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Have I committed the Unforgivable Sin?

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Most Christians have wondered at one time or another if they have committed the unforgivable sin.

I remember being terrified as a child that I had committed some unknown sin which would separate me eternally from God, and so several times a day, I would ask God to forgive me of all known and unknown sins, and would once again ask God to save me and give me eternal life. I was scared that I had committed a sin which was unforgivable.

What bad things had I possibly done as a youth? Nothing too serious. I fought with my siblings, stole candy from the supermarket, and disobeyed my parents.

But there were a few particular sins which terrified me most. They were terrible and I hesitate even to write them here, as I have never told anyone about them before. But to show you that I too have struggled with the unforgivable sin, let me share one of my more terrible sins.

Unforgivable Sin

My Most Terrible Sin

As a teenager, I remember kneeling at my bed late one night, and praying to Satan that he would come into my heart.

This is a terrible thing to pray for, but let me explain my rationale. I had been told as a child that one became a Christian by asking Jesus into their heart, which I had done. In fact, as I indicated above, I had done this numerous times.

But one day, someone told me that God was stronger than Satan, and once Jesus was in your heart, nothing could remove Him; not even Satan.

So I decided to test it.

I once prayed to Satan that he would enter my heart.

I also prayed that if he was successful, he would make me the antichrist.

I figured that if I was going to go down in flames, I might as well make it count.

I remember waiting for something to feel different, but nothing seemed to change, and so I decided that Jesus must have been successful in keeping Satan out of my heart.

Have I Committed the Unforgivable Sin?

Nevertheless, even though I did not feel Satan enter my heart, for many years afterwards I had an unshakable fear that maybe Satan had been successful, and since he was the great deceiver, I would not know that he ruled my heart until I actually became the antichrist. So I began to pray night and day that God would keep me from becoming the antichrist. One of my greatest fears at that time was that I would grow up to be God’s greatest enemy on earth.

You can imagine that among the theories on what the unpardonable sin is, one of the top contenders is asking Satan to kick Jesus out of your heart and take up residence there himself so that you can become the antichrist. If there is any unforgivable sin, this is it.

If anyone has committed the unforgivable sin, it is me.

If I had gone for counseling from a pastor who warns others about the unforgivable sin, I believe he would have told me I was doomed forever; that there was no forgiveness for me.

In fact, such a pastor would probably also say that since I committed the unpardonable sin, what I write in these posts about the unpardonable sin is not from God, but is the heresy of a reprobate heart darkened by Satan’s lies.

I hope that after you read these posts, you will feel differently.

I hope that you will come to see how much God loves you and forgives you. I have seen this for myself, and frankly, I cannot imagine how it would benefit Satan to teach others that God is loving and forgiving.

I hope that these posts will help you determine for yourself — in the light of Scripture and through the guidance of the Holy Spirit — that you also have not committed the unforgivable sin.

The content of these posts contain some of the things I have learned over the years about the unforgivable sin, and how I gained freedom and deliverance from my sins of the past. Like me, I trust that as you also will come to to an understanding of God’s infinite love, grace, and forgiveness.

Do you fear that you have committed the Unforgivable Sin?

Fear not! You are forgiven. You are loved.

Fill out the form below to receive several emails from me which explains how you can know that you are loved and forgiven by God.

(Note: If you are a member of RedeemingGod.com, login and then revisit this page to update your membership.)

 

Are you afraid of the Unforgivable Sin? Don’t be. You have NOT committed it!

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Most Christians have wondered at one time or another if they have committed the unforgivable sin. Have you?

If this is your fear, be encouraged. You have not committed the unforgivable sin.

You are not eternally damned.

You are not forsaken by God.

You are not hated by God.

You are not outside the bounds of His love and grace.

Quite to the contrary, you are loved by God more than you possibly know.

unforgivable sin

You are forgiven. You are accepted. God loves you!

When I first became a pastor, the very first counseling session I had was with a member of my church who was afraid they had committed the unpardonable sin.

I had personally struggled with fear about this sin in my own life, but I sort of thought that I was alone in this struggle. As I talked with this church member, I clearly remember feeling a sense of relief that I was not alone in being afraid about this sin. There were two of us!

A month later, a high-school student in the church asked me about this sin. He was angry with God and said some things to God that he regretted. He wanted to know if he was now doomed to hell.

Then I received an email from a single mother in the church who had gotten pregnant out of wedlock. Twice. The first pregnancy had been aborted. Someone told her that she was now a murderer and God would never forgive her. She wanted to know if that was true.

I began to see that fear about committing a sin that God would never forgive was a common fear in the lives of other people. So I decided to preach a sermon about the Unpardonable Sin, and what I believed the Scriptures taught about God’s love and forgiveness for us – no matter what we say or do.

To this day, this sermon on the Unforgivable Sin is still my most popular sermon on this website, and I get weekly emails from people all over the world who are afraid they have committed the unforgivable sin and want to know if God still loves them and if there is hope for them.

I do not know if you struggle with fear about the unpardonable sin. But if not, I guarantee that you know people who do. They may not express this fear to you, but there are people in your life who have done something they fear God will never forgive.

If you are afraid you committed the unforgivable sin, I have created a short series of emails you can receive about this sin (You can sign up below).

These emails explain what this sin is (and is not) and how to know that you have not committed it.

Even if you do not personally struggle with fear about this sin, you might want to get these emails anyway, since you almost certainly will encounter somebody who is afraid of it, and it would be helpful for you to have a way to encourage them and give them hope about God’s love and forgiveness.

In this series of emails on the Unforgivable Sin, I show why you have not committed this sin, and you can know that you have not committed it.

If you struggle with fear about committing the unforgivable sin, this free series of emails is for you.

This series of posts begins by surveying the various views about the unforgivable sin, which is also called “blasphemy against the Holy Spirit.” This survey includes an examination of Matthew 12:31-32 so that we can understand what Jesus meant when He talked about the unforgivable sin.

The most common theories about the unpardonable sin (also called the unforgivable sin) include the sins of adultery, divorce, murder, and even cursing the Holy Spirit. None of these are the unforgivable sin.

Not even suicide is the unforgivable sin.

While many churches and pastors teach that those who commit since like those listed above can never be forgiven, this series of posts reveals that all such sins are forgivable by God.

If you have committed adultery, you are forgiven!

If you got a divorce, you are forgiven!

If you had an abortion, you are forgiven!

If a friend of yours committed suicide, this does not mean they automatically went to hell.

If you are afraid that you blasphemed the Holy Spirit, do not worry — God has already forgiven you for whatever you said or whatever you did.

Even if you cursed God, cursed the Holy Spirit, or said some terrible things to them, God still loves you and still forgives you.

Yes, it is true… There is a sin in the Bible which is “unpardonable.” Yes, the Bible talks about a sin which cannot be forgiven.

But there is so much bad teaching in the church about what this sin is, how it is committed, and whether or not there is hope for those who commit this sin, but you do not need to worry about committing it.

Some churches teach that there are seven unforgivable sins in the Bible, or that there is one thing you can say which will cause God to hate you forever, or that if you have done something terrible in your past there is no hope for your eternal soul.

All such teachings are unhealthy! They do not reflect the heart of God, His great love for you, or the infinite forgiveness He has provided to you in the person and work of Jesus Christ.

If there is a sin you have committed which you think is unforgivable, or which makes you think God does not love you, or makes you feel like you cannot be forgiven, do not worry any longer. This series of emails will give you hope for your future and reveal to you the infinite love, grace, and mercy of God for you.

In the end, you will learn that you have not committed the unforgivable sin.

If you fear you have committed the unforgivable sin, or if you simply want to learn what this sin is (and is not), sign up below to receive a series of free emails about this sin.

Do you fear that you have committed the Unforgivable Sin?

Fear not! You are forgiven. You are loved.

Fill out the form below to receive several emails from me which explains how you can know that you are loved and forgiven by God.

(Note: If you are a member of RedeemingGod.com, login and then revisit this page to update your membership.)

 

What is Theology?

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People often hear pastors and Bible teachers talk about theology, but they want to know, “What is theology?”

Well, here is one definition of theology:

What is theology?

Did that definition of theology help any?

I didn’t think so.

If you are like me, you are probably more confused (and bored) now than you were before you read that definition of theology. If you are asking, “What is theology?” the only thing you really learned from that definition of theology above is that theology is confusing and boring. But take heart, theology doesn’t have have to be this way.

When properly taught, theology is not confusing and is never be boring. When properly studied, theology sets the heart on fire and opens up the mind to imagination and wonder. Let me show you how.

What is Theology?

Here at Till He Comes, my goal is to Bring Scripture and Theology to Life. I not only desire to write about these subjects in ways that are interesting and engaging, but also write about them in a way which shows how they affect your life right now.

So when people ask, “What is theology?” I not only seek to answer the question and provide a definition of theology that makes sense, but also to show how theology matters and how it makes a difference in your life today.

What is theology? Here is the basic definition of theology: Theology literally means “the study of God.”

But theology is so much more than that. When theology is truly studied, it ushers you into a deep relationship with God. Theology is not simply the study of God, but an interaction with God, a conversation with Him and with others about the deep mysteries of divinity. Theology is thinking God’s thoughts after Him. It is tracing the mind and heart of God, and learning to see the world through the eyes of God.

What is theology? Theology is entering into a lifelong conversation with God about Himself, ourselves, and how He wants to live life with us.

What is theology? Theology is learning to make God your best friend.

That sounds more exciting than the boring definition of theology provided in the image above, right?

Learning Theology

I suppose my answer to the question, “What is theology?” needs some examples.  If theology is ultimately an adventure with God, then theology cannot really be taught, but must be experienced. However, learning theology is the first step in experiencing theology. So below I provide some basic instruction about theology, the various categories of theology, and some of my own thoughts about theology.

You may notice by looking through the posts below that this is a work in progress. But that again is a truth about theology. When we ask, “What is theology?” we cannot expect to learn theology in an afternoon. Learning theology is a life-long process, which I believe will be continued in eternity. Just as God is infinite, so learning about God requires infinity.

In the post below, I seek to answer the question “What is theology?” by sharing with you some of what I have learned about theology over the years, and by asking some of the questions I still have.

There are two types of posts below. Some contain summaries of my seminary class notes. I know this might sound boring, but I do my best to summarize them in an interesting way.

However, after I summarize my notes, it is then that things really get lively. I take the theology I was taught, and then challenge, question, and critique it in a way I was not able to do in seminary (at least, not if I wanted to graduate).

Eventually, there will be hundreds of posts on this page, so you may want to Subscribe to the Blog so that you get new posts as they are published.

The posts are divided into the traditional categories of Systematic Theology:

What is theology? Click on a link to jump to that section of the page
|  Introduction  |  Bibliology  |  Theology Proper  |  Anthropology  |  Hamartiology  |  Christology  |  Soteriology  |  Pneumatology  |  Ecclesiology  |  Eschatology  |  Angelology  |


What is Theology

Introduction to Theology


Bibliology

Bibliology

Theology Proper

Anthropology

Hamartiology

Christology

Soteriology

Pneumatology

Ecclesiology

Eschatology

Angelology

Books that Help with the “What is Theology?” Question

If you are eager to learn more about theology and cannot wait for me to finish the posts above, here are a few theology books that I recommend which will help answer your questions about theology. If you still want to know “What is theology?” the books below will help.

If you have any questions about theology you want me to answer, please out the form below, and I will try to answer it in a future blog post.

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    If I answer this question on my Redeeming God Podcast, can I use your name or should I keep you anonymous?

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    What is Blasphemy Against the Holy Spirit?

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    blasphemy against the Holy Spirit I receive a lot of emails and Google search hits about blasphemy against the Holy Spirit and the unpardonable sin.

    One of the more popular search strings has been “Is adultery the unpardonable sin?”

    Let me answer that question quickly:

    NO. Adultery is not the Unpardonable Sin

    And while I’m at it, neither is suicide.

    But please, don’t do either of these things. If you are thinking about doing either, and fear of hell is the only thing keeping you from doing it, please contact me through the contact form on my About page.

    Here is a link to a short paper I wrote on the subject:  The Unpardonable Sin and Blasphemy against the Holy Spirit. Below is an excerpt from this paper:

    If you, or your friend or relative is not a Christian [and are worrying about having committed the sin], then be encouraged. Almost nobody who commits the blasphemy against the Spirit wonders if they have. They don’t care about such things anymore. The unbeliever who commits this sin has become so morally and spiritually blind that their heart is hardened to the point that they no longer care about spiritual things and will never believe in Jesus.

    But nevertheless, some people are afraid they have. To them, I would simply say, “Worrying about it pretty much proves that you haven’t. So in order to make sure you never will be able to, believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved. Whatever sin you may have committed, you are still being convicted by it, which is good. God’s grace will cover over that sin, and all other sins if you will just believe in Jesus for eternal life.”

    Are you afraid of committing blasphemy against the Holy Spirit or the unpardonable sin? Don’t be.

    God isn’t out to get you, or set traps in your way so He can shout in triumphant glee, “Aha! Another one who will never experience my grace! Off to hell you go!”

    No.

    That is not the God of the Bible. That is not what Jesus was teaching in Matthew 12:31-32. That is not the message of Hebrews 6:1-8. God’s grace and what Jesus accomplished on the cross is greater than anything you can say or do. It is only when you come to understand the perfect love of God that all fear vanishes and you can start living for God out of love for Him, rather than fear about Him.

    So what is the Unpardonable Sin or the Blasphemy Against the Holy Spirit? I have a series of about 20 emails that shares more:

    Do you fear that you have committed the Unforgivable Sin?

    Fear not! You are forgiven. You are loved.

    Fill out the form below to receive several emails from me which explains how you can know that you are loved and forgiven by God.

    (Note: If you are a member of RedeemingGod.com, login and then revisit this page to update your membership.)

     

    Crucifixion – The Spiritual Suffering of Jesus

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    Aside from the great physical suffering and pain that Jesus went through, He also experienced great spiritual suffering.
    Olive Tree

    In the Garden

    The first hint we get that Jesus went through spiritual agony is revealed in a physical manifestation. Jesus, on the night of His arrest, went to the Garden of Gethsemane to pray, “And He took with Him Peter and James and John, and began to be very distressed and troubled. And He said to them, “My soul is deeply grieved to the point of death…” (Matthew 26:37-38).

    Interestingly, “Gethsemane” means olive press. Near the garden was an olive grove, and it was probably in this garden that the olive oil was pressed out of the olives. It is here that Jesus prays for God to let this cup pass from Him. He prays so fervently, and is in such deep anguish, that drops of blood came out of His skin. He was being pressed like an olive. Physicians tell us that this is entirely possible when a person is under extreme amounts of stress and pressure.

    Bearing Sin on the Cross

    Jesus sufferingThough we can never know the spiritual agony that Jesus experienced on the cross, we see hints of it in what He says. For example, His fifth statement from the cross is “My God, My God, Why have you forsaken me?” Jesus, as the second person of the Trinity, has had constant fellowship with God the Father for all eternity. What must it have been like for Him now to have that relationship severed and broken? What must it have felt like for Jesus when our sin separated Him from God? Our sin broke the eternal fellowship of the Godhead!

    Whereas always before, Jesus had always prayed to God as “My Father,” He now referred to Him as “My God” the way other humans did. Sin had now separated Jesus from God. Where for eternity past there had been warm fellowship and a loving relationship, there was now only broken fellowship, a sense of deep and agonizing loss, a hopeless despair, and the blackness of depravity.

    Being the sinners that we are, I think we do not understand the pain that this caused Jesus. We were born in sin, and are numb to it, and do not fully know that deep and intimate connection with God that we were made for. But even then, many of us experience deep guilt and regret over things that we have done. And yet few of us are murderers or rapists.

    Imagine now being Jesus, never having sinned, never having known the pain and fear of guilt, never having felt hate or lust, now having the torrential flood of all the sins of the whole world placed upon Him in a few short hours. Every bad thought that has ever been thought, every adulterous affair, every hateful word, every act of theft or bribery, every whisper of gossip, every murder, every profanity, every act of disloyalty to wife, husband, or boss, every disobedient act of children toward their mother, father, or teacher –- all sin, of all the world, of all time was placed on Jesus Christ all at once.

    Jesus took it all. He who had never experienced the pain of sin, took it all at once in a torrential downpour. It was beyond anything we can describe or understand.

    But at least it was only for a few hours, right? Wrong.

    The Eternality of Jesus

    We’re going to delve into a little theology here.

    Jesus, being God, is eternal. If we understand eternality correctly, then there are aspects of Jesus which are outside of time, and therefore, experience time not in a sequence, but in a constant “now.” This means that whatever Jesus experienced on the cross, He is always experiencing this in some sense. While it seems to us that Jesus only spent a few hours on the cross, in His experience, He is on the cross forever.

    Of course, Jesus is not just experiencing His suffering on the cross, but also His death and victorious resurrection.

    Suffering in the Grave

    Lake of FireScholars widely disagree about what happened to Jesus after He died. Some believe He spent three days in hell. But based on a variety of reasons, I don’t believe so. Among other reasons, He told the thief on the cross, “Today you will be with me in paradise.” At most, Jesus went to a place called “Abraham’s Bosom.” There is also a whole study that could be done tracing the steps of the High Priest on the Day of Atonement, which I think Jesus followed in the “heavenly” temple.

    So when we speak of Christ as spending three days in the grave, it was actually His body that was in the grave while He was spiritually in heaven before God presenting His sacrifice. After three days, He rejoined His body and rose from the dead. This, of course is what happens to all Christians as well. When we die, we spiritually go to heaven. Our bodies remain behind until the resurrection.

    So while I don’t believe Jesus suffered in hell, this still does not diminish the great spiritual suffering that Jesus experienced as a result of taking on all the sins of all people in all the world throughout all history. But how thankful we can be that He did so, for it was only in this way that we can receive the righteousness of God (2 Cor 5:21).

    The cross of Jesus is CENTRAL to everything!

    Transform your life and theology by focusing on the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus:

    Fill out the form below to receive several emails from me about the death and resurrection of Jesus.

    (Note: If you are a member of RedeemingGod.com, login and then revisit this page to update your membership.)

    God is Redeeming Theology Bible & Theology Topics: , , , , , , ,

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