MATTHEW 12: 31 - 33 Sermon by Brother FroelichSERMON BY BROTHER FROELICH - July 29, 1847 Matthew 12: 31. Wherefore | 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. 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. Jesus gives definition regarding the sins of mankind in his unconverted state, namely that all sins can be forgiven, excepting the blasphemy of the Holy Ghost. All sins must be extirpated or wiped out through forgiveness on God's part, if they are not to have the consequence of eternal damnation. The forgiveness, however, is given alone on account of the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, that is through faith in this, and whoever in this respect does not wish to believe in Christ (regarding himself as ungodly and damned sinner) he is close to the judgment-of,damnations; .|f,one-has committed .eweny worldly sin and has lived contrary to every commandment and yet has become converted, then he will be forgiven for Christ's sake and covered (not imputed) and this can take place in this world as well as in the world to come. (namely, if the knowledge of the Gospel has not reached such a soul). Alsothe blasphemy against the Holy Spirit cannot happen otherwise than where the truth in Christ has not alone been preached, but also has been confirmed in its miraculous power on the believer. Here the envious pharisees blaspheme not only the preachers of the good news or Gospel, but also the spirit of God, who speaks and works through them and they say it is the work of the devil, in order to turn men away from faith in truth, This universal forgiveness of sins through Christ's blood, however, reaches only to cover the time of ignorance, even as through the offering on the great day of reconciliation, only the sins of the people done in ignorance were forgiven and not those which were willfully done. From the time of rebirth onward, there becomes a new time period of the knowledge of God, The pardoned one must keep himself from new sins and even though there would be much stumbling, yet a sin unto death should no more take place. If, however, the believer forgets his origin and calling so much that he again sins against the old law, then he dies a second time and that will not be reconciled nor forgiven. Jesus here is not talking about these sins on the part of the converted soul, when he excepts only the blaspheming of the Holy Spirit from sins that-may be forgiven,. but he speaks-here concerning the sins of unbelievers.Published by APOSTOLIC CHRISTIAN PUBLISHING COMPANY 1327 W., Colvin Street Syracuse, New York 13207 Free copies available