These are Answers to questions we have received.
.
THE UNPARDONABLE SIN
.
QUESTION: Biblically, what is the unpardonable sin?
ANSWER:
I appreciate your question.
“So then I tell you, all sorts of sin and blasphemies will be forgiven people, but the blasphemy of the Holy spirit will not be forgiven” (Matthew 12:31). I understand the main problem here to be the action of attributing the miraculous works of God to Satan. “He can cast out demons only by Beelzebub, the ruler of the demons” (Matt. 12:24). The Pharisees opposed these conspicuous demonstrations of divine power and openly credited the devil for their origination, and thereby were guilty of the violation in question i.e., blasphemy of the Holy Spirit.
“If anybody sees his brother committing a sin that doesn't lead to death, he shall ask and He will give life to him (that is, to those committing a sin that doesn't lead to death). There is a sin that leads to death; I don't say that you should inquire about that. All unrighteousness is sin, but there is a sin that doesn't lead to death” (1 John 5:16-17). I believe the most probable explanation here is to regard the one who denies that Jesus Christ is the Son of God as guilty of the infraction not specifically mentioned by our writer in the passage i.e., “the sin that leads to death.” This denial can express itself either in action i.e., engaging in the ongoing and unrelenting practice of sin or in omission i.e., refusing to accept the idea that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.
One way to illustrate the idea presented in the previous paragraph would be to arrange it in the form of a basic syllogism. This syllogism demonstrates how our actions can amount to or be regarded as a denial of the Son.
(1) Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God (1 John 5:1).
(2) Those that have born of God will not engage in the ongoing practice of Sin (1 John 3:9).
(3) Those who engage in the ongoing practice have denied that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.
I have also included a small catalogue of passages that seem to greatly increase the plausibility of this view. The reader will ultimately have to judge for himself whether or not this interpretation is sound.
Passages relating to the idea of omission:
“This is the testimony: that God gave eternal life to us; this life is in the Son. Whoever has the Son has life; whoever doesn't have God's Son doesn't have life. I have written these things to you who believe in the Name of God's Son that you may know that you have eternal life” (1 John 5:11-13).
“Who can defeat the world except those who believe that Jesus is God's Son” (1 John 5:5).
“Whoever confesses that Jesus is God's Son is one in whom God remains, and he in God” (1 John 4:15).
“By this you know God's Spirit: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, and every spirit that doesn't confess Jesus isn't from God; indeed this is the spirit of antichrist that you have heard is coming and now is in the world already” (1 John 4:2-3).
For further examination see 1 John 2:22-25.
Passages relating to the idea of action (notice the sharp disparity between proclamation i.e., that which is said, and behavior i.e., that which is done);
“If we say that we have fellowship with him and we walk in the darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. But if we say we walk in the light as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ cleanses us from all sin” (1 John 1:6-7).
“Whoever says I have come to know Him, but doesn't keep his commandments is a liar and the truth isn't in him” (1 John 2:4).
“Whoever says I remain in Him also ought to walk as he walked” (1 John 2:6).
“Whoever remains in Him doesn't practice lawlessness; whoever practices lawlessness hasn't seen Him or known Him” (1 John 3:6).
“Everyone who goes on hating his brother (present active indicative in the Greek, not a one time offense) is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life remaining in him” (1 John 3:15)."
God Bless
David Price
1/18/10
ON BAPTISM
QUESTION: I recently learned that the Church of Christ believes that baptism is a necessary step for salvation. I was wondering what scripture this belief is based on?
ANSWER:
Good to hear from you!
First, let me say that I appreciate your question. It is an important one. Second, its always refreshing to encounter someone who is interested in resolving their questions by appealing to the Bible, as the final voice of authority, in matters of both faith and doctrine (2nd Timothy 3:16-17).
To begin, I am going to recommend that you read the following scriptures, keeping in mind their immediate context, as well as the larger landscape of Biblical teaching on the subject of salvation.
After you have concluded reviewing the suggested material, e-mail or call me and we'll continue our discussion if necessary.
In your reading, pay careful attention to the urgency connected to baptism as well as the mode and stated purpose in each case listed.
(All of the answers are either explicitly stated or strongly implied in the texts listed below) Please answer all questions in chronological order.
Read: Acts 2:36-47
What were the people on the day of Pentecost instructed to do to be saved?
What were they baptized FOR?
Is it necessary to have your sins remitted to be saved?
When they were baptized what did they receive?
What were they added to on the day of their baptism?
Acts 8:12-13
When the men and women in Acts chapter eight heard Phillip preaching Christ and the things pertaining to the kingdom, what did their faith move them to do?
Acts 8:31-39
Once the eunuch heard the gospel and believed it, how did he respond?
Acts 16:31 ff.
What was the FIRST thing the Philippian Jailor was instructed to do when he asked, "What must I do to be saved?
Is there either explicit or implicit evidence in the text that the Jailor and his family were told to do anything in addition to believing?
Acts 9:6, 22:10-16
When Paul came to the realization that He had been unintentionally working against God's Messiah, he asked the Lord, "What will you have me do?"
When Paul arrived in the city of Damascus, what did Ananias instruct Paul to do to be absolved of his crimes against God?
Acts 18:8
When Crispus the chief ruler of the synagogue, including the members of his immediate family and many unnamed Corinthians, heard the Gospel and believed, what did their faith move them to do?
Addendum
Romans 1:16, 2nd Timothy 1:10
What is the power of God unto salvation?
2nd Thessalonians 1:7-10
During the second Advent upon what two classes of people will God take vengeance?
Must we obey the Gospel to be saved from the destructive effects of sin?
1st Corinthians 15:1-4
What is the Gospel?
Romans 6:3-4, Colossians 2:12
How do we obey the Gospel?
From the material presented above, how would you answer the following question?"
Is baptism an essential PART of the process of coming to God?
In Closing
While I do not believe that H2O in it of itself is capable of saving anyone, it is obvious from a reading of scripture that immersion (Acts 8:31-39) is the GOD CHOSEN medium through which people do participate in the historical death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ, without which no one will be saved. I hope this adequately addresses the question you raised. I look forward to hearing from you soon.
May the Lord Continue to Bless You Richly!
Brotherly,
David J Price