"Does the Bible Say That?"

 •  2 min. read  •  grade level: 7
 
The question was asked by a young woman whom I visited. She had been persuaded to attend some simple Bible readings held in a Christian friend's home, and had been startled by what she had heard.
She was an attractive young woman, decent and respectable; but for all that she had learned that she was a lost sinner and still living in sin. She knew she had forfeited eternal life, for we had read: "The soul that sinneth, it shall die" (Ezek. 18:2020The soul that sinneth, it shall die. The son shall not bear the iniquity of the father, neither shall the father bear the iniquity of the son: the righteousness of the righteous shall be upon him, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon him. (Ezekiel 18:20)); and "It is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment." Heb. 9:2727And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: (Hebrews 9:27).
The Holy Spirit of God had wrought in her soul from time to time in the meetings, and she was under deep conviction of sin when I went to see her. However, something was evidently keeping her back from receiving God's salvation.
Convinced that it was a serious moment in her history, a distinct crisis, I pleaded with her to tell me what was hindering her in accepting eternal life in Christ. At last she hesitatingly said: "You see, sir, I have lived all my life in forgetfulness of God. The Bible has been a closed Book to me, and I have had little or no thought about my soul or my sins. It does not seem possible for me to get blessing from God now.”
A solemn confession is this for anyone to have to make! But instantly I quoted from memory those magnificent words which fell from the lips of the Son of God: "'All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men.' That takes you in, and your sin.”
Then it was that the young woman asked wonderingly: "Does the Bible say that?”
No longer quoting from memory, I opened the holy Book and read from Matt. 12:3131Wherefore I 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. (Matthew 12:31): "Wherefore I [Jesus] say unto you, All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men.'”
"And shall I tell you why?" I inquired. "Yes," she said.
The next moment the anxious look was gone.
The young face was bright with joy, and she entered into life and peace through simple belief in the Word of God.
"Wonderful, wonderful love of God to save me," she said. "And what an answer I've got now for Satan when he says, 'It is not possible for you to be saved.' All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men.'”
The Word of God applied by the Holy Spirit had done its mighty work according to Psa. 119:130130The entrance of thy words giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple. (Psalm 119:130).
"The entrance of Thy words giveth light: it giveth understanding unto the simple.”