What is unforgivable sin? Can it be forgiven?

The Lord Jesus addressed the scribes and Pharisees in Mk. 3 : 28 , 29 , ” But he that shall blaspheme against the Holy Spirit hath never forgiveness , but is in danger of eternal damnation “

BLASPHEME – is to do or say anything that derogate or insults God .
Do we wonder , that not just what it is our Lord could have been referring to , but more importantly whether this is a sin of which we have been guilty , either consciously or unconsciously .

WHAT IS “:BLASPHEME AGAINST THE HOLY SPIRIT ” AND WHY IS IT SO STERNLY CONDEMNED ?

The answer lies in the Context . In the Matthew’s record. ( Mtt. 12 : 22- 24 ) the Lord’s comment is in direct answer to an earlier declaration of the Pharisees in seeking to discredit the miracle which he had performed in healing the man who was both blind and dumb …..” But when the Pharisees heard it , they said , This fellow doth not cast out DEVILS , but by Beelzebub the prince of the DEVILS .

Note : here ‘devils ‘ in the Septuagint is demons ( DAIMONION ( Grk. ) as recorded in 1Tim. 4 : 1 in direct distinction to Devil ( Daibolos ) . Devils or demon in the Septuagint ( Greek translation of the OT scriptures)

Devils here is False gods of the heathens ; – Duet. 32: 17 ; Lev. 17 : 7 ; Psa. 106 : 37 – 39 . 2 Chron. 11 : 15 .

DAIMONION ( demon ) = Devils .
Diabolos ( Devil ) = Devil

They couldn’t question the miracles , so , they mischievously sought to explain them away by s statement they knew to be false . Their accusation was a calculated lie in an endeavor to mislead the people . They attributed works which were clear manifestation of the power of God to the forces of evil . This was BLASPHEMY . Jesus performed miracles by the POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT . Therefore , the blasphemy was against the Holy Spirit .

Their conclusion was unforgivable because for a sin to be forgiven , it has to be acknowledged and forgiveness has to be Sought .These men could not be forgiven for their attitude which they maintained in the face of clear evidence that it was untrue ( Luke 12 : 10 )

But this not all our Lord had to say on this occasion . He also said in Matt. 12 : 36 , 37 ; ” But I say unto you , that every idle word that men shall speak , they shall give account thereof in the day of judgement ….

We may not be guilty of blasphemy against the Holy Spirit , but many of our words are idle , especially when we are relaxed and ” off duty ” . It is our idle words that we speak about Jesus that we reveal how we truly feel about him .

HEB. 19 : 26 , 27 ALSO HAVE SOMETHING TO SAY ABOUT UNFORGIVABLE SIN .

This found it necessary to remind brethren that we will all face judgement and that some of them were in grave danger .

” For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth there remaineth no more sacrifice for sin , but a certain fearful looking for judgement and fiery indignation which shall devour the adversaries .

Also in Heb . 6 : 4 – 6 : ” For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened and have tasted of the heavenly gift , and we’re partakers of the Holy Spirit , and have tasted the good word of God , and the powers of the world to come , if they shall fall away , to renew them again unto repentance seeing they crucify to themselves the son of God afresh ( the second time ) and put him to an open Shame .

Note : These words are spoken to those who had deliberately turned their back on the truth , knowing it to be the truth . They had not merely fallen away from the faith ; but have become positively antagonistic :- As with the Scribes and the Pharisees we were considering earlier , there could no forgiveness because Acknowledgement and Repentance were lacking .

The scriptures are full of examples of men and women like us , having all the weaknesses and failings oh human nature

It should , therefore , be possible to turn up lots of examples of Unforgivable Sins . Despite these , it is difficult , if not impossible to do so with any Certainty .

But if we go back to Mark 3 where we started our thoughts ( discussion ) , v28 reads ” Verily I say unto you , ” All sins shall be forgiven unto the sins of men , and whatever blasphemies they may utter ; v29 but ” but he who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness , but is subject to eternal condemnation ” ( also Luke 12 : 10 )

The emphasis if Scriptures is on the redemptive work of our Lord and the forgiveness of the repentant sinner . The greatest example of repentant sinner who was forgiven is surely King David . He sinned grievously . He was both an adulterer and a murderer , and for several months concealed his guilt from everyone , except God ; but when he was confronted by the prophet Nathan , he at once Confessed , ” I have sinned against the Lord ” . To which he received the immediate assurance , ” the LORD also hath put away thy sin ; thou shalt not die ” . Here is a perfect example of the way to forgiveness . No sin can exclude us from the mercy of God if we repent ( our attitude before and after our sinning is very important ) . Other examples are those of Ahab ( 1 kgs. 21 : 28-29) ; and Manasseh ( 2 Chron. 33 : 9 , 12 – 13 ) .

GOD’S CONDITION FOR FORGIVENESS :

At what point would you feel that GOD , has forgiven your sin ?
” If we walk in the light as He is in the light , we have fellowship with one another , and the blood of Jesus Christ cleanses us from all sin “

” If we say that we have no sin we deceive ourselves , and the truth is not in us . “

” If we confess our sins , He is faithful to forgive us our sins and to cleanse from all unrighteousness “

” If we confess our sins , He is faithful to forgive us our sins and to cleanse from all unrighteousness “
( 1 John 1 : 7 – 9 )

” He who covers his sins will never prosper , BUT whoever CONFESSES , AND FORSAKES THEM WILL MERCY ” ( Prov. 28 : 13 ) .

That is Acknowledgement , Confession , Repentance and Forsaking .

If it’s not Presumptuous ( i.e. willful , deliberate , and of pride ) – Heb. 10 : 26- 27 ; 6: 4- 6 –

Does our eternal salvation depend on our forgiving others? If we lack a truly forgiving heart , could it cost us forgiveness from God ? , Matt. 6 : 12 , ” And forgive us our debts , as we forgive our debtors ” .

Principally , God’s forgiving us our sins is predicated on our ability to wholeheartedly forgive those who wrong us .

Therefore , the forgiveness of others is absolutely central to the Lord’s prayer , and God bases how He forgives us by the forgiveness we extend to others .

Those who come before God unwilling to forgive others , cannot expect Him to show them the Love and Mercy they desire . If we forgive others when the offend and harm us , and even when they inflict what feel like Iikely deadly wounds , our Heavenly Father will also forgive us .

HOW TO GO ABOUT IT .

The process is given in Matt. 18 : 15-17 ; there is no room for Gossip and malicious rumour .

Note : To curb / check Gossip and malicious rumour in the Ecclesia , we must adopt the practice of not – entertaining gossip , but advice the Gossip to obey the Scriptural injunction in Matt. 18 : 15 – 17 . Or tell him or her that we are not ready to listen unless they ( the gossip / complainer ) tied the right course ; otherwise , we are also guilty of encouraging gossip and rumours in the Ecclesia .

Also , to discourage this evil ( gossip and rumours ) let your informant be ready to face the accused one – on – one to substantiate the allegation or face the consequences .

May the Lord bless us that as read and study His word , we may reflect it in our Characters and influence others accordingly.