When the Unforgivable Sin Brings Salvation
[27] But no one can enter a strong man’s house and plunder his goods, unless he first binds the strong man. Then indeed he may plunder his house.
[28] “Truly, I say to you, all sins will be forgiven the children of man, and whatever blasphemies they utter, [29] but whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness, but is guilty of an eternal sin”—[30] for they were saying, “He has an unclean spirit.”
Mark 3:27–30 ESV Read More
I used to meet men on a regular basis that had a hopelessness about them. At some point, we would get into a deep conversation about religion and they would bring up this verse. At least four men have told me that they are hopeless and going to hell because of this verse. Somehow they were interpreting this verse (probably because of the subtitle above it in some bibles) as the unforgivable sin and they felt that they had committed it.
This unforgivable sin isn’t mentioned in the context of the ten commandments or in the context of law. The context is a bunch of people trying to figure out where Jesus’ power comes from. After seeing the miracles, the demons cast out, and hearing the amazing teaching from a man that is a friend to sinners, the Pharisees can only deduce that Jesus must have a powerful demon. Instead of receiving and learning that Jesus might be the Son of God, they refuse to allow any such thought and say that He has an unclean or evil spirit.
Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life, no one comes to the Father except by me.” If we believe in our hearts and acknowledge that Jesus is the Son of God, we will be saved. We can do that even after all sorts of sins and blasphemies. If in the end, we deny that Jesus died for our sins, then we do not get the judgment transfer He offers. Instead, we receive the due punishment for our sins and we’ll be separated from God forever.
By faith in Christ, we are saved and forgiven. It’s the only thing in the whole universe that only applies to you if you believe it’s true. That’s why Hebrews encourages us:
Hebrews 3:13 [13] But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called “today,” that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.
And Paul says that any day is a great day to be saved:
2 Corinthians 6:2 [2] For he says, “In a favorable time I listened to you, and in a day of salvation I have helped you.”
Behold, now is the favorable time; behold, now is the day of salvation.
As long as you are thinking about salvation, you can still be forgiven. (I’ll have to save some deathbed miracle stories for another day!) The unforgivable sin is the one that won’t believe in or accept the forgiveness Jesus offers because in His mercy, He won’t force us to believe in Him. God promises that we’ll find whatever we seek, and He loves us enough to give us the freedom to seek things besides Him.
Today can be the day of salvation for any one of us. Even as we grow in faith, we can be renewed every day by the promise of what our salvation will continue to bring until and through the Day of the Lord.
Epilogue: One of those four guys came back to me one day and said he got it; he realized that Jesus would still forgive everything he ever did. He was one of the toughest dudes ever and he had tears as he thanked me for explaining that to him. His wife called me earlier this year and asked me to perform his funeral. I told this story and even more people were moved that Jesus would still forgive them! Jesus Saves!
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