1 00:00:04,742 --> 00:00:06,863 Maybe I've said this before, 2 00:00:06,863 --> 00:00:11,047 the two topics that seem to be 3 00:00:11,047 --> 00:00:14,078 the most sought after, 4 00:00:14,078 --> 00:00:17,298 of the most interest that James posts, 5 00:00:17,298 --> 00:00:20,418 it seems like either have to do 6 00:00:20,418 --> 00:00:25,807 with the battle against sexual sin and temptation, 7 00:00:25,807 --> 00:00:31,783 or this one classic question 8 00:00:31,783 --> 00:00:36,215 has to do with the unpardonable sin. 9 00:00:36,215 --> 00:00:41,657 And we've dealt with it. 10 00:00:41,657 --> 00:00:44,736 We had a special - 11 00:00:44,736 --> 00:00:49,938 we filmed a special interview basically 12 00:00:49,938 --> 00:00:51,469 where I dealt with that, 13 00:00:51,469 --> 00:00:53,319 and then have we ever dealt with it 14 00:00:53,319 --> 00:00:56,358 in any other APT's? 15 00:00:56,358 --> 00:00:58,510 Five times? 16 00:00:58,510 --> 00:01:03,394 So, that's how often this situation comes up. 17 00:01:03,394 --> 00:01:07,299 Let me read it to you. 18 00:01:07,299 --> 00:01:11,933 "I've committed the unforgivable sin - 19 00:01:11,933 --> 00:01:16,778 99% chance. 20 00:01:16,778 --> 00:01:18,309 I just want to ask you 21 00:01:18,309 --> 00:01:20,455 what happens when you commit it? 22 00:01:20,455 --> 00:01:22,947 Because here's what happened to me. 23 00:01:22,947 --> 00:01:24,543 Everything went away. 24 00:01:24,543 --> 00:01:26,704 Honestly, everything. 25 00:01:26,704 --> 00:01:32,887 Even temptations now - I have none." 26 00:01:32,887 --> 00:01:35,604 I don't think that's exactly what he means to say. 27 00:01:35,604 --> 00:01:40,233 I think he means that even with temptations, 28 00:01:40,233 --> 00:01:41,674 everything has gone away. 29 00:01:41,674 --> 00:01:44,010 He has no ability to resist or fight 30 00:01:44,010 --> 00:01:46,618 I think is what he means. 31 00:01:46,618 --> 00:01:49,364 "Emotions - I have only fear. 32 00:01:49,364 --> 00:01:51,511 I don't even love my family anymore. 33 00:01:51,511 --> 00:01:53,008 It all happened two days ago 34 00:01:53,008 --> 00:01:55,106 after I blasphemed the Holy Spirit 35 00:01:55,106 --> 00:01:56,980 in my mind. 36 00:01:56,980 --> 00:02:00,288 I didn't mean the words that I said, 37 00:02:00,288 --> 00:02:02,728 but somehow I said them from my heart 38 00:02:02,728 --> 00:02:04,043 in my mind. 39 00:02:04,043 --> 00:02:06,464 It was just like in one second, there it was. 40 00:02:06,464 --> 00:02:07,511 I cannot believe it. 41 00:02:07,511 --> 00:02:09,732 I asked God if I've really done this, 42 00:02:09,732 --> 00:02:12,234 and my conscience says that I did. 43 00:02:12,234 --> 00:02:15,115 I've been begging for forgiveness and nothing happened. 44 00:02:15,115 --> 00:02:18,373 I cannot recognize when I commit sin anymore. 45 00:02:18,373 --> 00:02:19,944 I'm not being convicted. 46 00:02:19,944 --> 00:02:24,647 I wish I was never born." 47 00:02:24,647 --> 00:02:29,831 Now, let me just say this. 48 00:02:29,831 --> 00:02:35,090 When a person is perceived 49 00:02:35,090 --> 00:02:39,202 to be struggling, 50 00:02:39,202 --> 00:02:41,589 oftentimes what that provokes, 51 00:02:41,589 --> 00:02:45,640 or we think should be provoked from us 52 00:02:45,640 --> 00:02:49,246 is pity. 53 00:02:49,246 --> 00:02:52,725 But the thing is with spiritual things, 54 00:02:52,725 --> 00:02:56,785 sometimes the things that people struggle with 55 00:02:56,785 --> 00:02:59,077 or the problems that they have 56 00:02:59,077 --> 00:03:02,481 is not actually something to be pitied; 57 00:03:02,481 --> 00:03:07,038 it's something that they are to be blamed for. 58 00:03:07,038 --> 00:03:12,167 There are ways of handling 59 00:03:12,167 --> 00:03:13,880 problems that people have 60 00:03:13,880 --> 00:03:24,291 that can seem less than compassionate. 61 00:03:24,291 --> 00:03:30,807 I feel like I have read so many - 62 00:03:30,807 --> 00:03:33,496 this is the classic question. 63 00:03:33,496 --> 00:03:40,135 There are so many individuals. 64 00:03:40,135 --> 00:03:43,476 I've spent I don't know how much time 65 00:03:43,476 --> 00:03:46,407 with people on the phone 66 00:03:46,407 --> 00:03:48,177 and by email, 67 00:03:48,177 --> 00:03:50,155 and if I've spent that much time, 68 00:03:50,155 --> 00:03:53,441 James has probably spent a hundred times that amount. 69 00:03:53,441 --> 00:03:55,038 Craig is answering. 70 00:03:55,038 --> 00:03:57,003 He's dealing with that. 71 00:03:57,003 --> 00:03:59,456 Do you ever give those things to Jeff? 72 00:03:59,456 --> 00:04:02,293 James: A lot of the unpardonable sin ones Jeff gets. Yes. 73 00:04:02,293 --> 00:04:04,183 Tim: Okay. 74 00:04:04,183 --> 00:04:07,924 So here's Ichabod Spencer. 75 00:04:07,924 --> 00:04:11,145 This man lived about 200 years ago. 76 00:04:11,145 --> 00:04:18,192 He was a pastor in the northeast. 77 00:04:18,192 --> 00:04:19,955 He wrote this book. 78 00:04:19,955 --> 00:04:21,031 I highly recommend it. 79 00:04:21,031 --> 00:04:24,089 It's called "A Pastor's Sketches." 80 00:04:24,089 --> 00:04:25,641 What this book is - 81 00:04:25,641 --> 00:04:29,011 now you talk about photographic memory - 82 00:04:29,011 --> 00:04:31,459 he must have had a photographic memory. 83 00:04:31,459 --> 00:04:34,983 He could interview somebody 84 00:04:34,983 --> 00:04:38,273 and then sit down and write 85 00:04:38,273 --> 00:04:40,656 and record the conversation that he had 86 00:04:40,656 --> 00:04:42,610 word for word. 87 00:04:42,610 --> 00:04:44,883 And this is what we have here. 88 00:04:44,883 --> 00:04:47,516 We have him dealing with people - 89 00:04:47,516 --> 00:04:50,508 both Christians in struggles that they had 90 00:04:50,508 --> 00:04:51,836 and unbelievers - 91 00:04:51,836 --> 00:04:55,086 him dealing with them in an evangelistic sense. 92 00:04:55,086 --> 00:04:58,098 It's an extremely helpful book. 93 00:04:58,098 --> 00:05:00,973 He deals with some problems 94 00:05:00,973 --> 00:05:03,784 that are timeless. 95 00:05:03,784 --> 00:05:06,775 They're not just things people struggled with 200 years ago. 96 00:05:06,775 --> 00:05:10,550 And here is a short chapter 97 00:05:10,550 --> 00:05:13,458 where he deals with a young lady 98 00:05:13,458 --> 00:05:16,775 who believed that she committed the unpardonable sin. 99 00:05:16,775 --> 00:05:19,275 And I want you all to hear it. 100 00:05:19,275 --> 00:05:23,005 Because what has struck me 101 00:05:23,005 --> 00:05:26,270 about the vast majority of the people 102 00:05:26,270 --> 00:05:30,490 that think that they've committed the unpardonable sin, 103 00:05:30,490 --> 00:05:36,604 is even if you could convince them that they hadn't, 104 00:05:36,604 --> 00:05:38,720 I'm not really convinced these people 105 00:05:38,720 --> 00:05:40,979 are lining up to be saved. 106 00:05:40,979 --> 00:05:45,376 I think the real problem is 107 00:05:45,376 --> 00:05:51,287 they think that it's no longer within their capacity 108 00:05:51,287 --> 00:05:53,536 to be saved when they want to be saved 109 00:05:53,536 --> 00:05:56,625 and that's what concerns them. 110 00:05:56,625 --> 00:05:58,884 Not that they really want to be saved; 111 00:05:58,884 --> 00:06:01,428 they just want to know that they can be 112 00:06:01,428 --> 00:06:03,735 if they want to. 113 00:06:03,735 --> 00:06:06,214 And they've done something, 114 00:06:06,214 --> 00:06:08,251 and whether the devil's involved in it 115 00:06:08,251 --> 00:06:09,941 and whispering in their ear 116 00:06:09,941 --> 00:06:11,165 and condemning them, 117 00:06:11,165 --> 00:06:13,677 or trying to convince them that they've committed it 118 00:06:13,677 --> 00:06:15,954 when they haven't committed it, 119 00:06:15,954 --> 00:06:16,848 I don't know. 120 00:06:16,848 --> 00:06:18,516 How much it's their own conscience; 121 00:06:18,516 --> 00:06:21,347 how much it's their own ignorance. 122 00:06:21,347 --> 00:06:29,585 But listen to this. 123 00:06:29,585 --> 00:06:32,300 "Her most common topic..." 124 00:06:32,300 --> 00:06:33,981 This young lady he's speaking to. 125 00:06:33,981 --> 00:06:35,658 "Her most common topic 126 00:06:35,658 --> 00:06:39,005 was the magnitude of her sins. 127 00:06:39,005 --> 00:06:40,518 She was such a sinner 128 00:06:40,518 --> 00:06:42,601 that there was no mercy for her." 129 00:06:42,601 --> 00:06:44,265 And he would try to convince her 130 00:06:44,265 --> 00:06:46,079 the blood of Jesus Christ cleanseth 131 00:06:46,079 --> 00:06:49,456 from all sin. 132 00:06:49,456 --> 00:06:52,601 Well, at this point, he doensn't know 133 00:06:52,601 --> 00:06:54,373 that she thinks she has committed 134 00:06:54,373 --> 00:06:55,738 the unpardonable sin. 135 00:06:55,738 --> 00:06:57,162 He's pressing her. 136 00:06:57,162 --> 00:06:59,860 He's visiting with her from time to time. 137 00:06:59,860 --> 00:07:02,051 "One day, as I was urging this point, 138 00:07:02,051 --> 00:07:05,557 and entreating her to be reconciled to God 139 00:07:05,557 --> 00:07:09,029 by yielding her heart to the persuasions 140 00:07:09,029 --> 00:07:11,530 of the Holy Spirit, 141 00:07:11,530 --> 00:07:13,582 she said to me, 142 00:07:13,582 --> 00:07:16,606 'I believe I've committed the unpardonable sin.'" 143 00:07:16,606 --> 00:07:19,976 Now listen to how he interacts with her. 144 00:07:19,976 --> 00:07:23,284 "What makes you think so?" 145 00:07:23,284 --> 00:07:25,389 See, that's a good question to ask people. 146 00:07:25,389 --> 00:07:26,883 People who come along and say, 147 00:07:26,883 --> 00:07:28,823 "I've committed the unpardonable sin." 148 00:07:28,823 --> 00:07:35,641 Well, ask them why they think so? 149 00:07:35,641 --> 00:07:37,004 Because what you want to be 150 00:07:37,004 --> 00:07:38,526 is you want to be a soul doctor. 151 00:07:38,526 --> 00:07:40,359 You want to try to help people. 152 00:07:40,359 --> 00:07:43,388 Why would they think that they committed it? 153 00:07:43,388 --> 00:07:47,977 "'Well, I feel so,' she said hesitatingly. 154 00:07:47,977 --> 00:07:51,099 'What makes you feel so?' 155 00:07:51,099 --> 00:07:53,012 'Well, the Lord would have forgiven me 156 00:07:53,012 --> 00:07:54,535 before this time if there was 157 00:07:54,535 --> 00:07:57,749 any forgiveness for me.'" 158 00:07:57,749 --> 00:08:00,106 And he says to her, 159 00:08:00,106 --> 00:08:02,239 "He will forgive you now 160 00:08:02,239 --> 00:08:03,770 if you will repent of sin 161 00:08:03,770 --> 00:08:06,081 and trust in the redemption of Christ." 162 00:08:06,081 --> 00:08:08,055 Now listen, no matter what anybody says 163 00:08:08,055 --> 00:08:09,403 they think they've done, 164 00:08:09,403 --> 00:08:11,008 I'll guarantee you this, 165 00:08:11,008 --> 00:08:14,572 if somebody repents and trusts 166 00:08:14,572 --> 00:08:16,345 the redemption of Christ, 167 00:08:16,345 --> 00:08:19,304 they will be saved. 168 00:08:19,304 --> 00:08:22,072 You say what if they've committed the unpardonable sin? 169 00:08:22,072 --> 00:08:23,854 I don't care what they've committed. 170 00:08:23,854 --> 00:08:25,439 If they will trust Christ, 171 00:08:25,439 --> 00:08:28,859 Jesus said He will not turn away anybody 172 00:08:28,859 --> 00:08:30,548 that comes to Him. 173 00:08:30,548 --> 00:08:32,160 That's what He says. 174 00:08:32,160 --> 00:08:35,211 And so that's a good place to go with people. 175 00:08:35,211 --> 00:08:36,973 No matter what you think 176 00:08:36,973 --> 00:08:38,277 that you've committed, 177 00:08:38,277 --> 00:08:41,150 if you will repent of sin 178 00:08:41,150 --> 00:08:43,562 and trust in the redemption of Christ, 179 00:08:43,562 --> 00:08:45,988 He will forgive you now. 180 00:08:45,988 --> 00:08:49,924 That's based on His promises. 181 00:08:49,924 --> 00:08:52,181 "'No,' said she, 182 00:08:52,181 --> 00:08:53,945 'I've committed the unpardonable sin. 183 00:08:53,945 --> 00:08:55,873 There is no forgiveness for me.' 184 00:08:55,873 --> 00:08:59,901 She wept and sobbed aloud." 185 00:08:59,901 --> 00:09:03,656 So this isn't superficial with her. 186 00:09:03,656 --> 00:09:06,736 This is deep. She feels this. 187 00:09:06,736 --> 00:09:09,671 "Said I, 'How long have you been thinking 188 00:09:09,671 --> 00:09:12,417 that you committed the unpardonable sin?' 189 00:09:12,417 --> 00:09:15,464 She answered, 'I have known it a long time.'" 190 00:09:15,464 --> 00:09:20,022 See, that was a good first question he asked. 191 00:09:20,022 --> 00:09:24,248 What makes you think you've committed it? 192 00:09:24,248 --> 00:09:27,660 Now, here's a good question too 193 00:09:27,660 --> 00:09:30,178 when somebody asks it. 194 00:09:30,178 --> 00:09:34,618 What is the unpardonable sin? 195 00:09:34,618 --> 00:09:36,286 You know, you get a lot of people 196 00:09:36,286 --> 00:09:40,517 that think they've committed it. 197 00:09:40,517 --> 00:09:41,977 (incomplete thought) 198 00:09:41,977 --> 00:09:43,803 Listen to how she answers. 199 00:09:43,803 --> 00:09:45,814 "'What is the unpardonable sin?' 200 00:09:45,814 --> 00:09:49,536 She answered, 'the sin against the Holy Ghost 201 00:09:49,536 --> 00:09:51,652 which hath never forgiveness 202 00:09:51,652 --> 00:09:53,322 neither in this world 203 00:09:53,322 --> 00:09:57,195 nor in the world to come.'" 204 00:09:57,195 --> 00:09:59,935 But see, although that's correct what she said, 205 00:09:59,935 --> 00:10:03,688 that isn't what the sin is. 206 00:10:03,688 --> 00:10:08,527 "He says, 'What is the sin against the Holy Ghost?' 207 00:10:08,527 --> 00:10:11,605 After much hesitation, she replied, 208 00:10:11,605 --> 00:10:15,256 'It is the sin that Jesus Christ mentioned, 209 00:10:15,256 --> 00:10:19,239 speaking against the Holy Ghost.' 210 00:10:19,239 --> 00:10:20,956 He asked her, 'Have you been 211 00:10:20,956 --> 00:10:24,302 speaking against the Holy Ghost?' 212 00:10:24,302 --> 00:10:29,146 'Oh no, I have not done that,' said she. 213 00:10:29,146 --> 00:10:31,180 'What then do you mean? 214 00:10:31,180 --> 00:10:33,959 What is your unpardonable sin?' 215 00:10:33,959 --> 00:10:36,254 She gave no answer." 216 00:10:36,254 --> 00:10:38,408 You see, that's the thing that you would 217 00:10:38,408 --> 00:10:41,185 ask somebody is 218 00:10:41,185 --> 00:10:44,344 have you been speaking against the Spirit? 219 00:10:44,344 --> 00:10:47,542 I mean, you remember what those Jews did? 220 00:10:47,542 --> 00:10:50,633 They were saying that Jesus had an unclean spirit. 221 00:10:50,633 --> 00:10:52,492 (incomplete thought) 222 00:10:52,492 --> 00:10:55,776 And they were doing it maliciously. 223 00:10:55,776 --> 00:11:00,534 They were doing it willfully; purposely. 224 00:11:00,534 --> 00:11:03,300 It's not like a thought shot through their minds, 225 00:11:03,300 --> 00:11:05,707 and they're like, "Oh no! I thought that thought! 226 00:11:05,707 --> 00:11:07,851 Now I've committed the unpardonable sin!" 227 00:11:07,851 --> 00:11:10,830 They're attacking Christ. 228 00:11:10,830 --> 00:11:15,891 They're maliciously saying, 229 00:11:15,891 --> 00:11:21,339 "He casts out demons by the prince of demons." 230 00:11:21,339 --> 00:11:24,193 You see what they're doing? 231 00:11:24,193 --> 00:11:28,440 And she said, "No, I have not been." 232 00:11:28,440 --> 00:11:29,616 "She gave no answer. 233 00:11:29,616 --> 00:11:31,194 I continued to ask, 234 00:11:31,194 --> 00:11:33,384 'When did you commit this unpardonable sin?' 235 00:11:33,384 --> 00:11:34,774 She said nothing. 236 00:11:34,774 --> 00:11:36,671 'Tell me what it is.' She said nothing. 237 00:11:36,671 --> 00:11:38,005 'How came you to commit it?' 238 00:11:38,005 --> 00:11:39,326 She said nothing. 239 00:11:39,326 --> 00:11:42,901 'What makes you think you've committed it?' 240 00:11:42,901 --> 00:11:44,785 She said, 'God would have forgiven me 241 00:11:44,785 --> 00:11:48,268 before this time if I had not committed it.' 242 00:11:48,268 --> 00:11:51,538 'Before this time? What do you mean?' 243 00:11:51,538 --> 00:11:55,314 'Why I have been a great while 244 00:11:55,314 --> 00:11:58,768 seeking religion.' 245 00:11:58,768 --> 00:12:02,302 He answered, 'Because you've been so long seeking it, 246 00:12:02,302 --> 00:12:06,001 you think it's no present fault of yours 247 00:12:06,001 --> 00:12:08,638 that you have not found it? 248 00:12:08,638 --> 00:12:10,423 But that God will not forgive you 249 00:12:10,423 --> 00:12:12,021 because months ago you committed 250 00:12:12,021 --> 00:12:13,112 the unpardonable sin? 251 00:12:13,112 --> 00:12:14,601 Is that what you mean?' 252 00:12:14,601 --> 00:12:16,479 'Yes sir.' 253 00:12:16,479 --> 00:12:18,301 'Very well,' said I. 254 00:12:18,301 --> 00:12:20,373 'I suppose you want nothing more of me 255 00:12:20,373 --> 00:12:21,598 if you're unpardonable. 256 00:12:21,598 --> 00:12:24,212 I can do nothing for you if that is the case. 257 00:12:24,212 --> 00:12:25,657 I may as well leave you. 258 00:12:25,657 --> 00:12:27,680 You may go to your closet and tell God 259 00:12:27,680 --> 00:12:29,462 as you kneel before Him 260 00:12:29,462 --> 00:12:31,595 that you are willing to repent, 261 00:12:31,595 --> 00:12:33,747 that you're willing to trust in Christ, 262 00:12:33,747 --> 00:12:36,184 you're willing to obey God in all things, 263 00:12:36,184 --> 00:12:37,834 and that it's no fault of yours 264 00:12:37,834 --> 00:12:39,332 that you're not a Christian. 265 00:12:39,332 --> 00:12:40,856 Tell Him that the only thing now 266 00:12:40,856 --> 00:12:42,404 in your way to salvation 267 00:12:42,404 --> 00:12:44,150 is that old unpardonable sin 268 00:12:44,150 --> 00:12:45,728 which He will not forgive. 269 00:12:45,728 --> 00:12:46,782 Goodbye.' 270 00:12:46,782 --> 00:12:50,000 I left her at once." 271 00:12:50,000 --> 00:12:53,796 Now, you think. 272 00:12:53,796 --> 00:12:56,994 I would say that to this man. 273 00:12:56,994 --> 00:12:58,558 I would say that to anybody 274 00:12:58,558 --> 00:13:04,423 who thinks they've committed the unpardonable sin. 275 00:13:04,423 --> 00:13:07,961 See, that gets right to the point. 276 00:13:07,961 --> 00:13:10,044 Are you saying that you're ready 277 00:13:10,044 --> 00:13:11,550 to take Christ at His word 278 00:13:11,550 --> 00:13:13,792 and trust what He's done on that cross? 279 00:13:13,792 --> 00:13:16,035 You're ready to turn from your sin? 280 00:13:16,035 --> 00:13:18,218 You're ready to follow Christ 281 00:13:18,218 --> 00:13:20,251 and take His commandments 282 00:13:20,251 --> 00:13:22,711 as your daily meat, your daily food, 283 00:13:22,711 --> 00:13:24,494 and follow Him? 284 00:13:24,494 --> 00:13:27,104 You're ready to do that? 285 00:13:27,104 --> 00:13:30,587 You desire to do that? 286 00:13:30,587 --> 00:13:32,423 And you're telling me 287 00:13:32,423 --> 00:13:34,253 that you're actually repentant 288 00:13:34,253 --> 00:13:36,837 and you're believing, 289 00:13:36,837 --> 00:13:39,273 but God won't save you 290 00:13:39,273 --> 00:13:42,656 because of that unpardonable sin? 291 00:13:42,656 --> 00:13:46,723 You see, that would make God to be a liar. 292 00:13:46,723 --> 00:13:48,702 Because God says if you trust His Son 293 00:13:48,702 --> 00:13:49,880 you will be saved. 294 00:13:49,880 --> 00:13:52,240 You will not be ashamed. 295 00:13:52,240 --> 00:13:58,003 Scripture says that if you repent, 296 00:13:58,003 --> 00:14:01,376 you will not likewise perish. 297 00:14:01,376 --> 00:14:04,899 If you don't repent, you will perish. 298 00:14:04,899 --> 00:14:11,065 If you do repent, you'll be saved. 299 00:14:11,065 --> 00:14:14,761 God's a liar otherwise. 300 00:14:14,761 --> 00:14:16,161 (incomplete thought) 301 00:14:16,161 --> 00:14:18,444 So, he walks away. 302 00:14:18,444 --> 00:14:22,801 Now listen, let me tell you this. 303 00:14:22,801 --> 00:14:29,141 Too often, especially with young believers, 304 00:14:29,141 --> 00:14:31,621 you can feel like if people 305 00:14:31,621 --> 00:14:33,278 are willing to listen, 306 00:14:33,278 --> 00:14:36,455 you'll just talk on and on and on 307 00:14:36,455 --> 00:14:39,121 and on and on and on... 308 00:14:39,121 --> 00:14:43,551 Some of you are getting involved in door-to-door ministry. 309 00:14:43,551 --> 00:14:46,271 You do not have to talk to somebody for two hours 310 00:14:46,271 --> 00:14:49,297 just because they're willing to talk. 311 00:14:49,297 --> 00:14:52,564 You can tell them the truth. 312 00:14:52,564 --> 00:14:55,216 If they have valid questions, 313 00:14:55,216 --> 00:14:56,912 you can seek to answer them, 314 00:14:56,912 --> 00:14:58,789 but you don't have to go in circles. 315 00:14:58,789 --> 00:15:02,242 You can walk away. 316 00:15:02,242 --> 00:15:04,817 Do you notice that the rich young ruler, 317 00:15:04,817 --> 00:15:10,130 Jesus didn't debate with him. 318 00:15:10,130 --> 00:15:13,708 He laid it all on the table, and that was it. 319 00:15:13,708 --> 00:15:16,200 In that case, Jesus wasn't the one that walked away; 320 00:15:16,200 --> 00:15:18,272 the rich, young ruler was. 321 00:15:18,272 --> 00:15:20,604 But you know what? Same thing. 322 00:15:20,604 --> 00:15:24,633 You do not have to go on and on. 323 00:15:24,633 --> 00:15:28,365 I'm afraid that many less mature Christians 324 00:15:28,365 --> 00:15:30,221 would have sat with this girl 325 00:15:30,221 --> 00:15:35,277 and they would have almost carried her 326 00:15:35,277 --> 00:15:40,593 into the kingdom. 327 00:15:40,593 --> 00:15:41,997 He walked. 328 00:15:41,997 --> 00:15:45,756 And you know He often did that. 329 00:15:45,756 --> 00:15:49,364 You know, Asahel Nettleton - 330 00:15:49,364 --> 00:15:52,998 he was a contemporary of Ichabod Spencer. 331 00:15:52,998 --> 00:15:55,136 He was very greatly used 332 00:15:55,136 --> 00:15:57,912 in the second Great Awakening. 333 00:15:57,912 --> 00:16:00,610 He would walk away from whole churches. 334 00:16:00,610 --> 00:16:03,837 He would stay away from whole churches. 335 00:16:03,837 --> 00:16:06,474 If he saw that their attitudes weren't right 336 00:16:06,474 --> 00:16:07,656 about revival; 337 00:16:07,656 --> 00:16:10,112 if he saw that they weren't trusting the Lord, 338 00:16:10,112 --> 00:16:12,161 they were trusting him... 339 00:16:12,161 --> 00:16:17,212 (Incomplete thought) 340 00:16:17,212 --> 00:16:23,106 It's not our calling to simply say 341 00:16:23,106 --> 00:16:25,203 as much as we possibly can 342 00:16:25,203 --> 00:16:27,209 to every single person in this world. 343 00:16:27,209 --> 00:16:28,743 In fact, we're told things like 344 00:16:28,743 --> 00:16:32,375 don't cast your pearls before swine. 345 00:16:32,375 --> 00:16:33,876 Jesus told His own disciples 346 00:16:33,876 --> 00:16:35,191 if they don't receive you, 347 00:16:35,191 --> 00:16:38,829 you shake the dust off your feet and hit the road. 348 00:16:38,829 --> 00:16:40,574 It's amazing sometimes we feel like 349 00:16:40,574 --> 00:16:43,566 we just have to go on and on and on, 350 00:16:43,566 --> 00:16:45,563 like our multitude of words 351 00:16:45,563 --> 00:16:48,216 is going to persuade them. 352 00:16:48,216 --> 00:16:51,957 You know what? If they don't receive the truth, 353 00:16:51,957 --> 00:16:55,434 there's a place just to walk away. 354 00:16:55,434 --> 00:16:58,099 And sometimes that can be the most powerful thing, 355 00:16:58,099 --> 00:17:00,591 because what you're doing - you gave them the truth, 356 00:17:00,591 --> 00:17:04,683 now you're leaving them with the Lord. 357 00:17:04,683 --> 00:17:07,041 By the way, it's the Lord you need to have 358 00:17:07,041 --> 00:17:08,816 speak to people through your words 359 00:17:08,816 --> 00:17:13,156 more than your multitude of words. 360 00:17:13,156 --> 00:17:14,860 "The next day..." 361 00:17:14,860 --> 00:17:16,531 See, he walked away from her 362 00:17:16,531 --> 00:17:18,373 and how she's not comfortable. 363 00:17:18,373 --> 00:17:20,120 Her own conscience is going crazy. 364 00:17:20,120 --> 00:17:22,639 "The next day, she sent for me again. 365 00:17:22,639 --> 00:17:25,946 I found her as I did not expect." 366 00:17:25,946 --> 00:17:29,262 See, he expected that this was going to be beneficial. 367 00:17:29,262 --> 00:17:31,922 And that she'd come to the Lord. 368 00:17:31,922 --> 00:17:37,082 He said, "I found her in the same state of mind; 369 00:17:37,082 --> 00:17:40,069 brooding sadly over the unpardonable sin. 370 00:17:40,069 --> 00:17:41,852 After much conversation and aiming 371 00:17:41,852 --> 00:17:43,216 to remove the difficulty 372 00:17:43,216 --> 00:17:45,539 and assuring her of her error, 373 00:17:45,539 --> 00:17:46,869 she still insisted, 374 00:17:46,869 --> 00:17:48,775 'I've committed the unpardonable sin. 375 00:17:48,775 --> 00:17:50,376 I know I have. I know I have. 376 00:17:50,376 --> 00:17:52,968 I know I have.' 377 00:17:52,968 --> 00:17:56,216 I desired her after a few moments 378 00:17:56,216 --> 00:17:58,245 to quit her agitation 379 00:17:58,245 --> 00:18:00,175 and fix her thoughts on things 380 00:18:00,175 --> 00:18:04,159 which I was going to say to her." 381 00:18:04,159 --> 00:18:05,853 You know what he said to her? 382 00:18:05,853 --> 00:18:07,850 He said young lady, 383 00:18:07,850 --> 00:18:12,157 I'm going to speak to you plainly. 384 00:18:12,157 --> 00:18:14,600 He said you're going to understand 385 00:18:14,600 --> 00:18:17,593 every word I say. 386 00:18:17,593 --> 00:18:19,469 That's good. 387 00:18:19,469 --> 00:18:21,504 "Some of the things which I shall say 388 00:18:21,504 --> 00:18:23,674 may surprise you, 389 00:18:23,674 --> 00:18:26,388 but I want you to remember them. 390 00:18:26,388 --> 00:18:27,975 All along through the summer 391 00:18:27,975 --> 00:18:30,434 I've treated you with the utmost kindness 392 00:18:30,434 --> 00:18:32,002 and indulgence. 393 00:18:32,002 --> 00:18:34,238 I've always come to you when you've sent for me 394 00:18:34,238 --> 00:18:36,803 and many times when you have not sent for me. 395 00:18:36,803 --> 00:18:39,552 It's because I feel kindly towards you still 396 00:18:39,552 --> 00:18:41,452 and wish to do you good 397 00:18:41,452 --> 00:18:44,354 that I shall now say some very plain things 398 00:18:44,354 --> 00:18:47,611 which you may not like, but they are true." 399 00:18:47,611 --> 00:18:48,906 This is another thing. 400 00:18:48,906 --> 00:18:50,884 If you want to deal with people's souls, 401 00:18:50,884 --> 00:18:52,547 you often have to tell them things 402 00:18:52,547 --> 00:18:55,101 they don't like. 403 00:18:55,101 --> 00:18:56,840 You see, he was a man who knew 404 00:18:56,840 --> 00:18:59,449 when to walk away, 405 00:18:59,449 --> 00:19:00,887 and he was also a man to say 406 00:19:00,887 --> 00:19:04,867 hard things to people. 407 00:19:04,867 --> 00:19:08,571 This is where I'm coming back to this. 408 00:19:08,571 --> 00:19:10,202 You get a person that's struggling 409 00:19:10,202 --> 00:19:13,416 with the unpardonable sin. 410 00:19:13,416 --> 00:19:16,429 Oftentimes the feeling I get 411 00:19:16,429 --> 00:19:20,123 is that the people want pity. 412 00:19:20,123 --> 00:19:23,904 They want you to help them. 413 00:19:23,904 --> 00:19:25,781 They want you to pity them. 414 00:19:25,781 --> 00:19:27,935 They want you to feel bad for them. 415 00:19:27,935 --> 00:19:30,397 They want you to enter in 416 00:19:30,397 --> 00:19:36,620 to their pity party. 417 00:19:36,620 --> 00:19:38,355 Now, you're going to maybe think 418 00:19:38,355 --> 00:19:39,504 what he says is cruel, 419 00:19:39,504 --> 00:19:45,272 but I want you to hear him very carefully. 420 00:19:45,272 --> 00:19:49,468 "First, you say that you have committed 421 00:19:49,468 --> 00:19:52,566 the unpardonable sin, 422 00:19:52,566 --> 00:19:55,423 but you do not believe what you say." 423 00:19:55,423 --> 00:19:57,533 Now, obviously, he got her. 424 00:19:57,533 --> 00:19:59,868 Because he said to her, 425 00:19:59,868 --> 00:20:02,092 have you spoken against the Holy Spirit? 426 00:20:02,092 --> 00:20:04,375 And she said no at first. 427 00:20:04,375 --> 00:20:06,755 And then she couldn't answer. 428 00:20:06,755 --> 00:20:08,746 "And he said, 429 00:20:08,746 --> 00:20:10,818 'you don't believe what you say. 430 00:20:10,818 --> 00:20:12,507 You believe no such thing.'" 431 00:20:12,507 --> 00:20:14,167 Now look, that's not to say 432 00:20:14,167 --> 00:20:15,545 that there aren't some people 433 00:20:15,545 --> 00:20:18,091 that you come across who really do believe it 434 00:20:18,091 --> 00:20:22,475 and may be under a vicious attack of the devil. 435 00:20:22,475 --> 00:20:25,114 Bunyan is a great example of that. 436 00:20:25,114 --> 00:20:27,024 He was attacked with that. 437 00:20:27,024 --> 00:20:29,455 I remember that happening to me 438 00:20:29,455 --> 00:20:30,596 after I was saved. 439 00:20:30,596 --> 00:20:32,244 It didn't happen when I was lost. 440 00:20:32,244 --> 00:20:33,886 It happened after I was saved. 441 00:20:33,886 --> 00:20:38,268 I was bombarded with these thoughts. 442 00:20:38,268 --> 00:20:40,183 But he said, "you believe no such thing. 443 00:20:40,183 --> 00:20:42,004 You know indeed that you're a sinner, 444 00:20:42,004 --> 00:20:44,107 but you do not believe that you've committed 445 00:20:44,107 --> 00:20:45,669 the unpardonable sin. 446 00:20:45,669 --> 00:20:47,015 You're not honest; 447 00:20:47,015 --> 00:20:49,165 not sincere when you say so. 448 00:20:49,165 --> 00:20:50,722 You do not believe it.'" 449 00:20:50,722 --> 00:20:52,931 Anyways, he's just there - 450 00:20:52,931 --> 00:20:57,035 he's pegging her on her own words. 451 00:20:57,035 --> 00:21:00,514 Some people do actually believe it. 452 00:21:00,514 --> 00:21:02,651 But I think what he says after this 453 00:21:02,651 --> 00:21:06,153 is so applicable to so many of these cases. 454 00:21:06,153 --> 00:21:11,533 "Second, it is pride. 455 00:21:11,533 --> 00:21:15,006 A foolish pride of a wicked heart 456 00:21:15,006 --> 00:21:16,613 which makes you say 457 00:21:16,613 --> 00:21:18,719 that you've committed the unpardonable sin." 458 00:21:18,719 --> 00:21:21,523 Now, I suspect if I would have read that and said, 459 00:21:21,523 --> 00:21:23,343 okay, what would you all say to her, 460 00:21:23,343 --> 00:21:25,845 probably none of you would have raised your hand and said, 461 00:21:25,845 --> 00:21:27,727 "I'd have said that she had a foolish, 462 00:21:27,727 --> 00:21:29,620 prideful, wicked heart..." 463 00:21:29,620 --> 00:21:32,407 which makes him say 464 00:21:32,407 --> 00:21:35,151 that he's committed the unpardonable sin. 465 00:21:35,151 --> 00:21:38,318 You say, how is that? 466 00:21:38,318 --> 00:21:41,290 Listen. 467 00:21:41,290 --> 00:21:44,057 "Influenced by pride 468 00:21:44,057 --> 00:21:46,394 you half-strive - 469 00:21:46,394 --> 00:21:48,132 only half after all - 470 00:21:48,132 --> 00:21:51,274 to believe you've done it." 471 00:21:51,274 --> 00:21:53,994 And you know what he says? 472 00:21:53,994 --> 00:21:58,314 You wish to exalt yourself. 473 00:21:58,314 --> 00:21:59,835 You say how? 474 00:21:59,835 --> 00:22:01,554 You see, that's what pride is. 475 00:22:01,554 --> 00:22:05,184 Pride is when we exalt ourselves. 476 00:22:05,184 --> 00:22:10,041 How can it be that many people 477 00:22:10,041 --> 00:22:12,824 who claim to commit the unpardonable sin - 478 00:22:12,824 --> 00:22:19,123 how would that be an exalting of self? 479 00:22:19,123 --> 00:22:25,111 What sort of sin is an unpardonable sin? 480 00:22:25,111 --> 00:22:26,765 It's like the sin of all sins. 481 00:22:26,765 --> 00:22:28,959 It's like you're a sinner greater 482 00:22:28,959 --> 00:22:32,513 and further and blacker and deeper 483 00:22:32,513 --> 00:22:35,180 and darker and more sinister 484 00:22:35,180 --> 00:22:37,927 and more debauched and more depraved 485 00:22:37,927 --> 00:22:39,068 than anybody else. 486 00:22:39,068 --> 00:22:45,467 You're the worst of the worst. 487 00:22:45,467 --> 00:22:50,803 It's one thing if the Spirit of God has broken you 488 00:22:50,803 --> 00:22:53,201 and you can say like Paul, 489 00:22:53,201 --> 00:22:55,686 "I'm the chief of sinners." 490 00:22:55,686 --> 00:22:58,057 That's one thing. 491 00:22:58,057 --> 00:23:01,052 When you're able to say that in humility. 492 00:23:01,052 --> 00:23:04,343 When you're able to say that in brokenness, 493 00:23:04,343 --> 00:23:08,986 but you also are able to cling to Christ 494 00:23:08,986 --> 00:23:11,107 and trust what He's done. 495 00:23:11,107 --> 00:23:13,045 It's another thing when a person says 496 00:23:13,045 --> 00:23:14,827 they're this horrible sinner 497 00:23:14,827 --> 00:23:16,424 and then they turn around and say 498 00:23:16,424 --> 00:23:18,114 but I won't take God at His word 499 00:23:18,114 --> 00:23:21,951 and trust His Son. 500 00:23:21,951 --> 00:23:24,610 He says, "you wish to exalt yourself. 501 00:23:24,610 --> 00:23:28,659 You pretend that it's some great 502 00:23:28,659 --> 00:23:30,520 and uncommon thing which keeps you 503 00:23:30,520 --> 00:23:32,467 from being a Christian. 504 00:23:32,467 --> 00:23:35,863 It's the unpardonable sin. 505 00:23:35,863 --> 00:23:41,228 Pride lies at the bottom of all this." 506 00:23:41,228 --> 00:23:45,390 And then third, right on the same note. 507 00:23:45,390 --> 00:23:49,809 "You have no occasion for this pride." 508 00:23:49,809 --> 00:23:55,418 He says there's nothing uncommon about you. 509 00:23:55,418 --> 00:24:00,916 You're just an average sinner. 510 00:24:00,916 --> 00:24:03,907 "You're very much like other sinners. 511 00:24:03,907 --> 00:24:05,969 It's not likely that you could commit 512 00:24:05,969 --> 00:24:07,474 the unpardonable sin, 513 00:24:07,474 --> 00:24:09,825 even if you should try. 514 00:24:09,825 --> 00:24:12,766 I don't think you know enough to do it." 515 00:24:12,766 --> 00:24:14,792 You see, one of the things that the Jews - 516 00:24:14,792 --> 00:24:16,919 they had great light. 517 00:24:16,919 --> 00:24:18,450 Jesus was doing these miracles 518 00:24:18,450 --> 00:24:22,275 right in front of them. 519 00:24:22,275 --> 00:24:26,853 They knew - even in their own councils, 520 00:24:26,853 --> 00:24:29,824 they would say, 521 00:24:29,824 --> 00:24:32,440 we know that nobody can do these things 522 00:24:32,440 --> 00:24:36,734 unless God is with them. 523 00:24:36,734 --> 00:24:40,630 That a notable miracle has been done? 524 00:24:40,630 --> 00:24:43,891 They knew. 525 00:24:43,891 --> 00:24:47,555 And they would look at that. 526 00:24:47,555 --> 00:24:49,888 They would watch Jesus heal. 527 00:24:49,888 --> 00:24:53,028 They would know the miracles that took place, 528 00:24:53,028 --> 00:24:55,871 and they knew miracles took place. 529 00:24:55,871 --> 00:24:57,887 They knew He cast out demons. 530 00:24:57,887 --> 00:24:59,835 They knew He healed the sick. 531 00:24:59,835 --> 00:25:03,502 They knew that He did this. 532 00:25:03,502 --> 00:25:05,353 And they looked at it and they said 533 00:25:05,353 --> 00:25:09,347 the devil enables Him to do that. 534 00:25:09,347 --> 00:25:13,667 He's just saying the unpardonable sin 535 00:25:13,667 --> 00:25:15,990 is basically this - 536 00:25:15,990 --> 00:25:20,207 it's the idea that you have all this light 537 00:25:20,207 --> 00:25:22,318 on who Christ is, 538 00:25:22,318 --> 00:25:26,223 on who the Spirit is, 539 00:25:26,223 --> 00:25:29,998 and you specifically say - 540 00:25:29,998 --> 00:25:32,558 with all that light - 541 00:25:32,558 --> 00:25:36,171 you specifically blaspheme the Spirit of God. 542 00:25:36,171 --> 00:25:37,737 (Incomplete thought) 543 00:25:37,737 --> 00:25:40,590 He's not even imagining that she has 544 00:25:40,590 --> 00:25:44,361 sufficient light to do that. 545 00:25:44,361 --> 00:25:45,878 "'Why?' said she, 546 00:25:45,878 --> 00:25:48,104 'Is there not such a sin?' 547 00:25:48,104 --> 00:25:50,972 'Well, yes, but you don't know what it is, 548 00:25:50,972 --> 00:25:55,000 and you don't know enough to commit it.'" 549 00:25:55,000 --> 00:26:00,694 Now, this fourth one I think is huge too. 550 00:26:00,694 --> 00:26:02,586 He says this to her, 551 00:26:02,586 --> 00:26:06,206 "You are one of the most self-righteous 552 00:26:06,206 --> 00:26:10,901 creatures I ever saw." 553 00:26:10,901 --> 00:26:15,621 So he's told her she's full of pride. 554 00:26:15,621 --> 00:26:19,114 Now, one of the most self- righteous creatures I ever saw. 555 00:26:19,114 --> 00:26:22,736 Now you have to stop and think. 556 00:26:22,736 --> 00:26:26,791 Why would somebody be considered 557 00:26:26,791 --> 00:26:35,867 by Spencer to be this mass of self-righteousness? 558 00:26:35,867 --> 00:26:41,111 See, I think this is what you want to remember especially 559 00:26:41,111 --> 00:26:43,087 in dealing with people who believe 560 00:26:43,087 --> 00:26:47,252 they've committed the unpardonable sin. 561 00:26:47,252 --> 00:26:50,063 "You try to think 562 00:26:50,063 --> 00:26:54,148 that you're not to blame for your irreligion." 563 00:26:54,148 --> 00:26:57,076 You see? It becomes an excuse. 564 00:26:57,076 --> 00:27:00,577 "Well, I can't become a Christian." 565 00:27:00,577 --> 00:27:02,832 "I can't repent." 566 00:27:02,832 --> 00:27:06,882 "I can't fall down before God in surrender." 567 00:27:06,882 --> 00:27:07,913 "I can't." Why? 568 00:27:07,913 --> 00:27:09,843 "I've committed the unpardonable sin." 569 00:27:09,843 --> 00:27:12,284 In other words, it's not my fault. 570 00:27:12,284 --> 00:27:15,101 And you know what it implies? 571 00:27:15,101 --> 00:27:17,578 Well, I would do all of that if God would let me, 572 00:27:17,578 --> 00:27:19,674 but God won't let me because I've committed 573 00:27:19,674 --> 00:27:22,932 the unpardonable sin. 574 00:27:22,932 --> 00:27:25,619 He says to her, 575 00:27:25,619 --> 00:27:27,491 "You try to think that you're willing 576 00:27:27,491 --> 00:27:29,589 to be a Christian, 577 00:27:29,589 --> 00:27:31,958 and would be a Christian, 578 00:27:31,958 --> 00:27:34,318 if it were not for that unpardonable sin 579 00:27:34,318 --> 00:27:35,995 which you try in your pride 580 00:27:35,995 --> 00:27:37,815 to believe you've committed. 581 00:27:37,815 --> 00:27:42,110 You pretend that it's not your present 582 00:27:42,110 --> 00:27:46,066 and cherished sin which keeps you 583 00:27:46,066 --> 00:27:48,322 in your impenitence." 584 00:27:48,322 --> 00:27:50,605 Now that's huge. 585 00:27:50,605 --> 00:27:53,141 You see what he's saying to her? 586 00:27:53,141 --> 00:27:55,081 The reason you're not a Christian 587 00:27:55,081 --> 00:27:57,117 is because you've got sin in your life 588 00:27:57,117 --> 00:27:58,733 that you love, 589 00:27:58,733 --> 00:28:01,999 and you're not willing to let go of. 590 00:28:01,999 --> 00:28:04,029 And what you're wanting to do 591 00:28:04,029 --> 00:28:07,687 is blame God for the fact, 592 00:28:07,687 --> 00:28:10,874 because God invented this unpardonable sin 593 00:28:10,874 --> 00:28:13,474 and you want to convince yourself you've committed it 594 00:28:13,474 --> 00:28:15,682 and therefore give you an excuse 595 00:28:15,682 --> 00:28:19,828 as to why you're not turning from your sin 596 00:28:19,828 --> 00:28:25,354 and embracing the sacrifice of Christ. 597 00:28:25,354 --> 00:28:26,866 That's exactly it. 598 00:28:26,866 --> 00:28:28,893 And that is the feeling that I get 599 00:28:28,893 --> 00:28:35,346 from most of the people. 600 00:28:35,346 --> 00:28:42,985 You don't get the sense that it's: 601 00:28:42,985 --> 00:28:45,556 "I'm wicked, 602 00:28:45,556 --> 00:28:47,877 and I'm looking to the healing 603 00:28:47,877 --> 00:28:51,631 that's found in Christ's suffering." 604 00:28:51,631 --> 00:28:53,291 That's not it. 605 00:28:53,291 --> 00:28:56,080 It's typically: 606 00:28:56,080 --> 00:28:58,578 "Well, I can't become a Christian. 607 00:28:58,578 --> 00:28:59,599 I just can't." Why? 608 00:28:59,599 --> 00:29:01,979 "I've committed the unpardonable sin." 609 00:29:01,979 --> 00:29:03,495 And what they're implying is, 610 00:29:03,495 --> 00:29:04,641 well, I would become one 611 00:29:04,641 --> 00:29:06,596 if it wasn't for that unpardonable sin. 612 00:29:06,596 --> 00:29:08,977 I would become one if it wasn't for the fact 613 00:29:08,977 --> 00:29:12,432 that the doorway's been shut on me. 614 00:29:12,432 --> 00:29:14,182 That's just not true. 615 00:29:14,182 --> 00:29:16,887 The reason they're not becoming Christians 616 00:29:16,887 --> 00:29:19,311 is because they love their sin 617 00:29:19,311 --> 00:29:21,573 and they won't come to the light. 618 00:29:21,573 --> 00:29:24,613 And that's what he's calling out. 619 00:29:24,613 --> 00:29:26,575 "You pretend that it's not your present, 620 00:29:26,575 --> 00:29:28,069 cherished sin which keeps you 621 00:29:28,069 --> 00:29:29,848 in your impenitence. 622 00:29:29,848 --> 00:29:34,033 Oh, you are good enough, surely, to repent. 623 00:29:34,033 --> 00:29:35,469 You would repent. 624 00:29:35,469 --> 00:29:37,289 Indeed, you would, 625 00:29:37,289 --> 00:29:39,627 if it were not for that unpardonable sin. 626 00:29:39,627 --> 00:29:40,946 That's your heart - 627 00:29:40,946 --> 00:29:44,353 full of self-righteousness and pride." 628 00:29:44,353 --> 00:29:47,178 Fifth, "Your wicked heart clings 629 00:29:47,178 --> 00:29:49,506 to this idea of the unpardonable sin 630 00:29:49,506 --> 00:29:53,755 as an excuse for your continued impenitence; 631 00:29:53,755 --> 00:29:55,870 for your living in the indulgence of sin, 632 00:29:55,870 --> 00:29:58,676 unbelief, and disobedience to God every day. 633 00:29:58,676 --> 00:30:01,466 And your excuse will not stand. 634 00:30:01,466 --> 00:30:04,245 You make it insincerely. 635 00:30:04,245 --> 00:30:05,806 It's not the unpardonable sin 636 00:30:05,806 --> 00:30:08,239 which hinders your being a Christian. 637 00:30:08,239 --> 00:30:09,959 It's your wickedness of heart, 638 00:30:09,959 --> 00:30:11,770 your pride, your vanity, 639 00:30:11,770 --> 00:30:14,940 and your insincerity." 640 00:30:14,940 --> 00:30:17,351 And now he's done with her for good. 641 00:30:17,351 --> 00:30:20,057 He says, "I shall never speak again. 642 00:30:20,057 --> 00:30:22,834 I shall never again have anything 643 00:30:22,834 --> 00:30:26,395 to say to you about the unpardonable sin. 644 00:30:26,395 --> 00:30:29,431 If you had any real and just conviction of sin, 645 00:30:29,431 --> 00:30:32,150 you would never name the unpardonable sin." 646 00:30:32,150 --> 00:30:36,607 You ought to pick up on that too. 647 00:30:36,607 --> 00:30:41,424 When a person truly has a convicting 648 00:30:41,424 --> 00:30:44,515 work of the Spirit, 649 00:30:44,515 --> 00:30:47,293 that Spirit crushes a man 650 00:30:47,293 --> 00:30:51,979 from every dependence in himself. 651 00:30:51,979 --> 00:30:58,386 A God-given, Spirit-given conviction. 652 00:30:58,386 --> 00:31:02,297 That Spirit will cause us to look to Christ 653 00:31:02,297 --> 00:31:04,440 and find our hope there 654 00:31:04,440 --> 00:31:07,431 and find our help there. 655 00:31:07,431 --> 00:31:10,324 He's right. 656 00:31:10,324 --> 00:31:12,442 If you had any real and just 657 00:31:12,442 --> 00:31:14,991 conviction of sin, 658 00:31:14,991 --> 00:31:17,383 you would never name the unpardonable sin. 659 00:31:17,383 --> 00:31:18,713 "Some months after this, 660 00:31:18,713 --> 00:31:21,268 she called upon me in deep trouble. 661 00:31:21,268 --> 00:31:23,582 But now her complaint was that 662 00:31:23,582 --> 00:31:26,107 she had a wicked, deceitful, and hard heart 663 00:31:26,107 --> 00:31:27,963 opposed to the law of God. 664 00:31:27,963 --> 00:31:29,779 She became finally, as she believed, 665 00:31:29,779 --> 00:31:34,729 a true penitent and professed Christianity publicly. 666 00:31:34,729 --> 00:31:36,508 But in all her religious exercises, 667 00:31:36,508 --> 00:31:39,260 there appeared nothing very peculiar 668 00:31:39,260 --> 00:31:40,579 and she never named to me 669 00:31:40,579 --> 00:31:43,127 the unpardonable sin again." 670 00:31:43,127 --> 00:31:45,999 In other words, he just said in the end, 671 00:31:45,999 --> 00:31:50,625 she was just an average sinner. 672 00:31:50,625 --> 00:31:52,584 Then he makes one last statement here. 673 00:31:52,584 --> 00:31:54,804 "True light..." 674 00:31:54,804 --> 00:31:56,744 True light. 675 00:31:56,744 --> 00:32:04,246 "True light in the conscience is one thing 676 00:32:04,246 --> 00:32:10,003 and a deceitful gloom in the proud heart 677 00:32:10,003 --> 00:32:12,462 is quite another." 678 00:32:12,462 --> 00:32:14,074 Do you see the difference? 679 00:32:14,074 --> 00:32:16,609 You get individuals who feel like 680 00:32:16,609 --> 00:32:18,907 they've committed the unpardonable sin, 681 00:32:18,907 --> 00:32:21,335 and it just fills them with this gloom 682 00:32:21,335 --> 00:32:24,378 and this dread. 683 00:32:24,378 --> 00:32:26,117 But he's saying this. 684 00:32:26,117 --> 00:32:28,828 This is what he recognized. 685 00:32:28,828 --> 00:32:30,976 He lived in the day where I believe he saw 686 00:32:30,976 --> 00:32:34,948 five separate revivals. 687 00:32:34,948 --> 00:32:39,150 And he saw when the Spirit of God was working 688 00:32:39,150 --> 00:32:41,136 true light in the conscience - 689 00:32:41,136 --> 00:32:43,245 it looked one way. 690 00:32:43,245 --> 00:32:46,292 People felt the weight of their sin, 691 00:32:46,292 --> 00:32:48,550 and they turned to Christ. 692 00:32:48,550 --> 00:32:52,368 And it's as somebody has said before, 693 00:32:52,368 --> 00:32:54,402 once you take a sinner and you show them 694 00:32:54,402 --> 00:32:57,008 indeed truthfully their sin 695 00:32:57,008 --> 00:33:00,106 and you show them the remedy, 696 00:33:00,106 --> 00:33:01,397 the work's done. 697 00:33:01,397 --> 00:33:03,734 They will run to the remedy. 698 00:33:03,734 --> 00:33:05,384 You show them their sickness. 699 00:33:05,384 --> 00:33:07,715 They will run to the doctor. 700 00:33:07,715 --> 00:33:09,732 And that's totally different 701 00:33:09,732 --> 00:33:11,580 than when you get a person 702 00:33:11,580 --> 00:33:15,056 who has a proud heart 703 00:33:15,056 --> 00:33:19,516 coupled with a deceitful gloom. 704 00:33:19,516 --> 00:33:21,435 He says this, "When a sinner 705 00:33:21,435 --> 00:33:25,174 has any just sense of his condition 706 00:33:25,174 --> 00:33:28,228 as alienated from a holy God, 707 00:33:28,228 --> 00:33:30,307 he will not be apt to think 708 00:33:30,307 --> 00:33:32,749 of the unpardonable sin. 709 00:33:32,749 --> 00:33:38,972 Spurious conviction is common but useless." 710 00:33:38,972 --> 00:33:43,018 Spurious conviction - 711 00:33:43,018 --> 00:33:46,857 where people are convicted - 712 00:33:46,857 --> 00:33:50,639 spurious means it's no good. 713 00:33:50,639 --> 00:33:52,717 You're all riled up about something 714 00:33:52,717 --> 00:33:54,928 that leads to no good end. 715 00:33:54,928 --> 00:33:56,678 Just thinking you've committed 716 00:33:56,678 --> 00:33:59,198 this unpardonable sin. 717 00:33:59,198 --> 00:34:03,935 Anyway, I thought his treatment of it 718 00:34:03,935 --> 00:34:06,040 goes to the root of exposing 719 00:34:06,040 --> 00:34:09,624 some of the real issues concerning it. 720 00:34:09,624 --> 00:34:11,281 (from the room) 721 00:34:11,281 --> 00:34:13,441 So from that email, 722 00:34:13,441 --> 00:34:15,161 what made you believe 723 00:34:15,161 --> 00:34:17,595 with a limited context, 724 00:34:17,595 --> 00:34:20,324 that this person who emailed in 725 00:34:20,324 --> 00:34:22,969 was just like maybe one of these people 726 00:34:22,969 --> 00:34:25,703 that Spencer dealt with 727 00:34:25,703 --> 00:34:28,047 and not maybe someone like Bunyan 728 00:34:28,047 --> 00:34:29,674 or when he was a young Christian. 729 00:34:29,674 --> 00:34:31,022 I guess how would you maybe 730 00:34:31,022 --> 00:34:35,474 differentiate them? 731 00:34:35,474 --> 00:34:39,111 Tim: Well, I mean the thing was 732 00:34:39,111 --> 00:34:42,941 that if you go back and read "Grace Abounding," 733 00:34:42,941 --> 00:34:46,056 Bunyan's testimony. 734 00:34:46,056 --> 00:34:47,965 When he's under attack 735 00:34:47,965 --> 00:34:50,939 and being tempted to feel that, 736 00:34:50,939 --> 00:34:53,007 he's running to the Word of God. 737 00:34:53,007 --> 00:34:54,946 He's calling upon the Lord. 738 00:34:54,946 --> 00:34:56,258 He's looking to Christ. 739 00:34:56,258 --> 00:34:58,039 That was the same thing I was doing 740 00:34:58,039 --> 00:35:00,273 in the midst of all of it. 741 00:35:00,273 --> 00:35:03,239 Where you have a gloom; 742 00:35:03,239 --> 00:35:11,747 (incomplete thought) 743 00:35:11,747 --> 00:35:14,097 "I've committed the unforgivable sin; 744 00:35:14,097 --> 00:35:17,129 99% chance. 745 00:35:17,129 --> 00:35:18,913 I just want to ask you what happens 746 00:35:18,913 --> 00:35:19,820 when you commit it, 747 00:35:19,820 --> 00:35:22,203 because here's what happened to me. 748 00:35:22,203 --> 00:35:24,779 It all happened two days ago. 749 00:35:24,779 --> 00:35:27,165 I didn't mean the words that I said..." 750 00:35:27,165 --> 00:35:28,925 So right there I would say 751 00:35:28,925 --> 00:35:31,132 he didn't mean the words that he said. 752 00:35:31,132 --> 00:35:32,753 That's not the unpardonable sin. 753 00:35:32,753 --> 00:35:35,379 If you even start where he started with the girl, 754 00:35:35,379 --> 00:35:38,330 this isn't the unpardonable sin. 755 00:35:38,330 --> 00:35:43,059 But the thing is, "I've asked God if I've really done this. 756 00:35:43,059 --> 00:35:45,096 My conscience says that I did. 757 00:35:45,096 --> 00:35:47,416 I've been begging for forgiveness. 758 00:35:47,416 --> 00:35:49,505 Nothing happened. 759 00:35:49,505 --> 00:35:52,425 I cannot recognize when I commit sin right now. 760 00:35:52,425 --> 00:35:55,320 I'm not being convicted. 761 00:35:55,320 --> 00:36:01,081 I wish I never was born." 762 00:36:01,081 --> 00:36:05,144 You know, "I'm not being convicted," 763 00:36:05,144 --> 00:36:07,554 and yet, "I'm begging for forgiveness." 764 00:36:07,554 --> 00:36:09,211 Well, what that tells me 765 00:36:09,211 --> 00:36:11,113 is that what he's saying 766 00:36:11,113 --> 00:36:14,518 is I don't even sense my sin; 767 00:36:14,518 --> 00:36:16,756 I don't love my family. 768 00:36:16,756 --> 00:36:19,795 What he's asking forgiveness for 769 00:36:19,795 --> 00:36:23,425 is that this one thought shot through his mind. 770 00:36:23,425 --> 00:36:26,114 And I think the real issue 771 00:36:26,114 --> 00:36:29,629 comes back to what was happening there. 772 00:36:29,629 --> 00:36:31,201 Is this really a young man 773 00:36:31,201 --> 00:36:34,124 that's been convicted of the Spirit? 774 00:36:34,124 --> 00:36:36,111 True light in the conscience? 775 00:36:36,111 --> 00:36:40,841 Where he sees himself as a wicked sinner 776 00:36:40,841 --> 00:36:44,727 and is coming to God to be pardoned of all of it. 777 00:36:44,727 --> 00:36:48,066 Or, is it really somebody who's wanting 778 00:36:48,066 --> 00:36:52,193 to blame God? 779 00:36:52,193 --> 00:36:54,346 "I've committed the unpardonable sin, 780 00:36:54,346 --> 00:37:00,103 therefore all these things are justifiable 781 00:37:00,103 --> 00:37:02,332 because after all, I've committed 782 00:37:02,332 --> 00:37:03,899 the unpardonable sin and now 783 00:37:03,899 --> 00:37:07,942 God has put me in this place. 784 00:37:07,942 --> 00:37:11,023 He's taken away my love for my family. 785 00:37:11,023 --> 00:37:15,522 I don't have any conviction anymore." 786 00:37:15,522 --> 00:37:18,850 I would just say this - 787 00:37:18,850 --> 00:37:21,712 the same thing that was said to the girl - 788 00:37:21,712 --> 00:37:25,926 so are you saying you would repent 789 00:37:25,926 --> 00:37:28,151 and flee to the cross 790 00:37:28,151 --> 00:37:32,329 if only it wasn't for this unpardonable sin? 791 00:37:32,329 --> 00:37:34,599 I think the difference is that Bunyan 792 00:37:34,599 --> 00:37:38,111 was likely already converted. 793 00:37:38,111 --> 00:37:42,747 I was already converted. 794 00:37:42,747 --> 00:37:45,259 I don't doubt that the devil 795 00:37:45,259 --> 00:37:49,824 can play with our minds and thoughts 796 00:37:49,824 --> 00:37:52,251 and consciences on this point. 797 00:37:52,251 --> 00:37:55,089 You come across the fact that there's an unpardonable sin 798 00:37:55,089 --> 00:37:58,370 and the devil will be right there to tell you you've committed it. 799 00:37:58,370 --> 00:38:02,098 There's no use going. 800 00:38:02,098 --> 00:38:04,954 But I think the thing is 801 00:38:04,954 --> 00:38:07,223 people do all sorts of things 802 00:38:07,223 --> 00:38:09,613 where they heard about the unpardonable sin, 803 00:38:09,613 --> 00:38:11,159 the unforgivable sin, 804 00:38:11,159 --> 00:38:13,133 this blaspheming the Holy Spirit, 805 00:38:13,133 --> 00:38:14,765 and then what happens is 806 00:38:14,765 --> 00:38:19,985 they make an oath; 807 00:38:19,985 --> 00:38:22,507 they make some kind of covenant, 808 00:38:22,507 --> 00:38:25,790 they make some kind of commitment, 809 00:38:25,790 --> 00:38:29,111 they vow and then they break it. 810 00:38:29,111 --> 00:38:30,739 We've seen that before. 811 00:38:30,739 --> 00:38:34,755 Or, he has a thought that crosses his mind 812 00:38:34,755 --> 00:38:37,443 and I think that's the question that needs to be asked. 813 00:38:37,443 --> 00:38:38,687 What are you saying? 814 00:38:38,687 --> 00:38:45,476 Are you saying that you would repent 815 00:38:45,476 --> 00:38:47,647 and believe and trust Christ 816 00:38:47,647 --> 00:38:50,306 if it just wasn't for this unpardonable sin? 817 00:38:50,306 --> 00:38:52,633 I think he's hitting at the root 818 00:38:52,633 --> 00:38:56,309 of a vast ocean 819 00:38:56,309 --> 00:39:01,339 behind these unpardonable sin 820 00:39:01,339 --> 00:39:03,226 questions and concerns, 821 00:39:03,226 --> 00:39:09,056 that is a tremendous self-righteousness. 822 00:39:09,056 --> 00:39:12,347 Obviously, he met repeatedly 823 00:39:12,347 --> 00:39:15,164 with this young lady. 824 00:39:15,164 --> 00:39:17,245 We only have the ability to work 825 00:39:17,245 --> 00:39:20,012 with a paragraph. 826 00:39:20,012 --> 00:39:26,911 So, yes, if Spencer sat down with this guy 827 00:39:26,911 --> 00:39:32,205 and upon much further conversation 828 00:39:32,205 --> 00:39:35,407 and digging have answered differently? 829 00:39:35,407 --> 00:39:37,256 Perhaps. 830 00:39:37,256 --> 00:39:40,145 But I guess, I have this sense 831 00:39:40,145 --> 00:39:42,305 that people are saying: 832 00:39:42,305 --> 00:39:44,074 "Well, yes, I would repent 833 00:39:44,074 --> 00:39:46,117 and I would believe and I would 834 00:39:46,117 --> 00:39:49,216 if it just wasn't for this unpardonable sin." 835 00:39:49,216 --> 00:39:53,805 That's a total fallacy. 836 00:39:53,805 --> 00:39:54,890 (from the room) 837 00:39:54,890 --> 00:39:58,224 I guess, yeah, answering emails 838 00:39:58,224 --> 00:39:59,959 this comes up, but I've never 839 00:39:59,959 --> 00:40:02,236 gone out evangelizing 840 00:40:02,236 --> 00:40:04,617 and had a conversation like that. 841 00:40:04,617 --> 00:40:07,433 Tim: No, typically that's not the kind of thing 842 00:40:07,433 --> 00:40:09,195 you'd come across evangelizing. 843 00:40:09,195 --> 00:40:10,975 It's the kind of thing 844 00:40:10,975 --> 00:40:14,249 that the very nature of I'll Be Honest 845 00:40:14,249 --> 00:40:17,338 and the fact that we entertain questions 846 00:40:17,338 --> 00:40:19,172 and have this APT 847 00:40:19,172 --> 00:40:20,667 and James is available 848 00:40:20,667 --> 00:40:22,373 and Jeff is available 849 00:40:22,373 --> 00:40:24,796 and Terry and Craig, 850 00:40:24,796 --> 00:40:27,109 that they're answering all these questions. 851 00:40:27,109 --> 00:40:32,602 There's a lot of people who find this outlet 852 00:40:32,602 --> 00:40:37,492 to try to get some kind of answers 853 00:40:37,492 --> 00:40:40,336 for whatever may be plaguing them 854 00:40:40,336 --> 00:40:42,277 or troubling them.