Is There an Unpardonable Sin?

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Hi R____,

Thank you for sharing your thoughts with me, and believe me when I tell you that I have had all the same doubts and struggles you express here. I have many people like you who ask me questions on a daily basis, and the very thought of misleading anyone is a terrible burden if God  were to send the Adversary to lay that burden upon me. But God is merciful and has given me the peace of mind you speak of here. Every letter I write is exactly what He has me to write. Sometimes He has me to misinform others. When that happens, as it has on several occasions over the years, it is a very humiliating experience that burns severely, but afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness.

Heb 12:11  Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.

In other words there is no “peaceable fruit of righteousness” without the errors that demand chastening in our lives. So when the error is detected, the need to get aligned with God’s mind and His Word should be paramount. When that is done everyone involved benefits. Especially me when I am the one eating the crow and confessing to my error before all.
So this exchange is as much a part of that process as all the rest of what God is working after the counsel of His own will.
Having said all of that, let us consider what you have said here. The only thing in this whole letter with which I can take issue is this paragraph:

Now look at the very verses under discussion here:

Heb 5:12  For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat.
Heb 5:13 For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe.
Heb 5:14  But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.

It is “by reason of use” that those who are maturing, “have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.”
Now what are these “first principles of the oracles of God… such as have need of milk” doctrines? You say they do not include repentance because, “carnal babes in Christ are not once enlightened. Carnal babes are the called and not chosen. Carnal babes are not brought to repentance.”
If any of that is true then how could Judas, who was both called and chosen, have denied our Lord? Yet neither Judas, nor any of the apostles were even yet “converted.”

Luk 22:32  But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.

Peter considered himself to be called and chosen, and indeed Peter was chosen, just as was Judas. Nevertheless look at the very next words of our Lord to Peter, who is a type of you and me.

Luk 22:33  And he said unto him, Lord, I am ready to go with thee, both into prison, and to death.
Luk 22:34  And he said, I tell thee, Peter, the cock shall not crow this day, before that thou shalt thrice deny that thou knowest me.

Being called and chosen simply does not guarantee salvation. We all are required to “endure to the end” before we can even hope to possibly be “perfected on the third day.”

Luk 6:13  And when it was day, he called unto him] his disciples: and of them he chose twelve, whom also he named apostles;
Joh 6:70  Jesus answered them, Have not I chosen you twelve, and one of you is a devil?
Mat 10:22  And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved.

Luk 13:32  And he said unto them, Go ye, and tell that fox, Behold, I cast out devils, and I do cures to day and to morrow, and the third day I shall be perfected.

Paul told the Corinthians that they were “yet carnal.” Had the Corinthians been chosen? Had the Corinthians repented? Sure they had.

2Co 7:9  Now I rejoice, not that ye were made sorry, but that ye sorrowed to repentance: for ye were made sorry after a godly manner, that ye might receive damage by us in nothing.
1Co 1:1  Paul, called [ to be] an apostle of Jesus Christ through the will of God, and Sosthenes [ our] brother,
1Co 1:2  Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours:
1Co 1:3  Grace [ be] unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and [ from] the Lord Jesus Christ.
1Co 1:4  I thank my God always on your behalf, for the grace of God which is given you by Jesus Christ;
1Co 1:5  That in every thing ye are enriched by him, in all utterance, and [ in] all knowledge;
1Co 1:6  Even as the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you:
1Co 1:7  So that ye come behind in no gift; waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ:
1Co 1:8  Who shall also confirm you unto the end, that ye may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Where were they after they were called to be saints and the testimony of Christ was confirmed in them, and they came behind in no gift? Well, in spite of having “repented from dead works, they were yet carnal… babes in Christ… needing one to teach them again what are the first principles of the doctrine of Christ.”

1Co 3:1  And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ.
1Co 3:2  I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able [ to bear it], neither yet now are ye able.
1Co 3:3  For ye are yet carnal: for whereas [ there is] among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?
1Co 3:4  For while one saith, I am of Paul; and another, I [ am] of Apollos; are ye not carnal?
Heb 5:12 For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat.
Heb 5:13 For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe.
Heb 5:14 But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.

What happens now? This is the next step, “if God permits.” It is all His call, but it is the same for all when He makes that call:

Heb 6:1  Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God,
Heb 6:2  Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment.
Heb 6:3  And this will we do, if God permit.

“Eternal judgment is nothing more than the doctrine of universal salvation because:

Isa 26:9 With my soul have I desired thee in the night; yea, with my spirit within me will I seek thee early: for when thy judgments are in the earth, the inhabitants of the world will learn righteousness.

But what can you or I do if a brother or sister will not go beyond the position of these carnal, babes in Christ Corinthians? The answer is:

Heb 6:4  For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost,
Heb 6:5  And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come,
Heb 6:6  If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame.
Heb 6:7  For the earth which drinketh in the rain that cometh oft upon it, and bringeth forth herbs meet for them by whom it is dressed, receiveth blessing from God:

We are the ‘earth’ and the rain of God’s Word comes oft upon all whether “just or unjust.” It is through that rain that we “bring forth herbs, and are blessed of God.”

Mat 5:45  That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.

So for whom is it impossible to renew such a person to Christ? Is it impossible for God? Of course it is not. It is only with men that it is impossible.

Mar 10:23  And Jesus looked round about, and saith unto his disciples, How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God!
Mar 10:24  And the disciples were astonished at his words. But Jesus answereth again, and saith unto them, Children, how hard is it for them that trust in riches to enter into the kingdom of God!
Mar 10:25  It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.
Mar 10:26  And they were astonished out of measure, saying among themselves, Who then can be saved?
Mar 10:27  And Jesus looking upon them saith, With men it is impossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible.

So what then happens to those of whom we are told “it is impossible to renew to repentance?” Here is what Paul did to such a brother:

1Co 5:1  It is reported commonly that there is fornication among you, and such fornication as is not so much as named among the Gentiles, that one should have his father’s wife.
1Co 5:2  And ye are puffed up, and have not rather mourned, that he that hath done this deed might be taken away from among you.
1Co 5:3  For I verily, as absent in body, but present in spirit, have judged already, as though I were present, [ concerning] him that hath so done this deed,
1Co 5:4  In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when ye are gathered together, and my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ,
1Co 5:5  To deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.
1Co 5:6  Your glorying is not good. Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump?

This fornicator happens to have taken “his father’s wife.” It could have been his brother’s wife, but it was His Father’s wife, because that is exactly what we do whenever we refuse to go beyond the milk, when we are “unskillful in the word of righteousness” and fall prey to the Adversaries false doctrines “at his will.” Being “unskillful in the word of righteousness” because we are babes, we become guilty of taking “our Father’s wife,” the church, away from our Father’s truth and into the error of spiritual fornication and false doctrines.

2Ti 2:24  And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient,
2Ti 2:25  In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth;
2Ti 2:26  And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.

“Those that oppose themselves” are those who have already “repented from dead works,” but have now fallen prey to “the snare of the devil, [ and] are taken captive by him at his will.” Only God can “give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth.” It is “impossible for men, but with God all things are possible.” Men are told:

1Co 5:5 To deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.

Or as Paul rephrases this situation in Hebrews:

Heb 6:4  For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost,
Heb 6:5  And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come,
Heb 6:6  If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put [ him] to an open shame.
Heb 6:7  For the earth which drinketh in the rain that cometh oft upon it, and bringeth forth herbs meet for them by whom it is dressed, receiveth blessing from God:
Heb 6:8  But that which beareth thorns and briers [ is] rejected, and [ is] nigh unto cursing; whose end [ is] to be burned.

“It is impossible… if they fall away to renew them to… repentance… whose end is to be burned, [ so] turn him over to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord.” Are any of these words inapplicable to you and to me?
What happened to the Corinthian fornicator who had fallen prey to “the snare of the devil and was taken captive of him at his will”? What was the result of being “delivered to Satan for the destruction of the flesh that the spirit might be saved in the day of the Lord”? To what did this man have to look forward when he was “delivered to Satan for the destruction of the flesh”? Here is all there is to expect when we are in that position. It is right here in this very chapter of Hebrews six:

Heb 6:8  But that which beareth thorns and briers is rejected, and is nigh unto cursing; whose end is to be burned.

“Thorns and briers” are false doctrines, which false doctrines we have all been guilty of spreading at one time.

Eze 2:6  And thou, son of man, be not afraid of them, neither be afraid of their words, though briers and thorns be with thee, and thou dost dwell among scorpions: be not afraid of their words, nor be dismayed at their looks, though they be a rebellious house.

Those false doctrines and words will be rejected and, “their end is to be burned.”
By nature we all read those words and put them off on someone else, and we all just naturally forget these plain verses of scripture:

Ecc 9:2  All things come alike to all: there is one event to the righteous, and to the wicked; to the good and to the clean, and to the unclean; to him that sacrificeth, and to him that sacrificeth not: as is the good, so is the sinner; and he that sweareth, as he that feareth an oath.

We all just naturally forget this verse:

Mat 4:4  But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.

We all just naturally overlook these verses:

1Co 3:13  Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s
work of what sort it is.
1Co 3:21  Therefore let no man glory in men. For all things are yours;
1Co 3:22  Whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas, or the world, or life, or death, or things present, or things to come; all are yours;

Rev 1:3  Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand.
Rev 22:7  Behold, I come quickly: blessed is he that keepeth the sayings of the prophecy of this book.

So here is what it is impossible for men to do but which is not impossible for God to do to all thorns and briers and all fornicators, who have all “crucified the Lord afresh and put Him to an open shame.”

2Co 2:3  And I wrote this same unto you, lest, when I came, I should have sorrow from them of whom I ought to rejoice; having confidence in you all, that my joy is the joy of you all.
2Co 2:4  For out of much affliction and anguish of heart I wrote unto you with many tears; not that ye should be grieved, but that ye might know the love which I have more abundantly unto you.
2Co 2:5  But if any have caused grief, he hath not grieved me, but in part: that I may not overcharge you all.
2Co 2:6  S ufficient to such a man is this punishment, which was inflicted of many.
2Co 2:7  So that contrariwise ye ought rather to forgive him, and comfort him, lest perhaps such a one should be swallowed up with overmuch sorrow.
2Co 2:8  Wherefore I beseech you that ye would confirm your love toward him.
2Co 2:9  For to this end also did I write, that I might know the proof of you, whether ye be obedient in all things.
2Co 2:10  To whom ye forgive any thing, I forgive also: for if I forgave any thing, to whom I forgave it, for your sakes forgave I it in the person of Christ;

So while it is impossible for men to renew to repentance those who are turned over to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, yet it is “to this end” that we “no not to eat” with those who bring false doctrines of briers and thorns into our spiritual house and cause us to take our Father’s wife, spiritually:

1Co 5:11 But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat.
2Jn 1:9  Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son.
2Jn 1:10  If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into [ your] house, neither bid him God speed:
2Jn 1:11  For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds.

Why are we told that it is impossible for us to change the mind of a man who has “tasted the power of the coming age” and then returns to fornication, both physical and spiritual? Here is the reason we have these verses in Heb 6:

2Co 2:9  For to this end also did I write, that I might know the proof of you, whether ye be obedient in all things.

It is much easier to practice “agreement on the essentials and tolerance in the nonessentials” than it is to turn a brother or sister over to Satan for the destruction of the flesh. That just sounds so unloving and elitist and the actions of a know- it- all who has no tolerance for others. But what do the scriptures teach?

1Jn 4:1  Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.
1Jn 4:2  Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God:
1Jn 4:3  And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.
1Jn 4:4  Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.
1Jn 4:5  They are of the world: therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them.
1Jn 4:6  We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error.
1Jn 4:7  Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.
1Jn 4:8  He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.

How is it that we “know the spirit of truth and the spirit of error?” The answer is “he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us.”
Who is “us?” ‘Us’ is all who have “tried the spirits to see whether they are of God.” ‘Us’ is those who do not deny that Christ came in the same sinful flesh and blood that we are in, and ‘us’ is those who do not deny that Christ “is come in [ our sinful] flesh” even today.

1Jn 4:17  Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world.

‘Us’ is those who truly believe that “man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God” (Mat 4:4).
‘Us’ is only those who “love their brothers.” But ‘us’ is also those who know what is the “love of the children of God.” This “love of the children of God” is what separates the ‘love’ of Babylon from the “love of God.” This “love of God” what clarifies and separates the “we” from the “he” in this verse:

1Jn 4:6  We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error.

What then is this love whereby we know that we love our brothers? What then is the love of God? Is that ‘love’ expressed in agreeing in the essentials and tolerating the non essentials? What part of “every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God” is “non essential?” The answer, of course is that there is no such thing as “non essential” words or doctrines. All the doctrines of Christ; all of His Words; “every word” is absolutely essential to His doctrine and they “will never pass away” (Mat 24:34-35).
Here is how we know we love our brothers. Here is how we know that we truly love God. Anything less or anything different is not love at all, but is rather a “snare of the Devil.”

1Jn 5:2  By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments.
1Jn 5:3  For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.

“Hereby know we the spirit of truth and the spirit of error,” and “by this we know that we love the children of God.” Both are based of “loving God and keeping His commandments.” Neither are based on a false love that teaches us to be so afraid of “thinking we stand,” and being so afraid of falling that we no longer believe these words of our Lord:

Joh 8:31  Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, [ then] are ye my disciples indeed;
Joh 8:32  And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.

When we are afraid to confess that we “know the Truth”, we are afraid to confess that we “know God and Jesus Christ whom He has sent,” because Christ is the Truth.”

Joh 14:6  Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

Christ did not say ‘I know the truth,’ He said “I am the Truth.” When we are fearful of confessing that we too “know the Truth” then we will be judged out of our own mouths:

Luk 19:22  And he saith unto him, Out of thine own mouth will I judge thee, thou wicked servant. Thou knewest that I was an austere man, taking up that I laid not down, and reaping that I did not sow:
Joh 17:3  And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.

So don’t allow the Adversary to cause you to fear to stand for the Truth and to deny the Babylonian mantra of “Unity in the essentials and tolerance in the nonessentials,” while they decide what is essential and what is nonessential. Every word of God is essential, and we will all live by “the things written therein,” including having all of our briers and thorns burned out of us when it is impossible for men to “renew us to repentance,” when we all “crucify the Lord afresh and put Him to an open shame.”
When such a thing happens, know that you love the brethren by obeying God and keep His commandment to turn that brother over to Satan for the destruction of the flesh… [ so that his] briers and thorns he has brought forth can be burned and he himself can be save, yet so as by fire… in the day of the Lord.”

2Co 2:9  For to this end also did I write, that I might know the proof of you, whether ye be obedient in all things.
1Co 3:13  Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is.

Do we really believe that the “briers and thorns” of Heb 6 are somehow different from our briers and thorns? Do we really believe that the “all things” of 1Co 3:22-23, does not apply to the “crucifying our Lord afresh” of Heb 6? Do we really believe that there is not “one event to all”? Do we really think that there are some words which have proceeded out of the mouth of God by which we will not live?
I think you know better than any of that. I hope this helps you to see that ‘the unpardonable sin’ is a doctrine of men, and that we are all guilty of “all things,” and that “all things are ours… the world… life, death, things present and things to come,” and that there really is “one event to all men.”
I hope you can see that…

1Co 10:11  Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.
1Co 10:12  Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.

… like all of God’s Words, “never passes away” and is good advice for both carnal babes and those who are called and chosen, but have not yet been faithful to the end.

Mat 10:22  And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved.

Being called and chosen are not all there is to salvation. We must all be faithful to the end, to the third day, the day of resurrection, in order to be perfected in Christ.

Rev 17:14  These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with him are called, and chosen, and faithful.
Luk 13:32  And he said unto them, Go ye, and tell that fox, Behold, I cast out devils, and I do cures to day and to morrow, and the third day I shall be perfected.

Your brother in Christ.
Mike

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