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The Unpardonable Sin Matt 12:31-32 "Therefore I say to you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven men. 32 "Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man, it will be forgiven him; but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit, it will not be forgiven him, either in this age or in the age to come. (NKJ) Luke 12:10 "And anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man, it will be forgiven him; but to him who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit, it will not be forgiven. (NKJ)
Sin leading to death…Sin not leading to death… Romans 3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. I Jn 5:16 If anyone sees his brothersinning 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. (NKJ) cf: Luk 23:34 ‘Father, forgive them… Acts 7:60 ‘Lord, lay not this sin to their charge…” What is a ‘sin not leading to death’? One that has been (or still can be) forgiven ! What is a ‘sin leading to death’? One that cannot be forgiven ! – It’s just too late…
Sin: Forgivable or not… Matt 12:31-32 "Therefore I say to you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven men. 32 "Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man, it will be forgiven him; but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit, it will not be forgiven him, either in this age or in the age to come. (NKJ) Luke 12:10 "And anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man, it will be forgiven him; but to him who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit, it will not be forgiven. (NKJ) These passages certainly seem to point to one particular sin. A sin that is unpardonable; unforgivable. To understand what that particular sin is, we need to understand the circumstances that caused Jesus to make the statement above in the first place…
Matthew 12:22-45 [22] Then was brought unto him one possessed with a devil, blind, and dumb: and he healed him, insomuch that the blind and dumb both spake and saw. [23] And all the people were amazed, and said, Is not this the son of David? [24] But when the Pharisees heard it, they said, This fellow doth not cast out devils, but by Beelzebub the prince of the devils. [25] And Jesus knew their thoughts, and said unto them, Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand: [26] And if Satan cast out Satan, he is divided against himself; how shall then his kingdom stand? [27] And if I by Beelzebub cast out devils, by whom do your children cast them out? therefore they shall be your judges. [28] But if I cast out devils by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God is come unto you. [29] Or else how can one enter into a strong man's house, and spoil his goods, except he first bind the strong man? and then he will spoil his house. [30] He that is not with me is against me; and he that gathereth not with me scattereth abroad. [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. [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. [33] Either make the tree good, and his fruit good; or else make the tree corrupt, and his fruit corrupt: for the tree is known by his fruit. [34] O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh. [35] A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things. [36] But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. [37] For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned. [38] Then certain of the scribes and of the Pharisees answered, saying, Master, we would see a sign from thee. [39] But he answered and said unto them, An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given to it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas: [40] For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale's belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. [41] The men of Nineveh shall rise in judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: because they repented at the preaching of Jonas; and, behold, a greater than Jonas is here. [42] The queen of the south shall rise up in the judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: for she came from the uttermost parts of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and, behold, a greater than Solomon is here. [43] When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest, and findeth none. [44] Then he saith, I will return into my house from whence I came out; and when he is come, he findeth it empty, swept, and garnished. [45] Then goeth he, and taketh with himself seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter in and dwell there: and the last state of that man is worse than the first. Even so shall it be also unto this wicked generation.
The Unpardonable Sin What is ‘Blasphemy’ ? Some (including Wesley) claimed it is: "the ascribing those miracles to the power of the devil which Christ wrought by the power of the Holy Spirit." Possibly, but…that could also simply be the result of ignorance and misunderstanding – an error I make based on what I don’t know. Any and all sins that I commit are the result of a choice I make! I do not, I cannot not, sin by mistake…It is just not possible! James 4:17 Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin. Of course, there are other ways that I could sin but… Sin is always the result of my stupid choices – not my ignorant actions… Ignorance can be fixed, Stupid is forever…
Blasphemy G988 blasphēmia Thayer Definition: 1) slander, detraction, speech injurious, to another’s good name 2) impious and reproachful speech injurious to divine majesty Part of Speech: noun feminine A Related Word by Thayer’s/Strong’s Number: from G989 Citing in TDNT: 1:621, 107 A slander: denying and rejecting truth in favor of and espousing a lie. Also translated as: abusive language (1), blasphemies (4), blasphemous (2), blasphemy (6), railing (1), slander (3), slanders (1). An indignity offered to or against God by our words; Reproachful, contemptuous or irreverent words uttered impiously against Jehovah. Blasphemy = a lie aimed against God, denying that which is true, due and rightfully belonging to him, attributing to him that which is false concerning his nature, defaming his character.
The one thing God will not overlook, the one sin He will not – cannot – forgive is: Blasphemy, Speaking against the Holy Ghost. Making out the Holy Spirit to be a liar. Defaming Him. What is Unforgivable A once and for all decision to reject the true and right work and witness of the Holy Spirit concerning Jesus. Referring to the Holy Spirit, Jesus promised that: John 15:26 But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me: John 16:7-13 Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you. [8] And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: [9] Of sin, because they believe not on me; [10] Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more; [11] Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged. [12] I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now. [13] Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come. John 14:16-17 And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; [17] Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.
Why is it Unpardonable ? This sin is unpardonable because refusing Jesus’ fully paid sacrifice for sin leaves you to pay the price for your own sin by yourself. Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. When we stand before God (and all of us whether we’re saved or not will stand before God) to give an account of our lives, words and deeds, we will have to present the debt payment that we owe for our own sins. Either you have accepted Jesus and His sacrifice on your behalf as that payment or you will have pay it in full yourself. This is not a matter of ‘if it happens’, it will ! Who pays your tab with God for your sin is your choice… This is why Jesus said: John 14:6 …I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
‘unforgivable’… So then - the one ‘unpardonable sin’ is to refuse the witness of the Holy Spirit concerning the Lord Jesus, the Christ when he, God’s Holy Spirit… …reproves us of our sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: [Jn 16:8] The situation in Matthew 12 was that in spite of all the miracles, evidence, scripture, truth, and knowledge that had been given to the Scribes and Pharisees, they blasphemed the witness – the testimony – of the Holy Spirit: • By calling Him a liar placing their own thoughts and ideas above His. • Rather than accepting the witness of the Holy Spirit concerning Jesus, they ascribed Jesus’ work to the devil. Live and die rejecting Christ and you will face God still carrying your own guilt It’s your choice… God will honor your choice… Facing the Holy Spirit’s warning that apart from Christ there is no forgiveness for sin and the truth that Jesus has already paid the full price for the sins of the whole world, To hear this and to call this testimony of the Holy Spirit regarding Jesus a lie, rejecting God’s provided payment is:
Unpardonable Sin & Unstoppable Forgiveness [John 1:1] In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. [2] The same was in the beginning with God. [3] All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. [4] In him was life; and the life was the light of men. [5] And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not. [John 1:8] …That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world. [10] He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not. [11] He came unto his own, and his own received him not. [12] But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: [13] Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. [14] And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth. [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. [17] For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. [John 3:18] He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. [19] And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. [20] For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. [21] But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God. It’s not our committing sins that is our real problem It's our commitment to sin… Obedience - humbling our wills to God's will – should be our aim !
Wilfully Sinning – No more sacrifice Hebrews 10:26 For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, 1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. No one who has truly made Jesus Lord of his life, No one who is truly ‘born again’: • will live his life ‘wilfully’, that is consciously choosing to continue living sinfully in spite of the forgiveness he claims to have received. Does that mean a Born Again Christian will never sin again – no, No, NO !!! It means that he hates sin and when he finds sin in his life, he confesses it and repents of it; is cleansed from all unrighteousness… Does that confession and cleansing mean we will never sin again, again – no, No, NO !!! It means that we hate sin and when we finds sin in our life, we confess it and repent of it; we are cleansed from all unrighteousness... How do I break the cycle to sinning? One who has be made a new creature in Christ has a new motive – a new focus. Sin is no longer his focus Obedience born out of his love for God becomes his new goal and objective. Bringing God joy – pleasing Him – is his new motive… Neh. 8:10 … for the joy of the Lord is your strength.
The Disease and the Cure – Proof Positive When Jesus died, He paid the price that God’s justice and holiness demanded in payment for ‘sin’ – which covers the sins of the whole world… 1 John 2:1-6 My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: 2 And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world. 3 And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments. 4 He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. 5 But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him. 6 He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked. Sin is the “disease”. Jesus provided the ‘cure’ for us and the whole world – the ‘sins’ we commit are the symptoms. But we must personally accept the His ‘cure’ Proof of the ‘cure’ in our lives is that we are keeping His commandments – Do we obey Him because we love Him ??? SIN IS NO LONGER THE ISSUE – OBEDIENCE IS…
Squaring up: What about my Sinning? Luk 6:46-49 And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say? 47 Whosoever cometh to me, and heareth my sayings, and doeth them, I will shew you to whom he is like: 48 He is like a man which built an house, and digged deep, and laid the foundation on a rock: and when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently upon that house, and could not shake it: for it was founded upon a rock. 49 But he that heareth, and doeth not, is like a man that without a foundation built an house upon the earth; against which the stream did beat vehemently, and immediately it fell; and the ruin of that house was great. 1Co 3:11-17 For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12 Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; 13 Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is. 14 If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. 15 If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire. 16 Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? 17 If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.
What do I think about Sin ? - I'M AGAINST IT ! As a Born Again Christian – I do not cease sinning because I am in fear of punishment – my debt is paid. I stop sinning because I don’t want to sin. My love for my Lord has replaced what had been my love for sinning… Sin typically involves two types of activity. Both are sin. One is no better or no worse than the other. 1] The actions (or inactions) we call sins are those things that cause us to ’fall short’: • 'miss the mark', • not reach a proper goal, • not be all that we could (and should) be. Greek: hamartia (ham-ar-tee'-ah); hamartano (ham-ar-tan'-o); 2] There are trespasses. To trespass is to ‘disobey’, ‘rebel’: • go beyond an established limit or boundary, • go further than we are allowed to go, • place ourselves in a situation we should not be in at all. Greek: paraptoma (par-ap'-to-mah); parapipto (par-ap-ip'-to);
Commands and Principles Violating God's standard - His will - is sin. God's Word reveals God's will - His standard - in two basic ways: Through commands and principles. • Commands are specific ‘do's and don'ts’ To violate a command of God’s is always sin. ALWAYS… • Principles are guidelines from God regarding living life. If you violate a God given principle, it may or may not be sin. Whether it is actually sin or not, violating a principle that God has established for living life is a dumb thing to do.
It’s really not ‘the Principle of the thing’… God, in some situations or circumstances, will make His principles personal commands to certain of us, granting freedoms or placing limitations on us as suits His purposes and our best interests. These principles having become commands to us, may be temporary or may be permanent. When this happens in our lives, we need to remember that these are personal restrictions or freedoms. • What has now become sin for us may not be sin for others. • What may be permissible for us, may be not be permissible and therefore would be sin for others. Sometimes God imposes personal limitations on us to keep us from something we cannot handle properly. Most times He places personal limitations on us so that we can be more effectively used as His ambassadors to those around us - fulfilling His plans and purposes. God will never ask us to sin but He may ask us not to exercise a freedom or privilege.
Not Me !! Not Ever !! Knowing God's standard and expectations are important things. God's people – those living to please Him - must be able to tell what is a violation of God's will and desire for their lives and what is not. Many times we establish standards for ourselves that God has not. Violating the standards we have imposed on ourselves must not be treated like violating the standard that God has established. When we impose extra 'commands and principles' on ourselves, we may actually put ourselves in the position of not being able to do God's will. God may ask us to do something or go somewhere that would violate OUR standard but not His standard. We end up telling God, “No, we would never do that!" (which is not too far from the condition we were in before we believed in Him) We are to live by God's standard. God is not obligated to act according to ours.
Are you to talking to me ???Once more, who are you again… If we are setting our own standard of acceptable living, there is another more frequent and more dangerous way this problem of writing our own rules will show up in our lives. We will eventually expect others to live up to our standard, imposing things on them that God has not. To expect others to live up to our personal standard is wrong. We become modern day 'pharisees and teachers of the law'. It is only God's standard that matters.
I can see clearly know, the sin is gone… God's scriptural commands are clear. We are never free to violate them. To knowingly violate them is sin - always. Applying God's principles (especially when those principles have become commands) can be a bit tougher. • How do we tell if something is permissible? • Even if I have God's permission to do something, should I do it? • Is it proper? If I do it, who gains? • When have I gone too far? Scripture provides at least 3 simple tests that you can use to help answer these questions
IF WE KNOW THE RIGHT THING TO DO, AND DON'T DO IT, IT IS SIN! Always, no exceptions! Jas 4:17 Therefore, to one who knows {the} right thing to do, and does not do it, to him it is sin. (NAS)
2) UNLESS WE CAN DO SOMETHING WITH A PERFECTLY CLEAR CONSCIENCE, IT IS SIN! • No rationalizing is allowed. • We are not allowed to talk ourselves into it. • No fear of being discovered doing it is allowed. • No guilt about it is allowed. If any of these things are present, don’t do it… If our consciences are not clear, don’t do it… If you don't have a sense of God's peace over it, don't do it... Rom 14:14 I know, and am persuaded by the Lord Jesus, that there is nothing unclean of itself: but to him that esteemeth any thing to be unclean, to him it is unclean. (KJV) Our rational for acting is not, “What’s wrong with it?” but, “What’s right about it ?”
2) UNLESS WE CAN DO SOMETHING WITH A PERFECTLY CLEAR CONSCIENCE, IT IS SIN! Wait ! Can’t our conscience be wrong ? Yes! Especially when God is teaching you something new…if you are maturing, growing in Christ… Romans 12:1-2 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. [2] And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. The only legitimate way to clear your conscience is by conforming to the truth revealed in God's word, confirmed by the Holy Spirit. It does not matter who else is doing it or what they say about it.
IF DOING SOMETHING COULD(NOT WOULD BUT COULD)PROVIDE ANOTHER CHRISTIAN THE OPPORTUNITY TO SIN, WE SHOULDN'T DO IT Before you claim a 'right' or exercise a 'freedom' just because 'God said you could' realize that God expects you to act properly before Him and His children. Having the right and exercising that right are two different things. The how, the why, the when, the where and before whom you act is often just as important as what you do. Rom 14:12-13 So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God. 13 Let us not therefore judge one another any more: but judge this rather, that no man put a stumblingblock or an occasion to fall in his brother's way. (KJV) If it’s a command, do it! If it’s exercising a freedom consider others…
3 Conditions that must be met… Applying God's principles: • How do we tell if something is permissible? • Even if I have God's permission to do something, should I do it? • Is it proper? If I do it, who gains? • When have I gone too far? ================= Conviction Be certain that God allows what you are about to do. Conscience Be certain that God wants you to do it. Consideration Be certain that God wants it done in the place and time you intend to do it and that it will edify those who may see you doing it.
It is important that you do not sin. Remember, your calling as a Christian, one who has made Jesus Christ the Lord of your life, is to grow into His image - to be obedient to Him. If we spent as much time on knowing God's will and desire for us and being obedient to it as we do on making sure we don't sin, we would be far more successful at both. If you are busy giving God all of your ‘right nows’ you won’t have time to get into sin. Focus on always, immediately and continually giving God the current moment – your right now - then neither sin nor worry over the future nor worldly lusts and desires will get in the way of your obedience to God’s leading and will for you. Rom 6:11 Even so consider yourselves to be dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus. 12 Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body that you should obey its lusts, 13 and do not go on presenting the members of your body to sin {as} instruments of unrighteousness; but present yourselves to God as those alive from the dead, and your members {as} instruments of righteousness to God. 14 For sin shall not be master over you, for you are not under law, but under grace. 15 What then? Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace? May it never be! 16 Do you not know that when you present yourselves to someone {as} slaves for obedience, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin resulting in death, or of obedience resulting in righteousness? 17 But thanks be to God that though you were slaves of sin, you became obedient from the heart to that form of teaching to which you were committed, 18 and having been freed from sin, you became slaves of righteousness.
1 John 2:1-6 1 My little children, I am writing these things to you that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous; 2 and He Himself is the propitiation for our sins; and not for ours only, but also for {those of} the whole world. 3 And by this we know that we have come to know Him, if we keep His commandments. 4 The one who says, "I have come to know Him," and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him; 5 but whoever keeps His word, in him the love of God has truly been perfected. By this we know that we are in Him: 6 the one who says he abides in Him ought himself to walk in the same manner as He walked…
