Mark 3_1_35 The unforgivable sin

Title: The Sin which has no forgiveness.

Text: Mark 3:1-35

Introduction: D. L. Moody visited a prison called “The Tombs” to preach to the inmates. After he had finished speaking, Moody talked with a number of men in their cells. He asked each prisoner this question, “What brought you here?” Again and again he received replies like this: “I don’t deserve to be here.” “I was framed.” “I was falsely accused.” “I was given an unfair trial.” Not one inmate would admit he was guilty. Finally, Moody found a man with his face buried in his hands, weeping. “And what’s wrong, my friend?” he inquired. The prisoner responded, “My sins are more than I can bear.” Relieved to find at least one man who would recognize his guilt and his need of forgiveness, the evangelist exclaimed, “Thank God for that!” Moody then had the joy of pointing him to a saving knowledge of Christ—a knowledge that released him from his shackles of sin.

Jesus came to forgive sin and the sin you have in your life is not too great that you can’t be saved

Summarize Chapter

– vs.1 synagogue – man with withered had – Pharisees plotted to kill Him

Vs. 8 Jesus is among a great crowd where He healed many – people with unclean spirits fell down

Vs. 13 Jesus goes up on a mountain and officially chose His 12 disciples

Vs. 31 His siblings and mother came looking for Him and Jesus reveals Who his spiritual family is – Those who do the will of God.

Jesus came to save

CPS: We see that many people misunderstood Jesus and opposed Him, they include the religious experts and those closest to Him, His family. But many embraced Jesus and were saved.

I want to ask you this question… Which one are you? Do you embrace Jesus or do you reject Jesus?

Setting of the story -Vs. 20 Jesus and the disciples are inside a house and a great crowd is gathering them so great that they could not eat. His “friends” (modern translations use family) heard of what He was doing and came out to get Jesus because they thought He had lost His mind (crazy). His family said “He is out of His mind” but the scribes were saying “no He is demon possessed”

So, Jesus is correcting misunderstanding

Jesus sets forth an unanswerable premise Vs. 22-26

22 And the scribes which came down from Jerusalem said, He hath Beelzebub, and by the prince of the devils casteth he out devils. 23 And he called them unto him, and said unto them in parables, How can Satan cast out Satan? 24 And if a kingdom be divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. 25 And if a house be divided against itself, that house cannot stand. 26 And if Satan rise up against himself, and be divided, he cannot stand, but hath an end.

Explanation: The Scribes understood that the miracles Jesus was performing were supernatural so they accuse Jesus of being demon possessed - Beelzebub “Lord of the flies”; “lord of dung,” and identified Him with Satan, the ruler of demons - saying “He is casting out demons by invoking Beel-zebul” -

Jesus reply’s by showing them how foolish their accusation was

Jesus speaks in a parable saying “that makes no sense at all!” How can Satan cast himself out? - Why would Satan cast himself out? He would be working against Himself!

Illustration: Kingdom divided against itself cannot stand – We are familiar with this – It is Civil war – we had one in the 19th century – 620,000 Americans died – Why would Satan cast out his own soldiers – give up ground in a war waged between good and evil – He wouldn’t – couldn’t

House divided - You start having turmoil on the inside of your home — husband and wife not getting along — that family can’t last. You have internal strife internal division and you start tearing apart on the inside and that family can’t survive

What Jesus is saying is Satan is united not divided - and He was not in collusion with the devil but on collision with Him!

Application: Jesus came to Save to expel evil!

Jesus sets forth an undeniable power Vs. 27

27 No man can enter into a strong man’s house, and spoil his goods, except he will first bind the strong man; and then he will spoil his house.

Explanation: Satan is the strong man – but Jesus is the stronger man who binds.

Jesus is binding Satan, casting out his cronies just by using words like “Depart” “be quiet and come out.” In Verse 11 The demon possessed fell down at the feet of Jesus – Satan and his demons can’t even stand unless Jesus allows it.

Illustration: A strong man would not allow just anyone to come in and take over what he controls.

June 5th 1983 – Dad owned a little Jewelry store “Moore’s Jewelers” it was our lively hood it’s all we had at the time. It across the street from my grandfather’s jewelry store. Papa fronted him the money to buy out a competitor. Right at closing three men came in held him at gun point and beat my father -tied him up with a phone cord and robbed our store. They over powered him at gun point there wasn’t much he could do.

Only someone who is stronger can bind a strongman and take away His possessions.

Satan is a creation – A FALLEN ANGEL – Pride motivated Satan to rebel against God.

Jesus is creator – Who is greater the created - or the CREATOR?. – the tempter or the author of life?

Application: As Billy Graham stated “I know who wins, I’ve read the book”

Jesus sets forth an unforgivable position Vs. 28-30

28 Verily I say unto you, All sins shall be forgiven unto the sons of men, and blasphemies wherewith soever they shall blaspheme: 29 BUT HE THAT SHALL BLASPHEME AGAINST THE HOLY GHOST HATH NEVER FORGIVENESS, BUT IS IN DANGER OF ETERNAL DAMNATION: 30 BECAUSE THEY SAID, HE HATH AN UNCLEAN SPIRIT.

Explanation: Jesus is saying these pharisees are on dangoureus ground accusing the Holy Spirit of being an evil spirit.

Jesus says you can be forgiven of any sin except one– cursed the name of God, you can steal and rob, drug dealer or a drug addict, you could commit adultery, be a murderer, Rapist, you could be homosexual, a Pedophile,

You aren’t so bad that you can’t be saved.

Illustration: David – adultery – cold blooded killer – David cried out “I have sinned against the Lord” “I have taken away your sin.”

Peter denied Jesus three times – “I told you I do not know this man” Jesus said “Peter do you love me, tend my sheep”

Paul before conversion – instigated the killing of a deacon of the church an evangelist, Stephen. He persecuted the church – hunted Christians down and put them in prison – casted his vote against them so they would be put to death.

“he is a chosen instrument of Mine, to bear My name before the Gentiles and kings and the sons of Israel;” Acts 9:15.

These men were forgiven!

What is the unforgivable sin and have I committed it?

Jesus’ unforgivable position –

It is ascribing to Satan and all his demons the works of the Holy Spirit manifested in the ministry of Jesus. It’s not a single act but a habitual action and attitude. It’s the stubborn refusal to acknowledge that God is working/has worked in the man Jesus.

The Pharisee’s had continually rejected the witness of God and called it an act of evil.

Listen, if you have the slightest fear that you have committed that sin, you haven’t committed that sin.

Because, you see, if you have committed the unforgivable sin, you have no interest in Jesus. You have no interest in the church. You have no interest in spiritual things whatsoever. You wouldn’t care, you wouldn’t be interested, it wouldn’t phase you at all if you have committed the unforgivable sin.

Well, what is God’s position this morning?

You are not so bad that you can’t be saved!

Application: Jesus came to forgive sin not to cause you to stumble. He came to conquer evil and over come the world. He did so in His life, at His death, resurrection.

Satan has been defeated but Jesus allows him to roam for a little while longer.

He is like a deer who had been shot through both lungs with an arrow, it runs until it can’t run anymore. Satan has received the kill shot it’s just a little longer before he falls down.

Jesus may be calling you today to be saved, don’t wait don’t hesitate, don’t put it off until later.

You have a decision to make?

Embrace Jesus or reject Jesus – that is your only options

If you put it off until later you may not be able to hear that voice a clear as you do now. By putting off Jesus’s calling that voice gets softer and softer until the time comes when you can no longer hear it.

A boy from the country was going into the city to get a job. Before he got ready to leave his mother said to him, son, I want you to promise me that you will go to church on Sunday. So he promised his mother he would go to church. He went on into the city. He worked the first week and became acquainted with some of the fellows there, made some new friends. So, on the weekend some of his new friends invited him to go horseback riding with them on Sunday. He remembered his promise to his mother and he said, I’m sorry, fellas, I can’t do it. But they continued to invite him and pressure him; after a while he relented and consented to go. Sunday morning came, they began their horseback ride. Around 11:00, they had come down town in the city and as they were passing by the church, the church bells announcing the services began to ring. When they started ringing, he could see his mother and daddy walking into the little home church in the country. He remembered his promise to his mother. But he just kept on riding. As he rode the bells grew fainter and fainter. When they got on the edge of the city, the boy stopped and said, fellows, I come from a Christian family. I promised my mother I would be in church today. He said, fellows, I have noticed as we have been riding that the bells have been getting fainter and fainter. If we ride anymore, I won’t be able to hear the bells, fellas, I’m going back while I can still hear the bells.

Dear friend, the bells of invitation have been ringing in your ears for a long time. When you were just a young child, those bells rang clearly at a vacation Bible School or maybe at a revival then you became a young man and those bells kept ringing. God’s spirit kept dealing with your heart and you knew you needed Jesus as your Savior. Maybe today you can still faintly hear those bells. One of these days, the bells may stop ringing. Come to Jesus this morning while you can still hear the bells.

God stand is forgiveness – where do you stand?