Friday, September 5, 2008

The Unforgivable Sin

You’ve probably heard of “the unforgivable sin” before. Does such a sin exist? If so, what is it and how can you avoid it? You can find “the unforgivable sin” in three places: Luke 12:10, Mark 3:28-29, and in Matthew 12:31-32. In the latter Jesus says, And so I tell you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the 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.” Luke 12:10 classifies the sin as “an eternal sin.”

The religious leaders accused Jesus of blasphemy, but ironically they were the guilty ones when they looked Jesus in the face and accused him of being possessed by Satan. The unforgivable sin means attributing to Satan the work that the Holy Spirit accomplishes (see Matthew 12:22-30). Thus it is a deliberate and ongoing rejection of the Holy Spirit’s work and even of God himself. It indicates a deliberate and irreversible hardness of heart. The sin is unforgivable not because it is worse than any other, but because the person who is guilty of it will never ask for or seek forgiveness. Why? Because the person who rejects the prompting of the Holy Spirit removes himself/herself from the only force that can lead him or her to repentance and restoration to God. A person who fears having committed “the unforgivable sin” shows by their very concern that he/she has not sinned in this way.

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4 comments:

Sharon said...

This was very interesting! I've never heard it explained so clearly & simply before.
How sad for those that may never know the joy & peace of salvation.
Thank-you, James, for your faithfulness!

Riley said...

Who would DARE to defy Jesus, God and the Holy Spirit like that? And they called themselves leaders of the church!
This is Amy Snyder.

Katie Lafon said...

This caught my eye on the website b/c we were just talking about it in small group last week. Thanks!

nzeigler said...

This may seem naive, but wouldn't the sin unto death be unbelief? Unbelief will send everyone who commits it--unbelief--to hell. --Believe-- on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved.kjv reference