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What Is the Unpardonable Sin?

 

Is there a sin that God won’t forgive? Are there sins that are too bad to forgive? If so, what are they? What does the Bible teach about the unpardonable sin?

The purpose of Jesus’ sacrifice is to make it possible for us to be reconciled to God—to be “holy, and blameless, and above reproach in His sight” (Colossians 1:22). Jesus paid an enormous price on our behalf to rescue us from sin.

But is it possible that there can be a sin that even the blood of Jesus Christ can’t cover? Many people worry they have committed the unpardonable sin. Have you ever asked, “Did I commit the unpardonable sin?”

Although the phrase unpardonable sin does not appear in Scripture, there are three passages in which we are warned of sin that cannot be forgiven. Understanding these passages can help prevent us from committing such a sin and at the same time give us assurance that we have not.

Blasphemy against the Holy Spirit

In Matthew 12:31-32 Jesus Christ warned the Pharisees that “blasphemy against the [Holy] Spirit will not be forgiven men” in this age or in the age to come. 

What is blasphemy against the Holy Spirit?

Verses 22-30 give the background for this statement. Jesus had healed a man who was possessed by a demon. The people who witnessed this miracle realized that this was evidence that Jesus was the Messiah (verse 23). But in an attempt to discredit Jesus and intentionally mislead the people, rather than acknowledging that He was the Savior, the Pharisees knowingly falsely accused Him of healing the man by the power of Satan (Beelzebub).

In verse 31 the Greek word translated “blasphemy” means to vilify, rail or speak evil against. Jesus said elsewhere that the sin of blasphemy came from the depths of an evil heart (Mark 7:21-23). Blasphemy is one thing, but blasphemy against the Holy Spirit takes it to another level.

In Matthew 12:32 Jesus repeats the thought, stating that “anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man” can be forgiven (emphasis added throughout). That phrase speaks a word against means to be antagonistic against or in conflict with another. Most people in their ignorance initially rejected Jesus Christ, and they will have opportunity to repent.

What the Pharisees said wasn’t just a casual comment or misunderstanding. It was an intentional, outrageous and unthinkable accusation to attribute the power of God to Satan. It was this blatant, premeditated lie that Jesus labeled as blasphemy against the Holy Spirit.

We can be in danger of committing the sin of blasphemy against the Holy Spirit if we know God has accomplished something through the power of His Spirit, yet intentionally attribute it to the working of Satan. The Holy Spirit is the power of God—it is how He works to accomplish His will. So to reject the working of His Spirit is to not just reject His identity, but to reject His very power, work and nature. Someone who has actually committed blasphemy against the Spirit will not desire to repent, and so cannot be forgiven.

What does “falling away” mean in the Bible?

The second passage, Hebrews 6:4-6, is a powerful warning against abandoning the understanding of God’s Word, instruction and promises. “For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted the heavenly gift, and have become partakers of the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come, if they fall away, to renew them again to repentance, since they crucify again for themselves the Son of God, and put Him to an open shame.”

This passage describes a person who had come to repentance, understood and accepted God’s forgiveness of sin through Jesus Christ, and received the gift of the Holy Spirit, but subsequently, knowingly and intentionally rejected Jesus. This is a person who, even though he knows God’s authority, has intentionally set his mind to reject the gift of God’s Holy Spirit and to reject the only One through whom repentance is possible.

Repentance means to seek God’s forgiveness for sin through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ and to commit to a lifetime of obedience, forsaking a previous way of life. When we repent, we receive the gift of God’s Holy Spirit by which we have an understanding of God’s goodness and eternal promises.

The phrase fall away means “to abandon a former relationship” (Louw and Nida Greek-English Lexicon). This passage warns that there is no way to renew repentance once it is rejected. If people knowingly and intentionally reject what Jesus has done for them by His sacrifice, they “hold him up to contempt” (verse 6, Revised Standard Version). And having rejected His sacrifice, there is no other sacrifice by which they can be saved (Acts 4:12).

The sin that cannot be forgiven is a sin of which a person does not want to repent. It is the act of rejecting the sacrifice of Christ and intentionally choosing sin over repentance, forgiveness and obedience.

It’s important to note that this is not the same as stumbling or going through a time of weakness in our life. That can happen to people, but they can repent and get back on the path of God’s way of life. To “fall away” is a much more conscious rejection of Jesus Christ’s sacrifice and making a conscious decision to embrace a sinful way of life. Someone who comes to this point fully understands the consequences of what he or she is doing—but simply does not care and will not change.

Willful sin

The third passage that mentions a sin that cannot be forgiven is Hebrews 10:26-27. It says, “For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a certain fearful expectation of judgment, and fiery indignation which will devour the adversaries.”

To sin “willfully” indicates a person who has set his will (his mind) against God and knowingly chooses to reject Him. This is one who utterly refuses to comply with God’s law, even though he understands that he should. In effect, it is a person who chooses Satan over God. His character, will and desire are set against God’s will. There is no forgiveness because he rejects Jesus’ sacrifice, which is the only way that sins can be forgiven. All that is left for a person in this condition is the lake of fire (Revelation 20:15).

Paul also discussed this aspect of willful sin in 1 Timothy 4:1-2, where he shows that some no longer feel guilt or shame because they have allowed their conscience to be “seared with a hot iron.”

“Have I committed the unpardonable sin?”

Everyone occasionally sins out of weakness or ignorance. There are times when we labor to control or overcome deeply ingrained habits or patterns that we know are sinful, slipping back at times even though we’re trying to overcome.

Paul eloquently describes this ongoing battle in Romans 7:14-25. He writes in verse 15, “For what I am doing, I do not understand. For what I will to do, that I do not practice; but what I hate, that I do.” He concludes the passage by acknowledging that our only hope in dealing with our nature and striving to obey is through Jesus Christ (verses 24-25).

Proverbs 24:16 says, “For a righteous man may fall seven times and rise again.”

Psalm 37:23-24 tells us that “the steps of a good man are ordered [established] by the LORD and He delights in his way. Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down; for the LORD upholds him with His hand.”

In these two verses “fall” doesn’t mean abandon, but stumble or slip. In other words, even a righteous person will trip and fall. The key is to get back up and keep trying. God holds up and strengthens those who continue to strive to obey and live God’s way, even though they stumble at times.

If you are struggling against sin and are concerned about committing the unpardonable sin, you have not committed the unpardonable sin. Those who have truly committed the unpardonable sin will be so hardened in a sinful and rebellious attitude that they simply don’t care or worry about God’s forgiveness or the consequences of their attitude and way of living.

Warning and assurance

There is stern warning in Scripture about the kind of sin that cannot be forgiven. To sin in that way means to intentionally deny the power of God, to knowingly abandon God’s grace and calling or to deliberately reject the sacrifice of Jesus Christ by setting your mind, heart and will to intentionally sin rather than submit to God.

But those passages also assure us that as long as we genuinely repent of our sins, sincerely seek God’s forgiveness, and continue with a diligent effort to obey God, we can be confident that our sins are forgiven. As John reminds us, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9).

If you are practicing this scripture in your life—and are confessing your sins to God and seeking His forgiveness—you have not committed the unpardonable sin.

Idolatry—Then and Now

 

Historical accounts in the Bible often refer to God’s people getting involved with idols. Do Christians today need to be concerned about idolatry?

There is an account in the book of Daniel about three young men faced with an incredibly difficult situation. Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-Nego were given a choice between two options: bow and worship the golden image King Nebuchadnezzar had set up or be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace.

Their courageous refusal to worship the idol is recorded in Daniel 3. It is one of the most inspiring examples in the Bible of putting God first by refusing to worship an idol.

The biblical command against idolatry

The first of the 10 Commandments given at Mount Sinai says we are to have no other gods before the real God (Exodus 20:3).

The Second Commandment is much like the first one: “You shall not make for yourself a carved image—any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth; you shall not bow down to them nor serve them” (verses 4-5).

In spite of God’s clear instructions to completely avoid idols, the ancient nation of Israel frequently compromised with idolatry. God punished Israel repeatedly for the sin of idolatry, and it was a primary reason why they went into captivity (see 2 Kings 17:7-18).

What about Christians today? We worship God and recognize His Son, Jesus Christ, as our Savior. But, at the same time, could we be guilty of idolatry today?

The rich young ruler

There is an account in the Gospels about a rich young ruler who came to Christ, seeking advice and desiring to follow Him. Luke 18:18 and Mark 10:17 tell us that he ran to Christ, knelt before Him, called Him “Good Teacher” and asked what he must do to obtain eternal life.

The young man had a lot of stature in his world—he was wealthy, and he was also called a ruler. He had a lot of zeal and humility, but Christ knew that something important was missing in this man’s life.

Christ told the young man what he needed to do to inherit eternal life. In His answer, Christ quoted some of the 10 Commandments: “You know the commandments: ‘Do not commit adultery,’ ‘Do not murder,’ ‘Do not steal,’ ‘Do not bear false witness,’ ‘Do not defraud,’ ‘Honor your father and your mother’” (Mark 10:19).

The young man responded that He had kept these commandments from his youth (verse 20). Christ did not dispute the young man’s obedience to those commandments.

He did, however, elaborate on what was missing in the young man’s life: “Then Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, ‘One thing you lack: Go your way, sell whatever you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, take up the cross, and follow Me.’ But he was sad at this word, and went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions” (verses 21-22).

Christ’s instructions to this man—that he sell all that he had—are unique, but He did so to point out what was the one important quality missing in this rich young ruler’s life: God didn’t come first! That is the message of the First and Second Commandments—if God doesn’t come first, something else does. In the case of the rich young ruler, his many possessions came first.

What about you? Is your money more important to you than following God’s way of life? If so, you have made money your idol.

The example of the apostle Paul

Paul left us an inspiring example about priorities and about learning what to value the most. The story of God calling Paul is recorded in the book of Acts, but Paul gave more details in his letter to the Philippians.

“If anyone else thinks he may have confidence in the flesh, I more so: circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of the Hebrews; concerning the law, a Pharisee; concerning zeal, persecuting the church; concerning the righteousness which is in the law, blameless” (Philippians 3:4-6).

Paul explains here that he was born and educated as a prominent and prestigious leader in his community with a track record that gave him outstanding respect among his people.

Paul admitted he had been a Pharisee. Pharisees were well-known for their strictness in observing the Jewish laws. Paul was advanced beyond his contemporaries and exceedingly zealous for the traditions of Judaism. He enjoyed a preeminent role in his world.

The differences between the rich young ruler and the apostle Paul

There was a striking difference between Paul’s attitude and the attitude of the rich young ruler. Paul was willing to give up and turn his back on his previous prestigious life in order to put Christ first in his life. We see this attitude in Philippians 3:8: “Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ.”

By contrast, the rich young ruler’s attitude was, “But he was sad at this word, and went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions” (Mark 10:22).

We cannot allow anything to come before God in our lives. If we do, we have a god before the true God, as did the rich young ruler. Paul’s example shows us that if we put God first in our lives, worldly riches and position are meaningless by comparison.

Putting God first

God’s original command against idolatry is still in effect today as it is written in Exodus 20:5: “You shall not bow down to them nor serve them. For I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God.” God makes it very plain we must put Him first, and there are no exceptions!

Consider this passage from Mathew 6:24: “No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.” “Mammon” here refers to wealth or riches.

If God doesn’t come first in our lives, something else does. As Christians, God’s first two commandments tell us that we can’t allow idolatry into our lives. We must always put God first.

If you are going to put God first in your life, and we certainly hope that you will, you need to commit your life to Him. You need to make understanding God’s truth and responding to it the most important thing in your life. Use the resources available to you on this website to help you grow in your relationship with your Creator. If you do, you’ll receive the spiritual benefits that come from walking in faith in this life and in the one to come.

What Is Sin?

 

Sin is generally thought of as something bad. But exactly what is sin? How does the Bible define it? What is the Bible’s teaching about sin?

The Bible says a lot about sin. It tells us that all have sinned (Romans 3:23) and that sin leads to death (Romans 6:23).

In order to avoid sin, it’s essential we know exactly what sin is. So how does the Bible define sin?

The clearest definition of sin that we find in the Bible is 1 John 3:4: “Sin is the transgression of the law” (King James Version). Let’s examine this scripture to discover what it is telling us about sin. To understand it, we can consider the range of meaning of the Greek words John used.

What is the meaning of the Greek word for sin?

The Greek word John used for sin is hamartia.

Thayer’s Greek Lexicon notes that this word at its root meant “a failing to hit the mark,” and in the New Testament it is always used in an ethical sense. In 1 John 3:4 Thayer’s defines it as “that which is done wrong, committed or resultant sin, an offence, a violation of the divine law in thought or in act.” Greek scholar Spiros Zodhiates defines it as “missing the true goal and scope of life” (The Complete Word Study New Testament, p. 884).

Zondervan Expository Dictionary of Bible Words notes that the Greek word hamartia and related words “incorporate the full range of meaning of all three basic Hebrew words [for sin], hata, pesa, and awon. Like them, hamartia assumes a divine standard or norm and portrays humanity as missing the mark. Yet sin is also seen in the NT as rebellion and as conscious deviation from known right . . .

“Sin is not only missing God’s mark; it is an inner reality, a warp in human nature, and a malignant power that holds each individual in an unbreakable grip” (p. 568).

Thankfully, God has a plan to set us free from this slavery to sin (Romans 6:1-14; see our booklet Change Your Life!).

So to sin can be to miss the goal or target—or even to rebel, reject or ignore God’s standards. It is to fall short of what God expects of us. We can think of sin as the opposite of righteousness. Righteousness is living within God’s just and right standards, while sin is failing to live by those standards.

What is the meaning of transgression?

The Greek word for transgression in 1 John 3:4 is anomia, which is a combination of a, meaning without or against, and nomos, meaning law. So the literal meaning of anomia is without law or against law. The New King James Version translates this word as “lawlessness” (to live or conduct oneself as if there is no law).

So the apostle John defined sin as transgression of the law (or lawlessness, law-breaking). Essentially, sin is making a decision—or living a lifestyle—that violates the law of God.

This basic definition of sin as being a transgression of the law is also found in the Old Testament.

The Old Testament was written in the Hebrew language, and the Hebrew words for transgression and transgress reveal additional understanding of sin. The Hebrew word for transgress is abar, meaning to “cross over.” It can also mean to “turn away” (Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance, #5674). The Hebrew word for transgression is pesha, which means rebellion or revolt or sin (Strong’s, #6588).

Consider 2 Chronicles 24:20, “The Spirit of God came upon Zechariah the son of Jehoiada the priest, who stood above the people, and said to them, ‘Thus says God: “Why do you transgress the commandments of the LORD, so that you cannot prosper?”’”

A very encouraging scripture states: “Blessed is he whose transgression [rebellion, sin] is forgiven, whose sin is covered” (Psalm 32:1). The Hebrew word for sin here is chataah, which means an offense (Strong’s, #2401). So when our transgressions and sins are forgiven, that means our rebellion and revolt against God is removed from us.

What law defines sin?

The law we break when we sin is the law of God found in the Bible. So, rephrased, 1 John 3:4 states that sin is violating the law of God. The primary laws God gave to guide human conduct are the 10 Commandments (Exodus 20).

We can transgress those laws in two ways:

• We can live a general lifestyle of lawlessness. This means we live a self-willed way of life without any thought or care for the restraints of God’s law. For instance, people who make all their decisions according to their passions or desires are living in a condition of lawlessness.
• We can transgress a specific commandment. For instance, God’s law instructs us to “not steal” (Exodus 20:15). If we ignore that law and steal something, we have transgressed the law—and sinned.

Both the general lifestyle of sin and committing specific acts of sin bring undesirable consequences.

God’s law was given to show mankind the best way to live in harmony with God and others (Luke 10:27). God gave the law as a blessing and intended it to guide mankind into an abundant way of life (John 10:10). He wants all people to have prosperity, peace and joy in their lives.

When we live within the guardrails of God’s 10 Commandments, we free ourselves from all sorts of suffering caused by breaking those commandments.

Jesus and the law

Did Jesus uphold the law of God, or did He do away with the commandments? He answered that question directly in the Sermon on the Mount: “Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill” (Matthew 5:17).

“Fulfill” means the opposite of “destroy.” He gave full meaning to the law and summarized it into two overall great commandments. (To go deeper into what Jesus meant when He said He came to fulfill the law, read “Did Jesus Fulfill the Law?”)

When a man asked Him, “Which is the great commandment in the law?” Jesus answered, “‘You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself’” (Matthew 22:36-39).

These two great commandments are a synopsis of God’s 10 Commandments. The first four commandments state how we are to love God. The last six commandments state how we should treat one another. Breaking any of these commandments is sin.

Blessings for obedience

From the beginning, God established blessings for obedience to His law and penalties for disobedience (Deuteronomy 28:1-2, 15). God has designed human life to work best when it is aligned with His law. He envisioned ancient Israel modeling obedience so that other peoples would learn to obey and be blessed.

But ancient Israel sinned—they did not obey God, just as modern nations today do not obey God. The world exists in a state of sin and continues to write a sad, violent history.

A time is coming when Jesus Christ will return to rule the earth and end moral confusion. He will establish God’s law as the law of the world. All people will come to understand the law. They will learn what sin is and what the consequences of lawlessness are. Of course, people will still be people—there will be sin that must be forgiven. But they will be led by a moral and upright government and will experience righteousness, peace and joy.

People everywhere will love the law and the rewards for obeying it. In the future government of Jesus Christ, the prophecy of Jeremiah will be fulfilled: “But this is what I commanded them, saying, ‘Obey My voice, and I will be your God, and you shall be My people. And walk in all the ways that I have commanded you, that it may be well with you’” (Jeremiah 7:23).

Other Bible verses that define sin

Though 1 John 3:4 gives the Bible’s most basic and clear definition of sin, there are a number of scriptures that give additional definitions of sin:

• “Whatever is not from faith is sin” (Romans 14:23).
• “Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin” (James 4:17).
• “All unrighteousness is sin” (1 John 5:17).

These scriptures show that sin is also much broader than just breaking the letter of one of the 10 Commandments. Sin can be making a decision based on unfaithfulness to God and can also be neglecting to do what’s right when we have the opportunity. To learn more about this kind of sin, read our article “Sins of Omission: Do They Exist?”

How to be set free from sin

Sin is against God, and it brings the death penalty (Romans 6:23; see “What Is the Meaning of Romans 6:23?”). But God provides a way we can have that penalty removed through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ: “Who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness” (1 Peter 2:24).

When we accept Christ’s sacrifice and have our sins washed away through baptism, we then cease being slaves to sin and become slaves of righteousness (Romans 6:17-18). Righteousness is the opposite of lawlessness. It is striving to live within the boundaries of God’s law (Psalm 119:172).

We can experience a great measure of peace and stability in keeping God’s law today. “Moreover by them [the law, testimony, statutes, commandments and judgments] Your servant is warned, and in keeping them there is great reward” (Psalm 19:11). “But let your heart keep my commands; for length of days and long life and peace they will add to you” (Proverbs 3:1-2).

You need to learn more about God’s law and about how to overcome sin.

Download our free booklets God’s 10 Commandments: Still Relevant Today and Change Your Life! They will give you a concise, easy-to-read guide to what the Bible teaches on these vital subjects.

Sin: What Does the Bible Say?

 

The Bible states “sin is lawlessness” (1 John 3:4 ), the breaking of God’s law. In other places sin is defined as “missing the mark.” Understanding the Bible’s teachings about conversion, justification, sanctification, repentance and forgiveness rests on a thorough knowledge of sin.

Because sin has been downplayed over the years, it’s difficult to convince people of its reality and the seriousness of breaking God’s law. If no one is concerned about sin, why would they earnestly seek a Savior? Because people are ignorant of sin, God must arouse an awareness of sin in those He draws to Him.

Everyone is a sinner. “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). There is a frightening reality in continuing to sin. “For the wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23 ).

Therefore, understanding sin is important because life without repentance of sin ends in death. God’s forgiveness and a transformed life of overcoming sin leads to salvation. Read more about sin in the related articles. And see our booklet Change Your Life! for more about how to overcome sin and become right with God.

Change: Transforming Your Life to God’s Way

 

“In order to change we must be sick and tired of being sick and tired,” someone once said. Are you one who is sick of what is going on in the world?

Or, perhaps, are you tired of how things are going in your own life? Do you see the need for change, but wonder what to do?

In our search for happiness and peace, we humans have left no stone unturned, trying all the ideas of the greatest philosophers, teachers and religions.

What’s missing? Surely by now we should have discovered the paths to contentment and harmony.

Change comes only when we begin to think radically differently, or, as the apostle Paul put it, when we are “transformed by the renewing of your mind.” Such renewal, he said, is revolutionary. It’s radical. It is based on proving “what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.”

Oh, we’ve already tried that, people say. Really? Actually, although He tells us what we need to do to transform our way of thinking and living, Jesus Himself said that most people—including the religious—have failed to really understand and do what He said!

Since we haven’t been able to change the world with our own ideas, maybe it’s time to take a fresh look at His. Your life can be better! Come behind the scenes with us and read the surprising truth about what God really says about how to transform your life!