Have You Committed the Unpardonable Sin (Without Knowing It)?
Jul 17, 2010 · Posted in Bible, EmailsA reader sent me this question:
My question is in regard to the “unforgivable sin”. What is your perspective on that particular subject? I have to say personally that I wonder if I have done that myself. And that is half the reason why I get so confused and study so much.
Which of us have not read this verse and wondered the same thing:
Matthew 12:31 (HCSB) — Because of this, I tell you, people will be forgiven every sin and blasphemy, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven.
My Pastor’s Common Sense Answer
I remember the answer my pastor gave back in church during the 90′s to this question. He said that as believers seeking to serve God, “if you are worried you have committed this sin, then you have not done it.” In other words, the people who might commit this sin are the people who are enemies of God, not the ones worried about what God thinks.
This fits with the audience that the verse above was directed at, the Pharisees (Mt 12:24). The Pharisees were doing everything they could to contradict, undermine, and trap Jesus, a man sent by God by their own admission (John 3:2). They saw him as a threat to their position, power and glory which was their primary concern, not serving God (John 11:47-48). In fact, Jesus plainly said that they did not serve God (John 7:17-19), but followed men and their traditions (Mt 15:3-9) because Satan was their father (John 8:44). Their evil desires and animosity for Jesus caused them to commit many intentional sins and all could be forgiven—except blaspheming acts that were done by the power of the Holy Spirit.
As long as you have always been neutral or friendly towards God, you could not have possibly committed the unpardonable sin.
Understanding Accountability For Punishment
But what if in the past you were acting as an enemy of God, much like Paul while he was a Pharisee before his Road to Damascus conversion? How do you know for sure that you did not commit the unpardonable sin then, especially when you did not know enough to realize what it was?
You can know for sure you did not because God is reasonable, fair, and just. He will not damn you eternally for a sin done in ignorance. A sin of ignorance may bring an immediate penalty or curse for breaking his rules (such as the many curses that Philistines suffered after they captured and touched the untouchable Ark of the Covenant in 1Samuel 5 or the curses on Abimelech for unknowingly taking Abraham’s wife in Genesis 5), but not the ultimate penalty of the Second Death. For you to be accountable for that final punishment, you must first be fully informed in advance of the behaviors that would lead to that punishment. In other words, you must know you are doing it to be accountable for it.
Therefore it’s impossible to commit the unpardonable sin and not know it. You have to consciously be opposing God to commit it and also be aware of God’s will on the subject. The Pharisees, if they really were Satan’s seed as Jesus implied (John 8:44) , were already nonredeemable and had nothing to lose and everything to gain by making a blasphemous lie about the source of power Jesus used to cast out demons. However, it is unlikely that any believer reading has knowingly blasphemed like that.
Unpardonable Sin Impossible To Commit Today
Besides the aforementioned knowledge prerequisite, a final consideration about this sin is the question of the situation needed for it to happen. Jesus was able to do “many signs” because he was filled with the Holy Spirit. There miracles (and his ministry) began when he was baptized in water by John the Baptist followed by the spirit descending on him like a dove. This was his own private “Day of Pentecost” event, if you will, filling him with the Holy Spirit.
From that day forward, he was able to do the signs he did because of the baptism of the Holy Spirit. The Pharisees witnessed this power repeatedly (along with his irresistible, wise and superior teaching from God’s word). He warned them they were in danger of the unpardonable sin because they knew where his power really came from and yet continued to attribute his power to the Devil instead of God. This same power was also seen in the the apostles and others present in Jerusalem at Pentecost and those who they then laid hands on. Jesus predicted this. He said “these signs shall surely follow” and they did as we can read all about in Acts.
However, today it’s different. Today there is nobody left who had hands laid on them by someone with the baptism of the Holy Spirit. This is not to say miracles and healings do not happen still. They do, but through the fervent prayer of faith by righteous men (James 5…I have personally received divine healed three times this way). Yet, we are not presently familiar with the easy or accidental miracles like those that Acts tells us constantly surrounded those full of faith and the Holy Spirit (Acts 6:5). For example, Acts implies that healings happened by Peter’s shadow passing over the sick in the streets or by receiving a clothing that Paul had worn. That’s the difference between being filled with Holy Spirit and miracles surrounding you constantly and merely being a faithful righteous person who prays to receive miracles and gets them a small percentage of the time.
Given that you are unlikely to find a person filled with the Holy Spirit today, you are not going to see a real miracle that was clearly and obviously done by the Holy Spirit for you to blaspheme. Thus, you cannot commit the unpardonable sin today even if you wanted to.
Hebrews confirms that the presence of the Holy Spirit is a necessary prerequisite of a sin you cannot repent of:
Hebrews 6:4 (HCSB) — For it is impossible to renew to repentance those who were once enlightened, who tasted the heavenly gift, became companions with the Holy Spirit
This passage is not talking about generic salvation as salvation of itself does not make you “a companion of the Holy Spirit.” The laying on of hands is what gives that gift (1Ti 4:14; 2Ti 1:6). That was the special situation of the First Century. People had “enlightenment” or the Holy Spirit as their “companion” because of the laying on of hands (Acts 19:1-6). The passage is saying that if they then fall away after tasting such a level of intimate understanding with God’s way and power (or “enlightenment”) then they were accountable for knowing better if they then abandoned that way. This differs from the accountability people have today without the spirit filling them. We are generally in confusion and doubt on even what the Bible says when we attempt to read it. Such as, for example, what the Bible teaches on what sins you can never be forgiven for =).
Conclusion
There is no need to worry about being guilty of the unpardonable sin and not knowing it. In Scripture God’s enemies are the ones who are in danger of it. Further, it probably has been impossible to commit this sin ever since soon after the First Century. Unlike then, the baptism of the Holy Spirit is not poured out on all believers so that you can witness many signs done by the spirit and then blaspheme it. If you still do catch yourself worrying about having committed it, then that might be the best evidence one can point to that you have not done so.
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Dear Tim.
For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: Romans 3:23-24.
Matthew 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.
Matthew 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.
Mark 3:29
But he that shall blaspheme against the Holy Ghost hath never forgiveness, but is in danger of eternal damnation.
Luke 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.
Ephesians 1:7
In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;
Please ask the The Holy Ghost to guide u in prayers.
Amen.
Thank you
Hullo Tim, am an avid reader and believer of the Bible. I find it rather strange when u say that sin against the Holy Spirit is impossible in our times bcoz we dont anymore have people filled with the Holy Spirit and attendant miraculous happenings. I truly believe that we do still have such miraculous happenings and healings taking place in the name of our LORD, and that we do have disciples on whom the Spirit has been poured out. After all God did say He’d pour out His Spirit on all manner of people (Joel 2:28-29)and I believe Mark 16:17-18 is truly being acted out in our midst.
John,
I’m afraid my words in the article have been misunderstood. Please reread the article, especially the part where I say “This is not to say miracles and healings do not happen still. They do…”
As for Joel 2:28-30, that’s a future prophecy that was only partially fulfilled at Pentecost with Peter. Note that Joel 2:30=Rev 6:12- was not fulfilled then. Nothing happened in the sky then. If you think Mark 16:17-18 is being acted out in our midst, then I encourage you to reread Acts where it was fulfilled and compare that to today. Then go and find someone to lays hands on you like Paul did in Acts 19 when he found out the people had only accomplished getting wet in their John baptism, like we have today. The people he laid hands on immediately prophesied and spoke in tongues and healings and other miracles always followed among the believers. We simply do not have signs to anything like that high degree today. And that’s the difference, high frequency vs. now-and-then infrequency. Hope this helps.
Dear Tim,
Like your correspondent John, I fervently believe that Mark 16, vv 17 & 18 still apply today. It is a fundamental belief of all Pentecostal Christians that believers would normally be baptised in the Holy Spirit and speak in tongues, prophesy, etc. as the Holy Spirit inspires them. For a long time, my wife & I were members of a Pentecostal church in London, England, where prophetic counselling (words of knowledge, words of wisdom, etc.) were commonplace and where physical healings and deliverance from demonic spirits were regarded as normal, basic Christian experience. You may not have witnessed such things personally, but to our knowledge many people have, and we know of a number of pastors and evangelists who have been used by the Lord to raise people from the dead!
Food for thought!
Richard, I’m familiar with everything you refer to since I’ve also visited a Pentecostal church. After an extended time there, I noticed many things there did not match up with the Bible and how the Holy Spirit worked in the First Century church. I had to conclude, like many do, that demonic spirits were running about and masquerading as the HS to bring the healings, words, prophecies, “deliverance”, etc. This is easy for a wiley demon to do in an place that does not know their Bible well (less than 5% of Christians read the entire Bible) and therefore does not have good discernment on how to “test the spirits” for the false ones (1Jn 4:1-).
you are wrong,people are still receiving the holy ghost today. miracles are still happening today, your eyes needs to be opened to the true word of GOD. my whole family has received the holy ghost and have experienced many miracles. you might deceive the unlearned but you are too late to deceive us.
i am still waiting for your answer to my comment on 8-28. or do you only respond to comments that agreed with you and promote tour ideas.
Herlon, where did I say miracles do not happen? I have been healed three times so I would never say such a thing!
I attend a pentecostal church have done for many years, i have heard people speaking in tongues and cannot help but think it is mumbo jumbo considering when i first become a christian i was told to practices talking in tongues by using goo goo ga ga words.how do we practice something that is apparently a gift of the holy spirit
“How do we practice something that is apparently a gift of the Holy Spirtn”, well said! I was told to say glory, glory over and over again till the Spirit took control of my tongue…”and when you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do” -Jesus
“Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?”, “and I will declare to them, I never knew you” -Jesus
I agree with Tim. The kind of power that was going on in those days was intense! It happened in a way that left no room for doubt. I think this was part of God’s plan? I mean…have you read the stories? Show me a man who walks on water…or heals the sick with ONE touch of his hand or just ONE word. Show me a man who says to a dead body “Rise up!” followed by him doing that very thing. Jesus was absolutely filled! Filled with the holy spirit. I remember a passage where the disciples ask Jesus about speaking in parables. They don’t understand why he talks like that to the people but not like that when in their presence. Jesus explains to the disciples that they have been given the gift of the Holy Spirit. Right? So he says that’s why he doesn’t have to talk like that to them but that without it…they wouldn’t even understand him! He says the people have eyes that do not see and ears that do not hear. So this tells me that even in those days when many miracles were taking place, it was anything but ordinary. (And look. I’ve been in a church or two like you describe. I was never comfortable with it because I kind of smelled a lie. Ya know? Church should be a place for gaining Wisdom and knowing better God’s Will through His Word and Commandments, not some 3 ring circus of people demonstrating a power that they haven’t even tested. I remember those people locked me in an auditorium full of 50 adults trying to drive the devil out of me. I was 13 years old in Foster care. I loved God so much…so much that they sensed something different about me and were afraid of it. God was right inside me in a quiet place where I reside with Him. I guess they preferred I make my Father a theater act for desperate fools.