FREE BOOKS

Author's List




PREV.   NEXT  
|<   57   58   59   60   61   62   63   64   65   66   67   >>  
vil, so that he "both saw and heard." Casting out devils had always been regarded by the Jews as a direct work of the Spirit of God. The people are amazed, and proclaimed him the Son of David, or the Messiah. The Pharisees could not deny the fact, but they said: "He does it by Beelzebub, the prince of devils." These three incidents show a disposition on their part to deliberately reject all testimony contrary to their plan to compass his death. They had rendered their verdict in advance and were not open to conviction, no matter _what_ testimony might be offered. Jesus tells them that if he casts out devils by Beelzebub, then Satan is divided against himself. "But if I by the Spirit of God cast out devils, then is the kingdom of God come upon me" (Matt. 12:28). "_Therefore_ I say unto you, Every sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men: but the blasphemy against the Spirit shall not be forgiven. And whosoever shall speak a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but whosoever shall speak against the Holy Spirit, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, nor in that which is to come" (Matt. 12:31, 32). That these men had committed, or were in great danger of committing, this blasphemy is evident from the caution uttered above. When a man to-day reaches the comprehensive state of mind that he is going to reject Jesus _over any and all evidence,_ he has gone into the house, shut and locked the door and thrown away the key. God can not reach him. Such a man will be let alone by the Spirit of God. That Paul understood this condition to be unpardonable, we read in Heb. 6:4-6: "But as touching those who were once enlightened, and tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Spirit, and tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the age to come, and then fall away, it is impossible to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they _crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh_, and put him to an open shame." Paul says it is impossible to renew such a one to repentance. Why? "_Seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh_." That is, they have reached the same state of mind the Pharisees had who _crucified him the first time_. Men can commit that same act to-day, but when they do it they lose all concern regarding the consequences. As long as one has concern, he may rest assured that he has not blasphemed the Holy Spirit. _The Fruits of the Spirit_. I have not t
PREV.   NEXT  
|<   57   58   59   60   61   62   63   64   65   66   67   >>  



Top keywords:
Spirit
 

devils

 

forgiven

 

blasphemy

 

afresh

 
repentance
 
crucify
 

concern

 
impossible
 

tasted


whosoever

 

Pharisees

 
reject
 

testimony

 
Beelzebub
 

enlightened

 
touching
 
people
 

heavenly

 

powers


partakers

 

direct

 

amazed

 

proclaimed

 

thrown

 

locked

 

condition

 

unpardonable

 

understood

 

commit


consequences

 
blasphemed
 

Fruits

 

assured

 

crucified

 
Casting
 

reached

 
Seeing
 

regarded

 
disposition

kingdom
 

deliberately

 
incidents
 
Therefore
 

divided

 

matter

 
conviction
 

advance

 
rendered
 

offered