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2 Corinthians 6:2 - Missing The Day Of Salvation.

2 Corinthians 6:2 (NLT) For God says, "At just the right time, I heard you. On the day of salvation, I helped you." Indeed, the "right time" is now. Today is the day of salvation.

INTRODUCTION

God offers salvation to all people. Many people put off a decision for Christ, thinking that there will be a better time - but they could easily miss their opportunity altogether. There is no time like the present to receive God's forgiveness. Don't let anything hold you back from coming to Christ. The right time is now! [Life Application SB]

COMMENTARY PEARL

   Even one wrong trait of character, one sinful desire, persistently cherished, will eventually neutralize all the power of the gospel. Every sinful indulgence strengthens the soul's aversion to God. The man who manifests an infidel hardihood, or a stolid indifference to divine truth, is but reaping the harvest of that which he has himself sown. In all the Bible there is not a more fearful warning against trifling with evil than the words of the wise man that the sinner "shall be holden with the cords of his sins." Proverbs 5:22.
   Christ is ready to set us free from sin, but He does not force the will; and if by persistent transgression the will itself is wholly bent on evil, and we do not desire to be set free, if we will not accept His grace, what more can He do? We have destroyed ourselves by our determined rejection of His love. "Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation." "Today if ye will hear His voice, harden not your hearts." 2 Corinthians 6:2; Hebrews 3:7, 8. SC34

COMMENTARY

The Worst Thing of All
   Sometimes we look at certain sins that people fall into and think it's the worst thing that can happen to them. But it isn't the worst thing. The worst thing of all is to have a hardened heart.
   Even a drug addict, an alcoholic, and an immoral person can see their need for God and turn to Him. Meanwhile, there are people who never go out and do bad things, but their heart gets harder every month and every year. And having a hardened heart is the worst of all.
   It's better to be a prodigal and eventually return someday than to never come home. And a hardened heart can cause someone to commit the unforgivable sin, which is blaspheming the Holy Spirit (see Mark 3:29; Luke 12:10).
   When we read about Moses and Pharaoh in the Book of Exodus, we learn that God hardened Pharaoh's heart. We may think that Pharaoh didn't have a choice in the matter. But the Hebrew word for hardened also could be translated "strengthened." In other words, God responded to Pharaoh's response.
   In essence God was saying, "Make your move, Pharaoh." And Pharaoh made it. God had shown him miracle after miracle and gave him the opportunity to believe. But Pharaoh still rejected God. So God affirmed Pharaoh in the decision he had already made.
   God does this with every person. If we choose to believe and trust in Him, then He will strengthen us in that decision. On the other hand, if we choose to reject Him and blaspheme Him, then He will strengthen us in that decision as well. He responds to our response.
   This certainly doesn't happen overnight. And before we worry that we have blasphemed the Holy Spirit and committed the unforgivable sin, let's understand what it is. Blaspheming the Holy Spirit doesn't mean saying something irreverent about the Spirit of God.
   Rather, blaspheming the Holy Spirit is a deliberate, willful, continual lifestyle in which we know what is right and have chosen to respond to it with rejection. And by continued exposure to the truth of God and a refusal to obey and trust in Him, we finally go too far and lose all perspective.
   Interestingly, God said to the prophet Jeremiah, "Pray no more for these people, Jeremiah. Do not weep or pray for them, and don't beg me to help them, for I will not listen to you" (Jeremiah 7:16 NLT). God was saying that these people had taken it too far.
   The work of the Holy Spirit is to convict us of our sin and bring us to Jesus Christ. So, to blaspheme and insult the Holy Spirit is to reject the work that He is attempting to do. And when you blaspheme the Holy Spirit, there is no hope for you.
   The Bible says, "Today is the day of salvation" (2 Corinthians 6:2 NLT). But if you keep putting it off, there will come a time when you will seal your own destiny. [Greg Laurie from Harvest Ministries; https://www.harvestdaily.com]

LINKS FOR FURTHER STUDY

Psalm 95:7, 8 - When You Hear His Voice Do Not Harden Your Heart!
https://www.abible.com/devotions/2023/20230419-0940.html

Matthew 12:31 - The Unpardonable Sin.
https://www.abible.com/devotions/2024/20240908-1319.html

LINKS WORTH CHECKING OUT

https://abible.com/links/