"Never!" X 7 !

"NEVER!" X 7 !

"Never is forever!"; everybody knows that! Oh? Do they really? We might be surprised how controversial a subject "never" & "forever" are!

I don't intend to discuss "forever" (Eternity) here because it soon becomes a vast wasteland of vain speculation which, frankly, bores me! But the number 7 (when it comes to scripture) never fails to command my attention as to Biblical significance!

First of all, let me clear the air about translations. I'm no Greek scholar, but I do have access to marvelous research notes of some of the best experts that ever lived; and, I have factual data records that plainly speak for themselves (in many cases)! More than the above, I know the Author Personally and have direct Access to Him for any "insights" He (as my Tutor) Points out!

This English word "never" appears 75 times in the Revised Translation of the Greek texts, and only 38 times in the King James Version of the same New Testament texts! Quite a difference, don't you think? But in all 7 of the particular verses I wish to examine for any connected-significance both translations concur! (Notice the subjects of each of the 7 listed!):

(1- "Jesus", 2- "Jesus", 3- "Jesus")
1 - Mk 3:29 "But he that shall blaspheme against the Holy Ghost hath never forgiveness, but is in danger of eternal damnation:"
2 - Jn 4:14 "But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of waterspringing up into everlasting life."
3 - Jn 8:51 "Verily, verily, I say unto you, If a man keep my saying, he shall never see death."

4 - Jn 8:52 "Then said the Jews unto him, Now we know that thou hast a devil . Abraham is dead, and the prophets; and thou sayest, If a man keep my saying, he shall never taste of death." ("Jesus"[quoted] by "Jews" [a derogatory epithet given by gentiles, and used frequently by John to illustrate an apostate Israel, as in Malachi!).

(5- "Jesus", 6- "Jesus", 7- "Peter")
5 - Jn 10:28 "And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall ever perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand."
6 - Jn 11:26 "And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?"
7 - Jn 13:8 "Peter saith unto him, 'Thou shalt never' (think of the arrogance of such a statement ["Thou shall never!"] of any pupil of any Master in such a statement! Once before, Peter took this tone with Jesus, and Jesus had to "cast the devil" out of him!) wash my feet. Jesus answered him, If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me."

These 7 occurrences are (I am informed) the only uses of the Greek term or phrase "ou eis ton aion" in the New Testament! Note that the first usage of this Greek term for absolute, utter & Eternal "never" is from Jesus, and that, (technically), He uses it a total of 5 times (the biblical # for Grace!)! On the 4th occasion, (which is the central [3 on each side] statement), He's quoted by those who demonstrate the very sin Jesus is trying to tell them will "NEVER" be forgiven!

In quoting Jesus, these "Jews" use His Words to "blaspheme" His Holy Spirit by calling Him a "devil", and thus reject Him! This denial comes from enemies who have 'no-intention-ever' (="never") of Receiving (Accepting) Jesus Christ as Messiah!

But the 7th time (the only time it is not Jesus's Word) "never" is used, it comes from PETER who symbolizes (represents) all believers who would be disciples ("under-the-discipline") of Jesus!

Lest there be any confusion of whether or what Jesus meant by using this Greek term for "never", (by the way, Jesus spoke Aramaic, not Greek!), we plainly see His intentions made clear when He responds to Peter's use of this same language, and says, "then you will have no part in/of/with Me!".

The absolute insinuation here is "EVER"! The plain teaching is that unless we let, allow, RECEIVE Christ's Holy Spirit (The "Comforter" [Who "washes" or purifies us after we're "born aNew", and as we Walk in The Spirit through this world), we reject Him, and can not (ever) be "made" perfect (mature, complete, 'ripe', Spiritually-fruitful!) as He was!-(He 5:8,9).

Sanctification is the Holy MINISTRY of the Holy Spirit in us! The number 7 identifies and represents spiritual perfection or completion. The Holy Spirit (the Author of all Scripture) has left us a sign (or signal) in this particular use of the term "never"! It has to do with our Eternal "Being-ness" (existence) with God as His New Creature-In-Christ, as compared to what the Revisers called "guilty of an eternal sin" (or "eternal damnation")!

Forever at odds with God, or, "never" reconciled, therefore "NEVER FORGIVEN", as Jesus Says! Having been (Born) of the Spirit, there is only one way to (Walk) in the Spirit, and that is to work (Led by) with the Spirit, (Enabled) for the Spirit, (Purified) by the Spirit! Only then do we truly BELONG TO Him!

But we must Receive Him, or we can never Believe Him (which Jesus Tells us is our "Kingdom Work"!)-(Jn 6:28,29). In the last days when Jesus says sin will increase ("multiply") by such a "multiplier-effect" as to cause even some who love Him to lose their love ("wax cold"); at a time when life seems to be getting so fast & noisy that it becomes increasingly hard to "be still & know God!"; when will we learn to HUSH!, and turn to God?; to "Ask", "Seek", & "Knock" as Jesus Commanded?

Or when will we begin to "take no thought"? - (relying SOLELY on the Guidance, Protection & Provision of the Holy Spirit Who Loves, Nourishes, Cleans, Instructs, Keeps & Perfects us)? O Lord, Let us Let you in! Help us Yield to You all we are; all we have; all we hope for!

Never let us say "never" to you, Lord! Rather let us Hear "Amen" in Christ, and Prove in us Your Truth; and with the Holy Spirit gladly say, "Come Lord Jesus, Come!".