Is there ever a time when repentance is not possible?

[Openly Curious]

Is there a time when repentance is not possible? Or is it better stated that ther is a condition of the heart when man is hardened to the point that he no longer desires repentance and it is impossible to influence him.

For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted the heavenly gift, and have become partakers of the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come, if they fall away, to renew them again to repentance, since they crucify again for themselves the Son of God, and put Him to an open shame.

Hebrews 6:4-6NKJV

We know from scripture that for some people the answer is obviously yes.

In Revelation the Lord pours plague after plague on people, yet scripture says they still refused to repent of their sins and immorality. Now one could say that they were blinded as many of us were at times in our life indeed dead in trespasses and sins and unable to come to Christ on our own, which is very true; however that seems to not be the case as described in Revelation. These people know it is God who is sending them plagues, and instead of coming to Him they curse Him.

However this should never concern us. The fact is anyone who is loaded down with sin of whatever sort and knows and seeks relief from this sin and salvation at all; even the smallest inkling of guilt and remorse and a feeling of needing something more would be a sign of the Holy Spirit working. The other issue is that we as individual Christians can never know who will hear the Gospel and who will not and when that will or will not happen. Thus our role is to assume that everybody, every single human being has the potential for salvation. It is also comforting to realize that we are not responsible for someone else's salvation, what I mean is that it would be very arrogant of us to believe that we would have that power to be responsible for someone's ability or lack of ability or desire to accept the gift of grace offered by Christ.

Good post

Our mission is to go forth and preach the gospel as freely we have received and freely we should give. It is in preaching the cross that Jesus died to set sinners free and it's the Spirit of God that draws those who want to come to repentance. That whosoever will can come and recieve salvation. It is not us that has the power or ability to save or make a decision for another in this life but it is the gospel that convicts the hearts as they are drawn by the Spirit unto salvation. For I am not ashamed of the gospel for it is the power of God unto salvation.

OC

[Ddavid from NC]

Is there a time when repentance is not possible? Or is it better stated that ther is a condition of the heart when man is hardened to the point that he no longer desires repentance and it is impossible to influence him.

I believe there are occassions where repentance is not possible such as blasphemy of the Holy Ghost which is an unpardonable sin and also those who have been given over to their lust and have become reprobate as a result these are just a couple to name a few. I think there is defiantly a condition of one's heart will get hardened to the point they no longer desire repentance and no one has any influence on them anymore and that is when one's conscious is seared like a hot iron that's a pretty tough word picture there to have your conscious seared like a hot iron to get to a place where you no longer desire the things of God you have no more conviction of heart and you become unmoveable with the presence of God as your conscious is just like a hot iron unable to get through. This is a dangerous and damning place to find themselves in to have one's conscious seared like a hot iron as no one is able to touch a hot iron as they will get burned showing us that none can influence or is able to touch one conscious once it becomes seared

For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted the heavenly gift, and have become partakers of the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come, if they fall away, to renew them again to repentance, since they crucify again for themselves the Son of God, and put Him to an open shame.

Hebrews 6:4-6NKJV

Below is some scriptures that I believe in regards to the scriptures you used.

Matthew 12:31, Hebrews 10:26, 2 Peter 2:20, 1 John 5:16, Hebrews 10:32, John 4:10 & 6:32, Ephesians 2:8, Galations 3:2,5, Hebrews 10:25

I think also that it is impossible for many to be saved as their time here on earth is simply up and they die without Christ so when our time is up it is up in whatever state we are in at the time is what state we will be caught in.

OC

I don't see any need to separate the unpardonable sin from the status of a reprobate mind, one leads to the other. It is basically God allowing sin to take its natural course...destruction and hard heartedness.

[deut31:12]

Here is a good example.

Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled; Lest there be any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright. For ye know how that afterward, when he would have inherited the blessing, he was rejected: for he found no place of repentance, though he sought it carefully with tears. - Hebrews 12:15-17

[Openly Curious]

I don't see any need to separate the unpardonable sin from the status of a reprobate mind, one leads to the other. It is basically God allowing sin to take its natural course...destruction and hard heartedness.

I think I see your point as a person who would blaspheme God outright would obviously have to have a reprobate mind in order to do such a wicked thing as blasphemy of the Holy Ghost.

OC

[tsth]

Very good reference Deut!

I also think that like Pharoah, and as stated within Scriptures elsewhere, when one continues to reject God's calling through His Holy Spirit long enough (God's patient long-suffering), then one will end up having their heart hardened unto death, like Pharoah. You move into a use for calamity, and will be devoured in the process of the judgment. It is still of use, just not a good one ultimately for Pharoah.

In His Love,

Suzanne

[OneLight]

Very good reference Deut!

I also think that like Pharoah, and as stated within Scriptures elsewhere, when one continues to reject God's calling through His Holy Spirit long enough (God's patient long-suffering), then one will end up having their heart hardened unto death, like Pharoah. You move into a use for calamity, and will be devoured in the process of the judgment. It is still of use, just not a good one ultimately for Pharoah.

In His Love,

Suzanne

I think this is the key. It is not that God won't forgive a repentant sinner, but that some become so hard towards God, they don't seek forgiveness. God quits convicting them, and for that reason, repentance is not possible.

You got me here. I can't remember reading that God ever stops convicting sinners. Please remind me where this is in scripture. I have always believed that the more we reject His conviction through His Spirit, the harder our hearts become, to the point where we can no longer feel the convicting of the Holy Spirit.

[Richard_yaash]

i got rid of everything i had even my very two personal bibles and burnt everything i mocked god to his face every day i even swore at god and said if any christian is place in my path and shares how much jesus loves me

Damo

I am glad you are here amoung us today my brother.

[OneLight]

If you blaspheme the Holy Spirit, God will stop convicting you, because you have committed an unpardonable sin. I also believe God will stop convicting a person if they continue to reject the Lord long enough. The Bible mentions God himself giving a person over to a reprobate mind. It is my opinion that the only chance a person has in that condition is the prayers of fellow believers. God will continue to honor their sincere pleas for the person with a ceared conscience.

Concerning your idea that God will stop convicting a person if they continue to reject the Lord, allow me to remind you of this scripture found in 2 Peter 3:9.

The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.

The Lord will always try to bring us to Him. It is us who refuse to acknowledge Him, which, in turn, creates the Hardened Heart we are speaking of. When God gives someone over to a reprobate mind (as found in Romans 1:28), He is allowing them to believe in a lie, which they have already chosen to believe in through their free will. In other words, He is allowing free will to work its course. This does not mean that they will never repent, or can never repent.

[Smalcald]

At some level this is a mystery, something that is not answered in scripture. We were at one point all dead in trespasses and sins with a reprobate mind and so forth, the only reason we have faith is that the Holy Spirit came to us, we did not choose it, we did and do not have that power. So then we do some people run away from the grace when it is offered and they know it is offered?

Scripture says maybe they love the dark more than the light, maybe this is an indicator? I don't know; though we can do great harm by writing people off, when in reality it may only be a couple of more years or hours; and they do a 180 in their faith.

[Guest Greg Davies]

Here is a good example.

Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled; Lest there be any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright. For ye know how that afterward, when he would have inherited the blessing, he was rejected: for he found no place of repentance, though he sought it carefully with tears. - Hebrews 12:15-17

I think it would be more accurate to use this scripture to show that you reap what you sow rather than proof that one cannot repent. Esau sold his birthright and could not buy it back and there was nothing Isaac could do about it. This is what it means "he found no place of repentence".

Concerning the Heb 6:4-6 reference. Let me suggest another way of looking at this scripture. Could it be saying that it is impossible for someone who is saved to lose their salvation? That repentence is always possible because of Jesus' perfect sacrifice? The Blood is always able to cleanse? It is not necessary to crucify the Son of God again?

The only other option I can see is that in order for someone to reach the place of not being able to repent, they must have experienced all the things listed in verses 4 and 5 and then fallen away. I can't imagine that. But I'm not entirely sure either way.

Greg.