Ques. 120. Please explain Matt. 12:31, 32.
"Wherefore I say unto you, all manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men: but the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men." S. G.
"And whosoever speaketh a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but whosoever speaketh against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, neither in the world to come."
Ans. How forgiving God is. All manner of sin and injurious speaking shall be forgiven to men, but speaking injuriously of the Spirit shall not be forgiven unto men. This blasphemy against the Holy Ghost was the malicious wickedness of the Pharisees who said of the Lord, This fellow does not cast out devils but by Belzebub, the prince of devils." The Lord Jesus knew their thoughts, and proved to them that Satan would not cast out Satan, and that the works He did were done by the power of the Holy Ghost. They were thus sinning against the clearest light, and there was no forgiveness for this sin, neither in the age of law in which Christ lived, nor in the millennial age when Christ would reign. It proved that they had rejected their king.
We must not mistake this with the failures of weak Christians, or of those who have backslidden in any way; nor does it mean that we cannot speak of grace in this period of grace to any sinner. We can preach the gospel to every creature, and can still use the Lord's own words, " Him that cometh to Me I will in no wise cast out." John 6:37.
Ques. 121. Is there a difference in "the gospel of the kingdom" (Matt. 24:14) from "the gospel of the grace of God" (Acts 20) and " the everlasting gospel " (Rev. 14:6)?
At what time does each apply? G. I.
Ans. The everlasting gospel is creation's witness to its Creator, and shows His power and wisdom. " The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament showeth His handiwork. Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night showeth knowledge. There is no speech nor language, where their voice is not heard." (Psa. 19:1-3.) All men everywhere have this testimony and will be judged by it, if they have no other. (Rom. 1:20.) They are without excuse; it is God's testimony against idolatry. (Acts 14:11-18; 17-31.) In Rev. 14:6, 7, a special warning to "fear God" and to " worship Him who made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters" is sent to them that dwell on the earth to turn from their idolatry. for the hour of God's judgment is come. It is called "everlasting gospel" because it is always true, and applies everywhere, since creation till the end of time.
"The gospel of the kingdom" was first preached by John the Baptist, then by the Lord Jesus and His disciples. It is the call to get ready to receive the King, foretold in all the prophecies. Those who believed it were baptized unto repentance, confessing their sins.
Jesus is introduced as God's beloved Son (Matt. 3:13-7), sealed by the Spirit, and is the great fulfiller of righteousness. (4:1-11.) He is tempted, and found perfect in His dependance, binds Satan, the strong man, and then spoils his goods. (4:17, 23.) He preaches the gospel of the kingdom (verse 24) with all the powers of the world to come. He is the Great King.
The great thought before their minds and in all the teaching (except John's gospel) was the setting up of Israel as a kingdom on earth. The rejection of the king at that time broke off the preaching of the kingdom, but it will again be renewed in the tribulation period. (See Math, 10:23 to Israel, and 24:14 to the Gentiles.) It will also be told in the time when Christ's reign is begun, till the earth is full of the knowledge of the glory of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea. (Hab. 2:14; also Isa. 52:7-10.)
The gospel preached on the day of Pentecost told that the Messiah was rejected, crucified, raised from the dead, and was now made Lord and Christ at the right hand of God. In Acts 3, Peter tells them that if they would repent and receive Him whom they had crucified, He would come back and set up His kingdom, as He had promised in all the writings of the holy prophets from Samuel on. Salvation is preached in His name, but He is the stone which the builders rejected, and His Apostles are imprisoned and beaten, and Stephen is stoned. While He prayed for his enemies, he looked steadfastly into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus at the right hand of God, saying: "Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God," then committed his spirit to the Lord.
Israel as a nation is now rejected by God. The gospel consequently goes out to the Samaritans (chapter 8) and to the Gentiles (chapter 10). Saul is converted to carry the gospel to the gentiles, to kings and the children of Israel. Saul of Tarsus saw Christ glorified, and His gospel presents Christ thus. It is the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. (2 Cor. 4:4.) He had a special mission to the Gentiles. "My gospel," he calls it. (Rom. 2:16; 16:25; 2 Tim. 2:8.) It is not setting up a kingdom on earth, but calling out the Church, the body of Christ. Eph. 3:4-6.
In Acts 20:21, the Apostle testifies to both Jews and Greeks, repentance toward God and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ, and calls it in the 24th verse "the gospel of the grace of God." It is for every creature under heaven (Col. 1:23), and connects those who believe with the Savior in heaven, who passed through death, teaching us that not only did He die for our sins, but that we died with Him, and, having risen with Him are seated in Him in heavenly places. God is our Father, we are His children, and we are united to Christ in glory, members of His body. (1 Cor. 12:12, 13.) The Holy Spirit dwells in us henceforth. We are not of the world, but are citizens of heaven.
When the Lord Jesus comes to call His people home, as seen in 1 Thess. 4:15-17, then will cease the preaching of the gospel of the grace of God. The day of salvation will then be over, the door will be shut.