Category: Unpardonable Sin

The Unpardonable Sin and the Holy Spirit: Part 2

6/16/2021

TBC Glassboro Sermons and More · The Unpardonable Sin And The Holy Spirit: Part 2

Truly I say to you, all sins shall be forgiven the sons of men, and whatever blasphemies they utter; but whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness, but is guilty of an eternal sin — because they were saying, He has an unclean spirit. - Mark 3:28-30

The term forgiven (aphíēmi) means to remit or remove sins so that the one forgiven is no longer guilty of them or under their power. If one sins against the Holy Spirit by blaspheming Him, he will remain guilty of sin and under its power forever. The phrases not forgiven him in this age or in the age to come (Mathew 12:32) and never has forgiveness (Mark 3:29) indicates that the person has wholly forfeited the possibility of being forgiven now or in the future.

Two things should be stated regarding what the unpardonable or unforgivable sin is not. First, this sin is not merely any sin or blasphemy. It is a particular sin or blasphemy against the Holy Spirit. Jesus said that any sin or blasphemy could be forgiven.

Therefore I say to you, any sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven people, - Matthew 12:31
Truly I say to you, all sins shall be forgiven the sons of men, and whatever blasphemies they utter; - Mark 3:28

Only the sin against the Holy Spirit is unforgivable.

Second, the unpardonable sin is not against Jesus. Jesus said that even a word against the Son of Man could be forgiven.

Whoever speaks a word against the Son of Man, it shall be forgiven him; - Matthew 12:32a

Notice that a denial or rejection of Jesus is not the unpardonable sin. Paul was a blasphemer of Jesus and yet was saved and became a minister of the Gospel.

even though I was formerly a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent aggressor. Yet I was shown mercy because I acted ignorantly in unbelief; - 1 Timothy 1:13

That said, if someone dies in their unbelief, they will experience the Second Death, eternal separation from God.

He who believes in the Son has eternal life; but he who does not obey the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him. - John 3:36
He who has the Son has the life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have the life. - 1 John 5:12
…their part will be in the lake that burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death. - Revelation 21:8b

0 Comments

The Unpardonable Sin and The Holy Spirit: Part 1

6/12/2021

1 Comment

TBC Glassboro Sermons and More · The Unpardonable Sin And The Holy Spirit: Part 1

One must define the unpardonable sin within the Scriptural context it occurs. In the Scriptural context, Jesus cast out a demon from a blind and dumb man. The Pharisees accused Jesus of casting out the demon through the power of Beelzebub, another name for Satan, the ruler of the demons.

But when the Pharisees heard this, they said, This man casts out demons only by Beelzebul the ruler of the demons. - Matthew 12:24

Beelzebul or Beelzebub is a deliberate distortion of the name Baal-Zebul. Baal-Zebul was a Philistines god, considered the lord of the flies (cf. 2 Kings 1:2). Historians believe that this deity communicated through the buzzing of a fly and protected its worshippers from plagues associated with flies. The Israelites deliberately distorted the name to Beelzebub, which means the lord of the dung. They also applied the name Beelzebul to Satan. It was a common practice amongst the nations of their era to associate the gods of enemy nations with the devil.

In reality, Jesus healed the man and performed all His miracles through the power of the Holy Spirit, not Satan.

Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led around by the Spirit in the wilderness […] And Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit, and news about Him spread through all the surrounding district. - Luke 4:1, 14

To accuse Jesus of doing miracles through the power of Satan was to blaspheme the Holy Spirit. Blasphemy (blasphēmía) is speaking evil reports to wound someone’s reputation. Thus, when the religious leaders accused Jesus of healing in the power of Satan, they injured the reputation of the Holy Spirit by accusing Him of being Satan. It is this blasphemy of the Holy Spirit which is unpardonable or unforgivable.

Therefore I say to you, any sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven people, but blasphemy against the Spirit shall not be forgiven. 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. - Matthew 12:31-32

1 Comment

The Unpardonable Sin and the Holy Spirit: Part 2

The Unpardonable Sin and The Holy Spirit: Part 1

WHY TWO MINUTES?

Categories