Sins Leading to Death

Reading Scripture: Matthew 12:31-32 

Verse to Memorize: Hebrews 10:26

 Reference: Hebrews 6:4-6 Goal: To help believers clearly understand both sins leading to death and sins not leading to death so that they will never commit sins leading to death If some land is contaminated with toxic chemicals or radioactivity from factory waste or pesticides, it takes quite long time for it to recover-or it may be impossible for the land to be renewed. The same applies to the heart field of men. 

Sins leading to death are like these toxic chemicals, so if your heart field is 'polluted' with sins that lead to death it is very hard to restore it to an original state and it makes it hard for you to reach salvation. However, God can restore the heart field of man that has been devastatingly contaminated. 

As much as they thoroughly repent and purify their hearts, they can receive the mercy of God. If you have not cultivated your heart field but have tainted it, I hope you will reverse the effects and restore it to a clean heart by fully and completely repenting and casting off every form of evil.

• 1. We must not commit sins related to salvation

When we realize we are sinners, repent of sins, open our hearts, and accept Jesus Christ, God will give us the Holy Spirit as His gift. This is because we become able to throw away sins and live in the will of God only when we receive the help of the Holy Spirit. But some people set themselves against the Spirit and commit works of the flesh though they have received the Spirit as a gift. Here, 'works of the flesh' refer to sins shown outwardly in the form of actions. 

Although you have accepted Jesus Christ and have been forgiven of your sins, you might not receive salvation, if you are still sinning repeatedly. Why is that? God wants to forgive you again and again. Though you have already been saved, however, if you do grave sins or keep committing sins beyond a certain limit, the enemy devil and Satan will bring accusation against you, saying to God, "How can they be God's children?" God is love but He is of justice at the same time, so He accepts the accusations of Satan when Satan accuses men in accordance with spiritual law. 

Thus, we should not commit any kind of sin, but above all we must not commit sins that affect our salvation. If you have already committed such sins, you have to repent immediately and turn back from it. Not every sin falls under the same category. Among many sins against the Word of God, some are relatively light that can be promptly forgiven through repentance whereas others are so grave that people who commit them will not receive salvation.

• 2. Sins leading to death and sins not leading to death

Galatians 5:19-21 reads, "Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God." 

If you perpetually commit such evident deeds of the flesh, you cannot be saved as the verses above say, "Those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God." But even though you perform an act of 'sins depriving of salvation', if you completely repent, unceasingly pray, and turn back from it, the way of salvation might be opened for you. Even if someone is now of a heretical sect, if they separate themselves from it and repent, God will have compassion on them and open the path of salvation for them. As explained, there are sins that do not lead to death because the one who has committed them can be saved through repentance. But there are sins that you cannot repent of because the spirit of repentance sometimes is not given no matter how hard you try. 

Such sins are called 'Sins Leading to Death'. They are too grave to be forgiven even though people ask for their forgiveness. 1 John 5:16 says, "If anyone sees his brother committing a sin not leading to death, he shall ask and God will for him give life to those who commit sin not leading to death. There is a sin leading to death; I do not say that he should make request for this." Then, let's specify the sins leading to death that we cannot make request for forgiveness for here. The first of these sins is to blaspheme the Holy Spirit. Matthew 12:31-32 reads, "Therefore I say to you, any sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven people, but blasphemy against the Spirit shall not be forgiven. 

Whoever speaks a word against the Son of Man, it shall be forgiven him; but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit, it shall not be forgiven him, either in this age or in the age to come." The second one is to crucify to oneself the Son of God and put Him to open shame. Hebrews 6:4-6 says, "For in the case of those who have once been enlightened and have tasted of the heavenly gift and have been made partakers of the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come, and then have fallen away, it is impossible to renew them again to repentance, since they again crucify to themselves the Son of God and put Him to open shame." The third one is to go on sinning willfully after receiving the knowledge of the truth. Hebrews 10:26-27 reads, "For if we go on sinning willfully after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a terrifying expectation of judgment and the fury of a fire which will consume the adversaries." 

• 3. The sin of blaspheming the Holy Spirit by opposing, speaking against, and disgracing Him

Throughout the Christian church history, some churches and believers have been condemned as heretical due to minor difference of religious doctrines or personal and unfavorable feeling towards one another. But it has not been in accordance with the teachings of the Bible. That's why we must not bring judgment against churches who do not deny Jesus Christ, believe God the Trinity, and share the same common core biblical beliefs on regeneration, resurrection, second coming of the Lord, the last judgment, and Heaven. In particular, if you carelessly condemn or judge churches or pastors whom God is with, it is to blaspheme the Spirit and it eventually leads to eternal death. We must remember it (Matthew 12:31-32). The sin of blaspheming the Holy Spirit is categorized into three kinds-opposing, speaking against and disgracing the Holy Spirit. Above all, opposing the Spirit is to try to hinder the achievement of God's kingdom by interrupting works of the Holy Spirit. In other words, someone disrupts the work of God out of evilness even though it has been done by the Holy Spirit just because it does not agree with their own thoughts For instance, if some people condemn a church where the works of the Spirit occur as a heretical faction, or they try to thwart a religious rally by spreading false rumor and fabricating documents, such things belong within the scope of opposing the Spirit. If they have done it because of ignorance of the truth, they can be forgiven of it when they repent and turn back. 

However, if they have done such things out of evil attributes such as jealousy and envy in them even after receiving the knowledge of the truth, they can never be forgiven of their sin. The second is to speak against the Spirit? It is acting against the voice of the Holy Spirit through which God is guiding us to do His will, or trying to excommunicate or do harm to churches filled with works of the Holy Spirit by judging and condemning the churches as heretical. It includes the case that someone judges a church where fiery works of the Holy Spirit are occurring, makes a false report, and then is trying to remove it from the denomination that it belongs to. Matthew 12:32 reads, "Whoever speaks a word against the Son of Man, it shall be forgiven him; but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit, it shall not be forgiven him, either in this age or in the age to come." Speaking a word against the Son of Man means defying and disobeying the words of Jesus because they recognize Him merely as a person. Inability to recognize Jesus as the Savior results from the lack of knowledge. 

In this case, they will be forgiven and can be saved only if they thoroughly repent and accept the Lord. For example, if someone committed this kind of sin without knowing the truth or before he received the Holy Spirit, God gives him a chance for repentance and forgiveness. However, those who are opposing and speaking against the Lord while they exactly know who Jesus Christ is and say they believe in Him can never be forgiven for this because it is the same as opposing and speaking against the Holy Spirit and His woks. The last and third is 'disgracing the Spirit'. It is a sin of profaning the Holy Spirit who is the Spirit of God and His divinity (Luke 12:10). If you slander the works of the Holy Spirit, or say His works are of Satan, or insist that something is the work of the Holy Spirit when it is not, it is a sin of disgracing the Holy Spirit. It is also disgracing God's eternal power and divinity. 

Also, perverting the teachings of the Bible by preaching the truth as untruth and claiming what is not true as if it were true, and condemning what is true as if it were untrue are all "disgracing the Holy Spirit." herefore, you must not heedlessly judge and condemn others as heretics by acknowledging the works of the Spirit. If you opposed, spoke against, or disgraced the Spirit due to ignorance in the past, it is time to repent thoroughly and to receive God-given mercy.

Dhambi Zinazoongoza Kwenye Mauti

Usomaji wa Maandiko: Mathayo 12:31–32

Mstari wa Kukariri: Waebrania 10:26

Rejea: Waebrania 6:4–6. Lengo: kuwasaidia waumini kuelewa wazi dhambi zinazoongoza kwenye mauti na zile zisizoongoza kwenye mauti ili wasizitende kamwe dhambi zinazoongoza kwenye mauti. Ardhi ikichafuliwa na kemikali zenye sumu au mionzi inayotokana na taka za viwandani au dawa za kuua wadudu, huchukua muda mrefu sana kupona, au huenda isiwezekane kuirejesha. Hali hiyo inafanana na mashamba ya mioyo ya wanadamu.

Dhambi zinazoongoza kwenye mauti ni kama kemikali hizo zenye sumu. Shamba la moyo likichafuliwa na dhambi hizo, ni vigumu sana kulirejesha katika hali yake ya awali, na inakuwa vigumu kufikia wokovu. Hata hivyo, Mungu anaweza kulirejesha shamba la moyo lililoharibiwa vibaya. Kadiri watu wanavyotubu kikamilifu na kutakasa mioyo yao, ndivyo wanavyoweza kupokea rehema za Mungu. Ikiwa hujalima shamba la moyo wako na umelitia doa, natumaini utabadilika na kulirudisha katika hali ya usafi kwa kutubu kikamilifu na kuondoa kila aina ya uovu.

• 1. Tusiitende dhambi inayohusu wokovu

Tunapotambua kwamba sisi ni wenye dhambi, kutubu, kufungua mioyo yetu na kumkubali Yesu Kristo, Mungu hutupa Roho Mtakatifu kama zawadi. Hii ni kwa sababu tunaweza kuondoa dhambi na kuishi kulingana na mapenzi ya Mungu tu kwa msaada wa Roho Mtakatifu. Lakini baadhi ya watu humpinga Roho na kutenda matendo ya mwili ingawa wamepokea zawadi Yake. “Matendo ya mwili” hapa ni dhambi zinazoonekana kwa nje katika matendo.

Hata kama umemkubali Yesu Kristo na kusamehewa dhambi zako, huenda usipokee wokovu ukiendelea kutenda dhambi mara kwa mara. Kwa nini? Mungu anataka kukusamehe tena na tena. Lakini hata ukiwa umeokolewa, ukitenda dhambi nzito au kuendelea kutenda dhambi kupita kiasi fulani, adui Ibilisi na Shetani atakushtaki mbele za Mungu akisema, “Wanawezaje kuwa watoto wa Mungu?” Mungu ni upendo, lakini pia ni wa haki, kwa hiyo huruhusu mashtaka ya Shetani yanapotolewa kulingana na sheria ya kiroho.

Kwa hiyo, hatupaswi kutenda dhambi ya aina yoyote, na hasa tusitende dhambi zinazoathiri wokovu wetu. Ikiwa tayari umetenda dhambi hizo, tubu mara moja na uache kuzitenda. Si dhambi zote zinazofanana. Miongoni mwa dhambi nyingi dhidi ya Neno la Mungu, nyingine ni nyepesi kiasi kwamba zinaweza kusamehewa mara moja kwa toba; nyingine ni nzito sana na wanaozitenda hawatapokea wokovu.

• 2. Dhambi zinazoongoza kwenye mauti na dhambi zisizoongoza kwenye mauti

Wagalatia 5:19–21 yasema, “Basi matendo ya mwili ni dhahiri, ndiyo haya, uasherati, uchafu, ufisadi, ibada ya sanamu, uchawi, uadui, ugomvi, wivu, hasira, fitina, faraka, uzushi, husuda, ulevi, ulafi, na mambo yanayofanana na hayo; katika hayo nawaambia mapema, kama nilivyokwisha kuwaambia, ya kwamba watu watendao mambo ya jinsi hiyo hawataurithi ufalme wa Mungu.”

Ukiendelea kutenda matendo hayo ya mwili yaliyo dhahiri, huwezi kuokolewa, kama mistari hiyo inavyosema: “Watu watendao mambo ya jinsi hiyo hawataurithi ufalme wa Mungu.” Lakini hata mtu akitenda dhambi zinazomnyima wokovu, akitubu kikamilifu, akaomba bila kukoma na kuziacha, huenda njia ya wokovu ikafunguliwa kwake. Hata mtu akiwa sasa katika dhehebu la uzushi, akijitenga nalo na kutubu, Mungu atamhurumia na kumfungulia njia ya wokovu. Kama ilivyoelezwa, kuna dhambi zisizoongoza kwenye mauti kwa sababu mtu aliyezitenda anaweza kuokolewa kwa kutubu. Lakini kuna dhambi ambazo mtu hawezi kuzitubia kwa sababu wakati mwingine roho ya toba haipewi hata ajitahidi kiasi gani.

Dhambi hizo huitwa “dhambi zinazoongoza kwenye mauti.” Ni nzito mno kusamehewa hata watu wakiomba msamaha. 1 Yohana 5:16 yasema, “Mtu akimwona ndugu yake anatenda dhambi isiyo ya mauti, na aombe, na Mungu atampa uzima kwa ajili yao watendao dhambi isiyo ya mauti. Iko dhambi ya mauti; sisemi kwamba aombe kwa ajili ya hiyo.” Basi tutaje dhambi zinazoongoza kwenye mauti ambazo hatuwezi kuziombea msamaha. Ya kwanza ni kumkufuru Roho Mtakatifu. Mathayo 12:31–32 yasema, “Kila dhambi na kila neno la kufuru watasamehewa wanadamu; ila kumkufuru Roho hawatasamehewa. Naye mtu ye yote atakayenena neno juu ya Mwana wa Adamu atasamehewa; bali yeye atakayenena juu ya Roho Mtakatifu hatasamehewa, katika ulimwengu huu wala katika ule ujao.”

Ya pili ni kumsulubisha tena Mwana wa Mungu kwa nafsi yako na kumfedhehesha hadharani. Waebrania 6:4–6 yasema kwamba haiwezekani kuwaleta tena kwenye toba wale waliokwisha kupewa nuru, kuonja karama ya mbinguni, kufanywa washirika wa Roho Mtakatifu na kuonja Neno zuri la Mungu na nguvu za wakati ujao, kisha wakaanguka, kwa kuwa wanamsulubisha tena Mwana wa Mungu kwa nafsi zao na kumfedhehesha. Ya tatu ni kuendelea kutenda dhambi kwa makusudi baada ya kuipokea elimu ya kweli. Waebrania 10:26–27 yasema, “Maana, kama tukifanya dhambi kusudi baada ya kuupokea ujuzi wa ile kweli, haibaki tena dhabihu kwa ajili ya dhambi; bali kuna kuitazamia hukumu yenye kutisha, na ukali wa moto ulio tayari kuwala wao wapinzani.”

• 3. Dhambi ya kumkufuru Roho Mtakatifu kwa kumpinga, kusema dhidi Yake na kumfedhehesha

Katika historia yote ya kanisa la Kikristo, baadhi ya makanisa na waumini wameitwa wazushi kwa sababu ya tofauti ndogo za mafundisho ya dini au hisia binafsi zisizofaa dhidi ya wenzao. Lakini hilo halikufuata mafundisho ya Biblia. Hatupaswi kuyahukumu makanisa yasiyomkana Yesu Kristo, yanayomwamini Mungu wa Utatu na kushiriki imani kuu za Biblia kuhusu kuzaliwa upya, ufufuo, Kuja kwa Bwana Mara ya Pili, hukumu ya mwisho na Mbinguni. Hasa, kuyahukumu bila tahadhari makanisa au wachungaji walio pamoja na Mungu ni kumkufuru Roho na hatimaye huongoza kwenye mauti ya milele. Tunapaswa kukumbuka hilo (Mathayo 12:31–32). Dhambi ya kumkufuru Roho Mtakatifu ina aina tatu: kumpinga, kusema dhidi Yake na kumfedhehesha.

Kwanza, kumpinga Roho ni kujaribu kuzuia kazi za Roho Mtakatifu zinazotimiza ufalme wa Mungu. Yaani, mtu anazuia kazi ya Mungu kwa uovu ingawa imetendwa na Roho Mtakatifu, kwa sababu tu haipatani na mawazo yake. Kwa mfano, baadhi ya watu huyaita madhehebu ya uzushi makanisa ambamo kazi za Roho hudhihirika, au hujaribu kuzuia mkutano wa injili kwa kueneza uvumi wa uongo na kutengeneza nyaraka za uongo. Mambo hayo ni kumpinga Roho. Ikiwa mtu alifanya hivyo kwa kutokujua kweli, anaweza kusamehewa akitubu na kuacha. Lakini akifanya hivyo kwa tabia mbaya kama wivu na husuda hata baada ya kuijua kweli, dhambi yake haiwezi kusamehewa.

Aina ya pili ni kusema dhidi ya Roho. Hii ni kutenda kinyume na sauti ya Roho Mtakatifu, ambaye Mungu hutumia kutuongoza tutimize mapenzi Yake, au kujaribu kuyafukuza au kuyadhuru makanisa yaliyojaa kazi za Roho Mtakatifu kwa kuyahukumu kuwa ya uzushi. Inatia ndani mtu anayelihukumu kanisa ambamo kazi kuu za Roho Mtakatifu zinatendeka, kutoa taarifa za uongo na kujaribu kuliondoa katika dhehebu lake. Mathayo 12:32 yasema, “Mtu ye yote atakayenena neno juu ya Mwana wa Adamu atasamehewa; bali yeye atakayenena juu ya Roho Mtakatifu hatasamehewa.” Kusema neno dhidi ya Mwana wa Adamu kunamaanisha kupinga na kutotii maneno ya Yesu kwa sababu wanamtambua kuwa mwanadamu tu. Kutoweza kumtambua Yesu kuwa Mwokozi hutokana na kukosa maarifa.

Katika hali hiyo, mtu anaweza kusamehewa na kuokolewa ikiwa tu atatubu kabisa na kumkubali Bwana. Kwa mfano, mtu akitenda dhambi ya namna hii bila kuijua kweli au kabla hajampokea Roho Mtakatifu, Mungu humpa nafasi ya kutubu na kusamehewa. Lakini wale wanaompinga na kusema dhidi ya Bwana huku wakijua wazi Yesu Kristo ni nani hawawezi kusamehewa, kwa sababu kufanya hivyo ni sawa na kumpinga na kusema dhidi ya Roho Mtakatifu na kazi Zake. Aina ya mwisho, ya tatu, ni “kumfedhehesha Roho.” Hii ni dhambi ya kumvunjia heshima Roho Mtakatifu, Roho wa Mungu mwenye uungu Wake (Luka 12:10). Ukisema vibaya kazi za Roho Mtakatifu, ukisema ni kazi za Shetani, au ukisisitiza kwamba jambo fulani ni kazi ya Roho Mtakatifu ilhali sivyo, unamfedhehesha Roho Mtakatifu. Pia unavunjia heshima nguvu na uungu wa Mungu wa milele.

Kupotosha mafundisho ya Biblia kwa kuhubiri kweli kuwa uongo, kudai uongo kuwa kweli na kuihukumu kweli kana kwamba ni uongo pia ni “kumfedhehesha Roho Mtakatifu.” Kwa hiyo, msiwahukumu wala kuwalaumu wengine ovyo kuwa wazushi kwa kutambua kazi za Roho. Ikiwa ulimpinga, ulisema dhidi Yake au ulimfedhehesha Roho kwa kutokujua hapo awali, sasa ni wakati wa kutubu kabisa na kupokea rehema za Mungu.