The Unpardonable Sin

[StephenDM]

There seems to be a lot of people here worried about committing the unpardonable sin.

I recently heard Dr. David Hocking explain the following verse:

For if we keep on sinning after receiving the knowledge of the truth, no further sacrifice for sins is left for us
- Hebrews 10:26

Dr. David Hocking is a expert on the original Biblical languages. He seemed to say that the wilful sin that this verse describes does not refer to our own continual, rebellious, premeditated sinful acts and thoughts but rather the refusal of a person to bring a sacrifice to God to atone for their sins. If you read the whole chapter of Hebrews 10 you will see that this interpretation fits like a pea in a pod.

In the context of the Jewish sacrificial system of the Old Testament, this would be someone who refused to bring an animal sacrifice to God. In the context of the New Covenant, this would someone who refuses to acknowlege that Jesus died so that they could be saved - this is the only unpardonable sin - refusal to bring a sacrifice.

 

[joshua41]

The unpardonable sin that I used to worry about (and still do off and on ) was the one in Mathew 12 where he says whoever blasphemies the holy spirit will never have forgiveness.

 

[StephenDM]

For this reason I tell you, people will be forgiven for every sin and blasphemy, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven.
- Matthew 12:31 (NET)

I think this might be a way to interpret this verse:

Because we are so dead in our sins and our nature is so completely anti-God, the only way God can save us is by drawing us towards Him using His Holy Spirit. Blasphemy against the Spirit would then be rejecting the need for the Holy Spirit to work in us in order for us to believe in Jesus and be saved.

It would be insulting to God's Spirit for us to tell Him that I am able to accept Christ all on my own without the help of His Spirit since God knows that would be impossible.

"there is none righteous, not even one, there is no one who understands, there is no one who seeks God." - Romans 3:10 (NET)