Ask the Preacher

Dear Pastor Gallups, “What is the unpardonable sin, and is it possible that I may have committed it?” – Y.S. - Milton 

Dear Y.S., 

I am sure there are many people who are afraid that they may have committed the “unpardonable sin.” This is probably not accurate though, considering the fact that their very repentance (or desire to repent) is evidence that the Holy Spirit is still working in their lives. If God had given up on them, they would have no desire for a right relationship with Him. 

The most important factor to consider is the context in which Jesus spoke of the sin that could not be forgiven. In Matthew 12:32, Jesus said that speaking against the Son of Man can be forgiven but speaking against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven. Jesus was referring to the sin of those particular Pharisees who stood at the crossroad of redemptive history and saw the evidence of Jesus’ goodness and miracles, but still accused Him of being under the influence of an evil spirit. They saw the Messiah fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies of the Christ performing miracles of power and deity, and they called it the work of Satan. They attributed the work of the Holy Spirit to satanic power in their attempt to discredit the Deity of Jesus Christ. 

These Pharisees stood in a highly accountable place. While claiming to be God’s representatives to the people of Israel, they deliberately and willfully attributed Jesus’ power to Satan. They did this in the face of direct evidence that Jesus was in fact the sinless Son of God. It was a shocking act of wickedness and unbelief. 

So in keeping with the Biblical context, if there is an unforgivable sin today, it is my opinion that it would be the sin of consistently and continually denying the truth of the gospel throughout one’s life, gradually hardening one’s heart against God and His revelation of Himself in Christ. Or, something along the line of an out and out rejection of Jesus Christ that lasts one’s lifetime. 

I believe that no one has committed the unpardonable sin if he or she is genuinely concerned about having committed it. A person who sins against the Holy Spirit has no love for God or any desire to be reconciled to Him.