Wow! That is a heavy question. I know there are many people who fear they have committed what is called “The Unpardonable Sin” and they fear there is no hope.
Let’s explore God’s Word and see what it says about this matter. Turn with me to Matthew 12:22-37. The context of Jesus’ teaching on this subject is very important.
A man who was demon-possessed was brought to Jesus. The man was blind and he could not speak. Jesus healed the man of both issues. Now, he could see and speak.
There were different groups of people who loved to give Jesus a bad time. One such group was the Pharisees. When they heard about the miracle, they said, “No wonder He can cast out demons. He gets his power from Satan, the prince of demons. (vs 24, NLT)
In the NKJ translation, it reads, “This fellow does not cast out demons except by Beelzebub, the ruler of demons.” Beelzebub is just one of a number of names that Satan is known by. The name means, “Lord of the flies.” We know what a mess flies can make of things.
So, let’s be clear what was happening — the Pharisees said that Jesus was casting out demons by the power of Satan. It is not likely that Satan would cast out those who do his dirty work.
In Matthew 12:28, Jesus makes it very clear that he casts out demons by the power of the Holy Spirit. To attribute Christ’s healing and deliverance ministry to the power of Satan is blasphemy of the worst sort.
So, the Pharisees were in fact blaspheming or slandering the Holy Spirit by giving the devil the credit for Jesus’ miracles of exorcism. The fact is that Christ’s miracles were accomplished by the Holy Spirit.
Pay close attention now to what Jesus said in Matthew 12:31-32. “Therefore, I say to you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven men. Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man, it will be forgiven him; but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit, it will not be forgiven him, either in this age or the next.”
In a parallel passage in Mark 3:29, Jesus said that the person who blasphemes the Holy Spirit will be subject to “eternal condemnation.” No forgiveness is possible for such a depraved person.
Why is blaspheming the Holy Spirit so serious? The reason is that it is a symptom of a wicked, evil heart. Every time such a person resists the Holy Spirit or speaks against the Holy Spirit, he/she is developing a fixed unrepentant attitude of heart and mind.
Folks, listen to me —- the Holy Spirit is God and He is God’s messenger to us, to convict us of sin and to convince us of divine truth. God can speak to us in numerous ways — a sermon, song, book, a miracle, answered prayer— when a person closes his/her heart and mind to such approaches by the Holy Spirit, they are shutting themselves off to the only source that can lead to repentance.
In John 3:36, Jesus said, “He who believes in the Son has everlasting life, and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.”
Listen to the hope Paul describes in Romans 8:1
“There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.”
Only God knows that point where the hardening of the heart is fixed.
Here is the good news — if you are one who still feels conviction and sorrow over your sin, and you long to be forgiven by Jesus Christ and you are willing to humble yourself and repent — you need not fear you have crossed the line.
Do not take God’s grace for granted.
In Hebrews 3:7-9 we read, “Therefore, as the Holy Spirit says: ‘Today, if you will hear His voice, do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion, in the day of trial in the wilderness, where your fathers tested Me, tried Me, and saw My works forty years.’”
Have you welcomed Christ into your heart and life? If you haven’t, please do so right now. Let this prayer come from your heart:
“Dear Lord, I want to know you personally. I acknowledge that my sins have separated me from You. Thank you for sending Jesus who died in my place and rose again to be my Savior. I now turn to Christ to rescue me from my sin by placing my faith in Him alone for forgiveness and eternal life. Amen.
If you prayed that prayer, WELCOME INTO GOD’S FAMILY!
Blessings, Pastor Leonard
