Last Sunday we talked about a website called blasphemychallenge.com which amazingly encourages people to video tape themselves denying the existence and power of the Holy Spirit and downloading that video on “You Tube” for the world to see. This website is taken from verses in Mark 3 and Matthew 12 which teach that whoever commits the blasphemy of the Holy Spirit can never be forgiven. On this website there are literally hundreds and hundreds of videos, predominantly of young people, making such horrifying testimonials. We even showed a few of them in church last Sunday morning.
Several of you have asked me since then if this means that all of these hundreds of people are now damned and doomed for hell because they have made such statements. Many of you have wondered if these people could ever change and be converted. It is important to keep in mind that just as the simple saying of words in a prayer does not save a person, neither does the simple saying of words forever damn someone to hell.
In the passages in Mark 3 and Matthew 12, the religious leaders of the day had claimed that the power that Jesus had demonstrated was not from heaven but rather that it found its source in Satan. Though these individuals had seen the evidence of God’s deity in Christ up close and personal, they had once and for all determined to reject its truth and to deny the reality of who Christ was. This was a permanent and absolute refusal to believe. They would not change. They had seen the truth and knowingly rejected it.
Now what about these individuals who have posted these statements on “You Tube” through the blasphemychallenge.com? Are they going to hell? There is no question that if they do not repent and receive Christ, yes, they will definitely spend eternity in the Lake of Fire. But are they doomed already with no chance to change? I’m not sure we can answer that question. I know people who once believed statements like are being posted on this website but who ultimately came to faith in Christ and for all intents and purposes appear to be true children of God, born again through the Spirit of God. Have these individuals on “You Tube” made this final verdict of rejection or is there still room in their heart for repentance? Only God really knows the answer to that question.
One thing is for sure. It is websites like this one and videos like the over 1,400 that you can find there that should motivate us like never before to pray for lost people and share our faith with them. That’s why I would encourage you to remember the wall in our auditorium where we have written then names of some 3,000 people that we know who need to know Christ. Pray for them daily. Build bridges to them regularly. Partner with the ministries of Grace Church to see them come under the sound of the Gospel of Christ. Christmas is fast approaching. Have you invited your “Target Three” to church? Sunday morning, December 23, will be our special Christmas worship followed by two Christmas Eve services (5:30 and 7:00) on December 24 that will be no more than an hour in length and which will be geared to the entire family. These are great opportunities for each of us to meet people where they are and help move them to where God wants them to be.
Several of you have asked me since then if this means that all of these hundreds of people are now damned and doomed for hell because they have made such statements. Many of you have wondered if these people could ever change and be converted. It is important to keep in mind that just as the simple saying of words in a prayer does not save a person, neither does the simple saying of words forever damn someone to hell.
In the passages in Mark 3 and Matthew 12, the religious leaders of the day had claimed that the power that Jesus had demonstrated was not from heaven but rather that it found its source in Satan. Though these individuals had seen the evidence of God’s deity in Christ up close and personal, they had once and for all determined to reject its truth and to deny the reality of who Christ was. This was a permanent and absolute refusal to believe. They would not change. They had seen the truth and knowingly rejected it.
Now what about these individuals who have posted these statements on “You Tube” through the blasphemychallenge.com? Are they going to hell? There is no question that if they do not repent and receive Christ, yes, they will definitely spend eternity in the Lake of Fire. But are they doomed already with no chance to change? I’m not sure we can answer that question. I know people who once believed statements like are being posted on this website but who ultimately came to faith in Christ and for all intents and purposes appear to be true children of God, born again through the Spirit of God. Have these individuals on “You Tube” made this final verdict of rejection or is there still room in their heart for repentance? Only God really knows the answer to that question.
One thing is for sure. It is websites like this one and videos like the over 1,400 that you can find there that should motivate us like never before to pray for lost people and share our faith with them. That’s why I would encourage you to remember the wall in our auditorium where we have written then names of some 3,000 people that we know who need to know Christ. Pray for them daily. Build bridges to them regularly. Partner with the ministries of Grace Church to see them come under the sound of the Gospel of Christ. Christmas is fast approaching. Have you invited your “Target Three” to church? Sunday morning, December 23, will be our special Christmas worship followed by two Christmas Eve services (5:30 and 7:00) on December 24 that will be no more than an hour in length and which will be geared to the entire family. These are great opportunities for each of us to meet people where they are and help move them to where God wants them to be.
No comments:
Post a Comment
Thank you for visiting "FOLKS LISTEN"! Once your comment has been approved by the author it will be displayed.