Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters. Therefore I tell you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven people, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven. And whoever speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come.
~Matthew 12:30-32~
One question that comes up a lot in discussions I have with seekers is: "if someone is good, but does not believe in Jesus, why do they not go to heaven; they haven't done anything bad?"
We recently discussed "the unpardonable sin" in my Young Disciples Sunday School class. I believe the real meaning behind this message shines some light on the correct standards of "goodness."
God's righteousness is the ultimate standard for what is right and good. Human righteousness is meant to correspond to divine righteousness. He gave His people the Law as an aid (not as a controller) to living righteously.
The righteousness of the Pharisees was only skin deep and was completely dependent upon their own actions, the law was lost in their translation. True righteousness, which Jesus speaks of in Matthew 5:20, penetrates through and through and is the result of a heart for God and a want to live with Him and for Him.
Righteousness/goodness cannot be forged by the will of Man, it is the natural result of great faith in God and true accordance to His law.
I believe that much of Philanthropy, though it can have great benefits to God's people, is an example of Pharisaical righteousness. Helping to "make a show" or simply because you think it is the right thing to do, does work to meet the physical needs of people, but is does not work to bring righteousness to the people or to the ones helping them.
True, it is not "bad", but that does not make it truly "good". Bad does not equal evil and descent/not bad does not equal good. Meaning, bad is not the opposite of good.
This brings us to the "unpardonable sin". This message Jesus gives delves deeper into why seemingly good people can end up on the opposite side of Judgment.
I have always heard the "unpardonable sin" referenced as an act that one commits that God simply cannot or will not forgive Some have said it is referring to speaking the Lord's name in vain or declaring disbelief in Him.
The community in which I became and grew as a Christian never delved deeply into what the "unpardonable sin" actually meant. Until really studying on my own I did not realize that my lack of understanding had harbored a fear that I would, without thinking (in anger, sadness, confusion, etc), commit the "unpardonable sin".
By God's grace and study of His Word, I came to see that my fear was misplaced. What makes this sin of denial unpardonable is that it prevents one from accepting God's grace, meaning she cannot share in His redemption and salvation.
It is not that denying the Spirit is the sin that cannot be forgiven, it is that one's sins cannot be forgiven if she denies the Spirit.
The point is not that God's ego is so huge (though, if anyone had reason...) that He cannot abide us not worshiping Him; it is that us humans are far from Righteous (see hatred, revenge, cheating, lying, spitefulness, murder, etc.). Our only hope of being truly good is through His redemption and our only chance of redemption is through acceptance of His Word and Spirit.
So, being nice and doing good does not constitute being good (see HEBREWS). However, it is important to note that simply accepting the message of Jesus does not mean you can skip doing good either (see JAMES).
If you are worried about committing the "unpardonable sin", DON'T (worry, that is). The fact that you care enough to worry is proof that you cannot commit it. But, don't stop at you, true goodness involves having a heart for all of God's people, not just yourself.
God's righteousness is the ultimate standard for what is right and good. Human righteousness is meant to correspond to divine righteousness. He gave His people the Law as an aid (not as a controller) to living righteously.
The righteousness of the Pharisees was only skin deep and was completely dependent upon their own actions, the law was lost in their translation. True righteousness, which Jesus speaks of in Matthew 5:20, penetrates through and through and is the result of a heart for God and a want to live with Him and for Him.
Righteousness/goodness cannot be forged by the will of Man, it is the natural result of great faith in God and true accordance to His law.
I believe that much of Philanthropy, though it can have great benefits to God's people, is an example of Pharisaical righteousness. Helping to "make a show" or simply because you think it is the right thing to do, does work to meet the physical needs of people, but is does not work to bring righteousness to the people or to the ones helping them.
True, it is not "bad", but that does not make it truly "good". Bad does not equal evil and descent/not bad does not equal good. Meaning, bad is not the opposite of good.
This brings us to the "unpardonable sin". This message Jesus gives delves deeper into why seemingly good people can end up on the opposite side of Judgment.
I have always heard the "unpardonable sin" referenced as an act that one commits that God simply cannot or will not forgive Some have said it is referring to speaking the Lord's name in vain or declaring disbelief in Him.
The community in which I became and grew as a Christian never delved deeply into what the "unpardonable sin" actually meant. Until really studying on my own I did not realize that my lack of understanding had harbored a fear that I would, without thinking (in anger, sadness, confusion, etc), commit the "unpardonable sin".
By God's grace and study of His Word, I came to see that my fear was misplaced. What makes this sin of denial unpardonable is that it prevents one from accepting God's grace, meaning she cannot share in His redemption and salvation.
It is not that denying the Spirit is the sin that cannot be forgiven, it is that one's sins cannot be forgiven if she denies the Spirit.
The point is not that God's ego is so huge (though, if anyone had reason...) that He cannot abide us not worshiping Him; it is that us humans are far from Righteous (see hatred, revenge, cheating, lying, spitefulness, murder, etc.). Our only hope of being truly good is through His redemption and our only chance of redemption is through acceptance of His Word and Spirit.
So, being nice and doing good does not constitute being good (see HEBREWS). However, it is important to note that simply accepting the message of Jesus does not mean you can skip doing good either (see JAMES).
If you are worried about committing the "unpardonable sin", DON'T (worry, that is). The fact that you care enough to worry is proof that you cannot commit it. But, don't stop at you, true goodness involves having a heart for all of God's people, not just yourself.
