First the Question: Even 7 years AFTER the Resurrection and Ascension of Christ it was NOT lawful for the Apostles to preach to a Gentile. True or False?
Take a moment to respond at the LLM Question of the Day
And now the answer to the LLM Question of 4-10-2012
Question: THERE IS NO UNPARDONABLE SIN IN THIS AGE OF GRACE. True or False?
Answer: TRUE! In Ephesians we learn how dead sinners became living saints, “by Grace through faith." (Ephesians 2:8-10). Those living saints had been dead sinners, alienated from the life of God, by nature the children of wrath. (Ephesians 2:1-3, Ephesians 4:18). BEFORE they received God’s Grace and God’s Son ALL of their sins were unpardoned; but not one of them unpardonable. When they BELIEVED the Gospel of Grace, ALL of their sins were PARDONED. NOT believing, however, produces VERY different results. (John 8:24). None of them had to obey Acts 2:38, the message which the Apostle Peter reached on the day of Pentecost. They, the Ephesians, believed the Gospel of Grace. The Dispensation of the Grace of God did not begin with Peter and Pentecost; but with the Apostle Paul AFTER the (temporary) FALL of Israel. Now, we realize this question might have been a tad confusing. Hence the responses. Out of the 791 responses we received to this question, only 38.1% of you got it! Therefore, NOW, let us take a look at,
The Grace of God, part 9 of 9
TAKE NOTE:
THERE IS NO UNPARDONABLE SIN IN THIS AGE AND DISPENSATION OF GRACE!
In the Epistle to the Ephesians we learn how dead sinners became living saints, “by Grace through faith." (Ephesians 2:8-10). Those living saints indeed had been dead sinners, alienated from the life of God, by nature the children of wrath. (Ephesians 2:1-3, Ephesians 4:18). Before they received God’s Grace and God’s Son all of their sins were unpardoned; but not one of them unpardonable. When they believed the Gospel of Grace, by which they were saved forever and seated in the Heavenlies, all of their sins were pardoned, and, by Grace, they stood in the presence of God as though they had never committed one sin. None of them had to obey Acts 2:38, the message which the Apostle Peter reached on the day of Pentecost. They believed the Gospel of Grace. The Dispensation of the Grace of God did not begin with Peter and Pentecost; but with the Apostle Paul AFTER the (temporary) ‘FALL’ of Israel.
If this message should reach a guilty criminal in the prison, OR, a nice, respectable, moral, upright, sincere, benevolent, active unsaved religious church member, in good standing with the pastor and the official board, it might prove profitable to read Luke 7:36-50, and learn what Christ, in the house of the religious Pharisee, said to that self‑righteous man, and what He said to the sinful woman who was most unwelcome visitor in the Pharisee’s home. Christ referred to both of them when He said concerning the two, “when they had nothing to pay, He frankly forgave them both.” “Her sins which are many are forgiven.” (Luke 7:47). “And Christ said unto her, Thy sins are forgiven.” (Luke 7:48).
The sins of that guilty woman were not unpardonable; BUT if that Pharisee did not receive Christ as Saviour, he will spend eternity with the unbelievers, murderers, whoremongers, drunkards and thieves and the rest of the self righteous, Christ rejecting, nice religious, people. (Revelation 21:8).
We learn, in Acts 3:12-26, that the murder of the eternal Son of God was not an unpardonable sin; for those guilty murderers, who subsequently obeyed Acts 2:38, were saved. That one sin outweighs all of the other sins that the human race has committed. Come with all your sins and crimes, or with your self-righteousness, to Christ and Calvary and learn that where sin abounded Grace did, and doth, ‘much more’ ‘over‑abound’.
THE GRACE OF GOD TEACHES AND ENABLES CHRISTIANS
In Titus 2:11-12 we read that the same Grace of God, which has brought God’s salvation for all who will believe the Gospel and receive Christ as Saviour, teaches Christians that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously and godly in this present world.
In Titus 2:12 the word ‘teaching’ is translated in other verses, ‘discipline’, ‘chasten’. To live soberly, righteously and godly in this present world is a very large order. In the language of 2 Cor. 2:16, “who is sufficient for these things?” The answer is in 2 Cor. 3:5: “not that we are sufficient of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God.” God says, “My Grace is sufficient for thee.” (2 Cor. 12:9).
What God’s Grace TEACHES Christians to do, that same all‑sufficient, much more over-abounding Grace ENABLES them to do. “God is able to make all Grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work.” (2 Cor. 9:8).
When the LORD Jesus, by His Divine Grace and power, was merciful to that guilty, sinful woman in John 8:1-11, saying “neither do I condemn thee,” He added, “go, and sin no more.” (John 8:11). As we think of Christ’s dealings with that sinful woman, we first think of Romans 5:20 and then of Romans 6:1-2 and Romans 6:15, “Where sin abounded Grace did much more over‑abound.” “Shall we continue in sin, that Grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we that are ‘dead to sin’ live any longer therein?” “Shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under Grace?” “God forbid.”
God’s mighty power, exceeding abundant power, is available for every redeemed person (Ephesians 1:19-23, Ephesians 3:20). The “all Grace’ of the God of all Grace is likewise available.
“Now unto Him Who is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy, to the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and forever.” (Jude 24-25). “Unto Him be glory in the Church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.” (Ephesians 3:21).
“Unto Him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in His own blood, be glory, and dominion forever and ever.” “Amen.” (Revelation 1:5).
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In Ephesians 1:13 the Holy Spirit through the Apostle Paul declares that men are saved and sealed by hearing and BELIEVING the Word of Truth, the Gospel of your Salvation. Therefore, here, now, is declared unto you the Word of Truth, the Gospel of your Salvation: "that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; and that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures" 1 Corinthians 15:3-4. BELIEVE today. The time is short.
So There You Have it!
Spread this message to everyone you know, far and wide.
Grace be to you and peace, from God: our Father, and The LORD Jesus Christ.
In The LORD Jesus Christ,
The Lion and Lamb Ministry
Pastor David Picos, D.D.
Minister and Ambassador for Christ in the Ministry of Reconciliation (2 Cor. 5:18-20)
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