Who is susceptible to Second Death at This Time? Part 1

  • Welcome to Christian Forums, a Christian Forum that recognizes that all Christians are a work in progress.

    You will need to register to be able to join in fellowship with Christians all over the world.

    We hope to see you as a part of our community soon and God Bless!

Many believers who have committed gross sins or who have been overtaken time and time again by some besetting sin convince themselves that they have committed the sin unto death, but let such remember this, the fact that they feel remorse and are heart broken, saddened, and long to return to divine favor are proofs that they have NOT committed the sin unto death; for the Apostle declares that those who commit sin of this sort cannot be renewed unto repentance. (Heb. 6:6) Penitents, then, may always feel confident that their sins were in part, at least, results of the fall, and hence not unto death, but requiring forgiveness AND possibly corrections, “stripes”.

The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart (Those discouraged and despairing, bereft of all hope); and saves such as be of a contrite spirit.” Psa 34:18

If any violations of the golden rule brings pain and regret it is a sure sign that it was not willful, but stumbled into by the flesh contrary to the desires of the spirit.

Nevertheless it is important to understand the difference between those sins which are FORGIVABLE and those sins which are UNPARDONABLE.

1) FORGIVABLE SINS are those sins, which result from weaknesses incurred through that one Adamic sin which Christ settled once for all (Adam’s sin). They are such as are NOT willful, but are committed through ignorance or weaknesses of the flesh. God stands pledged to forgive all such sins upon our repentance, in the name and merit of Christ's sacrifice.

2) UNPARDONABLE SINS, sins which CANNOT be forgiven, are such as are willfully done. As the penalty of the first willful sin was death--extinction of being--so death is the penalty of every willful sin against FULL knowledge AND ability to choose and to do the right. This is called SECOND DEATH, in distinction from the first death or Adamic penalty, from which Christ's ransom sacrifice will release all mankind.

The "SIN UNTO [Second] DEATH," which the Apostle declares is useless to pray for forgiveness (1 John 5:16), is not only a willful sin but also a sin against CLEAR knowledge; a sin for which no adequate excuse can be found. Because it is a sin against clear knowledge, or enlightenment in holiness, it is called the "SIN AGAINST THE HOLY SPIRIT" (Matt. 12:31, 32), for which there is NO forgiveness.

But there are other partly-willful sins, which are, therefore, partially unpardonable, in such the temptations within and without (all of which are directly or indirectly results of the fall) have a share; --the will consenting under the pressure of the TEMPTATION or because of the weakness. The Lord alone knows how to properly estimate our responsibilities and guilt in such cases. But to the true child of God there is but one proper course to take; --repentance and an appeal for mercy in the name and merit of Christ, the great sacrifice for sin. The Lord will forgive such penitent individuals, in the sense of restoring them to his favor; but they will be made to suffer "stripes" (Luke 12:47, 48) for their sin, in proportion as God sees it to have been willfully committed.

But who specifically is susceptible to Second Death at This Time?

The answer to this is found in Heb 6:4-6

For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted the heavenly gift, and have become partakers of the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come, if they fall away, to renew them again to repentance, since they crucify again for themselves the Son of God, and put Him to an open shame.”

It will be noticed that there are 5 things prerequisite of the believer before he can be made susceptible to the sin unto death, these are all enumerated in these verses.

1) They must have at one time been enlightened.

2) They must have tasted of the heavenly gift.

3) They must have become partakers of the Holy Spirit.

4) They must have tasted the good word of God.

5) They must have tasted of the powers of the age to come.

Unless all these requirements have been met they are not susceptible to Second Death.

In our next post we will take a look at our first requirement, being enlightened.

Return to Index

Blog entry information

Author
Harvest 1874
Read time
3 min read
Views
598
Last update

More entries in General

More entries from Harvest 1874

Share this entry