The unforgivable sin?
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Hello @Phoenix1708, this is a bit more than you asked for, but it will hopefully prove to be useful. BTW, I put the most direct answer to your OP question in bold below.
When Jesus warned the Pharisees that blasphemy against the Holy Spirit was unpardonable both in this world and in the next (Matt. 12:32; Mark 3:29–30), it was because they were saying that he exorcised demons by being in league with Satan (Beelzebub). His warning revealed his view of their spiritual state.
He could, and later did, pray for the forgiveness of those whose blasphemy against himself was the fruit of ignorance: “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing” (Luke 23:34). But that was not how he saw the Pharisees.
It is possible for people to be enlightened to the point of knowing inwardly that Jesus is the divine Savior he claims to be, and still not be willing to admit it publicly, because of all the behavioral changes that such an admission would make necessary. It is possible to try to make oneself feel good about one’s own moral dishonesty by inventing reasons, no matter how absurd, for not treating Jesus as worthy of one’s allegiance. Jesus evidently perceived that in calling him Satan’s servant the Pharisees were doing exactly that. They were not ignorant; they were stifling conviction and smothering real if unwelcome knowledge; they were resolutely shutting their eyes to the light and callousing their conscience by calling it darkness. The madness that Jesus exposed in what they were saying (Matt. 12:25–28) was an index of the pressure of conviction that they were feeling; irrational reasoning is a regular sign of conviction being resisted.
By attributing exorcisms wrought through the Holy Spirit (Matt. 12:28) to Satanic power, the Pharisees were blaspheming (speaking impiously) against the Spirit. Such a sin would become unforgivable when the conscience had been so calloused by calling good evil that all sense of the moral glory of Jesus’ mighty works (which were in a real sense his credentials: Matt. 11:2–6; John 10:38; 14:11) was destroyed. This hardening of heart against Jesus would preclude any remorse at any stage for having thus blasphemed. But nonexistence of remorse makes repentance impossible, and nonexistence of repentance makes forgiveness impossible.
Callousing one’s conscience by dishonest reasonings so as to justify denial of God’s power in Christ and rejection of his claims upon one is, then, the formula of the unpardonable sin. Another version of it, this time in professed Christians who fall away from Christ, is described in Hebrews 6:4–8. Christians who fear that they may have committed the unpardonable sin show by their very anxiety that they have not done so. Persons who have committed it are unremorseful and unconcerned; indeed, they are ordinarily unaware of what they have done and to what fate they have sentenced themselves. Jesus saw that the Pharisees were getting close to committing this sin, and he spoke as he did in hope of holding them back from fully lapsing into it. ~Packer, J. I. (1993). Concise theology: a guide to historic Christian beliefs (pp. 244–246). Tyndale House.
God bless you!!
~Deuteronomy (David)
UNPARDONABLE SIN
ONLY IMPENITENCE CANNOT BE FORGIVEN
I tell you the truth, all the sins and blasphemies of men will be forgiven them.
But whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven; he is guilty of an eternal sin.
MARK 3:28–29
ONLY IMPENITENCE CANNOT BE FORGIVEN
I tell you the truth, all the sins and blasphemies of men will be forgiven them.
But whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven; he is guilty of an eternal sin.
MARK 3:28–29
When Jesus warned the Pharisees that blasphemy against the Holy Spirit was unpardonable both in this world and in the next (Matt. 12:32; Mark 3:29–30), it was because they were saying that he exorcised demons by being in league with Satan (Beelzebub). His warning revealed his view of their spiritual state.
He could, and later did, pray for the forgiveness of those whose blasphemy against himself was the fruit of ignorance: “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing” (Luke 23:34). But that was not how he saw the Pharisees.
It is possible for people to be enlightened to the point of knowing inwardly that Jesus is the divine Savior he claims to be, and still not be willing to admit it publicly, because of all the behavioral changes that such an admission would make necessary. It is possible to try to make oneself feel good about one’s own moral dishonesty by inventing reasons, no matter how absurd, for not treating Jesus as worthy of one’s allegiance. Jesus evidently perceived that in calling him Satan’s servant the Pharisees were doing exactly that. They were not ignorant; they were stifling conviction and smothering real if unwelcome knowledge; they were resolutely shutting their eyes to the light and callousing their conscience by calling it darkness. The madness that Jesus exposed in what they were saying (Matt. 12:25–28) was an index of the pressure of conviction that they were feeling; irrational reasoning is a regular sign of conviction being resisted.
By attributing exorcisms wrought through the Holy Spirit (Matt. 12:28) to Satanic power, the Pharisees were blaspheming (speaking impiously) against the Spirit. Such a sin would become unforgivable when the conscience had been so calloused by calling good evil that all sense of the moral glory of Jesus’ mighty works (which were in a real sense his credentials: Matt. 11:2–6; John 10:38; 14:11) was destroyed. This hardening of heart against Jesus would preclude any remorse at any stage for having thus blasphemed. But nonexistence of remorse makes repentance impossible, and nonexistence of repentance makes forgiveness impossible.
Callousing one’s conscience by dishonest reasonings so as to justify denial of God’s power in Christ and rejection of his claims upon one is, then, the formula of the unpardonable sin. Another version of it, this time in professed Christians who fall away from Christ, is described in Hebrews 6:4–8. Christians who fear that they may have committed the unpardonable sin show by their very anxiety that they have not done so. Persons who have committed it are unremorseful and unconcerned; indeed, they are ordinarily unaware of what they have done and to what fate they have sentenced themselves. Jesus saw that the Pharisees were getting close to committing this sin, and he spoke as he did in hope of holding them back from fully lapsing into it. ~Packer, J. I. (1993). Concise theology: a guide to historic Christian beliefs (pp. 244–246). Tyndale House.
~Deuteronomy (David)
I believe that the unpardonable sin can only be committed by those with the blackest of hearts, because even though those who commit it are fully aware of what the truth really is, they could care less that they are lying about it. This is also the one sin/blasphemy that is unpardonable from the ~very moment~ that it's committed (meaning on this side of the grave), which makes it unique or different from every other sin or blasphemy that we commit (because it cannot be repented of and forgiven, even on this side of the grave .. not that those who commit it would want to repent of it, of course).
~Deuteronomy
Matthew 12
31 Therefore I say to you, any sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven people, but blasphemy against the Spirit shall not be forgiven.
32 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.
Mark 3
28 "Truly I say to you, all sins shall be forgiven the sons of men, and whatever blasphemies they utter;
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.”
~Deuteronomy
Yes , this is my understanding , to deny the power of God , to attribute the power of God to some other force or being , is akin to idolatry , to say that any other being has the same or greater power than the Lord of all Creation is to imply that there r other forces or gods equal to or greater than the God , the Holy One of Israel . Only God is all powerful over all of His creation and there is none other besides Him .
Yes, and Heb. 6:4-6 indicates that this occurs when a believer commits apostasy,
although it could also happen when a non-believer's heart becomes calloused (Matt. 13:14-15).
I think it means to be publicly denying what i know the Holy Spirit is confirming to me as true. By doing so, I am deliberately, publicly and falsely designating Him of being a liar.
The term "unforgivable sin" does not occur in scripture. It's not a real thing.
Hello Paul, the precise term, "unpardonable/unforgivable sin", is not found in the Holy Writ, but (like the doctrine of the Trinity) it certainly seems to be clearly taught there nevertheless, yes?
For instance,
Matthew 12
31 Therefore I say to you, any sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven people, but blasphemy against the Spirit shall not be forgiven.
32 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.
God bless you!!~Deuteronomy
Mark 3
28 "Truly I say to you, all sins shall be forgiven the sons of men, and whatever blasphemies they utter;
29 but whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit ~never~ has forgiveness, but is guilty of an ~eternal~ sin”
Luke 12
10 Everyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man, it will be forgiven him; but he who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit, it will ~not~ be forgiven him.
I should have also mentioned that along with the references above to the unpardonable sin in the Synoptics, the Apostle John mentions it too, but in his First Epistle rather than in his Gospel. Granted, what he says does not define it as well for us as the three Synoptic Gospels do.
1 John 5
16 If anyone sees his brother sinning a sin which does not lead to death, he will ask, and He will give him life for those who commit sin not leading to death. There is sin leading to death. I do not say that he should pray about that.
~DeuteronomyMar 3:22 And the scribes which came down from Jerusalem said, He hath Beelzebub, and by the prince of the devils casteth he out devils.
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.
Mat 12:32 And whosoever speaketh a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but whosoever speaketh against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, neither in the world to come.
Rev 13:5 And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue forty and two months.
Rev 13:6 And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven.
The Pharisees blasphemed against the Spirit because they said Jesus had an unclean Spirit saying He is evil.
The antichrist will blaspheme saying there is no God to help mankind, and the concept of Him is hateful, and Christianity and Islam are a hateful religion that does not have any bearing on making the world a better place, and they do not care about peace but are in conflict with the world, and mankind has the capacity to achieve peace by their own power.
Blasphemy against the Spirit is calling God evil when He is good.
A person can blaspheme the Son, the man Christ Jesus, and be forgiven, but cannot blaspheme against the Spirit and be forgiven.
Peter denied Jesus 3 times but he did not deny God but he denied the man Christ Jesus.
Paul persecuted the saints but he did not go against God and did not blaspheme against Him for he said he was zealous of his father's traditions but he went against the man Christ Jesus not believing He was of God.
Concerning people that believe that God chooses who will be saved and not saved without their choice for those not saved is that blasphemy against the Spirit.
For why would God condemn them without giving them a chance to choose salvation and why would He let them be born to be condemned without a choice.
Why will they be punished if they were chosen to reject the truth.
1Ti 2:3 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour;
1Ti 2:4 Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.
1Ti 4:10 For therefore we both labour and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Saviour of all men, specially of those that believe.
Act 17:30 And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent.
2Pe 3:9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
Rev 22:17 And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.
God wants all people to be saved, and come to the knowledge of the truth.
So they better consider when they say God chooses some people not to be saved without their choice.
God is not evil.
When it happened to Jesus the scribes came to Him and accused Him of doing His miracles by satanic power.. But Jesus had done His miracles by the Power of the Holy Spirit.. So the scribes had accused the Holy Spirit of being a demon.. that is what blasphemy of the Holy Spirit is..
Have a read: it's all in the passage:
(Mark 3:22-30) "¶ And the scribes which came down from Jerusalem said, He hath Beelzebub, and by the prince of the devils casteth he out devils. {23} And he called them unto him, and said unto them in parables, How can Satan cast out Satan? {24} And if a kingdom be divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. {25} And if a house be divided against itself, that house cannot stand. {26} And if Satan rise up against himself, and be divided, he cannot stand, but hath an end. {27} No man can enter into a strong man’s house, and spoil his goods, except he will first bind the strong man; and then he will spoil his house. {28} Verily I say unto you, All sins shall be forgiven unto the sons of men, and blasphemies wherewith soever they shall blaspheme: {29} But he that shall blaspheme against the Holy Ghost hath never forgiveness, but is in danger of eternal damnation: {30} Because they said, He hath an unclean spirit."
