ARE YOU WITH CHRIST?

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In Christ, Mark

The scriptures. May God bless the reading of His holy word.

"Or again, how can anyone enter a strong man's house and carry off his possessions unless he first ties up the strong man? Then he can rob his house.”

"He who is not with me is against me, and he who does not gather with me scatters. And so I tell you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven. Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but anyone who speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come.”

Matthew 12:29-32

This ends this reading from God's holy word. Thanks be to God.

As we look at our world today and the people in it, I think you would find three categories when it comes to a relationship with Jesus…and a connection to Christianity.

First, we have those who choose to have no relationship with Jesus and thus choose to have no connection to Christianity. The reasons may vary but the end result is the same. And there is a cross section of this group that chooses to even see Jesus as an evil force in the world, persecuting and even killing those who choose to follow Him…those who would be in the second category.

For there is another significant portion of the world that fully believes, trusts and follows Jesus as their Lord of Lords and King of Kings…the Author of their creation and salvation. They see themselves lost and hopeless in life without Him. They are willing to surrender what the world offers in exchange for what Christ brings to them. And they would be willing to die for Him while carrying out His call to share His gospel with others, just as He was so self sacrificially willing to die for all mankind to pay the price for sin.

So there are those who choose to not believe and those who choose to believe. Who is in the third category?

Those who choose to straddle the line between unbelief and belief.

For there is another section of the world’s population who will only believe in Jesus when it’s convenient or when it suits them. They are unwilling to fully give up what the world offers because their desires, in some instances, still are of greater priority than the desires of Jesus. His calling, if followed, would mean leaving behind worldly pleasures in exchange for service…labor for the Lord to carry out His assignment to make disciples of all nations.

So what category do you find yourself in?

Today’s message tells us there really isn’t a third category.

For Jesus, still addressing the attempt by the Pharisees to discredit Him and compare Him to Satan, sends a clear message regarding service to Him:

"He who is not with me is against me, and he who does not gather with Me scatters.”

Did you get that?

You are either with Jesus or you aren’t.

There is no middle ground.

If you are with Jesus, then you are part of His flock, kept together and protected by the Good Shepherd.

If you choose to not be with Jesus, then you are against Him…choosing to be with the world and Satan who has his way with those in it. Anyone who chooses to not be with Jesus leaves himself or herself vulnerable to attack…like a sheep without a shepherd. No protection. Easy pickings for anyone or anything evil.

Notice that Jesus doesn’t say a word about being with Him sometimes and not with Him others. No...there are two clear choices. You are either with Him or against Him.

And so what about those who choose to not be with Him and then attack Him after witnessing His miraculous works, seeking to discredit Him and paint Him as being partnered with evil like the Pharisees had done while trying to connect Jesus to Beelzebub. Well, those who choose to do that would be committing a sin that is unforgivable…blasphemy against the Holy Spirit.

What? There is a sin that can’t be forgiven?

Yes…and scripture affirms it through the words of Jesus.

Back to today’s passage as Jesus continues saying:

“And so I tell you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven. Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but anyone who speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come.”

The Pharisees were so adamantly opposed to Jesus that they were willing to egregiously reject His holy works of goodness and love as He healed maladies, exorcised demons and restored others to full health. Instead of praising God for all the powerful acts he was performing by way of His Son and the power of the Holy Spirit, the Pharisees instead tried to wickedly connect what had happened to evil…to the works of demons.

Today, people still refuse to credit the Lord despite the obvious miracles He performs by way of the Holy Spirit each and every day. These people have chosen to fully reject Jesus as well as His will and way for their lives...and in doing so, cut themselves off from the Father in heaven.

For Jesus clearly said, “I am the Way and the Truth and the Life. No one comes unto the Father except through Me.” (John 14:6)

Friends, there’s no gray area there. There’s no middle of the road. There’s no toeing the line.

Jesus expects that we are all in…that we are with Him and with Him fully.

Are you with Him or against Him?

Amen.

In Christ,

Mark

PS: Please share this with anyone you feel might be blessed by it.

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