Tonight we looked at what is popularly known as the “unpardonable sin.” We looked briefly at what average Joe thinks constitutes a sin that will not and cannot be forgiven. You know it…right? What is the unpardonable sin according to average Joe Christian? Suicide. Why? Because you do not have an opportunity to confess it. Then we saw why that is wrong. Which is, Scripture. There are two passages from the Bible that speak to a sin that God does not forgive. The first is Matthew 12:32, which says “And whoever speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come.” The second is basically the same from Mark 28, 29. There is nothing in these verses nor in the immediate context that remotely speaks of suicide. The verses in context are Jesus performing signs and wonders. These aren’t the tricks of a traveling magician. They are pointers to a greater reality, namely God’s Kingdom and Salvation have arrived in the person of Jesus. His miracles, including especially here the casting out of demons, point to this new reality. The Pharisees have experienced these signs and wonders. They’ve heard the teaching of Jesus. In addition, the Holy Spirit was present throughout Jesus’ ministry and beyond to testify of the truth of Jesus’ claims. And in spite of all of that, the Pharisees claimed Jesus was in league with Beelzebub. Yes, Jesus worked with demons according to them. Jesus pointed out the inconsistency of a house divided. And in this context, Jesus mentions the sin that will not be forgiven. What is that sin? A rejection of the testimony and work of the Holy Spirit who bears witness to Jesus. Ultimately a rejection of Jesus is a heart that’s set against the work of the Spirit. The outer evidence of this hardness of heart and rejection of the Spirit is the Pharisees’ claim that Jesus worked with the devil. Only a hardened heart of unbelief, which has rejected the Holy Spirit could make such a claim. And that is the sin that won’t be forgiven. Scripture tells us there may come a point where the Spirit won’t strive with us anymore. When our hearts have become so hard that we will not listen to anything of the Spirit’s conviction. Then we die. And when we die, we face judgment. On that day, the sin that God will not forgive will be that rejection of the Son, testified about by the Spirit. No other sin we commit here on earth will damn us forever. Only this one. This is actually a great comfort. Many Christians worry they’ve possibly committed an unpardonable sin. A good rule of thumb is that if you’re very concerned you may have sinned beyond God’s forgiveness, you probably haven’t. While the Spirit strives, while He convicts of sin, righteousness, and judgment, respond. Respond by repentance and faith. You need not fear the unpardonable sin if you are God’s child. You are safe already. Eternally.
January 31, 2008...4:39 am
The Only Sin That Can Ultimately Win
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2 Comments
February 5, 2008 at 6:09 pm
Very interesting. Since I dont hear these service’s, I have to find them here! Thanks man!
February 5, 2008 at 6:16 pm
Hey man. Come get ‘em. I’m thinking about Podcasting Wednesday Nights instead of Sunday mornings. More people hear Sunday morning than Wednesday night. And they’re always very fun topics to deal with. I don’t know. Anyway, thanks for stopping by.