what constitutes the sin against the Holy Ghost? - It is willfully attributing to Satan the work of the Holy Spirit. For example, suppose that one is a witness of the special work of the Spirit of God. he has convincing evidence that the work is in harmony with Scriptures, and the Spirit witnesses with his spirit that it is of God. Afterward, however he falls under temptation; pride, self-sufficiency, or some other evil trait, controls him; and rejecting all the evidence of its divine character, he declares that that which he had before acknowledged to be the power of the Holy Spirit was the power of Satan. It is through the medium of His Spirit that God works upon the human heart; and when men willfully reject the Spirit, and declare it to be from Satan, they cut off the channel by which God can communicate with them. By denying the evidence which God has been pleased to give them, they shut the result they are left in darkness. - Testimonies, vol. 5, p. 634.
Whatever the sin, if the soul repents and believes, the guilt is washed away by the blood of Christ; but he who rejects the work of the Holy Spirit is placing himself where repentance and faith cannot come to him. It is by the Spirit that God works upon the heart; when men willfully reject the Spirit, and declare it to be from Satan, they cut off the channel by which God can communicate with them. When the Spirit is finally rejected, there is no more that god can do for the soul. - the Desire of Ages, p. 322.
POSSIBLE CONTEMPORARY INTERPRETATIONS BY STEVE FINNELL
ReplyDeleteHow do you suppose the story of Naaman being cured of leprosy might have been presented if it was told by contemporary theologians? What doctrinal positions might have they proclaimed?
2 Kings 5:3 She said to her mistress, "I wish that my master were with the prophet who is in Samaria! Then he would cure him of his Leprosy."
POSSIBLE CONTEMPORARY INTERPRETATION: The only requirement mentioned to have leprosy cured is to be present with the prophet. "PRESENCE ALONE" cures leprosy.
2 Kings 5:10 Elisha sent a messenger to him, saying, "Go and wash in the Jordan seven times, and your flesh will be restored to you and you will be clean."
POSSIBLE CONTEMPORARY INTERPRETATION: In the original Greek language "will be restored," actually means, already has been restored.
POSSIBLE CONTEMPORARY INTERPRETATION: Water cannot wash away leprosy. That would be nothing but works. Man can do nothing to be cleansed of leprosy. God does it all.
2 Kings 5:11 But Naaman was furious and went away and said, "Behold, I thought, 'He will surely come out to me and stand and call on the name of the Lord his God, and wave his hand over the place and cure the leper.'
POSSIBLE CONTEMPORARY INTERPRETATION: Naaman was correct. Just have the prophet say the sinners prayer and waver his hand and Naaaman's leprosy would have been cured. Explanation: washing seven times in the Jordan river was just an act of obedience, it had nothing to do with curing leprosy.
2 Kings 5:14 So he went went down and dipped himself seven times in the Jordan, according to the word of the man of God; and his flesh was restored like the flesh of a little child and he was clean.
POSSIBLE CONTEMPORARY INTERPRETATION: Namman dipped, poured or sprinkled himself seven times because his leprosy has already been cured.
POSSIBLE CONTEMPORARY INTERPRETATION: Naaman's baptism was a spiritual baptism. There was no water in the river and water does not mean water anyway.
POSSIBLE CONTEMPORARY INTERPRETATION: Naaman baptized himself in water seven times so he could join the local church.
POSSIBLE CONTEMPORARY INTERPRETATION: Naaman's flesh was restored because he had faith in the God of the prophet Elisha. Faith alone washes away leprosy. Baptism in the dirty river Jordan was not essential to cleanse leprosy!
POSSIBLE CONTEMPORARY EXPLANATION: The entire 5th chapter of second Kings has been mistranslated. You really cannot trust the Bible.
IT WAS ESSENTIAL FOR NAAMAN TO DIP (BAPTIZE) HIMSELF IN THE JORDAN RIVER SEVEN TIMES TO HAVE HIS LEPROSY WASHED AWAY!
WHEN IT COMES TO CHRISTIAN BAPTISM WOULD IT NOT BE BETTER TO BELIEVE GOD'S WORD WITHOUT TRYING TO EXPLAIN AWAY THE TRUTH THAT DOES NOT CONFORM TO YOUR DOCTRINAL POSITIONS?
HAVING A HONEST, PRAYERFUL, UNBIASED APPROACH IS ESSENTIAL TO UNDERSTANDING THE "WORD OF GOD."
(All Scripture quotes from:NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE)
YOU ARE INVITED TO FOLLOW MY BLOG. http//:steve-finnell.blogspot.com