:12-1 I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has strengthened me, because He considered me faithful, putting me into service; 13. even though I was formerly a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent aggressor. And yet I was shown mercy, because I acted ignorantly in unbelief; 14. and the grace of our Lord was more than abundant, with the faith and love which are found in Christ Jesus. 15. It is a trustworthy statement, deserving full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, among whom I am foremost of all. 16. And yet for this reason I found mercy, in order that in me as the foremost, Jesus Christ might demonstrate His perfect patience, as an example for those who would believe in Him for eternal life. 17. Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.
# posted by Castusfumus : 3:00 PM
