Is There an Unforgivable Sin?
From time to time, there are people who are considering accepting Jesus’ offer of salvation, but they don’t do it because they think that they are too big a sinner. If this describes you, be of good cheer, Jesus came into this world to save you. Jesus said
Luke 19:9-10 And Jesus said to him, "Today salvation has come to this house, because he also is a son of Abraham; 10 for the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost." NKJV
and
Mark 2:15-17 Now it happened, as He was dining in Levi's house, that many tax collectors and sinners also sat together with Jesus and His disciples; for there were many, and they followed Him. 16 And when the scribes and Pharisees saw Him eating with the tax collectors and sinners, they said to His disciples, "How is it that He eats and drinks with tax collectors and sinners?" 17 When Jesus heard it, He said to them, "Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance." NKJV
A reading of the Bible reveals that Moses was a murderer and Paul led in the persecution and murder of the saints. David was a man after God’s own heart, yet he was guilty of adultery with Bathsheba. All of these people had something in common, though, they all prayed to God and asked Him for forgiveness. The Bible says that God forgave them.
Is there a sin,
though, that praying for forgiveness does not help, that God will not
forgive? Unfortunately the answer is yes. In fact there are
actually two such sins. Jesus told us
what one of them is, so we can recognize it and never come close to
doing it. That particular
sin
is blaspheming the Holy Spirit.
Jesus said:
Matt 12:31-32
"Therefore I say to you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven men. 32 Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man, it will be forgiven him; but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit, it will not be forgiven him, either in this age or in the age to come.
NKJV
So, there is an unforgivable sin, but notice that Jesus said God would forgive all the other sins, if only you ask. The agent that God uses to pull people to Jesus for salvation is the Holy Spirit, so many people believe that if you commit this sin you wouldn’t want to repent anyway, since it is the Holy Spirit that draws you. They say that your continued desire for salvation is a sure sign that you have not committed this sin. If you had committed that sin you would have no desire for salvation. I admit that I agree with this viewpoint, but there is no scripture saying that specifically, so I cannot be dogmatic about that.
While we are on this topic, it is good to mention that the gifts of the Spirit are from the Holy Spirit. There are some people who come on very negative about some of the gifts of the spirit, especially speaking in tongues. If you are interested in what the Bible has to say about gifts of the spirit you can look at my web page on the topic It is my opinion that if you go around saying a bunch of negative things about tongues, or of the other gifts, you are getting close to blaspheming the Holy Spirit. So, my advice is DO NOT BADMOUTH THE GIFTS OF THE SPIRIT.
The other unforgivable sin can only be committed during the seven year period in history that the Bible calls the “Tribulation”, or the part of the Tribulation called the “Great Tribulation” The reason that this sin can only be committed then is that it involves taking the mark of the beast on the head or on the forearm, and that is the only period of time that that mark is pushed on the people. The Bible says:
Rev 14:9-11 Then a third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice,"If anyone worships the beast and his image, and receives his mark on his forehead or on his hand, 10 he himself shall also drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out full strength into the cup of His indignation. He shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb. 11 And the smoke of their torment ascends forever and ever; and they have no rest day or night, who worship the beast and his image, and whoever receives the mark of his name." NKJV
The antichrist tries to force everyone to take this mark by ruling that no one can buy or sell unless they have that mark.
Rev 13:16-17
16 He causes all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hand or on their foreheads, 17 and that no one may buy or sell except one who has the mark or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.
NKJV
In addition to not allowing people to buy or sell if they do not have the mark, the antichrist also cuts their head off.
Rev 20:4-6 And I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was committed to them. Then I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their witness to Jesus and for the word of God, who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received his mark on their foreheads or on their hands. And they lived and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. 5 But the rest of the dead did not live again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. 6 Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection. Over such the second death has no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with Him a thousand years. NKJV
So, the choice is being able to live for an extra 3-7 years on earth, and then spending an eternity in burning in hell, or being beheaded and spending an eternity in heaven. The choice is yours
If you want to
receive Jesus Christ as your Savior, look at my
web page on how to be
saved.
This page was last updated on 30 January 2004
Go To Don's Rest Stop
Home page
Go To Peace with God