What exactly constitutes “the knowledge of the truth”, and upon denial of this truth, what constitutes the sin unto death?
We answer that the sin unto death is a sin against light and knowledge. No man can sin the sin unto death unless he has knowledge. It is not a sin of ignorance; it is a willful, intentional sin against light, and therefore is called a sin against the Holy Spirit, a sin against the Spirit of Truth.
Now then, is it possible for any except the spirit-begotten to commit the sin unto death?
NO, only those who have been truly begotten of the Holy Spirit, and are therefore thus able to come to an accurate (truthful) understanding of God’s Word and Plan, bear the responsibility which comes with possession of such great knowledge; neither the worldly nor the mere professing Christian, (nominal Christian) share this responsibility, because neither possesses the spirit of truth, the Holy Spirit (despite all they have been taught and believe), therefore neither has yet to have been brought to the truth.
They are not only unable to see (accept) the “deep things” of God, but even amongst those professing to be Christians very few are able to even comprehend the “milk of the word”, able to grasp the “first principles of truth”, to see clearly without the errors and false teachings propagated by men and devils blinding them and therefore to that extent they are not held responsible.
This is evident amongst many on this very forum considering the foolish ideas they hold on many of these first principle doctrines, such as the doctrine of baptisms (in which they fail to distinguish between the real and the symbolic), the gifts of the spirit (with some still believing that the early gifts meant to help establish the church are still in force, such as the gift of tongues, laying on of hands and etc.), the resurrection of the dead (some believing it is not necessary as the dead are more alive now than they ever were, and that they only await the resurrection of their bodies), and of course on the doctrine of eternal judgement (many still clinging to the idea that eternal torment is the wages of sin).
Such ones have need as the Apostle admonishes to have someone teach them again (what they have obviously not learned properly and have misconstrued) the first principle of the teachings of God, the “milk of the word”. Such are not yet ready for “solid food” despite what they might image. Every true teacher knows that the student must first be taught in the basics before he can move on to the more complicated studies. Just as you need to be establish in basic math before moving on to advance math, or establish in basic anatomy before moving on to performing surgical procedures. If you attempt to skip this first part in your desire and hurry to learn of the “deep things” of the word, you will only succeed in confusing yourself all the more.
However the responsibility here lies not with these, but with those (mature Christians) who have tasted the heavenly gift and who have become partakers of the Holy Spirit and who have tasted the good word (the truth, the perfect Word, an accurate knowledge) of God and the powers of the age to come, (Heb 6:4, 5) these therefore KNOW THE TRUTH, and are held responsible for this enlightenment, these ONLY could sin the sin unto death, whereas no others could.
Nevertheless the question still lingers:
Just how much knowledge is necessary before we could commit this sin unto death?
We answer; to our understanding it would not require a great deal (quantity) of knowledge. The Apostle simply says that if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth.
What particular truth was he referring to?
Did he mean the knowledge of chronology?
No, for then all of those who went before us would not have had knowledge enough to go into the second death, because they did not know as much about chronology as we do today.
Did he mean those who understood the parallels between the dispensations, Jewish and Gospel?
No, because plenty of people have never known anything about these parallel dispensations.
Did he mean only those who know about the Jubilee?
No, for plenty of Christians lived and died without knowledge of the Jubilee.
What does it mean then, what truth and how much of it must we have?
As stated we believe it is not the quantity of knowledge, which one possesses which makes one accountable, but rather the quality or type of knowledge understood.
The truth referred to, then dear brethren is that even grander truth, which Christians have had all during the Gospel age; for instance, the great truth that, "God so loved the world that He gave his only begotten son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life." That is the great truth, and those who have believed that great truth, AND in whom it has exercised the proper power, have been turned from sin to righteousness, and from darkness to light.
Here is the truth that would sanctify (set-apart) the individual. Now, then, if any have come to this clear knowledge of the truth of God's love, and of God's requirement of righteousness, and of our Lord Jesus Christ as his Savior, he has come to a responsible position. Note carefully that when we speak of those possessing this truth we speak of those who have been properly exercised by it, many may possess this truth (i.e. have knowledge it) of whom it has little or no effect upon their lives, as was indicated by our Lord in the “Parable of the Sower”
We believe those who have been properly exercised refers specifically to those who HAVE NOT received the grace of GOD in vain (2 Cor 6:1) but who have gone on to make a full consecration of themselves, who have entered into covenant relationship with the Father (Rom 12:1; Psa 50:5)
“God’s grace as freely bestowed upon those who have come to a knowledge of the redemption which is in Christ Jesus our Lord is the grace of the forgiveness of sins, of justification through faith; and the very object of this grace is that we be exercised by it, to permit or qualify us to become living sacrifices, acceptable to God’s altar through the great sacrifice of our Redeemer.”
Continued with next post.
We answer that the sin unto death is a sin against light and knowledge. No man can sin the sin unto death unless he has knowledge. It is not a sin of ignorance; it is a willful, intentional sin against light, and therefore is called a sin against the Holy Spirit, a sin against the Spirit of Truth.
Now then, is it possible for any except the spirit-begotten to commit the sin unto death?
NO, only those who have been truly begotten of the Holy Spirit, and are therefore thus able to come to an accurate (truthful) understanding of God’s Word and Plan, bear the responsibility which comes with possession of such great knowledge; neither the worldly nor the mere professing Christian, (nominal Christian) share this responsibility, because neither possesses the spirit of truth, the Holy Spirit (despite all they have been taught and believe), therefore neither has yet to have been brought to the truth.
They are not only unable to see (accept) the “deep things” of God, but even amongst those professing to be Christians very few are able to even comprehend the “milk of the word”, able to grasp the “first principles of truth”, to see clearly without the errors and false teachings propagated by men and devils blinding them and therefore to that extent they are not held responsible.
This is evident amongst many on this very forum considering the foolish ideas they hold on many of these first principle doctrines, such as the doctrine of baptisms (in which they fail to distinguish between the real and the symbolic), the gifts of the spirit (with some still believing that the early gifts meant to help establish the church are still in force, such as the gift of tongues, laying on of hands and etc.), the resurrection of the dead (some believing it is not necessary as the dead are more alive now than they ever were, and that they only await the resurrection of their bodies), and of course on the doctrine of eternal judgement (many still clinging to the idea that eternal torment is the wages of sin).
Such ones have need as the Apostle admonishes to have someone teach them again (what they have obviously not learned properly and have misconstrued) the first principle of the teachings of God, the “milk of the word”. Such are not yet ready for “solid food” despite what they might image. Every true teacher knows that the student must first be taught in the basics before he can move on to the more complicated studies. Just as you need to be establish in basic math before moving on to advance math, or establish in basic anatomy before moving on to performing surgical procedures. If you attempt to skip this first part in your desire and hurry to learn of the “deep things” of the word, you will only succeed in confusing yourself all the more.
However the responsibility here lies not with these, but with those (mature Christians) who have tasted the heavenly gift and who have become partakers of the Holy Spirit and who have tasted the good word (the truth, the perfect Word, an accurate knowledge) of God and the powers of the age to come, (Heb 6:4, 5) these therefore KNOW THE TRUTH, and are held responsible for this enlightenment, these ONLY could sin the sin unto death, whereas no others could.
Nevertheless the question still lingers:
Just how much knowledge is necessary before we could commit this sin unto death?
We answer; to our understanding it would not require a great deal (quantity) of knowledge. The Apostle simply says that if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth.
What particular truth was he referring to?
Did he mean the knowledge of chronology?
No, for then all of those who went before us would not have had knowledge enough to go into the second death, because they did not know as much about chronology as we do today.
Did he mean those who understood the parallels between the dispensations, Jewish and Gospel?
No, because plenty of people have never known anything about these parallel dispensations.
Did he mean only those who know about the Jubilee?
No, for plenty of Christians lived and died without knowledge of the Jubilee.
What does it mean then, what truth and how much of it must we have?
As stated we believe it is not the quantity of knowledge, which one possesses which makes one accountable, but rather the quality or type of knowledge understood.
The truth referred to, then dear brethren is that even grander truth, which Christians have had all during the Gospel age; for instance, the great truth that, "God so loved the world that He gave his only begotten son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life." That is the great truth, and those who have believed that great truth, AND in whom it has exercised the proper power, have been turned from sin to righteousness, and from darkness to light.
Here is the truth that would sanctify (set-apart) the individual. Now, then, if any have come to this clear knowledge of the truth of God's love, and of God's requirement of righteousness, and of our Lord Jesus Christ as his Savior, he has come to a responsible position. Note carefully that when we speak of those possessing this truth we speak of those who have been properly exercised by it, many may possess this truth (i.e. have knowledge it) of whom it has little or no effect upon their lives, as was indicated by our Lord in the “Parable of the Sower”
We believe those who have been properly exercised refers specifically to those who HAVE NOT received the grace of GOD in vain (2 Cor 6:1) but who have gone on to make a full consecration of themselves, who have entered into covenant relationship with the Father (Rom 12:1; Psa 50:5)
“God’s grace as freely bestowed upon those who have come to a knowledge of the redemption which is in Christ Jesus our Lord is the grace of the forgiveness of sins, of justification through faith; and the very object of this grace is that we be exercised by it, to permit or qualify us to become living sacrifices, acceptable to God’s altar through the great sacrifice of our Redeemer.”
Continued with next post.
