Unforgivable Sin

My sister-in-Christ sent me an email asking for an explanation of Matthew 12:31-32 in which Jesus talked to the stubborn, ignorant and hardened-hearted group of people about "Unforgivable Sin". Instead of answering directly to her, I thought I'd share the questions I receive via email in my blog so that everyone may see them and share in them.

They just witnessed a miracle of a demon-possessed, blind and mute man. Jesus healed him so that he could both talk and see. (Matthew 12:22-23) We talked about this a couple weeks ago during our Wednesday night class with our intern, Brian Baell. It was a good class and we discussed alot of things surrounding this topic. A valuable lesson cannot be missed and you just never know what you're missing out week by week. Allow me to show you the Scripture:

"And so I tell you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven. Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man (Jesus) 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." Matthew 12:31-32 (niv)

While there are so many explanation from this Scripture, I found this one a good explanation of this Scripture... It was written by Gary Colvin from Colorado:

"Most of us have heard about the "unforgivable sin." A few are even concerned that they might be guilty of it. Jesus introduced the idea of such a sin 2,000 years ago when He said: 'so I tell you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven... either in this age or in the age to come.' (Matthew 12:31-32)

Jesus spoke these ominous words to a group of hardened unbelievers who had just witnessed Him work a great miracle. Christ had instantly healed a man who was hopelessly blind and mute. Not even the unbelievers could deny the miracle, but they tried to discredit Jesus by attributing his miraculous power to Satan.

The Holy Spirit empowered Jesus to work miracles, but when the obstinate unbelievers attributed that power to Satan, they crossed the line of Divine Tolerance. They committed the only unforgivable sin mentioned in the Scripture.

That terrible sin cannot be committed today. Jesus no longer walks on earth working such miracles, and humans no longer see His miracles and attribute them to Satan. In fact, the age of such miracles ended with the passing of the apostles of Christ.

Blind unbelief still abounds in the world, but every sin is forgivable if we repent and come to Jesus. Humans are capable of terrible sins, but no sin is greater than Christ's ability to forgive. The grace and atoning sacrifice of the Savior of mankind is more powerful than any human sin."

"Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool." Isaiah 1:18

Thanks, sis!!