In a recent Bible study time with my sisters, we were led to try to understand more fully the question of sin in general and forgiveness. We began with the knowledge that there is a sin unto death. Not being sure if we had a correct understanding of what that was, we determined to search the scriptures to understand more fully what the unpardonable sin really was. This led us to I John 5:16 which tells us that there is a sin unto death. “If any man see his brother sin a sin which is not unto death, he shall ask, and he (God) shall give him life for them that sin not unto death. There is a sin unto death; I do not say that he shall pray for it.” In other words, to pray for forgiveness for the sin of blaspheming the Holy Spirit is a prayer in vain as it cannot be forgiven. This sin unto death is the sin against the Holy Spirit. One can sin against the Holy Spirit for He is God. In Mark 3:28,29, Jesus tells us the following: “Verily I say unto you, All sins shall be forgiven unto the sons of men, and blasphemies wherewith soever they shall blaspheme: But he that shall blaspheme against the Holy Ghost hath never forgiveness, but is in danger of eternal damnation.”
Matthew 12: 31,32 again clarifies the eternal danger of sin against the Holy Spirit. “Wherefore I say unto you, All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men: but the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall NOT be unto men. And whosoever speaketh a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him; but whosoever speaketh against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, neither in the world to come.”
Why is the blasphemy against God the Father and God the Son forgivable, but not the sin against the Holy Spirit? As I reflect back upon other scriptures known to me, I have tried to give understanding to this principal. Matthew 12 tells the story of the Pharisees who accused Jesus of casting out devils by the power of Satan. And Jesus responded “if Satan cast out Satan, he is divided against himself; how shall then his kingdom stand?” This sets forth for us as believers the principal that a house divided cannot stand. The scriptures also tell us that our bodies are the temple of the Holy Spirit. I Corinthians 6:19,20:“What? Know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore, glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.” There are many examples of sins against God the Father and God the son and yet are forgiven again and again. Just remember the many times when it is said that man sinned and sinned and yet God the Father continues to keep His arm outstretched to us. Even as Jesus, God the Son, was mocked and spat upon as he hung on the cross, He said, “Father, forgive them for they know not what they do.” Again the arm of God the Son is continually outstretched with the gift of forgiveness.
I have copied below a commentary on the subject of the unpardonable sin of blaspheming the Holy Spirit found in one of my Bibles. We found it to be very helpful.
“This is a solemn study, because the Holy Spirit is God and can be sinned against by both the believer and the unbeliever. May He help you search your heart as you consider:
(1) The sin of blaspheming the Holy Spirit.
(Matthew 12:31,32) “Wherefore I say unto you, All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven
unto men: but the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men. And whosoever
speaketh a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but whosoever speaketh against the
Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, neither in the world to come.
This sin is committed by unbelievers. It is often called the “unpardonable sin.” It has no forgiveness. It was committed by the enemies of Jesus when they accused Him of casting out devils by the power of Satan when Jesus claimed to cast them out by the “Spirit of God.”
(2) The sin of resisting the Holy Spirit.
(Acts 7:51) “Ye stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Ghost:
as your fathers did, so do ye.”
This sin is committed by the unbeliever when rejecting Jesus Christ as Saviour and Lord.
(3) The sin of grieving the Holy Spirit 2
(Eph. 4: 30-32) “And grieve not the Holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of
redemption. Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from
you, with all malice: And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God
for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.”
This sin is committed by believers. We grieve the Holy Spirit when we refuse to yield ourselves to the leading and guidance of the Holy Spirit. Jesus Christ has promised to indwell us with the Holy Spirit for the purpose of leading and guiding us into all truth and to be our comforter.
(4) The sin of quenching the Holy Spirit
(I Thess. 5:19) “Quench not the Spirit.”
This sin is committed by Christians when known sin is allowed to go unconfessed.
(I John 1: 9) “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us
from all un righteousness.”
(Also Is. 59:1,2) Behold, the Lord’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save, neither his ear heavy,
that it cannot hear: But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have
hid his face from you, that he will not hear.”
(5) The sin of lying to the Holy Spirit
(Acts 5:1-11)
This is the story of man and his wife, having sold a possession, kept a part of it back for themselves and each laid a portion of the amount at the feet of the apostle Peter’s feet but lied and said that it was the whole amount that they had gotten for the possession. They were not giving from their hearts but for the purpose of impressing others. Peter asked each of them “why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land?” He told her that she had not lied unto man but unto God. It was not that they had kept some of the money back and not given all of it that was wrong. The wrong was lying about having presented the offering as if it was the full amount which they had received. Each of them was questioned and given the opportunity to tell the truth, and yet chose to continue in the deception.
This results were that each dropped dead immediately.
The sin of Ananias and Sapphira was deception, born in jealousy. They tried to mock God
(Gal. 6:7)- “Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also
reap.” The Holy Spirit can be sinned against because He is God.
(For further references to the work of the Holy Spirit turn to John 16: 7-14) –
“Nevertheless I tell you the truth; it is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send Him unto you. And when He is come, He will reprove (convince, convict) the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment; Of sin, because they believe not on me; Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more; Of judgment, because the prince of this world (Satan) is judged. I have many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now. Howbeit when He, the Spirit of truth is come, He will guide you into all truth: for He shall not speak of Himself; but whatsoever He shall hear, that shall He speak: and He will show you things to come. He shall glorify me: for He shall receive of mine, and shall show it unto you.
The Bible warns us against falling away once we have been “enlightened” to the truth and knowledge of salvation through repentance and faith in the Jesus as Saviour. (Hebrews 6:4-6) “For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, and have tasted the good word of God, If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame.” This does not refer to the backslidden Christian. Simon Peter backslid (Matthew 26: 69-75) repented (John 23:1-17) and was restored to fellowship with the Lord. King David sinned, (II Sam. 11:1-27) repented, (Ps. 51:1-19) and was restored to fellowship with the Lord (II Sam. 12:13) .Any backslidden Christian can repent and be restored to fellowship with God. However, Hebrews 6:4-6 is proof that being religious is not enough to save you. They professed, but did not possess eternal life. In outward appearance they would be called Christians. But Jesus said, “Not
everyone that saith unto me Lord, Lord, shall enter the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 7: 21-23) Esau committed a sin against the Lord that was impossible to repent from when he sold his birthright to Jacob for a bowl of pottage (Gen. 25:27-34). Later he tried to repent, but found it impossible to do so. The scripture says,
“He found no place of repentance though he sought it carefully with tears.”(Hebrews 12:16-17). At the Great White Throne Judgment where only the wicked dead are judged (Rev. 20:11-15) they too, will try to repent but will find it impossible.
Ginger Rahn
Matthew 12: 31,32 again clarifies the eternal danger of sin against the Holy Spirit. “Wherefore I say unto you, All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men: but the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall NOT be unto men. And whosoever speaketh a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him; but whosoever speaketh against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, neither in the world to come.”
Why is the blasphemy against God the Father and God the Son forgivable, but not the sin against the Holy Spirit? As I reflect back upon other scriptures known to me, I have tried to give understanding to this principal. Matthew 12 tells the story of the Pharisees who accused Jesus of casting out devils by the power of Satan. And Jesus responded “if Satan cast out Satan, he is divided against himself; how shall then his kingdom stand?” This sets forth for us as believers the principal that a house divided cannot stand. The scriptures also tell us that our bodies are the temple of the Holy Spirit. I Corinthians 6:19,20:“What? Know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore, glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.” There are many examples of sins against God the Father and God the son and yet are forgiven again and again. Just remember the many times when it is said that man sinned and sinned and yet God the Father continues to keep His arm outstretched to us. Even as Jesus, God the Son, was mocked and spat upon as he hung on the cross, He said, “Father, forgive them for they know not what they do.” Again the arm of God the Son is continually outstretched with the gift of forgiveness.
I have copied below a commentary on the subject of the unpardonable sin of blaspheming the Holy Spirit found in one of my Bibles. We found it to be very helpful.
“This is a solemn study, because the Holy Spirit is God and can be sinned against by both the believer and the unbeliever. May He help you search your heart as you consider:
(1) The sin of blaspheming the Holy Spirit.
(Matthew 12:31,32) “Wherefore I say unto you, All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven
unto men: but the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men. And whosoever
speaketh a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but whosoever speaketh against the
Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, neither in the world to come.
This sin is committed by unbelievers. It is often called the “unpardonable sin.” It has no forgiveness. It was committed by the enemies of Jesus when they accused Him of casting out devils by the power of Satan when Jesus claimed to cast them out by the “Spirit of God.”
(2) The sin of resisting the Holy Spirit.
(Acts 7:51) “Ye stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Ghost:
as your fathers did, so do ye.”
This sin is committed by the unbeliever when rejecting Jesus Christ as Saviour and Lord.
(3) The sin of grieving the Holy Spirit 2
(Eph. 4: 30-32) “And grieve not the Holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of
redemption. Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from
you, with all malice: And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God
for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.”
This sin is committed by believers. We grieve the Holy Spirit when we refuse to yield ourselves to the leading and guidance of the Holy Spirit. Jesus Christ has promised to indwell us with the Holy Spirit for the purpose of leading and guiding us into all truth and to be our comforter.
(4) The sin of quenching the Holy Spirit
(I Thess. 5:19) “Quench not the Spirit.”
This sin is committed by Christians when known sin is allowed to go unconfessed.
(I John 1: 9) “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us
from all un righteousness.”
(Also Is. 59:1,2) Behold, the Lord’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save, neither his ear heavy,
that it cannot hear: But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have
hid his face from you, that he will not hear.”
(5) The sin of lying to the Holy Spirit
(Acts 5:1-11)
This is the story of man and his wife, having sold a possession, kept a part of it back for themselves and each laid a portion of the amount at the feet of the apostle Peter’s feet but lied and said that it was the whole amount that they had gotten for the possession. They were not giving from their hearts but for the purpose of impressing others. Peter asked each of them “why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land?” He told her that she had not lied unto man but unto God. It was not that they had kept some of the money back and not given all of it that was wrong. The wrong was lying about having presented the offering as if it was the full amount which they had received. Each of them was questioned and given the opportunity to tell the truth, and yet chose to continue in the deception.
This results were that each dropped dead immediately.
The sin of Ananias and Sapphira was deception, born in jealousy. They tried to mock God
(Gal. 6:7)- “Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also
reap.” The Holy Spirit can be sinned against because He is God.
(For further references to the work of the Holy Spirit turn to John 16: 7-14) –
“Nevertheless I tell you the truth; it is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send Him unto you. And when He is come, He will reprove (convince, convict) the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment; Of sin, because they believe not on me; Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more; Of judgment, because the prince of this world (Satan) is judged. I have many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now. Howbeit when He, the Spirit of truth is come, He will guide you into all truth: for He shall not speak of Himself; but whatsoever He shall hear, that shall He speak: and He will show you things to come. He shall glorify me: for He shall receive of mine, and shall show it unto you.
The Bible warns us against falling away once we have been “enlightened” to the truth and knowledge of salvation through repentance and faith in the Jesus as Saviour. (Hebrews 6:4-6) “For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, and have tasted the good word of God, If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame.” This does not refer to the backslidden Christian. Simon Peter backslid (Matthew 26: 69-75) repented (John 23:1-17) and was restored to fellowship with the Lord. King David sinned, (II Sam. 11:1-27) repented, (Ps. 51:1-19) and was restored to fellowship with the Lord (II Sam. 12:13) .Any backslidden Christian can repent and be restored to fellowship with God. However, Hebrews 6:4-6 is proof that being religious is not enough to save you. They professed, but did not possess eternal life. In outward appearance they would be called Christians. But Jesus said, “Not
everyone that saith unto me Lord, Lord, shall enter the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 7: 21-23) Esau committed a sin against the Lord that was impossible to repent from when he sold his birthright to Jacob for a bowl of pottage (Gen. 25:27-34). Later he tried to repent, but found it impossible to do so. The scripture says,
“He found no place of repentance though he sought it carefully with tears.”(Hebrews 12:16-17). At the Great White Throne Judgment where only the wicked dead are judged (Rev. 20:11-15) they too, will try to repent but will find it impossible.
Ginger Rahn
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