Thought for the Month - September 2019

"The unpardonable sin" by Barry Adair
(Simply unforgiveable!)

Last month I wrote about the "Unforgiven" and this month I wanted to look at "the unforgivable sin".

This is recorded for us in Matthew 12:31-32 (and repeated in Mark 3:28-29 and Luke 12:10).

"Therefore, I (Jesus) say to you, any sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven people, but blasphemy against the Spirit shall not be forgiven. 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, addition mine, emphasis mine)

I, like many others, have worried over these Bible verses which speak of a sin which cannot be forgiven. This unpardonable sin, I believe, is also referred to as the "sin unto death" in 1 John 5:16. So, what exactly is "blasphemy against the Spirit" and could any of us have committed this sin? I'll get to this shortly.

As for the background to where Jesus used the words in our verse above, Jesus had previously rebuked the Pharisees after He had healed a demon-possessed blind and dumb man. The Pharisees conclusion about Jesus was that "this man casts out demons only by Beelzebul, the ruler of the demons" (Matthew 12:24). In other words, they were calling Jesus the devil! So then, was Jesus angry with the Pharisees and were His words about 'blasphemy against the Spirit' solely directed at them? Firstly, even if Jesus was angry (and He had every right to be), Jesus never reacted in anger. Secondly, just prior to His words about this unpardonable sin, Jesus said - "he who is not with Me is against Me" (Matthew 12:30). I believe these words were directed at everyone and not just to the Pharisees.

Now, you may be saying, didn't Jesus die for our sin, all our sin? And surely, if we acknowledge our sin, and with genuine repentance ask Him to forgive us, didn't He promise that God would forgive us?

Yes, of course He did!

And this is the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ.

A gospel which is freely available to everyone!

Jesus did die for our sin, ALL our sin.

It is a trustworthy statement, deserving full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners… (1 Timothy 1:15)

I believe that the only sin which cannot be forgiven is the sin of not accepting Jesus' offer of salvation. This is the only unpardonable or unforgivable sin. If you have been forgiven of God by accepting His free offer of salvation, through Jesus' sacrificial death, then you are saved now and for all eternity.

Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death. (Romans 8: 1-2)

And let us be truly thankful that no sin, of which any one truly repents, is unto death. (Matthew Henry)

Nothing and no-one can snatch you out of God's hands. You are a child of His and nothing can alter that fact!

For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8: 38-39)

This is God's plan of personal salvation for our lives, and it is truly the most loving act of forgiveness that could ever be conceived!

This is the LORD'S doing;
It is marvellous in our eyes. (Psalm 118:23)

However, if we refuse God's salvation, we effectively commit "blasphemy against the Spirit" by not believing the Holy Spirit when He speaks to us about our need to get right with God. In other words, we are saying that the Holy Spirit's witness about Jesus is all a lie. This is the unpardonable or unforgivable sin. This is the sin that leads to spiritual death.

If you don't know the forgiveness of God today, please don't turn your back on what the Spirt would be saying to you right now. God's offer of forgiveness, through Jesus' sacrificial death on the cross, is open to all and is totally free. By a simple prayer of faith, acknowledging your need of salvation, if you ask God to forgive you, then He will! You can know that God has forgiven every sin you have ever committed! And you can be assured of life eternal.

Please heed His voice and commit your life to Jesus today.

"…what must I do to be saved?"
"Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved…" (Acts 16:30-31)

Don't expect to have tomorrow
What is offered you today;
Jesus asks you now to follow -
Trust in Him and don't delay.
                                        (Sper)

(All Bible quotations are from the NASB, unless stated)

Until next month (DV)…

Are you SURE that you have your place booked in Heaven? Read this if you're not!