Pentecost

John 14:23-31

When I teach Confirmation or theology classes, Children will often ask, “Pastor, is there an unforgivable sin?”

It’s a difficult question; it’s a sad question. None of us wants to envision any family member, friend, let alone us, living in an unforgivable sin – of not being in paradise with Jesus.  

But the challenging answer to the children’s question is, “Yes, there is an unforgivable sin.”

Twice in the Gospels, in Mark and Matthew, Jesus gives us this warning as He says,

Therefore I tell you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven people, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven…whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come. (Matthew 12:31-32)

So, what does the unforgivable sin look like?

It happens when man turns away from God, when they cease to hear His Word, when they fail to come and gather around this altar to receive His blessed meal of forgiveness.

Remember how faith comes and is created within you? It’s by the work of the Holy Spirit.

Paul writes in Romans, “Faith comes by hearing, and hearing through the Word of Christ.” (Romans 10:17)

Or as our Gospel said today, “the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.”

How will the Holy Spirit teach you, by the Word of God, the Word that we are to hear with our ears, so that faith would be created through the work of the Holy Spirit who comes to you.

Do you remember what you learned from the meaning of the Third Article of the Creed in Confirmation? Let’s review the meaning,

I believe that I cannot by my own reason or strength believe in Jesus Christ, my Lord, or come to Him; but the Holy Spirit has called me by the Gospel, enlightened me with His gifts, sanctified and kept me in the true faith. In the same way He calls, gathers, enlightens, and sanctifies the whole Christian church on earth, and keeps it with Jesus Christ in the one true faith. In this Christian church He daily and richly forgives all my sins and the sins of all believers. On the Last Day, He will raise me and all the dead and give eternal life to me and all believers in Christ.

Ponder these words of the Catechism.

The Holy Spirit not only creates and sustains faith in you through the Gospel of God’s preached Word but also calls and gathers you as a church—a community of believers—so that you may be kept with Jesus Christ in the one true faith.

Being a member of this Church on earth is also intimate, much like a family gathering around a table for supper. The Church is led and gathered by the Holy Spirit around God’s Word and His sacraments, such as Baptism and the Lord’s Supper. 

Without God’s Word and the Sacraments, there is no Church.

Contrary to a common folklore, you cannot be in church from a fishing boat, a baseball diamond, or while walking among nature any more than you can be the Church from under the sheets of your bed.

No, the Church is where Christ is present for you now and where He has promised to be for you.

And this is why God has continued to send pastors to you at Good Shepherd, to preach God’s Word to you, to baptize the faithful (To which there is no greater joy), and feed you with the forgiveness of your sins in the Lord’s Supper.

For over thirty years, God has faithfully done this by sending His undershepherds to care for you: first Pastor Willie, then Pastor Benning, followed by Pastor Wurdeman, and now me. 

Pastors are sent to watch over you, to reach out when you drift away, to contact you if they haven’t seen you, to bring God’s Word to you while you lie in a hospital bed, and to teach and guide both the young and the old not just to receive this foretaste of heaven at the altar, but ultimately to the other side of the altar, where you will dwell with Christ and the entire company of heaven forever. 

Pastors do this because they don’t want anyone, especially the lambs and sheep entrusted to their care, to commit the unforgivable sin of turning away from the Holy Spirit, God, and His Word.

This is why we continue the tradition of distributing Bibles to the children of the church this morning: we want them to know their Heavenly Father’s voice, to hear the Word of Jesus, and to have faith instilled and created in them through the work of the Holy Spirit.

We want these children to grow in faith, so as they grow and maybe go off to college, begin families of their own, or go through the trials and tribulations of this world and life – they won’t turn away from God, but turn towards Him and run here to His Church on earth where He has promised to be for them and for you, today and always.

For this reason, let us keep the children of God, near and far from Him, in our eternal prayers.

And should any of us, young and old, find ourselves drifting, let us repent and return to Christ our Lord, remembering the words of the Psalmist,

But you, O Lord, are a God merciful and gracious,

slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness. (Psalm 86:15)

Remember these words: Your Lord is slow to anger; He hasn’t left you but continues to faithfully send His Spirit to work faith and peace within your heart.

And if you ask, does God really love me?

Look to the cross; He loves you so much that He died for you. +INJ+