unforgivable sin?

[GrowingInHim]

could someone please explain to me more about the unforgivable sin- blasphemy against the holy spirit?

Thanks

 

[Phoebe]

I have heard it described as giving Satan credit for the works of the Holy Spirit.

 

[MissFirerose]

I don't think there's any sin that's completely unforgivable. I belive Jesus loves us unconditionally.

 

[AdamWeeden]

I don't think there's any sin that's completely unforgivable. I belive Jesus loves us unconditionally.

I believe the poster is referring to Matthew 12:32, Mark 3:29, and Luke 12:10.

They basicly say the same thing, here is the NIV of Luke 12:10 "And everyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but anyone who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven."

 

[TheOriginalWhitehorse]

could someone please explain to me more about the unforgivable sin- blasphemy against the holy spirit?

Thanks

It's also something the devil is famous for deceiving new Christians into thinking they've done. If anyone feels really concerned they've done this, they probably haven't, because their hearts would have to be so hard that they wouldn't care about their relationship with the Lord. God protects all of His people from committing this sin. Every one of them will be protected.

 

[Reformationist]

I have heard it described as giving Satan credit for the works of the Holy Spirit.

Or phrased another way, saying that the works of the Holy Spirit are not the work of God but actually the work of the devil. I know these two statements sound the same but there is a difference in their emphasis. To give satan credit for godly works is one thing but to proclaim that the works of God are actually works of the devil is a bit more blasphemous.

God bless

 

[Phoebe]

Whitehorse, I've seen this happen, too.

Reformationist- good point. I'm careful what I attribute to the devil.

 

[JeffreyLloyd]

could someone please explain to me more about the unforgivable sin- blasphemy against the holy spirit?

Thanks

It is pretty simple. All sins are forgivable. The sin against the Holy Spirit the verse is talking about is simply rejecting God. We sin against the Holy Spirit when we see & know of God and His wonderful grace and flat out reject it.

An example I guess would be an atheist.

 

[jamie_lynn]

This is the best definition I’ve ever heard of the unforgivable sin. We know that God is able to forgive our sins because of Christ. So how can there be something that He won’t forgive? In actuality, the unforgivable sin is putting off Christ for so long that you don’t care anymore. Let’s say you feel the Spirit of God calling you to make a decision, or to make a change in your life, but you continually push him away and ignore these thoughts and feelings. After a while, the Spirit will become less and less noticeable as you continue to push Him away. Now I know from personal experience that God is patient with us, not wanting anyone to perish but wanting all to come to know Him, so I don’t know how long this takes. But basically, the unforgivable sin is not something that you do, rather it is something that you don’t do by ignoring God and telling Him you don’t want him to be a part of your life. It is kind of like the way God hardened Pharoah’s heart.

Basically, if you are questioning whether you have committed the unforgivable sin, then it is safe to say that you have not.

 

[TheOriginalWhitehorse]

It is pretty simple. All sins are forgivable. The sin against the Holy Spirit the verse is talking about is simply rejecting God. We sin against the Holy Spirit when we see & know of God and His wonderful grace and flat out reject it.

An example I guess would be an atheist.

Here's the verse that is being referred to, but it might be a good idea to read the whole passage:

But He that shall blaspheme against the Holy Ghost hath never forgiveness; but is in danger of eternal damnation: Because they said, He hath an unclean spirit. Mark 3:29-30

 

[Reformationist]

Those of you who think that blasphemy of the Holy Spirit is merely ignoring Christ or ignoring the call of God should consider something. The word used here is "blasphemeo" and it is a clear reference to something spoken:

blasphemeo -
1) to speak reproachfully, rail at, revile, calumniate, blaspheme
2) to be evil spoken of, reviled, railed at

 

[JeffreyLloyd]

I agree with jamie_lynn.

 

[Reformationist]

I agree with jamie_lynn.

She kind of just repeated what you said didn't she?

Do you mean that you agree with her whole post or just the part about what blaspheme is?

Any comment on my previous post?

 

[JeffreyLloyd]

She kind of just repeated what you said didn't she?

Do you mean that you agree with her whole post or just the part about what blaspheme is?

Any comment on my previous post?

Pretty much her whole post. What is your take on on the verse? (I'm still thiking about your last post

 

[Reformationist]

Pretty much her whole post. What is your take on on the verse? (I'm still thiking about your last post

Well, I think that Jesus is telling the scribes that they are on dangerous ground. He is telling them that they had better think twice about what they're doing. You see, you and jamie_lynn are saying that blaspheming the Holy Spirit is merely ignoring the call of God but Jesus is very clear about the matter. He tells them that all manner of sins shall be forgiven except that one. They attribute His work of casting demons out to His indwelling of the "ruler of the demons." They are blatantly saying that Christ is casting out demons by the power of satan. He warns them against doing this because it is a line that, once crossed, cannot be recovered from. The thing I think both you and jamie_lynn seem to be overlooking is that Jesus plainly says, "he who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness, but is subject to eternal condemnation"-- because they SAID, "He has an unclean spirit."

Jesus clearly shows that blasphemy against the Holy Spirit is saying that someone who is doing the work of the Lord is doing it by the power of an unclean spirit. Jesus says that those who do this are subject to eternal condemnation "because they said, "He has an unclean spirit."

That's my take.

 

[JeffreyLloyd]

Thanks for that Don. I'm going to take my Bible to school (i'm on the way out the door now) and give that a good read over.

Thanks again.

 

[Reformationist]

Thanks for that Don. I'm going to take my Bible to school (i'm on the way out the door now) and give that a good read over.

Thanks again.

My pleasure my brother. If you gain any understanding that may help the rest of us please be sure to share.

God bless,
Don

 

[NotTroy]

Here is what I have learned about blasphemy against the Holy Spirit.

Jesus says that anything you say against Him will be forgiven but that blasphamey against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven.

From what I have read on the subject, the reason you will not be forgiven is different from what one might think. The Holy Spirit is the regenerative force present in all Christians. Everyone who is a Christian has the Holy Spirit working inside of them in order to make them into the new creations we all must be in order to be truly like Christ. Part of the Holy Spirit working inside of you is that He, for lack of a better way to say it at the moment, makes you worry about sin. If not for the Holy Spirit you would never really think about whether what you are doing is a sin against God or not. You just wouldn't care.

This shows us a couple things.
1. If you are worrying that you may have commited this unpardonable sin, than you most certainly have not because that means the Holy Spirit is still working on you. If the Holy Spirit is still working on you than you are still a Christian and you are still washed clean by Jesus' blood. This is why it is impossible for a Christian to commit this sin. A requirement for truly commiting this sin is that you either do not know or do not care whether it is a sin. You would have to be "Holy" Spiritually dead on the inside if you will forgive my play on words.

2. In order to blasphemy the Holy Spirit than the Holy Spirit cannot be at work inside of you. The only ones who have to worry about this sin are those without Christ. This sort of leads me to the belief that the reason this sin is unforgivable is not because God doesn't want to forgive you. The reason I think it is unforgivable is because anyone with this attitude is not able to truly seek forgiveness. In order for God to forgive us we must seek out that forgiveness and find it in Christ. If someone has an attitude like this than maybe (I say maybe because this is the part I am most unsure about) as long as they keep this attitude than it is not possible for them to even ask for forgiveness.

By far though the most important of these to us Christians is the one I am certain of. A Christian cannot commit the unpardonable sin. The Holy Spirit working inside them would not let them.

 

[TheOriginalWhitehorse]

NotTroy, very well said. Thank you for that excellent post.