What confusion there has been on the subject of the unpardonable sin! How many -- some of them in mental institutions -- have been haunted by the fear that they have committed this sin, even while Bible teachers themselves are so far from agreed as to what the unpardonable sin is!
Surely those who know the gospel of the grace of God will not strike fear into the hearts of their hearers by the threat of an unpardonable sin, for
“...we have redemption through His blood, THE FORGIVENESS OF SINS, ACCORDING TO THE RICHES OF HIS GRACE” (Eph. 1:7).
“Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. BUT WHERE SIN ABOUNDED, GRACE DID MUCH MORE ABOUND:
“THAT AS SIN HATH REIGNED UNTO DEATH, EVEN SO MIGHT GRACE REIGN THROUGH RIGHTEOUSNESS UNTO ETERNAL LIFE BY JESUS CHRIST OUR LORD” (Rom. 5:20, 21).
Surely there is no room for an unpardonable sin here. It has been well said that sinners who die in unbelief in this dispensation of grace will go to the lake of fire with all their sins unpardoned, but not because one of them was unpardonable.
Our Lord’s warnings about the unpardonable sin had the coming of the Holy Spirit in view. Nor was this because the Holy Spirit is a more important member of the Trinity than the Holy Father or the Holy Son. It was simply that with the coming of the Holy Spirit to plead with Israel all three members of the Trinity would have done their part to bring the nation to repentance and salvation.
All through Old Testament times Israel had resisted the Father. The Father, in turn, had sent the Son, who had taught and labored among them, only to be rejected too. Now the Son was to send the Spirit, and Israel would have her last chance. Hence the Lord said:
"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 . . . neither in this world [age] neither in the world [age] to come" (Matt. 12:31,32).
As the number seven in Scripture speaks of perfection so the number three speaks of completeness. God Himself is a trinity: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. The number three, too, is stamped upon His creation. We ourselves have the number three stamped upon us, for we are body, soul and spirit. The structural universe bears the same number, being made up of time, space and matter. And each of these again is threefold. Time: past, present and future. Space: length, breadth and height. Matter: energy, motion and phenomena.
And the Scriptures, in dealing with the universe, designate "Things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth" (Phil. 2:10) . . .
And thus it was with the nation Israel. When our Lord warned Israel's leaders that sin and blasphemy against the Holy Spirit would not be forgiven them, it was simply because the Holy Spirit was soon to descend and give them their third and last opportunity to repent. And after all their sin and blasphemy against the Father and the Son, the Holy Spirit did come down at Pentecost, working among them so mightily and confronting them with such overwhelming proof of our Lord's kingdom rights that their continued rejection of Him was utterly inexcusable and unpardonable.
Yet they did continue in their rebellion. They had resisted the Father and the Son, and now Stephen had to say: "Ye do always resist the Holy Ghost."
THREE BRUTAL MURDERS
Every student of the Word should know the three brutal murders around which all history revolves. These three murders represent Israel's response to God's threefold call to repentance. They explain the unpardonable sin and form the background for the dispensation of grace.
It was John the Baptist, the last of the Old Testament prophets, who was sent as the forerunner of Christ to call Israel to repentance. He was beheaded by Herod, the wicked and licentious "king of the Jews." After John, Christ Himself took up the cry: "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." Him they crucified.
Then, at Pentecost, Israel was given a third opportunity to repent, until they shed blood again, stoning Stephen to death.
It should be noticed, too, that their guilt, as well as their bitter enmity, increased with the second and third murders. As to the beheading of John the Baptist, they permitted it. As to the crucifixion of Christ, they demanded it (Luke 23:23,24). As to the stoning of Stephen ["full of the Holy Spirit"], they committed it, casting him out of the city with their own hands and stoning him there.
And so that generation in Israel committed the unpardonable sin which our Lord warned would not be forgiven, either in that age nor in the age to come.
The Unpardonable Sin: What it Was and What it Isn't
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The unpardonable sin is to attribute the works of the Holy Spirit such as healing, casting out demons, to the power of the devil as having an unclean spirit and not from God.
Mark 3:22-30
22 And the scribes which came down from Jerusalem said, He hath Beelzebub, and by the prince of the devils casteth he out devils.
23 And he called them unto him, and said unto them in parables, How can Satan cast out Satan?
24 And if a kingdom be divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand.
25 And if a house be divided against itself, that house cannot stand.
26 And if Satan rise up against himself, and be divided, he cannot stand, but hath an end.
27 No man can enter into a strong man's house, and spoil his goods, except he will first bind the strong man; and then he will spoil his house.
28 Verily I say unto you, All sins shall be forgiven unto the sons of men, and blasphemies wherewith soever they shall blaspheme:
29 But he that shall blaspheme against the Holy Ghost hath never forgiveness, but is in danger of eternal damnation:
30 Because they said, He hath an unclean spirit.
KJV
Mark 3:22-30
22 And the scribes which came down from Jerusalem said, He hath Beelzebub, and by the prince of the devils casteth he out devils.
23 And he called them unto him, and said unto them in parables, How can Satan cast out Satan?
24 And if a kingdom be divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand.
25 And if a house be divided against itself, that house cannot stand.
26 And if Satan rise up against himself, and be divided, he cannot stand, but hath an end.
27 No man can enter into a strong man's house, and spoil his goods, except he will first bind the strong man; and then he will spoil his house.
28 Verily I say unto you, All sins shall be forgiven unto the sons of men, and blasphemies wherewith soever they shall blaspheme:
29 But he that shall blaspheme against the Holy Ghost hath never forgiveness, but is in danger of eternal damnation:
30 Because they said, He hath an unclean spirit.
KJV
1. It was Christ they were blaspheming here, not the Holy Spirit, though Christ did take the opportunity to warn them what WOULD happen if they blasphemed the Spirit once He arrived (which is exactly what happened in Acts).
2. If Israel's leaders had committed the unpardonable sin that early, the early Acts period would have seen no offer of Messiah to them if they repented, for repentence would have availed them nothing. God would have written them off as unforgivable long before the Cross and the entire prophesied Messianic program would have been short-circuited.
3. Stephen's inspired sermon left the Jewish leaders without any excuse, for it says they were cut to the heart [convicted of Messiah's murder]. Before that point, they had resisted the Holy Spirit but not yet blasphemed Him. That came at the murder of Stephen and it was not forgiven, as shown by both Paul's being immediately sent to the Gentile "dogs" and not to them, as well as the utter destruction of 70 A.D.
2. If Israel's leaders had committed the unpardonable sin that early, the early Acts period would have seen no offer of Messiah to them if they repented, for repentence would have availed them nothing. God would have written them off as unforgivable long before the Cross and the entire prophesied Messianic program would have been short-circuited.
3. Stephen's inspired sermon left the Jewish leaders without any excuse, for it says they were cut to the heart [convicted of Messiah's murder]. Before that point, they had resisted the Holy Spirit but not yet blasphemed Him. That came at the murder of Stephen and it was not forgiven, as shown by both Paul's being immediately sent to the Gentile "dogs" and not to them, as well as the utter destruction of 70 A.D.
No, it was the Spirit of Jesus that they blasphemed as they said HE DOES THESE WORKS BY BEELEZEBUB, claiming he had and unclean spirit guiding him. Did you not read the verses for yourself. How is it that you do not understand the Word of God as it is written. This is not the first time that you have not accepted truth of the Word, but try to make your own conclusion.musterion said:
Stephen asked God NOT TO HOLD THIS CHARGE AGAINST THEM for his stoning.
Jesus said that you can blaspheme him and the Father, but NOT the works of the Spirit that is unforgivable.
Acts 7:59-8:1
59 And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.
60 And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep.
KJV
Many were broken off due to unbelief and blaspheming the Holy Spirit and those who believed were grafted into the olive tree as Israel. And the same can happen to us.
Rom 11:16-21
16 For if the firstfruit be holy, the lump is also holy: and if the root be holy, so are the branches.
17 And if some of the branches be broken off, and thou, being a wild olive tree, wert graffed in among them, and with them partakest of the root and fatness of the olive tree;
18 Boast not against the branches. But if thou boast, thou bearest not the root, but the root thee.
19 Thou wilt say then, The branches were broken off, that I might be graffed in.
20 Well; because of unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by faith. Be not highminded, but fear:
21 For if God spared not the natural branches, take heed lest he also spare not thee.
KJV
And the destruction of the temple was PROPHESISED by Jesus long before it was.
Matt 24:1-2
24:1 And Jesus went out, and departed from the temple: and his disciples came to him for to shew him the buildings of the temple.
2 And Jesus said unto them, See ye not all these things? verily I say unto you, There shall not be left here one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down.
KJV
Mark 12:10-11
10 And have ye not read this scripture; The stone which the builders rejected is become the head of the corner:
11 This was the Lord's doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes?
KJV
The temple made with hands had to be torn down so that the temple built without hands but by God could be focused on and we as the body of Christ are the temple, the living stones being formed from clay(flesh) unto the image of Christ the immovable Stone that is faithful to God.
1 Cor 3:16-17
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.
KJV
Rev 21:22
22 And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it.
KJV
Rev 3:12-13
12 Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name.
13 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.
KJV
Stephen asked God that his own death not be laid to their charge. Perhaps it was not, but their blasphemy against the Holy Spirit was not forgiven them.
You contradict yourself in so obvious a way yet you are unable to see it. I leave it for someone else to point it out to you. Good day and God's grace to you.
You contradict yourself in so obvious a way yet you are unable to see it. I leave it for someone else to point it out to you. Good day and God's grace to you.
I did not contradict nothing. I said that Stephen asked God to forgive them for stoning him. Paul also killed and blasphemed Jesus for he killed in the name of God all who believed upon Jesus.. but the Lord chose Paul who was killing the body of Christ out of ignorance to take the gospel to the Gentiles, kings and children of ISRAEL to make them into the one new man.musterion said:
It was ONLY because they said Jesus had an unclean spirit that they blasphemed the Holy Spirit which is unforgivable! No contradiction
Even Jesus asked the Father to forgive them for killing him
Luke 23:33-34
33 And when they were come to the place, which is called Calvary, there they crucified him, and the malefactors, one on the right hand, and the other on the left.
34 Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots.
KJV
Blessings to you
The teachers of the law tried to say Jesus drove out demons by the prince of demons (Beelzebub)
That was the blasphemy against the holy Spirit
Mark 3:30
For someone to blaspheme today , Jesus would have to be here performing miracles
That was the blasphemy against the holy Spirit
Mark 3:30
For someone to blaspheme today , Jesus would have to be here performing miracles
This may be overly simplifying it, but How many unpardonable sins are there? As far as I know there is only one
Then it must be to reject Jesus and the work of the Holy Spirit
It is un pardonable to reject Christ, if we reject him we die in our sin. We cant reject Christ and be forgiven. The scribes were rejecting Jesus and the works of the Holy Spirit. They chose not to believe
Then it must be to reject Jesus and the work of the Holy Spirit
It is un pardonable to reject Christ, if we reject him we die in our sin. We cant reject Christ and be forgiven. The scribes were rejecting Jesus and the works of the Holy Spirit. They chose not to believe
If you blaspheme and reject the Holy Ghost you will reject salvation as well! For the Holy Ghost draws men unto salvation through the Word and reveals all truth!
My two cents: Jesus said that all sins will be forgiven. Sin is transgression of law. I suspect we are improperly labeling the blasphemy of the Holy Spirit as a sin. It is obviously the fruit of a mindset. Has anyone ever thought that if this one thing cannot be forgiven, or will not be forgiven, that it can be repented of ?(repentance means to change one's mind) By the way, the sin of the world was forgiven before anyone repented. The repentance to salvation is the changing of the mind that leads to faith in and the acceptance of the sacrifice of Jesus for sin. Otherwise Rom.10:9,10 has left something out, which it hasn't.
To reject Jesus is to reject salvation , and I suppose by default you are rejecting the Father and Spirit as well.
However , blasphemy of The Holy Spirit is a different matter altogether.
However , blasphemy of The Holy Spirit is a different matter altogether.
Matthew 12
31 “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.
Seems rather straight forward to me. The Holy Spirit is our seal and guarantee of our inheritance, 2 Cor 1:22, 2 Cor 5:5, Ephesians 1:14, Ephesians 4:30.
The Holy Spirit is "HOLY". The same Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead will also raise our mortal bodies...Romans 8:11.
I agree with your post no:6 - F14U. please remember though that Israel has a veil over their head [at the preaching of Moses] which can only be taken away in Christ. Very difficult when you consider that they did not recognize him as the coming one...
2 Corinthians 3:
7 But if the ministry of death, written and engraved on stones, was glorious, so that the children of Israel could not look steadily at the face of Moses because of the glory of his countenance, which glory was passing away, 8 how will the ministry of the Spirit not be more glorious?
13 unlike Moses, who put a veil over his face so that the children of Israel could not look steadily at the end of what was passing away. 14 But their minds were blinded. For until this day the same veil remains unlifted in the reading of the Old Testament, because the veil is taken away in Christ. 15 But even to this day, when Moses is read, a veil lies on their heart. 16 Nevertheless when one turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. 17 Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. 18 But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.
Shalom!!!
31 “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.
Seems rather straight forward to me. The Holy Spirit is our seal and guarantee of our inheritance, 2 Cor 1:22, 2 Cor 5:5, Ephesians 1:14, Ephesians 4:30.
The Holy Spirit is "HOLY". The same Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead will also raise our mortal bodies...Romans 8:11.
I agree with your post no:6 - F14U. please remember though that Israel has a veil over their head [at the preaching of Moses] which can only be taken away in Christ. Very difficult when you consider that they did not recognize him as the coming one...
2 Corinthians 3:
7 But if the ministry of death, written and engraved on stones, was glorious, so that the children of Israel could not look steadily at the face of Moses because of the glory of his countenance, which glory was passing away, 8 how will the ministry of the Spirit not be more glorious?
13 unlike Moses, who put a veil over his face so that the children of Israel could not look steadily at the end of what was passing away. 14 But their minds were blinded. For until this day the same veil remains unlifted in the reading of the Old Testament, because the veil is taken away in Christ. 15 But even to this day, when Moses is read, a veil lies on their heart. 16 Nevertheless when one turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. 17 Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. 18 But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.
Shalom!!!
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