“I’ve done a lot of research on this, done a lot of reading on it, here’s the consensus. The blasphemy against the Holy Spirit involves ascribing the work of the Holy Spirit, accomplished through Jesus Christ to Satan. You get that? It’s saying, the Holy Spirit has done this work, He’s done it through Jesus Christ, yet I’m saying it was Satan who did all of that work.”
Have you ever wondered if you have committed that one unpardonable sin the Bible talks about? A lot of people spend a lot of time really concerned about this, so it may do them good to listen in as I talk about why I think it’s unlikely they have committed it.
I think every pastor, probably every Christian, at one time or another, is asked about the unpardonable sin. We read in scripture about one sin that can not, will not be forgiven. I think probably every one wonders at some time, have I committed that sin? Have I broken God’s law in that way so that I can not be forgiven? A lot of people spend a lot of time really concerned about this, racked with guilt, racked with worry. Today I want to address the unpardonable sin and say why I don’t think you’ve committed it.
There’s a couple of different places in the Bible where we hear about an unpardonable sin. Matthew chapter 3, verse 29 and Matthew 12, verse 31. I’ll read those to you, Matthew 12, 31, here’s Jesus, “Therefore I tell you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven people, but the blasphemy against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven.” Then Mark 3, 29, very similar, “But whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit, never has forgiveness but is guilty of an eternal sin.” That sounds terrifying, really, it is terrifying. It’s good for us to think about, what is this sin and is it something we ought to be concerned about?
I’ve done a lot of research on this, done a lot of reading on it, here’s the consensus. The blasphemy against the Holy Spirit involves ascribing the work of the Holy Spirit, accomplished through Jesus Christ to Satan. You get that? It’s saying, the Holy Spirit has done this work, He’s done it through Jesus Christ, yet I’m saying it was Satan who did all of that work. So, to commit that sin, you have to know that Jesus Christ is God and then despite that, ascribe the Spirit’s work through him to the devil. That is a serious, serious offense.
So, Rick Phillips, a wonderful commentator, here’s what he says. There is no sin so great that the precious blood of the Son of God of infinite value before God is not sufficient to pay for it. The issue is that forgiveness comes only to those who believe on the Lord Jesus. And someone who knows who Jesus is, who realizes that His work is by the Holy Spirit, and yet so refuses to believe that he actually ascribes the Spirit’s work to the devil can not possibly be saved. Why? Because that person is not just ignorant, but they willfully, knowingly reject Jesus as Messiah, as proved by the Holy Spirit.
