Unpardonable Sin?

Here are some verses on the assurance of forgiveness. They are all promises to hang on to if you are questioning if you are forgiven or if you have asked but don't yet "feel" forgiven.

Acts 10:42-44     He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one whom God appointed as judge of the living and the dead. All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name." While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit came on all who heard the message.

Acts 13:37-39     But the one whom God raised from the dead did not see decay. "Therefore, my brothers, I want you to know that through Jesus the forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you. Through him everyone who believes is justified from everything you could not be justified from by the law of Moses.

1 John 1:9     If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.

Psalm 32:5     Then I acknowledged my sin to you and did not cover up my iniquity. I said, "I will confess my transgressions to the LORD "- and you forgave the guilt of my sin.

Isaiah 1:18; Ezekiel 36:26, 27     "Come now let us reason together," Says the Lord, "Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; God's promise is: "Though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool." " A new heart also will I give you. . . . And I will put My Spirit within you."

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What is the unpardonable sin, and is it possible that I may have committed it?

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There are thousands of people who are terrified that they may have committed the unpardonable sin. This is a shame, 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.

It is important that we have an understanding of the historical context in which Christ 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 Pharisees who stood at the crossroads of redemptive history and saw the evidence of Christ's goodness, but still accused Him of being under the influence of an evil spirit. They saw the Messiah perform miracles of goodness and love, and they called it the work of Satan. They did nothing less than attribute the work of the Holy Spirit to satanic power!

These Pharisees stood in a unique place. While claiming to be God's representatives to 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.

People living today aren't in the position to personally reject Jesus Christ in the same way the Pharisees did. If there is an unforgivable sin today, 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.

Remember this important point: No one has committed the unpardonable sin (the sin against the Holy Spirit) if he or she is 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.

Also remember God's promises!

God keeps His word. So when we ask Him to forgive us, we can be confident that we are forgiven.

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Related articles:
I Can't Forgive Myself     What you need to know if you still feel guilty

Why Do I Feel So Guilty?     Where do feelings of guilt come from?

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