| Cessationism [message #14219] |
Wed, 30 April 2025 19:04  |
 Mark L
Messages: 877
Registered: October 2006
Location: Canada |
Senior Member |
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Cessationism
I wrote a substack newsletter this week on that subject. I avoided all the usual arguments and gave a few different thoughts. I had another thought today on the subject and wish I had included it. So I will put it on here.
Someone knowledgeable on Cessationism explains . . .
So what is it that secessionists believe the Spirit has ceased. Let's be very clear. We only believe He has ceased one function and that is He no longer gives believers today the miraculous spiritual gifts, gifts like speaking in tongues, prophecy and healing. Those gifts ceased as normative with the apostles.
So I had some thoughts on that which I put in my substack but had a further thought I wish I had included. My thought was on the blasphemy of the HS. I will relate it to cessationism in a bit. There are various opinions on this subject most of which I think are wrong.
So what is it? Mar 3/ 22-30 Matt. 12/22-32
The pharisees were accusing Jesus of casting out demons by the prince of the demons
Jesus called that the "Blasphemy of the Holy Spirit" That is ascribing the works of the HS to an unclean spirit. Healing deliverance various spiritual gifts et al No forgiveness for this.
Just to make the point no one ever did this accidentally. Or in a hot headed way. Or because they have a mind full of thoughts they can't control. This is the action of someone mature and knowledgeable who knows better and simply doesn't care. If you have a concern in your heart about it or concern for some one else then you or they haven't done it. Paul himself did it. But he did it in ignorance so he was forgiven. 1 Tim 1/13
So here is my point. Why would this be in the bible if the spiritual gifts were only for the early church. Why take up valuable space in the bible. I can see him saying that to the early church but why us?
So we are to believe Jesus was giving a serious warning to the early church about something that will end (gifts) before long. I think we should give Jesus and the HS a little more credit than that.
Also who was Jesus talking to here? The pharisees obviously. So the world and the unsaved (religious or not) are never going to have salvation if they blaspheme the HS. That is ridiculous! Although some on the internets are finding a way to say just that.
Its almost like Jesus (or the HS) saw this problem with cessationism coming
I have more complete thoughts on the subject on my substact. If you would like to read it you can do so here:
https://mlederman.substack.com/p/a-note-to-our-cessationist- brothers
If you would like to read my occasional thoughts opinions and prognostications then put in your email. Its free and probably always will be. Plus your address doesn't go anywhere else.
If you would a fuller response to cessationism by myself and some of the other brothers you can read it right here:
http://overcomersonline.com/FUDforum2/index.php?t=msg&th =1030&start=0&S=4c5e463e5c1cca8d2118a631f0a647af
[Updated on: Thu, 01 May 2025 01:01]
You can read
"Meanderings on Scripture by Mark
https://mlederman.substack.com/
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| Re: Cessationism [message #14220 is a reply to message #14219] |
Fri, 02 May 2025 02:55  |
Mark L
Messages: 877
Registered: October 2006
Location: Canada |
Senior Member |
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I had some thoughts on the Blasphemy of the HS and rather than start a new post I'll add them here.
My thought is really a question:
What does God do when a born again truly saved person commits that unpardonable sin? Blaspheming the HS. When they stand before the creator on the day of judgment. I think God is perfectly capable of handling the situation but my question is how.
Jesus made a very clear statement. Stepping over that line blaspheming the HS will result in a sin that will never be forgiven. In other words they won't enter in. Gods holiness demands punishment. His righteousness demands it be done righteously or properly or justly. So how does he put the two together.
To my mind those two things are incompatible. Being truly saved yet not able to enter into the kingdom. There is a lot of discussion on christian forums on "once saved always saved" So the general answer is "they obviously weren't saved to start with". Which I think is nonsense. Why give a warning to your church if it has no relevance to your church.
Contrary to the once saved always saved people there are a lot of biblical reasons why people depart from the faith. Or why God gives some up. The warnings are there not because God is there watching to see who he can throw out but so we will keep ourselves on the strait and narrow.
I think that when someone does that particular sin that God just lets them go. Their heart becomes filled with unbelief or a deceiving spirit or some other means. He just lets them go and they depart from his kingdom. The point being that by the time of their passing this world they have completely left the kingdom. I think often they are still going through the motions. But in their heart they have departed.
No one ever committed that sin in a hurry. That is someone mature and knowledgeable who deep in their heart in thinking it over came to the point where they can see it is right but don't care anyway. Can't put up with the embarrassment or afraid or what will the other ministers think or whatever. They come to their own decision deep in their own heart and as the bible says "out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks" They simply confess it. Then the process of departing from the kingdom starts.
I cannot believe that a person steps over that line until they have come to that decision deep in their own heart. Even though they know better they are going to stand with it anyway.
Maybe the cost of following the truth is simply too great.
Lastly as I said before if you are concerned for yourself or someone else then the unpardonable sin hasn't been committed. There is still a place for prayer repentance and intercession.
[Updated on: Fri, 02 May 2025 02:59]
You can read
"Meanderings on Scripture by Mark
https://mlederman.substack.com/
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