Hitchin Christian Centre

Q: What does it mean in the Bible by the unforgivable sin and why is it unforgivable when Jesus died to forgive us?

A: Hi, and thanks for the question - one of which has often caused much controversy over the years. Here are my thoughts.

Someone who is unforgivable must be someone who no longer meets the conditions of God's promises of forgiveness. In other words, they become so hardened that they do not want Jesus to forgive their sins. Either they turn their back on God so defiantly that they refuse to return to Jesus, or they never seek forgiveness because they imagine God approves of their sin. An example of the latter might be someone so caught up in sexual immorality or heresy, that for the rest of their lives they believe that their sin is acceptable to God. There is a huge emphasis in Scripture that forgiveness is freely available to anyone who comes to Jesus in simple trust, willing to let go of their sin.

Paul is a good example. The man who became God's chosen apostle literally tortured Christians, trying to force them to blaspheme (Acts 22:19; 26:11). To leave us no doubt, Paul declared himself in writing that he was "once a blasphemer and a persecutor" (1 Timothy 1:13). He continued to be a blasphemer despite the witness of all the countless Christians he argued with and all those he tortured. This man's total forgiveness proves how eager God is to reason for mercy!

If Paul's evil could be forgiven, then God can forgive you! What makes people unforgivable is not God hardening His heart against them. The God of eternal love, who wants no one to perish, does not suddenly crack and no longer wants to forgive certain people. They are unforgivable solely because there is salvation through no-one else but the one they are dismissing as demonic. No one can ever be forgiven while they believe Jesus is in league with the devil. It is an eternal sin because once a person dies still consciously rejecting Jesus' salvation, there is no opportunity for forgiveness in the next life. Anyone repenting and believing in Jesus before death, however, will be forgiven. There is no sin so great that it cannot be forgiven when God's forgiveness is sought through Jesus, but there is no sin so small that it can be forgiven if we refuse to ask God's forgiveness through Jesus.

Some Scriptures: Isaiah 55:7, John 3:16.

Hope that helps,

Tony

This is a response to a question posted on our "Ask the pastor" page. To submit your own question, go to here.

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