There are many who believe one can commit the “unpardonable sin” that is mentioned in Matthew 12:31-32. Those verses say, “Therefore I say to you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven men. Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man, it will be forgiven him; but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit, it will not be forgiven him, either in this age or in the age to come.” In the verses before this (verses 25-28) Jesus spoke of healing people by the power of the Holy Spirit, yet there were those who were attributing the Holy Spirit’s work to Satan. This is the “blasphemy against the Spirit” spoken of in verse 31, which is been called the “unpardonable sin.”

Technically, this sin can’t be committed today, for Jesus isn’t here performing miracles by the power of the Holy Spirit. Yet the Holy Spirit is here today, working in the hearts of men and women to produce conviction of sin and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, and if His testimony is rejected there can be no forgiveness. In Acts 7:51 a man name Stephen accused his fellow countrymen of this very thing, “You stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears! You always resist the Holy Spirit; as your father did, so do you.” The Holy Spirit was trying to convict these men of their need of Christ as their Savior, and yet they resisted His work in their hearts. Perhaps they even attributed Stephen’s testimony to them as being from Satan, for we read in verse 24, “When they heard these things they were cut to the heart , and they gnashed at him with their teeth.” Then in verses 57-58 we learn that “they cried out with a loud voice, stopped their ears, and ran at him with one accord; and they cast him out of the city and stoned him.” They had heard enough and with hatred in their hearts they began to stone him to death. It is in this sense alone that we could speak of the unpardonable sin being committed today.

How is it with you, dear reader? Have you allowed the Holy Spirit to convict you of your need of Christ? The Lord Jesus spoke in John chapter 16 of the coming of the Spirit for this very purpose. In verses 8-10 He said, “and when He has come, he will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: of sin, because they do not believe on Me; of righteousness, because I go to My Father and you see Me no more; of judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged.” If you do realize you are a sinner in need of a Savior, there is indeed forgiveness for you. It matters not how many sins you have committed or what those sins are. Jesus died on the cross for THOSE SINS, as we see in 1st Corinthians 15:3, “Christ died for OUR SINS according to the Scriptures.” The Old Testament Scriptures had foretold that He would in Isaiah 53:5-6, “But He was wounded for OUR TRANSGRESSIONS, He was bruised for OUR INIQUITIES; the chastisement of our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; We have turned, everyone, to his own way; and the LORD has laid on Him the iniquity of us all.” Because He was willing to bear the punishment for our sins, Peter preached these marvelous words in Acts 10:43: “To Him all the prophets witness that, through His name, whoever believes in Him will receive remission of sins.” The apostle Paul preached the same message of forgiveness in Acts 13:38-39, “Therefore let it be known to you, brethren, that through this Man is preached to the forgiveness of sin; and by Him everyone who believes is justified from all things from which you could not be justified by the law of Moses.” Have you believed on Jesus Christ as your Savior? (245.9) (DO)