Memory Verse: Indeed, You have made my days as handbreadths, and my age is as nothing before You; certainly every man at his best state is but vapor. Psalm 39:5
Scripture Reading: John 12:34-43
Introduction:
The consequence of repeated rejection is loss of the capacity to believe.
This is the position taken by a lot of well-meaning people with regard to their salvation. We have seen in our last lesson how involved people become with living, when they are young, strong, and healthy. The prevailing attitude among many seems to be “I can get saved when I’m too old to do anything else.” How can they possibly know the number of days the Lord has granted them? “For man also does not know his time: like fish taken in a cruel net, like birds caught in a snare, so the sons of men are snared in an evil time, when it falls suddenly upon them” (Ecclesiastes 9:12). Maybe these procrastinators will be denied the luxury of growing old. Even those managing to reach their “golden years” are not likely to accept the Lord after a lifetime of putting off their decision. They usually walk directly into eternity with their sins un-forgiven.
However, God appeals to all men through the agency of the Holy Spirit, it was not His intention that any should perish. None of us are ever deprived of our free will by God, though and if we choose to grieve His Spirit it will come with less and less frequency. We will eventually reach a point in our lives when our callousness will no longer permit the Spirit to deal with us. This is that sin against the Holy Spirit which cannot be forgiven, the stubborn refusal to heed to the Holy Spirit’s conviction and accepting the forgiveness that Christ offers.
Study Questions:
- What does it mean to resist the Holy Spirit? Matthew 12:31-32; Mark 3:28-30. Note: Anyone who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit places himself or herself outside the redeeming grace of God. The tense they use in Mark 3 indicates a continued action, not a one-time event.
- Was the Spirit resisted prior to the New Covenant? Acts 7:51-53; Matthew 23:31-36.
- Did Jesus warn us to be ready for His return? Matthew 24:36-44; Luke 12:37-40. Note: As Noah was vigilant in preparing for the Flood, so should people living in the tribulation be alert and prepare for the return of Christ.
- What does Jesus promise to those who do pay heed to His call? Revelations 2:7. Note: The one who overcomes is the Christian who perseveres in obedience and is victorious in the face of trials. Eating of the tree of life is a promise of special intimacy with the Lord, a promise of renewing the fellowship lost before the fall. Also, Christians hindered by poverty in this life can take consolation in the fact that they possess great spiritual riches in Christ.
- Since we cannot expect the Lord’s return to be preceded by advance warnings, would the wise person be one who is prepared? Matthew 25:1-13. Note: Here we see the need for wisdom, just as the parable of the talents shows the need for faithfulness, all in all, we need to show ourselves to be prudent.
- What will be the ultimate fate of the unsaved? Revelation 20:11-15. Note: The rejection of the eternal gospel results in eternal condemnation.
- What will be the reward of the saved that have persevered throughout history? Revelation 21:1-4. Note: Rebirth through faith in Christ brings newness to the person’s life, but it is only in the eternal state that God will “make all things new.”