Mark 3:28-30, “Verily I say unto you, All sins shall be forgiven unto the sons of men, and blasphemies wherewith soever they shall blaspheme: But he that shall blaspheme against the Holy Ghost hath never forgiveness, but is in danger of eternal damnation: Because they said, He hath an unclean spirit.”
The Holy Spirit is the One Who convicts the world of sin, righteousness and coming judgment:
John 16:7-11, “Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you. And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: Of sin, because they believe not on me; Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more; Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged.”
John 12:32: “And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me.”This proves Calvinism a fraud! Calvinism says God only chooses some people to be saved, but not others. The Bible says Christ draws "ALL MEN" to salvation. Not all men listen. Jesus said "ye will not come," He didn't say "ye cannot come." John 5:40, “And ye will not come to me, that ye might have life.”
Since it is the Holy Spirit of Christ that draws all men to Him, when a person blasphemes (rejects) the Holy Spirit, they are burning their one opportunity to get saved. The man Jesus speaks to the world OUTWARDLY, but the Holy Spirit speaks to the world INWARDLY. A person may openly reject Christ in the eyes of the public, but it's what you do in the privacy of your home with the Holy Spirit that matters.
For example: Many of the chief rulers BELIEVED in Jesus in their heart (John 12:42), but publicly it appeared as if they didn't accept Him (John 12:43). They didn't want to lose their jobs! The Bible says they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God. Obviously they did not follow Christ as “Lord” at this time, still ashamed to identify with Him publicly, but they were nevertheless born-again believers by faith alone. John 12:42-43, “Nevertheless among the chief rulers also many believed on him; but because of the Pharisees they did not confess him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue: For they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God.”
The only unpardonable sin that an unsaved person can commit is to reject Jesus as one's Savior. For the saved person (i.e., a believer) it is IMPOSSIBLE to commit any sin that could cause them to ever lose God's promise of salvation. There is much misunderstanding in the churches today, and also the 'Salvation Army,' concerning salvation. The Salvation Army in their official Statement of Faith foolishly teaches:
“We believe that continuance in a state of salvation depends upon continued obedient faith in Christ.”
The Salvation Army follows the Calvinist heresy of their founders, William and Catherine Booth, who considered salvation to be a “state” that could be lost if one failed to continue in obedient faith. May I say kindly that salvation is NOT a “state,” it is a new birth. It is a second birth, a spiritual birth (1st Peter 1:23). The teaching that salvation is a “state” which is conditional upon “continued obedient faith” is demonic works-salvation. This is Calvinist false doctrine!!!
Our salvation depends solely upon Jesus Christ—because of His death on the cross to pay our debt of sin, His burial and bodily resurrection from the dead 72 hours later. Jesus raised up as our High Priest (Romans 8:34; Hebrews 4:14-16). Jesus ascended into Heaven and sprinkled His precious blood upon the heavenly Mercy Seat, just as the Old Testament high priest sprinkled the lamb's blood on the mercy seat within the holy of holies each year (Hebrews 9:12, 22-24; 12:24). Beware of the bloodless theology which has crept into many churches. 1st Peter 1:18-19b, “Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.” We are saved by the precious blood of Jesus in Heaven!
Once saved, always saved! You don't enter into a state of salvation, but then leave that state later on because of sin and unbelief. Dear friend, you are either saved today and always will be, or you aren't saved today and you never were! No one has ever lost God's salvation, which is by faith. The new birth is irreversible! The Bible teaches in Ephesians 1:12-15 that a person is 'sealed' with God's Holy Spirit the moment they get saved. Thus, I agree with Pastor Harry Ironside in the perseverance of the Holy Spirit! Some liars have tried to make Pastor Ironside into a Calvinist for making that statement in his book 'Except Ye Repent.' No, Dr. Ironside simply believed what the Bible says, “that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:” Philippians 1:6b). This is not Calvinism, which errantly says a believer will persevere in holiness and service to Christ!
“The only thing that pleases God is the blood!”
(a great quote from the awesome MP3 sermon by Dr. Jack Hyles titled, “OUR PROPITIATION”)
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