“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.”
Answer: 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 Spirit 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 Spirit. 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 6:3737All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out. (John 6:37).
At what time does each apply? G. I.
Answer: 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. 19:1-31<<To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David.>> The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament showeth his handywork. 2Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night showeth knowledge. 3There is no speech nor language, where their voice is not heard. (Psalm 19:1‑3).) All men everywhere have this testimony and will be judged by it, if they have no other. (Rom. 1:2020For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: (Romans 1:20).) They are without excuse; it is God’s testimony against idolatry. (Acts 14:11-18; 17-3111And when the people saw what Paul had done, they lifted up their voices, saying in the speech of Lycaonia, The gods are come down to us in the likeness of men. 12And they called Barnabas, Jupiter; and Paul, Mercurius, because he was the chief speaker. 13Then the priest of Jupiter, which was before their city, brought oxen and garlands unto the gates, and would have done sacrifice with the people. 14Which when the apostles, Barnabas and Paul, heard of, they rent their clothes, and ran in among the people, crying out, 15And saying, Sirs, why do ye these things? We also are men of like passions with you, and preach unto you that ye should turn from these vanities unto the living God, which made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all things that are therein: 16Who in times past suffered all nations to walk in their own ways. 17Nevertheless he left not himself without witness, in that he did good, and gave us rain from heaven, and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with food and gladness. 18And with these sayings scarce restrained they the people, that they had not done sacrifice unto them. (Acts 14:11‑18).) In Revelation 14:6, 76And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people, 7Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters. (Revelation 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 Matthew 10:2323But when they persecute you in this city, flee ye into another: for verily I say unto you, Ye shall not have gone over the cities of Israel, till the Son of man be come. (Matthew 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. 2:1414For the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea. (Habakkuk 2:14); also Isa. 52:7-107How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace; that bringeth good tidings of good, that publisheth salvation; that saith unto Zion, Thy God reigneth! 8Thy watchmen shall lift up the voice; with the voice together shall they sing: for they shall see eye to eye, when the Lord shall bring again Zion. 9Break forth into joy, sing together, ye waste places of Jerusalem: for the Lord hath comforted his people, he hath redeemed Jerusalem. 10The Lord hath made bare his holy arm in the eyes of all the nations; and all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our God. (Isaiah 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. 4:44In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them. (2 Corinthians 4:4).) He had a special mission to the Gentiles. “My gospel,” he calls it. (Rom. 2:16; 16:2516In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel. (Romans 2:16)
25Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began, (Romans 16:25); 2 Tim. 2:88Remember that Jesus Christ of the seed of David was raised from the dead according to my gospel: (2 Timothy 2:8).) It is not setting up a kingdom on earth, but calling out the church, the body of Christ. (Eph. 3:4-64Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ) 5Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit; 6That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel: (Ephesians 3:4‑6)).
In Acts 20:2121Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ. (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. 1:2323If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister; (Colossians 1:23)), and connects those who believe with the Saviour 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, 1312For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ. 13For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit. (1 Corinthians 12:12‑13).) The Holy Spirit dwells in us henceforth. We are not of the world, but are citizens of heaven.