Questions | The Nations For Christ | Stephen Baker

Have I Committed the "Unpardonable Sin?"

Thu, 04 Oct 2007 11:37:25 -0400

Some people think that they have committed the “Unpardonable Sin,” and that they cannot, therefore, be saved or forgiven. Here is what Jesus said about this sin in Mark 3:28-30. “Verily I say unto you, All sins shall be forgiven unto the sons of men, and blasphemies wherewith soever they shall blaspheme: But he that shall blaspheme against the Holy Ghost hath never forgiveness, but is in danger of eternal damnation: Because they said, He hath an unclean spirit.”

The Jewish religious leaders accused Jesus of using the power of the Devil to cast out demons. That was quite an accusation, coming from the group of people who had Christ crucified! He warned them that one who blasphemed, (spoke disrespectfully of) the Holy Ghost, would never have forgiveness, but be in danger of Hell. This is what we call the Unpardonable Sin.

Some preachers teach that a person who has committed this sin can beg and plead with God for forgiveness, but He will refuse to hear. A friend of mine relayed to me the story of a young woman who was told by her pastor that she could not be saved. She was convinced that what he had said to her was true. Christians at another church tried for a year to convince her that she could simply believe in Jesus Christ and be forgiven. Finally, she realized that they were right, and that she could be saved from her sins. She believed in Jesus Christ as her personal Savior, and now has the assurance that she is forgiven!

The main purpose of this chapter is to show you that there is hope for people who believe that their sins are unpardonable. There are several reasons why a person who believes that he or she has committed the Unpardonable Sin probably has not.

1. The Bible never teaches that God will refuse to forgive anyone who wants forgiveness.

“And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.” (Revelation 22:17)

Salvation is compared, in this verse, to water. It is free. Anyone who wants it can take it. It quenches man's thirst for forgiveness, and eternal life. “Whosoever will” is invited to take salvation freely. God's Word never teaches that a sinner can beg for salvation, but that the Lord will refuse to hear, or to save.

“The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.” (2 Peter 3:9)

God never wants to send sinners to Hell. He is “...not willing that any should perish...” The Lord Jesus Christ wants you to come to repentance and be saved. If you want forgiveness, God wants to give it to you! The idea that God has condemned you to Hell, with no chance to be saved because of your sin, is not Biblical.

“Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound:” (Romans 5:20)

The more sin there is, the more grace there is. If you have committed a very great sin, there is greater grace to forgive your sin. “...Where sin abounded, grace did much more abound.”

Some use these verses from Hebrews to prove that God will refuse to save a sinner who desires to repent.

“Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled; Lest there be any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright. For ye know how that afterward, when he would have inherited the blessing, he was rejected: for he found no place of repentance, though he sought it carefully with tears.” (Hebrews 12:15-17)

The problem is that this has nothing to do with salvation. Esau was Jacob's brother. Jacob persuaded Esau to sell his birthright (a special privilege of the first-born son) to him for a bowl of soup. Later, Esau wanted his father to give him the blessing that the first-born son should have received. Jacob tricked their father, Isaac, into giving him the blessing instead of Esau. Esau had lost his birthright and blessing. He cried and begged for it, but he could not have it. He could not repent, that is, he couldn't go back and undo what had been done. This has nothing to do with Esau's salvation. It has to do with a birthright and a blessing.

2. Why would God give you a desire to be forgiven if He did not want to forgive you?

Matthew Henry, the great Puritan Bible commentator wrote,

“But humble and conscientious believers at times are tempted to think they have committed the Unpardonable Sin, while those who have come the nearest to it, seldom have any fear about it. We may be sure that those who indeed repent and believe the gospel, have not committed this sin, or any other of the same kind; for repentance and faith are the special gifts of God, which he would not bestow on any man, if he were determined never to pardon him; and those who fear they have committed this sin, give a good sign that they have not. The trembling, contrite sinner, has the witness in himself that this is not his case.”

Mr. Henry's argument is excellent here. Repentance and faith are gifts of God. If God did not want to forgive you, why would He give you a desire to repent and believe in Jesus Christ? Does God play games with us? Does He invite men and women to receive Christ as Savior and then refuse to save them when they come to Christ? Jesus said, “All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.” (John 6:37) Jesus Christ will not reject you if you will come to Him for salvation. He will not cast you out once you are saved either!

3. If you are saved, then you cannot commit the Unpardonable Sin because all of your sins are already pardoned.

“To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins.” (Acts 10:43)

Because you have believed in Jesus Christ as Savior, you have received remission, that is, forgiveness, of your sins. This verse leaves no sin out. It does not say that you will receive remission of some of your sins, or all sins but one. It says, plainly, that you will receive remission of sins.

“Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:” (Romans 5:1)

The man, woman, boy or girl, who believes in Jesus Christ as Savior, is justified in the sight of God. To be justified means that I am declared to be perfectly righteousness in God's eyes. The reason for this is because, when I believe in Jesus Christ, the righteousness of the Lord is put on my account in Heaven, and my sins are taken away. A justified man cannot commit a sin that God will not forgive, because he already has received forgiveness of all sin, and been declared perfectly righteous in the sight of God!

So, What Is The Unpardonable Sin?

That's a good question. Let me begin by saying that the Bible is very clear that the Unpardonable Sin is blasphemy against the Holy Spirit. It is a sin, directly against the Spirit of God, that involves some sort of irreverence towards Him. There is no doubt about what the Unpardonable Sin is. The question is, what specifically is blasphemy against the Holy Spirit? Here are some of the possibilities:

1. Attributing the works of the Holy Spirit to Satan.

Jesus said, “Verily I say unto you, All sins shall be forgiven unto the sons of men, and blasphemies wherewith soever they shall blaspheme: But he that shall blaspheme against the Holy Ghost hath never forgiveness, but is in danger of eternal damnation: Because they said, He hath an unclean spirit.” (Mark 3:28-30) The Bible makes it plain that the reason the Lord Jesus Christ gave this warning about the Unpardonable Sin was because the scribes accused Him of being possessed with a devil. He had done His works through the power of the Holy Spirit, and they said that He had done them through the power of Satan.

“And the scribes which came down from Jerusalem said, He hath Beelzebub, and by the prince of the devils casteth he out devils. And he called them unto him, and said unto them in parables, How can Satan cast out Satan? And if a kingdom be divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. And if a house be divided against itself, that house cannot stand. And if Satan rise up against himself, and be divided, he cannot stand, but hath an end.” (Mark 3:22-26)

Jesus made a very important point here. Their arguments were foolish, because if Satan were to work against himself, his kingdom would collapse. They claimed that Jesus did His miracles through demonic power. Jesus proved that He did them through Divine power. So, the Lord warned these men about blasphemy against the Holy Ghost because of what they said. Since they attributed the work of the Holy Spirit to the Devil, many commentators conclude that the Unpardonable Sin is crediting Satan for the works of the Spirit of God.

2. Attributing the works of the Holy Spirit to Satan during the time when Jesus Christ was on earth.

This is a slight variation on the view that we just read about. The Unpardonable Sin could have happened only while Jesus Christ was on earth, according to this view, because the men saw Jesus casting out demons; they attributed His ability to do this to the power of Satan; and this unique situation cannot take place today, because Jesus Christ is not physically here casting out demons.

3. Resisting the Holy Spirit until He stops convicting.

According to this interpretation, the Unpardonable Sin happens when a sinner refuses the Holy Spirit's conviction until God permanently stops convicting. The Bible teaches that the Holy Spirit of God shows unbelieving sinners that they are lost, and that they need to be saved by faith in Jesus Christ. This is called conviction. Without conviction, a sinner would never realize that he or she needed Jesus Christ as Savior. According to this view, there may come a time in a person's life when, if they resist the Holy Ghost long enough, He will refuse to attempt to convince them any further. When this happens, a sinner will lose all desire to be saved. No amount of preaching or persuading can get such a person to believe in Jesus Christ. Scriptures that are used to try to support this view include Genesis 6:3 and Hebrews 6.

Can My Sin Be Forgiven?

No sin can be pardoned until the sinner wants forgiveness. Dr. John R. Rice wrote, “Note these truths about the unpardonable sin: (1) It is always committed only by an unsaved person, and always concerns accepting or rejecting Christ. (2) No Christian can commit it. (3) This sin does not change Christ and His offer of mercy. It changes the sinner. One who wants to be saved has not committed this sin. he can be saved.”1

In conclusion, the Unpardonable Sin is blasphemy against the Holy Spirit. There are different opinions as to what exactly this blasphemy is, but no matter what you believe the Bible teaches about the Unpardonable Sin, one thing is clear. If a person wants to be saved, God will save them. No matter what sins you have committed, or how far you have gone, there is hope for you, if you will believe on the Lord Jesus Christ!

1.From Dr. Rice’s note on Hebrews 6:4, page 1312 in the Rice Reference Bible.

Can a Saved Person Lose their Salvation?

Thu, 04 Oct 2007 11:27:56 -0400

Jesus said, “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand. I and my Father are one.” (John 10:27-30) Believers in Jesus Christ are compared to sheep in the Bible. They follow Christ in their hearts like sheep follow the shepherd. Jesus says that He gives those who believe in Him eternal life. “...I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish...” We do not give ourselves eternal life. Christ gives it to us. It is not our good works that earn salvation. It is Christ's death on the cross!

The Lord Jesus also says, “...and they shall never perish...” If Jesus Christ has given you eternal life, you will never perish in Hell. This is the same as God's promise in John 3:16. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” Simple faith in Jesus Christ brings eternal salvation to the sinner.

Everlasting life is not just simply existing forever. Everyone will exist forever somewhere. Those who do not believe in Jesus Christ as Savior are described by the Word of God as being spiritually dead. Death, in the Bible, means separation. Spiritually dead sinners are separated from God. When they die, they will exist forever, separated from God in Hell. When we put our faith in Jesus Christ as Savior, He gives us spiritual life.

“And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins;” (Ephesians 2:1)

“Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.” (John 5:24)

“And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life. These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.” (1 John 5:11-13)

Eternal life is God's life. It is life with God that lasts forever and it is the privilege of knowing God forever. “And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.” (John 17:3)

“And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.” No man can pluck you out of the Lord Jesus Christ's hand! “Well,” you say. “I can pluck my self out of God's hand!” You are a man, aren't you? Some lady reading this might say, “What about me?” Well, the word “man” in this verse means “mankind” so it is talking about a man or woman. If you are a human being, you cannot pluck yourself out of Jesus' hand. That is what the Bible says, “...neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.”

People do not want to believe that they will be saved forever because it doesn't make sense. Despite the hundreds of clear verses that teach that believers in Jesus Christ have everlasting life with God, men and women still don't believe it. We must remember, though, that just because a thing doesn't make sense to our finite, human minds, that doesn't mean that it doesn't make sense to God! “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.” (Isaiah 55:8, 9)

Also, some Christians have the tendency to dismiss hundreds of plain verses that teach that salvation is eternal, for a few that seem to indicate that salvation can be lost. What you believe about this issue has more than likely been shaped by what you were taught when you were growing up, and what kind of church you attend. In the end, we have to remember that the Bible is the suprememe authority. Tradition, or even someone whom we love, trust and have confidence in, cannot override the authority of Scripture. In 2 Peter 2:16-21, Peter tells us that he and other disciples were eyewitnesses of the glory of Jesus Christ. He tells us that they heard, with their own ears, the voice of God. Yet, he says, “We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts: Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.” (2 Peter 1:19, 20) Peter saw and heard Jesus Christ, but he said that the “more sure word of prophecy” was Scripture. If Peter, one of Jesus' disciples, viewed the Bible as being more authoritative than his own eyes and ears, then maybe we should look at it in the same way. Here are some of the most popular verses that have been used to teach that salvation can be lost, and what the Bible actually says.

What If I Don't Endure To The End?

“And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake: but he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.” (Mark 13:13)

If you do not endure to the end, you will not be saved (if you miss the Rapture and are living on earth during the Tribulation). Of course, no Christian will miss the Rapture or be left here for the Tribulation. This verse is talking about people who live during the Tribulation time, enduring till the end of it. Those who are alive when it is all over will be saved from physical death, and will enter the kingdom of the Lord Jesus Christ alive. With Mark 13:13, as with all other verses that you study, “context is king.” Never take a verse out of context to try to prove a point. Knowing the verses that come before and after the verse that you are studying, and knowing what the chapter you are reading is talking about, is helpful in finding out the context. If Mark 13:13 is studied in context, “enduring to the end to be saved” is clearly talking about the time of the Tribulation, not today. We must also remember that the word, “saved” in the Bible doesn't always refer to saving a person's soul. For instance, Matthew 24:22 says, “And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved...” In this verse, as in Mark 13:13, “saved” refers to salvation of the flesh (or life), not the soul.

I Have Fallen From Grace.

“Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace.” (Galatians 5:4)

It would be a terrible thing for Christ to have no effect on our lives! That is what the first part of this verse is saying. “Christ is become of no effect unto you...” It is talking to a particular group of people. These are not people who get drunk or use drugs or commit other sins. The people here who have “fallen from grace” are those who are “justified by the law.” This verse comes from the book of Galatians which was written to Christians who had been deceived into thinking that they needed more than Jesus Christ for salvation and the Christian life. They were convinced that they also needed the laws of the Old Testament. To be “justified by the law” means that you are trying to keep the Ten Commandments and live according to the Old Testament so that God will count you as righteousness in His sight. If you are not trusting in the Old Testament Law, but rather, your faith is in Jesus Christ, then you are in no danger of falling from grace.

A person who chooses the Old Testament Law over faith in Jesus Christ has hit “rock bottom” spiritually. If I were to leave the high ground of living the Christian life by grace, to try to live it in the basement of the Law, then I would have fallen. It is not that the people to whom Paul was writing wanted to reject Jesus Christ. They simply wanted to add Old Testament Law to faith in Him. In Christ is love, hope and peace. In the Law is fear, burden and judgment. Therefore, a person who choses the Law over, or in addition to Christ, has “fallen from grace.” If you are in this situation, turn to God and start trusting in Jesus Christ alone. God will pick you back up and forgive you. You can start living by grace alone once again.

Impossible To Repent?

“For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame.” (Hebrews 6:4-6)

These verses in the book of Hebrews are given as a hypothetical situation. If a saved person fell away from faith in Jesus Christ, rejected Christianity, and returned to the Old Testament Law, it would be impossible to renew them to a place of repentance. Notice, that the writer of Hebrews never says that His readers have done this. “But, beloved, we are persuaded better things of you, and things that accompany salvation, though we thus speak.” (Hebrews 6:9) In other words, he is saying, “Even though we are speaking about people who fall from faith in Christ and cannot repent, we are not talking about you.”

“Falling away” is a situation that will never happen to you if you are a true believer in Jesus Christ. Believers will struggle with doubt. They may even be led astray by false teachers, as the Christians to whom Paul wrote the book of Galatians had been. But, they will never, in their hearts, reject Christianity and Jesus Christ. Listen to what the author of Hebrews says about himself and his readers. “But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul.” (Hebrews 10:39) True believers do not “draw back unto perdition (Hell).” True believers believe in Jesus Christ “to the saving of the soul.”

I could say that it would be impossible for a man, who jumped out of an airplane without a parachute, not to get hurt or die. As true as that might be, I am not about to jump out of a plane without a parachute. In fact, I have no intention of jumping out of an airplane with a parachute! The fact that I would break my body if I did jump without a parachute does, however, serve to remind me that if I ever do jump, I should check and double-check the parachute! The point here is this. A believer will never fall away from faith in Christ. But, when we are tempted to doubt, this hypothetical situation from Hebrews reminds us that the ultimate end of unbelief would be certain destruction. That, along with the promises that God makes to us, causes us to trust in Jesus Christ for our soul's salvation until the day that we go home to be with the Lord!

(This article is part of the book: HOPE: God's Shelter in the Storm's of Life. You can download the book in PDF format here.)

Is There Any Hope for Depression?

Thu, 04 Oct 2007 00:52:30 -0400

Yes, absolutely! There is hope for depression. Here is a simple, Biblical plan from the book of Philippians that will help you to live a happy, hope-filled life.

1. Let Go Of The Past

“Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 3:13, 14)

A good deal of depression is caused by worry. We worry about the past, and about potential things that can go wrong in the future. The Apostle Paul certainly had plenty in his past he could have worried about. He had persecuted Christians and blasphemed Jesus Christ. He was a wicked man before he was saved on the road to Damascus. Yet, Paul said, “...this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind...” Paul chose to forget the past. He saw Jesus Christ as his goal and He looked forward to Him. Did you fail at something yesterday? Why live your life today dwelling on it? Look forward to Jesus Christ and follow Him. Did you confess a sin to the Lord yesterday and receive forgiveness for it? Why bring it back up today? Every day, have a fresh start, forgetting the past and reaching forward to the future. The future for the Christian couldn't be better. Our future is Jesus Christ!

2. Pray About The Future

“Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:6, 7)

God's peace passes all understanding. The Bible says that if we pray about everything, that “...the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” The phrase, “Be careful for nothing...” means, “Don't worry about anything.” The way to keep from worrying and to have peace in your life is to pray about the situation. The peace of God will then keep, which means to “guard,” your heart. Just as a squadron of soldiers guards a military base from enemy attack, the peace of God will guard your heart from the attacks of worry and doubt. The words heart and mind in this verse are talking about your thoughts and emotions. The peace of God guards our thoughts and emotions in a way that passes all understanding. No one can understand why a Christian can have peace in the midst of the storms of life, but we can though Jesus Christ!

The reason the peace of God that passes understanding “...SHALL KEEP your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus” is because, most of the time, our worry is about things that might happen in the future. “Shall” is a future word. So the peace of God looks into the future and guards our hearts and minds when we pray. Incidentally, pray for what you want to happen. If you are facing bad circumstances in the future, pray for God to change things. “And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.” (Luke 11:9) If God doesn't want to give you what you are asking for, He will change your mind and change your prayers. But, it is not wrong at all to pray for God to answer specific needs in your life. N othing will give you more hope than praying for the things that you want God to do for you, and seeing God respond to your prayers by doing exactly what you asked Him to do! “Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not.” (James 4:2)

3. Change Your Way Of Thinking About The Present

“Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.” Philippians (4:8, 9)

Is the way you think causing you to be depressed? Change your thinking to BIBLICAL THINKING and it will cause you to have peace and contentment in your life. God outlines eight things here that we should think about. Let's study them.

The Word of God teaches that we should think about things that are:

(1) TRUE: The Devil wants to fill your mind with lies. “God doesn't love you. The Bible isn't true. God won't answer your prayer.” Don't fill your mind with things that aren't true. The best way to fill up your mind with truth is by reading and memorizing the Word of God. The Bible is truth. “Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.” (John 17:17) In order for us to properly reason and think through a situation, we have to think Biblically. Knowing the Bible means knowing what God thinks about the situations of life. That will help us to think right, and to make the right decisions.

(2) HONEST: This has to do with the way we live our lives. We ought to live honorably. If you are doing things that you shouldn't do, stop. If you are not doing something that you should be doing, start. For instance, if you are a Christian, you know that you should be attending church. If you are not doing that, it may lead you to feel guilty. Guilt, then leads to depression. The easiest way to get rid of such depression is to start going to church. Solomon said, “Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might...” If it needs to be done, do it, and put everything that you've got into it! On the other hand, if you are committing some sort of sin, that can also lead to depression. Stop doing what you know you shouldn't do. Do what you know you should. This will help you to feel better about life, and to not live in depression.

(3) JUST: Just things are righteous. They are the things that are right. If we dwell on everything that is wrong with the world, and all of the wrongs that people have done to us, it will rob us of our peace. Think about things that are just, that are right with the world and with people, rather than those that are wrong. It will make you into a happier person!

It is good to note here that justice has never been better exemplified than by the death of Jesus Christ on the cross. When Christ died for our sins, He was fulfilling the just demands of a holy God that sin be punished. Also, because He had no sin, Jesus was able to die for our sins, in our place, as our substitute. When a sinner believes in Jesus Christ as Savior, God declares him to be just, or righteous, not because of his own works, but because of his faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. So, when we think about things that are just, we should meditate on the death of Jesus Christ on the cross and about the righteousness that God has given to us by grace, through our faith, in Him.

Sometimes, when the Devil is beating you up, or you are beating yourself up thinking about what a sorry person you are, think of this. You are righteous in the sight of God. You have been declared, by the Lord Jesus Christ, to be just. God loves you so much, that He gave His Son to die and absorb the just punishment for your sins, the punishment that you deserve. That is true love!

(4) PURE: Pure things are clean. Christians ought to fill their minds with purity, not with filth. What we read, watch and listen to reflects on how we think. We should fill our ears with clean music. We ought to fill our minds with clean literature. If you watch television, look at things that are clean. Many Christians spend their time wasting their brains with entertainment that isn't fit for the hogs in the barnyard! Bad music and bad images lead to bad thinking. As my pastor often says, “Garbage in, garbage out. Righteousness in, righteousness out.”

(5) LOVELY: Forgiveness is lovely. If you are holding a grudge, it will hold you, and you will destroy yourself with bitterness. If you are bitter towards someone, let it go for your own health and well-being. God commands us to forgive others, and to pray for our enemies. This is not only the right thing to do, but praying for your enemies will take a lot of tension out of your life and help you to be mentally healthy.

Jesus Christ is lovely. Nothing is more lovely. Think on Christ, and it will lift you out of depression. I went to a restaurant to eat one time, and I was kind of depressed. The hymn, “Rock of Ages” started playing over the speaker system. I started thinking about Jesus Christ, and those thoughts brought me out of my depression. When Job went through all of his suffering, God did something very interesting. God got Job to look up, away from all that was going on around him. God started asking Job questions that led him to realize how powerful and wise God is. At the end of this time of questioning, Job was a changed man, and God turned things around for him. When you are depressed, get your mind off of circumstances and onto the Lord Jesus Christ. He will lift you out of your depression!

The Word of God is lovely. Meditating on the Bible is the single best way to change your thinking. The Word of God says, “ And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” (Romans 12:2) A lot of junk builds up in our minds during the day. We need these negative thoughts and attitudes emptied out. The Word of God transforms us by renewing our minds. As you read the Bible each day, it will cleans and renew your thoughts. The word, “renew” means to “renovate.” Have you ever seen an old house that has been renovated? That is what the Bible does to our minds. It sweeps away the sin and filthiness of the day and rebuilds our thought processes.

(6) GOOD REPORT: We ought not to fill our minds with negativity and gossip. Choose to meditate on those things that have a good report, a good reputation. You can think about every negative aspect of a person until you grow to despise them. Pick out good things to think about. A critical, cynical attitude will help to make you into a grouch that no one wants to associate with! Think about good reports, not bad. “Good report” thinking will change your whole outlook on people and life.

(7) ANY VIRTUE: These are things that are morally excellent. Any time that you find this characteristic in a person or a thing, think on it. The Apostle Paul certainly demonstrated this kind of moral excellency when he was on board a ship that was doomed to sink. He said, “ Wherefore, sirs, be of good cheer: for I believe God, that it shall be even as it was told me.” (Acts 27:25) Do you ever feel like your life is sinking? Believe God! God will take care of you. He promises in His Word to do so. There is great virtue in believing God when things go wrong. Ultimately, most depression is caused by living a life of not believing God. God is in control and He will work things out for good. The Lord Jesus Christ loves you! He will do what He has promised in His Word. Live a life of unbelief, and you will be miserable. Live in faith, and you will be happy. “Wherefore, sirs, be of good cheer: for I believe God, that it shall be even as it was told me.”

(8) ANY PRAISE: We can spend our lives dwelling on every negative thing, or we can find things for which we can praise God. One of the easiest ways to be lifted out of depression is to think about all of the ways that God has blessed you. Do you have a roof over your head? Do you have food to eat? Do you have clothes to wear? Is God blessing you in other areas of your life?

When upon life's billows you are tempest-tossed,

When you are discouraged, thinking all is lost,

Count your many blessings, name them one by one,

And it will surprise you what the Lord hath done.

Are you ever burdened with a load of care?

Does the cross seem heavy you are called to bear?

Count your many blessings; ev'ry doubt will fly,

And you will be singing as the days go by.

When you look at others with their lands and gold,

Think that Christ has promised you His wealth untold;

Count your many blessings, money cannot buy

Your reward in heaven, nor your home on high.

So amid the conflict, whether great or small,

Do not be discouraged, God is over all;

Count your many blessings, angels will attend,

Help and comfort give you to your journey's end.

Refrain:

Count your blessings, name them one by one;

Count your blessings, see what God hath done;

Count your blessings, name them one by one;

Count your many blessings, see what God hath done.

-Johnson Oatman Jr.

John Gill, one of England's eminent Bible commentators wrote: “...think on these things: meditate upon them, revolve them in your minds, seriously consider them, and reason with yourselves about them, in order to put them into practice.” You don't have to live a life of depression and emptiness. Change your thinking, and God will change your life.

Summary: How to defeat depression.

1. Let Go Of The Past

2. Pray About The Future

3. Change Your Way Of Thinking About The Present

* A NOTE ABOUT MEDICATION AND DEPRESSION. While good Christians debate about whether medication is ever needed to treat depression, it is this author's opinion that in some circumstances, there are clinical reasons for depression that require a doctor's treatment. While most depression can be treated by simply following the Bible, we must remember that God never condemns doctors or medication. In fact, the Bible books of Luke and Acts were both written by a physician. It is also important to remember that because there are dangers associated with taking certain anti-depressants, they should not be abused or taken unnecessarily.

(This article is part of the book: HOPE: God's Shelter in the Storm's of Life. You can download the book in PDF format here.)

How can I know that God really loves me and cares about my life?

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God doesn't just talk about love. He proves it by action. The Bible says, “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8) The word, “commendeth” means “demonstrates.” God demonstrates His love toward us by the death of Jesus Christ. Think about this: God loves you so much that He gave His Son to come to earth to become a human being like you so that He could suffer and die for your sins on the cross. The death of Jesus Christ is the ultimate expression of God's love for us. Whatever arguments men may have against God, they cannot argue with His love.

You can be sure that God loves you because He suffered in your place so that you would not have to die and be separated from Him forever in hell. You can know that God cares about you because He not only gave His Son Jesus to die for your sins, but He offers you eternal life with Him in heaven. You can be absolutely certain that God loves you because the requirement to receive this life is the simplest requirement on earth. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16) Simple belief or faith in Jesus Christ is the requirement for salvation. God gives eternal life to all who believe (trust, depend on) His Son as their Savior.

All of the religions of the world teach that we must do something to go to heaven such as joining a particular church, giving to the poor, receiving the sacraments, being baptized in water, etc. All religions teach this except for Biblical Christianity. God could have required many different things for mankind to do to go to heaven, but according to Jesus Christ, all that is required is simple faith. When I trust in Jesus Christ to forgive my sins and to take me to heaven; when I believe His promise that I will have eternal life if I simply believe in Him for it, that is all that God requires.

It is as simple as receiving a gift. The Bible says, “For the wages (the payment) of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” (Romans 6:23) Eternal life with God is a gift to be received. If someone offers me a gift, I will never receive it unless I believe the word of the giver. Someone might offer me a “free gift, no strings attached,” but if I do not trust that person or their word, I will never take it. I would be afraid they would want something from me. God wants to give us something. He wants to forgive our sins and to save our souls from hell. He wants to give us eternal life with Him and a changed life here on earth. Will you trust Him as your Savior today? Jesus Christ will save you, forgive you, and give you the gift of eternal life if you will trust Him to do it.

Is there any real evidence that the Bible is the Word of God?

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Yes, the greatest evidence that the Bible is the Word of God is found in its many fulfilled prophesies. Here are a sample of just a few.

1. Jesus would be born in Bethlehem. (Prophesy made about 700 B.C.)

“But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.” (Micah 5:2)

Prophecy fulfilled in about 5 B.C., almost 700 years after the prophecy was made.

“Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem, Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him. When Herod the king had heard these things, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he demanded of them where Christ should be born. And they said unto him, In Bethlehem of Judaea: for thus it is written by the prophet” (Matthew 2:1-5)

2. Jesus would be crucified. (Prophesy made during the 10th Century B.C.)

“For dogs have compassed me: the assembly of the wicked have inclosed me: they pierced my hands and my feet.” (Psalm 22:16 )

Prophecy fulfilled in 30 A.D.

“And when they were come to the place, which is called Calvary, there they crucified him...” (Luke 23:33)

3. Jesus' clothing would be gambled on by the soldiers at the cross. (Prophesy made during the 10th Century B.C.)

“They part my garments among them, and cast lots upon my vesture.” (Psalm 22:18 )

Prophecy fulfilled in 30 A.D.

“And they crucified him, and parted his garments, casting lots: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, They parted my garments among them, and upon my vesture did they cast lots.” (Matthew 27:35)

4. God would become a man and be born as a baby. (Prophesy made during the late 700's B.C.)

“For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.” (Isaiah 9:6)

Prophecy fulfilled in the birth of Jesus Christ in about 5 B.C.

5. Jesus would be born of a virgin. (Prophecy made in the late 700's B.C.)

“Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.” (Isaiah 7:14)

Prophecy fulfilled in about 5 B.C.

“But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost. And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins. Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us. Then Joseph being raised from sleep did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took unto him his wife: And knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name JESUS.” (Matthew 1:20-25)

For more prophesies of the Bible that have come true please visit: www.AllAboutTruth.org.

By the way, if you are wondering if the copies we have of the Bible today are reliable, there are more copies of the Bible and parts of the Bible than of any other piece of ancient literature. These copies were meticulously duplicated by hand over the centuries. God promised to preserve His words, once they were given, for all generations.

“The words of the LORD are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times. Thou shalt keep them, O LORD, thou shalt preserve them from this generation for ever.” (Psalm 12:6-7)

“Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.” (Matthew 24:35)

“The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the word of our God shall stand for ever.” (Isaiah 40:8)

If God was able to create the universe, is it unreasonable to believe that He could preserve His words? Men have tried to destroy the Bible through the centuries but it has remained. The 16th Century French writer Voltaire said, “It took twelve ignorant fishermen to establish Christianity; I will show the world how one Frenchman can destroy it.” After his death, Voltaire's house was used as a Bible storehouse and his printing press was used to print Bibles. The Bible remains the world's best selling book. Though it has been banned and suppressed by governments over the centuries (for example, the translator of the first printed English New Testament, William Tyndale, was strangled to death and burned at the stake) yet God has preserved His words for us today. The men who translated the King James Version of the Bible included England's finest scholars. We have no reason to doubt that the Bible we have today is an accurate, preserved and well-translated copy of the original words of God.

When was the Bible written?

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From a time period spanning the 1400's B.C., to the 90's A.D. However, it is thought by many scholars that Job was the earliest book of the Bible and that it was written before the book of Genesis. That would place it before the 1400's B.C.

Who wrote the Bible?

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The Bible consistently claims that God is its Author and that men were the writers. The Bible was written by 40 different men. These included such great national leaders of Israel as Moses and Joshua, King David and King Solomon, prophets, Jewish priests, scholars like the Apostle Paul and Luke the physician, and common men like Mark and John.