Advent HOPE Sabbath School 2012

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Advent HOPE Sabbath School

Alistair Huong

The Point of No Return

We thank you for ministries like Advent Hope and also Audioverse in which we can know that your word is being preached and that your word is being studied.

But this morning as we study to feed our souls, we ask for the Spirit's guidance, that we might not just hear your word, but that it might make deep impact and inroads in our lives, and that we in the end may be transformed into the image of Jesus.

Bless us now we ask in Jesus' name, amen.

The point of no return, what does that bring to mind?

In general, the point of no return is a very descriptive term.

You reach a certain point after which you can't come back.

But when we're talking about the spiritual realm, there's a certain teaching, certain doctrine, certain idea that usually we associate with this idea.

Unpardonable sin, I heard the seal, unpardonable sin.

Elisa, you're trying to steal my thunder, but I won't, I won't, I won't criticize you for that.

But the unpardonable sin, right, that is the common idea, at least there was a time when every evangelistic crusade you heard about the unpardonable sin.

And we won't do a thorough study of what that teaching is, but the unpardonable sin generally speaking represents the point after which there's no more pardon, therefore it's unpardonable.

You go so far that somehow even the grace and the mercy and the influence of the Holy spirit can no longer reach you.

And when we think about the impartial sin, this is also a review, we recognize that it is not 1 singular act, it is not 1 particular action, It is not 1 thought or 1 display.

The unpardonable sin is not just 1 thing.

If I say these magic words all of a sudden, boom, the books are closed and I'm a done deal.

The impardonable sin is also described as grieving the Spirit.

It is a process by which our hearts and our minds are so hardened that even the rays of the Holy Spirit just cannot penetrate anymore.

It's not just 1 instant, not 1 decision, not 1 action.

But when we talk about the impartial sin, usually we're describing an individual, 1 person who has made up his mind so much against God that God can't reach him anymore.

But it is actually possible for a group of people collectively to reach that point.

And the case in point, I think, I think perhaps the most salient illustration would be the nation of Israel.

Because if you think about it, the majority of sacred history, the Bible, almost the entire Old Testament and half of the New Testament, is dealing with this idea of Israel reaching the point of no return.

The story of Israel is basically God's pursuing of this child of his until they won't listen anymore.

So let's begin by looking in the book of Isaiah.

Isaiah chapter 5 and we will begin reading in verse 1.

And when you are there, let me hear you say Amen.

It's interesting that I always ask that, and they say Amen, you say Amen, and then half the congregation, the pages are still turning.

And then there's no more Amen's to be heard, so sometimes I wonder, maybe I shouldn't do that anymore.

Now will I sing to my well-beloved a song of my beloved touching his vineyard.

My well-beloved had the vineyard in a very fruitful hill and he fenced it and gathered out the stones thereof and planted it with a choicest vine, and built a tower in the midst of it, and also made a winepress therein.

And he looked that it should bring forth grapes, and it brought forth wild grapes." Verse 3, And now, O inhabitants of Jerusalem and men of Judah, judge, I pray you, between me and my vineyard.

Verse 4, What could have been done more to my vineyard that I have not done in it?

Wherefore when I looked that it should bring forth grapes, it brought forth wild grapes.

And now, go to, I will tell you what I will do to my vineyard.

I will take away the hedge thereof, and it shall be eaten up, and break down the wall thereof, and it shall be trodden down.

And I will lay it waste, and it shall not be pruned nor digged, but there shall come up briars and thorns.

I will also command the clouds that they rain no more upon it." Verse 7, what is this a symbol of?

This parable, what is the story all about?

Verse 7, for the vineyard of the Lord of hosts is who?

The house of Israel and the men of Judah, his pleasant plant.

And he looked for judgment, but behold, oppression, for righteousness, but behold, a cry.

This is a parable to describe what God has done to the nation of Israel.

And this is an important symbol about the vineyard and the grapes.

But let's think about Israel in particular.

The key question is in verse 4, what could have been done more to my vineyard that I have not done?

God asked the questions, what more could I have done?

You remember he gave Abraham that promise, In through your seed will all nations of the earth be blessed, and not just any seed.

In Isaac, your specific son, the 1 that you bore in your old age when your body and also Sarah's womb is as good as dead.

That son, the son that you're supposed to kill on the altar that I saved, that son.

He delivers his people out of Egypt miraculously with the plagues, the Red Sea, the manna, 40 years in the wilderness, pillar of cloud and fire.

He has revealed himself in as physical of a form amongst his people as he has ever done.

Well, they arrive in the nation of, or in the land of Canaan.

He gives them a winning streak that any team would die for.

And when they didn't listen, He sent more prophets to plead with them, to extend His mercy to them.

He threatened judgments upon them and then he was good to his word and judgments came upon them to discipline them because the Bible says as many as he loves he rebukes and chastens Christ out of his love God in his love is disciplining Israel to bring her back.

Sent them out to Babylonian captivity for 70 years, brings them back.

Nehemiah rebuilds the temple, and the city rather.

They continue to reject the God of heaven.

And finally, God sends Jesus Christ, his Son, to walk in the midst of this rebellious people.

And Jesus himself said, my mission is for the lost sheep of Israel.

Because in the time of Jesus, the sad saga of the history of Israel nears its conclusion.

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The Point of No Return

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