No Turning Back

Introduction to Topic

When a skydiver steps to the edge of the aircraft door and leaps away from the plane, she knows there is no turning back. She’s gone too far, and if she should forget to strap on her parachute, nothing can save her and she will certainly plummet to a frightening death. What a tragedy! But there is something even worse that can happen to a person. Indeed, it is far worse to come to the point of no return in your relationship with God. Yet millions are approaching this point and have no idea! Is it possible that you’re one of them? What is the awful sin that could lead to such a fate? Why can’t God forgive it?

today as we venture into God’s word let us ask the Holy Spirit for guidance

Let us Pray.

What is the sin that God cannot forgive?

Matthe

Matthew 12:31 NIV

And so I tell you, every kind of sin and slander can be forgiven, but blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven.

Matthew 13:31 NIV

He told them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his field.

matthew 12:

answer to this question

The sin God cannot forgive is “blasphemy against the Spirit.” But what is “blasphemy against the Spirit”? People have many differing beliefs about this sin. Some believe it is murder; some, cursing the Holy Spirit; some, committing suicide; some, killing an unborn child; some, a denial of Christ; some, a heinous, wicked act; and others, worshiping a false god. The next question will shed some helpful light on this crucial matter.

What does the Bible say about sin and blasphemy?

Matthew 12:31 NIV

And so I tell you, every kind of sin and slander can be forgiven, but blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven.

answer

The Bible says that all kinds of sin and blasphemy will be forgiven. So none of the sins listed in question 1 is the sin that God cannot forgive. No single act of any kind is the unpardonable sin. It may sound contradictory, but both of the following statements are true:

A. Any and every kind of sin and blasphemy will be forgiven.

B. The blasphemy or sin against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven.

Jesus Made Both Statements Jesus made both statements in , so there is no error here. To harmonize the statements, we must discover the work of the Holy Spirit.

What is the work of the Holy Spirit?

John 16:8–13 NIV

When he comes, he will prove the world to be in the wrong about sin and righteousness and judgment: about sin, because people do not believe in me; about righteousness, because I am going to the Father, where you can see me no longer; and about judgment, because the prince of this world now stands condemned. “I have much more to say to you, more than you can now bear. But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come.

John 16:

answer

The work of the Holy Spirit is to convict us of sin and to guide us into all truth. The Holy Spirit is God’s agency for conversion. Without the Holy Spirit, no one feels sorrow for sin, nor is anyone ever converted.

When the Holy Spirit convicts us of sin, what must we do to be forgiven?

1 John 1:9 NIV

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.

answer

When convicted of sin by the Holy Spirit, we must confess our sins in order to be forgiven. When we confess them, God not only forgives but He also cleanses us from all unrighteousness. God is waiting and ready to forgive you for any and every sin you could commit (), but only if you confess and forsake it.

What happens if we do not confess our sins when convicted by the Holy Spirit?

Proverbs 28:13 NIV

Whoever conceals their sins does not prosper, but the one who confesses and renounces them finds mercy.

proverbs 28

Terrible Danger of Resisting the Holy Spirit Resisting the Holy Spirit is terribly dangerous because it so easily leads to total rejection of the Holy Spirit, which is the sin God can never forgive. It is passing the point of no return. Since the Holy Spirit is the only agency given to bring us to conviction, if we permanently reject Him, our case is thereafter hopeless. This subject is so important that God illustrates and explains it many different ways in Scripture.

answer

If we do not confess our sins, Jesus cannot forgive our sins. Thus, any sin that we do not confess is unpardonable until we confess it, because forgiveness always follows confession. It never precedes it.

When the Holy Spirit convicts us of sin or leads us to new truth, when should we act?

A. “I made haste, and did not delay to keep Your commandments” ().

Psalm 119:60 NIV

I will hasten and not delay to obey your commands.

B. “Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation” ().

C. "Behold, now is the accepted time behold, now is the day of salvation." .

D. “Why are you waiting? Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord” ().

The Bible repeatedly states that when we are convicted of sin, we must confess it at once. And when we learn new truth, we must accept it without delay.

What solemn warning does God give about the pleading of His Holy Spirit?

Genesis 6:3 NIV

Then the Lord said, “My Spirit will not contend with humans forever, for they are mortal; their days will be a hundred and twenty years.”

answer

God solemnly warns that the Holy Spirit does not indefinitely continue pleading with a person to turn from sin and obey God.

At what point does the Holy Spirit stop pleading with a person?

Matthew 13:13 NIV

This is why I speak to them in parables: “Though seeing, they do not see; though hearing, they do not hear or understand.

answer

The Holy Spirit stops talking to a person when that individual becomes deaf to His voice. The Bible describes it as hearing but not hearing. There is no point in setting the alarm clock in a deaf person’s room. He won’t hear it. Likewise, a person can condition himself to not hear an alarm clock ring by repeatedly shutting it off and not getting up. The day finally comes when the alarm goes off and he does not hear it.

Don't Shut Off the Holy Spirit So it is with the Holy Spirit. If we keep shutting Him off, one day He will speak to us and we will not hear Him. When that day comes, the Spirit sadly turns away from us because we have become deaf to His pleadings. We have passed the point of no return.

God, through His Holy Spirit, brings light and conviction to every person. What must we do when we receive this light from the Holy Spirit?

prover

Proverbs 4:18–19 NIV

The path of the righteous is like the morning sun, shining ever brighter till the full light of day. But the way of the wicked is like deep darkness; they do not know what makes them stumble.

John 12:35 NIV

Then Jesus told them, “You are going to have the light just a little while longer. Walk while you have the light, before darkness overtakes you. Whoever walks in the dark does not know where they are going.

answer

The Bible rule is that when the Holy Spirit brings us new light or conviction of sin, we must act at once—obey without delay. If we obey and walk in the light as we receive it, God will continue giving us light. If we refuse, even the light that we have will go out, and we will be left in darkness. The darkness that comes from a persistent and final refusal to follow light is the result of rejecting the Spirit, and it leaves us without hope.

Can any sin become the sin against the Holy Spirit?

A. Judas (John 12:6)

B. Lucifer’s (Isaiah 14:12-14)

C. The Pharisees’ (Mark 3:22-30)

You Cannot Choose the Consequences When the Spirit makes His appeal, we can choose to respond or refuse, but we cannot choose the consequences. They are fixed. If we consistently respond, we will become like Jesus. The Holy Spirit will seal, or mark, us in the forehead as a child of God (, ), and thus assure us a place in God’s heavenly kingdom. However, if we persistently refuse to respond, we will grieve away the Holy Spirit—and He will leave us forever, sealing our doom.

After King David had committed a terrible double sin of adultery and murder, what anguished prayer did he pray?

Psalm 51:11 NIV

Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me.

psalm

answer

He pleaded with God not to take away the Holy Spirit from him. Why? Because David knew if the Holy Spirit left him, he was doomed from that moment. He knew that only the Holy Spirit could lead him to repentance and restoration, and he trembled at the thought of becoming deaf to His voice. The Bible tells us in another place that God finally left Ephraim alone because he was joined to his idols () and would not listen to the Spirit. He had become spiritually deaf. The most tragic thing that can happen to a person is for God to have to turn away and leave him alone. Don’t let it happen to you!

What serious command did the apostle Paul give to the church in Thessalonica?

2 Thessalonians 2:10–12 KJV 1900

And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.

1 Thessalonians 5:19 NIV

Do not quench the Spirit.

1 Thessalonians 2:10–12 NIV

You are witnesses, and so is God, of how holy, righteous and blameless we were among you who believed. For you know that we dealt with each of you as a father deals with his own children, encouraging, comforting and urging you to live lives worthy of God, who calls you into his kingdom and glory.

1thessThe Holy Spirit’s pleading is like a fire that burns in a person’s mind and heart. Sin has the same effect on the Holy Spirit as water has upon fire. As we ignore the Holy Spirit and continue in sin, we pour water on the fire of the Holy Spirit. Paul’s weighty words to the Thessalonians also apply to us today. Don’t quench the fire of the Holy Spirit by repeatedly refusing to heed the Spirit’s voice. If the fire goes out, we have passed the point of no return!

2 thessalonians

What experience will those who have been sent these strong delusions face in the judgment?

Matthew 7:22–23 NIV

Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’

What special words of warning does Jesus give to help us avoid believing we are saved when we are actually lost?

Matthew 7:21 NIV

“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.

Jesus Clears the Air Jesus said that true assurance is for those who do His Father’s will. When we accept Jesus as Lord and Ruler of our lives, our lifestyles will change. We will become a completely new creature (). We will gladly keep His commandments (), do His will, and joyously follow where He leads (). His fantastic resurrection power () transforms us into His image (). His glorious peace floods our lives (). With Jesus dwelling in us through His Spirit (, ), we “can do all things” () and “nothing will be impossible” ().

Fabulous True Assurance Versus Counterfeit Assurance As we follow where the Savior leads, He promises that no one can take us out of His hand () and that a crown of life awaits us (). What amazing, glorious, genuine security Jesus gives His followers! Assurance promised under any other conditions is counterfeit. It will lead people to heaven’s judgment bar, feeling certain they are saved when they are, in fact, lost ().

What is God’s blessed promise to His faithful followers who crown Him Lord of their lives?

Philippians 1:6 NIV

being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.

Philippians 1:6

Philippians 2:13 NIV

for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.

Praise God! Those who make Jesus the Lord and Ruler of their lives are promised the miracles of Jesus that will see them safely through to His eternal kingdom. Nothing could be better than that!

What additional glorious promise does Jesus make to us all?

Revelation 3:20 NIV

Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.

Jesus promises to enter our lives when we open the door to Him. It is Jesus who knocks on the door of your heart through His Holy Spirit. He—King of kings and Savior of the world—comes to you for regular, loving visits and friendly, caring guidance and counsel. What folly that we should ever be too busy or too disinterested to form a warm, loving, lasting friendship with Jesus. Jesus’ close friends will be in no danger of being rejected on the judgment day. Jesus will personally welcome them into His kingdom ().

The Holy Spirit’s pleading is like a fire that burns in a person’s mind and heart. Sin has the same effect on the Holy Spirit as water has upon fire. As we ignore the Holy Spirit and continue in sin, we pour water on the fire of the Holy Spirit. Paul’s weighty words to the Thessalonians also apply to us today. Don’t quench the fire of the Holy Spirit by repeatedly refusing to heed the Spirit’s voice. If the fire goes out, we have passed the point of no return!

Will you decide now to always open the door as Jesus knocks at your heart and be willing to follow where He leads you?

Decision:

( ) I want to obey the Holy Spirit

( ) I want to Give Jesus my life in baptism

( ) I need prayer

( ) I need a special visit by a Pastor

Closing word/Prayer