In the four gospel accounts, Jesus only once spoke of a sin that immediately places one in danger of hell fire. Many other sins, like murder and idolatry, do not just endanger one to the prospects of suffering the judgment of hell fire but assure those so guilty that hell awaits them if such sins are not abandoned. The one sin that Jesus specifically identified as a sin that edges one ever closer to the judgment of hell fire if not forsaken and abandoned undoubtedly surprises many. Here is that sin, “WHOSOEVER shall say (to a fellow human being) ‘Thou fool!’ shall be in danger of hell fire. (See Matthew 5:22). Jesus Christ wanted to make that clear early on, in fact in the very first recorded sermon He preached to the masses – the Sermon on the Mount!
Note well, Jesus does NOT say those who belittle others in such a fashion are sure to be cast into hell. He says they are “in danger” of experiencing hell fire. Howso? If someone discounts another as of such little worth by calling them a fool, or an idiot, or a moron, or some similar term. They edge themselves toward treating another as worthless and having no value to God or man. The next step in that direction can enable the offender to act upon their animosity and do physical harm, even to the point of killing a fellow human being.
I have often pointed out that, in actuality, there are but two classes of human beings on this earth: 1) the redeemed sons and daughters of God, and 2) potential sons and daughters of God as whosoever will may come and enjoy the merits of our Lord’s life and death. The one that has been called some terrible name may well be a child of God, and, if not a child at that moment might yet become a child of God.
“You have heard that it has been said, ‘You should love your neighbor, and hate your enemy.’ But I say unto you, ‘Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you that you may be the children of your Father which is in heaven”. (See Matthew 5:43-45).
“Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace to the hearers. And grieve not the Holy Spirit of God, whereby you are sealed unto the day of redemption. Let ALL bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamor, and evil speaking, be put away from you with all malice. And be you kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake has forgiven you” (See Ephesians 4:29-32).
We pay a terrible price when we ignore our Lord’s warnings and the counsel of His apostles. Having grieved the Holy Spirit, our prayers are no longer heard or answered by God, for “If I regard iniquity in my heart, THE LORD WILL NOT HEAR ME!” (See Psalm 66:18). And we just might find ourselves in a situation where we desperately need God to hear and answer our prayers.
God help you to understand is my prayer.
Christ’s Faithful Servant (Galatians 1:10-12),
Donald Wiley