The Unforgivable Sin

The Unforgivable Sin

During last Friday’s CF meeting, an interesting issue was brought up regarding the unforgivable sin, namely the blasphemy against the Holy Spirit. For centuries, this has haunted many well-meaning Christians who start to worry whether they have committed a sin that they can never be forgiven. However, I believe that this is an error in thinking. When we look at the whole plan of God in the context of Scripture as a whole, He is a loving and compassionate God, forgiving everyone who repents and turns back to Him, even those who have committed the worst sins. There is no reason why blasphemy against the Holy Spirit cannot be forgiven if one repents. The context in Scripture here I believe is a matter of interpretation. Consider the verse, Ask and you shall receive. In the Greek, it actually means, keep on asking and you shall receive, it is not necessarily an immediate promise. In the same way, if we keep on blaspheming against the Holy Spirit, we will be guilty of an eternal sin. Reading some other versions might help us understand better in comparison to the NIV, as follows:-

New International Version
 22And the teachers of the law who came down from Jerusalem said, "He is possessed by Beelzebub^[c]! By the prince of demons he is driving out demons."
 23So Jesus called them and spoke to them in parables: "How can Satan drive out Satan? 24If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. 25If a house is divided against itself, that house cannot stand. 26And if Satan opposes himself and is divided, he cannot stand; his end has come. 27In fact, no one can enter a strong man's house and carry off his possessions unless he first ties up the strong man. Then he can rob his house. 28I tell you the truth, all the sins and blasphemies of men will be forgiven them. 29But whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven; he is guilty of an eternal sin."
 30He said this because they were saying, "He has an evil spirit."
The Message

28-30"Listen to this carefully. I'm warning you. There's nothing done or said that can't be forgiven. But if you persist in your slanders against God's Holy Spirit, you are repudiating the very One who forgives, sawing off the branch on which you're sitting, severing by your own perversity all connection with the One who forgives." He gave this warning because they were accusing him of being in league with Evil.

Amplified Bible

29But whoever speaks abusively against or maliciously misrepresents the Holy Spirit can never get forgiveness, but is guilty of and is in the grasp of ^[i]an everlasting trespass.

Before Jesus Christ came down to earth as the Son of Man, eternal condemnation had not yet come upon men. They would die because in their sins in this life of course, but they were not yet condemned to eternal death in hell. That is why, as written in the book of Peter, it speaks of Jesus preaching to the spirits who sinned a long time ago during the days of Noah. Those spirits who believed in Him would also receive eternal life! In the Old Testament, there is hardly a reference to hell at all, but once Jesus came, the danger of hell becomes very real, and is frequently mentioned as a dreadful warning.

Once Jesus Christ died on the cross and rose again, the way to salvation is now clear. No one comes to the Father except through Jesus. He has sent His Holy Spirit into the world to convict the world, and all who harden their hearts and do not listen to the Holy Spirit will be guilty of sin leading to eternal death. How much more dangerous will it be for those who call the work of the Holy Spirit that of the devil?

Therefore, it is important for us to keep a close relationship with God and soften our hearts to listen to what the Holy Spirit may say to us or convict us all our lives. Before we condemn any miracle, we need to seriously seek God, pray and test the fruit in humility, lest we actually hinder a work of God.

In conclusion, all sins are forgivable if we repent and turn back to God, but if we persist in any sin, it is resisting the Holy Spirit, and it will ultimately lead us to eternal death.

God bless,

Jason

Sasi’s sharing

On Friday, Sasi shared 3 things which I found very insightful

Firstly, he spoke of how a Scripture from 2 Corinthians 4:2 came to him.

¹Therefore, since through God's mercy we have this ministry, we do not lose heart. ²Rather, we have renounced secret and shameful ways; we do not use deception, nor do we distort the word of God. On the contrary, by setting forth the truth plainly we commend ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God. ³And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. ⁴The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. ⁵For we do not preach ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus' sake. ⁶For God, who said, "Let light shine out of darkness,"made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ. 2 Corinthians 4:1-6

And as Sasi read the verse and further down the passage, he was drawn to the truth that we are to be the light of the world, shining of out of darkness. And this is the destiny and calling of our CF, to be a light in a dark place. God made his light shine in our hearts. I believe this refers to the Holy Spirit that Jesus has deposited in our hearts, and as we learn to live by the precious Holy Spirit as our teacher and guide, we will begin to shine light and knowledge to all around us. “ Behold I am the Lord, and I speak truth into your hearts, and you will shine like the stars of heaven. I have loved you with an everlasting love.”

Secondly, Sasi shared of a dream that he had which focused on the “washing of feet”. Jesus washed the feet of his disciples to show them the full extent of his love. It was a menial act, that only the lowest of servants do for others, but Jesus did it out of the deepest expression of His love. It was a humbling experience for each of Jesus’ disciples and it is for us too, for Jesus does the same for us because He loves us, and He wants us to do the same for each other, that is to love each other with a deep love, a love that does not love because it is deserved, but loves unconditionally, loving even when it is least deserved.

Thirdly, Sasi shared of a desire by his wife to have a personal, real encounter with God, experiences usually new Christians enjoy more than older Christians or Christians who have grown up in a Christian family. For much of my life, I too had this desire but couldn’t seem to get through to hear God or feel His presence on a regular basis. Recently, the revelation shared by Pastor Mark Virkler on the 4 important steps to Communion with God has had a great impression on me, and I believe this is a great way for us to draw closer to God and really hear His voice.