Have I committed the unpardonable sin?

[Krillin]

Right now I feel an unbelievable amount of guilt and conviction. I know this same topic has been addressed multiple times here but let me bring up a few points.

I am not questioning these thing in that I believe them to be wrong. i believe everything in the scripture as fact, I just don't understand it.

-Jesus said that if you speak out against the Holy Spirit you will not be forgiven. Then why does the scripture repeatedly say that Jesus forgives ALL sin and that his love for us is infinite and eternal?

-I have heard it explained that you can commit the act without knowing it. And that it does indeed put you in line for hell, and that no amount of repentance will change it. Is this true? he used the example of Esau, telling about how he searched for God's forgiveness but found no place of repentance.

-Many say that blasphemy is the act of dying in an unpardonable state. Well, this part of the scripture is not dealing with death - it seems that it is dealing with a verbal sin.

-I am also told that if I feel guilty about the sin that it means I haven't done so. (Again, Esau?)

-If looking at the context, it seems most clear that Jesus is saying that if you have blatantly seen the light of God in your life and you actively, knowingly speak out against it then that is blasphemy. And when this happened God hardened the Pharisees hearts (like Pharaohs) so that they COULDN'T find repentance.

-One sermon I listened to said that even if you HAD committed the sin, run to Jesus anyway. Would Jesus forgive even that sin...?

-Hebrew 10 (or 9?) discusses this also. It says that if you have been enlightened on the word of God, and have been convicted then you can be saved. However, if one goes on continuously sinning, then there is no hope left. But I have done just that. Before a few weeks ago, I had been living in sin for 10 years. I was addicted to porn and other sexual immoralities. Through that time I know i was doing wrong, again and again I rejected going after God as I just couldn't bring myself to stop. I wanted to quit and go after God, but the desires of my flesh were strong.

When I gave all this up a few weeks ago, I felt a strong absence of God. I tried crying out but I felt nothing. Has my heart been hardened? Something had to have helped me off the addiction because I most certainly could not have done that myself. It just wasn't in my power. Has God left me? I've been able to feel him lately, however ... but I don't know why I bring this up here. I know I'll only get an answer from someone that I'm still not sure of. Maybe I'm just trying to get things off my chest. I need the truth, not something that will make me feel better...if no one has anything for me, then consider this a confession if nothing else... Thank you...

 

[123flower]

I also have the same problem as you. I'm used to be very terrified about the unpardonable sin. And I was also questioning that particular passage and how everyone interpret it. Here is my topic about that:

http://www.christianforums.com/t7739181/

Now I'm not that scared anymore, but still not very sure about it. I still have a voice in me who says I have committed that sin and because I have ocd it's more difficult for me.

I also have have done the same thing as you. A born again christian, but still deliberately sinning (1 addictive sin) I have changed lately, but still that passage in Hebrew is still confusing to me. But the fact that I have changed must mean something, that God is still with me and that it's never too late to change.

 

[PaladinValer]

If you feel guilty, then you haven't sinned so much that it cannot be forgiven.

 

[Krillin]

If you feel guilty, then you haven't sinned so much that it cannot be forgiven.

But what are we to make of Hebrews when it speaks about continuouslysinning intentionally after we are presented with the light that is Jesus' forgiveness. Yes, Paul may have been a murderer but scripture says he was a sinner in ignorance. His sin came from the fact that Jesus had not made himself known to him. When he did, Paul repented immediately. I didn't.

EDIT: Also, are we not to take Jesus seriously when he says that blasphemy against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven? Why then do people say that it can?

 

[Krillin]

I also have the same problem as you. I'm used to be very terrified about the unpardonable sin. And I was also questioning that particular passage and how everyone interpret it. Here is my topic about that:



Now I'm not that scared anymore, but still not very sure about it. I still have a voice in me who says I have committed that sin and because I have ocd it's more difficult for me.

I also have have done the same thing as you. A born again christian, but still deliberately sinning (1 addictive sin) I have changed lately, but still that passage in Hebrew is still confusing to me. But the fact that I have changed must mean something, that God is still with me and that it's never too late to change.

I just read the entire thread. A lot of encouraging words there. Maybe I just need to sit down and talk with God himself which, as of right now, scares me. Thank you. My prayers go out to you.

 

[HawkBlue27]

I am quoting from a resource I found about those who battle with assurance of salvation. "[FONT=Arial, Verdana, sans-serif][FONT=arial, helvetica, sans-serif]Many people believe they have committed the unforgivable sin because they have cursed God. They now want to be saved but feel God will never forgive them, because they have sinned a sin God will not forgive. We have to realise that when Jesus said “the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men” he was speaking of what the Pharisees had just done. The Pharisees had just said and believed that Jesus’ working and miracles were through the power of satan. If you have not said and believed that Jesus’ miracles are through Satan’s power, then you have not committed this sin.[/FONT][/FONT]
[FONT=arial, helvetica, sans-serif][FONT=Arial, Verdana, sans-serif]
[/FONT][/FONT]
[FONT=arial, helvetica, sans-serif][FONT=Arial, Verdana, sans-serif][FONT=arial, helvetica, sans-serif]Also, these Pharisees where so hardened, that they had come to the point where they had no desire for forgiveness. If you have any desire for forgiveness and a relationship with God, it proves you have not committed the unforgivable sin. The Bible states that “no man seeketh after God, no not one.” If you have any seeking in your heart or longing to be forgiven, then it is not of you, but God. This should be a huge ray of hope in a sinner’s heart. God is working in your heart if you have any desire to be forgiven and cleansed or to know Jesus! If you experience any desire to know you are saved, then know that God is working in your heart. " [/FONT][/FONT][/FONT]

 

[HawkBlue27]

On a more personal note, I struggle with this same issue sometimes. I think, "what if I have trusted Christ to save me and bowed to Him as my Lord but it's too late anyway?" when I think about some of the things I have said in the past. The only hope I have or hope you have is the same for anyone, scripture says Christ shed His blood for us sinners to cleanse us and make us free from the power, and penalty of sin. There's debate people have about whether the unforgiable sin is capable of being committed but the bottom line is, God invites sinners to come to Him and rest themselves on the promise of mercy. I get upset with myself because there are vices I have which cut in my time with God which I always struggle stopping. I struggle with assurance of my salvation many times but I sometimes get the sense there's something I read or hear about that drops to me to restore my hope in the midst of my despondency. Hope you get some better advice, sorry this is all I can tell you.

 

[asiyreh]

Some people argue that Blasphemy of the Holy spirit isn't actually possible unless Christ is physically standing beside you preforming a miracle. The overwhelming presence of Christ would tell all who have even the slightest chance of salvation that his work was the work of God. Your heart would need to be so dark that you couldn't feel that.

I've seen all the debates into this topic, there's not much of an arguement really. It seems clear and under the testimony of many witnesses to Christ that blasphemy of the Holy spirit is as suggested by the posters above.

Blasphemy of the Holy spirit, can only be achieved when you can no longer feel the convicting power of Sin.

Basically if you still have a conscious then it's still possible to repent and follow Christ.

I think what your experiencing is a gradual withdrawal of the Holy spirit. I'm not going to pretend, this isn't something to worry about because it is. But I've been in this position many times before. It even happened to Moses when God told him to sit in the corner for 40 years and have a think about what he's done.

Works of charity, missionary work, spreading the good news of Christ, seems to have a restorative effect on peoples lives I've noticed. Perhaps you should inquire in this area.

 

[Krillin]

Is it really so simple that one can come to Jesus and be forgiven entirely...? I know it's true but so much inside of me wants to say it isn't and I don't know why. I've deliberately lived in sin for years. As soon as I stopped doing all that stuff, I really started paying attention to the concept of this "unforgivable sin". I heard a sermon from Hebrews that brought up a part where it says something to the nature of "If you deliberately, continuously, sin after being confronted with Christ, then you are done for." (Hebrews 10 I think). This confuses me. Whatever its saying here, I believe to be true because I believe everything in the Bible to be true - I just don't fully understand it...I feel such a lack of faith in asking this but I want to be absolutely clear. Does Jesus forgive sins no matter how long you've done them, no matter to what degree, even if you knew it was wrong, even when you deliberately and consciously chose to sin instead of follow him? If I have done this, but now regret it, and am earnest about repenting, will I be forgiven by Jesus?

I am not searching for anything sugar coated that will make me feel better. I need the truth.

 

[A New Day]

- What I think is that someone can balspheme against the holy spirit in the acts that he does, what does differ the acts and the words of mouth in the blasphemy? They are the same because their source is one, and it is the heart.
Matthew 5:28 But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart.
Galatians 6:7 Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows.
Luke 2:35 so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed...

That is why, with the heart not clean it is more easy for it to blaspheme on the holy spirit, and the same is for the bad things done too.

It starts with the heart:

Matthew 15:18 But the things that come out of a person's mouth come from the heart, and these defile them.
Matthew 12:34 You brood of vipers, how can you who are evil say anything good? For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of.

- Since with the heart the blasphemy is done so if I you repent with your heart and you confess that you recognize that you committed a sin to the holy spirit God/of God, that also dwells in you, you do what is right and know that the loving God forgives, do you know why? it is because the salvation is not a moment that can end in a moment but the salvation is a continuance in the Lord.

The Sadducees deny the Spirit and the Pharisees do not deny it but they denied that Jesus is the Lord of the lords and thus that he has the power to forgive, because 1 John 2:1 My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have an advocate with the Father--Jesus Christ, the Righteous One.

But the will to continue to sin against the spirit is the problem.
Romans 6:1 What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? 2 By no means! We are those who have died to sin; how can we live in it any longer? Hebrews 10:26: If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for sins is left.

Proverbs 28:13 Whoever conceals his transgressions will not prosper, but he who confesses and forsakes them will obtain mercy. 14 Blessed is the one who fears the Lord always, but whoever hardens his heart will fall into calamity.

Hebrews 4:1 Therefore, while the promise of entering his rest still stands, let us fear lest any of you should seem to have failed to reach it.

Therefore:

Romans 2:5 But because of your stubbornness and your unrepentant heart, you are storing up wrath against yourself for the day of God's wrath, when his righteous judgment will be revealed.
Isaiah 66:2 All these things my hand has made, and so all these things came to be, declares the Lord. But this is the one to whom I will look: he who is humble and contrite in spirit and trembles at my word.

The key is not to repent only it is also to stay in the Lord.

- Finally I like to write all the context that was said to the Pharisees:

Matthew 12:30 “Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters. 31 And so I tell you, every kind of sin and slander can be forgiven, but blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven. 32 Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but anyone who speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come.

33 “Make a tree good and its fruit will be good, or make a tree bad and its fruit will be bad, for a tree is recognized by its fruit. 34 You brood of vipers, how can you who are evil say anything good? For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of. 35 A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in him, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in him. 36 But I tell you that everyone will have to give account on the day of judgment for every empty word they have spoken. 37 For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned.”

 

[PaladinValer]

But what are we to make of Hebrews when it speaks about continuouslysinning intentionally after we are presented with the light that is Jesus' forgiveness.

We all sin intentionally sometimes. Our lives are filled with a constant struggle against sin.

A guilty conscience is the sign that God hasn't given up on us, and we haven't given up on ourselves.

Yes, Paul may have been a murderer but scripture says he was a sinner in ignorance. His sin came from the fact that Jesus had not made himself known to him. When he did, Paul repented immediately. I didn't.

Find me one person who has victory over all sin asides Jesus. I'll give you all eternity.

EDIT: Also, are we not to take Jesus seriously when he says that blasphemy against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven? Why then do people say that it can?

Fallacy of False Dichotomy; no one here is saying as such. We're telling you your premise on what that is itself is flawed.

 

[Krillin]

Fallacy of False Dichotomy; no one here is saying as such. We're telling you your premise on what that is itself is flawed.

I apologize. Perhaps I didn't give enough info. I have heard a few accounts of people saying that even the "unforgivable sin" is forgivable by Jesus, which never made much sense to me and that's what i was referring to. Though, I guess it was rather unnecessary to bring up here. Sorry.

 

[AndrewK9]

Right now I feel an unbelievable amount of guilt and conviction. I know this same topic has been addressed multiple times here but let me bring up a few points.

I am not questioning these thing in that I believe them to be wrong. i believe everything in the scripture as fact, I just don't understand it.

-Jesus said that if you speak out against the Holy Spirit you will not be forgiven. Then why does the scripture repeatedly say that Jesus forgives ALL sin and that his love for us is infinite and eternal?

-I have heard it explained that you can commit the act without knowing it. And that it does indeed put you in line for hell, and that no amount of repentance will change it. Is this true? he used the example of Esau, telling about how he searched for God's forgiveness but found no place of repentance.

-Many say that blasphemy is the act of dying in an unpardonable state. Well, this part of the scripture is not dealing with death - it seems that it is dealing with a verbal sin.

-I am also told that if I feel guilty about the sin that it means I haven't done so. (Again, Esau?)

-If looking at the context, it seems most clear that Jesus is saying that if you have blatantly seen the light of God in your life and you actively, knowingly speak out against it then that is blasphemy. And when this happened God hardened the Pharisees hearts (like Pharaohs) so that they COULDN'T find repentance.

-One sermon I listened to said that even if you HAD committed the sin, run to Jesus anyway. Would Jesus forgive even that sin...?

-Hebrew 10 (or 9?) discusses this also. It says that if you have been enlightened on the word of God, and have been convicted then you can be saved. However, if one goes on continuously sinning, then there is no hope left. But I have done just that. Before a few weeks ago, I had been living in sin for 10 years. I was addicted to porn and other sexual immoralities. Through that time I know i was doing wrong, again and again I rejected going after God as I just couldn't bring myself to stop. I wanted to quit and go after God, but the desires of my flesh were strong.

When I gave all this up a few weeks ago, I felt a strong absence of God. I tried crying out but I felt nothing. Has my heart been hardened? Something had to have helped me off the addiction because I most certainly could not have done that myself. It just wasn't in my power. Has God left me? I've been able to feel him lately, however ... but I don't know why I bring this up here. I know I'll only get an answer from someone that I'm still not sure of. Maybe I'm just trying to get things off my chest. I need the truth, not something that will make me feel better...if no one has anything for me, then consider this a confession if nothing else... Thank you...

Here's Matthew Henry's Commentary on Hebrews 10: "The exhortations against apostacy and to perseverance, are urged by many strong reasons. The sin here mentioned is a total and final falling away, when men, with a full and fixed will and resolution, despise and reject Christ, the only Saviour; despise and resist the Spirit, the only Sanctifier; and despise and renounce the gospel, the only way of salvation, and the words of eternal life."

You almost might want to look up a fellow named John Bunyan who has well documented his issues with this in his book, "Grace Abounding to the Chief of Sinners".

 

[Brother Chris]

Let me put it plainly:

ONLY UNSAVED PEOPLE CAN BLASPHEME THE HOLY SPIRIT!!!

People who commit this sin, are not terrified that they've committed it or that they're going to hell. They probably don't believe in any of this, and if they did believe it, they wouldn't be concerned about it. They can not believe, because they WILL NOT believe and they can not repent, because they WILL NOT repent. Whatever thoughts or things you think you said against the Holy Spirit, confess them before God and ask for cleansing. The devil uses this same sin to terrify new Christians. Believe me, I went through this as well.

 

[BFine]

Esau couldn't get his father Issac to change his mind about giving him
back the blessing/The Birth Right he'd sold.

God had long revealed that the younger brother would rule over the older
before those twins were even born.

The word "hate" refers to God choosing Jacob over Esau...similar to how
Issac was chosen to be the child of promise over Ismael.
Preference was given to Issac to be the one to be one who would receive
the greater blessing... the same is true of Jacob; do note that Esau and Ismael
also received blessings... and would become great nations of people.

In the bible you will find a nation referred to by the "founders" name...Esau begat
the nation of Edom...so we find the prophets referring to the people by the name
of the man who begat them. Esau...started Edom--Edomites...and in the bible Paul and Malachi refer to the nation by the name of Esau since he started it.

Jacob's name was changed to Israel and so the nation is called by their "founding
father's" name-- Israel.

We find that Esau's descendants brought God's curse upon themselves... God
said he would "bless those who blessed you and he would curse those who curse you"--
Esau's descendants would aid Israel's enemies when they would attack the nation.
Jealousy left unbridled has caused many fights/wars/ family splits etc.

God "hardens" Pharaoh's heart-- What shows what we are actually made of?
Trials. Pharaoh when "tested", it was revealed he had no real change of heart
to seek God for repentance and God amplified what was already in the heart of Pharaoh. Mind you, Egypt had carried on in all sorts of sin for over 400 hundred
and they didn't repent and their kings heaped up even more sin...God judged
their sin after they had failed to repent in the hundreds of years given to them.

The flesh...
Who here has completely stopped sinning? No one.
The fact you struggled with a sexual sin shows just what scripture says about
it, the consequences of sexual sins cut deep and are harder to break than
other sins. Different sins carry a different weight of consequences, stealing a
paper clip from work isn't going to bring about the same consequences as robbing
a bank.

Feelings aren't indicators of whether or not you are saved.
Often times we don't feel the presence of God, this isn't uncommon.

The Lord's promise to us who are born-again-- "Never will I leave you,
never will I forsake you".
There's nothing in the bible about relying on our feelings, we are told to trust/rely on God, uphold His Word, BELIEVE His Word and apply it in our lives.

 

[Yori]

Is it really so simple that one can come to Jesus and be forgiven entirely...? I know it's true but so much inside of me wants to say it isn't and I don't know why. I've deliberately lived in sin for years. As soon as I stopped doing all that stuff, I really started paying attention to the concept of this "unforgivable sin". I heard a sermon from Hebrews that brought up a part where it says something to the nature of "If you deliberately, continuously, sin after being confronted with Christ, then you are done for." (Hebrews 10 I think). This confuses me. Whatever its saying here, I believe to be true because I believe everything in the Bible to be true - I just don't fully understand it...I feel such a lack of faith in asking this but I want to be absolutely clear. Does Jesus forgive sins no matter how long you've done them, no matter to what degree, even if you knew it was wrong, even when you deliberately and consciously chose to sin instead of follow him? If I have done this, but now regret it, and am earnest about repenting, will I be forgiven by Jesus?

I am not searching for anything sugar coated that will make me feel better. I need the truth.

Do not believe that. It is a lie from Satan himself. The devil will do anything in his power, I believe, to keep a sinner from coming to Christ. He will twist scripture, as he did against Jesus (when He was being tempted during the forty day fast), and keep you from believing that you can be forgiven.

I also believed that I had committed the unpardonable sin. Many times. But once I turned to God, I realized that I hadn't. The very fact that you care about your sin makes me believe that God has opened your eyes. "No one can turn to me except the Father that hath sent me draw him." (John 6:44) God is drawing you, and He wants you to believe that He will forgive you. If you have faith, He will forgive you. The Pharisees continued to reject God, to the point where they did not repent. You, however, do want to repent.

I pray that you will listen, and not let the devil attempt to rob you of your faith. Confess your sin to God and tell Him what has happened. Ask Him to forgive you, and to free you from your addiction. He is faithful. But whatever you do, do not let yourself sit thinking you cannot do anything, because the devil wants you to do exactly that.

 

[Blessewe2]

Jesus told us about the prodigal son who walked away from his father, and spent the money foolishly. Asking for forgiveness is done and it is finished,
God will never leave you and has forgiven you, don't let the enemy torture you anymore. Like Jesus told the sinners walk with me and sin no more. Trust in that.

 

[Jay NotApplicable]

I think when Jesus said that the only unpardonable sin is blasphemy against the Holy Spirit, He was talking about living a life of rejecting the Holy Spirit. If you live that type of life, like most people do, then when you die it will be unpardonable.

 

[xxxxxxtra]

The unpardonable sin has nothing to do with words. It has everything to do with actions.. Judas committed the unpardonable sin.. After committing it he felt enough guilt to kill himself..
It the sin of tasting of the true goodness of the Holy Spirit.. The fruit of His labour, and then saying that you are not interested..
If you are one of God's elect, you really have nothing to worry about.. And if you are not, then you are damned already. I am thinking that you are one of His elect..

 

[Jay NotApplicable]

Oh, yeah, I guess I should have added that the part about people coming to Christ and then rejecting Him as being the unpardonable sin. That's pretty important.