Forgiveness & Reconciliation Pt.1

Matthew 12:31-32 

31 [Wherefore I say unto you, All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men: but the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men.] 

32 [And whosoever speaketh a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but whosoever speaketh against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, neither in the world to come.] 

There is a difference against blasphemy and blasphemy against the Holy Ghost. 

1 Timothy 1:12-13  

12 [And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me, for that he counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry;] 

13 [Who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious: but I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief.] 

Paul admitted that he himself was once a blasphemer, but still obtained mercy and forgiveness. 

Paul at one time did not believe on Christ. Even though he knew the law, Christ was not revealed to him until the appointed time. 

Acts 8:1 [And Saul was consenting unto his death. And at that time there was a great persecution against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judaea and Samaria, except the apostles.] 

Paul was consented to the death of Stefan who was killed (Paul being injurious). 

Acts 9:1-2  

[And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest,] 

[And desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem.] 

It did not matter whether it was a man or woman, the followers of Christ would be imprisoned or killed. 

Paul spoke against Christ’s mission to raise up the twelve tribes of Israel. 

Acts 9:13-16 

13 [Then Ananias answered, Lord, I have heard by many of this man, how much evil he hath done to thy saints at Jerusalem:] 

Saul’s (later to become Paul) reputation was known among the believers of Christ. 

Saints – Psalms 148:14 [He also exalteth the horn of his people, the praise of all his saints; even of the children of Israel, a people near unto him. Praise ye the LORD.] 

14 [And here he hath authority from the chief priests to bind all that call on thy name.] 

Paul was given the power to take those saints to prison. 

15 [But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel:] 

16 [For I will shew him how great things he must suffer for my name's sake.] 

Paul was forgiven, but he was also going to suffer greatly for the gospel. 

Forgiveness does not mean you escape judgment for your sins. There is a cause and effect for everything which can be either good or bad. We do not have freedom to do whatever we want or think that is best. 

Matthew 12:31 

31 [Wherefore I say unto you, All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men: but the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men.] 

John 14:15-17 [What is the Holy Ghost] 

15 [If ye love me, keep my commandments.] 

16 [And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;] 

Christ knew that there will come a time where he would no longer be among the people, but let them know that the Father would not leave them without help. 

17 [Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.] 

Truth – Psalms 119:142 [Thy righteousness is an everlasting righteousness, and thy law is the truth.] 

1 John 3:24 [And he that keepeth his commandments dwelleth in him, and he in him. And hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he hath given us.] 

The Spirit = Him (Christ), the laws, and the Holy Ghost (all one and the same) 

John 14:18 [I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.] 

Hebrews 10:7 [Then said I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me,) to do thy will, O God.] 

The Bible is Jesus Christ in word form. The book is spiritual. A regular man or woman cannot truly understand the book and Israel are not regular people. The things that are written in the bible are brought to life through prophecy. 

John 14:26 [But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.] 

The Cmoforter = Christ = Holy Ghost 

John 1:14 [And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.] 

The words came to us in the form of Christ. Christ was the manifestation of all God’s wisdom in the book. It is because of this that even though he went back to the Father, Christ did not leave us. 

Comfort – Revelation 13:10 [He that leadeth into captivity shall go into captivity: he that killeth with the sword must be killed with the sword. Here is the patience and the faith of the saints.] 

Matthew 12:31 [Wherefore I say unto you, All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men: but the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men.] 

Luke 22:54-61 

54 [Then took they him, and led him, and brought him into the high priest's house. And Peter followed afar off.] 

55 [And when they had kindled a fire in the midst of the hall, and were set down together, Peter sat down among them.] 

56 [But a certain maid beheld him as he sat by the fire, and earnestly looked upon him, and said, This man was also with him.] 

57 [And he denied him, saying, Woman, I know him not.] 

Peter denied that he knew Christ. 

58 [And after a little while another saw him, and said, Thou art also of them. And Peter said, Man, I am not.] 

59 [And about the space of one hour after another confidently affirmed, saying, Of a truth this fellow also was with him: for he is a Galilaean.] 

60 [And Peter said, Man, I know not what thou sayest. And immediately, while he yet spake, the cock crew.] 

John 13:38 [Jesus answered him, Wilt thou lay down thy life for my sake? Verily, verily, I say unto thee, The cock shall not crow, till thou hast denied me thrice.] 

61 [And the Lord turned, and looked upon Peter. And Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how he had said unto him, Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice.] 

Matthew 26:35 [Peter said unto him, Though I should die with thee, yet will I not deny thee. Likewise also said all the disciples.] 

Peter told Christ that he would never deny Him, but ended up denying him three times. 

Matthew 26:69-75  

69 [Now Peter sat without in the palace: and a damsel came unto him, saying, Thou also wast with Jesus of Galilee.] 

70 [But he denied before them all, saying, I know not what thou sayest.] 

71 [And when he was gone out into the porch, another maid saw him, and said unto them that were there, This fellow was also with Jesus of Nazareth.] 

72 [And again he denied with an oath, I do not know the man.] 

Peter swore that he did not know Christ. 

73 [And after a while came unto him they that stood by, and said to Peter, Surely thou also art one of them; for thy speech bewrayeth thee.] 

Bewray (AV1611) – BEWRA'Y, v.t. beray. To disclose perfidiously; to betray; to show or make visible. 

74 [Then began he to curse and to swear, saying, I know not the man. And immediately the cock crew.] 

Even though Peter told Christ he would die with Him, when fear came on him, his faith weakened. 

Matthew 10:32-33 [What did Christ say about denying Him] 

32 [Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven.] 

33 [But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven.] 

Based on this scripture, Peter would be denied before the Father for denying Christ. It is because he repented that he wasn’t denied. 

Luke 22:61-62  

61 [And the Lord turned, and looked upon Peter. And Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how he had said unto him, Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice.] 

62 [And Peter went out, and wept bitterly.] 

Peter had a contrite and broken spirit because of what he had just done. 

Contrite (Merriam Webster) – feeling or showing sorrow and remorse for improper or objectionable behavior, actions, etc. Synonyms: regret, sorry, repentant 

Psalms 51:16-17 [16 For thou desirest not sacrifice; else would I give it: thou delightest not in burnt offering. 17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.] 

Peter was forgiven, but it did not change that he denied Christ. He was still left to do the work. 

2 Peter 1:10-18 

10 [Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall:] 

11 [For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.] 

12 [Wherefore I will not be negligent to put you always in remembrance of these things, though ye know them, and be established in the present truth.] 

13 [Yea, I think it meet, as long as I am in this tabernacle, to stir you up by putting you in remembrance;] 

14 [Knowing that shortly I must put off this my tabernacle, even as our Lord Jesus Christ hath shewed me.] 

Peter understood he had to die just as Christ had showed him. 

15 [Moreover I will endeavour that ye may be able after my decease to have these things always in remembrance.] 

Both Peter and Paul knew that they were going to die for preaching the Gospel of Christ. 

There is forgiveness, mercy, and reconciliation, but judgment must always come to pass. 

16 [For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty.] 

17 [For he received from God the Father honour and glory, when there came such a voice to him from the excellent glory, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.] 

18 [And this voice which came from heaven we heard, when we were with him in the holy mount.] 

John 13:36-38 

36 [Simon Peter said unto him, Lord, whither goest thou? Jesus answered him, Whither I go, thou canst not follow me now; but thou shalt follow me afterwards.] 

37 [Peter said unto him, Lord, why cannot I follow thee now? I will lay down my life for thy sake.] 

38 [Jesus answered him, Wilt thou lay down thy life for my sake? Verily, verily, I say unto thee, The cock shall not crow, till thou hast denied me thrice.] 

Even though Peter believed his faith was strong, Christ knew that he has not gotten to that point yet to truly lay down his life for Christ. 

Luke 22:31-32  

31 [And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat:] 

32 [But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.] 

Christ is letting Peter know that he is not truly commited to laying down his life for the gospel. Peter has zeal, but at this point his faith is not able to back it up. This is proven because it came to the point that Peter even swore that he was not with Christ. 

Matthew 12:36 [But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.] 

We have to be mindful about everything that comes out of our mouths. There is forgiveness but there will always be a judgment that follows. 

Matthew 23:23 [Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.] 

If we desire order, there must always be judgment and then mercy. Without judgment there is disorder. It is a spirit of Christianity when you only seek for mercy and push judgment aside. 

Matthew 12:27-34 

27 [And if I by Beelzebub cast out devils, by whom do your children cast them out? therefore they shall be your judges.] 

If Christ is using the power of Satan to cast out devils, they He is asking who gives them power to cast out the devils. 

28 [But if I cast out devils by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God is come unto you.] 

You cannot cast out devils with their own power. There is no way to defeat evil with evil. 

Matthew 12:25-26 [25 And Jesus knew their thoughts, and said unto them, Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand: 26 And if Satan cast out Satan, he is divided against himself; how shall then his kingdom stand?] 

Our job is to cast the devils out of our people. 

29 [Or else how can one enter into a strong man's house, and spoil his goods, except he first bind the strong man? and then he will spoil his house.] 

There is no way that someone can rob your home unless you are bound and unable to fight them off. Spiritually if you are bound by your sins, you will be unable to fight off the evil that will enter into your spirit. 

Proverbs 5:22 [His own iniquities shall take the wicked himself, and he shall be holden with the cords of his sins.] 

To bind a strong man you have to get him caught up in his sins. 

Ephesians 6:10-  

10 [Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.] 

11 [Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.] 

We must put on all the commandments of God in order to resist and fight against the tricks of the devil. The devil will try to get us to allow our sins to wear our spirit down. 

12 [For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.] 

This whole place is evil and we must train in order to spiritually discern everything that could potentially bind us with sin. Everyone is different so you must examine yourself. Some struggle with drugs, some women, and even some with hatred against their brother. Find what your hangup is and avoid it. 

If you are bound in you sins, evil has free reign to destroy you. 

30 [He that is not with me is against me; and he that gathereth not with me scattereth abroad.] 

Christ has made it clear that you are either with Him in doing this mission or against Him. 

Saul was against the raising up of the twelve tribes of Israel at one point before he was converted. Christ forgave Paul, but because judgment has to go out, he had to suffer for the gospel. 

31 [Wherefore I say unto you, All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men: but the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men.] 

32 [And whosoever speaketh a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but whosoever speaketh against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, neither in the world to come.] 

Both Peter and Paul spoke against the Son of man (Christ). 

However, there is not any forgiveness for speaking against the Holy Ghost. 

Revelations 16:7-11 [Blaspheming against the Holy Ghost] 

7 [And I heard another out of the altar say, Even so, Lord God Almighty, true and righteous are thy judgments.] 

8 [And the fourth angel poured out his vial upon the sun; and power was given unto him to scorch men with fire.] 

9 [And men were scorched with great heat, and blasphemed the name of God, which hath power over these plagues: and they repented not to give him glory.] 

Even while being judged, they blasphemed the name of God. When Isaiah warned us of the judgement we would not listen and it came to pass during the time of Jeremiah. Even after that judgment which included eating our children, starvation, and death, while in Babylon with Ezekiel, Israel still refused to repent. 

Ezekiel 12:2 [Son of man, thou dwellest in the midst of a rebellious house, which have eyes to see, and see not; they have ears to hear, and hear not: for they are a rebellious house.] 

Isaiah 30:9 [That this is a rebellious people, lying children, children that will not hear the law of the LORD:] 

When you are bound in your sins and refuse to repent, even in judgment, is when you cannot be forgiven (blaspheme against the Holy Ghost). 

1 Peter 2:8 [And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed.] 

You stumble at the word because you are bound in your sin. Those that refuse to get themselves right are appointed to death. 

10 [And the fifth angel poured out his vial upon the seat of the beast; and his kingdom was full of darkness; and they gnawed their tongues for pain,] 

11 [And blasphemed the God of heaven because of their pains and their sores, and repented not of their deeds.] 

33 [Either make the tree good, and his fruit good; or else make the tree corrupt, and his fruit corrupt: for the tree is known by his fruit.] 

Peter blasphemed against the Son of man, repented, and then went out to do the work. Your fruits are an indication of what type of person you are. 

1 John 3:7-9  

7 [Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous.] 

Do not get fooled by what anyone tells you. You have to watch what they do because just as a righteous person will do righteousness, and evil person will do evil. 

8 [He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.] 

9 [Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.] 

Who ever is born of God will not willfully sin. We cannot just allow ourselves to succumb to sin without the understanding that there will always be a judgment that comes from it. 

Genesis 3:17-24  

17 [And unto Adam he said, Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it: cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life;] 

18 [Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee; and thou shalt eat the herb of the field;] 

19 [In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.] 

God’s judgment on Adam was because he listened to his wife to sin, he would now have to work for everything until death. 

20 [And Adam called his wife's name Eve; because she was the mother of all living.] 

21 [Unto Adam also and to his wife did the LORD God make coats of skins, and clothed them.] 

22 [And the LORD God said, Behold, the man is become as one of us, to know good and evil: and now, lest he put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live for ever:] 

We were not made to learn evil. 

Ecclesiastes 7:29 [Lo, this only have I found, that God hath made man upright; but they have sought out many inventions.] 

God wanted Adam to receive the judgment. 

2 Esdras 2:12-13  

12 [They shall have the tree of life for an ointment of sweet savour; they shall neither labour, nor be weary.] 

13 [Go, and ye shall receive: pray for few days unto you, that they may be shortened: the kingdom is already prepared for you: watch.] 

The tree of life is the access to the kingdom that is already prepared for us. 

2 Esdras 8:52-54 

52 [For unto you is paradise opened, the tree of life is planted, the time to come is prepared, plenteousness is made ready, a city is builded, and rest is allowed, yea, perfect goodness and wisdom.] 

53 [The root of evil is sealed up from you, weakness and the moth is hid from you, and corruption is fled into hell to be forgotten:] 

54 [Sorrows are passed, and in the end is shewed the treasure of immortality.] 

Adam will now have to work and die for his sins. 

23 [Therefore the LORD God sent him forth from the garden of Eden, to till the ground from whence he was taken.] 

24 [So he drove out the man; and he placed at the east of the garden of Eden Cherubims, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life.] 

The epicenter of the garden of Eden was Jerusalem. They ended in the area where Abraham would be eventually. 

From that sin that was committed in the beginning, we are here where we are now. 

34 [O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.]