The so called Unpardonable Sin

This article is not my own, but it is really good and I thought worthy of posting. Enjoy.

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Author Dr. Henry Morris insightfully clarifies the true nature of Pharisees' sin:

"The unforgivable sin of speaking against the Holy Spirit has been interpreted in various ways, but the true meaning cannot contradict other Scripture. It is unequivocally clear that the one unforgivable sin is permanently rejecting Christ (John 3:18; 3:36). Thus, speaking against the Holy Spirit is equivalent to rejecting Christ with such finality that no future repentance is possible. 'My spirit shall not always strive with man,' God said long ago (Genesis 6:3).
…In the context of this particular passage (Matthew 12:22-32), Jesus had performed a great miracle of creation, involving both healing and casting out a demon, but the Pharisees rejected this clear witness of the Holy Spirit. Instead they attributed His powers to Satan, thus demonstrating an attitude permanently resistant to the Spirit, and to the deity and saving Gospel of Christ" [Henry M. Morris, The Defender's Study Bible (Iowa Falls, Iowa: World Bible Publishers, 1995), emphasis added.].

Respected Christian theologian Dr. F.F. Bruce writes

"…Speaking against the Son of man might be due to a failure to recognize Him for what He is. So Paul recalls how in his pre-Christian days he thought it his duty to oppose the name of Jesus of Nazareth. But if, having seen the light on the Damascus road, he had deliberately closed his eyes to it and kicked out against the goad which was directing him into the true path, that would have been the sin against the Holy Spirit.
The Holy Spirit persuades and enables men to accept Christ and enjoy the saving benefits of the gospel [John 16:8; 1 Corinthians 2:12-14; Acts 7:51], but if anyone refuses to submit to the Spirit's gracious constraint, preferring to call good evil and evil good, how can the gospel avail for him? The deliberate refusal of the grace of God is the one sin which by its very nature is irremediable" [F.F. Bruce, Answers to Questions (Grand Rapids, Michigan: Zondervan Publishing House, 1973), pp. 46-47.].

"Anyone who rejects the Holy Spirit's convicting influence and does not repent will not be forgiven, 'neither in this world, neither in the world to come' (Matthew 12:32)" [Ray Comfort, "The Unpardonable Sin," The Evidence Bible (Gainesville, Florida: Bridge-Logo Publishers, 2001).].


“Jesus thus regards blasphemy against the Spirit—permanently rejecting his identity (Matthew 12:18) as attested by the Spirit's works (12:28)—as the worst of sins”
[Craig S. Keener, The IVP Bible Background Commentary, New Testament (Downers Grove, Illinois: InterVarsity Press, 1993).

The situation was similar at the biblical city of Capernaum, where Jesus Christ performed an extraordinary number of miracles and taught many important public lessons. In the end, most of the people of Capernaum remained unrepentant. Like the Pharisees, they persistently rejected the convicting ministry of the Holy Spirit who bore witness to the true identity of Jesus Christ, their Messiah.
They turned away from the abundant light graciously provided to them, and chose to remain forever in their unbelief. They persistently refused to listen to anything the Holy Spirit was telling them. Like the Pharisees, they chose self-imposed blindness. For this reason, they were strongly judged. "For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required…" (Luke 12:48). Thus, along with nearby Chorazin and Bethsaida, Capernaum received a very stern warning from Jesus, "It shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment, than for thee" (Matt. 11:21-24).

Bible researcher Larry Richards points out,
"This reference to an unforgivable sin has troubled many unnecessarily. Those who are concerned that they have done something for which Jesus will not forgive them show a very different attitude from the Pharisees, who refused to accept even the most compelling evidence that Jesus was the Son of God. The person who rejects the Spirit's message about Jesus will not be forgiven. Anyone who seeks Jesus' forgiveness certainly has not committed the unforgivable sin" [Larry Richards, 735 Baffling Bible Questions Answered (Grand Rapids, Michigan: Fleming H. Revell, 1993), pp. 241-42.].

"…once you accept Jesus, that part of the Holy Spirit's job is complete, thus you can't blaspheme His work. Naturally, He continues to work with you, and you can be stubborn and resist Him as a Christian, but you can't blaspheme Him. Live unproductively, carnal and unspiritual, possible. But commit the unpardonable sin? It's just not possible for a true Christian. Remember what Paul said: “There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus…” (Romans 8:1).

A true Christian cannot commit a sin for which there is no forgiveness. We are protected by the power of God (1 Peter 1:5). Although we can certainly grieve the Holy Spirit, he still seals us for the day of redemption (Ephesians 4:30). The Apostle Paul was confident "that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ" (Philippians 1:6, NKJV).
Bear in mind, however, if someone who claims to be a Christian is responding to the Holy Spirit and Christ in a way very similar to that of the Pharisees, despite the strong witness of the Holy Spirit and abundant exposure to the truth of God's Word, it is highly doubtful that the person was ever saved. Only God knows for sure. The evidence clearly points to an unregenerate heart.
"…for a tree is known by its fruit. …For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks" (Matthew 12:33-34, NKJV).

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Ok, this is me again. Hope you enjoyed the article.

Let's look now at Mark 3:28-29 and see that even the so called unpardonable sin is not completely unpardonable.

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 Spirit has never forgiveness, but is in danger of eternal damnation."

Notice the verse says "is in danger of eternal damnation." To be in danger of something is to be in trouble if you continue on your present course, but is not irreversible. Anyone, no matter how much they have blasphemed, can still come to Christ and accept His forgiveness. Only if the person dies before coming to Christ will it be truly unforgiven.

Look at Hebrews 9:27 "And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment."

Now once someone dies without Christ it is truly too late for them. Unlike how some religions teach that a living person can pay the penalty for a deceased loved one, this verse clearly states that the person dies and the only thing after that is judgment. There is no mention of death then penance paid to alleviate future judgment or any of that.

Also, while a person can literally be saved right up until death (for exhibit "A" see the thief on the cross), it is not wise for anyone to go that avenue. The Bible talks in several places about if someone rejects the word of God, that their hearts will become hardened. See these verses.

Proverbs 29:1 "He, that being often reproved hardens his neck, shall suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy."

Hebrews 3:15 " While it is said, To day if you will hear his voice, harden not your hearts, as in the provocation."

Psalm 95:8 "Harden not your heart, as in the provocation, and as in the day of temptation in the wilderness."

Acts 7:51 "You stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, you do always resist the Holy Spirit: as your fathers did, so do you."

The bottom line is this, only an unsaved person can commit the sin of rejecting Christ. And if that person has a change of mind that is known as repentance, and accepts the atoning sacrifice of Jesus as their only means of righteousness, then it is never too late.