the unpardonable sin

[toddlermom]

first of all, if anyone is worried whether you have commited the unpardonable sin...you haven't. Dr. Frank Harbor is an excellent preacher, and he put it very nicely. You can't be saved unless called by the Holy Spirit, and when he calls you and you reject him over and over again, I feel that eventually you will commit that sin, and you will be dead in Christ. Frank Harbor said that when someone commits this sin, they won't even care!!! Because they are basically the living dead!!! I feel everyone will have a cut-off point with God, but i also feel that you have to reject the conviction of the Holy Spirit up to that line and then you have committed the unpardonable sin.

[SDAinFLA]

I would agree with everyone else and just wanted to add what I see the unpardonable sin to be:

Jesus did many miracles and many people believed in Him, but when the scribes heard about it, they said, "...He hath Beelzebub, and by the prince of the devils casteth he out devils." Mark 3:22

I believe the scriptural and visual evidence showed them that Jesus was the Son of God without a shadow of a doubt. Jesus made every provision to show that He was the Messiah. Jesus arguements were convincing, but I believe after all of that the scribes still rejected God.

I believe this was the foundation of Blaspheming the Holy Spirit. They rejected God, even when the evidence was clear.

[Guest Enchiridion]

You'll get a range of answers to this but one sin that becomes unpardonable is the sin of unforgiveness.

That is to say if you die refusing to forgive your brother some perceived offense, you will not be forgiven, according to the very words of Christ. He tells us to "forgive and you shall be forgiven."

I think the original question was in reference to the passage in Matthew 12:

31 And so I tell you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven. 32 Anyone 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. and exactly what constitutes blaspheming the Holy Spirit.

If we understand that faith comes to us through the working of the Holy Spirit in our hearts, then rejecting the Holy Spirit pushes the faith that saves us away too.

If we die having pushed away faith --and the grace that comes with it-- we go to hell. If we reject that faith, but then later see the error of our ways and receive the Holy Spirit again, we go to heaven.

When Jesus discusses our spirit of forgiveness for others, He is giving guidance on how the faithful (e.g., those ALREADY saved) should behave, not giving a proscription for salvation.

Enchiridion

[Guest Enchiridion]

Wow, Keith, I'm really glad I re-read your reply for a third (fourth?) time. My first impression of what you were saying was totally off the mark. I now realize your comments are right on!

Just goes to show me once again that I should ponder before I pontificate.

Have a blessed day!

Enchiridion

[Keith]

Wow, Keith, I'm really glad I re-read your reply for a third (fourth?) time.  My first impression of what you were saying was totally off the mark.  I now realize your comments are right on! 

Just goes to show me once again that I should ponder before I pontificate.

Have a blessed day!

Enchiridion

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Enchiridion, Did I word my post oddly? I try to pay attention to how I word things so that humor comes out as humor and my ideas come out clearly. I don't always succeed, though!

I know what you mean though! I hate it when I put my foot in my mouth! For me that happens when my speech comes faster than my thinking. Sometimes when I'm reading other people's posts, if I think I could be misunderstanding something, I'll PM them first for clarification before I respond.

[Guest Enchiridion]

[ Did I word my post oddly?  I try to pay attention to how I word things so that humor comes out as humor and my ideas come out clearly.  I don't always succeed, though!

Oh, my goodness, the fault is entirely mine. You were quite clear! The first time I just skimmed your post and formed an assumption, then read the whole thing based on that assumption, which, upon reading carefully the next day, I realized was in error. When I read all your words, in order, your meaning was perfectly clear.

Sometimes when I'm reading other people's posts, if I think I could be misunderstanding something, I'll PM them first for clarification before I respond.

Excellent advice. If a poster is truly unclear (which you were NOT!) that's a great approach to take.

God bless,

Enchiridion

[Keith]

Enchiridion,

Excellent advice. If a poster is truly unclear (which you were NOT!) that's a great approach to take.

Sure beats the "Open Mouth, Insert Shoestore" method!

[Guest Bro David™]

Sure beats the "Open Mouth, Insert Shoestore" method! 

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

You mean like what ya just did ?..LOL

[Guest Enchiridion]