Dave L.
Member
- Joined
- Aug 15, 2015
- Messages
- 3
What is the difference between plain old "backsliding sin" and the "Unpardonable Sin" as in Pilgrims Progress?
When Christian was being shown around the house by the Interpreter they came to a man in an iron cage. He had sad eyes and looked at the ground. Christian asked the man: What art thou? The man answered, I am what I was not once. I was once a fair and flourishing professor (of faith). I was once fair for the celestial city. I had joy I would get thither. I am now a man of despair. I am shut up in it as in this iron cage. I cannot get out. I left off to watch and be sober. I laid the reigns upon the neck of my lust. I sinned against the light of the word and the goodness of God. I have grieved the spirit. He is gone. I tempted the devil and He has come to me. I have provoked God to anger. and He has left me. I have so hardened my heart that I cannot repent. I have no hope at all. I have crucified Him to myself afresh. I have despised His person. I have despised His righteousness. I have counted His blood an unholy thing. I have done despite to the spirit of grace. Therefore, I have shut myself out of all the promises. There now remains to me nothing but threats, dreadful and fearful threats of certain judgment and fiery indignation which shall devour me. I brought myself into this condition for the lusts, pleasures and profits of this world. The enjoyment of which I did promise myself much delight. But now every one of those things bite me and chew me like a burning worm. God hath denied me repentance. His word gives me no encouragement to believe. Yea, Himself has shut me up in this iron cage. Nor can all the men in the world let me out. Eternal misery.
(All paraphrased of course)
I am a Wesley Evangelical. I believe the "Unpardonable sin" is one of blasphemy against the Holy Spirit. Attributing the works of the Lord to Satan. Reprobate though this man is I do not see where he specifically attributed the works of the Lord to Satan. He certainly fell in with the devil and that is sin by any standard. He also sinned against Christ and God. I see a man who was a reprobate sinner but where is the sin of against the Holy Spirit? Cannot this man also receive pardon? He also sinned against Christs spirit of grace. Maybe I do not understand the puritan thinking of sin held by John Bunyan but to my mind this man could be forgiven if he were only contrite.
When Christian was being shown around the house by the Interpreter they came to a man in an iron cage. He had sad eyes and looked at the ground. Christian asked the man: What art thou? The man answered, I am what I was not once. I was once a fair and flourishing professor (of faith). I was once fair for the celestial city. I had joy I would get thither. I am now a man of despair. I am shut up in it as in this iron cage. I cannot get out. I left off to watch and be sober. I laid the reigns upon the neck of my lust. I sinned against the light of the word and the goodness of God. I have grieved the spirit. He is gone. I tempted the devil and He has come to me. I have provoked God to anger. and He has left me. I have so hardened my heart that I cannot repent. I have no hope at all. I have crucified Him to myself afresh. I have despised His person. I have despised His righteousness. I have counted His blood an unholy thing. I have done despite to the spirit of grace. Therefore, I have shut myself out of all the promises. There now remains to me nothing but threats, dreadful and fearful threats of certain judgment and fiery indignation which shall devour me. I brought myself into this condition for the lusts, pleasures and profits of this world. The enjoyment of which I did promise myself much delight. But now every one of those things bite me and chew me like a burning worm. God hath denied me repentance. His word gives me no encouragement to believe. Yea, Himself has shut me up in this iron cage. Nor can all the men in the world let me out. Eternal misery.
(All paraphrased of course)
I am a Wesley Evangelical. I believe the "Unpardonable sin" is one of blasphemy against the Holy Spirit. Attributing the works of the Lord to Satan. Reprobate though this man is I do not see where he specifically attributed the works of the Lord to Satan. He certainly fell in with the devil and that is sin by any standard. He also sinned against Christ and God. I see a man who was a reprobate sinner but where is the sin of against the Holy Spirit? Cannot this man also receive pardon? He also sinned against Christs spirit of grace. Maybe I do not understand the puritan thinking of sin held by John Bunyan but to my mind this man could be forgiven if he were only contrite.
