It Shall Not Be Forgiven

 

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It Shall Not Be Forgiven

Some people refuse  to believe  in hell.     They defiantly claim  that if God really is love,  He wouldn’t ever send anyone  to any sort  of hell.    To top that off,  others deny that their lives are worthy  of any sort  of punishment — claiming that they are as good  as anybody else  on this earth and,  certainly,  will not  be going to hell,  if there is  such a place.

But,  the Bible has many verses regarding hell  —  not the least of which was said by Jesus  in Matthew 10:28,

And do not fear those  who kill the body,  but are unable  to kill the soul;  but rather fear Him  who is able  to destroy both soul and body  in hell.

When we remember  how all of God’s prophecies  in the Old Testament  came true,  we should be able  to realize  that all God’s references  to hell  are also true.     So,  we do need  to seriously consider  whether or not we are headed  for hell.

To do that,  we need to examine ourselves  with a few Bible verses.     We can consider  what John the Baptist says  in John 3:36,

He who believes  in the Son  has eternal life;  but he who does not obey the Son  shall not see life,  but the wrath  of God abides  on him.

We can think about that  along with what Jesus says  in Mark 16:16,

He who has believed  and has been baptized  shall be saved;  but he who has disbelieved  shall be condemned.

We have a choice  —  we can believe  or not believe.     God is not going to force us  to believe  or trust  in Him.     We have to take the time  to examine  all the evidence God puts  in front of us.     Based on all the evidence  of God’s love  and power  over thousands of years,  we are to make a choice.

We choose  whether we want to go to heaven  or hell.     In many ways  it’s our decision,  because we choose  how we want to live  and believe.     But,  Jesus does lovingly give us  some advice  in Matthew 7:13-14,  by saying,

Enter by the narrow gate;  for the gate is wide  and the way is broad  that leads to destruction,  and many are those  who enter by it.

For the gate is small,  and the way is narrow  that leads to life,  and few are those  who find it.

That narrow, small gate  is faith  in Jesus’ suffering,  death,  and resurrection  on our behalf  to pay for all  of our sins.     We need to repent  of our sins  and trust  in the righteousness of Jesus Christ our Savior  to have paid the deserved penalty  of our sins.

The broad and wide way  leading to hell  is the way most of this world  is going.     That way is obviously very popular.     They choose  to live  in sin.     They choose  to mock and defy  God’s righteous ways.     They choose  to be spiteful,  hateful,  selfish,  proud,  arrogant,  self-centered,  greedy,  lazy,  deceitful,  and ungodly  in every way possible  —  all the while laughing  about their escapades.

Now here is the clincher.    All of the Bible  is inspired  by the Holy Spirit.     So,  it is the Holy Spirit  that led the prophets  to prophesy  about the Savior  in the Old Testament.     It is the Holy Spirit  that led all the New Testament writers  to show us  how Christ fulfilled  all prophecy  and how God wants us to live  in these last days,  for Jesus’ sake.

Now,  for the sake  of our eternal life,  let’s listen  to what Jesus has to say  about the Holy Spirit,  who inspired everything in the Bible,  in Matthew 12:30-33,

He who is not with Me  is against Me;  and he who does not gather with Me  scatters.

Therefore I say to you,  any sin and blasphemy  shall be forgiven men,  but blasphemy  against the Spirit  shall not be forgiven.     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.

Either make the tree good,  and its fruit good;  or make the tree rotten,  and its fruit rotten;  for the tree is known  by its fruit.

Is the fruit of our lives  good fruit  —  or rotten fruit?     Does the witness  of our lives  speak against what the Holy Spirit says  throughout the Bible?    If we speak  against the Holy Spirit  by despising God’s truths  in the Bible,  we are putting ourselves  in a position  to not be forgiven.     It means  we have hardened our hearts  against God’s will  for our lives.

Our “good works”  do not save us.     But,  the way we choose  to live  shows whether or not  we are living  for our Lord  —  whether or not  we trust our Lord.     We should not let our lives  speak against the witness  of the Holy Spirit  throughout the Bible.

Let us confess our sins  and gratefully accept forgiveness  in Christ Jesus  —  living our lives  to His glory  in love and thankfulness.     As we let our lives  take in the love  of Jesus,  we say,  “Hallelujah!     Lord,  everything You do is  in a faithful love  for us.     Cause us  to bear good fruit  for You.”

Love,
Margaret

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A Christian devotional to glorify the LORD of lords and God of gods

 

Pray for our country.

 

This is the day which the LORD has made;
Let us rejoice and be glad in it.
Psalm 118:24

 

The word of the LORD is tried;
He is a shield  to all  who take refuge  in Him.
Psalm 18:30

 

Sing for joy in the LORD,  O you righteous ones;
Praise is becoming  to the upright.
Psalm 33:1

 

How blessed are those  who dwell in Thy house!
They are ever praising Thee.
Psalm 84:4

 

Just as a father has compassion  on his children,
So the LORD has compassion on those who fear Him.
Psalm 103:13

 

Oh give thanks to the LORD,  for He is good;
For His lovingkindness is everlasting.
Psalm 107:1

 

Glory in His holy name;
Let the heart of those who seek the LORD be glad.
Psalm 105:3

 

Not that I have already obtained it, or have already become perfect, but I press on in order that
I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus.
Philippians 3:12

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