Hiding From God?

With a simple command, God formed the earth. He created man and placed Him in the garden. Tempted by the serpent, Adam and Eve rebelled against God, eating from the forbidden fruit. Immediately, Adam and Eve felt the shame of their sin. When the presence of God approached, Adam and Eve hid themselves - they were afraid, they were ashamed.

This is the human reaction to God when we sin - we hide from God.

But as born-again believers, when we mess up, we aren’t to run away from God; we’re to run to Him. 

“So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most.” - Hebrews 4:16 (NLT)

Every believer should be confident when they approach God, because our access depends upon Christ’s perfection, not our performance.

So, if you’ve messed up, don’t hide from God. Don’t try to cover your sin. Turn to Him now. Be confident in the work of the cross. There, at the throne, you will find grace. God’s not going to shame you; He’s going to save you. He won’t reject you; He’ll restore you.

For more on this topic, you can watch my teaching, “5 Reasons Why God's Chosen Secretly Struggle with Lust,” on YouTube by clicking here.

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What is the Blasphemy of the Holy Spirit? How to Know If You Committed the Unpardonable Sin

What is the blasphemy of the Holy Spirit? Have you committed this unpardonable sin? 

The Word of God has the answers. Let’s take a look at the context. In Matthew chapter twelve, Jesus delivers a demon-possessed man from a demonic entity.

22 Then a demon-possessed man, who was blind and couldn’t speak, was brought to Jesus. He healed the man so that he could both speak and see. 23 The crowd was amazed and asked, “Could it be that Jesus is the Son of David, the Messiah?” (Matthew 12:22-23)

The pharisees, who had heard about the miracle, looked for a way to discredit the miracle that Jesus had just performed. 

24 But when the Pharisees heard about the miracle, they said, “No wonder he can cast out demons. He gets his power from Satan, the prince of demons.” 25 Jesus knew their thoughts and replied, “Any kingdom divided by civil war is doomed. A town or family splintered by feuding will fall apart. 26 And if Satan is casting out Satan, he is divided and fighting against himself. His own kingdom will not survive. 27 And if I am empowered by Satan, what about your own exorcists? They cast out demons, too, so they will condemn you for what you have said. 28 But if I am casting out demons by the Spirit of God, then the Kingdom of God has arrived among you. 29 For who is powerful enough to enter the house of a strong man and plunder his goods? Only someone even stronger—someone who could tie him up and then plunder his house. (Matthew 12:24-29)

After revealing the source of His power and authority (The Holy Spirit), Jesus gave the pharisees a sobering warning: 

30 “Anyone who isn’t with me opposes me, and anyone who isn’t working with me is actually working against me. 31 “So I tell you, every sin and blasphemy can be forgiven—except blasphemy against the Holy Spirit, which will never be forgiven. 32 Anyone who speaks against the Son of Man can be forgiven, but anyone who speaks against the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven, either in this world or in the world to come. (Matthew 12:30-32)

Firstly, either the Pharisees had committed the blasphemy of the Holy Spirit or came very close to committing the blasphemy of the Holy Spirit. I suspect they only came close to committing the unpardonable sin. Otherwise, why would Jesus give them a warning if they were already beyond hope?

Secondly, look at the term that’s used here: blasphemy. Blasphemy is a sin that you commit by speaking something. So we know that the pharisees were being warned, because of the words they had spoken. In fact, in verse 32, Jesus warns, “anyone who speaks against the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven.”

Since blasphemy is a sin that you commit through sinful words, we can rule out sins that are commonly mistaken for the unpardonable sin. The blasphemy of the Holy Spirit is not suicide, murder, witchcraft, backsliding, evil thoughts, or sexual sin. It is a sin that you commit by what you say. 

Thirdly, we know that the unpardonable sin can be committed in this lifetime, for Jesus said that the one who commits it will never be forgiven, “either in this world or in the world to come.” Some say that the blasphemy of the Holy Spirit is simply the rejection of salvation or the stubborn refusal of the gospel up until death. But that cannot be the case, since the unpardonable sin is unforgivable, even in this lifetime. So the blasphemy of the Holy Spirit is most certainly not just the rejection of salvation or the Holy Spirit.

So judging by what Jesus said to the pharisees, we can conclude that the blasphemy of the Holy Spirit is speaking against the Holy Spirit or the attributing of the Holy Spirit’s power to demonic power.

But remember, we still don’t know whether or not the pharisees had already committed it or were merely coming close to committing it. The Biblical text implies a very deep-rooted form of sin. You can’t commit this sin on accident, yet we should still tread carefully. After all, I don’t want to inspire ease where Jesus sought to inspire fear.

And this is very important to note: Not all verbal expressions of skepticism, anger, disobedience, or disrespect toward the Holy Spirit can be categorized as the blasphemy of the Holy Spirit. The blasphemy of the Holy Spirit can only come from a conscience that is completely seared. I’ll prove that to you with scripture now.

So have you committed the unpardonable sin? Let me present another verse to you.

However, those the Father has given me will come to me, and I will never reject them. (John 6:37)

Nobody comes to Jesus unless they are drawn by the Father. And the Father certainly would never draw someone who couldn’t be forgiven. Therefore, if there is a desire in you to be forgiven and to be right with God, then you are being drawn by God - and Jesus will not reject you. Comparing scripture with scripture, we discover that…

A.) it is not possible for the Spirit-filled believer to commit this sin and 

B.) those who commit it couldn’t possibly have any interest in repentance, nor would they have any fear of having committed the unpardonable sin. 

All scriptures have to be harmonious with one another. So think about it this way: if someone commits the blasphemy of the Holy Spirit, then they will always be rejected by God. And Jesus promised to never reject anyone who comes to Him, because those who come to Him have been drawn by the Father. If the one who committed the unpardonable sin ever came to the Lord, then the Lord would have to break His promise of never rejecting anyone who came to Him. Therefore, the one who has committed the unpardonable sin would never approach God in the first place. Indeed, such a person has no desire to ever again approach God. 

Bottom line: Are you afraid that you may have committed the unpardonable sin? That fear alone is proof that you haven’t.

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Can You Lose Your Salvation?

Can you lose your salvation? That’s an interesting question that’s been debated for quite some time now, and there’s no way to settle the debate in a short article like this. So rather than answer the question directly, I want to come at this topic from a different angle - a practical application of the Scripture.

For starters, we should note that the Biblical argument could be made for both positions. 

There are verses that seem to indicate that one can lose their salvation, like this selection of verses:

4 For it is impossible to bring back to repentance those who were once enlightened—those who have experienced the good things of heaven and shared in the Holy Spirit, 5 who have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the power of the age to come— 6 and who then turn away from God. It is impossible to bring such people back to repentance; by rejecting the Son of God, they themselves are nailing him to the cross once again and holding him up to public shame. (Hebrews 6:4-6, NLT)

Of course, even that verse can be debated, as there are some who feel they can interpret that verse to mean something else.

And there are verses that seem to indicate that one cannot possibly lose their salvation. For example, take a look at this verse:

I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one can snatch them away from me, (John 10:28, NLT)

And with this verse also, there are alternative ways to interpret it.

Both sides of the debate seem to have their explanations, context clues, and reasons why the other side isn’t getting the interpretations right. 

Those who say, “You cannot lose your salvation,” will tell you that you’re dishonoring Christ’s sacrifice by implying that His death on the cross wasn’t enough to eternally secure the soul. Those who say, “You can lose your salvation,” will tell you that you’re dishonoring Christ’s sacrifice by implying that people can “abuse” God’s grace. Those who believe in eternal security will say you put too much emphasis on man’s ability. Those who don’t believe in eternal security will say that you are giving people a license to sin.

But think about it. Why does either opinion matter if God is the ultimate judge? Consider this scenario. A man goes to a church, publicly commits his life to the Lord, but then continues a lifestyle of sin. Those who believe you can lose your salvation will look at that man and say, “He lost his salvation!” Those who don’t believe you can lose your salvation will look at that man and say, “He was never truly saved in the first place.” But they agree on this: that man needs Jesus. 

For all of the debating that surrounds this topic, what have we gained? And what’s the point if we all agree on the practical application of Scripture? Simply put, whether you’re a once-saved-always-saved believer or you believe that one can lost their salvation, we agree on this: All sinners need saving, and ultimately God will justly judge.

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Eternity Matters

Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth.
Colossians 3:2, NLT

Nothing matters, except for that which impacts eternity. When all things have finally come to an end, when even history itself is forgotten, only the eternal remains.

That is why the Church must remain focused on the eternal. The gospel must remain our central message, because it doesn’t just change lives - it impacts eternity. There are many wonderful messages, projects, and causes that are worthy of attention; however, our primary message must be the gospel.

Feed the hungry? Yes. Meet earthly needs? Absolutely. Involve ourselves in social reformations? Sure. But we must not be swept so far into social cause that we forget about eternity. Charity and good works must aid our spreading of the gospel, not replace it. The Church’s first priority should be the preaching of the gospel message - backed by good works, yes; but definitely and clearly spoken with words.

What good does it do to feed a man today who enters eternity without Christ tomorrow?

Let us continue to preach about the blood of Jesus, repentance from sin, Heaven, Hell, and eternity. If we don’t preach the gospel, who will? If we don’t address the issue of the soul, who will? Keep an eternal focus. Keep preaching the gospel.

Souls hang in the balance.

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Understanding Salvation: Faith or Works?

Part 1: Addressing Assumptions

If you die while committing a sin, do you go to Heaven or Hell? Do people who commit suicide lose their salvation? Will God reject me if I think a sinful thought?

Concerning salvation, those are a few questions that commonly arise. But rather than answer those questions directly, it’s best to address the flawed paradigm out of which those sorts of questions can emerge.

However, when seeking to address a question at its foundation, I am often accused of “word play” or “dodging the question”. But I assure you that in no way is addressing a question’s hidden assumptions “dodging”. Let me give you an example.

Let’s say that I ask you, “Have you stopped stealing from your friend?” Let’s also say that when you, appalled at the accusation, try to dismiss the overall assumption, I interrupt you with a firm reiteration: “Just answer the question! Have you stopped stealing from your friend? Yes or no?” The problem is that if you say, “yes”, you are admitting to the false accusation of stealing from your friend. If you say, “No”, you are admitting that you are presently stealing from your friend.

Of course, you would only try then to persist in freeing yourself of the accusation. You would likely respond, “I don’t steal from my friend.”

Technically, you would not have properly answered my “Yes or No” question. But my question, not your answer, would be flawed. I once heard a notable public speaker remark, “When you question your questioner, you open them up to their hidden assumptions.”

So what is the hidden assumption behind the question, “Have you stopped stealing from your friend?” The hidden assumption is that you steal from your friend at all.

So when someone insists on you answering their question within the limitations they have constructed, look for the hidden assumption behind the question itself. Never let anyone limit your answer. If they ask you a question, you have every right to answer their question however you so choose. A question in response to a question is a legitimate response.

Now let’s revisit the questions from the beginning of this post.

If you die while committing a sin, do you go to Heaven or Hell? Do people who commit suicide lose their salvation? Will God reject me if I think a sinful thought?

All of those questions are built on the assumption of a “Works-based” mentality of salvation. Each question assumes that our actions are what save us.

Part 2: The Contradiction

In the book of Romans, Paul the Apostle lays out a clear presentation of man’s state, the power of the gospel and the way to eternal life. In verse after verse, Paul the Apostle tells us that, in order to receive the free gift of salvation, all we must do is believe and receive it in faith.

This letter to the Romans seems to be problematic when one weighs the ideas of “not by works” with “you must have faith”. This seems to be a contradiction.

However, the illusion of a contradiction disappears when understanding is found. While some over complicate Paul’s writings with highly imaginative interpretations, forced reads and wild speculation, there is a very simple truth that calms the chaos.

Here is that simple truth: To God, though faith is an act of the will, it is not considered a work. Keep in mind also that Paul makes reference to both the OT laws and the moral laws – so that both Jews and Gentiles are without excuse. Adherence to neither of these laws can save a man. If we define works as God defines works, we find harmony in the scripture. Based upon the scripture’s definition of works, we find that not all conditions can be considered to be works. Faith is not a work, but it is an act of the will.

Now here are two scriptures that, in my opinion, best represent the two themes of salvation that seem to contradict one another:

“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast." - Ephesians 2:8-9

“What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him? If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, and one of you says to them, “Depart in peace, be warmed and filled,” but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit? Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. But someone will say, “You have faith, and I have works.” Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe—and tremble! But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead? Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar? Do you see that faith was working together with his works, and by works faith was made perfect? And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.” And he was called the friend of God. You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only. Likewise, was not Rahab the harlot also justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out another way? For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also." - James 2:14-26

So do our works contribute to our salvation or not?

Part 3: The Analogies

I have thought of two analogies that will help you to understand salvation and rid you of unbiblical assumptions on this specific topic.

I want you to picture a tree. See its leaves, branches and stems. Imagine its thick trunk and twisted roots. Allow yourself to see through the dirt and visualize the tree in its entirety, from the highest point to the far tip of its deepest root.

Now, let us say that this tree represents your salvation. Only a real tree can bear fruit. But is it the fruit that causes the tree to grow? No, it is the root system that causes it to grow.

Good works are the fruit of salvation. They are not the root of salvation. The root of salvation is repentance and humility. Then God takes over from there. We must keep in mind that there is a very real supernatural element to our salvation.

We, in humility, repent and turn toward God. He then responds to our repentance with the miracle of transformation.

“But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble." - James 4:6

Though we cannot bring about salvation, God can. And He does so based upon how we respond to His truth.

“Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling." - Philippians 2:12

So salvation is God’s doing based upon man’s response to truth. If a man repents, God will save him. But salvation itself is not man’s doing. And, you know, the salvation part is really the important part.

We are mistaken when we say that works alone, or actions, can affect man’s salvation. However, our works do indicate whether or not we are truly saved, as we see in the book of James. “For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.”

So the tree is salvation. The roots are repentance and humility. Then God transforms us. From there, our salvation, if genuine, will produce the fruit of good works. Many have it reversed in their mind. They think that if we act a certain way, those actions will bring about transformation. But that is not the case. Only God can transform a heart. Good works are the fruits of salvation, not the roots. But if salvation is genuine, it will produce holiness.

And that is what is being described in the book of James, true faith – true salvation.

Holiness demonstrates the authenticity of our salvation, but it doesn’t produce it.

Secondly, imagine that there is a long hallway with a door on each end. The first door, the one that leads into the hallway, is justification. Justification is instant. The moment you put your faith in Christ, God sees you as clean and justified. Your record is wiped clean. You are justified by faith.

The long hallway is sanctification. Sanctification is the process by which you become more and more like Christ. Justification changes your legal standing before God, but Sanctification transforms you to become one who matches your new legal standing. No matter where you are in the hallway of sanctification, you can rest assured that you are already passed the door of justification. Where you are in your growth does not affect how you look to God. So then salvation is not a matter of being perfect but of being perfected. So long as you are in the hallway, you are saved, even if you make sinful mistakes.

The door at the other end of the hallway is glorification. Glorification is when you look like Christ. By the way, the Holy Spirit is the one who laid out the welcome mat.

Part 4: Conclusion

So if you die while committing a sin, do you go to Heaven or Hell? Do people who commit suicide lose their salvation? Will God reject me if I think a sinful thought?

The answer will vary based on whether or not someone is saved. Each person would experience a different eternal fate in those circumstances. It’s case by case. What is the common assumption behind the questions? The assumption is that salvation is produced by good works.

But even those who are saved will experience moments of failure.

“My dear children, I am writing this to you so that you will not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate who pleads our case before the Father. He is Jesus Christ, the one who is truly righteous." - 1 John 2:1

We must understand that salvation is a miraculous and supernatural work of God. And, yes, that supernatural work of God is evidenced by holiness. But our failures are not enough to break God’s grip on us.

Now, if a man continues in a lifestyle of sin, eventually his roots will dry up and cause the tree to die. But if we maintain the roots with constant repentance, humility and pliability, God will continue to transform us and keep the tree of salvation healthy.

“And through your faith, God is protecting you by his power until you receive this salvation, which is ready to be revealed on the last day for all to see." - 1 Peter 1:15

“And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns." - Philippians 1:6

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