Some believe that the blasphemy against the Holy Spirit is a verbal denial of Jesus Christ. In Matthew 12:31-32, which talks about the sin that will not be forgiven, it is true that some sort of denial is taking place by religious leaders who accuse Jesus of performing His miracles by the power of the devil.
Some believe that the religious leaders are actually denying Jesus, and that this is the unforgivable sin.
Further support for this view is sometimes found in the statement by Paul from 2 Timothy 2:12 where he writes, “If we deny Him, He will also deny us.”
Problems with this View
Yet there are numerous problems with the view that the unforgivable sin is denying Jesus Christ.
First, the concept of “denying Christ” is quite vague.
What constitutes a denial of Christ, and what does not? How would one know when they have denied Christ? Do they have to say the words, “I deny Christ”? Do words have to be spoken at all? Could denial be some sort of action or thought?
Second, the most famous example of someone who rejected and denied Christ is Peter.
Peter even used profanity and curses in denying any connection to Jesus Christ. Yet we know that he was forgiven by Jesus. If denial of Christ was the unpardonable sin, then certainly Peter was guilty of it, and yet we all fully expect to see Peter in heaven.
Third, while the passage in 2 Timothy 2:12 does say that God will deny us if we deny Him, it also says that if we are faithless, He remains faithful, for He cannot deny Himself.
In other words, whatever the denial of 2 Timothy 2:12 is, it is not taking eternal life from someone who already has it, for this would amount to God denying Himself, which He cannot do.
Fourth, denial of Christ doesn’t even fit the context here, since such a denial would be a blasphemy against Jesus, which He says will be forgiven.
If blasphemy is actually a form of denial (which I think it is), it would have to be against the Holy Spirit, not against Jesus Christ.
So in light of these four truths, denying Christ cannot be the unforgivable sin. If you have denied Christ, you are forgiven!
Do you fear that you have committed the Unforgivable Sin?
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Just started reading the book. Only 5 pages in and I TOTALLY agree with what you state. Peace!
So what is it then?
The issue with this sin is not so much what it is, but what it does. It causes the Holy Spirit to stop drawing you to Jesus. It is not really a one-time action or statement that you can do (or try to keep from doing). It is more of a long, stubborn rebellion in the same direction (away from the Holy Spirit is revealing to you).
I will explain more in future posts…
I kind of agree. We may even be saying the same things in different words. But I think the unforgivable sin is even a little more than what you say. Lucifer / Satan, as I understand it, can even be forgiven. The problem is, he fails to see the error of his ways or his pride is so large he refused to admit it. He is not forgiven because he simply does not repent and ask God for forgiveness. The unforgivable sin, to me anyway, is simply not to ask for or accept God’s forgiveness and failure to see, or let your pride be larger than, the damage your actions have caused and repent against them. You simply cannot be forgiven if you are not sorry and do not ask God for it. Beyond the Satan example, you also see this in the Parable of the Prodigal Son. The sin saw the error of his ways and very humbly went back to his Father, asking for his forgiveness, not demanding he get his old status back.
The problem with the Peter comment is that Peter didn’t have the holy spirit cause Christ hadn’t died he was still there Christ had to die to give us the spirit if u go ahead a little bit to when Peter is delivered up and asked if he knows Christ he says he does because the spirit can not deny itself because they are all 3 one and if you don’t believe in the Trinity then you don’t believe in God 1 John 5:7 says For there are three that bear record in heaven, the father, the word, and the holy ghost : and these three are one. So just cause Peter followed Christ doesn’t mean he was saved he had to have the Spirit to truly follow him which he didn’t get til the book of acts so using him denying Christ as an example that’s its ok is completely foolish because he didn’t have the holy spirit because the spirit is truth and why would it deny itself as being Christ think about that a little bit
Amen. God is faithful even when we are faithless.
The Unpardonable Sin is to refuse to believe in Jesus Christ when Holy Spirit falls and to call the Holy Spirit the devil (see the context of the unpardonable sin, Mark 3:21-30). The Pharisees were calling Jesus Bezeelbub, that His healings were from HaSatan (Satan). This is to blaspheme against Holy Spirit. I am of opinion this is not when we misjudge a charismatic event and call it evil, for elsewhere, “Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world,” (1 John 4:1), and “For false christs and false prophets will arise and perform great signs and wonders, so as to lead astray, if possible, even the elect.” (Matthew 24:24). Certainly Christ will not hold it against someone who judges something to be of a false spirit and is wrong. I believe Pharisees knew Jesus was moving in Holy Spirit, and yet called it Bezeelbub. To this day, Jews can feel Rouch HaKodesh (Holy Spirit), especially with us Christians. So I think Pharisees knew it was Spirit of God and still called it Satan, thus blaspheming the Holy Spirit.
“If blasphemy is actually a form of denial (which I think it is), it would have to be against the Holy Spirit, not against Jesus Christ.” …
As part of the trinity, to deny JC is to deny the Holy Spirit, as well as God. They are all the same, though manifested in different manner.
help my ocd makes me feel to blasphemy and also i’m sure i have about the spirit even as far as thinking evil of it i went too far thinking the being was evil he’s not
Me too!!
I’m confused it says they will be gossips conceited unholy haters of good without love self love people in the end times to stay away not even to receive them not even pray for them is that blasphemy then it says they hold firm to a godliness but deny its power but I thought blasphemy they don’t hold firm to any godliness but are not drawn by the spirit at all to wanna ask forgiveness even it says god is just and will forgive why I wish he would forgive all things his children suffer over that can’t change need to also it says if u can say Jesus is lord the holy spirit is with u right or u couldn’t even say those words please someone help I’ve been suffering
Then what is the unforgivable sin? In depth.
I am not sure if my longer comment to the article posted or not, but I believe the one unforgivable sin is simply to not repent against your actions, against your pride, and refuse to say you were wrong and simply not ask for nor accept His forgiveness. Sound like anyone we all know by more than one name? Think lower regions, perhaps THE lowest region, of Hell….