Biblical Principles For Kingdom Living

On the program this Sunday, Dr. Dan teaches about our spiritual freedom from Galations 5:1,13-25 as we approach our national Independence Day in the US.  The program includes inspirational bluegrass music!  Join him this Sunday at 1:30 Eastern Time and temember you can always visit the Archives to listen to previously aired messages at your convenience.

“A PILLOW FOR A STORM”

Mark 4:35-41

Scooter is our Corgi who has been with us for about thirteen years.  She came to love with us while I was at the Adair church and she made the move with us to Kenwood when I entered the retired relationship with the church in 2001.  The woods around our home are filled with trails the Scooter has made through the years and we know for a fact that she has traveled to town a few times.  We call her  “the great protector of our property” and laugh about this because when either or both of us arrive home, she is usually napping in the front flower bed.  Sometimes though in cooler weather she naps on the back porch.  On more than one occasion when I have opened the back door she takes off like a shot as if to say, “I’m not napping, I’m hard at word guarding the place.”  She is overweight, but can run like the wind if she wants to chase a rabbit.

Actually, there does not appear to be anything that Scooter is afraid of except for fireworks or a rifle shot during deer season and storms.  Lightening or just the distant rumble of thunder brings her to the backdoor scratching to get in.  In other words, Scooter does not seem to be afraid of very much, except for what she perceives to be bigger than she is!

For many years, we would find her in bed with us during nighttime storms.  Then, when we got a new mattress that is higher than the old one making it impossible for her jump onto, she scratches us awake to protect her from the threatening weather.

On one such occasion, I went in to lie down in the middle of the night on a futon we have in the den.  Happily, she jumped up to lie beside me getting as close to me as possible.  She rested her long nose on my shoulder and immediately I felt the heat from her rapid panting and the moisture from her drooling.  Realizing I had already had a bath, I got up and let her follow me around the house until the storm subsided.

In the Scripture for today, a story that is also found in Matthew and Luke, Jesus has spent the day teaching in parables when at evening He told His disciples that it was time to travel by boat to the other side of Lake Gennesaret.   The crowds that had followed Jesus were sent away and there were several boats needed to transport Jesus and His disciples to the other side of the sea.

The Sea of Galilee was notorious for unpredictable storms. A writer describes the scene:  “It is not unusual to see terrible squalls hurl themselves, even when the sky is perfectly clear, upon these waters which are ordinarily so calm.  The numerous ravines which to the northeast and east surround the upper part of the lake operate as so many dangerous defiles in which the winds from the surrounding mountains are compressed in such a way that, rushing with tremendous force through a  narrow space and then being suddenly released, the agitate the little lake in the most frightful fashion.”

Jesus was in one of the boats in a position near the stern reserved for a distinguished guest where a carpet and a cushion were arranged, and Jesus was comfortably asleep as the boat rocked back and forth.

Suddenly, one of these storms developed which caused the disciples in the boat with Jesus to fall into a panic.  The wind and the waves beat against the little boat filing it with water.  Picture the scene:  frightened disciples and Jesus sound asleep on a pillow as cool as a cucumber!

It is a rare scene for anyone to be perfectly calm if not asleep in the midst of turmoil.  I just finished reading a book on the life of John Brown who carried out a raid on Harper’s Ferry Virginia prior to the American Civil War.  He is described as one who was always believed his actions against slavery was in keeping with God’s will and he remained calm most of his life even though he was surrounded by turmoil.  Even when he went to the gallows to be hung for his crime, a colonel later wrote, “I stood close to him, and watched him narrowly, to see if I could detect any signs of shrinking or trembling in his person, but there was none.” (From “Midnight Rising” by Tony Horwitz)

Although Scripture does not indicate this, I can imagine one of the disciples kicking Jesus to awaken him say, “Hey, wake up! There is a storm and the boat is filling up with water and we are going to drown.  Don’t you care about us?

It is at this point that Jesus awakens and did two things.  First, He rebuked the wind and then he commanded the storm to cease, “and there was a great calm”. (Mark 4:39)

In rebuking the wind, Jesus did the same thing He did to demons that had possessed  a man Mark 1:25: “And Jesus rebuked him, saying, ‘Hold you peace and come out of him.”

The response of the disciples was one of fear and wonder at man who could command the wind and the sea to obey Him.  The logic of people living in this time was the same in their belief that just as a demon possessed that man, so the destructive power of the storm were demons at work in the realm of nature.

Helen Kim, a Korean lay leader and hymn writer, portrays this in her hymn, “Lonely The Boat”:

Lonely the boat, sailing at sea, tossed on a cold, stormy night;

Cruel the sea, which seemed so wide, with waves so high.

This single ship sailed the deep sea, straight into the gale;

O Lord, great is the peril, dangers to all assail.

Strong winds arose in all their rage, tossing the tiny lone boat;

Waves billowing high, tossing the boat, lost and afloat.

The sailor stood all alone, wondering what to do

Trembling with fear, deep in despair, looking for help all around,

The sailor saw, light from above.

What we learn from this story is that the Lord Jesus Christ rested in perfect peace in the midst of the storm and He is ready to fill your life with peace even though storms may fill your life from time to time.  His life was God centered and faith centered and He offers us the same assurance when we “Let go and let God.”

One of the first Bible verses I memorized comes from 1 Peter 5:7:  “Cast all your cares upon Him, for He cares for you.”  But in reality that is often not the case.  We may place our burden into the Lord’s lap, but then we take it back and we worry and fret over it only to be ashamed when all turns out well.  But lack of trust, fear and anxiety, is a part of human nature which God calls us to meet by trusting in Him to meet our needs.

There are some, and I am thankful for these believers, who don’t appear to have a problem with trusting that all will be well.  I usually don’t like to point out members of my congregation who teach us profound lessons, but Mr. Moss is a case in point.  When last Sunday I mentioned that I was waiting on the results of a biopsy, Mr. Moss said, “It will be clear.”  He just reaching out and claimed it!

At Annual Conference Hayes announced to those who had not heard that he had been diagnosed with prostate cancer.  The Bishop said, “I claim the healing.  The devil didn’t know what he was doing when he gave me cancer.  He will be whipped into submission!”

I have always believed that God will not give us what we want, but God will give us what we need.  He has promised never to forsake us, but trust in His care is always the challenge we face; trust that is developed as we grow in a daily relationship with Jesus.

In his commentary on Mark’s gospel, William Barclay writes:

“When the disciples realized the presence of Jesus with them the storm became calm.  Once they knew He was there fearless peace entered their hearts.  To voyage with Jesus was to voyage in peace even in a storm.”

What was true for the disciples is also true for us.  The storms we face through life are many and varied. When sorrow touches our lives, our faith is able to change the darkness of death into the sunshine of eternal life. Jesus tells us that those whom we love have entered into God’s presence; a place where we will meet again and the God of all comfort comforts us so that we can comfort others with the comfort we have received from God.  (2 Corinthians 1:4)

Jesus gives us peace when life’s problems cause doubt and uncertainty.  Jesus gives us peace when the storms of anxiety threaten to throw us off balance.

But one thing is clear and needs to be said. The presence of Jesus to bring calm to the storms of life depends on a developing relationship with Jesus through a life of worship and prayer.  The book of James says, “Draw near to God and He will draw near to you . . . .” (James 4:8)

When our faith in Jesus is deep, we will experience His presence with us in the storms of life.  The storms of life may not always go away, but one with strengthened faith in God’s power and provision will experience that “peace that passes all understanding.”  (Philippians 4:7)  In fact, Paul’s words in Philippians are most appropriate when we are faced with life’s storms:

“Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything.  Tell God your needs and don’t forget to thank him for his answers.  If you do this you will experience God’s peace, which is far more wonderful than the human mind can understand.  His peace will keep your thoughts and your hearts quiet and at rest as you trust in Jesus Christ.”  (Philippians 4:6-7)

Methodist missionary and evangelist E. Stanley Jones put it well when he wrote:

“If you look within you’ll be discouraged.  If you look around, you’ll be distracted; if you look back you’ll be paralyzed; but if you look at Jesus you’ll have peace.”

In the closing verse of “Lonely The Boat” Helen Kim captures this theme:

“Help can be found; my God is here in my small boat, standing by my side.

Pleading for your mercy, O Lord ,even a sinner like me;

Command, O Lord, calm to the sea, as in Galilee!

Please save my life from all danger, grant a peaceful life;

Oh please be merciful Lord, in times of calm and strife.

Storms in our lives, cruel and cold, surely will arise again,

Threatening our lives, threatening us on life’s wild sea.

Powerful and great, God’s hand is there, firmly in control,

O Lord, calm peace comes from you, peace comes to my lone soul.

So, when the storms of life come, let faith in Christ and His love and provision for you be your pillow.  He will sustain you through life’s storms, in whatever form they may come, and your witness will be a testimony to others of the power of the presence of God in your life.

Dr. Dan Eischen

06.24.12

Biblical Principles For Kingdom Living

Join Dr. Dan this Sunday at1:30 Eastern Time for a Father’s Day message based on Matthew 10:37.  The program includes inspirational bluegrass music.  You can always visit the Archives at Tenacity Radio to listen to this message or any previously aired messages.  Below is an additional message for this special day:

A TALE OF TWO DADS

I Samuel 8:1-7, 16:1-13

On this Father’s Day, we consider “A Tale Of Two Dads” as we focus on the lectionary Scripture for today from I Samuel.  We will consider two fathers; the prophet Samuel and to a lesser degree Jesse  the father of David to learn some important lessons about the influence of fathers in the lives of their children.

Samuel was the firstborn of Hannah and her husband Elkanah.  His birth was an answer to his mother’s prayer as she was childless and prayed earnestly for a child.  Hannah made a pledge to God that if God would answer her prayer and give her a son, she would dedicate him to God.  God was faithful to Hannah and Hannah in turn was faithful to her promise as she took little Samuel to Eli the priest at the temple when Samuel was only about three years old.  Samuel was a Levite which meant that he, along with his parents, were members of the priestly tribe, so it was fitting that Hannah turn her son over to the priest Eli at the temple. Hannah did see her son and Scripture tells us that once a year she brought him a new little coat to wear. 

In addition to being a Levite, Samuel took the vow of a Nazarene when he was older.  As we have learned in Bible Study, the Nazarenes were totally separated to God.  They abstained from wine and grew their hair long.  Long hair was a reproach to men, but the Nazarite accepted this approach as a symbol of the reproach that the coming Messiah would bear during his life and ministry.

Samuel accepted the call of God to be a prophet as well as a priest and a judge and he founded a school of prophets to train those who, like him, had received the call to the prophetic office.  Alexander Whyte in his book “Bible Charters” writes that “Samuel devised and founded and presided over a great prophetical school in his old age.  How much of the Old Testament we owe to the prophets, and the other preachers, and the Psalmists and the sacred writers, and other trained students of Samuel’s great school, we have not yet fully found out.”

Samuel also had the privilege of anointing David King of Israel.  As we turn to the Scripture before us, we discover that as an old man, he appointed his two sons to be judges over Israel.  The nation had never had a king, because God was their King.  God wanted his people to not be like the other nations around them who had Kings. Israel was designed to be a theocracy, with God ruling, not monarchy.

His oldest son Joel and his brother Abijah were appointed by Samuel to be judges in Beersheba.  But we notice something about these two boys that no doubt distressed their dad.  “And his sons walked not in his ways, but turned aside after money, and took bribes and perverted justice.”  (I Samuel 8:3)  Samuel’s boys really screwed up!

One must ponder why this happened.  Scripture does not give us any clues, so we must only surmise that these two sons both decided to stray away from the teaching they had received from their father as children and go in a very bad direction.

Did not Samuel see that his sons were moving in a bad direction?  If he did why did he not correct them?  Again, Scripture does not give us any clues and we are only left with making the same assumptions we can make about  children today when they stray away from how they were raised.

Proverbs 22:6 teaches, “Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old, he will not depart from it.”  A modern paraphrase reads, “Train up a child in the way that he should, and when he turns eighteen he will do whatever he wants.” Can we conclude that Samuel then was too busy being a prophet, and a teacher of prophets in his school as well as a priest and a judge to mind his own house?  Personally, I don’t think this is the case.  The Scripture tells us that when Samuel appointed his sons to be judges, he was an old man implying that his sons were no longer young men themselves. And once in power, they discovered that power can corrupt.

I have long believed that as parents, we can only do the best we can to teach and guide our children.  Parents whose children turn out to make bad decisions should not feel guilty or that they have failed.  That’s one lesson I  want to bring on this Father’s Day.  Our children may disappoint us in the decisions they make, but they are their decisions based on their ability and freedom to choose for themselves.

Often children who really mess up find themselves looking back on how they were raised, see the error of their ways, and make changes for the good.  But this is often the exception rather than the rule.  So, fathers, step-fathers and grandfathers, as you reflect on the dumb decisions your children made once they left your home, don’t punish yourselves with guilt.  Believe you did the best you could, but always be in a position to advise your children when as adults they come either confessing that they have fouled up their lives or come seeking your advice and help.  I have to believe that although Samuel did not approve of the actions of his sons he still loved them and prayed for them.  Here is another lesson on this Father’s Day.  Always pray for your children.  Pray for their success and pray for God to direct them in their failures. Also, never give advice unless you feel a need to do so.  Encourage your children and grandchildren as they grow and move into the various levels of life that lead to their work, their occupation and the raising of their children.

In the movie Grand Torino, Clint Eastwood played the part of a man whose neighborhood where he had lived for many years grew into gradual decay with the arrival of street gangs.  A young Hispanic boy broke into his garage where he housed his Gran Torino in an attempt to steal it in order to get accepted by a local gang.  Time does not allow me to spend much time on this, but Eastwood discovers what the young boy is up to and the boy has to work off his punishment by doing odd jobs round Eastwood’s home.  He even lets the boy borrow his tools. Eventually, Eastwood takes this young boy into his life and helps raise him.  When the boy gets a job, much to the disapproval of the gang, Eastwood buys him tools he needs that he does not have.  The end of the story is that Eastwood is shot and killed by the gang and in his will, he left his Gran Torino to this young boy.  He was not his son, but he helped raise him as such.

We are then to do out best in the raising of our children, but we must understand that there comes a time when they are on their own as they face the temptations of life which we see in what happened to these two sons of Samuel.

As a result of their bad decisions, the people then demanded a King to rule over them.  The elders of Israel came to Samuel and said, “This deal of God ruling over us through judges is not going to work!  We need a King.”  Samuel was displeased over this and prayed about it and God answered him saying, “Don’t feel bad Samuel.  You did the best you could.  The people have not rejected you but they have rejected Me.”

What happened next is a sad commentary on the nation.  Saul was elected the first King of Israel.  He started out well, but he turned out bad! Saul was actually selected by God who instructed Samuel to find him and anoint him to be King.  God gave Saul many inward and outward gifts, but in the process of time Saul got too full of himself which was his downfall.  He became disobedient to God and developed a rebellious spirit and eventually God told him, “I have changed my mind.  I am sorry I selected you to be King.  (I Samuel 15:11).  Things got so bad for Saul that the spirit of God left him and he went mad.  He even tried to kill David three times out of jealously.  It was David you remember that stood before the giant Philistine Goliath and selw him with a slingshot and a rock.  The people praised David saying, “Saul has killed his thousands and David has killed tens of thousands (I Samuel 18:7) which enraged Saul further. Saul eventually turned to witchcraft and died falling on his own sword rather than be slain by his enemy in battle.  Here was a man, the first King of Israel, who started off well, but when he took his eyes off God and put them on himself and his ego fell into ruin.  At the end of his life he said to David, “I have sinned . . .I have played the fool and erred badly. “  (I Samuel 26:21)  This man Saul described in I Samuel 9:2 as “a choice young man, and handsome” made bad decisions that caused his ruin.

We could certainly ask the same questions about Saul that we did about the sons of Samuel.  What caused him to turn from good to bad?  Again, the answer is that in both cases, they succumbed to temptation and strayed away from how they had been raised.  I am sure that Saul’s father did his best as did Samuel, but in the end the fault lays not with the fathers but with the sons who used their free will to go against their raising to make very bad decisions.

When we turn to I Samuel 16, we see that Samuel is directed to Bethlehem to look for a man named Jesse who had eight sons, one of whom would be the new King.  Seven of the boys were paraded before Samuel and they must have been impressive to look upon.  But God declined each of them saying to Samuel, “I do not consider the outward appearance of man important, but his heart and his soul.”  (I Samuel 18:7)  It is at this point that Samuel is confused.  He had been sent by God to the home of Jesse to anoint the next King of Israel, but God declined all seven of Jesse’s sons.  So Samuel believes there is an eighth son that he as yet has not been seen.  He asked Jesse, “Are all your children here?  And Jesse said, ‘There is my youngest that is with the sheep.’  And Samuel said, ‘Go get him for I will not leave until he comes.’”  (I Samuel 16:11)  Young David arrives from the sheepfold.  He is dirty and smelly but the Lord commands Samuel to anoint him to be the next King of Israel.

David was certainly not perfect.  He made his mistakes and some really big ones!  But he knew his heart belonged to God and God always honored David at the point of his confession of his sins and shortcomings and David was the greatest King Israel would ever see.  Not only this, but the Lord Jesus Christ would eventually come descended through David.

We know very little about Jesse except for the fact that he was also in the linage of Christ and the father of eight sons, one of who was David the King of Israel.  There must however be  that we can commend to Jesse and how he raised his sons because they all turned out well.  As each one paraded before Samuel, he was impressed with their outward qualities, but God was only impressed with David not just for his outer appearance but for this inward heart and soul.

The message form this brief review of Samuel and Jesse on this Father’s Day is that regardless of how their sons turned out, both men apparently gave their sons their love, care and support.  This, I believe, is the essence of being a good father regardless of how their children turn out.  Not long ago on Good Morning Oklahoma on Tulsa News Channel 8, the question was posed, “Are couples with children happier than those without children.”  I replied to the question on Facebook, “It depends on the children!”  As fathers we do the best we can in hopes that the example we set, if it is a good example, will continue to live in our children.

I would suggest that you give your children and grandchildren a copy of Proverbs Chapter Four to read. Nothing says it better than what we find in the Living Bible:

“Young men, listen to me as you would to your father.  Listen, and grow wise, for I speak the truth – don’t turn away.  For I, too, was once a son, tenderly loved by my mother as an only child, and the companion of my father.  He told me never to forget his words.  ‘If you follow them” he said, ‘you will have a long and happy life.  ‘Learn to be wise’ he said, ‘and develop good judgment and common sense!  I cannot overemphasize this point!’  Cling to wisdom—she will protect you.  Love her—she will guard you.”

“Determination to be wise is the first step toward becoming wise!  And with your wisdom, develop common sense and good judgment.  If you exalt wisdom, she will exalt you.  Hold her fast and she will lead you to great honor; she will place a beautiful crown upon your head.  My son, listen to me and do as I say, and you will have a long, good life.”

“I would have you learn this great fact:  that a life of doing right is the wisest life there is.  If you live that kind of life, you’ not limp or stumble as you run.  Carry out my instructions; don’t forget them, for they will lead you to real living.”

“Don’t do as the wicked do.  Avoid their haunts—turn away, go somewhere else, for evil men don’t sleep until they’ve done their evil deed for the day.  They can’t rest unless they cause someone to stumble and fall.  They eat and drink wickedness and violence.”

“But the good man walks along in the ever-brightening light of God’s favor; the dawn gives way to morning splendor, while the evil man gropes and stumbles in the dark.”

“Listen, son of mine, to what I say.  Listen carefully.  Keep these thoughts ever in mind; let them penetrate deep within your heart, for they will mean real life for you, and radiant health”. 

“Above all else, guard your affections.  For they influence everything else in you life.  Spurn the careless kiss of a prostitute. Stay far from her.  Look straight ahead; don’t even turn your head to look. Watch your step.  Stick to the path and be safe.  Don’t sidetrack; pull back your foot from danger.”

This advice continues into Proverbs Chapter 5 ad 6. In summary, a father should do what fathers have done for generations to remain a strong leader of a family. He must stay focused on being a good Godly man first. If fathers do that – pray, spend time in the Word and spend time with his family – they will find the difficult job of being a good father a joy.  And if and when children disappoint us and they will, as fathers we continue to pray for them that God will touch their reenter their lives and consequently the lives of their children as well.

Biblical Principles For Kingdom Living

This Sunday June 17, Dr. Dan presents a essage for Father’s Day called ” The Cost Of Discipeship” based on Mathew10:37.  If you cannot listen to the program ive this Sunday at 1:30 Eastern Time, visit the Archives at Tenacity Radio to listen to this message or previously aired messages.

THE PASTOR POND…

THE PASTOR PONDERS

When Christ died on the cross, He died for the sins of the world.  (John 1:29)  But this begs the question, “Is there a sin for which Christ’s death on the cross does not offer forgiveness?”

The answer to the question depends on who you ask and the age of the one providing the answer.  When I was a child, my grandmother used to say that anyone who commits one of the “Big Five Sins” were doomed to hell.  What were those sins?  Listed in order they are smoking, drinking, dancing, women wearing make-up and playing bingo!  Usually the answer is offered by those who are Biblically illiterate but who have strong moral convictions against certain practices which will bring on the wrath of God.  But what does the Bible say?  What is, according to the teaching of Scriptures, the “unpardonable sin?”  Protestants and Catholics may differ on a variety of theological points, but on this subject both are in agreement that the unpardonable sin, the sin for which there is no forgiveness, is rejection of God’s Son as Savior.

The Italian Theologian Thomas Aquinas who lived from  1225 to 1274 sheds light on this subject when he wrote, “. . .  it is a question of a sin that is ‘unforgivable by its very nature, insofar as it excludes the elements through which the forgiveness of sin takes place’

According to such an exegesis, ‘blasphemy’ does not properly consist in offending against the Holy Spirit in words; it consists rather in the refusal to accept the salvation which God offers to man through the Holy Spirit, working through the power of the Cross. If man rejects the ‘convincing concerning sin’ which comes from the Holy Spirit and which has the power to save, he also rejects the ‘coming’ of the Counselor . . . If Jesus says that blasphemy against the Holy Spirit cannot be forgiven either in this life or in the next, it is because this ‘non-forgiveness’ is linked, as to its cause, to ‘non-repentance’, in other words to the radical refusal to be converted. . . .

The Bible teaches that one of the functions of the Holy Spirit is to direct people to the source of salvation found in Christ (John 15:26; 16:8-9)  When one rejects Christ as Savior he denies one of the primary  functions of the Holy Spirit; a sun which consequently is unforgiveable.  The sin which is unforgivable then has nothing to do with what a Christian does in terms of morality as defined by someone else, but to refuse to accept what God through Christ has done for the sinner.

I raise this issue because it, but so many other false teachings, come from well-meaning Christians who are uninformed because they fail to study the Scriptures and faithfully attend a church where God’s Word is accurately taught and preached.

Christians are commanded in Scripture to “grow in grace and in the knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ (2 Peter 3:18) and to “not forsake the assembling of ourselves together as the manner of some is . . . .” (Hebrews 10:25)

As Christians we must be properly informed lest we lead others astray through false teachings based on preconceived notions and personal prejudice!

Join me this Sunday on Tenacity Radio for “Biblical Principles For Kingdom Living at 1:30 Eastern Time as we study the Trinity.  Remember you can visit the Archives at any time to listen to previously aired teachings.

Dr. Dan Eischen

 

 

THE PASTOR POND…

THE PASTOR PONDERS

When Christ died on the cross, He died for the sins of the world.  (John 1:29)  But this begs the question, “Is there a sin for which Christ’s death on the cross does not offer forgiveness?”

The answer to the question depends on who you ask and the age of the one providing the answer.  When I was a child, my grandmother used to say that anyone who commits one of the “Big Five Sins” were doomed to hell.  What were those sins?  Listed in order they are smoking, drinking, dancing, women wearing make-up and playing bingo!  Usually the answer is offered by those who are Biblically illiterate but who have strong moral convictions against certain practices which will bring on the wrath of God.  But what does the Bible say?  What is, according to the teaching of Scriptures, the “unpardonable sin?”  Protestants and Catholics may differ on a variety of theological points, but on this subject both are in agreement that the unpardonable sin, the sin for which there is no forgiveness, is rejection of God’s Son as Savior.

The Italian Theologian Thomas Aquinas who lived from  1225 to 1274 sheds light on this subject when he wrote, “. . .  it is a question of a sin that is ‘unforgivable by its very nature, insofar as it excludes the elements through which the forgiveness of sin takes place’

According to such an exegesis, ‘blasphemy’ does not properly consist in offending against the Holy Spirit in words; it consists rather in the refusal to accept the salvation which God offers to man through the Holy Spirit, working through the power of the Cross. If man rejects the ‘convincing concerning sin’ which comes from the Holy Spirit and which has the power to save, he also rejects the ‘coming’ of the Counselor . . . If Jesus says that blasphemy against the Holy Spirit cannot be forgiven either in this life or in the next, it is because this ‘non-forgiveness’ is linked, as to its cause, to ‘non-repentance’, in other words to the radical refusal to be converted. . . .

The Bible teaches that one of the functions of the Holy Spirit is to direct people to the source of salvation found in Christ (John 15:26; 16:8-9)  When one rejects Christ as Savior he denies one of the primary  functions of the Holy Spirit; a sun which consequently is unforgiveable.  The sin which is unforgivable then has nothing to do with what a Christian does in terms of morality as defined by someone else, but to refuse to accept what God through Christ has done for the sinner.

I raise this issue because it, but so many other false teachings, come from well-meaning Christians who are uninformed because they fail to study the Scriptures and faithfully attend a church where God’s Word is accurately taught and preached.

Christians are commanded in Scripture to “grow in grace and in the knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ (2 Peter 3:18) and to “not forsake the assembling of ourselves together as the manner of some is . . . .” (Hebrews 10:25)

As Christians we must be properly informed lest we lead others astray through false teachings based on preconceived notions and personal prejudice!

Dr. Dan Eischen