The Unpardonable Sin

[Starise]

Many years ago I was certain I had committed the unpardonable sin, even as a believer. I had a very frustrated loose tongue moment and I said some things that had mention of the Holy Ghost in them in a not good way.

I looking back, I believe God forgave me for it, but even to this day when things go bad I look back and wonder if some of it is the result of those words. Not necessarily unforgiven, just that it follows me as an event that should not have ever happend.

Since I'm bringing it up I will post scripture references.

Mark 3:22-30

22 And the teachers of the law who came down from Jerusalem said, "He is possessed by Beelzebul! By the prince of demons he is driving out demons." 23 So Jesus called them over to him and began to speak to them in parables: "How can Satan drive out Satan? 24 If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. 25 If a house is divided against itself, that house cannot stand. 26 And if Satan opposes himself and is divided, he cannot stand; his end has come. 27 In fact, no one can enter a strong man's house without first tying him up. Then he can plunder the strong man's house. 28 Truly I tell you, people can be forgiven all their sins and every slander they utter, 29 but whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven; they are guilty of an eternal sin." 30 He said this because they were saying, "He has an impure spirit."

Matthew 12:31-32

And so I tell you, every kind of sin and slander can be forgiven, but 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. 33

My understanding of this text is that since the Holy Spirit IS ABSOLUTELY the working force behind our salvation through Jesus, then blasphemy or denying the Holy Spirit's power effectively cancels out the ability to get saved by that individual's choice.

Nearly as I can tell, what makes the sin unforgivable is the ongoing nature of the sin. If an individual however, has a change of heart later on and stops with those attitudes and thoughts, then they are allowing the Holy Spirit to do His work in their life.

The two key phrases in the above passages are " blasphemes against" and "speaks against" which I interpret to mean any unbelief against the HS or attributing the power of the Holy Spirit to Satan. Another consideration is that since God is triune, then speaking against God Himself would also be speaking against the HS correct? Why does Jesus single out the Holy Spirit? In fact in these passages God is not mentioned at all only Jesus and the Holy Spirit.

Thoughts? Can somebody help to unpack this a little better?

I would think probably one of the most horrible realizations would be to realize you committed this sin and can't ever become a child of God, although I have been under the impression that those who commit the sin are so spiritually dead, this realization never occurs to them.

 

[steve morrow]

THOSE  THAT  PERISH

 

JOHN 6:63  it is the spirit that quickeneth the flesh profiteth nothing  ---the words that I speak unto you they are spirit and they are life---

 

ACTS 3:22  for moses truly said unto the fathers a prophet shall  THE  LORD  YOUR  GOD  raise up unto you of your brethren like unto me --HIM  shall you hear in  --all--  things whatsoever  HE  shall say unto you 

--3:23--  AND  IT  SHALL  COME  TO  PASS  --THAT  EVERY  SOUL--  WHICH  WILL  NOT  HEAR  THAT  PROPHET  ---  SHALL  BE  DESTROYED  FROM  AMONG  THE  PEOPLE 

 

2 THESSALONIANS  2:10  and with all deceiveableness in them that   --PERISH--  because they received not  --THE  LOVE  OF  THE  TRUTH-- that they might be saved--

 

LOVING  THE  LORD  JESUS  CHRIST 

[Starise]

Do you care to expound on any of this @steve morrow? I have read all of the verses. I'm looking for dialog.

[AdHoc]

I'm glad you quoted Mark.

2 hours ago, Starise said:

Many years ago I was certain I had committed the unpardonable sin, even as a believer. I had a very frustrated loose tongue moment and I said some things that had mention of the Holy Ghost in them in a not good way.

I looking back, I believe God forgave me for it, but even to this day when things go bad I look back and wonder if some of it is the result of those words. Not necessarily unforgiven, just that it follows me as an event that should not have ever happend.

Since I'm bringing it up I will post scripture references.

Mark 3:22-30

22 And the teachers of the law who came down from Jerusalem said, "He is possessed by Beelzebul! By the prince of demons he is driving out demons." 23 So Jesus called them over to him and began to speak to them in parables: "How can Satan drive out Satan? 24 If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. 25 If a house is divided against itself, that house cannot stand. 26 And if Satan opposes himself and is divided, he cannot stand; his end has come. 27 In fact, no one can enter a strong man's house without first tying him up. Then he can plunder the strong man's house. 28 Truly I tell you, people can be forgiven all their sins and every slander they utter, 29 but whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven; they are guilty of an eternal sin." 30 He said this because they were saying, "He has an impure spirit."

Matthew 12:31-32

And so I tell you, every kind of sin and slander can be forgiven, but 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. 33

My understanding of this text is that since the Holy Spirit IS ABSOLUTELY the working force behind our salvation through Jesus, then blasphemy or denying the Holy Spirit's power effectively cancels out the ability to get saved by that individual's choice.

Nearly as I can tell, what makes the sin unforgivable is the ongoing nature of the sin. If an individual however, has a change of heart later on and stops with those attitudes and thoughts, then they are allowing the Holy Spirit to do His work in their life.

The two key phrases in the above passages are " blasphemes against" and "speaks against" which I interpret to mean any unbelief against the HS or attributing the power of the Holy Spirit to Satan. Another consideration is that since God is triune, then speaking against God Himself would also be speaking against the HS correct? Why does Jesus single out the Holy Spirit? In fact in these passages God is not mentioned at all only Jesus and the Holy Spirit.

Thoughts? Can somebody help to unpack this a little better?

I would think probably one of the most horrible realizations would be to realize you committed this sin and can't ever become a child of God, although I have been under the impression that those who commit the sin are so spiritually dead, this realization never occurs to them.

 

I'm glad you quoted Mark*. It has a hint. But let us examine the context first, the threats second and the consequences third.

The context is not difficult. Our Lord Jesus is presented to Israel by"signs" (which can also be translated as "miracles") and by literal and accurate fulfillment of prophecy - over 330 of them to be more precise. The order by the tax authorities at the time of Christ's birth does not only force his birth in Bethlehem, but it settled, in official records, why He was there. He was of the house of David. Israel had a history of miracles, but two miracles that our Lord Jesus did had never been done before. They were (i) driving out of demons, and (ii) the blind seeing. In the matter of the greatest man born to a woman, John Baptist, Jesus mentions the second. But the first, driving out of Demons is a direct act of God against a being that is greater than man, and in all its mentions, it is set separate to, and in addition to, miracles.

Since Israel had the Covenant of Promise, which gave them Canaan and power over their enemies, their entering and taking Canaan was fully planned by God. To no other Nation are such promises made. That is, Jesus came EXCLUSIVELY to Israel, and the casting out of demons indicated that God's Spirit was with them in the matter of the rule of earth by principalities. If it is common knowledge that an army which has turned its men and weapons against itself will self-destruct, then it is a statement of major proportions to attribute casting out demons to the Chief over demons. Israel, perceiving that the Person of Jesus was now not only Physician Who healed, but POLITICAL LEADER Who could defeat the powers in heavenly places, only one tactic could stop a mass exodus of Israelites to Jesus. That tactic was to attribute to the Holy Spirit the status as Chief of demons.

But Mark goes further. Not only is attributed to the Holy Spirit Satanic origins and power, but they accuse this Person with UNCLEANNESS (Mk.3:30). And finally, if one demon is cast out by he power of the principalities, the this applies for ALL demons cast out. It is a willful and knowing false statement against the Spirit of God to undermine His power and integrity and position. Second only to this blasphemy is the sin of murmuring. Murmuring is to attribute evil intentions to the Holy Spirit. Both sins slander the holiness and truth about Jehovah.

But confusion reigns as to the consequences. Why? All the major truths of scripture are cast into confusion by the belief that being saved for a Christian means going to heaven. This doctrine annuls the need of resurrection. This doctrine annuls Christ's Kingdom on earth. This doctrine leaves death undefeated. And this doctrine attributes to God defeat because He made man of the earth and FOR the earth (Gen.1:26-28). But if God is to achieve what He planned, and what the prophets, old and new Testament, say, then THIS AGE and the NEXT AGE are vitally important for men. The consequences of slander against the third Person of the Triune God become crucial to TWO AGES. The salvation of man is FIVE-FOLD:

1. He must be relieved of his burden of sin and sins. If not, a Lake of Fire awaits him - daily torment for ever
2. He must be born again in his human spirit and receive God and His Life
3. He must be transformed into the image of Christ - the salvation of his disposition
4. He must be resurrected and so overcome the grave that claims his body
5. He must become a steward-ruler in Christ's Kingdom in the coming age

The man who fails in any one of these points is not saved in the next age. His portion, depending on what was missing, is to suffer loss of a setup that makes him joyous. The Second Death is also called "perdition". The Greek authorities tell us that perdition does NOT mean cessation of sensory stimulus like the death of the body. On the contrary it is a state of intense lack of well-being. Isaiah 66 and Mark 9 tell us that the feeling is like "your worm does not die and your fire is not quenched" and the "smoke of your torment goes up day by day forever". It is a serious loss to anybody - Christian or Heathen. The fundamental need of any man, Christian, Israelite and/or Gentile is to be FORGIVEN. Slandering the Holy Spirit GUARANTEES that you will not be forgiven - IN BOTH AGES. Scary to the uttermost ... !

But there is one good thing in this sobering matter. The slander of the Holy Spirit in scripture took place in a conspiracy. It was a planed and purposefully executed act. I find no reason, either in the text or in Type, that an outburst of a man in terrible pain fulfills the prerequisites for the unforgivable sin. Israel were chastised for their murmuring, but it was the tenth time at Kadesh-Barnea that provoked God to withdraw the kingdom/Land from Israel. If you have once or twice, in serious suffering, cried out in anger and despair at God, you have not conspired to slander Him. But be careful. A brother on this Forum who brings a controversial doctrine - read it carefully before deciding whether it be false or not, and before deciding to condemn him. He might have seen something that you haven't. Don't be found attributing a revelation that the Holy Spirit gave him to the devil. Not one of us knows everything. Be careful with what goes on. Rather say nothing. And guard your hearts. Slandering of any kind starts there;

23 Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life (Pr 4:23)

* In Mark 3:29 the word "eternal" does not mean "without beginning and without end" in the Greek. the word is "aionios". It means from age to age. It does not have the sense of never ending.

Edited December 3, 2022 by AdHoc

[missmuffet]

To commit the unpardonable sin a person must consciously, persisently, deliberately and maliciously reject the testimony of the Spirit to the deity and saving power of the Lord Jesus Christ. This sin is not a grievous sin committed by a Christian after truly and genuinely accepting Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. 

 

[David1701]

10 minutes ago, Starise said:

 I wonder if the accusation was entirely of human origin. Jesus told the Pharisees they were of their father the devil. I say this because I believe they KNEW they were lying when they did it.  They were the kind that would say anything to win true or not. If they were truly ignorant to this, on what grounds could they claim ignorance? God's signals are not easily misinterpreted.

Very valid points David, but man, you come on like a hornet's nest. Possibly @Jayne has some reasoning to justify her views? Could just be an honest mistake too. I very much enjoy Jane's input. I don't recall anything that would place a timing dependent on this to my knowledge. Maybe there is some more to the idea I am unaware of.

 

I'm a watchman, so I fulfil my calling (albeit imperfectly).  One of the things that I hate (because it dishonours the Lord and can damage his people), is to see people twist what God's word says, to suit their opinions.  I make no apology for being strong about that; it's from my heart, and to water it down would be to quench the Spirit.

[Starise]

I don't disagree and I think it's a noble calling, but things can come off as rude and insensitive online.

Let me give you an example for how I would have said it-

" Sister, I am sure there is no record in the bible for the X and Y you stated. If you can't show scripture evidence for it, then we will have to conclude it isn't true"

See how short and easy that was? No bold type, no shouting, just a disagreement asking for proof. I know her on the board well enough to know that if there is an error it was unintentional, and she would likely be glad to dig deeper if necessary. 

I am glad we have knowledgeable people here like yourself who seek to make sure these things are better understood.

You can disregard my suggestion and continue to offend people on a regualr basis. Not because of what you said, but because of how you said it. This tack was not very persuasive with me on other threads with you as it comes off like a shouting demanding person.

You may have noticed I have a mod badge. I want to explain that I only have it so I can go to another area of the forum to speak with unbelievers. It has nothing to do with me having any more authority than anyone else here has, so I'm not 'swinging my weight' here because I don't have any weight. This is just simply me to you with my thoughts.

[missmuffet]

1 hour ago, Starise said:

I don't disagree and I think it's a noble calling, but things can come off as rude and insensitive online.

Let me give you an example for how I would have said it-

" Sister, I am sure there is no record in the bible for the X and Y you stated. If you can't show scripture evidence for it, then we will have to conclude it isn't true"

See how short and easy that was? No bold type, no shouting, just a disagreement asking for proof. I know her on the board well enough to know that if there is an error it was unintentional, and she would likely be glad to dig deeper if necessary. 

I am glad we have knowledgeable people here like yourself who seek to make sure these things are better understood.

You can disregard my suggestion and continue to offend people on a regualr basis. Not because of what you said, but because of how you said it. This tack was not very persuasive with me on other threads with you as it comes off like a shouting demanding person.

You may have noticed I have a mod badge. I want to explain that I only have it so I can go to another area of the forum to speak with unbelievers. It has nothing to do with me having any more authority than anyone else here has, so I'm not 'swinging my weight' here because I don't have any weight. This is just simply me to you with my thoughts.

I think people have more of an opportunity to be rude on-line. Have them say that to a person's face. I guess there are a few who don't have a mod badge but many do. 

[Dennis1209]

You are certainly not alone, brother; been there and thought that. I have heard it said several times from reputable men of God, “if you are worried about it, chances are you never committed it.” I wanted to understand what that meant better, to ease my worries.

1 John 5:13 These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.

A read a bunch of commentaries on this subject. Overall, most agree with some notes I took, as follows:

Matthew 12:31-32: My understanding today: Today, we cannot have witnessed the Holy Spirit working through Jesus’ miracles; to call them the work of Satan. Therefore, we cannot commit this particular unpardonable sin. I believe today, the only unpardonable sin we can commit is rejecting the free offer of Salvation given to us by Christ dying on the Cross for our sins. At our last heartbeat, our very last breath, our fate is sealed if we reject Him, those on the fence, and procrastinate or are undecided. There would be no forgiveness after death, no second chances, if one did not accept Jesus as their own personal Savior while they had the opportunity to do so in the flesh. John MacArthur explains it well below.

12:31 the blasphemy against the Spirit. The sin He was confronting was the Pharisees’ deliberate rejection of that which they knew to be of God (cf. John 11:48; Acts 4:16). They could not deny the reality of what the Holy Spirit had done through Him, so they attributed to Satan a work that they knew was of God (v. 24; Mark 3:22).

12:32 it will be forgiven him. Someone never exposed to Christ’s divine power and presence might reject Him in ignorance and be forgiven—assuming the unbelief gives way to genuine repentance. Even a Pharisee such as Saul of Tarsus could be forgiven for speaking “against the Son of Man” or persecuting His followers—because his unbelief stemmed from ignorance (1 Tim. 1:13). But those who know His claims are true and reject Him anyway sin “against the Holy Spirit”—because it is the Holy Spirit who testifies of Christ and makes His truth known to us (John 15:26; 16:14, 15). No forgiveness was possible for these Pharisees who witnessed His miracles firsthand, knew the truth of His claims, and still blasphemed the Holy Spirit—because they had already rejected the fullest possible revelation. See notes on Heb. 6:4–6; 10:29.¹

¹ John MacArthur Jr., ed., The MacArthur Study Bible, electronic ed. (Nashville, TN: Word Pub., 1997), 1414.

BLASPHEMY. The concept involved an intentional and defiant dishonoring of the nature, name, or work of God by word or action (2 Kgs 19:3, 6, 22; cf. 18:22). Sometimes it was directed toward men or objects closely associated with God; e.g., Israel (Isa 52:5), the mountains of Israel (Ezk 35:12), the temple (1 Macc 7:38). The idea was also expressed euphemistically by use of the root barak, the usual term for “bless,” the actual intent being obvious from the context (1 Kgs 21:10, 13; Ps 10:3; Job 1:5, 11; 2:5, 9; cf. A. Murtonen, VT , IX [1959], 171).

Blasphemy is often stated as being against the name of the Lord (Lev 24:11, 16; Ps 74:10, 18; Isa 52:5). This terminology led the Jews to superstitious regard for the name itself. Some of the Qumran MSS , e.g., although written in the later “square” script, have the divine name written in the older script, to avoid profaning it with the newer, common characters. Likewise, the Jews dared not pronounce it, so in reading they substituted “Adonai” for “Yahweh.” As a reminder to the reader, they wrote the vowel signs of Adonai with the consonants of Yahweh, and in the LXX wrote kurios, the Gr. of Adonai, “Lord.”

Blasphemy was a capital offense, execution among the Jews being traditionally by stoning (Lev 24:11–16); cf. Naboth’s fate, not withstanding the falsity of the charge, (1 Kgs 21:10, 13). In the case of Jesus, the charge blasphemy was based on His having claimed divine prerogatives (Mt 9:3; 26:64–65; Mk 2:7; Jn 10:33, 36; 19:7), but since the capital punishment entailed was administered under Roman jurisdiction, execution was by crucifixion. Stephen was stoned for blasphemy (Acts 6:11; 7:56–58).

In the NT, following classical Gr. usage, blasphēmeō and its substantives are often related to men and an injury of reputation; i.e., “slander” (Rom 3:8; 1 Cor 4:13; 10:30; Tit 3:2; cf. Arndt , s.v. ).

For blasphemy against the Holy Spirit, see Sin; Holy Spirit, Sin Against.

Bibliography. Hermann W. Beyer, “Blasphēmeō, etc.,” TDNT , I, 621–625.¹

¹ R. Vernon. Ritter, “Blasphemy,” ed. Charles F. Pfeiffer, Howard F. Vos, and John Rea, The Wycliffe Bible Encyclopedia (Moody Press, 1975).

Beelzebub—(Gr. form Beel’zebul), the name given to Satan, and found only in the New Testament (Matt. 10:25; 12:24, 27; Mark 3:22). It is probably the same as Baalzebub (q.v.), the god of Ekron, meaning “the lord of flies,” or, as others think, “the lord of dung,” or “the dung-god.”¹

¹ M. G. Easton, Easton’s Bible Dictionary (New York: Harper & Brothers, 1893).

954—strictly Beelzebub, a pagan god or title, as a variant in ancient versions in the following verses: (Mt 10:25; 12:24, 27; Mk 3:22; Lk 11:15, 18, 19+ ); see 1015¹

¹ James Swanson, Dictionary of Biblical Languages with Semantic Domains: Greek (New Testament) (Oak Harbor: Logos Research Systems, Inc., 1997).

 

 

[AnOrangeCat]

7 hours ago, Starise said:

I looking back, I believe God forgave me for it, but even to this day when things go bad I look back and wonder if some of it is the result of those words. Not necessarily unforgiven, just that it follows me as an event that should not have ever happend.

Others have put it into scriptural context so I won't touch that. Nothing I can say that hasn't already been said, and I don't think any of the takes presented so far are without foundation. With that out of the way I personally suffer from intrusive thoughts. It's died down a lot as I've grown older, but they're horrible things that have no basis in my beliefs, thoughts, and feelings. As a result I used to go through periods of heavy fear that maybe some of what went on there fell into unpardonable sin territory. What I've come to believe is that in the vast majority of these cases it's an attack of the enemy intended to get people to give up or keep them locked down with fear and worry. Similarly I have at times felt God is distant after those episodes or after I did something I shouldn't have. Eventually I concluded that it was the product of my own insecurities and feelings of guilt. Being vindictive isn't a part of God's nature.