Blasphemy Against The Holy Spirit An Unforgivable Sin?

[rjohnson741]

The believers in eternal torment use Matthew 12:31-32 as one of their proof text to show that blasphemy against the Holy Spirit is the one sin that God will never forgive or pardon, hence they say everyone will not be saved. But is this true? Let's look at Matthew 12:31-32 again. Matthew 12:31-32 makes four statements, with each statement being separated by a comma, period or semi-colon depending on which Bible translation you are using. Here are those four statements:

STATEMENT 1---Every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men.

STATEMENT 2---Blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven.

STATEMENT 3---Whoever says a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven.

STATEMENT 4---Whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this AGE or in the AGE to come.

All four of these statements are of course Biblically true since they are straight from the word of God. But on the face of it, statements 1 and 2 seem to contradict each other. Statement 1 says all sins will be forgiven, but statement 2 says blasphemy against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven. Of course the Bible doesn't contradict itself, so let's harmonize statements 1 and 2: Statement 4 is the statement that qualifies statement 2. The sin of blasphemy against the Holy Spirit WILL NOT be forgiven for at least 2 AGES After that, the sin of blasphemy against the Holy Spirit will be forgiven. This sin WILL be forgiven then because of STATEMENT 1--Every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men. Also here's something else to consider: Matthew 12:31-32 says whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit WILL NOT BE FORGIVEN. That scripture does not say whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit WILL NEVER BE FORGIVEN. NOT and NEVER do not mean the same thing. Case in point: A parent punishes their child for disobedience. As punishment, the child WILL NOT get dessert. Does this mean the child WILL NEVER AGAIN get dessert? Of course not. The parent qualifies this punishment by saying the child will not get dessert either TODAY or THE NEXT DAY. The child WILL NOT get dessert for TWO DAYS. After the child's punishment is complete, the child will then get dessert. I welcome your critiques and comments. Blessings.

[micah7:9]

 :dsunny:

[jabcat]

yes, and I personally believe the first age was the age before the cross (given the context/timing of Jesus' statement), and the age to come is this current age.   :2c:

[eaglesway]

I see it a lil different (surprise ;o) I see that there is no forgiveness of blasphemy of the Holy Spirit in THIS age (the age of the advent of Christ from first advent to second advent) or in THE AGE TO COME(millenial reign/judgment age). After that, I believe there WILL BE NO BLASPHEMY OF THE HOLY SPIRIT TO FORGIVE, God will have sufficiently subjected all men and angels that such a thing just will not occur.

[rjohnson741]

I see it a lil different (surprise ;o) I see that there is no forgiveness of blasphemy of the Holy Spirit in THIS age (the age of the advent of Christ from first advent to second advent) or in THE AGE TO COME(millenial reign/judgment age). After that, I believe there WILL BE NO BLASPHEMY OF THE HOLY SPIRIT TO FORGIVE, God will have sufficiently subjected all men and angels that such a thing just will not occur.

I see it a lil different (surprise ;o) I see that there is no forgiveness of blasphemy of the Holy Spirit in THIS age (the age of the advent of Christ from first advent to second advent) or in THE AGE TO COME(millenial reign/judgment age). After that, I believe there WILL BE NO BLASPHEMY OF THE HOLY SPIRIT TO FORGIVE, God will have sufficiently subjected all men and angels that such a thing just will not occur.

I believe we are in agreement here. Matthew 12:31-32 clearly says the sin of blasphemy against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven for at least two ages or eons. And as you say, those two ages or eons seem to be the age we're living in now and the Millienial Age. After that the sin will be forgiven so God can become All in all at the Consummation(1Corinthians 15:22-28). Blessings to you.

[jabcat]

In re-reading your post John and rl's follow-up, I think I'm seeing that we probably just have a different view of the ages, i.e., when one ends and another begins.  It seems you're seeing Jesus' statement of "this age"as being from Christ's earthly birth until His return, and then the "age to come as the millineum.  Whereas I see it as the age of Law to the cross as Jesus' statement of "this age", then from the cross until His return being "the age to come".  My understanding is that until the cross they were still in the age of Law (with that age of Law unquestionably completely obliterated when Israel was judged and the temple was destroyed in 70 AD). 

Either way, I guess whichever ages we think are being discussed, the main point is this - "never is no part of the original Greek."  :Peace2:


I found this from TM Bible Threatenings Explained -   "The popular impression that 'the world to come" here means the life after death is an error.

Dr. Clarke well observes: "Though I follow the common translation, yet I am fully satisfied the meaning of the words is, neither in this [age], viz., the Jewish, nor in that which is to come. Olam ha-bo, the world to come, is a constant phrase for the times of the Messiah, in the Jewish writers."

Wakefield, Rosenmuller and Hammond also give the same opinion. And it should be added that the word "never" is no part of the original Greek. That is, not under either age (aion--mistranslated "world"), will this inexcusable sin be less than the greatest of transgressions.

Bishop Pearce declares: "The Greek word aion seems to signifyage here, as it often does in the New Testament (see Matt. xiii:40; xxiv 3; Col. i:26; Eph. iii:5,21) and according to its most proper signification. If this be so, then 'this age' means the Jewish one, and 'the age to come' (see Hebrews vi:5 and Eph. ii:7) means .. Christian [age]."
about
Again though, either view believes it is ultimately forgiven :gimmefive: (although our timing may differ somewhere around 33-1000 years).   :wink2:

[ded2daworld]

AND... a slight monkey wrench
It seems to me from scripture that the first age was Adam to the flood (Peter says "the world that then was") 2nd age was flood to Christ,
third age is Christ till Christ return - and we have no idea how many "ages" are to come though it is apparent the "age" lasts at least 1,000 years - or has in the past. I believe each age will be different as I don't believe we will be sitting on clouds playin harps for all eternity or even being inactive or relaxing. I've been retired 2 months now and am already thinking of going back to work to keep from going crazy(er)

[rjohnson741]

In re-reading your post John and rl's follow-up, I think I'm seeing that we probably just have a different view of the ages, i.e., when one ends and another begins.  It seems you're seeing Jesus' statement of "this age"as being from Christ's earthly birth until His return, and then the "age to come as the millineum.  Whereas I see it as the age of Law to the cross as Jesus' statement of "this age", then from the cross until His return being "the age to come".  My understanding is that until the cross they were still in the age of Law (with that age of Law unquestionably completely obliterated when Israel was judged and the temple was destroyed in 70 AD). 

Either way, I guess whichever ages we think are being discussed, the main point is this - "never is no part of the original Greek."  :Peace2:


I found this from TM Bible Threatenings Explained -   "The popular impression that 'the world to come" here means the life after death is an error.

Dr. Clarke well observes: "Though I follow the common translation, yet I am fully satisfied the meaning of the words is, neither in this [age], viz., the Jewish, nor in that which is to come. Olam ha-bo, the world to come, is a constant phrase for the times of the Messiah, in the Jewish writers."

Wakefield, Rosenmuller and Hammond also give the same opinion. And it should be added that the word "never" is no part of the original Greek. That is, not under either age (aion--mistranslated "world"), will this inexcusable sin be less than the greatest of transgressions.

Bishop Pearce declares: "The Greek word aion seems to signifyage here, as it often does in the New Testament (see Matt. xiii:40; xxiv 3; Col. i:26; Eph. iii:5,21) and according to its most proper signification. If this be so, then 'this age' means the Jewish one, and 'the age to come' (see Hebrews vi:5 and Eph. ii:7) means .. Christian [age]."
about
Again though, either view believes it is ultimately forgiven :gimmefive: (although our timing may differ somewhere around 33-1000 years).   :wink2:

Hi Jabcat. Eschatology is not my strong suit, so your understanding of the two ages definitely has merit. I will study that futher. But we both seem to agree that the sin of blasphermy against the Holy Spirit will be forgiven after the two ages end whenever that is. Blessings to you.

[sheila]

well,Jab...that is how I see it,too..for if they deny the Christ when He come to fulfill the law covenant..and

reject Him before His death on the cross..and then are continuing to reject the Gospel of Grace

  how can they 'accept' the forgiveness?  they are like those who sin unto death..and are only

accepted back in..as life from the dead.[what will the accepting of them back in be? but life from the dead?]

  when they are resurrected..from the dead? For He is the Lord of the dead and living.[and they shall see

the one they pierced]

[ded2daworld]

Ultimately reconciled = ultimately forgiven.

Jesus shed blood on the cross enables God to forgive ALL our sins - ultimately.

[eaglesway]

AND... a slight monkey wrench
It seems to me from scripture that the first age was Adam to the flood (Peter says "the world that then was") 2nd age was flood to Christ,
third age is Christ till Christ return - and we have no idea how many "ages" are to come though it is apparent the "age" lasts at least 1,000 years - or has in the past. I believe each age will be different as I don't believe we will be sitting on clouds playin harps for all eternity or even being inactive or relaxing. I've been retired 2 months now and am already thinking of going back to work to keep from going crazy(er)

But then there is J. Preston Eby who teaches at least one age before Genesis. :doh:

There is some evidence in Peter that shows another possible view. He speaks of the world that was (from Adam to the flood) being destroyed with water. The world that is now being destroyed with fire(from the flood to the end of the millenial age). Then the "new heavens and new earth, wherein dwells righteousness". In this view there are three major ages/worlds. Since aion comes from olam which was translated world as well as age(world without end....world to come etc)- it presents and interesting possibility.

There could be four major world/ages

1) Before Genesis- the age of angels, Atlanteans or whatever :o)
2)Genesis to the flood
3)the flood to the end of the millenial age
4)the age of fire, God becomes all in all after every knee is bowed and death is destroyed, our God is a consuming fire

These 4 possible world ages could be seen as having dispensational ages within them, with really only the third one being clear to us

World age 3)   

1: From the flood to Christ
2: From Christ to the second advent
3:From the second advent to the Great White Throne

Of course our Preterist brothers and sisters don't believe in any of those divisions of time :o) and they have a point, because everyone wakes up at the Great White Throne except for the first resurrection overcomers.

For the reasons I listed above..... there are a few scenarios that I consider possible and I have not come down firmly at a final view of it yet :o)

2 Pet 2:4For if God did not spare angels when they sinned, but cast them into hell and committed them to pits of darkness, reserved for judgment;5and did not spare the ancient world, but preserved Noah, a preacher of righteousness, with seven others, when He brought a flood upon the world of the ungodly

[jabcat]

Thanks all, good comments.

Don't mean this to be too controversial, because I know many don't believe it  :Shoot: - but I'm one that also believes there was a prior age before Adam and Eve - which IMO, explains FOR ME the apparent ages of things;  dinosaurs, ancient land formations, discoveries that are tens of thousands of years old, drawings in caves from 10-15,000+ years ago, etc.  In essence, the dreaded 'gap theory"  :eek: :laughing7:.   So no HUGE conflict between [legitimate, "Godly"] science and the scriptures.   It's OK that others don't believe it, of course I'm not sure either - I wasn't there (that I know of).   :wink2:

There are even more views about ages and "the end of the world" vs. "end of the age (aion)", which leaves us with several possible ways to "break up"/divide the ages.  However, there's only one right one, and who knows for absolute certainty (God).

[eaglesway]

2:Pet 4:3Know this first of all, that in the last days mockers will come with their mocking, following after their own lusts,4and saying, "Where is the promise of His coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all continues just as it was from the beginning of creation."5For when they maintain this, it escapes their notice that by the word of God the heavens existed long ago and the earth was formed out of water and by water,6through which the world at that time was destroyed(world/age 1)[/b], being flooded with water.7But by His word the present heavens and earth are being reserved for fire, kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men(world/age 2) .

    8But do not let this one fact escape your notice, beloved, that with the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years like one day.9The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.

A New Heaven and Earth

    10But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, in which the heavens will pass away with a roar and the elements will be destroyed with intense heat, and the earth and its works will be burned up.

    11Since all these things are to be destroyed in this way, what sort of people ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness,12looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be destroyed by burning, and the elements will melt with intense heat!13But according to His promise we are looking for new heavens and a new earth, in which righteousness dwells.(world/age 3)

Another way of looking at it

The whole process of God
1)Creation -Genesis account and anything previous
2)Fall- From Adam to Abraham
3)Redemption- From Abraham to Christ(Gen 18:18, Galations 3:15-29)
4)Reconciliation- From Death Burial Resurection of Christ through the Church age till the Bride is presented without spot wrinkle of blemish and the Sons are manifested(Eph 4-6)
5)Restoration- Return of Christ onward(whom the heavens must recieve until the period of the restoration of all things which was spoken about by all the prophets and sages from the beginning acts 3:17) untill God becomes ALL IN ALL

Then there is one other way of looking at the ages that I hav found interesting- but I am out of time :o)

[sheila]

imo   because of the four living creatures[creations] being four and having a wheel within the wheel

  it is four ages with a subset in each age......[wheel within the wheel]

[shawn]

This is probably the most misunderstood passage in the Bible.  There are consequences for sin...some of which God pardons us from...some which a good Father can not pardon us from without corrective punishment.  IMO, this has nothing to do with eternal hell, or never forgiving someone.  It has everything to do with certain sins God must will allow the sinner to experience the sentence of that sin as a real world consequence.

[eaglesway]

 Shawn, I think that is a very good point.

[rodgertutt]

I found Jim Coram's thoughts on this subject to be interesting.

http://www.concordant.org/expohtml/HumanDestiny/spiritblasphemy.html

[micah7:9]

Excellent! :dsunny:

[sheila]

  right..certain sins God will allow the sinner to expierence the sentece of that sin as a real world

  consequence.  Like..do not eat..lest ye die...and it is appointed unto all men to die once...real

consequences..this world is full of them

[sheila]

as for me...what I discern...the waters of life have no death in them for mankind....we are saved from

wrath of God in them.  I liken the good/evil exercize as the law covenant..whereas all men are bound

up in vanity and judgement. I liken Grace in Jesus Christ and free gift of eternal life ..as therefore there is

no more condemnation..as TOL.

[eaglesway]

There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
(Rom 8:1)

Since the reconciliation of all things is accomplished by the "blood of His cross"(Col. 1:16-21) and is "an administration suitable to the fulness of times, the gathering of all things into one in Christ Jesus"(Eph 1:10,11)- It is clear to me that there is a process of some sort by which the administration (ministry of reconciliation) of the reconciliation takes place.

We all agree on the final outworking(the restoration of all things). We have some disagreements on the process :o)

For instance, would any Israelite who refused to place the blood of a firstborn Lambkin upon the doorpost according to the explicit directions of Moses have been "Passed Over" by the death angel? I don't think so, since God killed Aarons sons subsequently when they got arrogant and indifferent to the instructions of the Lord in offering incense before Him.

To me, it is clear that there are substantial consequences(aioian-not just "in this life") in measure to the degree of refusal to "follow the Lamb wherever He goes" - but I agree with the article presented by roger's link in terms of complete and partial forgiveness.

Because of partial forgiveness all mankind is not erased from existence because of wickedness while the administration of God plays out- because of the sacrifice of the Lamb- a provision entered "once and for all" from the foundation of the world and "manifested in these last times for you"(1 Pet 1:20) .(A propitiation for our sins, andfor those of "the whole world also" , 1 Jo 2:2)(1Ti 4:10  For it is for this we labor and strive, because we have fixed our hope on the living God, who is the Savior of all men, especially of believers. Paul)

The "completion" of the forgiveness is "connected to and manifested by" a process, an administration that stretches out over the completion of times- and is related to each individual(in their own order) coming under the Lordship of Jesus(love, in the name of)- which is our "hysop branch" by which the "blood of the Lambkin" is applied and the death angel passes over. For those who come under and remain under it- death is destroyed already.

"Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears My word, and believes Him who sent Me, has eternal life, and does not come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life. "Truly, truly, I say to you, an hour is coming and now is, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live.
(Joh 5:24-25)

There it is right there, the one who has heard & believes has "passed out of death" -our Red Sea is the death (blood/hyssop) burial(water/red sea) and resurrection(pillar of cloud&fire/spirit) of Jesus Christ.

It is the "hyssop branch" of the whole world also, but each in his own order until all are saved, and NONE before they bow their knee and confess with their tongue the Lordship of Jesus Christ "unto the glory of God")

This administration of the ages will lead some into a period of kolassis known as the "lake of fire". This administration has led some into "aidos chains" to await th the judgment of "the Day". Apparently some believers will experience it in some measure, "losing their reward" as the wood hay and stubble burns(1 Cor 3:15). These could be the many who have said, "Lord, Lord" and prophesied and done mighty works in His name but failed to give a cup of water to the thirsting Lambkin.

In some cases, it would be better to pluck out your own eye than to endure it. In some cases their will be a few stripes, in some cases many stripes- but in all cases "you will not get out until you have paid the last penny" which is confessing your sins(evry hidden thing will be brought to light.....they were confessing their sins and being baptized in the Jordan)

So there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God. For the one who has entered His rest has himself also rested from his works, as God did from His. Therefore let us be diligent to enter that rest, so that no one will fall, through following the same example of disobedience. For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart. And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are open and laid bare to the eyes of Him with whom we have to do.
(Heb 4:9-13)

His eyes are as flames of fire and a two edged sword comes from His mouth.

All, each in his own order, until finally death is destroyed because there is no more resistance to the all in all of God- All have applied the blood by the hyssop on the door post(repentance and faith towards God), All have passed from death unto life.

[sheila]

An illustration from marriage.  Romans ch 7

   Do you not know,brothers-for I am speaking to men who know the law-  THAT THE LAW HAS

  AUTHORITY OVER A MAN ONLY AS LONG AS HE LIVES?  For Example;,by law a  married woman

    is bound to her husband as long as he is alive,but if her husband dies she is released from

   the law of marriage. So,then if she marries another man,while her husband is still alive,she is called

an adulteress..............but now...by dying to what once bound us[sin in flesh] we have been released

of the law..so that we may serve in the new way[new spirit in you] of the spirit and not in the old way of the written

code...

   I liken us [in the corrupt image] as being bound to the old man Adam. And with the death of that OLD MAN

  comes release..so that we may be joined to the NEW MAN  Christ...the thing is..we who have the token...

  have to reckon the old man dead..that we may live after the spirit..and become betrothed to Him..as we

await our deliverance from this body undergoing the death....


  Harvest..is the fruit come to fullness...sin's fullness is the death of the creature. the end..the law fulfilled

then...Grace...a new spirit, His laws in the mind[mind] to keep them and do them.

  I know I am at variance with many on this..but I have to speak up.

   Jesus said He did only what He beheld the Father in Heaven doing[thy kingdom come thy will be done

  on earth as it is in Heaven] what did Jesus do? He in self-sacrificing worked atonement and Grace..

give freely..opened blind eyes and deaf ears and healed raised the dead.

  I am not saying there is no reconciling ministry done on earth..raising to spiritual life,healing the people

  opening eyes,the ears.  WHAT I AM SAYING IS THAT IN HEAVEN THE ALSO DO THIS MINISTRY
 
WITH THOSE WHO HAVE DIED. AND THAT WE HAVE A TOKEN WORK IN THE SPIRIT ON EARTH

BUT THAT GOD,JESUS AND THOSE THAT REIGN, DO IT IN ALL IT'S FULLNESS UP THERE.

   Thy Kingdom come,thy will be done..on earth as it is in Heaven[think about this and pray about it]

   For I am convinced that nothing can seperate us[mankind] from the Love of God that was shown in Jesus

Christ.  Neither death,nor life,nor angels nor demons  Romans 8

  We KNOW that the WHOLE CREATION HAS BEEN GROANING IN THE PAINS OF CHILDBIRTH

  RIGHT UP TO THE PRESENT TIME[men groan within themselves with words unuttered] the Holy spirit

makes intercession.

  Our Father is the HOLY HIGH PRIEST OF OUR FAMILY..If we have seen the son,we have seen the Father.

  Now..can you see what I am trying to say...Father cast out evil spirits in Heaven from man,resurrects

  him[Jesus Christ] and makes over man in His image.  Jesus is called Teacher on earth..Father teaches

  in Heaven.Jesus is called wonderful counselour..Father counsels His sons wonderfully in Heaven.

  IT NEVER ENTERED FATHER'S HEART TO BURN HIS CHILDREN IN THE FIRE.....that is a doctrine

of Molech

[sheila]

when the Sons of Thunder wanted to call down fire from Heaven on those that rejected the grace

being offered them..what did Jesus say? YE KNOW NOT WHAT SPIRIT YE ARE OF.

   the sword of God divides spirit and divides soul...it  divides off the spirit of the wicked one from

  man's spirit. It divides off the soul of the one sinning that shall die..from the soul that is saved.

    that is why..two men in a bed..one taken..the other left behind..two women at the hand mill etc.

[eaglesway]

Yes of course. They were going to consume someone with fire for disagreeing with them :o)

This does not somehow invalidate the rest of scripture on the kolassis of God that brings the wicked to their knees. It is unavoidable that we will see such things differently, but we cannot deny them totally without eviscerating the scriptures.

"All discipline is for the moment unpleasant, but in the end it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness."

[ded2daworld]

C'mon EW. - "eviscerating" that's like 5 syllables ya know :laugh: