“You don’t know what I’ve done! God could never forgive me.”
Quick question: Is this something you may believe or have even said in the past? This is one of Satan’s greatest ploys, and he wants as many people as possible to believe it and end up in the lake of fire with him and his demons. (ESV – all emphasis is mine)
We are living in what is called “Time,” which is something God created for humans on the earth, which He also created. Satan and the fallen angels (demons) were in “eternal time” and had already experienced God’s majesty. Pride is what took Satan out, and his eternal destiny is irrevocably set. The fallen angels decided to follow Satan rather than the Father, and they also will spend eternity in the lake of fire, specifically made for them (Matthew 25:41). They have no pathway to forgiveness.
Isaiah 14:12-14; “How you are fallen from Heaven, Oh day star, son of dawn. How you are cut to the ground, you who laid the nations low. You said in your heart, ‘I will ascend to Heaven; above the stars of God, I will set my throne on high. I will sit on the mount of assembly in the far reaches of the north; I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will make myself like the most High.”
Ezekiel 28:14; “You were an anointed guardian cherub. I placed you; you were on the Holy Mountain of God, in the midst of the stones of fire you walked. You were blameless in your ways from the day you were created, till unrighteousness was found in you.”
Satan and his demons’ eternity is found in Revelation 19:20 and Revelation 20:10. As stated, the lake of fire was created for them, and they will be in it forever. They have no pathway to forgiveness, as stated above.
Humans right now have one unforgivable sin. Jesus said this sin was “blasphemy against the Holy Spirit.” Matthew 12:31-32, “Therefore, I tell you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven people, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven. And whoever speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or the age to come.”
The blasphemy against the Holy Spirit is a deliberate and persistent rejection of God’s grace and the opportunity for Salvation before taking their last breath on this earth. It’s a refusal to receive and accept Jesus, which is also a rejection of the Holy Spirit’s witness about our Savior.
Joel 2:32, Acts 2:21, and Romans 10:13 all state that whoever calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. This must be done before passing from life into death. The thief on the cross is a good example of this. He asked Jesus to “Remember Me,” and Jesus told him that he would be with Jesus in paradise that very day (Luke 23:42-43).
There will be one more unforgivable sin that will take place during the seven-year tribulation. Revelation 14:9-11; “And another angel, a third, followed them, saying with a loud voice, ‘If anyone worships the beast and its image, and receives a mark on his forehead or hand, he also will drink the wine of God’s wrath, poured full-strength into the cup of His anger, and will be tormented with fire and sulfur in the presence of the Holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb. And the smoke of their torment goes up forever and ever, and they shall have no rest day or night, these worshipers of the beast and its image, and whoever receives this mark of its name.’”
And now, the Romans road to Salvation. Romans 3:10; “As it is written, none is righteous; no, not one.” Romans 3:23: “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” Romans 6:23; “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Jesus made it very clear in John 10 that He came for the benefit of everyone. In verses 14-16, we read, “I am the Good Shepherd. I know My own, and My own know Me, just as the Father knows Me and I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep. And I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to My voice. So there will be one flock; one Shepherd.”
Romans 10:9-13 gives us the ABCs of Salvation, which are admit we’re sinners; believe Jesus is the Son of God who provided a pathway to forgiveness through His pure, sinless blood sacrifice shed at Calvary, and we call out to Him to be saved.
At any time, Jesus could’ve said we weren’t worth saving and could’ve avoided a very terrible agonizing human death. But He didn’t. At the time of His arrest, He told Peter to put away his sword because, “Do you think that I cannot appeal to My Father, and He will at once send Me more than twelve legions of angels?” (Matthew 26:53).
For all who would try to say that Jesus was just a man and not a part of the Triune Godhead, they have not read John 1:1-3, or they don’t believe the Bible is the word of God given for us. Peter stated in 2 Peter 3:3, “knowing this first of all, that scoffers will come in the last days with scoffing; following their own sinful desires.”
In 1 John 4:1-3, “Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God; for many false prophets have gone out into the world. By this, you know the Spirit of God; every Spirit that confesses Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God; and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you heard was coming, and now is in the world already.”
Remember that John was written nearly 2,000 years ago, and already there were false prophets and antichrists. Today, their activities are more and more open, and anything that speaks of Jesus is subject to persecution.
None of this is a surprise to our Heavenly Father. His response is that all who truly receive and accept His Son will be saved. There will come a time, as given in Philippians 2:10, “so that at the name of Jesus, every knee should bow, in Heaven, and on earth and under the earth; and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father.”
For all who truly believe in, receive, and accept Jesus as Savior, we feel the wonderful grace of Jesus. In 1918, Haldor Lillenas of Norway (1885-1959) wrote a beautiful hymn that the
Cathedrals and Legacy Five sang often.
1.) Wonderful grace of Jesus, greater than all my sin; how shall my tongue describe it; where shall its praise begin? Taking away my burden, setting my spirit free; for the wonderful grace of Jesus reaches me.
Ref.) Wonderful the matchless grace of Jesus, deeper than the mighty rolling sea; higher than the mountain, sparkling lie a formation, all sufficient grace for even me. Broader than the scope of my transgressions; greater far than all my sin and shame. Oh magnify the precious name of Jesus; Praise His name!
2.) Wonderful the grace of Jesus, reaching to all the lost. By it I have been pardoned, saved to the uttermost. Chains have been torn asunder, giving me liberty; for the wonderful grace of Jesus reaches me. (ref)
3.) Wonderful grace of Jesus, reaching the most defiled. By its transforming power, making me God’s dear child. Purchasing peace and Heaven, for all eternity; for the wonderful grace of Jesus reaches me.
Consider carefully where you wish to spend your eternity – with Jesus in Heaven or with Satan in the lake of fire. There are no other options. God wants no one to be condemned but will allow people to choose the lake of fire through their not accepting our Savior’s wonderful gift.
Because of our Savior’s pure blood sacrifice for us, all who are a part of His precious flock that commit sin – which is every one of us – have a pathway to forgiveness as found in 1 John 1:1:8-10. Because of the grace of Jesus toward us, we have mercy from the Father.
If you haven’t already done so, please consider calling on Jesus to be your eternal Savior.
Maranatha! (Come, Lord Jesus) Shalom! (Peace)