Nov
8
The Unpardonable Sin
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As a pastor I’ve been asked the question with some regularity, usually by a young person, “Is there a sin that can’t be forgiven?” In fact, the question was posed to me recently by one of our youth at CoJ. The question is most often provoked by a study of either Mark 3:28-29, where Jesus says, “I tell you the truth, all the sins and blasphemies of men will be forgiven them. But whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven; he is guilty of an eternal sin;” or Matthew 12:31-32, which similarly says - “And so I tell you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven. Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but anyone who speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come.”
In my experience, youth seem particularly vulnerable to the thought that there likely is a particular sin that is so heinous that God just can’t or won’t forgive it, and moreover, that it’s quite possible he or she (or a close friend) has already committed it.
First of all, to this I say that the Scripture passages cited above have a particular context in mind - Jesus’ exchange with the Pharisees, 
a sect of the Jews of His day, who strictly adhered to the Law of Moses and were proud of their ability to do so. The Pharisees had made the assertion that Jesus’ popularity and miraculous works were the result of Satan’s influence in His life. Jesus called this, “the blasphemy against the Holy Spirit,” or attributing the work of God to the devil, a serious offense with the gravest possible consequences, according to Jesus. Yet, as we search the Scripture, there are numerous forms of serious sins committed by a wide assortment of people that God seems willing and able to forgive. Why does Jesus single out this sin? What is meant by “the blasphemy against the Holy Spirit,” which Jesus asserts is “unforgivable?” Read more
Oct
5
The Secret of Happiness
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At the risk of sounding harsh, have you ever noticed how chronically miserable some Christians appear to be? Why would someone considering the Christian faith want what they’re offering? I don’t want to minimize how hard life can be. Living the Christian life is challenging and sometimes downright difficult. Nevertheless, we have resources to employ. The Holy Spirit indwells us, encouraging us with His presence and empowering us to endure. We’re members of God’s family, which means we’re not alone in facing our challenges.
For all who feel bound and gagged in a prison of unhappiness, or for all who would like to be equipped to encourage those who are, the opening words of Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount offer hope. For the next eight Sundays in October and November we’ll consider the Beatitudes of Jesus from Matthew 5:3-12 in a series of messages entitled “The Secret of Happiness.” Join us as we explore this passage together.
