Unforgivable Sin
Scripture: Matt 12:30-32 (Click link for scripture in Bible Gateway)
30 “Anyone who isn’t with me opposes me, and anyone who isn’t working with me is actually working against me. 31 “So I tell you, every sin and blasphemy can be forgiven—except blasphemy against the Holy Spirit, which will never be forgiven. 32 Anyone who speaks against the Son of Man can be forgiven, but anyone who speaks against the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven, either in this world or in the world to come.” (Matthew 12:30–32 NLT)
Here’s another of the Hard Saying of Jesus, friends! Blasphemy against the Holy Spirit. The Unforgivable Sin! Through the years, by people in a variety of circumstances, I’ve been asked about the Unpardonable, Unforgivable Sin. I’ve been asked, “What exactly does it mean to blaspheme against the Holy Spirit? What is the Unforgivable Sin? How can I know if I’ve committed the Unforgivable Sin?” (Note: If you missed it, please read yesterday’s GraceNotes devotional 03-14-23 Blind – Matthew 12:22-29. You can find it here.) Link here
Scripture makes it clear to us that the way to reconciliation and forgiveness is to respond to the drawing, the prompting, the leading of the Holy Spirit. If we have cut off all contact with the Holy Spirit, if we have, at the extreme, attributed the working of the Holy Spirit to Satan, where do we go from there? If we become convinced the work of the Holy Spirit is the work of Satan, if we make a conscious decision to reject all influence of the Holy Spirit in our lives, and if we feel no remorse, no sense of separation, no desire for God, what then? At what point does that rejection of the work of God’s Spirit become irrecoverable?
Our mind, our will, and our emotions are all involved in our journey of faith, our journey to reconciliation and right relationship with God. If we don’t believe in God’s relentless pursuit of us in love, if we don’t have the desire to move toward God, if we don’t feel fear or loss in our separation from God, we’re done! But here’s the thing: if a person still cares whether they’ve done the unforgivable sin, it seems pretty clear they haven’t! Don’t underestimate the dogged determination of God’s mercy and grace.
Prayer:
Father, Thank you for the patient, relentless, work of your Holy Spirit to reveal, to teach, and to draw us to you in faith. Please don’t let us drift away! Please don’t ever let us wander off on our own! Thank you Holy Spirit, for leading us to faith! Amen.