Can a child molester be saved?

[visionary]

You are misreading that quote then. When Jesus speaks of "little ones", he's talking about his rank and file disciples, not children. He's warning his disciples about causing scandal that leads to loss of faith. We should seek to avoid spiritual abuse, the sort of thing that was bread and butter for the religion of his pharisaical opponents.

Jesus frequently uses hyperbole in his speech, as well. That means that he might not mean that literally, but he's expressing the intensity of how we should view scandalizing a persons faith.

Hurting a child is a sin but it's not unforgivable.

Putting a child on His lap, He points out that to be nice to the children and see Him in this process.

Mark 9:35 And he sat down, and called the twelve, and saith unto them, If any man desire to be first, the same shall be last of all, and servant of all. 36 And he took a child, and set him in the midst of them: and when he had taken him in his arms, he said unto them, 37 Whosoever shall receive one of such children in my name, receiveth me: and whosoever shall receive me, receiveth not me, but him that sent me.

 

[Kenny'sID]

I tend to believe the Lord forgives anyone who repents of their sin.

Not what I was addressing, but I understand.

 

[meconstant3402]

Hurting children or anyone innocent and unable to defend themselves is sad and sick. I think people have a tendency to accumulate wickedness once they have committed a horrendous sin. They rush pell mell into hell. God probably just wonders when they will stop. Repentance means facing all the evil you have committed and doing more than just saying sorry. I would say, judging from sins and wickedness of today, towards children and those who can't fight back, you need a lifetime of repentance. Maybe not starving yourself, or whipping yourself, but certainly eschewing a life of fun for that of eating less, praying more and reading the Gospel. For one way of salvation is giving up your life for life in Christ. It may be softer and easier than you think, but it is serious and irrevocable.

 

[Tomb523]

Hurting children or anyone innocent and unable to defend themselves is sad and sick. I think people have a tendency to accumulate wickedness once they have committed a horrendous sin. They rush pell mell into hell. God probably just wonders when they will stop. Repentance means facing all the evil you have committed and doing more than just saying sorry. I would say, judging from sins and wickedness of today, towards children and those who can't fight back, you need a lifetime of repentance. Maybe not starving yourself, or whipping yourself, but certainly eschewing a life of fun for that of eating less, praying more and reading the Gospel. For one way of salvation is giving up your life for life in Christ. It may be softer and easier than you think, but it is serious and irrevocable.

I don't want to detract from anything you say as it's correct. I just think its also a symptom of our real sin...Not raising our children to fear and love God. This is the true abuse for if we did a better job in this aspect, they just might be fewer child molesters and other sinners with which to contend.

 

[Jven79]

You're opinion unfortunately does not stand a chance against the truth:

"Wherefore 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

And if you're going to quote anything make sure you have the entire context instead of quickly making decisions based on your own personal views:

"At the same time came the disciples unto Jesus, saying, Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven? And Jesus called a little child unto him, and set him in the midst of them, And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And whoso shall receive one such little child in my name receiveth me. But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea."
-Matthew 18:1-6

The words of Jesus first answers the disciples question about who's considered the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven: Jesus says that whoever humbles not himself like a little child will not enter into the Kingdom of Heaven, for those who humble themselves like little children are the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven.
Therefore we see that Jesus was not concerned with little children being the greatest: he took their characters of innocence and humility to be the traits one must posses after being born again as a child unto God. When one observes the story of Adam and Eve who did God place at the entrance of the garden of Eden? He placed cherubim. Cherubim is an Aramaic word meaning, 'one who is innocent like a child'. Beware that your personal opinions don't cause those new to the faith to stumble who have decided to follow Christ Jesus instead of you.
Don't act like you've been saved your entire life: you were called out of the sinful world which child molesters are in...don't forget where you came from and maybe you'll have a better appreciation of where you are now, and have a clear idea of where you're headed.

Okay I totally see what you’re saying, but let’s say then someone causes a believer (a child of god), a fresh babe in Christ, to stumble...then can they still be saved?

In other words, if someone caused someone to lose their faith in Jesus, but later in life repent of that sin, but the other person still has no faith...can they be saved?

 

[Jven79]

So many people are mentioning the unforgivable sin, but are failing to mention that Jesus mentions the unforgivable sin BEFORE he mentioned the millstone punishment.

 

[Kenny'sID]

Please prove your assertion that critical biblical scholarship is self-serving.

Seriously you basically want me to prove that there are self serving men out there? LOL, if you don't know that by now, doesn't matter what I show you, you'll not see it.

 

[gideon123]

I want to remind everyone ....

when Christ was suffering on the cross, two other men were also crucified with him. Jesus forgave one of those men, and he was saved. That bandit was guilty of violence, and probably murder. He was forgiven.

Christ can forgive ALL sins, even the sins that seem heinous to us.

The unforgiveable sin ... is blasphemy against the Holy Spirit. And the reason that it is unforgiveable ... is that if the Holy Spirit departs a person, then there is no-one left to forgive him.

Blessings!!

 

[Kenny'sID]

There is no sin that can't be forgiven except total and final rejection of the Spirit

Purposefully leading someone away from God is blaspheming the Holy Spirit - the unforgivable sin.

Where are you all getting these comments from? Can you please show me where the bible makes either of those claims?

 

[Tomb523]

Where are you all getting these comments from? Can you please show me where the bible makes either of those claims?

(Matthew 12:25–29). Then He speaks of the blasphemy against the Holy Spirit: “I tell you, every kind of sin and slander can be forgiven, but blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven. Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but anyone who speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come” (verses 31–32).

When the Holy Spirit was sent to be a helper, it was to convict the world John 16:8(“When [the Spirit] comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment” ). If it is the spirit inside us that convicts us to follow God and someone is led away, they must "un-convict" them from the Holy Spirit by convincing the person it is not what it claims to be. Websters defines blasphemy as: 1 a : the act of insulting or showing contempt or lack of reverence for God.

Hope this helps

 

[SpiritRehab]

Based on Matthew 18:6, my opinion is not a chance

Agreed.
Messiah took on all the Sins of the World,
so it is up to Him, case by case,
who He wants to save,
but from what He has revealed
it's seems next to impossible.
An unforgivable sin.

Still,
I see the Word as the Constitution
and Messiah as the Supreme Court Judge.
There may be a child who was brutally hurt
and while he was still hurting, 20 years later,
he hurt another child.
Then 30 years later,
he hears the Gospel,
repents & begs forgiveness
in Messiah.

Messiah is Free to Save him, if He wants.

There may be another reprobate,
who continues to hurt children
throughout his life
and at the end of his life
out of fear
begs forgiveness in Messiah.
>I< doubt Messiah will forgive him;
but it is still >Messiah's< right.

The important thing is,
not who cannot be forgiven,
but who has the guarantee of forgiveness:
those who have not committed any of the 3 unforgivable sins
nor the 4 near? unforgivable sins
and have heard, repented, confessed, begged & believed in Messiah
until death.

Which is 99.9999% of those who are Born Again;
perhaps even 100%.

It's upto Messiah in the end.
Though I will never accept a Child Molester into my Fellowship
no matter how much he claims to believe, etc.
To protect fellowship and myself
from all kinds of evil plots he could be planning.

 

[SpiritPsalmist]

The molester only needs to confess, repent, and be born again to receive salvation.

I did not mean to imply different....I agree with you. However, for the protection of the other people around them and for "justice" they need to be arrested and punished by the law of the land. They have not received a free ticket to go about their business as if nothing happened. Jesus said, "you will reap what you sow". Just because they're saved does not mean they will not have to reap what they have sown.

 

[SpiritPsalmist]

You are kind of making it seem like salvation is works based

Not at all. Repentance means to turn away from, that means you stop doing what you know is sin. If you continue to do what you've supposedly repented of then you never actually repented. Not saying that we cannot struggle things. The Apostle Paul "struggled" and even said that it would be a continual struggle, but he also gave the action to the way through that struggle...the strength of Jesus whom gives the power to overcome. With his mind he served the law of God but with his body he servied his flesh...that's why he talked so much about overcoming the flesh. Yes it's a struggle, but through the strength of Jesus we are overcomers.

 

[Michael jaravani]

As it is written. Every sin will be forgive but the sin against the Holy Spirit will not be forgive. If we look at revelation where judgement will be passed as it is written everything which was judged did not repent of anything it did on earth during its lifetime. Brothers we aught not to separate sheep and goats, weeds and wheat for those who were appointed for the work will fulfil the will of the father. How much more have we done more than molesting either in our hearts or outside. Only if god will be to witness how great our sins over others we will be saved. My opinion as we are all sinners let’s repent when we still can and surely the saviour will save us

 

[SpiritPsalmist]

Then your saying the bible can't be trusted as it's written, and it has to be taught to us by the "scholars" or men?

God tells us to "study to show yourselves approved". We cannot just take what we read at face value and according to the Western (or wherever you are from) view. Reading several versions help in understanding the complete thinking of what Jesus said to the Jewish believers he was talking to. The Holy Spirit will lead and guide in times where we have no other means of study but not studying is not accptable reason to misunderstand.

 

[Kenny'sID]

(Matthew 12:25–29). Then He speaks of the blasphemy against the Holy Spirit: “I tell you, every kind of sin and slander can be forgiven, but blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven. Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but anyone who speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come” (verses 31–32).

When the Holy Spirit was sent to be a helper, it was to convict the world John 16:8(“When [the Spirit] comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment” ). If it is the spirit inside us that convicts us to follow God and someone is led away, they must "un-convict" them from the Holy Spirit by convincing the person it is not what it claims to be. Websters defines blasphemy as: 1 a : the act of insulting or showing contempt or lack of reverence for God.

Hope this helps

You completely skipped the part of scripture that tells what the actual blasphemy was, and moved directly to Jesus explaining the consequences? Then you cite this supposesdly reasoned out version.

You have to admit, it doesn't look good from where I sit, and for the reasons I mention.

Here is the left out part that says just what the blasphemy of the Holy spirit is:

24 But when the Pharisees heard it, they said, y“It is only by Beelzebub, the prince of demons, that this man casts out demons.”

So not sure how you get all you wrote out of an accusation the Pharisees made, that the Holy spirit was the devil/Beelzebub, or the actual blasphemy, a lack of reverence for the Holy Spirit in this case.

Now don't get me wrong, there may be something to what you say but it's not the actual Blasphemy of the holy spirit....not that I can see.

 

[Kenny'sID]

God tells us to "study to show yourselves approved". We cannot just take what we read at face value and according to the Western (or wherever you are from) view. Reading several versions help in understanding the complete thinking of what Jesus said to the Jewish believers he was talking to. The Holy Spirit will lead and guide in times where we have no other means of study but not studying is not accptable reason to misunderstand.

Nothing there for me to disagree with.

Study? A given.

I take several versions into consideration when there is question, and I often find, the Bible is written so simply, there is no question at all. As you indicate, the book/bible is where it's at... literally. It's the scholars I mention that may or my not be a problem...men

 

[needhugs]

i know the one who did ME wrong, is now a 'Christian' ...he was just a successful jerk, still is... where as I have always paid a horrible price for what happened to me as a child...

he doesn't appear to have a millstone around his neck, nor is he drowning.... me? if i could have just drowned? that would have been a mercy.

 

[LadyCrosstalk]

John 3:16 would suggest otherwise.

But that's the catch isn't it? How could anyone who believes in and loves Jesus ever harm an innocent child in that way? Child molesters do not love and protect children--they use them to satisfy very base instincts (the product of demonic influence) that cannot co-exist in the same body with the Holy Spirit. All people have sin of one sort or another--even though the Holy Spirit wars against that sin. But those under the domination of demons cannot be saved until a child of God orders those demons to leave in the name of Jesus and then pray for the Holy Spirit to fill those places vacated. Jesus showed the way to rid an individual of demonism--we should use it. He also said that the former demons would come back and bring other demons even worse with them if the Holy Spirit was not indwelling and protecting that person from future incursions.

As a practical measure, keeping child molesters away from children (and other child molesters as well) is absolutely essential--lest they be lured back into the former things. It is not advisable for former alcoholics to become bartenders or hang around with others who are engaging in drunkenness.

 

[Loren T.]

Where are you all getting these comments from? Can you please show me where the bible makes either of those claims?

Jesus was warning the scribes against blasphemy of the spirit, because they called his work the work of satan. If one truly and fully rejects the spirit, he will no longer convict them of sin. Therefore, thier sin can not be forgiven. This is the only sin that one cannot repent of.