Volume 26, Issue 2
Pa g e 28
W is c onsin Ch ristian N e w s .c om
One With Christ (Part 4)
By Ron Webster May 2025
men: but the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men. Nei- ther in the world to come.”
In this article, we shall look at some of the promises God had made in the New Testa- ment concerning forgiveness and as to why the Apostle Paul urged Philemon to will- ingly forgive Onesimus for running away, leaving Phile- mon with the debt he still
The number two reason for not being forgiven is of one’s pride, refusing to repent of their evil ways. Read Luke 13:1-5. Jesus, referring to Galileans, who had desecrated their sacrifice, were killed with a tower that fell in Siloam. Jesus asked those present, “Think ye that they were sin- ners above all men that dwelt in Jerusalem? I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.” Peter in Acts 3:13-19 referred to the sins com- mitted by the children of Israel in the past, which still continues to the present, Jesus the Son of God, the Messiah suffered to fulfill the promise made by the mouth of the prophets. “Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out.” John writes in Revelation 2:18-29 that which the Son of God told him to write unto the church in Thyatira concerning their idolatry. “And I gave her space to repent of her fornication; and she re- pented not. Behold I will cast her into a bed, and (all) them that commit adultery with her into great tribulation, except they repent of their deeds. I will kill her children with death; and all the churches shall know that I am He that searches the reins (3510-the inner man, the soul) and hearts: and I will give unto every one of you according to your works,” whether works according to the right thinking of God, or works according to what is right in your own eyes. Repentance is not works, but a turning point. If one does not turn in repen- tance, there are absolute and dire consequences of which many who claim to be Christians face as did those of Thyatira! The number three reason for not being forgiven, as I see it from the Scriptures, is one’s refusal to be (Ephesians 4:32) “kind one to another, tender- hearted, forgiving one another, even as God for
owed him.
Our hope of being set free from our bondage to sin is based upon God’s promise found in James 5:15, “The prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have com- mitted sins they shall be forgiven him. Also in I John 1:9 it states, “If we confess (3670-admit, of an inward conviction) our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” Ephesians 1:7 says “in whom we have redemption through His blood, (bought with a price) the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace.” He died for our sins whether we accept that or not. Acts 8:18-22, “Repent therefore of this thy wickedness (of using Christ for filthy gain), and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee.” Is there a question of for- giveness? If there is, it is also a question of one’s heart: our free will to choose life through the work of Christ, or choose death through the works of the flesh. Therefore by turning our heart away from our God, to the gods of this world, “that seeing (we) may not see, and not perceive; and hearing (we) may hear, and not understand; lest at any time (we) should be converted, and (our) sins should be forgiven.” (Mark 4:11). What keeps one from being forgiven? Willful dis- obedience! The number one reason for not being forgiven is blaspheming the Holy Spirit. Read Matthew 12:22-32. After Jesus had just healed a man “possessed of a devil, blind and dumb.” And most were amazed. But, the Pharisees that heard about it said, “This fellow doth cast out devils, but by Beelzebub the prince of devils.” Their reasoning made no sense. “But if (Jesus) cast out devils by the Spirit of God, then the Kingdom of God (of heaven) is come unto you… Wherefore I say unto you. All manner of sin and blasphemy (988-defam- atory speech, evil speaking of the Divine Majesty whether the Father, or Son,) shall be forgiven unto
Matthew 6:15 states, “but if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.” That is why Paul urged Phile- mon to, of his own will, accept and forgive Ones- imus as a brother beloved, a repentant sinner. This is not an easy thing to do, because the flesh wants justice. What if God only considered jus- tice? We would all face the wages of sin — DEATH! But Paul was appealing to Philemon’s love (26- ‘agape’ love) twice in Philemon verses 5-7 and verses 8-15. Paul says: “Yet for love’s (‘agape’) sake I beseech thee… willingly… that thou shouldest re- ceive him forever (to forgive as Christ has forgiven us) a brother beloved.” As hard as this is to do because of the weakness of the flesh, what does Jesus say concerning even one’s enemies? Read Matthew 5:38-48. “Ye have heard that it has been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth: (Leviticus 24:10-24 where jus- tice is by the law without compassion or mercy.) But I say unto you, that ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on the right check, turn to him the other also.” (Verses 43-45) “ye have heard that it has been said, Thou shalt love the neighbor, and hate thine enemy (Leviticus 19:18). But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; (Why?) That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for He maketh His sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.”
Chr i s t ’ s sake hath forg i ven you.” But a s
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