Blasphemy of The Holy Spirit
August, 1998
----- The Question -----
I have a question and I would really appreciate your help. I have
always been scared of religion. I am a Christian but I am so afraid of
failure. I have even thought I have committed the unpardonable sin or
that I will commit this sin. I want to be happy as a Christian. I
always try to do what is right. But, I have this fear about the
unpardonable sin. Please help me. Thank you.
----- Andy's Answer -----
I don't believe you can commit "the unpardonable sin" Hebrews 6:4-6
lists a few things that are required for it to be impossible to be
renewed. You have to have
a. been enlightened
b. tasted the heavenly gift
c. become partakers of the Holy Spirit
d. tasted the good word of God
e. tasted the powers of the age to come
If you think you have done these things and then fallen away, then I suppose
it's possible. Before you answer that though, consider this: each in this list
are something of a miraculous nature. It is not referring to those of us
who have simply repented and been baptized, but those who were in the first
century and were miraculously endowed with knowledge, given miraculous
insight to heaven, not simply given the gift of the Holy Spirit, but
immersed with the power of the Holy Spirit and able to do wondrous things
because of it, not simply heard the message of the gospel, but given special
abilities enabling the recipient to speak God's word without previous study
or preparation, like the Apostles did on the day of Pentecost in Acts 2.
Furthermore, the REASON why it is impossible to renew them is because
"they crucify again for themselves the Son of God, and put Him to an open shame."
In other words, what sacrifice is left? Hebrews 10:26 says it like this:
"For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth,
there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins,"
Now, what that means to us is that we must strive to never sin. However,
1 John 2:1-2 tells us not to sin, "but if we sin, we have an advocate
with the Father." Why would he tell us not to sin, then give us an out for sin?
Because he wants to forgive us and he wants us to be forgiven and knowing our
tendencies, we will make mistakes.
1 John 5:16 refers to a "sin unto death."
My understanding of that would be ANY sin for which there is total impenitence
and unbelief. A person who "wants to do right" will have no problem with a penitent
heart. So have no fear; do what you can, not what you can't. Love God and
trust He will take care of the sin problem. No matter how hard we try, we will never be able to handle
it.
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