Is There a Point of No Return?

As we continue on our journey through the life of Christ, we come this week to one of those teachings of Jesus that can easily catch us off-guard and stir up at least as many questions as answers. Jesus’ teaching that blasphemy against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven is a topic that can a bit heavy, but as we see in this study of scripture, there is always the ultimate plea of love and a call to grace embedded in the warning against such sin. His desire has always been our salvation, not our condemnation (John 3:17).

Who IS this Guy?! – Mark 2:1-12

When Jesus healed the paralytic in Capernaum, he proved he was more than a just miracle worker who could heal physical ailments, he proved himself to be the Son of God, and the one who can bring the greatest healing of all: forgiveness of sin and salvation of mankind.

Gospel of Mark Series: To All Who Did Receive Him

“Pilate asked him, ‘Are you the King of the Jews?’ And he answered him, ‘You have said so.’ And the chief priests accused him of many things. And Pilate again asked him, ‘Have you no answer to make? See how many charges they bring against you.’ But Jesus made no further answer, so that Pilate was amazed.” – Mark 15:2-5, English Standard Version

Gospel of Mark Series: While We Were Yet Sinners

It’s difficult to imagine the pain of the betrayals Jesus experienced the night of his arrest. Judas betrayed him, Peter denied him, and those he came to redeem condemned him. Yet…he still loved them, and no betrayal or denial would stop him from laying down his life for mankind’s redemption.

“You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” – Romans 5:6-8, NIV 1984

The Forgiveness of God

“As far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.” – Psalm 103:12

In reading the Gospels, one cannot help being awed by the miracles of Jesus Christ. As was reported to John the Baptist, we see on every page that, “The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is preached to the poor.” (Matthew 11:5) There is, however, one miracle that stands above them all—the divine act of the forgiveness of our sins.

Forgiveness is not normal. As human beings, our natural reaction to hurt or pain is retaliation, revenge, and a grudge. Storied feuds like the Hatfields and McCoys have played out between neighbors, coworkers, and nations since Cain and Abel (Genesis 4). Forgiveness is not the hallmark of fallen man, but of the divine nature of Jehovah, which is why the forgiveness of God jumps off the page and takes hold of our hearts. We know that we are seeing acts of divine love (Exodus 34:6-7).

We are utterly incapable of undoing our sin. In the age of reset buttons, reboots, and the ability to hit “refresh” when things go wrong, we are used to finding quick fixes to our mistakes and glitches. In matters of the soul? Not so much. There is no way to unspeak a harsh word, to untell a lie, or to pretend an abuse, a war, or a theft did not really happen. As Shakespeare’s Hamlet reminds us, we cannot simply wash our hands of sin’s stains. In our sin, we are in need of divine intervention.

This is where God works His greatest miracle. What we could not remove, God washes away (Hebrews 10:19-22). What we could not atone, He atones (Romans 3:21-26). Perhaps most astounding of all, He loved us before we loved Him back, and worked for our redemption while we were still holding grudges (Romans 5:6-8). Praise God!

Praise the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. According to His great mercy, He has given us a new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead 4 and into an inheritance that is imperishable, uncorrupted, and unfading, kept in heaven for you. 5 You are being protected by God’s power through faith for a salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time.  – I Peter 2:3-5

(This article was originally written for the May/June issue of Christ for Today)

“In Evil Long I Took Delight” by John Newton

In evil long I took delight,
Unawed by shame or fear,
Till a new object struck my sight,
And stopp’d my wild career:
I saw One hanging on a Tree
In agonies and blood,
Who fix’d His languid eyes on me.
As near His Cross I stood.

Sure never till my latest breath,
Can I forget that look:
It seem’d to charge me with His death,
Though not a word He spoke:
My conscience felt and own’d the guilt,
And plunged me in despair:
I saw my sins His Blood had spilt,
And help’d to nail Him there.

Alas! I knew not what I did!
But now my tears are vain:
Where shall my trembling soul be hid?
For I the Lord have slain!

A second look He gave, which said,
“I freely all forgive;
This blood is for thy ransom paid;
I die that thou may’st live.”

Thus, while His death my sin displays
In all its blackest hue,
Such is the mystery of grace,
It seals my pardon too.
With pleasing grief, and mournful joy,
My spirit now if fill’d,
That I should such a life destroy,
Yet live by Him I kill’d!

By John Newton, who also wrote the song Amazing Grace.