Tag: Bible

Understanding the unforgivable sin

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JEFF TURNER

In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus speaks about forgiveness and warns about a sin that will not be forgiven. This has raised concern and questions for many readers. The warning focuses on what is called blasphemy against the Holy Spirit and what it meant in its original setting. What is it? I can only tell you what I understand the Bible to say. Let’s start with some background.

This sin took place during the time when Jesus lived and taught in Israel. The people involved were not hearing stories passed down over time. They were seeing events with their own eyes. They listened to Jesus speak, watched how he lived, and saw the power shown through him. During his ministry, sickness was driven away across the land. This happened in an age without medical cures or clear diagnoses. The events pointed to a power that could not be explained by human means.

Jesus explained that everything he did was carried out by the power of the Holy Spirit. He chose to obey the will of the Father and relied on the Spirit while living among people. This was part of his mission and how God’s work was shown through him.

Some people who witnessed these acts refused to accept what they saw. Instead of recognizing God’s work, they claimed that Jesus was acting by the power of the devil. By doing this, they did not simply doubt or misunderstand. They took the work of the Holy Spirit and said it came from Satan. Jesus said this was blasphemy against the Holy Spirit and that it could not be forgiven.

The heart of this sin was a full rejection of the truth about who Jesus is. The people involved decided that he was not sent by God but was working for evil. This was not said in ignorance. It was a settled judgment made while clear evidence stood in front of them.

Consider, forgiveness is found through accepting Jesus Christ. To reject him is to turn away from the only path God has provided for forgiveness. Salvation does not come through other means. If someone refuses Christ, forgiveness is not possible, because the offer of grace has been rejected.

This teaching is not meant to trap people in fear. It explains the seriousness of rejecting what God has made known.

“Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on them.” — John 3:36


The coming of great deception

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JEFF TURNER

The apostle Paul wrote about a serious judgment that will happen in the future. In his letter to the Thessalonians, he explained that God will allow a powerful lie to take hold of people who have turned away from the truth. These individuals will accept false teachings and believe things that are not true.

Throughout human history, people have been misled about spiritual matters. Many have been confused about who God really is and what the Bible teaches. This happens because Satan works as a liar and an enemy of truth. He has been deceiving people since the beginning. However, what Paul describes goes beyond the normal deception that has always existed.

According to biblical prophecy, a specific period called the tribulation will occur in the future. This time will last seven years, as indicated in the book of Daniel and explained further in Thessalonians and Revelation. During these seven years, Satan’s deceptive work will grow to levels never seen before. The world will experience an outbreak of demonic lies and false teaching.

Paul warns that during this period, people will face a severe form of judgment. This judgment comes in the form of widespread delusion. Those who have rejected the gospel will find themselves unable to recognize truth. They will accept lies of all kinds. When someone refuses to believe what is true, they do not simply believe nothing. Instead, they become willing to believe anything and everything.

The Antichrist and the false prophet will work together with Satan during this time. Whatever false signs, teachings, or messages they produce, the world will accept them. People will be completely drawn in by the deception. They will not be able to see through the lies that surround them.

This period of intense deception will continue until Jesus Christ returns. When He comes back, He will destroy those who deceive others, those who have been deceived, and the deception itself. After removing all falsehood, Christ will establish His kingdom on earth.

I believe this shows how important it is to hold onto truth now. Those who reject the gospel today may find themselves unable to recognize truth when deception reaches its peak. The consequences of turning away from God’s message are serious and eternal.

“The coming of the lawless one is by the activity of Satan with all power and false signs and wonders, and with all wicked deception for those who are perishing, because they refused to love the truth and so be saved.” – 2 Thessalonians 2:9-10

God’s promise and Israel’s future

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JEFF TURNER

Some people today speak with strong views about what God plans to do with Israel. A key place in the Bible for this discussion is Romans chapters nine through eleven. In these chapters, Paul explains that God keeps His promises and does not turn away from what He has said before. Near the end of chapter eleven, Paul writes that all Israel will be saved. This line has often caused confusion.

The Bible is clear that there is only one way to receive salvation. A person is saved by faith in Jesus Christ. This rule does not change for any group of people. When Paul speaks about Israel being saved, I believe he is pointing to a future time when Israel as a nation will turn to Christ.

The book of Revelation gives more detail about this future. It describes one hundred forty-four thousand Jewish believers, made up of twelve thousand from each of the twelve tribes. These believers will come to faith in Jesus and will share the gospel with both Jews and Gentiles across the world. Revelation speaks about them more than once.

Revelation chapter eleven also speaks of a strong spiritual turning in Jerusalem. When two witnesses preach there, the city responds by giving glory to God. The Old Testament prophets add that during Israel’s salvation, two-thirds will face judgment, while one-third will remain. That group will receive the blessings of Christ’s kingdom.

True Freedom in Christ

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RICHARD CORDER

In his letter to the Galatians, Paul speaks about the freedom believers have through faith in Jesus Christ. He uses the story of Abraham, Sarah, and Hagar as an illustration to show the difference between living under the law and living under God’s promise. This story helps us understand that our salvation is not earned by human effort or religious rules but comes from trusting in Christ alone.

Paul was writing to Christians in Galatia who were being influenced by teachers known as Judaizers. These men insisted that believers had to follow the laws of Moses, such as circumcision, to be truly saved. Paul strongly opposed this message. He reminded the Galatians that salvation is through faith, not through the works of the law. Good works are the fruit of salvation, not the cause of it. They are evidence that someone truly belongs to Christ, but they do not earn a person’s place with God.

Paul explained that this false teaching was dangerous because it took away from what Jesus had already done on the cross. If salvation could be gained through the law, then Christ’s death would have been unnecessary. The apostle spoke clearly, “Yet we know that a person is not justified by the works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ.” The law shows us our sin and our need for a saviour, but only Jesus brings freedom from sin and death.

To illustrate his point, Paul reminded the Galatians of Abraham’s two sons. Ishmael was born from Hagar, the servant, as a result of human planning. Isaac was born to Sarah, the free woman, as the fulfilment of God’s promise. Paul used this as a picture of two covenants. Hagar represents Mount Sinai, where the law was given, and this covenant leads to bondage because no one can perfectly keep the law. Sarah represents God’s promise, which leads to freedom through faith. Those who trust in Christ are like Isaac. They are children of promise, born not of human effort but by the Spirit of God.

Paul told the Galatians that believers must “cast out the bondwoman,” meaning they must turn away from the idea that human effort can bring salvation. Only those who rely on the promise of God through faith in Jesus are heirs of eternal life. Trying to earn salvation through good deeds is like returning to slavery after being set free.

Even today, many people believe that doing good works or following certain traditions will make them right with God. But scripture teaches that eternal life is a gift, not a payment for good behaviour. Paul wrote in Romans that “the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” This truth reminds us that no human effort can remove sin. Only God, through His mercy and grace, offers forgiveness and freedom in Christ.

Paul urged the Galatians to stand firm in that freedom. To be free in Christ does not mean living carelessly, but living gratefully and obediently because of what Jesus has done. Obedience is no longer a way to earn salvation, it is a response of love. When we follow God’s ways, we do it not out of fear of punishment, but out of joy in belonging to Him.

It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery.

Galatians 5:1

A call to pursue holiness in the new year

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JEFF TURNER

When a new year begins, people take time off work to celebrate. They gather with loved ones for meals and write down goals that most will forget about later. For Christians wanting to focus their hearts on what matters most in the coming year, there is an important question to consider. What does God want for His people?

I believe God desires holiness for those who follow Him. He wants His people to grow in purity and become more like Christ. This is not just one priority among many. It is the central reason God gave believers the Holy Spirit.

Church leaders are given their role to feed and nurture God’s people toward this same goal. The apostle Paul wrote with deep emotion about his longing to see believers mature in their faith. He told one church he wanted to present them to Christ as a pure bride. He told another group that he felt like he was in labor pains, waiting for Christ to be fully formed in them. These were not casual wishes. They came from the core of his spiritual concern.

Shouldn’t every Christian pray for holiness in their own life and in the lives of other believers?