Expert: Pastor Don Carpenter - 8/10/2006

Question
As I was browsing through many responses about divorce, I read one response that divorce is not an unforgiveable sin. Well, that brought me to my question... IS there an unforgiveable sin? I have been taught that once you are saved you are always saved... but I have always wondered if there was some truly unforgiveable sin. Perhaps something extreme like denouncing God and becoming a devil worshipper.  

Answer
Hi Jean,

THanks for this great question.  There is one sin mentioned in the Bible as unforgivable, and that is committed before one is saved.

Matthew 12:22-32
22 Then was brought unto him one possessed with a devil, blind, and dumb: and he healed him, insomuch that the blind and dumb both spake and saw. 23 And all the people were amazed, and said, Is not this the son of David? 24 But when the Pharisees heard it, they said, This fellow doth not cast out devils, but by Beelzebub the prince of the devils.  25 And Jesus knew their thoughts, and said unto them, Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand: 26 And if Satan cast out Satan, he is divided against himself; how shall then his kingdom stand? 27 And if I by Beelzebub cast out devils, by whom do your children cast them out? therefore they shall be your judges. 28 But if I cast out devils by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God is come unto you. 29 Or else how can one enter into a strong man’s house, and spoil his goods, except he first bind the strong man? and then he will spoil his house. 30 He that is not with me is against me; and he that gathereth not with me scattereth abroad. 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.
The King James Version, (Cambridge: Cambridge) 1769.

In this context, to blaspheme the Holy Spirit is to believe that Jesus is working in the power of the devil.  TO break it down into simple terms, the unforgiveable sin is unbelief that keeps you from accepting Jesus as your Savior.  Note the following verse:

John 3:18
18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
The King James Version, (Cambridge: Cambridge) 1769.

One cannot commit the sin of unbelief once he has already believed and accepted the gift of eternal life, then all sins are paid for, past, present, and future.

I hope that this helps you.

In Christ
Pastor Don