Sin: Have you committed the unpardonable one?
Many people have wondered about this, even gone into deep depression thinking about it. Here is what they’ve probably read in their Bible that has caused them to have such concern about this.
Matthew 12:31-32
31 Wherefore I say unto you, All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men: but the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men.
32 And whosoever speaketh a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but whosoever speaketh against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, neither in the world to come. [Emphasis added]
I’ve seen many things people stated that they thought that sin might be. But any time I think of this subject I’m reminded of the great apostle Paul’s words about this concerning himself.
1 Timothy 1:11-14
11 According to the glorious gospel of the blessed God, which was committed to my trust.
Please note here that this wonderful gospel message we have today was first committed to this man, Paul.
12 And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me, for that he counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry;
Paul was not only a believer but one who had a wonderful ministry we’ve all benefited from greatly. But notice what he says about himself.
13 Who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious: but I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief.
14 And the grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus. [Emphasis added]
If this sin of blasphemy is unpardonable for us today, what are we to think of this? Obviously, there’s something important that we need to know about this, for Paul was clearly a blasphemer of the Holy Spirit, but one who was eventually saved.
In the early years of Paul’s life, he was meticulously obedient to the Mosaic Law. Note what he says about his obedient life.
Philippians 3:4-5
4 Though I might also have confidence in the flesh. If any other man thinketh that he hath whereof he might trust in the flesh, I more:
5 Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee; [Emphasis added]
All the Pharisees were meticulous keepers of the Mosaic Law. But please note what our Lord said about them.
Matthew 23:23-25
23 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.
24 Ye blind guides, which strain at a gnat, and swallow a camel.
25 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full of extortion and excess. [Emphasis added]
Paul was certainly not an exception to any of this. We could say he was religious but unregenerate. He didn’t get saved until his encounter with our Lord on his trip to Damascus where he was planning to persecute more Christians.
There is no evidence that Paul ever blasphemed God the Father. There is also no evidence that he ever even met Jesus in His earthly ministry. It wasn’t until the twelve apostles were all “filled with the Holy Ghost” [Acts 2:4] that Paul persecuted them.
Acts 7:57-60
57 Then they [the Pharisees] cried out with a loud voice, and stopped their ears, and ran upon him [Stephen] with one accord,
58 And cast him out of the city, and stoned him: and the witnesses laid down their clothes at a young man’s feet, whose name was Saul [later called Paul].
59 And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.
60 And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep. [Emphasis added]
Acts 8:1-3
1 And Saul was consenting unto his death. And at that time there was a great persecution against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judaea and Samaria, except the apostles.
2 And devout men carried Stephen to his burial, and made great lamentation over him.
3 As for Saul, he made havock of the church, entering into every house, and haling men and women committed them to prison. [Emphasis added]
So, how is it that this blasphemous Jew got saved? Answer: The same way any of us get saved today—by the grace of God! Please notice again this wonderful verse.
1 Timothy 1:14
14 And the grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus. [Emphasis added]
With the saving of Saul who became Paul, God introduced a whole new program called “the dispensation of the grace of God.” In this program, grace reigns.
Romans 5:21
21 That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord. [Emphasis added]
It is this new program, this dispensation of the grace of God, in which we operate today. A wonderful change has taken place. Unfortunately, most of Christendom today does not understand this. If you bring it up in a conversation, they have no idea what you’re talking about. They may even look at you as though you’re an alien from Mars.
Ephesians 3:2
2 If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me [Paul] to you-ward: [Emphasis added]
Anytime anyone today accepts by faith the wonderful work Jesus Christ accomplished at the cross, they are immediately and permanently saved.
2 Corinthians 5:21
21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. [Emphasis added]
You’ll notice that it is then that they receive by imputation all the righteousness they’ll ever need to be saved and acceptable to God. Our salvation does not rest on our own righteousness and our own good works.
Ephesians 2:8-9
8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
9 Not of works, lest any man should boast. [Emphasis added]
There was a time when works were required as a manifestation of one’s faith, but that is not the case today. If you have any questions about any of this, please see my articles about it on this website. Here are the names of a few.
Works: What about verses that seem to demand them for salvation?
Salvation: What part does man’s work play in it?
Salvation: Does it have to be earned by good works?
Works: How important are they?
The apostle Paul gives us the bottom line to all this.
Romans 10:13
13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. [Emphasis added]
Therefore, if you’ve ever agonized over our Lord’s words about this unpardonable sin, agonize no more. No matter what sins you’ve ever committed, Christ paid the penalty for them all at the cross of Calvary. All your sins have been forgiven!
Ephesians 1:7
7 In whom [speaking of Jesus Christ] we have redemption through his blood [the complete payment He made on the cross], the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace [something we neither earned nor deserved]; [Emphasis added]
Colossians 1:14
14 In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins: [Emphasis added]
Let us live a life expressing thanksgiving to Him for what He did on the cross, making salvation and all its blessings available to all!
