How do you commit the unforgivable sin?

[Greo]

How do you commit the unforgivable sin?



Mark 3:29

It is said that to blaspheme against the Holy Spirit is the unforgivable sin. What does it mean to blaspheme the Holy Spirit. What is Jesus getting at?

 

[Van]

That Jesus was sent by God to be the Savior of the world was demonstrated by the power of the Holy Spirit. Therefore to blasepheme the Holy Spirit is to reject Jesus as the Christ. Unless a person trusts in Christ, they are not saved, and not being saved, they are not justified, and not being justified is tantamount to being unforgiven.

 

[frumanchu]

That Jesus was sent by God to be the Savior of the world was demonstrated by the power of the Holy Spirit. Therefore to blasepheme the Holy Spirit is to reject Jesus as the Christ. Unless a person trusts in Christ, they are not saved, and not being saved, they are not justified, and not being justified is tantamount to being unforgiven.

I'd like to clarify what you're saying. The blasphemy of the Holy Spirit is attributing the work of Christ to Satan and in so doing denying the Holy Spirit. Obviously doing this is also denying Jesus as being the Christ, but denying Jesus is not itself the blasphemy spoken of in this verse. Lots of people deny Christ only to later accept Him.

As I posted [post=10665315]previously[/post]:

For various forms of blasphemy, see 2:7; Ex. 22:28; Lev. 24:10–16; Ezek. 35:12, 13; John 10:33–36; Acts 6:11. The unforgivable blasphemy specified here is the act of deliberately associating the power and the work of Jesus, who is full of the Holy Spirit, with the work of Satan. This is to equate supreme spiritual good with supreme spiritual evil, hardening one’s heart in a way that makes repentance, and therefore forgiveness, impossible.

New Geneva study Bible. 1997, c1995 (electronic ed.) (Mk 3:29). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.

 

[frumanchu]

Further notes from the NGSB:

The Unpardonable Sin​

Jesus’ solemn warning about a kind of sin that will not be forgiven, either in this world or the next, is found in three Gospels: Matt. 12:31, 32; Mark 3:28–30; Luke 12:10. It is specifically “blasphemy against the Spirit.” This blasphemy is an act performed by speaking, understood as an expression of the thoughts of the heart (Matt. 12:33–37; cf. Rom. 10:9, 10). In the particular context the opponents of Jesus were saying that the Power doing good works among them was not God but the devil. Jesus distinguishes between this blasphemy and other sins, both other sins of speech and other sins in general. As the Bible teaches, God forgave sins of incest, murder, lying, and even Paul’s persecution of the church, which Paul did while “breathing threats and murder” against God’s people (Acts 9:1).​

What makes the unpardonable sin different from others is its relation to the Holy Spirit. It is the Holy Spirit’s work to enlighten the mind of sinners (Eph. 1:17, 18), to reveal and teach the gospel (John 14:26), persuading souls to repent and believe the truth (cf. Acts 7:51). The Spirit not only explains the Word of God, but He opens the mind so that it is perceived (2 Cor. 3:16, 17). When His influence is deliberately and knowingly refused, in opposition to the light, then the irreversible sin can be committed as a voluntary, informed act of malice. In response there is a hardening of the heart from God that rules out repentance and faith (Heb. 3:12, 13). God permits the decision of the human will to be permanent in this case. God does not do this lightly or without cause, but in response to an offense against His love.​

A person who wants to repent, that is, to reverse the sins they may be guilty of, has not suffered this hardening and has not committed the profound act of hatred that God has determined He will not forgive. Anyone who has been born again will not commit this sin, because the Spirit lives in that person, and God is not divided against Himself (1 John 3:9).​

The other verses dealing with the unpardonable sin are Heb. 6:4–6; 10:26–29; and 1 John 5:16, 17. These show that the possibility of this sin depends on there being particular enlightenment and understanding from God and that it is not a common, everyday matter. Jesus said “all sins” and “whatever blasphemies” will be forgiven, excepting only this one sin.​

New Geneva study Bible. 1997, c1995 (electronic ed.) (Ge 1:1). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.

 

[Van]

Frumanchu, let me restate I said rejecting the Christ, not rejecting Jesus the man. The annointing of the Christ is the Holy Spirit. Unless you trust in Christ, or Jesus Christ, you will remain unforgiven, and thus is the unforgivable sin. Rejecting the Christ is blasepheming the Holy Spirit. You seem to contend it is some sort of special sin, while I see it as run of the mill rebellion. Recall the words of Jesus which in effect said, "if you do not believe me, believe in my miracles." (John 10:38) The key to believing that Jesus was the Christ was to accept that His miracles were by power of the Holy Spirit, and to reject this is to blaspheme the Holy Spirit.

Lets turn to this quote from your second post:

What makes the unpardonable sin different from others is its relation to the Holy Spirit. It is the Holy Spirit’s work to enlighten the mind of sinners (Eph. 1:17, 18), to reveal and teach the gospel (John 14:26), persuading souls to repent and believe the truth (cf. Acts 7:51). The Spirit not only explains the Word of God, but He opens the mind so that it is perceived (2 Cor. 3:16, 17).

Ephesians 1:17-18 has indwelt believers in view, a post salvation condition. These folks are already forgiven. John 14:26 has the benifits of being indwelt in view, a post salvation condition. Acts 7:51 refers to the work of the Holy Spirit done through the testamony of inspired prophets, and yes the Word of God calls all men to repentance and faith. 2 Corinthians 3:16-17 is again referring to folks "in Christ" because the veil is removed in Christ.

Next, the sin is said to be irreversible. I do not see that in the text. So long as you reject the Christ, you blasepheme the Holy Spirit, and as long as continue to reject Christ, you are committing the unforgivable sin. But, if you repent and put your faith in Christ, you shall be saved.

Hebrews 3:12-13 refers to unbelief and how sin blinds us, if any in the audience are not saved, still having an evil unbelieving heart, then brethren exhort each other and thus exhort to tare, to turn from sin and its blinding influence which makes you unable to fully accept the gospel. Rather than following the leading of the unregenerate heart away from God, turn from sin and turn your life over to God.

I agree Hebrews 6:4-7 and 10:26-29 refer to rejecting the gospel and hence the work of the Holy Spirit and hence the Christ. So long as these folks continue to reject the outstretched arms of God, they are committing the unforgivible sin, and having passed up the opportunity to find the narrow door that leads to life, they are in worse shape then before they heard the gospel because there is not other way to attain forgiveness and the sin of rebellion hardens the heart and makes repentance more difficult.

 

[frumanchu]

Van, if the "unforgivable sin" of rejecting Christ is subsequently forgiven at accepting Him, then it wasn't "unforgivable," was it? You seem to be saying in your explanation that "unpardonable" or "unforgivable" refer to the state of the person so long as they commit said sin, instead of the clear meaning which is that the sin itself is unforgivable. It will not be forgiven...in this world or the world to come.

 

[Van]

Frumanchu, I cannot find the text that uses the terms unpardonable or unforgivable. I do see how Matthew 12:32, could be read as you understand the text. Whoever shall speak, or whoever speaks, could mean a once in a lifetime event, as you contend, irreverseably condemning oneself to eternal destruction. But such an understanding is unnecessary, I think it could mean as long as one holds this view, you will not be forgiven. I see nothing in the text to tip it one way or the other.

Note verse 33, make of the tree... means decide for Christ or against Christ and suggests to my not altogether unbiased mind, opportunity as far as the eye can see.

 

[Stinker]

Even those who consider themselves 'saved' Christians, commit this sin when they deny any of New Testament commandments that Christians are supposed to obey.