Biblical Answer

The Unforgivable Sin

The unforgivable sin, also known as the unpardonable sin, is a sin that will not be forgiven. Jesus warns that every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven (Mark 3:28-30). This sin involves refusing to acknowledge the presence of God's power in Jesus' ministry and perverting the truth about the origin of Jesus' power. When people commit this sin, they bring on themselves the impossibility of repentance and faith by their own hardness of heart.

The characteristics of the unforgivable sin are hardness of heart, refusal to acknowledge God's power, and perversion of the truth. Those who commit this sin are described as being "stumbling block" to others, causing them to stumble and fall away from the truth (Romans 11:11-12). The sin is also associated with a rejection of God's revelation and a refusal to acknowledge the necessity of personal redemption through Jesus Christ. In the book of Hebrews, it is described as a sin that involves "spurning the Son of God" and "profaning the blood of the covenant" (Hebrews 10:29).

Those who fear they have committed the unforgivable sin, but still have sorrow and desire to repent, have not committed it. The Bible teaches that when people come to God in repentance and faith, the blood of Jesus purifies them from all sin (1 John 1:7). The unforgivable sin is not a specific action, but rather a state of heart that refuses to acknowledge God's power and perverts the truth. It is a sin that involves great hardness of heart and a refusal to repent, and is therefore unforgivable. In contrast, minor sins such as lying, untruthfulness, and faithlessness are odious to God and should be repented of, but are forgivable through faith in Jesus Christ.