Q&A: On the Nearness of Death and the Unforgiven Sin

[@jessemeier3447]

"The Unforgivable Sin" vs. "The Unforgiven Sin". That is fantastic. I can't wait to look into that when reading the Word.

[@jakob.conrad]

Hebrews 6 is much more daunting when taken out from the rest of the book. Hebrews contains a wonderful exposition of repenting “as long as it is called today” and a faction of rebelling Israelites having opportunities to turn back (but then hardening their hearts and being swallowed by the Earth). As long as today is called today- as long as you are still living, breathing, and in the present tense- God’s forgiveness and comfort and good gifts are all ripe to be received.

[@itsSven]

thanks so much for answering my question. Blessings.

[@lynnerussell1440]

You both explain everything so well. Thank you

[@jmichaeledgington6045]

"Thank you Pastors!" "God Bless you"!🙏🙏🙏

[@Ben_Hedlund]

Pastor Wolfmueller, Keri sounds like a good Katie to your Luther. She is a woman “to be praised” (Pr. 31:30).

[@chriszugmaier6603]

thank you guys for answering my question it really means alot to me. Gods peace and blessings from Messiah Lutheran in STL MO,,,LCMS :)

[@darylrahfeldt2162]

My doctoral dissertation was on the sin unto death in First John 5. My conclusion was basically in agreement with what tou are saying here. The sin unto dearh is any public sin which the person refuses to confess and ask forgiveness for. This goes along with Jesus' teaching about rhe keys, i e. binding and loosing sins.

[@run4cmt]

The Calvinists believe once saved always saved. I have had this argument with a non-denominational friend. They seemed to have missed this passage along with many on the sacraments.

[@mathete9968]

Indeed they do. I have many papers by Calvinists on this passage. The very best of them acknowledge that this passage points to falling away. They freely admit it. But then they go to elaborate lengths to explain away the passage. And this is no great mystery. The Westminster confession leads then into error. It simply asserts that some never come to true faith and then cites Hebrews 6:4-6. But this is not at all the right use of Scripture. Nor does the Westminster confession in any way bother to expound the text of Hebrews 6:4-6. And the disciples of that confession merely perpetuate the error of that confession. Indeed, Bunyan in his reprobation chart follows the same pattern. The early Baptist sects were also Calvinists and they followed the Westminster confession on this point. So it is no surprise that Bunyan wrests and abuses the text of Hebrews 6:4-6 in exactly the same way. But such practise is a woeful abuse of Scripture and has harmed many souls over the years.

[@LXX-Mercedes]

8:27 we have to remember that the book of Hebrews was written precisely for Hebrew Christians. If after becoming Christian they forfeited their faith and return to Judaism again waiting for their messiah, they certainly had no more hope in the world

[@mathete9968]

Not at all true. I know this is a popular idea but it is refuted by the internal evidence of the book as well as by Apostolic Doctrine elsewhere (Colossians 3:11) Try reading Hebrews 1:1 2 in the light of Deuteronomy 18:15-18 especially as expounded by the Apostle Peter in Act's 3:23 who says "WHOSOEVER", not merely Jews. Then return to Hebrews 2:3, 4 and Hebrews 12:25. These warnings are for all believers. But consider the great passage in Hebrews 12:22-25 which answers Isaiah 2:1, 2. Isaiah spoke of AlL NATIONS coming to Zion in the Last Days , not merely Jews. And Hebrews 11:22-25 gives the fulfilment of this passage in that we have all come to Zion ...and to God ...and to the church ... And to Jesus ...and to the blood of sprinkling etc. And in Hebrews 10:22 the author cites the New Covenant promises regarding Baptism for the Remission of sins found in Ezekiel 36:25. Hebrews 10:22 uses a direct periphrasis for "Baptism" which is for ALL NATIONS (Matthew 28:19). It is true that many of the concepts in Hebrews deal with facets of the obsolete Old Covenant (Hebrews 8:13). But Paul too raises many such elements in his writings. But ALL these things were written for our learning (Romans 15:4) , both Jews and gentiles which believe. It was not until around 200AD, according to surviving evidence, that the title: Προς Εβραίους To the Hebrews was assigned randomly by some scribe of the day. But many have falsely deflected the important truths of Hebrews to the false idea that it is written for Jews and not all Christians.

[@shinzman87]

Are you not doing Spotify anymore?

[@susanfike2713]

Thank you

[@LadySnoozeALot22]

Could you maybe go in depth about what blasphemy of the Holy Spirit isn't? Does this include thoughts against the Holy Spirit, saying something accidental, or misinterpreting the Holy Spirit's actions while exercising discernment? I know some people with tender hearts battle with horrible thoughts against the Holy Spirit and there doesn't seem to be any helpful information online. Is it a one and done thing? And what do you think about some of the interpretations of the blasphemy of the Holy Spirit? Also, Romans chapter 1: 24-31 gives an extra insight to the unforgiven sin and is (or can be help me out) related to the passages in Hebrews chapters 6 and 10 as well as the last passages in 1 John chapter 5. Thank you so much for this episode. Your insight on these texts alleviated some of my concerns. Sorry for firing off a bunch of questions, but I had to get them off my chest. God bless you both and I look forward to your next podcast.

[@adampetersen4795]

I've always speculated that this could be a reference to what happens to angels who really saw all of the glory of God but turned away from Him. They were never allowed back into God's kingdom. Perhaps the writer of Hebrews is pointing the mercy of Christ towards humans in contrast.

[@krbohn101]

very well said!

[@DrMJS]

Is Pr. Packer one you interviewed on TTR a few years ago when he was a transfer seminarian? Or has CTSFW blessedly stolen more than one from Joey Pipa's school?

[@andrewpacker2592]

Wow. Yes, I was interviewed by Evan on TTR while on vicarage.

[@peakperformancetiming2267]

Could you also post links where the commentaries you both mentioned can be found ?

[@andrewpacker2592]

You can download the first one for free.

[@LadySnoozeALot22]

The commentary on Hebrews Pastor Packer mentioned is by Dr. John W. Kleinig . He's got a KZbin channel.

[@I_wrote_it_down]

Dear Pastor! I know that this is not relevant to leave this kind of comment under this video, but just wanted to let you know that your invention, your productivity system called Everbook has changed my life and life of many others. I wish you start posting videos about it again and revived popularity of it! I have watched EVERY video on youtube and reddit which contains Everbook for at least 10 times each I guess, just to find some tips and tricks which would be useful for myself while using it. I really really hope that you will come back to the Everbook channel and start posting again, as this invention really helps people to become organised and improve their life! Wish you all the best and thank you for creating such useful instrument, which fits EVERYONE! P.S. I am from Ukraine so I have used self made everbook for a long time till managed to order the original one from the USA 4 months ago. It was a real challenge to buy and receive it here. But still This is the best purchase I have ever made so far, thank you once again!

[@davidmathews9633]

Please. Pray Im dying from.cancer and disease and I'm not sure what is true or what to believe. I want to know Jesus

[@mathete9968]

Read and mediate on Psalm 130. Remember it is written for you. I understand something of your struggle. You are facing possible death. But this is exactly the time to turn to the Gospel especially as past sins rise up against you. Remember also the words of Psalm 85:2, 3 Thou hast forgiven the iniquity of thy people, thou hast covered all their sin. Selah. Thou hast taken away all thy wrath: thou hast turned thyself from the fierceness of thine anger This is nothing other than the language of PROPITIATION found in Romans 3:24-26.

[@MichaelWittrock-kr9gy]

Rejecting The CHRIST is rejecting the Holy Spirit because they are both the only True GOD!!!

[@diastemarex9697]

What is that Hymn - "...i walk with angels all the way?"

[@jmh7977]

'I Walk in Danger All the Way'

[@michaels7325]

Concordia has some wonderful versions

[@br.m]

I heard another rumor. I heard that pastor Packer doesn't use a chair and just maintains a horse stance for the entirety of these videos.

[@leonceboudreauxwolf]

Doesn't the Bible say that "...Saul sought repentance but didn't find it" or similar to that ?

[@RobertEWaters]

Esau. In context the "repentance" was not repentance for sin, but repentance for selling his birthright to his brother. He was not able to "change his mind" about that.

[@jimflys2]

Go tell ypu brother he was adopted. While at it, Go tell your brother his redemption was by adoption into sonship. (implied)Definitely second rate. WTH?

[@RobertEWaters]

Sad to see that Trump ad on this video.

[@run4cmt]

Do you support BideN? The worse of the two by far.

[@andrewpacker2592]

KZbin picks the ads.

[@gumbyshrimp2606]

The unforgivable sin is getting rebaptized

[@bigniftydude]

No that's incorrect

[@jmh7977]

I've never heard anyone within the Lutheran expression make this claim before, whether it be Pastor, teacher, or layperson, though I won't pretend to be omnipresent or all-knowing - I certainly am not! Maybe it's been alluded to before by famous Lutherans who I haven't read all of their writings yet, but I've yet to encounter this claim anywhere. Is the Word clear on this assertion? If so, I'm very interested in learning where and how. Certainly, pursuing re-baptism may be an act of disobedience depending upon the intent, but unpardonable?

[@gumbyshrimp2606]

@@jmh7977 read Saint John Chrysostom’s commentary on Hebrews 6

[@jmh7977]

​@gumbyshrimp2606 Mmm. I read it (re-read it several times at least), and I think maybe defining terms is best. What exactly constitutes a "rebaptism"? What if it's accidental, i.e. like memory loss? Example: a woman with memory loss and Alzeimers tells a man that she remembers his baptism (she's the only one claiming this). However, he doesn't remember being baptized at all and is anxious to obey Christ's command. Since he believes he was never baptized, does a present baptism constitute a "rebaptism" if the woman was correct all along? It seems this very easily becomes an issue of an intense legality of interpretation of Scripture. However, say there's a man who knows for a fact that he was baptized as an infant, he has still living witnesses, a certificate, evidence, yet he fell away and believes being baptized again will renew his walk with God... is that open disobedience and blasphemy? It seems to me John Chrysostom is referring to the latter (as is Paul in his Epistle to the Hebrews in chapter 6), a willful pursuing toward disobedience. Please let me know if I'm completely off the mark or if I'm understanding.

[@gumbyshrimp2606]

@@jmh7977 Crucifying to themselves, he says, the Son of God afresh, and putting Him to an open shame. What he means is this. Baptism is a Cross, and our old man was crucified with [Him] Romans 6:6, for we were made conformable to the likeness of His death Romans 6:5; Philippians 3:10, and again, we were buried therefore with Him by baptism into death. Romans 6:4 Wherefore, as it is not possible that Christ should be crucified a second time, for that is to put Him to an open shame. For if death shall no more have dominion over Him Romans 6:9, if He rose again, by His resurrection becoming superior to death; if by death He wrestled with and overcame death, and then is crucified again, all those things become a fable and a mockery. He then that baptizes a second time, crucifies Him again.