A hardened heart

Comment

Comment by brandon soileau on July 19, 2012 at 11:12pm

Thank you, Char. I am going to browse this comment you posted at least a few-times. You have really put things into perspective for me with your post. For sometime now, I have been asking the same questions, as well as researching them, but tonight I have received some closure. I was always under the impression from reading the Bible, and talking to other Christians, that the things of God, to include change, were immediate, and that is why I felt like I wasn't truly saved, was because I wasn't giving these things time to surface in my life. Well said, and I appreciate all the feedback I have received on this blog. 

Comment by albert culmer on July 18, 2012 at 4:21pm

Submission to God

According to the Bible, the greatest sin is pride. Satan fell because of it. Adam and Eve were kicked out of the garden because of it. And you can see it in David, Moses and many other Bible personalities.

Jesus is telling us that to be one with Christ we have to lose our pride, our self and be willing to be Christlike - to be submitted to Christ in all our ways. This is best highlighted I think by Gal 5 - the fruit of the spirit. The Bible says to evidence these values and behaviors in all our actions - love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, gentleness, goodness, faithfulness and self control.
These are not natural behaviors. Our natural fleshly choice is to be self centered. To be self absorbed. To want our own way and to not consider the feelings or needs of others. But the Bible says that you will know them by their fruits. So a true believer and follower of Jesus Christ will change their fleshly behaviors into fruit. They will learn to be peaceful and loving. They will be patient and joyful. They will be kind and gentle and good. They will be faithful and have self control. When this happens, these people will draw others to them and they will ask why are you like you are? You are different than other people I know.

Having lost yourself and having taken on the mantle of Christ, you then can be a living witness to the fact Jesus changes lives. And it is the changing of lives that testifies to the reality of Jesus Christ.

Jesus mentions a sin that is unforgivable in Matt. 12:31-32 and calls it blasphemy of the Holy Spirit. But what exactly is this unforgivable sin?

Any sin that is repented is forgiven. Blaspheming the Holy Spirit means ejecting the Holy Spirit from your life, refusing His influence and guidance. Since the Holy Spirit is the source of the grace of repentence, you cannot repent while you keep Him out of your life, which is why this sin is unforgivable. (Jn. 16:8-9).

Therefore, I believe that those who blaspheme the Holy Spirit are those who consciously and perhaps repeatedly reject Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior by faith, and that they will not even be concerned about it. On the contrary, I find that those who have worried about being guilty of this sin are the ones who already received.

Comment by brandon soileau on July 18, 2012 at 3:20pm

@ Char: I was reading a book last-night, and in this book was a quote from Billy Graham, saying that only a true christian would feel sorrow for their sins. The problem is that I don't feel sorrow for hurting God when I sin, I feel nothing. The only grief I feel is that I know my actions will send me to Hell. I am so tired of haunting me. I just want a relationship with God like every christian proclaims that they have. I feel like its too late, and that God has hardened my heart like he did Pharaoh, until eventually I will die from my own stubbornness. 

Comment by Rita Cullimore on July 18, 2012 at 8:58am

Brandon,

     ^5     iTrust in the Lord with all your heart,

and ^jdo not lean on your own understanding.

     ⁶     In all your ways ^kacknowledge him,

and he ^lwill make straight your paths.

     ^7     mBe not wise in your own eyes;

ⁿfear the Lord, and turn away from evil.

     ⁸     It will be ^ohealing to your flesh²

and ^prefreshment³ to your bones.

ⁱ Ps. 37:3, 5

^j [Jer. 9:23]

^k 1 Chr. 28:9

^l [Ps. 73:24]

^m [Rom. 12:16]; See ch. 12:15

ⁿ Job 1:1; 28:28

^o [ch. 4:22]

² Hebrew navel

^p See Job 21:24

³ Or medicine

The Holy Bible : English Standard Version. Wheaton : Standard Bible Society, 2001, S. Pr 3:8

 

These verses have helped me more times than I can count...when I actually practice what they say. I agree with Char...Satan is playing mind games with you. You have a choice..believe him or ....believe God.

 

Blessings to you as you seek the Lord with all of your heart.....

Rita