Unforgivable Sin

Unforgivable Sin

August 17, 2014 Service

Immanuel Baptist Church, Wagoner, OK

Rick Boyne

Message Point: Blasphemy of the Holy Spirit is the only unforgivable sin.

Focus Passage: Matthew 12:30-32

Supplemental Passage: See how great a love the Father has bestowed on us, that we would be called children of God; and such we are. For this reason the world does not know us, because it did not know Him. (1 John 3:1 NASB)

Introduction: In light of the recent suicide of Robin Williams, there is a whole lot of bad information going around about suicide being an unforgivable sin. Rather than bow to pop religion or wives tell, let’s see what the Bible has to say about the only sin that is forgivable.

I. What man says

a. Suicide is unforgivable

b. Certain other sins are “mortal”, that is unforgivable

c. 1858. Grave matter is specified by the Ten Commandments, corresponding to the answer of Jesus to the rich young man: "Do not kill, Do not commit adultery, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Do not defraud, Honor your father and your mother." The gravity of sins is more or less great: murder is graver than theft. One must also take into account who is wronged: violence against parents is in itself graver than violence against a stranger. [Catechism of the Catholic Church]

II. What the Bible says

a. "Therefore I say to you, any sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven people, but blasphemy against the Spirit shall not be forgiven. "Whoever speaks a word against the Son of Man, it shall be forgiven him; but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit, it shall not be forgiven him, either in this age or in the age to come. (Matthew 12:31-32 NASB)

b. Looking at this verse in textual content, we see it is a response to the Pharisees who accused Jesus of casting out demons by Beelzebul. He informs them that what He is doing, He is doing by the power of the Holy Spirit. Therefore, as he goes on to explain, attributing works of the Holy Spirit to the devil is blasphemy of the Holy Spirit.

III. Can a Believer Commit the Unforgivable Sin?

a. No. A believer cannot commit the unforgivable sin. How can someone who has been born again (John 3:7), made a new creation (2 Cor. 5:17), and received eternal life (John 10:27-28) actually commit the unforgivable sin? He cannot. Jesus Himself said that we have eternal life, not conditional life: "My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me; and I give eternal life to them, and they shall never perish; and no one shall snatch them out of My hand" (John 10:27-28). Besides, it says in 2 Cor. 5:17 that the Christian is a new creation in Christ. We are different--no longer slaves to the old nature (Rom. 6:14). We are regenerated by the Holy Spirit.

b. There is no biblical support for a believer committing this sin. It just hasn't happened. Also, if you are worried that you may have committed the sin and can't be forgiven, then don't be concerned. If you are worrying about it, then you haven't committed it. If you are worried about it, that is a sign you have not committed it. If you had, you wouldn't be concerned. http://carm.org/what-blasphemy-holy-spirit-can-christian-commit-it

Application/Invitation: