Category: Pastoral

What is the Unforgivable Sin?

On By Dr. Casey LewisIn Pastoral11 Comments

Unforgivable Sin

What is the unforgivable sin? Who can commit it? How do I know if I have committed it? These questions run through our mind when we hear someone tell us there is a sin that will not be forgiven.

What is the unforgivable sin? In order to answer the question let me start with what it is not.

What the Unforgivable Sin is Not

In Matthew 12:31-32 Jesus says,

Therefore I tell you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven people, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven. And whoever speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come.

It is not sin in general or speaking against Jesus – Jesus tells us sin or rebellion against God will be forgiven. Even speaking against Jesus will be forgiven.

It is not Suicide – Some claim if you commit suicide, you can’t be forgiven because you can’t ask for forgiveness. But that is a misunderstanding of the gospel. We are not forgiven because we ask for forgiveness every time we sin. No, we are forgiven based on Christ’s work, not ours. We are forgiven because we turn from our sin to God (repentance). We are forgiven because we believe Christ took the punishment we deserve on the cross (substitution).

So that means one can commit suicide and still be a Christian. It is not what we should do. But if someone does do that, it doesn’t mean they have committed the unforgivable sin.

It is not Murder or Adultery – Murder or adulter can’t be the unforgivable sin because it is not mentioned in the context. Plus, King David did both and God said he was a man after His own heart.

So one can still come to Christ even if they committed murder or adultery.

What is the Unforgivable sin?

It is attributing the work of the Spirit to Satan, who is God’s enemy. It occurs when one has a crystal clear understanding of how the Spirit works, then they turn around and say, that didn’t occur by the Spirit of God Satan did that.

They deny the Spirit’s work because they don’t want others to believe in Jesus. They don’t want others to follow Jesus. Even though they know Jesus is the true Messiah. They have set themselves against Jesus and His kingdom and they will do whatever it takes to keep people out of it, including lying about the work of the Spirit.

So then, the unforgivable sin occurs when we have a crystal clear understanding of how the Spirit works and we deliberately attribute the work of the Spirit to Satan for the purpose of opposing Jesus so that others will not follow Him.

It is not something you can easily do. It is not something a Christian can do. It is not something someone who is seeking the things of God will do. It is not something someone who doesn’t know about God can do. It is a specialized position reserved for those who have a clear understanding of how the Spirit works, and have chosen to deliberately set themselves against God.

It’s debatable, but it seems the Pharisees commit this sin.

  • They have an understanding of how the Spirit works.
  • They attribute the work of the Holy Spirit to Satan.
  • They do it because they don’t want people to follow Jesus.
  • They have set themselves up against Jesus and His kingdom.

Resource

Post adapted from my most recent sermon Your Words Say A Lot About You

Contend for the Faith

On By Dr. Casey LewisIn Pastoral1 Comment

Cross

Every Friday morning I attend a Men’s Group associated with our church. We meet at IHOP. Eat breakfast, drink coffee, and discuss a chapter of God’s Word. The Letter of Jude was our text today. While it is a short letter, just one chapter, it is hard hitting and presents a good reminder.

What was Jude’s purpose?

To motivate the church to contend for the faith. He writes,

Beloved, although I was very eager to write to you about our common salvation, I found it necessary to write appealing to you to contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints. For certain people have crept in unnoticed who long ago were designated for this condemnation, ungodly people, who pervert the grace of our God into sensuality and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.

Our Day

In our day, we need Jude’s message. God’s grace is perverted. Jesus is denied as Master, Lord, Savior, and Christ. Sensuality runs rampant. I am not talking about secular society. These things are happening in our churches.

Homosexuality is accepted and praised. Preachers bend to cultural norms. Social Justice and Liberation Theology take the place of the true gospel. The Bible is reduced to passages we like. Passages that don’t offend or call us to repent, as committees decide whether or not Jesus really said what the author of the Gospels wrote. The inherency and inspiration of Scripture is denied. And there is much more taking place in our churches.

For that reason, we need Jude’s message. His appeal to contend for the faith. We need to take a stand on God’s Word. See it as our only authority. And call people in our churches to repent.

If we don’t, disaster awaits. Jude likens those preaching another gospel to the angels in heaven who rebelled against God, those in the wilderness who thought they couldn’t take the promised land, Cain, Balaam, and Korah (8-11). He calls these people hidden reefs (12). Lying in wait to rip a massive hole in our churches when we least expect it, if that hole hasn’t already started.

Challenge

So want you take a stand for the gospel? Want you contend for the faith? Want you be willing to stand on God’s Word, even if it is unpopular? That is Jude’s message for his church and our church today.

Question for Reflection

  1. How will you contend for the faith this week?

Resource

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On Hell and Evangelism

On By Dr. Casey LewisIn Pastoral, Quotes2 Comments

The reason it is hard for us to think of the doctrine of hell is because God has put in our hearts a portion of His own love for people created in His image, even His love for sinners who rebel against Him.

As long as we are in this life, and as long as we see and think about others who need to hear the gospel and trust in Christ for salvation, it should cause us great distress and agony of spirit to think about eternal punishment.

Question for Reflection

  1. Do you think of the eternal destiny of unbelievers?

Resources

Wayne Grudem, Systematic Theology, 1152.

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How Can We Distinguish Between True and False Teachers?

On By Dr. Casey LewisIn Church Life, Pastoral, Practical, Preaching6 Comments

Preacher

How can we distinguish between true and false teachers? Jesus provides us with a test in Matthew 7:15-20. He says,

Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. You will recognize them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? So, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit. A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a diseased tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus you will recognize them by their fruits.

Beware of Sheep in Wolves Clothing

Jesus tells us there will be those who come as wolves in sheep’s clothing. They will act like Christians, sound like Christians, but they are not Christians. Instead they are wolves in sheep’s clothing, who want to do nothing but deceive those they are teaching.

Jesus tells us to “Beware” or “Watch out” for these teachers, which means we can’t accept everyone’s teaching before examining it and them. Just because they claim to preach the Word, doesn’t mean they do. Just because they claim to live by the Word, doesn’t mean they do. It is up to us to discern their fruit, which is their message and life.

Examine Their Message and Life

Given Jesus’ teaching in the Sermon on the Mount, we are looking for those who live by the narrow way and preach the narrow way. The narrow way involves all of what Jesus teaches in the Sermon on the Mount. Some of which are a requirement to be:

  • Poor in spirit – We see a necessity to depend on God.
  • Act as Salt and Light – A witness for the gospel.
  • Deal with our anger, lust, and marriage problems.
  • Have speech that is true.
  • Don’t retaliate, honor others, and don’t seek self glory.

If a teacher is not willing to teach the narrow way, he is a false teacher. If a teacher is not willing to live by the narrow way, he is a false teacher.

True teachers live and teach the narrow way.

If the person we are listening to does not live by and teach the narrow way, no matter how entertaining, we are not to listen to them because they are a false teacher.

We Have Work To Do

Given Jesus’ command and warning, when we come to attending a church service, listening to a podcast, or watching a preacher on T.V. we have work to do. We can’t be a passive listener seeking entertainment. We have to be active.

Being active involves listening attentively to the message. Taking note of what is being said. Checking the Scripture as the preacher speaks. And finally, examining the message afterward.

When it comes to listening to a sermon, we have work to do. We can’t sit by idle soaking in the message because the person speaking to us might be a false teacher.

The Reason We Should Make This Distinction

It is important we make this distinction because those who follow false prophets are headed down the broad road to destruction. Those, however, who follow true prophets are headed down the narrow road to eternal life.

You see, those on the broad road don’t want a narrow road message. Instead, they want their ears tickled. While, those on the narrow road don’t want a broad road message, they want to hear the true teaching of the Word.

So then, depending on who you are drawn to listen to, depends on what road you are following.

Question for Reflection

  1. What preachers are you drawn to – narrow road preachers or broad road preachers?

Resources

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Post adapted from my most recent sermon

Shai Linne’s New Single – Fal$e Teacher$

On By Dr. Casey LewisIn Pastoral, Preaching3 Comments

Shai Linne’s latest album, Lyrical Theology, features the single Fal$e Teacher$. It is a controversial song, but it is truth. Truth the church needs to hear and act upon.

Know them by their fruits

In Matthew 7:15-19, Jesus tells us we will know false teachers by their fruits. These fruits include both what they speak and how they live.

What are these fruits?

Contextually, it seems Jesus is referring to all He has been presenting in the Sermon on the Mount up to that point. Some of His teaching is:

  • To recognize you are poor in spirit.
  • To deal with anger and lust.
  • To love your enemies.
  • To give to the needy without trumpeting your acts.
  • To absorb a person’s evil acts against you without retaliating.
  • To store up treasures in heaven.
  • To trust God to provide.
  • To not be judgmental
  • To be persistent in Prayer.

1 John 4:1-6 and 2 Peter 2 also provide good tests to determine who is and who is not a false teacher. Like Jesus, they too point their readers to a teacher’s fruit – what they teach and how they live.

Conclusion

False teachers may use the Bible in their messages, but their teaching is not biblical. Nor do they bear the fruit Scripture requires. Instead of preaching the true gospel, they hold forth a false gospel. One that deceives many with its promises of prosperity.

Shai Linne’s newest single doesn’t allow these prophets to fly under the radar. He points them out in love to stop them from deceiving more souls.

Give Fal$e Teacher$ a listen and let me know your thoughts in the comments below.

Question for Reflection

  1. Given Jesus’, John’s, and Peter’s teaching, have you, or are you, listening to a false prophet?

How Should We Motivate Those We Lead?

On By Dr. Casey LewisIn Leadership, Pastoral5 Comments

Old Brick Church

How should godly leaders motivate those they lead? The first king of Israel, Saul, provides a good case study.

Why Saul?

Saul, along with David, Samuel, and Jonathan are the main characters of the books of 1 and 2 Samuel. After reading through these two books, you might wonder why I chose Saul for a case study on leadership instead of Samuel or David. After all Saul is the inadequate leader the Lord rejects for David, who is the man after His own heart. I chose Saul not for his positive example, but for his negative. In other words, his actions show us how we shouldn’t lead.

Goliath’s Challenge

In 1 Samuel 17, Israel faces off against the Philistines. As they are set for battle, a man from the Philistine camp emerges who is 9 feet tall, decked in armor weighing 121 lbs, carrying a spear that is 15 lbs and as thick as the fat end of a baseball bat. Goliath is his name, and he is calling Israel to send a man to fight him in a winner take all match.

Goliath’s challenge is met with fear, anxiety, and distress. Not a man in Israel is willing to fight Goliath. Knowing the hesitancy of his men, Saul does what any leader would do. He attempts to motivate a man to take up the challenge.

How does he motivate his men?

In 1 Samuel 17:25, Saul promises the man who defeats Goliath great riches, his daughter’s hand in marriage, and freedom from taxes. Essentially, Saul motivates his men with worldly possessions.

Saul’s rewards were extended to all the men in Israel, not just a special group. Everyone in the army knows what Saul is offering, but none are willing to risk their lives against Goliath.

Saul’s motivation shows us what not to do

Saul’s actions show exactly why he was rejected as the king over Israel. He doesn’t trust God, nor does he lead his people to trust God. Instead he attempts to exploit his people’s idolatrous hearts.

Saul’s action are exactly the opposite of what a godly leader should do.

Godly leaders don’t push their people toward idolatry. Godly leaders pull their people away from idolatry toward God.

Why did Saul lead in this way?

He didn’t trust God. He focused on the challenge in front of him instead of remembering the Lord’s promises and His past victories. Not only had God promised them the land, but He had defeated the Ammonites, Amalekites, and Philistines under Saul’s rule already. Instead of reflecting on these things, he allowed his fear to take over.

What we learn

When we don’t trust God and lead out of fear, we start planning and thinking in worldly terms. We leave God out of the picture, and we attempt to lead guided by our own fallen intellect, which is woefully inadequate. Turning within and leading our people by exploiting their idolatrous hearts is not the answer. Instead we must turn ourselves and our people to God.

Question for Reflection

  1. How do you lead? Do you turn your people to God, or to the world?