Unforgivable sin

Reborn1977 said:

This comes up frequently and I just commented on something that touches on what you have written today in another post. Below you will find what was posted by me. However, let me first say very clearly...
The only unforgivable sin is the sin of apostasy - renouncing Christ.


Blasphemy and Apostasy are often confused and people overlap the Scriptural truths about both.

Blasphemy

Blasphemy has to be one of the most misunderstood things in Scripture in my view. Many consider blasphemy one thing and one thing only, suicide. I would give anything to understand where that originated. No person has been able to show me Scripture, which supports this view.


The word “blasphemy” appears fourteen times in the King James Bible, which is the text used to trace words back to their original meaning in the Hebrew or Greek Language. Of those, fourteen times it appears twice in the Old Testament and twelve times in the New Testament. The definition for the two times it appears in the Old Testament is the same. The definition for the twelve times it appears in the New Testament is the same, with one exception; Matthew 26:65, which is an account of the same scene with Jesus and this text simply adds more layers to the definition.


Blasphemy against God can be one of the most serious spiritual crimes a person can commit. The only sin Jesus stated there would be no forgiveness for if committed against the Spirit. Hear His words from Matthew 12:31 [Jesus speaking] “Therefore I say to you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit [KJV reads “against the Holy Ghost”] will not be forgiven men.” Since this act is so grave, please take the time to carefully review all the definitions below so you will have a deep and rich understanding of what blasphemy is and hence, be better equipped to avoid this most grievous sin.


Here is the definition, from the Greek language, of the word “blasphemy” in this verse and its other appearances in the New Testament.

988. blasfhmiva blaspheµmia, blas-fay-me´-ah; from 989; vilification (espec. against God):— blasphemy, evil speaking, railing.

989. blavsfhmo" blaspheµmoás, blas´-fay-mos; from a der. of 984 and 5345; scurrilous, i.e. calumnious (against man), or (spec.) impious (against God):— blasphemer (-mous), railing.


To bring clarity to the words vilification, scurrilous, calumnious, impious, and railing here are the meanings of the words vilify, scurrilous, calumny, impious, and rail .


vilify =

malign somebody: to make malicious and abusive statements about somebody

[15th century. < late Latin vilificare "hold cheap" < Latin vilis "worthless"]


scurrilous

1. abusive or defamatory: containing abusive language or defamatory allegations

2. foul-mouthed or vulgar: using or containing coarse, vulgar, or obscene language

3. wicked: behaving in ways thought to be evil or immoral


calumny

1. defamation: the making of false statements about somebody with malicious intent

2. defamatory statement: a slanderous statement or false accusation

[15th century. < Latin calumnia "false accusation" < calvi "deceive"]


impious

1. showing lack of religious respect: not showing due reverence for God or something holy

2. disrespectful: showing a lack of respect for somebody or something (formal)


rail

denounce or complain bitterly: to denounce, protest against, or attack somebody or something in bitter or harsh language

[15th century. Via French railler "mock, tease" < Old Provençal ralhar "chat, joke" < late Latin ragere "neigh, roar"]


Encarta ® World English Dictionary

Now with a much deeper and fuller understanding of blasphemy let me ask, have you, or anyone you have ever known, been guilty of blasphemy? Additionally, do you believe that the Church, Body of Christ, the world, and Christians really understand what blasphemy truly is and the seriousness of such an act?


Apostasy - Renunciation of Christ

The only unforgivable sin is the sin of apostasy - renouncing Christ.


It has been wrongly taught for years that not accepting Christ as your Savior is the “unforgiveable sin” and yes if you do not accept Christ as your Savior you will go to hell when you die, but it is not “technically” the quote – unquote “unforgivable sin” which is apostasy.


The renunciation of Christ that is apostasy is not something an atheist can do. Many people have a great misunderstanding about what apostasy is and what renouncing Christ is. The only type of person who can commit apostasy, who can truly renounce Christ, is a person who has known Christ. Therefore, a person would have to have been a Christian and then renounced Christ after becoming a Christian in order to commit apostasy.

Apostasy – I John 5 address what we must understand about Christ to be saved, and makes it known that God Himself bears witness of these Truths in our own spirit. Next the issue of praying for those who are in sin is brought into play and we told to pray for all sin except “sin leading to death” a reference to apostasy the highest form of blasphemy against the Holy Ghost because the Spirit has already bore witness in your (a Christian's) spirit of the Truths about Jesus and you (a Christian) later deny them to be true.

True biblical apostasy is a very rare thing to have happen.

Apostasy is a very difficult subject to fully understand and it takes a collection of the Scriptures to address the issue. That said, there is a portion of the book of Hebrews that covers this issue and then in I John 5we are told not to pray for this issue or a person so to speak who has committed apostasy. Note that Hebrews and I John are only a small portion of Scripture that touches on the issue of apostasy.

Please study1 John 5 and Hebrews 5, 6, and 7 with special attention to chapter 6. If you want to better understand it would be best to study the entire book of Hebrews and 1 John.

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