I’ve always been intrigued by the idea of the unpardonable sin, a term commonly used to describe the blasphemy of the Holy Spirit, an act of spiritual rebellion which – according to Christian teaching – is also unforgivable. This distinction is particularly evident in the synoptic gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke, where Jesus is responding to a specific accusation that has been made against him. This essay focuses on the Bible’s understanding of the unpardonable sin, its nature, its biblical foundation, and its relationship to other sins. Specifically, it examines the situation in which this sin is committed, its theological implications for forgiveness, and its significance in relation to the broader Christian doctrine of salvation. The conversation debunks myths, and gives an in depth description of what the Bible says in regards to this lewd spiritual sin.
What is the Unpardonable Sin in the Bible?
This unforgivable sin, often identified as blasphemy against the Holy Spirit, is the conscious and persistent rejection of the Holy Spirit’s testimony concerning Jesus Christ by attributing His work to Satan. This sin is not a mere act of sin responsibly committed; it is a state of heart perilously and knowingly opposed to the truth of the Spirit of God. The Bible introduces it as a singular crime.
Mark 3:28-29: “Truly, I tell you, all sins will be forgiven the children of man, and whatever blasphemies they utter, but whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will never have forgiveness, but is guilty of an eternal sin.“
Matthew 12:31-32 confirms it, declaring, “Therefore I tell you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven people, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven. 32 And whoever speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come.“
And Luke 12:10 states: “And everyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but the one who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven.“
The following three separate passages prove the existence of an unforgivable sin.
What Are the Actions That Can Result in Blasphemy Against the Holy Spirit?
Blasphemy of the Holy Spirit is to deliberately reject the truth of God, namely when clearly known through the Holy Spirit. The context of Jesus’ comments about this sin in Matt 12 and Mark 3 is key. In both narratives, Jesus is working miracles such as expelling demons through the power of the Holy Spirit. The Pharisees, seeing these undeniable manifestations of divine power, attribute the deeds of Jesus to Beelzebul, the prince of demons. And this is not for lack of knowledge or inability, that is, the sin of ignorance or weakness, but a deliberate and persistent setting oneself against the plain manifestations of the Spirit of God. Three characteristics define this particular action:
- If the sinners were simply skeptics: No, they did not doubt this was a direct demonstration of divine power. In the Bible, this is with Jesus’ exorcisms and healing, being straight-up displays of divine power.
- Blaming the work of God on the devil: Rather than simply accepting the divine source, the men wickedly assert that the work of the Holy Spirit was actually a demonic one. This is a direct blasphemy against the Spirit of God.
- Hardened and unrepentant heart: The sin is not a “heat of the moment” sin, but indicative of a fixed, unbending relationship to God and his truth. It represents a condition in which he has turned his back on the Spirit’s witness to such an extent that he cannot repent. This hardening is of such a nature that the individual not only cannot ask for forgiveness; they refuse to acknowledge the very foundation of truth and mercy.
This is different than other sins, because it is not a sin of weakness, passion, or ignorance. It is a sin of willful, knowledgeable, spiteful resistance to the clearest unveiling of God’s saviorhood.
What Does the Unpardonable Sin Have to Do with Repentance and Forgiveness?
The unpardonable sin is unpardonable not because God is refusing to offer forgiveness, but because the person that commits it has come to a place where they refuse or are unable to be repentant. Christian forgiveness is always conditional upon repentance and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. The Holy Spirit’s chief purpose is to bring about repentance by convicting men of their sin, righteousness, and judgment. When a man blasphemes the Holy Spirit and accounts it to Satan, the man has blocked himself off from the very power that brings conviction and brings to repentance. This is the final and conclusive rejection of God and his grace and truth, a hardening of the heart which cannot be reversed. This sort of person is so calloused to the Spirit of God that they can no longer see the truth or want to be delivered from their rebellion. They are spiritually “dead” in the sense that they are unable to meet the requirements for forgiveness—confessing their sin and crying out to God for His mercy. The unforgivable sin, then, is a sin against the vehicle of forgiveness.
What is the Difference Between the Unpardonable Sin & Other Sins?
The unpardonable sin is unlike any other sin in nature and consequence. All other sins that men may commit can be forgiven by repentance and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. God is able to cover a multitude of sins, including murder, stealing, adultery, and committing idolatry. Three key differences exist:
- Source of sin: Other sins emanate from human weakness, carnal desires, lack of knowledge, and the temptation of the moment. The unforgivable sin, on the other hand, is a willful, knowledgeable, malicious denial of the truth of God, namely in the work of the Holy Spirit.
- Object of the sin: Although sins are generally committed against God’s law, others or oneself, the unpardonable sin is particularly directed against the irrefutable testimony of the Holy Spirit regarding Christ. It is an assault on the work of the Spirit, revealing of the truth and processes of salvation.
- Punishment for sake of forgiveness: Other sins it is possible to repent for and therefore receive forgiveness. The unforgivable sin, however, results in a condition that no repentance can occur for the person, so forgiveness is impossible. However, this is not because God cannot forgive, but because the individual has made a permanent decision against the conviction of the Spirit.
Peter, for instance, denied Jesus three times, a terrible sin, but he repented and was reinstated. Saul, who later became Paul, murdered Christians, which is the worst possible thing, but he repented and became a great apostle. These examples show that even the most terrible of sins may be forgiven when repentance is undertaken. The sin which has no forgiveness is peculiar, because it destroys the possibility of repentance.
The Believer and the Unpardonable Sin
The issue of whether a genuine believer is able to commit the unpardonable sin is a point of theological debate which is contested among Christians. One answer has been that an actual believer, with the Holy Spirit in him, cannot commit this sin, for the Spirit would not allow him to reject God’s truth so completely and intentionally. A truly regenerated and converted individual would not knowingly and continuously deny the Holy Spirit’s work. This is the side that underscores the preservation of believers and the eternal security of the believer. Another view doesn’t discount the possibility of apostasy – that people who once claimed Christ may ultimately completely fall away; possibly to a point of hardened rebellion that may look something like the unforgivable sin. But, even here, the primary focus is on the conscious and permanent rejection, not a casual or temporal slippage. There is nothing careless or indifferent in the nature of the unpardonable sin; it is no mere act of passion, no inadvertency, but a determined, fierce antagonism to the Spirit of God, a condition of the heart which a real believer can scarcely be supposed to reach. At the heart of this sin is a total and ultimate refusal to accept the Holy Spirit’s testimony concerning Christ. Salvation is the word because a man has listened to that work.
What is the philosophy or concept behind sin in Christianity?
In Christianity, sin is generally understood to be an act contrary to God’s will, and many for whom sin is a religious concept believe that a state of sin is something to be considered as well. It is not merely doing the wrong thing, but not doing the right thing. The idea of sin began with the Fall in Genesis 3 when Adam and Eve sinned by disobeying God and fell under a curse of sin. All men inherit a sinful nature, termed “original sin”, which incites them to rebel against God. The Bible lists types of sin, such as moral sin (e.g., lying, stealing), spiritual sin (e.g., idolatry, unbelief), and sin of the flesh (e.g., lust, gluttony). The final result of sin is spiritual death and separation from God, as Romans 6:23 says, “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” But the whole point of Christianity is that God gives a way to repentance and forgiveness through the atoning death of Jesus Christ on the cross.
Is God willing to forgive any sin except the unforgivable sin?
Yes, God will forgive any sin when we truly repent and turn toward God. The Bible says in 1 John 1:9: “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” Such a promise is not based on the same logic as that of Numbers 21. Mere humility, when accompanied by faith, makes it as certain that God will forgive all trespass as it is that rain in spring will facilitate the plowman’s work.
What would you say to someone who asked you how to tell for sure whether or not they had committed the unforgivable sin?
Anyone who thinks they have committed the unforgivable sin has not committed it; that is the point. To fear is even in the act of fearing the indication of the Holy Spirit’s conviction, and the disposition to seek forgiveness, which the sin unto death destroys. The “unpardonable sin” is committed by people who have a stubborn, unrepentant heart in regard to the work of the Holy Spirit and His revelation of Jesus Christ; this sin is unforgivable because it shows a heart that has closed itself towards God, with no desire for reconciliation.
Is the unforgivable sin the same as apostasy?
Although they are related, the unpardonable sin and apostasy are not the same. Apostasy is the renunciation of a particular faith or religious activity. It is a forsaking of Christ after he has never yet been forsaken. The unforgivable sin is a particular kind of apostasy, in which one blasphemes heinousity by falsely and recalcitrantly attributing to evil what the Holy Spirit does. All cases of apostasy are not, indeed, liable to this one sin of blasphemy, yet the former may end in the hardened heart like it.
Could someone accidentally commit the unpardonable sin?
The unpardonable sin, no, it cannot be acted in ignorance or by mistake. It is a willful, knowing, and wicked kicking against the traces and will of The Holy Spirit. It is a heart that is fully closed to God’s truth, not a temporary lapse or an ignorance of the truth. Those who did this were absolutely certain of the amazing miracles that Jesus performed, but they purposely attributed them to the devil.
What does the Holy Spirit have to do with conviction and salvation?
The Holy Spirit has 3 main responsibilities in conviction and salvation: that of convicting people of their sin, that of revealing the truth about Jesus Christ, and that of regenerating and indwelling believers. John 16:8: “And when he comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment.” The Holy Spirit brings people to God, helps them to comprehend spiritual things, and enables them to live according to God’s will. And it is this convicting and drawing work of the Spirit that is directly opposed by the unpardonable sin.
