Expert: Pastor Don Carpenter - 11/15/2010

Question
What is it? Why wont god forgive it?

Answer
Hi Antoine,

Thank you for this great question.  The unpardonable sin is found in the following passage.  Please notice the context surrounding the sin:

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.

Some believe that any random disrespect shown to the Holy Spirit is the unpardonable sin.  In this context it is a very specific sin.  Jesus was doing a miracle by the power of the Holy Spirit.  The religious leaders were saying that it was not really the Holy Spirit that gave Jesus power, but rather that it was Satan that gave Him power.  So to commit the unpardonable sin is to say that Jesus does His miracles by the power of the Devil.  It is unforgivable because since Jesus is the only one that can forgive you of our sins, if you believe that He is of the Devil, then you cannot go to Him for forgiveness.  Only after you stop believing that can you get forgiveness.

Acts 4:10-12
10 Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole. 11 This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner. 12 Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.
The King James Version, (Cambridge: Cambridge) 1769.

John 14:6
6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way,  the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
The King James Version, (Cambridge: Cambridge) 1769.

I hope that this helps you.

In Christ
Pastor Don