The Unpardonable Sin

Many years ago, a troubled mother approached my husband. In tears, she told him she thought her child had committed the unpardonable sin. (By the way, her son was only nine or ten years old.) My husband tried to encourage her from the Bible.

What is the unpardonable sin?

It’s blasphemy against the Holy Spirit. 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 (Mark 3:28-29; also in Matthew 12:31).

What does that mean exactly? Lots of people blaspheme. Many use God’s name in a horrible way and say things about Him they don’t mean and might not even think about. Others consciously curse God. They may do it in a moment of anger, or it might be when they’re disappointed in life. Some curse God when they’re depressed, drunk, drugged, or in pain.

Does this mean those people, because of something they say, are beyond salvation?

Of course not. 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 (Isaiah 59:1-2).

Why should we be encouraged? Jesus died to pay the awful price for the sins of the whole world. And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world (1 John 2:2).

When is it too late? 

Only when we die. And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment (Hebrews 9:27). Until a person has either said a final no to the Holy Spirit or has passed into eternity without Christ, he has the opportunity to respond and be saved. Not receiving Jesus’ gift of eternal life is sad indeed. That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world. But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name (John 1:9, 12).

Someone who rejects what Jesus did for him on the cross has committed the worst sin of all. Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace? (Hebrews 10:29)

Can any other sin be pardoned? 

Of course. That’s why Jesus came into the world. This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners (1 Timothy 1:15a).

Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God (1 Corinthians 6:9-11). Any sin can be pardoned by the Lord. The church in Corinth was full of people with a sinful past. In fact, every church is full of forgiven sinners.

The Lord is … not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance (from 2 Peter 3:9).

There’s always an opportunity for salvation until a person is unconscious or dying. If a person can respond, he may respond to Christ and accept his gift. For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord (Romans 6:23). God extends this gift to everyone. Have you received it?

I love the simplicity of this passage: And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life (1 John 5:11-12).

Do you have the Son? He offers forgiveness to all. No matter what you may have said about Him or how you might have sinned, He loves you and wants to save you. For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved (John 3:16-17).

It’s up to you.