(Text and Audio)
Title: The Unpardonable Sin
In all honesty, this was one of the more grueling messages I’ve ever written. I am so thankful that the Lord let me prepare this message in front of such an awesome display of his beauty.
I’d also like to think it’s one of the better sermons I’ve written…time will tell. So, if you really like today’s sermon, keep sending your pastor to places like this!
Whenever there is only one of something, that something becomes more important, we want to know more about it. Consider: Why do you know what the following things are? What makes them unique?
- Mt. Everest
- Neil Armstrong
- George Washington
- Ben Roby…it was worth a shot. I thought maybe somebody knew something about me I didn’t…
- The Sin discussed in today’s passage.
Because there is only one unpardonable, or unforgivable, sin listed in scripture, and because that sin is described by Jesus in a way that has caused confusion over the years, I want to make sure everyone in this room today understands exactly what Jesus means by “blasphemy of the Holy Spirit” by the end of today’s message.
Please, please, ask questions to clarify if you are unsure. Why? Jesus says any other sin will be forgiven, but not this one. We need to know what this sin is, we need to know if we are capable, as believers, of committing this sin, and we need to warn others as Jesus is here, to avoid this sin at all costs.
- “All manner of sin…”
I know where we focus our energy in this passage, and we’ll get there in a moment, but I think we need to take a moment to consider the gravity of what immediately precedes Jesus talking about the unpardonable sin.
We are reminded that “all manner of sin” WILL be forgiven us.
Sins against fellow man. (Examples?) (Social Sin)
Sins against yourself. (Examples?) (Sexual sin)
Sins against the Father (breaking the Law as set forth in scripture) (Examples?)
Sins against the Son (Examples?) (Denying his divinity, his exclusivity, his authority)
Let’s drink that in for a moment…
The sin that COULD condemn us, by all rights SHOULD condemn us…powerless. Powerless to defend itself against God’s decree that his Son’s blood is enough of a payment for our folly.
Yet the sin the Pharisees are dangerously close to committing is none of these. we know this because only one sin is taught by Jesus as unforgivable. What they are on the edge of doing, we MUST know, for at least three reasons:
- To determine whether we’ve ever committed that sin
- To determine whether we COULD commit that sin
- To WARN non-believers agains this sin
II. What (EXACTLY) is this sin?
Too often I’ve heard people, pastors, teachers simply say, “Well, blasphemy of the Holy Spirit is someone who continually denies God and the Spirit’s call upon their lives. That’s neat and tidy, but if it’s true, we’re all going to Hell.
Why?
Because we’ve all done that, many, many times. And this isn’t just something that we did before we were saved, either. We still often run from God, deny what the Spirit is convicting us of, wrestle with things we know we are supposed to do, or not do.
This sin is taught as a once committed, never forgiven concept. So we need to be more scholarly when we define it.
Explanations from leading scholars/pastors/theologians
Matthew Henry:
So Henry would define this sin as clearly seeing the work of the Holy Spirit, recognizing it as such, and denying it, or attributing it to some other force.
John MacArthur:
So, MacArthur is in the same boat, but his observation stresses the level of information the Pharisees had BEFORE claiming Jesus was of the devil. In other words, MacArthur is saying that someone could still call Jesus a devil, in ignorance, and be forgiven. But to have all the information on Jesus and still call his power demonic is unforgivable.
R.C. Sproul:
But what of blasphemy against the Spirit? To understand this difficult saying, we need to see that it came in the context of Jesus’ opponents charging Him with doing His work by the power of the Devil rather than by the power of the Holy Spirit. However, they were not slandering the Spirit—not quite. Their statements were directed against Jesus. So, He said to them: “You can blaspheme Me and be forgiven, but when you question the work of the Spirit, you are coming perilously close to the unforgivable sin. You are right at the line. You are looking down into the abyss of hell. One more step and there will be no hope for you.” He was warning them to be very careful not to insult or mock the Spirit.
So Sproul’s emphasis is on the literal expression of blasphemy being done with the tongue as mocking the Spirit, as if it was not from God.
III. Can a TRUE believer commit this sin?
In a word, no.
Why not?
1. It would conflict with the doctrine of the Perseverance of the Saints. (Once saved, always saved)
And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ. (Phil. 1:6)
2. Because the same Spirit we would have to call a Devil is the Spirit who is presently in us, guiding us, teaching us.
The unfolding of your words give light, it gives understanding to the simple. (Psalm 119:130)
3. It would make this particular sin more powerful than God. (Remember last week’s teaching about Jesus coming in and first binding the strong man before rescuing us from our captivity to sin? Well, if a Christian could commit this sin, by Jesus’ own words, he’d be powerless to save us from Hell)
For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8:38-39)
Close:
Today I’ve attempted to do my very best to tackle a topic that is difficult to understand. I’ve tried to break down the passage, point out what difficulties arise, show what leading scholars and pastors think, and then give you my own position.
Finally, I’d like to lean on the words of man who was blessed mightily by God. Many refer to him as the Prince of Preachers, and I would number myself among them. Charles Haddon Spurgeon had not just a way with words, but a brutal honesty that makes him one of the very best teachers of God’s word there ever has been.
He is honest with how difficult this teaching can be. He is honest with his own limitations and understandings, and he is honest about the danger and dread in the warning given by Jesus.
So, even though these words were spoken about 150 years ago, hear them today as his church did that fateful Sunday.