Unpardonable Sin

[Proeliator]

Matthew 12:30-32 (New International Version)

30"He who is not with me is against me, and he who does not gather with me scatters. 31And so I tell you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven. 32Anyone 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.

Mark 3:28-29 (New International Version)

28I tell you the truth, all the sins and blasphemies of men will be forgiven them. 29But whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven; he is guilty of an eternal sin."

What really is the unpardonable sin? I have a friend that is scared he committed it when very angry and high. How do I speak to him on this so that he can reconcile himself to God and repent?

 

[hlaltimus]

All sins are unpardonable if not covered by the atonement of Christ, therefore THE unpardonable sin mentioned in the scriptures is a sin which was committed and is not covered by that atonement because God Almighty has withheld His personal willingness to pardon in the heavenlies even though the offer of pardon exists in the scriptures on Earth. The Word of God does hold out hope that "The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, a broken and a contrite heart, These, O God, You will not despise." Psalm 51:17 but since a repentant heart is a gift of God there will be no acceptable repentance in the event that God withholds this grace. Christ sits enthroned in the heavens to intercede for guilty sinners before the Father while His Word extends that offer of mercy upon Earth, but if God were to terminate a person's candidacy for mercy, as far as His disposition to impart mercy is concerned, the offending sinner is then left with a Bible that declares the letter of hope to him while the Holy Spirit has permanently abandoned that sinner to his or her ill choice of consequence. Here, strangely enough, is where the hope is: Why would God the Father withhold clemancy through His Son and still, after all of that, allow the ministry of the Holy Spirit towards that sinner? He wouldn't. As long as there is evidence of the work of the Holy Spirit towards a sinner, the parties of God the Father and God the Son still remain in an open position to gratify one's desire for mercy. If a person still wants "In" on God's mercy and seeks that mercy with "all of your heart" where, pray tell, did that new heart come from? Right...the Holy Spirit. Satan is a great fan of piling doubts into a person's mind that they have committed this sin, but he isn't God and if God the Father has placed the person and work of the Holy Spirit towards a sinner, then the other two members of the Holy Trinity are still in the forgiving business towards that sinner. If a truly broken and contrite heart exist in a sinner, there is still hope regardless of what the "father of lies" insinuates

 

[Proeliator]

I may be wrong, but that seens very off the mark for an answer.

 

[frumanchu]

From the Reformation Study Bible:

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.



​

 

[Imblessed]

my pastor said that was the sin of seeing the power of Jesus and his good works and attributing it to the devil. Before pentecost, one could commit this sin, but once the Holy Spirit came, it is impossible to commit this sin as a christian, since the Holy Spirit dwells in us.

He says it's impossible now for a christian to commit the "unpardonable sin".

I'm in conversation right now with someone about Hebrews 6:4-6. Maybe that has something to do with this?

 

[frumanchu]

I would agree that it is impossible for a Christian to commit the unpardonable sin. I do believe however that unregenerate men can do so.

 

[spirit1st]

I AM NOT SO SURE?HE SAID?YOU WILL NOT BE FORGIVEN IN THIS WORLD?NOR THE WORLD TO COME!
AS I HAVE HAD those who say they are christains.tell me ,you have a devil!
Because they could not understand?Spiritual things!
laughting and mocking of the HOLY GHOST is also this sin.
As many mock those whospeak in tongues!or do works by the HOLY GHOST!

Mar 3:28 Verily I say unto you, All sins shall be forgiven unto the sons of men, and blasphemies wherewith soever they shall blaspheme:
Mar 3:29 But he that shall blaspheme against the Holy Ghost hath never forgiveness, but is in danger of eternal damnation:
Mar 3:30 Because they said, He hath an unclean spirit.

 

[JJB]

shadrach, the fact that your friend is concerned is a good thing. He demonstrates a heart that wants to obey. He is showing signs of conviction.
Encourage him to ask for forgiveness. Then remind him of the verse that says "As far as the east is from the west, so is your sin". Sorry, my paraphrase.

 

[Imblessed]

I would agree that it is impossible for a Christian to commit the unpardonable sin. I do believe however that unregenerate men can do so.

absolutely

 

[Proeliator]

shadrach, the fact that your friend is concerned is a good thing. He demonstrates a heart that wants to obey. He is showing signs of conviction.
Encourage him to ask for forgiveness. Then remind him of the verse that says "As far as the east is from the west, so is your sin". Sorry, my paraphrase.

I gave him my NIV And will call him tonight to see how he is doing. This is good practice If I really plan to become a minister.

 

[JJB]

Is he a Christian?

 

[spirit1st]

HERES THE DEAL TO ME?If your friend was out of his mind?he might be forgiven. if your friend has not been born of GOD.He migfht be forgiven.Because,once we are truly reborn.we become NEW CREATURES.
The old us is dead and gone forever!
Would would repent on move on!
Because.You see?HE says not in this world or the world to come?It could be?they will enter into lifeand not recieve there rewards or as much ,or it could be.That anyone in this future world who does this will be dealt with.But I think ,your frind is alright.Because,it is the HOLY GHOST THAT MAKES HIM FEEL BAD!
WE CANNOT REPENT WITH OUT HIM.
judas wanted to?But could not!

tell him to pray and give HIM LIFE TO JESUS CHRIST.MAKING JESUS CHRIST HIS LORD AND MASTER.ASKING TO BE FORGIVEN FPOR ALL HIS SINS.!
THE NEW BIRTH IS JUST AS PROFOUND AS OUR 1st. BUT IT IS IN OUR SPIRITS and we know it when it takes place!

 

[Proeliator]

Is he a Christian?

Well, he attends Catholic services, but has lately been looking at things from a more protestant point of view...And is worried about wether or not he CAN get salvation.

 

[Imblessed]

What really is the unpardonable sin? I have a friend that is scared he committed it when very angry and high. How do I speak to him on this so that he can reconcile himself to God and repent?

One thing I can say is, it's not just the act of cursing God when one is angry at him. I know there are christians out there, who, in a time of trouble or weakness, have cursed God. We get angry at Him sometimes when we don't understand why He does things the way He does. If God cannot forgive our "humanness", then He is a very insecure God indeed. He knows we are going to get mad at Him, he knows we get frustrated and agry sometimes. We are weak.

General prevailing belief is that commiting the unpardonable sin is going to the grave in disbelief. But this is a very arminian belief, since what they are saying is that a person denys the Holy Spirit all through life.