Second Chances
God is a God of second chances…no matter what you’ve done…lying, cheating, stealing, divorce, adultery, murder, you name it.
No Matter What?
Is it really possible to get into Heaven NO MATTER WHAT? Surely God would not let someone into Heaven who has raped or tortured people or been a mean person, or someone who has molested children, or been put in prison for defrauding others, or even someone who has physically abused a spouse, or killed someone. How could a good God allow someone like that into Heaven?
Unforgivable Sin
References to the unforgivable sin are found in the Books of Mark and Matthew and occur as part of the ongoing confrontations between Jesus, the scribes, and the Pharisees. In this particular confrontation when Jesus says, “And everyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but anyone who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven” (Luke 12:10 NIV), the question at issue is the source of the power in Jesus’ ministry. The scribes and Pharisees accused Jesus of casting out demons by the power of Satan, not by the power of God.
Blasphemy
Blasphemy of the Holy Spirit was unique to the Pharisees’ circumstances because no one today can watch Jesus perform a miracle in person (unless He comes today) and then claim that Satan, rather than the Spirit, is the source of that power. Today, the only sin that cannot be forgiven is persistent unbelief. A person who dies in his rejection of Christ cannot be forgiven.
What Many People Believe Today
Many people believe that no matter what they do, there is no hope for them because they worry they have committed some sin that God cannot or will not forgive. Nothing would please Satan more than to see people struggling under that false belief.
Unwavering Evidence
The Apostle Paul, who tortured and murdered Christians before being struck blind by Jesus on the road to Damascus, provides unwavering evidence that God can and will save anybody who approaches Him in faith. “I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength, that he considered me trustworthy, appointing me to his service. Even though I was once a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent man, I was shown mercy because I acted in ignorance and unbelief. The grace of our Lord was poured out on me abundantly, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst. But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his immense patience as an example for those who would believe in him and receive eternal life” (1 Timothy 1:12–16 NIV).
According to Hebrews 7:25, “Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them.”
Rejecting Jesus Christ as the one and only Savior leaves an unbeliever without any hope for salvation. Therefore, rejecting the one and only pardon is the unpardonable sin. John 3:36: “Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on them.”
Those Whom God Chooses
All those whom God has chosen before the foundation of the world will, in fact, be saved in time. The Apostle Paul is a good example. Lydia is another in Acts 16:14 (NIV) where God sovereignly intervenes and opens her heart: “One of those listening was a woman from the city of Thyatira named Lydia, a dealer in purple cloth. She was a worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart to respond to Paul’s message.” The Lord opened her heart to pay attention to what was said by Paul.
When Are Believers Saved?
Believers are saved before their faith ever produces any righteous works. All those whom God has chosen, He will irresistibly call and draw to himself in time.
Outward Call
There is the outward call of the gospel that goes to all people. Everyone is called to repent of sins and trust in Christ. Those who love Christ will long to obey Him (John 14:15 & 23). Scripture commands Christians to spread the gospel to all people. We do not know who the elect are, but every person is commanded to repent, so we share the gospel with everyone.
Inward Call
There is also the inward call, which is also referred to as regeneration or new birth. The New Birth is not something that someone discerns and then comes to Jesus. It naturally brings about faith in Christ. It is only those who are inwardly called who respond to the gospel (also known as “the elect”). “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade…” (1 Peter 1:3–4 NIV).
False Christians
That’s why it’s also important to understand that anyone who claims to be a Christian can find evangelicals willing to accept a profession of faith, whether or not the person’s behavior shows any evidence of commitment to Christ. Many are false Christians, thinking they are saved Christians when they are not, based on the evidence.
Not Your Own Effort
Scripture teaches that salvation is all God’s work. Those who believe are saved totally apart from any of their own effort: (Titus 3:5-6)…”he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior…”
Unbelief
Rejecting Jesus Christ as the one and only Savior leaves an unbeliever without any hope for salvation. Therefore, rejecting the one and only pardon is the unpardonable sin. John 3:36: “Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on them.”
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