Is There an Unforgiveable Sin?

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Matthew 12:30-32
30 “Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters. 31 And so I tell you, every kind of sin and slander can be forgiven, but blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven. 32 Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but anyone who speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come.

 Jesus makes an interesting statement today.  He says, "Anyone who speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven either in this age or the age to come."  Why does he mean by this?  Is there a unforgiveable sin?

 First, we must say there is no "unforgiveable sin" in the sense that Jesus' death on the cross did not cover it.  If there were certain sins that were not forgiveable, then Jesus did not death on the cross did not defeat the power of sin and the devil.  So what does he mean then? 

 Here is one commentators' explanation,

 "Yet true blasphemy against the Spirit is more than a formula of words; it is a settled disposition of life that rejects the testimony of the Holy Spirit regarding Jesus."

 Second, logically it could follow that they only sin that is not forgiveable is the one that is never recognized as sin.  One of the primary purposes of the Holy Spirit is to convict us of our sin.  In fact the bible teaches that without the Holy Spirit we cannot come to know Christ.  If we could come to Christ by our own decision apart from the Holy Spirit, it would be our work not God's divine work in us.  But the Holy Spirit does call us, enlighten us and empower us with the Spirit's gifts.  

 When Jesus healed in this chapter the Pharisees rejected the healing.  They even called him a demon because he delivered a man from demon possession.  They could not see or believe in Jesus because they blasphemed the Holy Spirit as the Spirit worked through Jesus.  Miracles didn't cause people come to Christ, but through the Holy Spirit they drew people to believe Jesus was the Son of God.

 The passage is a reminder of the importance of the third person of the Holy Trinity.  Once the Holy Spirit leads us to Christ through the gospel, the Holy Spirit resides in our hearts and lives.  Yet, we can quench the Spirit and not allow the Spirit to lead us in our daily lives.  Paul says the only way we can lead the life God wants us to live is by the power of the Holy Spirit.  Simply said, the Holy Spirit leads us to Christ and then leads us the rest of our lives.  

 The Holy Spirit never leads us or guides us to do something contrary to what the bible teaches.  The Holy Spirit uses God's Word to guide us into all truth.  Blaspheming the Holy Spirit is dangerous to both the unbeliever and the believer.  Be sensitive to the Holy Spirit's still, small voice in your life.  The Holy Spirt is God's gift to us.  Let's use it!


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