Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered outside the gate. Therefore, let us go forth to him outside the camp, bearing his reproach. For we have no continuing city here, but we seek one to come.
Select a thought to read by choosing a collection, the month, and then the day:
Wow John.
I sit here thinking - What if God got us so close to Him, that to us, every sin was “unpardonable”?
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That’s the way it is in heaven, Gary. If any angel were to sin, he would be cast out as Satan and his angels were. Sometimes, I think most of God’s children fear to go on into perfection because they don’t have enough confidence in themselves to be faithful once they obtain that life, but that is just the carnal mind doing their thinking for them.
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On the other hand, if a person thought they were closer to God than they were (or “over-religious”, they would needlessly torment themselves thinking they had committed unpardonable sin(s) when they were just “weak.” I would venture to say that most people have sinned, knowing something was sin before sinning, but they were just too weak to overcome it at the time - and they could be forgiven. These are very interesting things to think about.
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Yes, you are right on both counts. Over-religious people are too hard on themselves as well as others, and the result of that can be brutal for unfortunate souls who are under their authority. Secondly, in spite of how it may appear, they have more secret fear of damnation than most of God’s children.
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I do see this one thing though: if anyone is sinning when he knows not to, it is proof that he is not close to God yet. It will be a blessed place to be for a child of God to get close enough to God that a saint hates what sin is and then refuses to transgress at all.
Don’t know if I worded that exactly right, but may God help us get to the place that we have enough experiences with the power of God so that every sin, to us, will be “unforgivable” and thus we will walk in perfection, in the likeness of Jesus.
Gary
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Amen, Gary! I love the prayer of the Psalmist: “Keep back thy servant from presumptuous sins; let not sin have dominion over me. Then I will be upright, and I will be innocent from the great transgression.” If Jesus will save us from things we know are wrong, and if he will save us from the power of sin, then we will never commit any unforgivable sin.
Pastor John