Hebrews 6:4-6
4It is impossible for those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, who have shared in the Holy Spirit,
5who have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the coming age,
6if they fall away, to be brought back to repentance, because[a]to their loss they are crucifying the Son of God all over again and subjecting him to public disgrace.
And Mark 3:29
29But whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven; he is guilty of an eternal sin."
So, given that I am a former Christian, and am therefor guilty of the first, and since that time I have denied my need for salvation or the possiblity of such, therefor guilty of the second...Why do Christians think converting me back would do anything? I've commited the only two sins which Jesus said he can't forgive.
2007-07-31 09:25:23 · 15 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Oh, both passages taken from the New International Version. Alternate variations available upon request, but they all say the same thing.
2007-07-31 09:30:58 · update #1
I'm hearing a lot of dogmatic "God loves you, so he'd forgive you." But your scripture seems to disagree with you. If you're protestant, shouldn't you (re: sola scriptura) believe the scripture over what makes you feel better? It seems pretty clear that there are things that cannot be forgiven (another example at Luke 12:10). Aren't you being a bit presumptuous by saying that the scripture is wrong and you're interpretation of the Christian faith is right?
2007-07-31 09:47:14 · update #2
ronnlynn gave one of the usual arguments - you know, the No True Scotsman:
"I don't believe that you can once be a true Christian and now not be. Either you are still a Christian and are living in disobedience to God, or you have never been a Christian and your previous experience was a false conversion."
At worst, this belief contradicts the text, which is the foundation for Christian belief. At best, this belief renders the particular verse irrelevant, which was clearly not the intention.
Both the religious and the non-religious try to force their beliefs to work in each situation. I conclude that nearly everyone, including Christians, basically does what he wants, in the end. The difference is that the non-religious don't have to face up to the fact that their personal beliefs contradict other beliefs from a text.
But hey, we non-believers are filthy sinners, so let's just wallow in our cesspool of "misery," hmm?
2007-07-31 13:22:33 · answer #1 · answered by Skye 5 · 3⤊ 0⤋
I can't convert you, nor would I try.
However, I am curious about something. And please forgive me if I'm being presumptuous. It almost sounds like you're regretful in your question. If that's the case, why don't you find out?
Look, I was raised in a Christian home, and considered myself a Christian for six years (from when I was seven until I was thirteen, though I didn't really believe in it, and even though I had been scared into accepting it in the first place for fear of hellfire and damnation), and I became an atheist. For a long time, I denied that I needed salvation, and even insisted repeatedly and ADAMANTLY that there was no God.
Yet God has received me. I KNOW He has.
It's up to you. If you're sincere, you wouldn't be denied.
2007-07-31 09:33:59 · answer #2 · answered by The_Cricket: Thinking Pink! 7 · 2⤊ 1⤋
As long as you're alive, there's a chance for your salvation.
In response to How do you Blaspheme the Holy Spirit - most Christians answer to this would be Suicide. I can't tell you how many people condemn Suicide Victims (and they ARE Victims) to hell. I work in the Mental Health field. I think we have a Loving God - People who kill themselves are NOT well, are NOT in their right mind and are suffering terribly - why would God then send them to an eternity of suffering. I just don't buy that.
2007-07-31 09:45:15 · answer #3 · answered by Marvelissa VT 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
sin against the Holy Spirit (Hebrews 10:26) 26 For if we practice sin willfully after having received the accurate knowledge of the truth, there is no longer any sacrifice for sins left. . .
now notice if we practice sin there is no forgiveness like many you see here denying God & his son & the holy spirit. they are guilty of greiving the HS & remain unforgiven
2007-07-31 09:48:27 · answer #4 · answered by zorrro857 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
How does one Blasphemes the Holy Spirit?
2007-07-31 09:31:19 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
I don't believe that you can once be a true Christian and now not be. Either you are still a Christian and are living in disobedience to God, or you have never been a Christian and your previous experience was a false conversion.
I believe that God is patient with us and provides us many opportunities to accept the gift of salvation He offers so that you still have a chance as long as you are alive.
2007-07-31 09:30:46 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 2⤋
God is perfect love and perfect mercy. If one is truly sorry for his sin God will forgive. Read the whole book not one passage. You are wrong to assume you're that bad. You are not, you are human.Peace
2007-07-31 09:40:24 · answer #7 · answered by PARVFAN 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Aparently you have never known the mercy and forgiveing power of God. God can do anything that means he can also forgive any sin.
2007-07-31 09:32:01 · answer #8 · answered by Kiwi 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Only blaspheming the Holy Ghost is unpardonable, come back, God loves you.
2007-07-31 09:30:11 · answer #9 · answered by ? 7 · 1⤊ 2⤋
SK...have seen many return to God....
Myself included.
God will accept anyone back if their heart is truly repentant, and to tell you the truth...when I looked back, God had never left me....
May you find peace :)
2007-07-31 09:42:48 · answer #10 · answered by ForeverSet 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋