Bible Discussion Thread

 
  • Ron wilkinson on Numbers 15 - 2 years ago
    Hi. My question: Is Numbers 15: 30 31 connected to the unpardonable sin in the New Testament. Can a Gentile commit the unpardonable sin? It say's native born or alien living among you are under the law.
  • A - In Reply on Numbers 15 - 2 years ago
    I think that verse makes reference to knowingly committing a sin vs unknowingly committing sins specifically in relation to the 10 commandments. Remember at this time when people committed sins they needed to make blood offering of rams and animals alike.
  • Jesse - In Reply on Numbers 15 - 2 years ago
    Ron,

    I don't see Numbers 15:30-31 being connected to the unpardonable sin. To answer your question "Can a Gentile commit the unpardonable sin?" The answer to that is yes. It doesn't matter if a person is Jew or Gentile, anyone can commit the unpardonable sin. The word blasphemy means to reject. A person that rejects the testimony of God's Spirit when He comes to them and convicts them of their sin and shows them their need of a Savior, if they reject that testimony, they cannot be forgiven for that!
  • Ron wilkinson - In Reply on Numbers 15 - 2 years ago
    Hi Jesse thanks for answering my question. I have another similar question. There is an expression used today that consists of two words. "Holy blank" Blank being a negative word not Holy. In fact the opposite, Is this blasphemy even though it's unfortunately a common expression?
  • Jesse - In Reply on Numbers 15 - 2 years ago
    Hello Ron,

    Your original question had to do with the unpardonable sin. The bible teaches that the only sin that is unpardonable (cannot be forgiven) is blasphemy of the Holy Spirit. The word blasphemy means to reject. In order for a person to be saved, they must receive Christ. They must be born of His Spirit. A person must come to Jesus and surrender their life to Him.

    But Jesus said in John 6:44 that no one can come to Him unless the Father first draws them to Him. So God sends His Spirit to a person to convict them of their sin and their need of a Savior, the Savior being Jesus Christ. But if a person rejects the testimony of God's Spirit (Holy Spirit), that person cannot be saved, nor forgiven for that rejection. That is the unpardonable sin, rejecting the testimony of God's Spirit.

    Now to answer your other question. I would guess that most of us have heard the expression "Holy Blank" used before. But how often do we hear this come from the mouth of a person who is a true believer and is being led by God's Spirit which lives in them? I would like to think it would be rare. For the believer, we are told in Ephesians 4:29 to let no corrupt communication come out of our mouths.

    Now, even though the bible teaches us how to conduct ourselves (even in speech), if a believer were to slip up and let that phrase come out, that would not be considered blasphemy, definitely not the unpardonable sin because the believer has already been sanctified in Christ Jesus and did not reject His Spirit, but received Christ. However, it does nothing for the building up (edification) of the body of Christ. For the non-believer, they probably could care less!
  • Ron wilkinson - In Reply on Numbers 15 - 2 years ago
    Hi Jesse thank you for your answer. I have one more question. If a non believer sins can he become a believer and be forgiven?
  • Jesse - In Reply on Numbers 15 - 2 years ago
    Hello Ron,

    The short answer to that is yes. But I don't look at it as "if a non-believer sins" because a non-believer is living in a continuous state of sin whether they realize it or not. They may be a "good person," but until the sin remedy is taken care of, they are still in that continuous state of sin.

    Forgiveness of sin and salvation is offered to every human being through Jesus Christ. Romans 10:13 says "For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved." That's a promise! But not everyone will receive Him.

    Your question can be looked at in more than one way. In other words, a non-believer can become a believer and still not be forgiven. A person has to be born of God's Spirit in order to be forgiven and saved. Belief is important, but belief itself does not bring salvation. Receiving Jesus Christ and being born of His Spirit is what saves a person. With that salvation comes forgiveness.

    A person who has been born of God's Spirit has been forgiven, justified, declared not guilty, and is now in right standing with God. That person has also been sanctified, set apart for God's purposes. A genuine believer is one who has surrendered their life to Jesus Christ, one who has made Him Lord of their life. That person is the one who is forgiven!
  • GRACE_ambassador {ChrisE} - In Reply on Numbers 15 - 2 years ago
    Jesse said: "a non-believer can become a believer and still not be forgiven. A person has to be born of God's Spirit in order to be forgiven and saved. Belief is important, but belief itself does not bring salvation. Receiving Jesus Christ and being born of His Spirit is what saves a person. With that salvation comes forgiveness."? According To Plain/Clear Scriptures?:

    Precious friend, then I must Misunderstand: "Repent, and Believe The Gospel Of The GRACE Of God"? = "Believe On CHRIST, His Death, Burial, and Resurrection, by GRACE Through faith {BELIEF, trust}." ( 1 Corinthians 15:3-4) ( Ephesians 2:5-9)?

    I must Misunderstand "trusting CHRIST" In ( Ephesians 1:12)? Also:

    "But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of The LORD, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and BELIEF of The Truth:" ( 2 Thessalonians 2:13)?

    "Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that BELIEVE..." ( Romans 3:22)? compare ( Romans 4:11) ( Romans 4:24) ( 1 Corinthians 1:21) ( Galatians 3:22) ( Ephesians 1:19) ( Philippians 1:29) ( 1 Thessalonians 1:7) ( 1 Thessalonians 2:13) ( 1 Thessalonians 4:14) ( 2 Thessalonians 1:10)

    Finally IF I BELIEVE, "but sins are NOT forgiven," how is it that I HAVE Life Everlasting, According To ALL The above Plain And Clear Scriptures About "BELIEF"?:

    "Howbeit for this cause I obtained MERCY, that in me first JESUS CHRIST might shew forth all longsuffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter BELIEVE ON HIM to Life Everlasting." ( 1 Timothy 1:16)?

    Upon my BELIEF Of Truth, did not The Holy Spirit Baptize ( 1 Corinthians 12:13) me Into The Body Of CHRIST, God "forgiving my sins," in the twinkling of an eye?

    Now, IF you are referring to "water baptism for the remission of sins" that is altogether

    Another Different Bible study we could pursue, IF you wish...

    Respectfully, ChrisE
  • Jesse - In Reply on Numbers 15 - 2 years ago
    Hello ChrisE,

    Whether or not you are misunderstanding those verses, I have no way of answering that because I don't know your understanding of them. You're asking me how is it that you have life everlasting? If you tell me you have life everlasting, I would say you have everlasting life because you received Christ and you've been born of His Spirit, not because you simply believed.

    To be clear, I know that belief is important. But belief itself does not save anyone. If you are telling me that belief alone meets the requirement for salvation, I am going to have to disagree. In the early Church, the requirement for salvation was the presence of God's Spirit dwelling within a person ( Romans 8:9).

    The demons intellectually understand and believe the truth about God. And they recognize Christ, and they confess Him, and they honor Him. But they never surrender to Him. This tells me that belief alone does not save. A person must surrender their life to Christ in order to be saved.

    There are three things involved in the human life. There's the mind, there's the heart, and there's the mouth.

    In Romans Chapter 10, it says that if we confess with our mouth and believe in our heart that Christ is raised from the dead, that we shall be saved.

    And some people mistake the fact that you can just say with your lips those words, but if you just say with your lips those words, it's the mind and the lips, not the heart and the lips.

    There's a difference. Jesus said with the heart a man believes! I can believe with my mind. I can believe intellectual thoughts and truths about God, and not be surrendered to Him in my heart, my spirit. There's a difference between believing the truth with your mind and surrendering to Christ with your heart.
  • Dianne - In Reply on Numbers 15 - 2 years ago
    Brother What you stated there is the difference between mental accent to Gods Word and actual committed believing action from the heart which requires a desire to do what it takes. God Bless
  • Number 15 - In Reply on Numbers 15 - 2 years ago
    Very well said. There are many scriptures in the Bible that God requires action and submission. Permit me to step out on a limb here if I could sum up the word of God in one word I would lean toward submission. Very well said. God Bless.



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