What is sin against the Holy Ghost? What is the unpardonable sin?

Wherefore I say unto you, All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men: but the blasphemy [against] the [Holy] Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men.

And whosoever speaketh a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but whosoever speaketh against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, neither in the [world] to come. (Matthew 12:31-32)

This passage of scripture is often not understood, misunderstood, or ignored for confusion. What is the sin against the Holy Ghost as described by Jesus? The sin is said to be unpardonable; so let me know it so I can avoid it. So here we go. Father we open your hearts to receive enlightenment from Your word. Amen!

Can we see how others render this same word that Jesus spoke?

And when his friends heard [of it], they went out to lay hold on him: for they said, He is beside himself. And the scribes which came down from Jerusalem said, He hath Beelzebub, and by the prince of the devils casteth he out devils. And he called them [unto him], and said unto them in parables, How can Satan cast out Satan? And if a kingdom be divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. And if a house be divided against itself, that house cannot stand. And if Satan rise up against himself, and be divided, he cannot stand, but hath an end. No man can enter into a strong man's house, and spoil his goods, except he will first bind the strong man; and then he will spoil his house. 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: Because they said, He hath an unclean spirit. (Mark 3:21-30 KJV)
 

Because they said, He has an unclean spirit, Jesus put up this parable. To defend himself? No. to explain and teach the people.

Does the sin against the Holy Ghost mean if you have ever called a preacher of God a devil? No. to blaspheme means to speak against something or someone. So what is the blasphemy against the Spirit? To understand this, we must understand the “who”, the “how” and the “what for” of the Holy Spirit.

(But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: FOR THE HOLY GHOST WAS NOT YET [GIVEN]; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.) (John 7:39 KJV)
 

The Holy Ghost was not yet given at the time Jesus spoke these words. Therefore they probably could not have committed this sin by saying what they said. They only “blasphemed” against the “Son of man”. Perhaps, many times you have ignorantly spoken against a minister whom God is using: that sin is forgiveable.

Now, if we would think intelligently, what is that thing that could be so terrible so much that even God will find it hard to forgive? Remember God is not a man! What offence is it that someone can commit against you and you will not forgive him and God will back you up that you are right for not forgiving? As children of God who have learnt to walk in love and forgiveness, do we any personal “unpardonable sin”? If we can be so generous and loving to be prepared to forgive and let go as humans, should God…? Am I saying unpardonable sin does not exist? Wait a minute.

Jesus seemed to be saying there is a sin that is “too hard for God to pass over”? See what Proverbs says. The discretion of a man deferreth his anger; and [it is] his glory to pass over a transgression. (Proverbs 19:11 KJV).

He says it is glory to pass over a transgression, but the King of Glory… hmm!

I said we must see the “what-for”, and “who” of the Holy Spirit; at least to know what can anger Him unforgiveably.

1. The Holy Ghost is the Spirit of God
2. He is the Spirit of Christ

The “what-for”?
But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, [even] the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me: (John 15:26 KJV)
 
Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, [that] shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come. He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew [it] unto you. (John 16:13-14 KJV)

It is thus clear that the Holy Spirit is to come to resound of Christ, and actually must not be seen as an entity coming with a fresh set of doctrines, acts and principles. He is a representative of Christ who is constrained to Christ alone. He is called the Comforter, but I thought a Comforter should be the last person to be angered? Now, how can we anger Him unto unpardonablilty?

Stop the search! There is no such (simple) offence you can forgive that the all-merciful God won’t be able to forgive! If we go back to the passage where Jesus used this term, what happened there? They were telling Jesus to stop playing magical on them. They were saying “He is not real! He is using charm”. So He warned them that if this rejection is for the man they see in their front on ordinary (ignorant) grounds, it shall be forgiven; but they must not try that to the testimony of the Holy Spirit. They are being warned not to reject the witness of the Spirit because the Spirit would testify about Jesus.

  If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater: for this is the witness of God which he hath testified of his Son.1John 5:9
 
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
 

In simple terms, sin against the Holy Ghost cannot be blasphemy in ignorance. A man whose eyes the god of this world has blinded, if he speaks against Jesus or God, that cannot be unpardonable. Why?
Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. Luke 23:34 

Also,
And the times of this ignorance God winked at… (Act 17:30) 

Remember blasphemer Paul. Who was before a BLASPHEMER, and a persecutor, and injurious: but I obtained mercy, because I did [it] ignorantly in unbelief. (1Timothy 1:13).

Paul’s blasphemy was not unforgiveable because he did it “ignorantly”. Thus, a blasphemy in ignorance cannot be unpardonable: Jesus pronounced forgiveness for that.

The blasphemy being talked must be that done when the seal of ignorance has been removed so that a person now sees the truth, and yet rejects the Spirit of grace who has shown him. That is what Hebrews 10:29 says

  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?Heb 10:29
 

He has despised the Spirit of grace. He has hardened his heart at the word.

However, this cannot be ajudged unpardonable so quickly, because there must be a time frame. Sometimes, a person who is thought to have rejected the witness of the Spirit about Christ later comes to be the greatest evangelists. Therefore, do not consider anyone’s sin unpardonable.

In conclusion, fornication is pardonable. Lies are pardonable. Murder is pardonable. All evil deeds are pardonable. Do not let the devil get at you with your wicked past. In fact, initial rejection of the witness of the Holy Ghost about Christ is pardonable as long as he lives. We cannot estimate the depth of God’s forgiveness ability. Only men can have forgiveness issues, not God. Walk in reverence for God and sin not. Stay blessed!

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