Wednesday, July 21, 2010

Can all Sin be Forgiven?

Blasphemy against the Holy Spirit

This sin is mentioned just three (3) times in the New Testament.

“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 the age to come.” (Matthew 12:31, ESV)

Truly, I say to you, all sins will be forgiven the children of men, and whatever blasphemies they utter, but whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness, but is guilty of an eternal sin.” Mark 3:28-29, ESV)

“And everyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but the one who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven.” (Luke 12:10, ESV)

Now, the context of this tremendous statement makes it very clear that this “sin” is not just any serious violation of Gods’ moral law or standard. It does not reference persistence in sin or even a rejection of Jesus Christ. This sin that is so deadly serious is the cognitive and volitional attribution of the working of God through the Holy Spirit to the working of Satan, or the devil.

The context relates that the Pharisees had been a witness of a miracle, a divine working of God and those they heard the teachings of Jesus and they chose to remain in spiritual darkness and categorized the good that they saw as evil. The attributed the working of God to the Devil. They refused to acknowledge that the miracle that they had seen and the teachings of Jesus were actually from God. Had they acknowledged these things they would have to respond to them. That response would have shown them to be fraudulent and disobedient to the word, the laws, and the things of God. This they decided they could not do.

This sin is so vile and so consciously committed that it is unforgivable. Why? This sin is committed with the “light” of the Holy Spirit, the “witness of God”, and the truth of the Messiah, all of which are not only willfully denied, but attributed to Satan.

Jews taught that all their sins would be forgiven at death. The Jews taught that no Jewish person would ever go to “hell.” As a matter of fact they believed that Abraham himself sat at the gate of hell to specifically turn any wayward Jew back from hell and point him toward heaven. Jesus makes it clear that contrary to their teaching this sin was unforgiven in this age, while they lived, and in the age to come, when they died. (For the record, this does not imply that any sins of any degree are forgivable after death.)

The reason that there is no forgiveness is the person who chooses to attribute the working of God through the Holy Spirit rejects God and calls God the Devil neither from any ignorance nor accident, but does so both knowingly and willingly. Therefore there is no more remedy, there is no more hope, there is no more help for this person. Neither further teachings nor any other miracles will help this person.

So what does this say to us?

Any person who is concerned or worried about this sin has not committed it. A guilty, troubled, or agitated conscience gives evidence that one is still concerned about sin, God, and forgiveness in some form – maybe not from a biblical perspective – but at least concerned. This is a dire warning for those who know the truth of God not to turn away from that truth or to abandon the truth.

Sin against either God or the Son can be forgiven in this life. Why? The Holy Spirit was sent by God the Father to convict people of sin causing them to repent and to turn away from their sin or blasphemies against God or the Son. The thief who was saved while on the cross is an example of this. He joined in with the other thief in insulting and defaming Jesus. At some point, a crucial point the Holy Spirit who was given to convict men of sin convicted this particular thief. This conviction resulted in his repentance and turning from his sin and his turning to God and request for salvation. Scripture says that Jesus assured him he would join Jesus in paradise that day.

Is God the Father stirring in your heart through the work of the God the Holy Spirit? Do not willfully and knowingly attribute that working to the devil. Do not reject the conviction of the Holy Spirit upon your soul – or you too will be doomed with no hope of forgiveness in this life nor the one to come. Why? It is the work of the Holy Spirit to make you aware of your sin and God's salvation. If you reject the working of the Holy Spirit and/or attribute that working to the devil there is no one else to convict you of sin. You have no further advocate. Acknowledge your sin and trust in the finished work of Jesus Christ on the cross of Calvary. Do it today!

8 comments:

RHYTHM AND RHYME said...

All of us sin each and every day,if not by deed but by thought.
But if you can pray at the end of the day asking to be forgiven surely one is. As I remember The Lords Prayer where it says "Forvive our sins and those who sin against us,"

Yvonne.

J Curtis said...

Yes, that's pretty much my take on this as well.

Skeptics often hold this up and twist it as saying cuss words against the Holy Spirit when the matter is much more profound than that.

Anonymous said...

I have'nt thought about this subject for quite a while. I agree with you 100% especially with your last piece of advice.

Acknowledge your sin and trust in the finished work of Jesus Christ on the cross of Calvary. Do it today!

AMEN!

RCUBEs said...

I'm glad you talked about this today as many have their own opinions of what this meant. It helps to always be based on His truth!!! God bless you.

Gregg Metcalf said...

Yvonne - yes we should certainly beware of sin and regularly confess it. Thank God I Jn 1:9 states that if we agree with God, if we say the same thing as God about sin He will forgive us.

JD Curtis - yes, it is much more serious than just cursing. It is a rejection of His convicting work which leads to repentance.

OG - thanks. We don't think of this sin or scripture often. But we need to share with others the danger of resisting or rejecting the work of the HS in our lives.

RCUBEs - you are welcome. Yes, we must keep scripture in context and interpret it correctly not as we want to.

LibbyLibbyLibbyLibbyLibby said...

This is really good Gregg, one of the best explanations I have read.
Thank you!

Arlee Bird said...

Can only a believer, or at least one who is fully cognizant of the meaning of the Holy Spirit blaspheme in this way? I'm wondering from the standpoint of say one who is extreme atheist who has spent much time rejecting and speaking against God and denying the power of the spirit and who one day has a revelation that brings that person to a true knowledge of God and acceptance of Jesus Christ. Has that person already brought condemnation upon himself through blasphemy or would it instead have been merely considered ignorance and therefore not brought eternal damnation?

Lee
Tossing It Out

Anonymous said...

enjoying your blog. all glory to God!