Unpardonable Sin
Where is this “Point of No Return,” and why is it so beyond any possible redemption? What do you think it is? No, think badder than that, Oh No, much worse than that, Oh so much more wickeder than that. Out of options now? Let us look at this insightful quote then. Quote; “There is nothing so offensive to God or so dangerous to the human soul as pride and self-sufficiency. Of all sins it is the most hopeless; the most incurable.” {COL 154}
I perceive that this is very valid, for if you feel no need of Salvation or saving from anything, then you really have no need of a Saviour, of a “Life Change” so the Holy Spirit can make no progress in your redemption, as the person feels that they have no failings, as their Pride and Self-Sufficiency tricks them, and convinces them that they are perfectly fine; but, those people , yes them and those people over there, then they are surely very sinful and in dire need of Salvation and to repent. The story in Luke 18:10-14 where the Pharisee, and a Publican went to Church to Pray, one had “pride and self-sufficiency,” Oh how perfect his deeds and life were, well in his own eyes anyway, yet the other felt his huge burden of sin and immediately fell onto the Saviour repenting and clutching for the Holy Spirit to fill him, and the Holy Spirit worked wonders in his life, when he finally realized that he was only fooling himself, he repented, then reached out for Salvation and a Saviour.
Quote; “The effort to serve both self and Christ makes one a stony-ground hearer, and he will not endure when the test comes upon him.” {COL 50} Here we are pointed to the “Sower went forth to Sow,” and the Stone is “Self – Flesh” (stony heart, Eze 11:19) and the Good Soil is “Spirit – God” and of a Heavenly Origin.
Quote; “Idleness is the greatest curse that can fall upon man, for vice and crime follow in its train. It enfeebles the mind, perverts the understanding, and debases the soul. Satan lies in ambush, ready to destroy those who are unguarded, whose leisure gives him opportunity to insinuate himself under some attractive disguise. He is never more successful than when he comes to men in their idle hours. {PP 156}
Quote; “The Lord’s goodness and liberality is to them only an occasion of murmuring. Thus they show that there is no connection between their souls and God. They do not know the joy of co-operation with the Master Worker. There is nothing more offensive to God than this narrow, self-caring spirit. He cannot work with any who manifest these attributes. They are insensible to the working of His Spirit. {COL 400} Back to our opening Quote; “There is nothing so offensive to God or so dangerous to the human soul as pride and self-sufficiency. Of all sins it is the most hopeless; the most incurable.” {COL 154} Self bluffs us as to our being “Fine” we are just “OK” and there is definitely nothing wrong with us. You meet people who hide behind their Church Office or their long heritage of Church membership, even many generations “in the church” or their wealth or status in the community as being their “Holy and impressive upright Standing.”
That is the very point of this quote, we, me, self, flesh, us, and the likes have the preeminent place, when it should always be “thy will be done in earth as it is in Heaven.” {Matt 6:10} I guess it is all down to “Who works for Who?” How often do we try to organise GOD to do this or that, this is “My Plans” so you are just going to have to bless them God. How about a reversal of thought, live by “The Spirit” and “work for God?” Ask GOD, “What plans do you have today that could use your obedient Servant’s input, that your will shall be done and your name Glorified, not “my will” but “thy will be done.”
We have this in “The Lord’s Prayer” from Matthew 6:9 “Hallowed be thy Name.” (Last part) This is the same as saying “Bless the Lord.” Psalm 34:1b “I will bless the LORD at all times: his praise [shall] continually [be] in my mouth.” This is in fact telling us “to live the life” and to “walk the walk and to talk the talk,” it is living “in the spirit and not the flesh.” “Hallowed be thy Name,” is all about bringing “Glory to GOD” which is actually living a life that so represents GOD that people looking at you actually catch a good glimpse and a clear view of God, our Heavenly Father.
Dear Reader; back to our introduction quote; “There is nothing so offensive to God or so dangerous to the human soul as pride and self-sufficiency. Of all sins it is the most hopeless, the most incurable.” {COL 154} 1 Corinthians 15:31 “I protest by your rejoicing which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily.” Galatians 2:20 “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.” Here Paul talks of his victory over “the Flesh,” his “pride and self-sufficiency,” Quote;
“What is justification by faith? It is the work of God in laying the glory of man in the dust, and doing for man that which it is not in his power to do for himself.” {FLB 111} What are you going to do with your own “pride and self-sufficiency?”
