April 21, 2024, 10:45 a.m. Pacific Standard Time, Sunday Bible study:
This next study, which will continue to the concern 'the sin that shall not be forgiven', will bring us to the conclusion of the topic.
We have seen how blasphemy of God was dealt with commencing under Levitical law and later what Jesus taught concerning blasphemy. We learned that even after the cross of Christ and His resurrection, blasphemy was still a sin not to be forgiven as evidenced by the death of two believers in the early church in Jerusalem. There would have been more of Israel that would have died from committing the sin of blasphemy except that one who believed that Jesus was the risen Christ and was full of the Holy Ghost was also the one to intercede on the behalf of those that committed the sin. That prayer request was not for the sin their sin of blasphemy to be forgiven but rather that the sin they had committed 'be not laid to their charge'.
Saul of Tarsus, who became the apostle Paul, admitted he had been a blasphemer together with other sins. Paul noted he still was punished but that his punishment was different in that he had received 'mercy'. What punishment could Paul have, as a blasphemer, received from God?
In this final segment of our study we will see what followed Stephen's prayer of intercession on the behalf of the Council and the beginning of the Dispensation of the Grace of God. How does God determine a man sinful when not all men are under Hebrew law? What does God desire of all men today for any to be saved? What will be God's judgment criteria of all men? Does forgiveness during the grace of God include all blasphemies? And, when and how will the present dispensation of the grace of God end?
Finally, will blasphemy of God again occur? Will the grace of God, or perhaps His mercy cover the sin? Will someone again intercede to stay any judgment of God?
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Berean Bible study