In this post I want to present what I believe is the correct understanding of the, so called, "unpardonable sin". The phrase "unpardonable sin" is not in Scripture and, I believe, misrepresents what Scripture actually warns against. Why? Because Scripture never warns against "one single act of sin" which God will not forgive. Therefore I would suggest that there is no such thing as a "unpardonable sin". I like the term used by Charles Stanley in his book "The Glorious Journey" in which he says...
The above explanation is, I believe, a good "layman's" definition of the Biblical teaching on this subject. There is no sin that God will not forgive, but there is a "state" that person can get to that puts them beyond the reach of salvation.
There are several passages which, I believe, discuss this matter. While space will not allow me to quote and address in detail each passage I do want to mention several of them and give a brief explanation.
Matthew 12:31-32 and Mark 3:28-29
These two verses have struck fear in the hearts of many people, and rightfully so. The very thought that a person could reach a point where God would not forgive them is very frightening. However there are several things in these verses that I think we would do good to note.
1. This was not a one time event. Notice that in Mark 3:22 Scripture tells us that the Scribes "were saying he is possessed by Beelzebul, and he casts out demons by the ruler of demons". This was their settled position. While it should have been clear to anyone who listened to Jesus' teachings, or watched Jesus' healings and other actions, that the accusation was senseless and baseless, the Scribes hearts were so hardened against Christ that they could not see (Jn 5:36, 8:51, 9:39-41, Matt 13:13-16).
2. This was not an accident. This is not a case of mistaken identity. They knew who Jesus was, they knew who/what He was claiming to be, they had seen the signs, they had heard the teaching, yet they ignored all of that and made the accusation. This is their heart speaking.
3. They made these accusations to Jesus Himself. This was not done against an apostle or teacher. This was a continuous sin done in the face of the Son of God Himself.
4. The Spirit of God was clearly at work in Jesus yet these Scribes were so hard hearted they could not see Him at work.
5. What came out of their mouths was a blasphemy that came from their heart. Because they had so rejected the Holy Spirit, and thus the witness to Christ, they could not be saved. They had crossed a line of no return.
6. It is my belief that this "exact" sin cannot be committed today. As William MacDonald has said, "there is reasonable doubt whether the unpardonable sin can be committed today, because He (Jesus) is not bodily present performing miracles...people who worry that they have committed the unpardonable sin have not done so. The very fact that they are concerned indicates that they are not guilty of blasphemy against the Holy Spirit" -"Believers Bible Commentary, pgs1251, 1329.
Hebrews 6:4-6 and Hebrews 10:26-31
These two verses have also frightened many Christians. What is worse is that there are so many understandings of these two verses offered that people are truly confused. This is a sad situation. Let me take a moment to note several things about these two verses.
1. Those talked about in Hebrews 6 and 10 are in a irreversible situation. Hebrews 6 says that " it is impossible to renew them again to repentance", and Hebrews 10 says that "there no longer remains a sacrficefor sins but a terrifying expectation of judgment".
2. These two verses do not talk about a one time event, but rather a series of events/actions in a person's life. Hebrews 6 talks about the need for Christians to grow up and then warns about people who have "fallen away". Hebrews 10 warns against those who "go on sinning willfully after receiving the knowledge of the truth".
3. Neither of these verses are speaking to true believers.
Hebrews 6 talks about these people who "crucify to themselves the Son of God" and "being cursed and it ends up being burned" (vss6,8). The writer, however, is certain of things that "accompany salvation" for his readers (vs9). So whoever the author of Hebrews was he believed his audience had not entered the "unpardonable state" spoken of in verse 6.
I am aware of the problem posed by verses 4-5. Some take these verses to mean that the writer is talking about true Christians either (a) losing their salvation, or, (b) facing harsh judgment in time or at the Bema Seat of Christ. I believe choice "a" is unBiblical and inconsistant with the teaching of the author of Hebrews (7:25, 10:14, etc). It is my belief that choice "b" is also incorrect due to the language of verses 6-8. The point of those verses is to show that a person can come right to the door of salvation and then fail to be saved. While that alone is not unforgivable what is unforgivable is that they fall away in such a way that causes them to totally, and finally, reject Christ and His sacrifice for them. For these people there is no salvation. Again, please notice, that this is not a one time event/act. This kind of hardness occurs over a period of time (vss1-2).
Hebrews 10:26-31 warns about "willfull sinning" after a person has received the knowledge of truth. This is not a one time act. This is a willfull, intentional, even angry rejection of Jesus Christ. The "sinning" spoken of here, therefore, is a continued rejection of Jesus Christ. There comes a point when a person reaches a place where they can no longer be saved. A place where "there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins". This is called apostasy. "Like Judas, the person has heard the Gospel. He knows the way of salvation; he has even pretended to recieve it; but then he deliberately repudiates it" (MacDonald, 2192). These people will face a fate worse than execution (vss27-29) because they have "trampled under foot the Son of God, and has regarded as unclean the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and has insulted the Spirit of grace" (vss29). The result is the fury of fire that will consume (the enemies of God) them which is truly a terrifying thing.
In summary I would just remind folks of several important points concerning the "unpardonable state".
1. It is not a one time act.
2. Those who fear they have committed this continual "sin" prove they don't have a hard heart and have have not committed this "sin".
3. This state only occurs after a period of willfull, intentional, angry rejection of the witness of the Holy Spirit, and therefore of Jesus Christ (since the Holy Spirit witness of Christ).
4. Those who are in this state have a hardened heart that cannot be softened. They are not concerned about the things of God. They are opposed to Christ, His works, and His people and church.
5. Turn to Christ today in repentance and faith, then you will never have to worry about this "sin" ever again.
Amen?
I pray so...
The above explanation is, I believe, a good "layman's" definition of the Biblical teaching on this subject. There is no sin that God will not forgive, but there is a "state" that person can get to that puts them beyond the reach of salvation.
There are several passages which, I believe, discuss this matter. While space will not allow me to quote and address in detail each passage I do want to mention several of them and give a brief explanation.
Matthew 12:31-32 and Mark 3:28-29
These two verses have struck fear in the hearts of many people, and rightfully so. The very thought that a person could reach a point where God would not forgive them is very frightening. However there are several things in these verses that I think we would do good to note.
1. This was not a one time event. Notice that in Mark 3:22 Scripture tells us that the Scribes "were saying he is possessed by Beelzebul, and he casts out demons by the ruler of demons". This was their settled position. While it should have been clear to anyone who listened to Jesus' teachings, or watched Jesus' healings and other actions, that the accusation was senseless and baseless, the Scribes hearts were so hardened against Christ that they could not see (Jn 5:36, 8:51, 9:39-41, Matt 13:13-16).
2. This was not an accident. This is not a case of mistaken identity. They knew who Jesus was, they knew who/what He was claiming to be, they had seen the signs, they had heard the teaching, yet they ignored all of that and made the accusation. This is their heart speaking.
3. They made these accusations to Jesus Himself. This was not done against an apostle or teacher. This was a continuous sin done in the face of the Son of God Himself.
4. The Spirit of God was clearly at work in Jesus yet these Scribes were so hard hearted they could not see Him at work.
5. What came out of their mouths was a blasphemy that came from their heart. Because they had so rejected the Holy Spirit, and thus the witness to Christ, they could not be saved. They had crossed a line of no return.
6. It is my belief that this "exact" sin cannot be committed today. As William MacDonald has said, "there is reasonable doubt whether the unpardonable sin can be committed today, because He (Jesus) is not bodily present performing miracles...people who worry that they have committed the unpardonable sin have not done so. The very fact that they are concerned indicates that they are not guilty of blasphemy against the Holy Spirit" -"Believers Bible Commentary, pgs1251, 1329.
Hebrews 6:4-6 and Hebrews 10:26-31
These two verses have also frightened many Christians. What is worse is that there are so many understandings of these two verses offered that people are truly confused. This is a sad situation. Let me take a moment to note several things about these two verses.
1. Those talked about in Hebrews 6 and 10 are in a irreversible situation. Hebrews 6 says that " it is impossible to renew them again to repentance", and Hebrews 10 says that "there no longer remains a sacrficefor sins but a terrifying expectation of judgment".
2. These two verses do not talk about a one time event, but rather a series of events/actions in a person's life. Hebrews 6 talks about the need for Christians to grow up and then warns about people who have "fallen away". Hebrews 10 warns against those who "go on sinning willfully after receiving the knowledge of the truth".
3. Neither of these verses are speaking to true believers.
Hebrews 6 talks about these people who "crucify to themselves the Son of God" and "being cursed and it ends up being burned" (vss6,8). The writer, however, is certain of things that "accompany salvation" for his readers (vs9). So whoever the author of Hebrews was he believed his audience had not entered the "unpardonable state" spoken of in verse 6.
I am aware of the problem posed by verses 4-5. Some take these verses to mean that the writer is talking about true Christians either (a) losing their salvation, or, (b) facing harsh judgment in time or at the Bema Seat of Christ. I believe choice "a" is unBiblical and inconsistant with the teaching of the author of Hebrews (7:25, 10:14, etc). It is my belief that choice "b" is also incorrect due to the language of verses 6-8. The point of those verses is to show that a person can come right to the door of salvation and then fail to be saved. While that alone is not unforgivable what is unforgivable is that they fall away in such a way that causes them to totally, and finally, reject Christ and His sacrifice for them. For these people there is no salvation. Again, please notice, that this is not a one time event/act. This kind of hardness occurs over a period of time (vss1-2).
Hebrews 10:26-31 warns about "willfull sinning" after a person has received the knowledge of truth. This is not a one time act. This is a willfull, intentional, even angry rejection of Jesus Christ. The "sinning" spoken of here, therefore, is a continued rejection of Jesus Christ. There comes a point when a person reaches a place where they can no longer be saved. A place where "there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins". This is called apostasy. "Like Judas, the person has heard the Gospel. He knows the way of salvation; he has even pretended to recieve it; but then he deliberately repudiates it" (MacDonald, 2192). These people will face a fate worse than execution (vss27-29) because they have "trampled under foot the Son of God, and has regarded as unclean the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and has insulted the Spirit of grace" (vss29). The result is the fury of fire that will consume (the enemies of God) them which is truly a terrifying thing.
In summary I would just remind folks of several important points concerning the "unpardonable state".
1. It is not a one time act.
2. Those who fear they have committed this continual "sin" prove they don't have a hard heart and have have not committed this "sin".
3. This state only occurs after a period of willfull, intentional, angry rejection of the witness of the Holy Spirit, and therefore of Jesus Christ (since the Holy Spirit witness of Christ).
4. Those who are in this state have a hardened heart that cannot be softened. They are not concerned about the things of God. They are opposed to Christ, His works, and His people and church.
5. Turn to Christ today in repentance and faith, then you will never have to worry about this "sin" ever again.
Amen?
I pray so...
