Over the centuries many people have strayed far from God. Some have committed terrible, horrifying acts and have questioned whether God could ever forgive them. Even in the Bible, we see instances of rape, adultery, suicide, murder, and so on. This has led some to ask, “Is there any sin that God can not or will not forgive?” This question will be the topic of today’s message.
On one particular instance during His ministry of earth, Jesus spoke about the “unpardonable sin”. That sounds a bit unsettling, doesn’t it? Perhaps there is a sin that God will not forgive. This scene is recorded in all 3 synoptic gospels - Matthew, Mark, and Luke. So, what is this unpardonable sin and am I guilty of it? Let’s open our Bibles and find out…
I. THE PHARISEES’ SIN
28 “Truly I say to you, all sins will be forgiven the sons and daughters of men, and whatever blasphemies they commit; 29 but whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness, but is guilty of an eternal sin”— 30 because they were saying, “He has an unclean spirit.” - Mark 3:28-30
31 “Therefore I say to you, every sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven people, but blasphemy against the Spirit shall not be forgiven. 32 And whoever speaks a word against the Son of Man, it shall be forgiven him; but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit, it shall not be forgiven him, either in this age or in the age to come.” - Matthew 12:31-32
8 “Now I say to you, everyone who confesses Me before people, the Son of Man will also confess him before the angels of God; 9 but the one who denies Me before people will be denied before the angels of God. 10 And everyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man, it will be forgiven him; but the one who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit, it will not be forgiven him.” - Luke 12:8-10
On several occasions throughout His earthly ministry Jesus cast unclean spirits out of people who were demon possessed. In the passages noted above, He cast a demon out of a blind and mute man who was then immediately able to see and speak. When the watching crowd began to wonder if Jesus was indeed the Messiah, the scribes and Pharisees quickly jumped in and accused Him of casting out demons by the power of Beelzebul - the ruler of demons. They claimed that Jesus’ authority over evil spirits did not come from God, but from Satan.
Jesus rebuffed their accusations with a series of logical arguments. First, He questioned why the ruler of demons would go about casting out demons. To do so would be counterproductive and contrarian. It would be self-sabotage, as a kingdom divided against itself cannot stand. Second, Jesus stated that since they believed that Jewish exorcists could cast out demons by the power of God, then they should be able to accept that He was doing likewise. Third, using an analogy, Jesus explained that God was more powerful than Satan (ie, the strong man) and was therefore able to bind him and plunder his house (in this case, by casting out demons).
Then Jesus addressed the Pharisees’ sin. He said that they were blaspheming the Holy Spirit. According to the “Got Questions” website, blasphemy can be defined simply as “defiant irreverence”. It includes such sins as cursing God or willfully degrading things related to Him. Blasphemy also refers to attributing some evil to God or denying some good that should be attributed to Him.
Specifically, the Pharisees were accusing Jesus of being demon-possessed rather than Spirit-filled. They were claiming that Jesus Himself had an unclean spirit. Despite having heard and seen His truthfulness and power - which provided ample evidence of His holy identity, they knowingly, defiantly and willfully maligned the Spirit of God. By blaspheming the Holy Spirit, they were rejecting the Son upon whom He dwelt, and the Father from Whom He was sent. To blaspheme the Holy Spirit is to blaspheme God, as the Holy Spirit is God.
Jesus told the people that God would forgive all sorts of sins and slanders among the people. However, those who blasphemed the Holy Spirit would not be forgiven either in this age or the age to come. They would be guilty of eternal and unpardonable sin, because they’d rejected the work of the Holy Spirit and equated it with evil. Jesus stated that God even would forgive those who spoke words against Him - the Son of Man, but not those who reviled the Holy Spirit. Therefore, the Pharisees and those who joined them in blaspheming the Holy Spirit, were hopelessly condemned.
II. THE MODERN EQUIVALENT
8 And He [The Holy Spirit], when He comes, will convict the world regarding sin, and righteousness, and judgment: - John 16:8
44 No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him [by the Holy Spirit]; and I will raise him up on the last day. - John 6:44
14 But a natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned. - 1 Corinthians 2:14
Since His Ascension into Heaven some 2,000 years ago, Jesus no longer walks the earth in a physical body but rather sits in Heaven at the right hand of God. Thus, we can not personally witness Jesus performing miracles in the same way as those who followed Him during His earthly ministry. That said, we do recognize that God can and still does perform miracles through the power of the Holy Spirit. What’s more, though it may not mirror the actions of these Pharisees exactly, it is still possible for people to knowingly, willfully, and defiantly reject and/or malign the divine work of the Holy Spirit.
What exactly is the work of the Holy Spirit? The Holy Spirit does many things, but as it pertains to the issue at hand, He convicts the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment. In other words, He reproves sinners and shows them that they are wrong. Carnal men live in darkness and are blinded to the truth of God. Apart from Holy Spirit conviction, no one would ever recognize their sin or their need for repentance. This is what is meant when we talk about the “total depravity” of sin. No person can come to salvation on their own initiative or by their own prerogative unless drawn by the Holy Spirit. Apart from the convicting work of the Holy Spirit, all people are hopelessly and helplessly lost in their sin and separated from a saving knowledge of God.
Therefore, those who reject and/or mischaracterize the goodness and activity of the Holy Spirit will never know the redeeming power of God’s grace. Blasphemy of the Holy Spirit can be understood today as a continued, willful state of unbelief. It is a defiant resistance to the conviction of the Holy Spirit and a stubborn refusal to submit to His nudging. Those who do not surrender to the convicting call of the Holy Spirit cannot be saved, and therefore have committed the “unpardonable sin”.
CONCLUSION
God loves us. In fact, there is nothing that we can do as created beings that will separate us from His love. To go a step further, there is nothing that Satan, his demons, or any other evil power or principality can do to us that will separate us from God’s love (Romans 8:38-39). God’s love for us is unconditional, immeasurable, and unbreakable.
Because of His great love, God’s deepest desire is for every person to come to repentance and to live in a close and intimate relationship with Him (2 Peter 3:9). To this end, God has willingly and graciously forgiven all of mankind’s sin through the substitutionary death of His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ. There is no sin that we have done, can do, or will do, that is not covered by the atoning sacrifice of Jesus. “It is finished!” The debt of sin has been paid in full and the power of death has been eternally broken.
When a person comes under Holy Spirit conviction, repents of their sin, and places their faith in Jesus as Lord and Savior, the forgiveness that He secured on the cross is applied to their sin. It is credited to their account and their debt is canceled. They are made righteous and justified before God, and reconciled to Him. The forgiveness that Jesus offers is like a coupon that can be used for salvation. The price has already been paid, but in order to attain the free gift, a sinner must redeem the coupon - otherwise, Jesus’ death is of no avail for that individual.
My friend, don’t blaspheme the Holy Spirit by foolishly and definitely continuing in disbelief. Don’t commit the unpardonable sin. Instead, trust that Jesus is the Son of God. Listen to the Spirit’s conviction and affirm the truth that He’s telling you. Jesus saves! Redeem the coupon and receive forgiveness and salvation today!
On one particular instance during His ministry of earth, Jesus spoke about the “unpardonable sin”. That sounds a bit unsettling, doesn’t it? Perhaps there is a sin that God will not forgive. This scene is recorded in all 3 synoptic gospels - Matthew, Mark, and Luke. So, what is this unpardonable sin and am I guilty of it? Let’s open our Bibles and find out…
I. THE PHARISEES’ SIN
28 “Truly I say to you, all sins will be forgiven the sons and daughters of men, and whatever blasphemies they commit; 29 but whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness, but is guilty of an eternal sin”— 30 because they were saying, “He has an unclean spirit.” - Mark 3:28-30
31 “Therefore I say to you, every sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven people, but blasphemy against the Spirit shall not be forgiven. 32 And whoever speaks a word against the Son of Man, it shall be forgiven him; but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit, it shall not be forgiven him, either in this age or in the age to come.” - Matthew 12:31-32
8 “Now I say to you, everyone who confesses Me before people, the Son of Man will also confess him before the angels of God; 9 but the one who denies Me before people will be denied before the angels of God. 10 And everyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man, it will be forgiven him; but the one who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit, it will not be forgiven him.” - Luke 12:8-10
On several occasions throughout His earthly ministry Jesus cast unclean spirits out of people who were demon possessed. In the passages noted above, He cast a demon out of a blind and mute man who was then immediately able to see and speak. When the watching crowd began to wonder if Jesus was indeed the Messiah, the scribes and Pharisees quickly jumped in and accused Him of casting out demons by the power of Beelzebul - the ruler of demons. They claimed that Jesus’ authority over evil spirits did not come from God, but from Satan.
Jesus rebuffed their accusations with a series of logical arguments. First, He questioned why the ruler of demons would go about casting out demons. To do so would be counterproductive and contrarian. It would be self-sabotage, as a kingdom divided against itself cannot stand. Second, Jesus stated that since they believed that Jewish exorcists could cast out demons by the power of God, then they should be able to accept that He was doing likewise. Third, using an analogy, Jesus explained that God was more powerful than Satan (ie, the strong man) and was therefore able to bind him and plunder his house (in this case, by casting out demons).
Then Jesus addressed the Pharisees’ sin. He said that they were blaspheming the Holy Spirit. According to the “Got Questions” website, blasphemy can be defined simply as “defiant irreverence”. It includes such sins as cursing God or willfully degrading things related to Him. Blasphemy also refers to attributing some evil to God or denying some good that should be attributed to Him.
Specifically, the Pharisees were accusing Jesus of being demon-possessed rather than Spirit-filled. They were claiming that Jesus Himself had an unclean spirit. Despite having heard and seen His truthfulness and power - which provided ample evidence of His holy identity, they knowingly, defiantly and willfully maligned the Spirit of God. By blaspheming the Holy Spirit, they were rejecting the Son upon whom He dwelt, and the Father from Whom He was sent. To blaspheme the Holy Spirit is to blaspheme God, as the Holy Spirit is God.
Jesus told the people that God would forgive all sorts of sins and slanders among the people. However, those who blasphemed the Holy Spirit would not be forgiven either in this age or the age to come. They would be guilty of eternal and unpardonable sin, because they’d rejected the work of the Holy Spirit and equated it with evil. Jesus stated that God even would forgive those who spoke words against Him - the Son of Man, but not those who reviled the Holy Spirit. Therefore, the Pharisees and those who joined them in blaspheming the Holy Spirit, were hopelessly condemned.
II. THE MODERN EQUIVALENT
8 And He [The Holy Spirit], when He comes, will convict the world regarding sin, and righteousness, and judgment: - John 16:8
44 No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him [by the Holy Spirit]; and I will raise him up on the last day. - John 6:44
14 But a natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned. - 1 Corinthians 2:14
Since His Ascension into Heaven some 2,000 years ago, Jesus no longer walks the earth in a physical body but rather sits in Heaven at the right hand of God. Thus, we can not personally witness Jesus performing miracles in the same way as those who followed Him during His earthly ministry. That said, we do recognize that God can and still does perform miracles through the power of the Holy Spirit. What’s more, though it may not mirror the actions of these Pharisees exactly, it is still possible for people to knowingly, willfully, and defiantly reject and/or malign the divine work of the Holy Spirit.
What exactly is the work of the Holy Spirit? The Holy Spirit does many things, but as it pertains to the issue at hand, He convicts the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment. In other words, He reproves sinners and shows them that they are wrong. Carnal men live in darkness and are blinded to the truth of God. Apart from Holy Spirit conviction, no one would ever recognize their sin or their need for repentance. This is what is meant when we talk about the “total depravity” of sin. No person can come to salvation on their own initiative or by their own prerogative unless drawn by the Holy Spirit. Apart from the convicting work of the Holy Spirit, all people are hopelessly and helplessly lost in their sin and separated from a saving knowledge of God.
Therefore, those who reject and/or mischaracterize the goodness and activity of the Holy Spirit will never know the redeeming power of God’s grace. Blasphemy of the Holy Spirit can be understood today as a continued, willful state of unbelief. It is a defiant resistance to the conviction of the Holy Spirit and a stubborn refusal to submit to His nudging. Those who do not surrender to the convicting call of the Holy Spirit cannot be saved, and therefore have committed the “unpardonable sin”.
CONCLUSION
God loves us. In fact, there is nothing that we can do as created beings that will separate us from His love. To go a step further, there is nothing that Satan, his demons, or any other evil power or principality can do to us that will separate us from God’s love (Romans 8:38-39). God’s love for us is unconditional, immeasurable, and unbreakable.
Because of His great love, God’s deepest desire is for every person to come to repentance and to live in a close and intimate relationship with Him (2 Peter 3:9). To this end, God has willingly and graciously forgiven all of mankind’s sin through the substitutionary death of His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ. There is no sin that we have done, can do, or will do, that is not covered by the atoning sacrifice of Jesus. “It is finished!” The debt of sin has been paid in full and the power of death has been eternally broken.
When a person comes under Holy Spirit conviction, repents of their sin, and places their faith in Jesus as Lord and Savior, the forgiveness that He secured on the cross is applied to their sin. It is credited to their account and their debt is canceled. They are made righteous and justified before God, and reconciled to Him. The forgiveness that Jesus offers is like a coupon that can be used for salvation. The price has already been paid, but in order to attain the free gift, a sinner must redeem the coupon - otherwise, Jesus’ death is of no avail for that individual.
My friend, don’t blaspheme the Holy Spirit by foolishly and definitely continuing in disbelief. Don’t commit the unpardonable sin. Instead, trust that Jesus is the Son of God. Listen to the Spirit’s conviction and affirm the truth that He’s telling you. Jesus saves! Redeem the coupon and receive forgiveness and salvation today!