For decades, the concept of an "unpardonable sin" has attracted the attention of Bible students. All recognize this as one of religion's difficult matters. There are many different suppositions concerning the sin against the Holy Spirit. Many believe it is possible to commit a sin that can never be forgiven.

In this lesson, our main purpose will be to deal with the Bible teaching concerning blasphemy against the Holy Spirit. Can we commit this sin today? I don't claim to know all of the answers, or to be able to solve all of the problems and controversies. I will provide biblical authority for what I do say.

Blasphemy is from the Greek words "blapto," which means "to hurt," and "phemi," which means "to speak." Therefore, to blaspheme means to speak to hurt, to speak against, to speak irreverently, impiously, to profane, or to speak evil of good. In blasphemy, there is always the idea of hurt or injury; the speaker intends to harm, or to speak evil of, his subject.

When one attempts to injure through speech, either written or oral, God or any divine person, that individual is guilty of blasphemy. Under Old Testament law, the sin of blasphemy was considered one of the most grievous. If blasphemy could be proven, the guilty person received the death penalty.

Speaking against the revealed attributes of God, Christ, or the Holy Spirit is blasphemy. To rail upon, reject, misrepresent, and pervert the words or works of the Holy Spirit is blasphemy against the Holy Spirit.

Two of the gospel writers (Matthew 12:22-32; Mark 3:22-30) record the account of the Pharisees' blasphemy against the Holy Spirit. We will look at three different positions concerning the Pharisees' sin against the Holy Spirit.

The first position is that the blasphemy of the Pharisees was a sin that only the Jews of Christ's day could commit. This position says that these Jews did commit an "unpardonable" or eternal sin (Mark 3:29), and that there was no forgiveness. The Pharisees saw an irrefutable miracle, yet because of their prejudice and their intense hatred for Christ, they willfully attributed His miracles to the devil's power. Thus, they blasphemed the Holy Spirit, who assisted Christ in His miracles. This position says that this sin cannot be committed today, because no one today can see the miracles of Christ performed.

The second position concerning blasphemy of the Holy Spirit is that it is truly an "unpardonable" or eternal sin that cannot be forgiven in this world or the world to come. Those who take this position believe that people today should be careful not to commit this sin lest they be damned eternally. This position says there is one sin that cannot be forgiven today, and that it is blasphemy of the Holy Spirit.

The third position states that mankind today can blaspheme any member of the Godhead, including the Holy Spirit, but all sins shall be forgiven the sons of men. If one is truly penitent, no matter how shameful his transgressions, he need not despair. Peter says, "The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some count slackness; but is long suffering to youward, not wishing that any should perish, but wishing that any should come to repentance." (2 Peter 3 :9 ASV) God does not want to see anyone lost. He is willing to save all who will repent. There is no sin God will not forgive. "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." (1 John 1:9 ASV) Oftentimes, men refuse to repent. There is no forgiveness of sins for those who are not penitent.

The problem with the Pharisees in Matthew 12 was the condition of their hearts. They had, by rejecting Christ and his miracles, committed a deliberate and overt act of sin. The Pharisees willingly and deliberately, in spite of all the evidence to the contrary, affirmed that Jesus was expelling demons by the power of Satan. If a person today willfully rejects the Holy Spirit's power and teachings, he cannot be saved in this world or the world to come. However, those who are willing to repent and accept the gospel can be saved from their sins (Romans 1:16-17).

Many today are deeply concerned about the "unpardonable sin." The only "unpardonable" sin is the sin of which one does not repent before God. God is, and has always been, willing to forgive man's sin, if man will truly repent and turn back to God. Oftentimes, men refuse to repent. There is no forgiveness of sins for the individual who refuses to make correction in his life. This was the attitude of the Pharisees of Christ's day.

What is the sin that results in certain and hopeless death? This is a sin similar to blasphemy against the Holy Spirit. We cannot pray that those brothers or sisters in Christ who once knew the truth, enjoyed the blessings of Christ, and then willfully rejected Christ and his teachings, might be saved in their current condition. If one rejects the Holy Spirit and his teachings, there is no other way to be saved. Therefore, one has committed a "Sin unto death."

This is a sin committed with a high hand and in open violation and contempt for the words spoken by the Holy Spirit. Sinning willfully puts us in the same class as those who reject the Holy Spirit. The one who sins willfully shuts himself off from the grace and mercy of God that may be enjoyed through the Holy Spirit and the word of God. When a man becomes so hardened that he rejects the Spirit's invitations, warnings, and admonitions, he places himself on the road that leads to perdition. If we reject Christ's teachings, there is no other means of salvation.