In going through the messages on the Unpardonable Sin I was struck by a certain theme I noticed running throughout most of the scriptures dealing with the Unpardonable Sin.
Last week we talked about what we can do so that we stay ever vigilant and do not succumb to committing the Unpardonable Sin.
But what we will see today is that we have a responsibility to guard others against the Unpardonable Sin.
Love of the Brethren is a significant thread running through the verses specifically talking about the unpardonable sin
Hebrews 10:23 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful.
This is in the context of committing the Unpardonable Sin.
Consider One Another
Hebrews 10:24 And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works,
Consider one another… observe fully – we are to know our brothers and sisters in the faith and know who and what they are and why they are the way that they are.
If we care about our Christian family then we are to take note of what is going on in their lives and what their needs are; put yourselves in their shoes
Notice the extent to which we are to go:
Hebrews 13:3 Remember the prisoners as if chained with them—those who are mistreated—since you yourselves are in the body also.
Stir Up Love and Works
And then when we fully know we are to “consider one another” in order to stir up love and good works:
2 Corinthians 9:2 for I know your willingness, about which I boast of you to the Macedonians, that Achaia was ready a year ago; and your zeal has stirred up the majority.
We also see that the good works are an extension of the love. Plus love is an action anyway. Remember how we define it…
Most have been moved to do the same by their example and zeal.
It is a necessity for us to do the same. Remember the context here – we are talking about the Unpardonable Sin. So what we are finding here is that it is incumbent upon us to help out our brother in this respect.
Notice what the other repercussions of it can be:
Matthew 24:12 And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold.
This is godly love that is growing cold.
Matthew 24:13 But he who endures to the end shall be saved.
Must stay the track – cannot commit the Unpardonable Sin.
How do we effectively “observe fully” so that we can prove to love and good works
Assemble Together
Hebrews 10:25 not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.
not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together…
Sabbath is the implication here, but some will say it is not, which only puts an extra burden of responsibility on us. We know we have to meet for church so…
G1997 episunagōgē
Notice what congregating with brethren represents anyway:
2 Thessalonians 2:1 Now, brethren, concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him, we ask you,
Matthew 24:31 And He will send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.
Spending time on the Sabbath together foreshadows the fact that we will be spending eternity together as a family in the future – these same people.
Nonetheless it would be very difficult if not impossible to fulfill :24 if we didn’t assemble together. Not only that but the Sabbath is for many more reasons as well which is not the intent of today’s message.
Exhort Each Other
One of the reasons that we assemble is so that we can stir up love and good works and exhort one another
Definition of Exhort: strongly encourage or urge (someone) to do something; to give warnings or advice : make urgent appeals
This is another way of showing love, care and concern for your brother. So not only are you helping them and keeping them from falling prey to the Unpardonable Sin, you are being judged on it as well.
Hebrews 3:8 DO NOT HARDEN YOUR HEARTS AS IN THE REBELLION, IN THE DAY OF TRIAL IN THE WILDERNESS,
Hebrews 3:11 SO I SWORE IN MY WRATH, ‘THEY SHALL NOT ENTER MY REST.’ ” [a type of the Kingdom of God]
Hebrews 3:12 Beware, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God;
Hebrews 3:13 but exhort one another daily, while it is called “TODAY,” lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.
They were to exhort one another to keep each from hardening their hearts and losing any part of their belief system.
He is saying there is a need to be diligent in this regard. We need to do it TODAY and :
Back to: Hebrews 10:25 … so much the more as you see the Day approaching.
Because there is a time coming when it will no longer be TODAY or a day that you can still repent or help others to do so, because it will be too late and the Unpardonable Sin will have been committed.
Hebrews 10:26 For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins,
Hebrews 10:27 but a certain fearful expectation of judgment, and fiery indignation which will devour the adversaries.
Hebrews 10:28 Anyone who has rejected Moses’ law dies without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses.
Hebrews 10:29 Of how much worse punishment, do you suppose, will he be thought worthy who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, counted the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified a common thing, and insulted the Spirit of grace?
Hebrews 10:30 For we know Him who said, “VENGEANCE IS MINE, I WILL REPAY,” says the Lord. And again, “THE LORD WILL JUDGE HIS PEOPLE.”
Hebrews 10:31 It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.
Then he gets back into the way that they should be living in order to guard others against committing the Unpardonable Sin
Their Good Example
Hebrews 10:32 But recall the former days in which, after you were illuminated, you endured a great struggle with sufferings:
Hebrews 10:33 partly while you were made a spectacle both by reproaches and tribulations, and partly while you became companions of those who were so treated;
Because you were willing lay down your life spiritually for the brethren, you suffered. This is the extent we are to go
Hebrews 10:34 for you had compassion on me in my chains, and joyfully accepted the plundering of your goods, knowing that you have a better and an enduring possession for yourselves in heaven.
REMEMBER: Hebrews 13:3 Remember the prisoners as if chained with them….
Hebrews 10:35 Therefore do not cast away your confidence, which has great reward.
Hebrews 10:36 For you have need of endurance, so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise:
Continue acting in this way and helping others to continue to endure until the end. We cannot give up on even one thing or we will be committing the Unpardonable Sin. This is what he is saying here.
He also says it in the other set of scriptures that we looked at when talking about the Unpardonable Sin.
The Same Theme
Hebrews 6:4 For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted the heavenly gift, and have become partakers of the Holy Spirit,
Hebrews 6:5 and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come,
Hebrews 6:6 if they fall away, to renew them again to repentance, since they crucify again for themselves the Son of God, and put Him to an open shame.
Hebrews 6:9 But, beloved, we are confident of better things concerning you, yes, things that accompany salvation, though we speak in this manner.
Hebrews 6:10 For God is not unjust to forget your work and labor of love which you have shown toward His name [what was the labor of love], in that you have ministered to the saints, and do minister.
Hebrews 6:11 And we desire that each one of you show the same diligence to the full assurance of hope until the end,
There is a necessity to live by every word of God until the very end
Hebrews 6:12 that you do not become sluggish [or lazy; rather be faithful], but imitate those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.
When I think of the sluggish in this regard, I think of the Laodiceans:
The Distinguishing End-time Characteristic
Laodicean: Revelation 3:15 “I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. [not being stirred up much less stirring others up]
Revelation 3:16 So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth.
Revelation 3:17 Because you say, ‘I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing’—and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked—
Revelation 3:18 I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see.
Revelation 3:19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent.
Philadelphian: Revelation 3:10 Because you have kept My command to persevere, I also will keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth.
Revelation 3:11 Behold, I am coming quickly! Hold fast what you have, that no one may take your crown.
What does this have to do with committing the Unpardonable Sin?
Revelation 12:11 And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death.
Revelation 12:17 And the dragon was enraged with the woman, and he went to make war with the rest of her offspring, who keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.
Laodicean: People of Judgment (laos: people / dike: vengeance, 2 Act_28:4, Jud_1:7; judgment Act_25:15; punished 2Th_1:9)
Philadelphia, those that had the attitude of brotherly love
Those in Sardis and Laodicea are told to repent because they are still in danger of committing the Unpardonable Sin. Laodiceans neglected and were prideful and did not lay down their lives for the brethren
Because of it, God will allow them to go through the great tribution and have that final chance of laying down their lives and repenting. It is the gold refined in the fire of trials that He will be accomplishing.
As a Christian not only do we have a responsibility to know what the Unpardonable Sin is, avoid it, but now we have an even greater responsibility to help others in their Christian battle.