The unforgivable sin?

  • Christian Chat is a moderated online Christian community allowing Christians around the world to fellowship with each other in real time chat via webcam, voice, and text, with the Christian Chat app. You can also start or participate in a Bible-based discussion here in the Christian Chat Forums, where members can also share with each other their own videos, pictures, or favorite Christian music.

    If you are a Christian and need encouragement and fellowship, we're here for you! If you are not a Christian but interested in knowing more about Jesus our Lord, you're also welcome! Want to know what the Bible says, and how you can apply it to your life? Join us!

    To make new Christian friends now around the world, click here to join Christian Chat.
CAPS ARE YELLING!

Sailor i'm impressed to see you familiarized with the rules of this thing called the internet but yelling is sometimes used because old people can't hear you.
For example, i have to yell at my father sometimes because he can't hear very well.
You know what i'm saying?
 
Sailor i'm impressed to see you familiarized with the rules of this thing called the internet but yelling is sometimes used because old people can't hear you.
For example, i have to yell at my father sometimes because he can't hear very well.
You know what i'm saying?

Yes, and that is why I thought Cam was joking in #19.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Eli1
Nope.. In forums using all CAPS IS CONSIDERED YELLING.. ok..
EIther way, enlarging the font and underlining indicates you have some anger there. Why are you mad? What that says to me is, "Here you go simpletons, do I have to explain everything to you?!" Unfortunately, most denominational church goers are the most angry, arrogant, power hungry people you'll ever encounter.

Case in point
 
EIther way, enlarging the font and underlining indicates you have some anger there. Why are you mad? What that says to me is, "Here you go simpletons, do I have to explain everything to you?!" Unfortunately, most denominational church goers are the most angry, arrogant, power hungry people you'll ever encounter.

Case in point
I sometimes bold / underline / italicize / enlarge fonts / color fonts in my replies to folks ... but not because I'm angry ... just to emphasize a certain point ... I'll try to remember if replying to you that you prefer I not do that ... but I might forget every now and again ... apologies in advance if that happens ...
.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Adstar
The unforgivable sin of the end times is for one of God's elect to refuse the Holy Spirit to speak through them when delivered up before Satan (Antichrist), to expose him as an imposter. For God's elect to know Satan is a phony and refuse to testify against him is unforgivable. Math 10:19-20.
 
EIther way, enlarging the font and underlining indicates you have some anger there. Why are you mad? What that says to me is, "Here you go simpletons, do I have to explain everything to you?!" Unfortunately, most denominational church goers are the most angry, arrogant, power hungry people you'll ever encounter.

Case in point

In online forums, underlines, bold fonts, and different colors are used to emphasize important points and enhance readability.
Bold fonts are typically used to highlight key terms or concepts that need to stand out.
Underlines can be used to indicate hyperlinks or important information, but should be used sparingly to avoid overwhelming the reader.
Different colors are often used to highlight key terms or phrases, making them more noticeable.
I don't think you mentioned italics.
The choice of font style and color can also reflect the author's style or the forum's branding, which can influence how information is perceived.


These formatting techniques are used to clearly covey thoughts, not emotions.
This is the best way to imply emotions:
happy :), anger :mad:, disapproval :(, Florida vacation :cool:, etc.

As Christians we should try to spread happiness as a byproduct of our relationship with the LORD.
 
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.
God bless you too, Deuteronomy.

Mat 12:30
He (ὁ) not (μὴ) being (ὢν , present participle) with me (μετ᾽ ἐμοῦ) against me (κατ᾽ ἐμοῦ) is (ἐστιν); and he ( καὶ ὁ) not (μὴ) gathering (συνάγων, present active participle) with me (μετ᾽ ἐμοῦ) is scattering abroad (σκορπίζει, present active indicative).

Mat 12:31 Wherefore (Διὰ τοῦτο) I am saying (λέγω) to you (ὑμῖν), Every sin (πᾶσα ἁμαρτία) and blasphemy (καὶ βλασφημία) shall be forgiven (ἀφεθήσεται, future passive indicative) to the men (τοῖς ἀνθρώποις): but the (ἡ δὲ) of the Spirit ( τοῦ πνεύματος) blasphemy (βλασφημία) not (οὐκ ) shall be forgiven (ἀφεθήσεται, future passive indicative) to the men (τοῖς ἀνθρώποις·).

Mat 12:32 And (καὶ) whosoever (ὃς ἂν) should speak (εἴπῃ, 2nd aorist active subjunctive) a word ( λόγον) against the Son (κατὰ τοῦ υἱοῦ) of the man (τοῦ ἀνθρώπου), it shall be forgiven (ἀφεθήσεται) to him (αὐτῷ·): but whosoever (ὃς δ᾽ ἂν) should speak (εἴπῃ , 2nd aorist active subjunctive) against the spirit (κατὰ τοῦ πνεύματος) the holy (τοῦ ἁγίου), it shall not be forgiven (οὐκ ἀφεθήσεται) to him (αὐτῷ), neither (οὔτε) in this (ἐν τούτῳ) the age (τῷ αἰῶνι), neither (οὔτε) in the coming (ἐν τῷ μέλλοντι)

He that is not with me is against me; and he not gathering with me is scattering. Because of this I am saying to you,
"Every sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven to the men doing them; but the blasphemy of the Spirit shall not be forgiven to the men doing it. And whosoever might speak a word against the Son of Man, it shall be being forgiven to him; but whosoever might speak against the Holy Spirit, it shall not be being forgiven to Him, neither in this age nor in the coming one."

There is a principle of Bible interpretation that God gives in Ps 18
Psa 18:25
With the merciful thou wilt shew thyself merciful; with an upright man thou wilt shew thyself upright;
Psa 18:26
With the pure thou wilt shew thyself pure; and with the froward thou wilt shew thyself froward.

In other words, a man tends to judge others's motives according to his own shadow: the dark side of himself that he is hiding from himself and others,. That is, we tend towards "transference": the tendency to ascribe to others what our own darker motives could be in the same situation.

So, a merciful man will recognise God's mercy as mercy, upright and pure, but a perverse man will consider God's mercy as a perverse, self-serving means of manipulating others, because that's often the perverse man's self-interested use of showing mercy to someone

Hence, in Ez. 18. the perverse among the Jews accused God of being perverse and unfair to lift the father's judgment off the son, and punish the son for only his own sins. And they considered God declaring completely righteous the wicked man who has turned from his wickedness, perverse and unfair.

IMO we can read Matt. 12:30-32 expecting to find that God is super-abounding in mercy, because we admire the beauty of God's superabounding mercy, and are aiming to "be perfect as our heavenly Father is perfect". Or, we can read Matt.12:30-32 with a spoonful or a bucket of a truckload of self-righteous indignation that wants to see that other people who just go too far, not be too easily let off the hook, even if they repent from their exceedingly wicked behaviour.

Is it possible validly to interpret Jesus words in a way that makes room for a superabounding mercy that does not burn all the blasphemer's bridges to possible reconciliation? If it is possible, since we are dealing with the God who has demonstrated His boundless love to us in the incarnation, life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, should we risk erring on the side of seeing abounding grace in this text, or should we err on the side of God's patience at some point becoming exhausted and His anger becoming at some point implacable?

In my next post I will give my analysis of the Greek text and what it could possibly be saying.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Suze
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.

The term is not there, but the concept is.
 
The answer is in Eph 2: 18 For through him (Christ) we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father. Without the Holy Spirit, our access is gone. There are different ways to blaspheme the Holy Spirit. One way is to curse him straight out. Another way is to attribute his power to Satan or his angels. The most prevalent way is to deny in ignorence who or what he actually is.
 
God bless you too, Deuteronomy.

Mat 12:30
He (ὁ) not (μὴ) being (ὢν , present participle) with me (μετ᾽ ἐμοῦ) against me (κατ᾽ ἐμοῦ) is (ἐστιν); and he ( καὶ ὁ) not (μὴ) gathering (συνάγων, present active participle) with me (μετ᾽ ἐμοῦ) is scattering abroad (σκορπίζει, present active indicative).

Mat 12:31 Wherefore (Διὰ τοῦτο) I am saying (λέγω) to you (ὑμῖν), Every sin (πᾶσα ἁμαρτία) and blasphemy (καὶ βλασφημία) shall be forgiven (ἀφεθήσεται, future passive indicative) to the men (τοῖς ἀνθρώποις): but the (ἡ δὲ) of the Spirit ( τοῦ πνεύματος) blasphemy (βλασφημία) not (οὐκ ) shall be forgiven (ἀφεθήσεται, future passive indicative) to the men (τοῖς ἀνθρώποις·).

Mat 12:32 And (καὶ) whosoever (ὃς ἂν) should speak (εἴπῃ, 2nd aorist active subjunctive) a word ( λόγον) against the Son (κατὰ τοῦ υἱοῦ) of the man (τοῦ ἀνθρώπου), it shall be forgiven (ἀφεθήσεται) to him (αὐτῷ·): but whosoever (ὃς δ᾽ ἂν) should speak (εἴπῃ , 2nd aorist active subjunctive) against the spirit (κατὰ τοῦ πνεύματος) the holy (τοῦ ἁγίου), it shall not be forgiven (οὐκ ἀφεθήσεται) to him (αὐτῷ), neither (οὔτε) in this (ἐν τούτῳ) the age (τῷ αἰῶνι), neither (οὔτε) in the coming (ἐν τῷ μέλλοντι)

He that is not with me is against me; and he not gathering with me is scattering. Because of this I am saying to you,
"Every sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven to the men doing them; but the blasphemy of the Spirit shall not be forgiven to the men doing it. And whosoever might speak a word against the Son of Man, it shall be being forgiven to him; but whosoever might speak against the Holy Spirit, it shall not be being forgiven to Him, neither in this age nor in the coming one.".....


In my next post I will give my analysis of the Greek text and what it could possibly be saying.

28 He that is not with me is against me; and he not gathering with me is scattering. 29 Because of this I am saying to you,
"Every sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven to the men doing them; but the blasphemy of the Spirit shall not be forgiven to the men doing it. 30 And whosoever might speak a word against the Son of Man, it shall be being forgiven to him; but whosoever might speak against the Holy Spirit, it shall not be being forgiven to Him, neither in this age nor in the coming one."

Verse 28 is describing the present state of affairs, as they were at the time Jesus was speaking. Jesus uses the present tense. Those during Jesus ministry who were not promoting Jesus as a true prophet, and were claiming to speak for God while exhorting people not to follow Him, as was happening in this narrative, were being used by Satan to scatter the sheep. Moses had said that whoever contradicted the "prophet like unto himself", would be cut off from God's people (Deut. 18:18-20). However, Jesus could also be speaking of a general principle that applies, at all times: past, present and future. Anyone at any time who is not gathering people to Yahweh/Jesus is, by default, scattering them.
Verse 29 and 30 are describing a future state of affairs. They uses the future indicative tense stating assured consequences, and subjunctives stating potential precursors to the assured consequences. However, there are at least two possible meanings that Jesus could have in mind.

"19 Every sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven (future passive indicative) to the men doing them, because under the New covenant all sins will be paid for at the time I die for all sins once for all on the cross. But (there is one exception to this automatic pardoning of sins) the blasphemy of the Spirit shall not be forgiven (future passive indicative) immediately as it is committed; I will not forgive that sin immediately at the time they commit it, to the men doing that.
30 And, after my death and resurrection, under the New Covenant, whosoever should speak (aorist active subjunctive) a word against the Son of Man, it shall be forgiven (future passive indicative) to him; I shall immediately forgive him at the time he speaks it. But after my death and resurrection, under the New Covenant, whosoever should speak (aorist active subjunctive) against the Holy Spirit, it shall not be forgiven (future active indicative) to Him immediately at the time he commits it. I will not give that an automatic pardon, neither in this age nor in the coming one."

That an automatic pardon is not bestowed by Jesus upon this one kind of sin, does not mean there can be no pardon ever for that sin. This is the one and only kind of sin that requires repentance in real time for forgiveness to be granted in real time. It is to publicly testify dishonestly, denouncing what the Holy Spirit is convicting one to be the truth, and one knows it to be the truth. The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of Truth. This is why scripture says that all those who love lies and make up lies are excluded from Heaven.
Rev 22:15
For without are dogs and sorcerers and whoremongers and murderers and idolaters - and/even whosoever loves and makes a lie.

To enter and abide in the Kingdom one must respect the Holy Spirit's conviction of the truth. To deny His conviction is to call Him a liar and so to blaspheme against Him. No one will be forgiven for this behaviour while we are practising it. But if we cease and repent and start agreeing with the Holy Spirit, we will be forgiven. The blood of Jesus is sufficient even for this sin, when applied with repentance and faith.

Ananias and Sapphirah may have committed this sin in Acts 5. Whether they remained condemned for it would depend on whether they repented and looked to Jesus for forgiveness. But the seriousness of lying against the conviction of the Holy Spirit is made clear by the severe retribution these two received for doing it.
John speaks of a sin that is go death that we cannot

1Jo 5:16
If any man see his brother sin a sin which is not unto death, he shall ask, and he shall give him life for them that sin not unto death. There is a sin unto death: I do not say that he shall pray for it.
1Jo 5:17
All unrighteousness is sin: and there is a sin not unto death.

Stephen prayed that his murder not be held against his killers, so even murder seems to be a sin not unto death.
Simon, attempting to buy the power to impart the Holy Spirit, was told he should go to Jesus for forgiveness, Peter did not pray for that sin on Simon's behalf. Was Simon's sin a form of blaspheming the Holy Spirit, alleging that He could be bought for cash? Maybe blaspheming the Holy Spirit includes doing or saying anything that impugns His character. Nevertheless, Peter thought God could forgive Simon's basphemy against the Holy Spirit.

A different commonly-held option re Matt. 12:18-20 understands it this way -

Some think verse 28 is describing the always true state of affairs, as they have been during all the past and at the time Jesus was speaking and all the future. It uses the present tense gnomically. Anyone who has at any time not been gathering with Yahweh has been scattering people away from Yahweh.
And some think verse 29 and 30 are also describing an always true state of affairs. They uses the future indicative tense stating assured consequences, and subjunctives stating potential precursors to the assured consequences. However, that view assumes that the future tense describes the consequences as continuing forever into the future. They understand it like this -

"19 Every sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven (future passive indicative) to the men doing them, if they trust in My sacrifice for forgiveness, because under the New covenant a sufficient price will be paid to cover all believers' sins when I die for all sins once for all on the cross. But (there is one exception to this pardoning of sins through faith in Me. The blasphemy of the Spirit shall not be forgiven (future passive indicative); I will never grant forgiveness for that sin, once it has been committed.
30 And, after my death and resurrection, under the New Covenant, whosoever should speak (aorist active subjunctive) a word against the Son of Man, it shall be forgiven (future passive indicative) to him, because His faith is in my sacrifice for his/her sins; I shall forgive the convert whenever s/he speaks against Me. But after my death and resurrection, under the New Covenant, whosoever should speak (aorist active subjunctive) against the Holy Spirit, it shall never be forgiven (future active indicative) to Him; I will never forgive that sin, neither in this age nor in the coming one."

I go with the first interpretation.

Maybe you have a third understanding, and can paraphrase these verses to clarify exactly what you think it is likely Jesus is saying here.
 
James explains this in chapter 3 of his epiStle:

13Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show it by his good conduct, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom. 14But if you harbor bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast in it or deny the truth. 15Such wisdom does not come from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. 16For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every evil practice.

17But the wisdom from above is first of all pure, then peace-loving, gentle, accommodating, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial, and sincere. 18Peacemakers who sow in peace reap the fruit of righteousness.

To commit this sin, you would have to be in Jesus presence and attribute his aCtions as evil. This is impossible today But could happen at each person's judgement before the throne.

The pharasees Saw they were losing power and were jealous of tHeir own control, this is why this passage explains what happens when we give into this type of behaVior. ADDITIONALLY: This is also the type of behavior that causes people like the PharaSees to forCe washing to the elbows which through historical data explains the Situation leaning up to Jesus sayiNg: "eVery plaNt not planted By God will Be uprooted."

There are warnings and their are judgements. Jesus never forced anything, for the threat of force is not from God.

Yes, toppling money changers and merchants is unacceptable. This is why Jesus did that.
 
With other blasphemies, even after many years God can lead the person to repentance. But when the Holy Spirit is blasphemed, any chance of repentance is gone & they can't come to God at all.
Are there any other blasphemies?
Jesus only mentioned one, if all other sins can be forgiven then there are no other blasphemies.

I agree with @GWH
Those who commit this sin had rejected Jesus and what he did as from satan.

That being the case that could suggest that it this sin could not be committed today?

However here is something Jesus said.

John 16:7-9
7 Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you. 8 And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: 9 of sin, because they do not believe in Me;

So how can we reconcile the unforgivable sin based on attributing to what Jesus did as from satan (accusers being the Pharisees) to what he said in John above?
 
I meant selling in a plaCe of worship is wrong.

The Pharasees were about Control and getting things their way. No, pharasaic twisting scripture to imply that someone is committing the unforgivable itself. .. this type of envious power hungry controlling act and lie is an unforgivable sin. It is just like the pharasees of old who's very hearts were unclean because of controlling desires.
 
Are there any other blasphemies?
Jesus only mentioned one, if all other sins can be forgiven then there are no other blasphemies.


I agree with @GWH
Those who commit this sin had rejected Jesus and what he did as from satan.

That being the case that could suggest that it this sin could not be committed today?

However here is something Jesus said.

John 16:7-9
7 Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you. 8 And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: 9 of sin, because they do not believe in Me;

So how can we reconcile the unforgivable sin based on attributing to what Jesus did as from satan (accusers being the Pharisees) to what he said in John above?
28“Truly I say to you, all sins will be forgiven the sons and daughters of men, and whatever blasphemies they commit; 29but whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness, but is guilty of an eternal sin”— 30because they were saying, “He has an unclean spirit.”

Read the Book, It's right there.
There's NOTHING in John that says unbelief in Christ is an unforgivable sin. Many sinners walk in unbelief in Christ for decades before real conviction comes, & still get saved later.
You can believe in something so much that you'll look for it in everything you read.
 
What does blaspheming the Holy Spirit mean? (Matthew 12:31)

Well,supposedly it means when someone keeps resisting the spirits leading to salvation.

However, that isn't the case when we are told by Paul the way someone can understand the Gospels is only when the holy Spirit changes their consciousness to do so.

But God is the HS. And is the one who hardens our hearts so that not everyone understands the gospel.
 
That is NOT what blaspheming the Holy Spirit means, & those who make such a declaration is using eisegesis.
Blaspheme - 987: to slander, hence to speak lightly or profanely of sacred things.
Anyone can reject Christ without saying a word.
In order to slande, one has to speak out & that being publicly on purpose knowing the real truth.