Subjects Of Eternal Condemnation

"And the scribes who came down from Jerusalem said, 'He has Beelzebub,' and, 'by the ruler of demons He casts out demons.' So He called them to Himself and said to them in parables: 'How Can Satan cast out Satan? If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. And if a house is divided against itself, that house cannot stand. And if Satan has risen up against himself, and is divided, he cannot stand, but has an end. No one can enter a strong man's house and plunder his goods unless he first binds the strong man. And then he will plunder his house. Assuredly, I say to you, all sins will be forgiven the sons of men, and whatever blasphemies they may utter; but he who blasphemes AGAINST the Holy Spirit never HAS forgiveness, but is subject to eternal condemnation' -  because they said, 'He has an unclean spirit.' "(Mark 3:22-30)

Why would those who blaspheme against the Holy Spirit be unforgiven, yet any other sin or blasphemy be eligible for forgiveness? Because the new and living way that Jesus Christ brought to Israel, and now to all men, cannot be "had" without learning to be led by the Holy Spirit. Look at the context in which the scribes made their blasphemy against the Holy Spirit: He was preaching/teaching the kingdom, healing the sick, providing sustaining miracles, making little much with some left over, and casting out demons which left those who had been overcome in a right state of mind. All that ministry could not be considered anything but good. Yet, I am impressed that "greater things than these (these healings, deliverances) you also will do, because I go to the Father" was on His mind. We cannot become like Him without the indwelling and the empowerment of the Holy Spirit. As the Word of God informs us, 'to walk just as He walked'.

"There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death."(Romans 8:1,2)

We are made a new creation, speak with other tongues, understand what we are called to in Him and become complete all by the Spirit of Christ Jesus. You see then that mankind never "has" forgiveness, walking with Jesus Christ as He walked and manifesting His Father's ways, if they blaspheme AGAINST the Holy Spirit.

"Then He said to them, 'Take heed what you hear. With the same measure you use, it will be measured to you; and to you who hear, more will be given. For whoever HAS, to him more will be given; but whoever DOES NOT HAVE, even what he has will be taken away from him." (Mark 4:24,25)

Plundering The Strong Man’s Goods For Heaven’s Enduring Posessions

"Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation, and every city or house divided against itself will not stand. If Satan casts out Satan, he is divided against himself. How then will his kingdom stand? And if I cast out demons by Beelzebub, by whom do your sons cast them out? Therefore they shall be your judges. But if I cast out demons by the Spirit of God, surely the kingdom of God has come upon you. Or how can one enter a strong man's house and plunder his goods, unless he first binds the strong man? And then he will plunder his house. He who is not with Me is against Me, and he who does not gather with Me scatters abroad."(Matthew 12:25-30)

"At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, 'Who then is greatest in the kingdom of heaven?' Then Jesus called a little child to Him, set him in the midst of them, and said,  ‘Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven.' "(Matthew 18:1-4)

"Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his master made ruler over his household, to give them food in due season? Blessed is that servant whom his master, when he comes, will find so doing. Assuredly, I say to you that he will make him ruler over all his goods." (Matthew 24:45-47)

I am convinced that the "goods" Jesus described are not monies or materials, but the true riches of readiness for the Son of Man as He comes to His house, His temple. There must be a clearing of ourselves (who we are, or, our "goods") so He can fill us with Himself, that "this gospel will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations". This plundering is the overtaking of who we are for who He is. It's an exchange; painful as pruning.

“But recall the former days in which, after you were illuminated, you endured a great struggle with sufferings: partly while you were made a spectacle both by reproaches and tribulations, and partly while you became companions of those who were so treated; for you had compassion for me (Paul) in my chains, and JOYFULLY ACCEPTED the PLUNDERING OF YOUR GOODS, knowing that you have a better and an enduring possession for yourselves in heaven." (Hebrews 10:32-34)  The "plundering" of yourselves for heaven's enduring possession!

Every Son Should Ask For This Bread

 "Or what man is there among you who, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a serpent? If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more shall your Father who is in heaven give good things TO THOSE WHO ASK HIM!" 
(Matthew 7:9-11)

"Now this is the confidence we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will He hears us. And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the  petitions that we have ASKED OF HIM." (1 John 5:14,15)

"I am the bread of life. Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness and are dead. This is the bread which comes down from heaven, that one may eat of it and not die. I am the living bread which came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever; and the bread that I shall give is My flesh, which I shall give for the life of the world." (John 6:48-51)

"He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood ABIDES IN ME and I in him."
(John 6:56)

Since we understand there is not now, nor was there then, any way to literally, physically accomplish what Jesus taught (His body to eat and blood to drink), we know that He wants us to abide in Him by partaking of the substance of who He is and what He did. Jesus is teaching us the way to "keep ourselves" so that the wicked one does not touch us: through His bread AND His blood. I would say this is the "understanding" that John says He had given to them. Without question we are to follow Jesus Christ and these disciples. A son should ask for the good things: that He will show us how to believe the testimony that God has given of His Son! (1 John 5:10)

Why So Few?

"Then Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people. But when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd. Then He said to His disciples, 'The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.' "(Matthew 9:35-38)

"Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and confined (difficult) is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it."
(Matthew 7:13,14)

"Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles? Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Therefore by their fruits you will know them. Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord’, shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the work of my Father in heaven.  Many will say to Me in that day, ‘have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?' And I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!' "

(Mt. 7:15-23)

Is Jesus rebuking those who would prophesy, cast out demons and do wonders in His name? If He is, He contradicts Himself just a couple minutes later, when He gives His disciples power to do these very things. (Mt. 10:7,8) He is not an author of confusion! He is warning the original twelve disciples, and those disciples to follow, not to get caught up in these supernatural works, but to learn from Him what it means to practice righteousness, not lawlessness. Paul writes, "and we know that all (these) things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose...” (Romans 8:28)

Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock."    
(Mt. 7:24,25)

The gospels are filled with supernatural acts by Jesus Christ, and a blessing those acts are, but it was still necessary for Him to go to and through the cross; practicing righteousness. Now, pray therefore, to be sent into His harvest!

Stumbling Block or Building Block?

"Then He said to the disciples, 'It is impossible that no offenses (stumbling blocks) should come, but woe to him through whom they do come!  It would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were thrown into the sea, than that he should offend one of these little ones.' "(cause one of these little ones to stumble) (Luke 17:1,2)

" 'Behold, I lay in Zion a chief cornerstone, elect, precious, and he who believes on Him will by no means be put to shame.' Therefore, to you who believe, He is precious; but to those who are disobedient, 'The stone that the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone', and 'a stone of stumbling and a rock of offense'. They stumble, being disobedient to the word, to which they also were appointed." (1 Peter 1:6-8) Their stumbling causes others to stumble. They "transgress (or go ahead) and do not abide in the doctrine of Christ (they do not) have God. He who abides in the doctrine of Christ has both the Father and the Son". (2 John v.9) 

Why would it be better for the offender to physically die than to cause one of these little ones to stumble? It derails the development of a young believer. Their offense is a direct rejection of the chief cornerstone; it is disobedience "to the word, to which they ALSO were appointed". Any builder must be devoted to obedience to the word.

"Take heed to yourselves. If your brother sins (transgressing the doctrine of Christ), rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him. And if he sins against you seven times in a day, and seven times in a day returns saying, 'I repent,' you shall forgive him." (Luke 17:3,4) Remember, after Jesus death, resurrection, and taking away to the Father, the original disciples, other than Judas, were the builders. Jesus taught them and His words teach us now.

“You Are Not Also One Of This Man’s Disciples, Are You?”

"And Simon Peter followed Jesus, and so did another disciple. Now that disciple was known by the high priest, AND WENT WITH JESUS into the courtyard of the high priest. But Peter stood at the door OUTSIDE. Then the other disciple, who was known to the high priest, went out and spoke to her who kept the door, and brought Peter in. Then the servant girl who kept the door said to Peter, 'You are not also one of this Man's disciples, are you?' " (John 18:15-17)

This discussion is in no way an attempt to disparage Peter; we all should be as quick to repent as he was. But, these words are written for our admonishment. I am convinced that Peter would agree. You see, the servant girl who kept the door did not ask John the same question she did Peter. Why? Because she recognized discipleship through John's proximity to Jesus.

"Therefore you now have sorrow; but I will see you again and your heart will rejoice, and your joy no one will take from you. And in that day you will ask Me nothing. Most assuredly, I say to you, whatever you ask the Father in My name He will give you. UNTIL NOW YOU HAVE ASKED NOTHING IN MY NAME. ASK, AND YOU WILL RECEIVE, THAT YOUR JOY MAY BE FULL." 

(John 16:22-24)

But some of the disciples (James and John) had asked to sit at "on Your right hand and the other on Your left, in Your glory". "And when the other ten heard it, they began to be greatly displeased with James and John." (Mark 10:35-45)

"Where do wars and fights come from among you? Do they not come from your desires for pleasure that war in your members? You lust and do not have. You murder and covet and cannot obtain. You fight and war. Yet you do not have because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures." (James 4:1-3)

"I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me. And the glory that You gave Me I have given to them, that they may be one just as We are one. I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me.”  (John 17:20-23)

It seems, up to that time, Peter had a warrior outlook of God's Kingdom. When he saw Jesus being led away quietly, it shook him significantly. The servant girl's question was surely condemning. But John had learned this is a kingdom of servants; he quietly went where his Master led him, by God's grace, as Peter would later. Asking the Father, in His name, renders to that one a discipleship that other servants notice, and the world as well.

How Is A Purchased Possession Redeemed?

"In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will, that we who first trusted in Christ should be to the praise of His glory. In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, who (or which) is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory."(Ephesians 1:11-14)

In the index, 'guarantee' (v.14) is noted as 'a down payment', or 'earnest'.

earnest (noun) - a portion of something, given or done in advance as pledge of the remainder; anything that gives pledge, promise, or indication of what is to follow (Webster's)

Most have purchased something with a down payment. Expensive things (cars, houses, etc.) are usually attained this way. When the buyer comes to agreement with the current owner, a down payment is made as an indicator of the ability to complete the purchasing of the item. From that point, payments are made until the redemption is complete.

Paul states that the Ephesian saints "have faith in the Lord Jesus and love for all the saints" (v.15). They have trusted in Christ, having heard the word of truth, the gospel of salvation; in whom having believed were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise. These are blessed building blocks, yet not the completion of the work.

Paul states, "WE have obtained an inheritance, that WE who first trusted in Christ should be to the praise of His glory". YOU have received the guarantee by the Holy Spirit, the earnest, the down payment and are well positioned to obtain what Paul knows: the mystery of Christ; the fellowship of the mystery.

The guarantee empowers YOU to "run in such a way that you may obtain it". (1 Corinthians 9:24)