Have I Committed the Unpardonable Sin?

Surprise! You aren’t the only one who has ever wondered if he has committed the unpardonable sin. Probably, truth be known, most of us have wondered the same thing.

Discouragement is one of Satan’s favorite tools.  He would love for us to believe that the battle has already been lost, that there is no hope, that there is no reason to continue the struggle to continue the Christ life.  He is the father of lies, and all of those are just more of the same.  And if we give up our faithfulness before this life is over, we might as well have committed an unpardonable sin.  In our dispensation (time), the only unpardonable sin is the one that has not been repented of and forgiveness asked for.

 Question:  I have committed a grievous sin in my earlier life. How I hate the memory of that event today!  Have I committed the unpardonable sin?  Have I offended God so much that He will not forgive me, no matter what else I might do in this life?  Is eternity already all over for me?  I can’t bear that thought.

A.  Answer(s).  Really we have three questions embedded in that question. (1) What is the unpardonable sin? (2) Is the sin that I have done the same thing as the unpardonable sin? (3) What do I need to do to pick myself up and try again to live the Christian life?

Answer 1.       The unpardonable sin is related in Matthew 12 and Luke 12.  The context of both teachings by Jesus was that this was during His physical life upon the Earth.  He was performing miracles daily and was God in the flesh, directly teaching people. The texts are quoted below:

Mat_12:31  Wherefore I say unto you, All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men: but the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men.
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.  (King James Version).

Luk_12:10  And whosoever shall speak a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but unto him that blasphemeth against the Holy Ghost it shall not be forgiven.

In Luke 12: 12 the assurance was given to the listeners that “For the Holy Ghost shall teach you in the same hour what ye ought to say. “ This was obviously given to the people standing around Christ at that moment.  The Holy Ghost does not give us the words to speak to the people we teach today in the 21st century,  negating the need for Bible study.  Rather we are admonished to “Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, right dividing the word of truth” 2 Timothy 2: 15. 

So in conclusion to the question about blaspheming the Holy Spirit, although I wouldn’t advise any one to go around making overly casual statements about the Holy Ghost, it does not appear even possible to commit that sin today.  Jesus is not now alive upon the Earth, teaching and performing miracles.

One could accomplish the same dismal fate, though, today, by refusing to hear or to obey God’s commandments, placed in the Bible by his Holy Spirit, the ultimate author of His word (see 2 Peter 1, verses 20 and 21.  No one is going to avoid the judgment of God by saying that he was ignorant of His word.  Acts 17: 30 – “And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent:” Jesus said just before He left this Earth “He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned. “ He further said in John 14: 15 “If you love me, you will keep my commandments.” The passage in Acts 2: 37-47 shows how people began their walk with Christ in the first century, and their example applies to us today.  We are to “be thou faithful until death, and I [Christ] will give thee the crown of life” Revelation 2: 10.

Answer 2:  The sin that you committed was not the unpardonable sin that the Jews standing around Jesus committed.  Whatever it was you did, you need to let Jesus take care of it by becoming a Christian (if you aren’t already) or by repenting and praying (see Simon the Sorcerer’s story in Acts 8). As long as the breath of life remains within you, you can do what is necessary to access the cleansing blood of Jesus Christ that was shed on the cross.

Consider God’s love for you, and the extent to which He keeps the pathway open for you:

John 3: 16—“ For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
2 Peter 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.

The God of today is the God of the Old Testament.  God declared His ability to forgive all sin in many scriptures, but Isaiah 59: 1,2 comes to mind—“ Behold, the LORD'S hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear:  But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear. “

Answer 3: It is man, then, who decides what the relationship will be between him and God.  If you want Him, he will have you.  James 4: 7-10—“ Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded. Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness. Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up. “

It was God’s Son who said “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.  For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. “ Matthew 11: 28-30.  There are no indications in that context that Jesus was speaking to only those in His physical proximity in A. D. 32. 

His call is to all people of all time.  This includes you.