In Luke 12:10 it reads: “And anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man, it will be forgiven him; but to him who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit, it will not be forgiven.” Here we have an example of an unforgivable sin. In all, I can account for three such sins which biblically or philosophically need to be avoided. I will address two of these today. One is scripturally prohibited directly, one is scripturally applied and philosophically arguable.
The first is the above mentioned blasphemy against the Holy Spirit. In its simplest form it would be that if one denies the ability of God to forgive sin, then that sin is unforgivable as such a person would not seek such forgiveness. It would also follow that speaking against the inner voice which convicts one of their errors, would lead necessarily to that voice (the Spirit) being demeaned (and in practice ignored). Here may also be the issue of “quenching” the Spirit (1 Thessalonians 5:19), though this seems more just the ignoring or limiting within one’s Christian life rather than a denying of the Spirit’s role and power. {I will return to the quenching of the Spirit in a future post rather than deviating from the clear “unforgivable sin” here}. Some might add that denial of the Trinitarian nature of God would be the denying of the Spirit, but while this may be so, it is a weak argument in light of “anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man, it will be forgiven him.” {This too will be addressed more later}. In summary to deny the power of God (manifested in the Spirit) alienates the blasphemer from that power. It is His spirit that gives us life (see Genesis 2:7 and I Peter 3:18). Do not therefore deny or speak ill of the advocate, comforter, and guide which God has sent to us.
A second unforgivable sin is any misdeed already forgiven! We beat ourselves repeatedly with our past failings, but God who is faithful, no longer recalls those things once confessed and repented of. He says, “I, even I, am he who blots out your transgressions, for my own sake, and remembers your sins no more (Isaiah 43:25 NIV);” (see also Hebrews 8:12). How marvelous is that?
Do you keep asking forgiveness for things which the Lord responds: “What are you talking about?” Feel the freedom in the Lord today! You are forgiven.
Padre
{Today’s post is clearly a spiritual musing and not a theological discourse, so please read it as a work in progress}