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"Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man, it will be forgiven him; but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit, it will not be forgiven him, either in this age or in the age to come."
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It has been happening for a long time -- actually it can be traced back to a moment when the second human on earth engaged in a conversation on the subject of what fruit was acceptable to eat and what was not as revealed by the Creator of the heavens and the earth.
Want examples? Then try these…..
The Holy Spirit says there were an Adam and an Eve. Further, we are given details as to what they did after they were created and due to their initial rebellion against God, sin and death have invaded the entire human race.
But an assortment of pastors, theologians, and scholars (hereafter referred to as the PTS crowd) say they didn't really exist -- that Adam and Eve are simply part of a myth which attempts in "story form" to explain the origin of the human race!
But for those of us who have made our personal acquaintance with Him through repentance of our sins, receiving Him into our lives as Savior and Lord, and walking in fellowship with Him each day, it does make a very significant difference -- after all, it's pretty hard to get personally acquainted with a corpse, much less enter into conversation with that corpse, is it not?
Among other things this means the end of all human government structures as they presently exist! For the United States it will mean the complete end of politics and broken promises which we've had to endure ever since the demise of true statesmanship a long time ago in the history of our republic.
Another wrinkle in the heresy of denying Hell's existence is the teaching of the false doctrine of universalism. Members of the PTS club relish telling people that everyone is going to Heaven, no matter what, because God is a God of "love" and He could never tolerate even one person being in a place of eternal torment.
And finally >
The Holy Spirit records these words of Jesus, Who said, "Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that
leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find
it. (Matthew 7:13,14).
Most of the PTS bunch believes in universalism -- that is, everyone is going to Heaven! I attended a meeting some months ago in which the bishop
of the W PA Conference of the United Methodist Church was present. At one point she declared, "We are all children of God!" Then she paused, and for emphasis, raised
her voice to a higher pitch and shouted, "We are all children of God!" I responded later in sending a letter to her noting that she was in conflict with Jesus Who
declared some people to be of their father the Devil (John 8:44). Also Paul who on occasion declared a man to be a child of the Devil (Acts 13:9,10). And John broke the human race into two
categories > those who are children of God and those who are children of the Devil (1 John 3:7-10)!
So there you have it -- a few areas where an unsavory assortment of pastors, theologians, and scholars have spoken against the Holy Spirit.
There are those who attempt to justify the positions of such heretics by saying it's just a matter of interpretation -- it's all in how you see it in your personal view and life's experiences and how you then proceed to interpret the Scriptures in light of all that.
Which brings up a real major problem here -- Jesus indicated that the Author of the Scriptures is the One Who teaches us, guides us into truth, and shows us things to come! It goes without saying that we must be teachable and be willing to be guided if we are going to experience the eternal truths of God. There will be a real sense of unity among those who have met Jesus' demand to become as a child and by faith explore the Scriptures in total dependence upon the Holy Spirit for understanding and clarity regarding God's ways and purposes.
In regard to some past miracle events -- if God wanted to split the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans all at the same time at a width of 100 or 500 miles wide, He could do it -- if He wanted to preserve a man alive in the belly of a big fish for 30, 300, or 3,000 days, He could do it -- if He wanted to feed a million or 10 million people with a few loaves of bread and a few fish, He could do it! And all that with no obligation to spell out scientific formulas and rational explanations as to how and why He did it to our intellectual satisfaction.
It sort of boils down to this -- just how big is the God you claim to believe and what is this God capable of doing when He chooses to take action? That assortment of PTSers to which reference has already been made has proudly expressed their "intellectual superiority." In the process they have assassinated the child-like faith which Jesus said is absolutely necessary in order to enter the Kingdom of God. As a result they have come up with a god of their own making who is quite impotent and only permitted to operate within boundaries of flawed human reasoning established by their very limited minds!
Now in these days as heretics are often made welcomed in a lot of denominations under the pretense that we a "diverse" group and we need to "celebrate" our diversity, there will be those who will say that the above comments are coming from a narrow minded fundamentalist who takes the entire Bible literally and who is very intolerant of the many "diverse" views which make up today's church. In response, I protest -- I am not a strict "literalist" -- for instance, when Jesus said, "I am the door," I don't think of a panel on hinges with a door knob protruding from it! Honest, I never have, but if I were a strict literalist, then that's how I would picture Jesus in light of such a statement!
Anyway, be blessed as you search for treasures in the Scriptures and depend on the Author for instruction, guidance, and application. Bear in mind this important statement:
"All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work."
--- 2 Timothy 3:16,17 NKJV
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And Jesus answered and said to them: "Take heed that no one deceives you. For many will come in My name, saying, 'I am the Christ,' and will deceive many...Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many...For false christs and false prophets will arise and show great signs and wonders, so as to deceive, if possible, even the elect.
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. Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons, speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their own conscience seared with a hot iron..... 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. 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 on themselves swift destruction. And many will follow their destructive ways, because of whom the way of truth will be blasphemed. Beloved, while I was very diligent to write to you concerning our common salvation, I found it necessary to write to you exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints. For certain men have crept in unnoticed, who long ago were marked out for this condemnation, ungodly men, who turn the grace of our God into licentiousness and deny the only Lord God and our Lord Jesus Christ. Now I urge you, brethren, note those who cause divisions and offenses, contrary to the doctrine which you learned, and avoid them. For those who are such do not serve our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly, and by smooth words and flattering speech deceive the hearts of the simple. Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world. By this you know the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God, and every spirit that does not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God. And this is the spirit of the Antichrist, which you have heard was coming, and is now already in the world. You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world. They are of the world. Therefore they speak as of the world, and the world hears them. We are of God. He who knows God hears us; he who is not of God does not hear us. By this we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of error. Whoever transgresses and does not abide in the doctrine of Christ does not have God. He who abides in the doctrine of Christ has both the Father and the Son. If anyone comes to you and does not bring this doctrine, do not receive him into your house nor greet him; for he who greets him shares in his evil deeds. "Nevertheless I have a few things against you, because you allow that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess, to teach and beguile My servants to commit sexual immorality and to eat things sacrificed to idols. And I gave her time to repent of her sexual immorality, and she did not repent. Indeed I will cast her into a sickbed, and those who commit adultery with her into great tribulation, unless they repent of their deeds. And I will kill her children with death. And all the churches shall know that I am He who searches the minds and hearts. And I will give to each one of you according to your works." Romans 16:17,18; 2 John 1:9-11; 1 John 4:1-6; Revelation 2:20-23 NKJV |
AND an appropriate prayer....
