4/11/21 But I denied Jesus...
Jesus said, 'Also I say to you, whoever confesses Me before men, him the Son of Man also will confess before the angels of God. 9 But he who denies Me before men will be denied before the angels of God.' Luke 12:8
And: 'Therefore whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven. But whoever denies Me before men, him I will also deny before My Father who is in heaven.' Matthew 10:33
Many believers live in fear that Jesus was speaking of them when He said this; they fear because they can remember times when they were silent, from fear, and did not speak the name of Jesus Christ. Or, they actually said something, again, out of fear that was, in effect, denying the Lord Jesus Christ.
Maybe you listened to a joke that mocked Jesus Christ without speaking up to defend Him, or you smiled along with all the others.
Or, maybe you've watched movies or TV with the characters saying, while swearing, Jesus! or Christ! or Jesus Christ! and you just kept on watching with everyone else while having this gnawing feeling that something was really wrong inside of you.
You get the idea... probably most of us have denied Jesus Christ at one time or another.
Let's be comforted by Scripture: just before both Scriptures above, Jesus said: ' Are not two sparrows sold for a copper coin? And not one of them falls to the ground apart from your Father’s will. 30 But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. 31 Do not fear therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.'
Jesus said, ' Therefore I say to you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven men. 32 Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man, it will be forgiven him; but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit, it will not be forgiven him, either in this age or in the age to come.' Matthew 12:31
Most of us have never blasphemed the Holy Spirit.
The Bible also gives other lists of sins, the committers of which have no part in the Kingdom of God: ' “Do not be deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor homosexuals, nor thieves, nor the covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers, will inherit the kingdom of God” 1 Corinthians 6:9
In other words, every sin has the warning of eternal judgment but there is good news.
'Then he (the Philippian Jailer) called for a light, ran in, and fell down trembling before Paul and Silas. 30 And he brought them out and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” So they said, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household.” 32 Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all who were in his house. 33 And he took them the same hour of the night and washed their stripes (wounds). And immediately he and all his family were baptized. 34 Now when he had brought them into his house, he set food before them; and he rejoiced, having believed in God with all his household.' Acts 16:29
Every genuine believer has been forgiven of every sin: past, present and future.
Finally, the most famous denier of Jesus Christ, Peter who vehemently denied Him three times in a row, was completely forgiven and fully restored by Jesus, Himself.
'Walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you've been called.' Ephesians 4:1
'If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. 2 Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. 3 For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory.' Colossians 3:1
As to blaspheming the Holy Spirit: If you're worried about it, you probably haven't done it. If you had, your heart and conscience would have been hardened and seared to the point of not caring at all.
Tom
