Thursday, June 01, 2006
MORE GREAT QUOTES
William Hendriksen writes, “Every man remains fully responsible for what he is, thinks, speaks, and does, for though it is true that he cannot change his own heart, it is also true that with strength given to him by God he is able to flee to Him who renews hearts and lives. The Lord is ever willing and eager to give whatever He demands of men. If men do not receive it, this is their fault, not God’s.”
Wednesday, May 31, 2006
THE UNFORGIVABLE SIN
Matt. 3:28-29. "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"
William Barclay comments on the “unforgivable sin”.
There is only one condition of forgiveness and that is penitence. So long as a man sees loveliness in Christ, so long as he hates his sin even if he cannot leave it, even if he is in the mud and the mire, he can still be forgiven. But if a man, by repeated refusals of God's guidance, has lost the ability to recognize goodness when he sees it, if he has got his moral values inverted until evil to him is good and good to him is evil, then, even when he is confronted by Jesus, he is conscious of no sin; he cannot repent and therefore he can never be forgiven. That is the sin against the Holy Spirit.
William Barclay comments on the “unforgivable sin”.
There is only one condition of forgiveness and that is penitence. So long as a man sees loveliness in Christ, so long as he hates his sin even if he cannot leave it, even if he is in the mud and the mire, he can still be forgiven. But if a man, by repeated refusals of God's guidance, has lost the ability to recognize goodness when he sees it, if he has got his moral values inverted until evil to him is good and good to him is evil, then, even when he is confronted by Jesus, he is conscious of no sin; he cannot repent and therefore he can never be forgiven. That is the sin against the Holy Spirit.
Monday, May 29, 2006
GREAT QUOTES
Matt. 12:29. "Or how can anyone enter the strong man's house and carry off his property, unless he first binds the strong man? And then he will plunder his house.
Speaking on this verse Calvin writes, “Now the tyranny that he [Satan] exercises is defended on every side by strong ramparts. His snares for entrapping men are beyond all calculation; nay, men are already his slaves, and so firmly bound by a variety of fetters that they rather cherish the slavery, to which they are devoted, than make any aspirations after freedom… By these words he informs us, that it is in vain for men to expect deliverance, till Satan has been subdued by a violent struggle.
There is no man who does not loudly boast that he desires the kingdom of God: and yet we do not permit Christ to fight boldly, as the occasion requires, in order to rescue us from the power of our tyrant; just as if a sick man were to entreat the aid of a physician, and then to refuse every remedy.”
Speaking on this verse Calvin writes, “Now the tyranny that he [Satan] exercises is defended on every side by strong ramparts. His snares for entrapping men are beyond all calculation; nay, men are already his slaves, and so firmly bound by a variety of fetters that they rather cherish the slavery, to which they are devoted, than make any aspirations after freedom… By these words he informs us, that it is in vain for men to expect deliverance, till Satan has been subdued by a violent struggle.
There is no man who does not loudly boast that he desires the kingdom of God: and yet we do not permit Christ to fight boldly, as the occasion requires, in order to rescue us from the power of our tyrant; just as if a sick man were to entreat the aid of a physician, and then to refuse every remedy.”
