FAILULRE TO MATURE

TEXTS: Hebrews 6:4-6;

INTRODUCTION:
1. The Hebrew writer had in mind to engage in a deep discussion about comparing the priesthood of Jesus to that of the mysterious O.T. Priest, Melchizedek.
2. However, he first felt it necessary to point out how immature they were.
3. He also felt the need to explain to them the natural consequences of failing to grow up.
4. The result of one who fails to grow, is falling back to the point of no return!
5. Jesus ran into the same thing in His ministry.
I. FAILURE TO RECOGNIZE THE SAVIOR:
A. Jesus was in a constant battle with the Scribes and Pharisees.
1. Although they had seen Him heal people, drive out demons and even raise the dead,
2. They were so dead set against Him that they didn't even recognize that it was
through the power of the Holy Spirit that He accomplished these things.
B. They criticized His disciples for eating on the Sabbath, which was not a violation of
the Law of Moses, but of their unreasonable traditions.
1 At that time Jesus went through the grainfields on the Sabbath. And His disciples
were hungry, and began to pluck heads of grain and to eat.
2 And when the Pharisees saw it, they said to Him, "Look, Your disciples are doing
what is not lawful to do on the Sabbath!"
C. He gives them an illustration of when David did a similar thing to show that they had
violated no law of God.
3 But He said to them, "Have you not read what David did when he was hungry, he
and those who were with him:
4 "how he entered the house of God and ate the showbread which was not lawful
for him to eat, nor for those who were with him, but only for the priests?
5 "Or have you not read in the law that on the Sabbath the priests in the temple
profane the Sabbath, and are blameless?
6 "Yet I say to you that in this place there is One greater than the temple.
7 "But if you had known what this means, 'I desire mercy and not sacrifice,' you
would not have condemned the guiltless.
8 "For the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath."
D. Next they attack Him for doing good by healing a man in the Synogogue on the
Sabbath.
9 Now when He had departed from there, He went into their synagogue.
10 And behold, there was a man who had a withered hand. And they asked Him,
saying, "Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?"-- that they might accuse Him.
E. He answers their attack with an illustration about an injured sheep. If one would go
on the Sabbath and pull a sheep out of a pit, then what would be wrong with healing
a man on the Sabbath?!
Then He said to them, "What man is there among you who has one sheep, and if it
falls into a pit on the Sabbath, will not lay hold of it and lift it out?
"Of how much more value then is a man than a sheep? Therefore it is lawful to do
good on the Sabbath."
Then He said to the man, "Stretch out your hand." And he stretched it out, and it
was restored as whole as the other.
F. Instead of admitting that He was right, they "plotted against Him, how they might
destroy Him" (Vs.14).
G. The tension has mounted until they think they have figured out a way to shame Him
in front of the crowds:
1) He drives out a demon from a man who was blind and mute and he spoke and saw!
22 Then one was brought to Him who was demon-possessed, blind and mute; and He
healed him, so that the blind and mute man both spoke and saw.
2) The crowd acknowledged that He was indeed the promised Son of David who was
to come and deliver them, the Messiah!
23 And all the multitudes were amazed and said, "Could this be the Son of David?"
3) Although it was obvious that He was working by the power of the Holy Spirit, they
accused Him of being empowered by Satan!!
24 Now when the Pharisees heard it they said, "This fellow does not cast out demons
except by Beelzebub, the ruler of the demons."
4) Jesus answered their ridiculous accusation with logic: If He was driving out demons
by the power of Satan it would be as if Satan were working against himself, and
everyone knows when one works against himself he only destroys himself, so this
could not be the explanation . 25 But Jesus knew their thoughts, and said to them:
"Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation, and every city or
house divided against itself will not stand.26 "If Satan casts out Satan, he is divided
against himself. How then will his kingdom stand?
5) Also, there were other Jews who were casting out demons in the region at that time,
so Jesus asks, "If I am driving them out by the power of Satan, where do the others
get their power? 27 "And if I cast out demons by Beelzebub, by whom do your sons
cast them out? Therefore they shall be your judges.
6) He then goes on to point out that if He is indeed driving out demons by the Holy
Spirit, then the Kingdom must be present and He must be the promised Messiah!
Otherwise, He would not have power over the "strong man" Satan to drive out his
demons. 28 "But if I cast out demons by the Spirit of God, surely the kingdom of
God has come upon you. 29 "Or how can one enter a strong man's house and
plunder his goods, unless he first binds the strong man? And then he will plunder
his house.
H. He then, explains that although they appear to be religious, they are not pleasing to
God, because they are not on the side of God's Son 30 "He who is not with Me is
against Me, and he who does not gather with Me scatters abroad.
II. HE THEN TELLS THEM OF A SIN THAT CANNOT BE FORGIVEN:
31 "Therefore I say to you, every sin and blasphemy will be
forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven men.
32 "Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man, it will be forgiven him; but
whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit, it will not be forgiven him, either in this age
or in the age to come.
III. THE UNPARDONABLE SIN EXPLAINED:
1. Many believe they have committed a sin that cannot be forgiven!
2. Is any sin unpardonable?
3. The Bible clearly teaches that provisions have been made to forgive all men.
a. Titus 2:11- The grace of God which brings salvation has appeared to all men.
b. Matthew 11:28- Come unto Me all ye who labor and are heavy laden.
c. Mark 16:15-16- Go and preach the gospel to every creature.
d. 2Peter 3:9- The Lord is longsuffering, not willing that any should perish...
e. 1Timothy 2:4- He wills that all men be saved.
4. If this is true, what did Jesus mean in Matthew 12:31-32?
A. Not murder
1. Those who murdered Jesus were offered forgiveness (Acts 2:36-41).
2. Saul of Tarsus was an accomplice to murder and he was forgiven (Acts 7:58; 22:16)
B. Not suicide
1. Suicide ends one's life.
2. Yet one can continue to live after committing the sin about which Jesus spoke
(Matthew 12:31-32).
C. Not profanity
1. Peter cursed and swore in his denial of Christ, but he later repented and was
forgiven.
2. See Matthew 26:69-75
D. Not immorality
1. 1Corinthians 6:9-11- The Corinthian Christians had lived very immoral lives yet
they had been forgiven.
2. John 8:11- Jesus told the woman taken in adultery to "...go your way and sin no
more..." If she had committed an unpardonable sin, what would be the point of
living a moral life from then on?
E. Not backsliding
1. Only Christians can backslide and Christ was not talking to Christians.
2. Acts 8:22- Backsliding is forgivable.
IV. WHAT HE DID MEAN.
A. They had finally crossed the line.
1. They had been out to get Him from the beginning and although the evidence was
plain, they still did not acknowledge that He was God's Son and that His power
was from the Holy Spirit.
2. They were so wicked and evil inside, that they would not repent, even when the
Son of God Himself stood right in front of them doing miracles!!
3. It was to these people that He spoke about a sin that would not be forgiven.
B. The sin was refusing to accept that the Holy Spirit was working through Jesus when
the evidence was right in front of them!
1. Until they changed their attitude and acknowledged this fact they could not be
forgiven, because they would not repent!
C. He then gives an illustration to show that He is talking about the fact that they are too
evil inside to say anything good about Him: 33 "Either make the tree good and its
fruit good, or else make the tree bad and its fruit bad; for a tree is known by its fruit.
34 "Brood of vipers! How can you, being evil, speak good things? For out of the
abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.35 "A good man out of the good treasure of
his heart brings forth good things, and an evil man out of the evil treasure brings
forth evil things.36 "But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will
give account of it in the day of judgment. 37 "For by your words you will be justified,
and by your words you will be condemned."
D. What is the so-called, unpardonable sin? It is allowing one's heart to become so
hardened in sin that he rejects the teaching of the Holy Spirit, just as those who
accused Jesus of working for the devil had done!
V. CAN THE UNPARDONABLE SIN BE COMMITTED TODAY?
A. The word of God, the Bible, is inspired by the Holy Spirit (2Timothy 3:16-17; 2
Peter 1:19-21).
B. When one learns the truth from God's word and refuses to obey it he/she is rejecting
the Holy Spirit and will not be forgiven until they change/repent and acknowledge
that it is indeed the Power of God unto salvation (Romans 1:16).
C. One can obey the Gospel and then go so far back into sin as to be lost, this too, is
unforgivable unless it is repented of (See Hebrews 4:4-6).
VI. HAVE YOU COMMITTED THE UNPARDONABLE SIN?
A. If you are concerned about it, you probably have not.
B. As long as you still have the opportunity and ability to repent there is hope.
VII. QUESTION:
A. What is the best way to help church members who are struggling or experiencing
wavering faith? How can we keep them from slipping back into the world?
1. Galatians 6:1-2 Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual
restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be
tempted. Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.
2. James 5:19-20 Brethren, if anyone among you wanders from the truth, and someone
turns him back, let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will
save a soul from death and cover a multitude of sins.
3. Acts 8:18-24 And when Simon saw that through the laying on of the apostles' hands
the Holy Spirit was given, he offered them money, saying, "Give me this power also,
that anyone on whom I lay hands may receive the Holy Spirit." But Peter said to him,
"Your money perish with you, because you thought that the gift of God could be
purchased with money! "You have neither part nor portion in this matter, for your
heart is not right in the sight of God. "Repent therefore of this your wickedness, and
pray God if perhaps the thought of your heart may be forgiven you. "For I see that
you are poisoned by bitterness and bound by iniquity." Then Simon answered and
said, "Pray to the Lord for me, that none of the things which you have spoken may
come upon me."
4. Acts 2:42-47 And they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship,
in the breaking of bread, and in prayers. Then fear came upon every soul, and many
wonders and signs were done through the apostles. Now all who believed were
together, and had all things in common, and sold their possessions and goods, and
divided them among all, as anyone had need. So continuing daily with one accord in
the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness
and simplicity of heart, 47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And
the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved.
5. Help them to realize that they are part of the body (Romans 12; 1Cor. 12).


B. At what point are church members sinning by discussing such members?
When the motivation for the conversation turns from genuine concern to gossip.


C. At what point are we becoming a nuisance by visiting or calling a member that is not coming?

1. Casting pearls before swine.
2. Shake the dust off your feet.
3. When you have exhausted all possible avenues of restoration.
4. Even then, the word has been planted.
5. Think of it as warning someone who is in imminent danger.


CONCLUSION:
1. The unpardonable sin is the sin that is not repented of.
2. Don't allow yourself to become so hardened that you "Call evil good and good evil (Isaiah 5:20).
3. Failure to mature can only lead to one thing, falling away.
4. Useful herbs to thorns and briars.