From: tony@swrinde.nde.swri.edu (Anthony R. Benitez)
Newsgroups: soc.religion.christian
Subject: Re: Lost Salvation
Date: 18 Nov 92 08:31:36 GMT
Organization: Southwest Research Institute, San Antonio, Texas

In article <Nov.15.18.23.15.1992.23305@geneva.rutgers.edu> turtle@brahms.udel.edu (Anthony J Collins) writes:
>Can I have the Book Chapter and verse to back up the statement, "It is
>impossible for an Elect Son of God to blaspheme the Holy Spirit".  YOU 
>WILL NOT FIND IT!
>
>Tony

Tony, here is your reply, with scriptural references as requested.

Matthew 12:31
Wherefore I say unto you, All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven
unto men: but the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven unto
men. 32: And whosoever speaketh a word against the Son of man, it shall be
forgiven him: but whosoever speaketh against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be
forgiven him, neither in this world, neither in the world to come.
See also Mark3:28,29

There seems to be a continuing amount of confusion over this scripture.  There
are two different ways to view these scriptures, and I present both arguments
this time.  First, there is no doubt that both passages agree that all manner
of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven men. Paul said "we all have sinned and
come short of the glory of God" and our sinful robes of flesh shall remain
until the body is laid down and our spirits return to God, it's maker.  I
must emphasize that the scripture says "all manner of sin".  Think of the 
ugliest things one can commit, it shall be forgiven.

THE ELECT CANNOT COMMIT THIS SIN: If one believes that "the world to come" is
Heaven and Immortal Glory, then this sin is indeed, impossible to commit.
Mark says "in danger of eternal damnation".  Is it, I ask, possible for a
child of God, who Jesus Christ died and bled for on the cross, to ever be
separated from that family?  Jesus says in John 6:37 "All that the Father
giveth me shall come to me: and him that cometh to me I will in no way cast
out." 38: "For I came down from Heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will
of him that sent me." 39: "And this is the Father's will which has sent me,
that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it
up again at the last day." 44: "No man can come to me, except the Father
which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day." 

These scriptures are the very words of the Son, and illustrates the devine
will of the Father and the purposes for which he sent his Son.  To gather up
all whom he had given him, to lose not one, and to raise them up at the last
day.  Sounds VERY secure to me.  Sounds as if the Father put all the work of
Eternal Salvation into the Son's hands.  Verse 44 even insures that the will
of man is left out.  "No man can come to me, except the Father which hath
sent me draw him:"  You cannot even approach the Father until he FIRST draws
you!  Sounds like the Father and the Son have done it all.  

Then if the Father and the Son have secured your Eternal Salvation, what can
you do with deeds of the flesh or words of the mouth to lose so great a 
salvation?  Paul said there was nothing that would separate us from the love
of Christ.  If God (the Father) be for us, brethren, who can be against us?

Therefore, If you believe that the world to come is Heaven and Immortal Glory,
and the scripture plainly states you are secure in the arms of our Lord and
Saviour Jesus Christ, you CANNOT commit any sin that would negate the will
and the purposes of God and the accomplished work of Jesus Christ.

THE ELECT CAN COMMIT THIS SIN:  There are two worlds spoken of in the 32 verse
that one must reconcile.  To keep this brief, I will state that the two
worlds under consideration here are 1:) The old world, the Law worship, the
"Old Dispensation" and 2:) The world to come, the New Testament Church of
our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. 
Paul states in II Timothy that Jesus will deny those who deny him.  Sounds
as if we deny the Holy Spirit in this life we will be denied (unforgiven)
in this life.  But as already stated, this cannot keep us from Heaven and
Immortal Glory.  There is NOTHING that will keep the ransomed family from
being raised on that last day to a newness and eternity of bliss with our
Glorious father and darling son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

So, whichever way one looks at Matt 12, there is no fear "there is now NO
condemnation to those who are in Christ".  I rejoice in Christ Jesus and
his accomplished work.

Yours in Christ
Anthony Benitez