The unforgivable sin

And I say to you, everyone who confesses Me before men, the Son of Man will confess him also before the angels of God, but he who denies Me before men will be denied before the angels of God. And everyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man, it will be forgiven him, but he who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit, it will not be forgiven him.

Luke 12:8-10

Introduction

Have you ever wondered if you have committed the unforgivable sin? Does it feel like even the very concept of an unforgivable sin is contrary to the gospel? Can’t God forgive any sin? What even is it? This is a delicate subject that requires care and intentionality. It is also one that has been abused time and again to trouble the souls of earnest believers, stealing their joy and their rest.

What it is not

Blasphemy of the Holy Spirit is not a statement made in your former unbelief. If rejection of God or cursing His Name is all it takes to be guilty of the unforgivable sin, then no one would be saved “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). Neither is blasphemy of the Holy Spirit rejecting apparent gifts others claim to have received from the Spirit. In fact, we are commanded to be discerning regarding spirits (1 John 4:1), and looking upon a claimed gift with skepticism is a biblical attitude (see the Bereans in Acts 17:11). Comparing the apparent gifts someone has received against the gifts described in scripture does not make you guilty of blasphemy, plain and simple.

What it is

To understand blasphemy of the Holy Spirit, we need to examine two things: the context in which Jesus made this statement and the functions of the three members of the Trinity.

By comparing this section to its counterparts in the other gospels, we know that this statement is not made in a vacuum. In fact, the context goes all the way back into chapter 11 and even starts when He was casting out a demon in 11:14. Here we have one of the many signs Jesus performed (note, a sign’s sole purpose is to direct your attention to something else) by the power of the Holy Spirit. That sign was to demonstrate the Lordship of Christ and His dominion over all powers and principalities. Notice that it was indisputable: no onlooker, even the pharisees, claimed it was false or a trick. Everyone accepted He really did drive out a demon, and this is clear testimony from the Holy Spirit that Jesus is Lord. But the ones whose hearts were hardened and locked into their unbelief made the claim that “He casts out demons by Beelzebul, the ruler of the demons.” And so, knowing with certainty in their heads this was the testimony of the Spirit but perpetually rejecting it in their hearts brings about this warning from the Lord.

Now, this section of scripture actually contains all three members of the Trinity. It begins with the Father who is judge of all when Jesus proclaims “everyone who confesses Me before men, the Son of Man will confess him also before the angels of God,” here “God” is the Father, and the angels serve as the divine messengers who bring the testimony for judgment. That is to say: those who confess Jesus as Lord will be spared and coated with the righteousness of Christ. Next we have the Son, Jesus. And He speaks of Himself with grace and comfort, saying “everyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man, it will be forgiven him”. He is, of course, the very Word of God, the person through whom and for whom all things were made (Colossians 1:16). But He is also the One who redeems. He brings us to the Father in forgiveness, having paid our debt with His body on the cross (Colossians 2:14). What a soothing thought that even the words we have spoken against Jesus can and will be forgiven.

Then finally we have mention of the Spirit. His role is to point to Jesus. He is the divine revealer, having given us the scriptures and spoken to us through special divine revelation (Hebrews 3:7). When He reveals something, the matter is ended and complete. As we looked at yesterday, His testimony through Moses and the prophets is sufficient to bring someone to faith. So if someone receives His testimony and utterly rejects it through his own death, then he is guilty of blaspheming the Spirit and will not be forgiven his sins. He cannot benefit from Christ’s work on the cross, having utterly rejected the message of the gospel through to the end of his life.

What this means for us

An American cartoonist from the early 20th century once stated that the role of a journalist was to “comfort the afflicted and afflict the comfortable.” It is my hope that clarity on this subject would set your heart at ease if you have ever wondered if you were guilty of blaspheming the Spirit. Remember the assurance we have promised to us in scripture. Romans 10:9 teaches us “that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved”, while 1 Corinthians 12:3 reminds us “no one can say, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ except by the Holy Spirit.” So if you confess Jesus as Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved, and the Holy Spirit is speaking through you in that moment.

But if you are one who is wont to accuse others of blaspheming the Spirit, I would hope you might take this opportunity to reflect and ask whether you yourself live in rejection of what the Spirit is revealing to you by His inspired word (2 Timothy 3:16). Do you treasure the gifts above the giver? Do you consider the recipient of a miraculous gift as superior to the recipient of another gift? (1 Corinthians 12:1-31) Pray for forgiveness, and you will have it.

May the Lord bless you and conform you into the image of His Son.