Question from a Site Viewer
A friend of mine and I were looking at buying a Bible. We checked out several different versions. We were discussing the different versions and I said of one version, “That’s the devil’s Bible!” Later I became afraid that I may have committed blasphemy against the Holy Spirit (the unpardonable sin). I am obsessed with it. I am so frightened and I cannot find peace.
Tim’s Answer
Do not let this matter worry you for one more minute. I hardly know a believer who has not at one time or another struggled with whether they have committed the unpardonable sin. My quick answer is that if you think you have, then you haven’t. I think the question you need to answer for yourself is why are you being convicted? This is always the question we should ask when we feel we have done something wrong. Sometimes, we do right and feel convicted. Sometimes we do wrong things and do not feel convicted. The reason is that our consciences get messed up in life. Thus, we should not always trust our convictions. We should take our convictions and see them through the perspective of the Word of God. And the Spirit can assist us in conforming our consciences to the Word of God.
But back to your present problem. If you had committed the unpardonable sin, then the conviction you are feeling would not be of the Spirit because He would not be at work in your life. The Spirit of God is not a tormentor. You do not find the Spirit taking on this role in Scripture. Rather, He is the Spirit of comfort and conviction who brings us to Christ. If truly you had committed the unpardonable sin, the Spirit would have no reason to be interacting with you any longer. This was the plea of David in Psalm 51:11, for God not to remove His Holy Spirit from David’s life. In fact, God had removed His Spirit from David’s predecessor, Saul, because of Saul’s sin (1 Samuel 16:14; 15:22-23). Those who have committed the unpardonable sin do not have the Spirit of God. If you look at the relevant passages dealing with Jesus’ teaching on the unpardonable sin, Jesus is addressing people who show no signs of even entertaining the thought that what they were doing might be wrong. They were not under conviction for doing wrong. If you are under conviction, you are not in the situation of those whom Jesus was addressing and you have not committed the sin that Jesus attributes to them.
But I think it is equally safe to say that, having not committed the unpardonable sin, the conviction you are feeling is also not of the Spirit. The Spirit is not the one saying that you have done what you have not done. He is the Spirit of truth.
Accordingly, if you had committed the sin, the Spirit would not be convicting you of that sin. And since you have not committed the sin, it is not the Spirit who is telling you that you have. Your conviction, under either scenario, is not from God. Rather, it is part of a weak conscience that is damaging to your faith and your hope in God.
What you said concerning the NIV was in error. You have acknowledged that. That is what the Bible means by confession (Psalm 32:5). Now, you need to have faith in God’s faithfulness and not be unbelieving. Having confessed, you need to leave that sin behind, and focus on Christ (Colossians 3:1) and on whatever things are good (Philippians 4:8). In other words, you need to exercise self-control of your mind and not let it control you. None of us can live life by looking back. We must look forward (Luke 9:62; Philippians 3:13-14).
I want to encourage you that there have been many fine Christians who have taken issue with the various English translations we have. Some have used much stronger words in the passion of their debates than you used. God, however, looks at the heart. He understands that we are weak people, and we often say things that later we regret. I am glad that you were convicted that what you said was wrong. That is the work of the Holy Spirit. But all of this later garbage about now having no hope because of the unpardonable sin is not of God. The proper response of the believer is to understand that the One who began a good work in us is not going to abandon us because of an error He knew would occur before He brought us to Himself (Philippians 1:6). He will keep on working.
In any event, our connection to God is not so fragile that a wrong word will consign us to eternal damnation. This is not the way Scripture describes the security we have in Christ. My advice to you is to keep seeking God and serving Him. We really have no place else to turn. Seek Him always. And His Spirit will fill your heart with the joy and peace that truly is beyond understanding. Some day, you will be able to help someone else who also is down in the dumps because they think they have done something that is unforgivable. With God, there is always mercy for those who seek Him. Remember, there is a linkage between the unpardonable sin and not seeking Christ. Those who seek Him will always find Him. This is His promise (Jeremiah 29:13; Matthew 7:7-8). Those who come will not be cast out (John 6:37).
May your love for Him and worship of Him increase richly,
one who also has been redeemed,
tim
Related Articles:
The Unpardonable Sin, Part 1
The Unpardonable Sin, Part 2
Focus on Jesus
I’m confused by what you were saying about worrying about the sin. I’m worried I committed blasphemy of the spirit so does that mean I committed it. I feel horrible about my past sins and I’ve had blasphemous thoughts but no blasphemous Intent. When you said that’s not the holy spirit convicting does that mean I don’t have the holy spirit? Because I feel bad about my sins and I’ve repented for them, accepted Jesus as my savior, and I want a relatio ship with God and Christ.
UM…hi all, I have the same problem as jeff and I am also confused by your answer, you say that if we are worried then we didn’t do it then you say if we are worried its not the holy spirit because he wouldn’t cause us to worry.
The point of the article and what I see as the point of Scripture is that if we confess our sins and seek our God, He will forgive us. As is stated at 1 John 1:9, if we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. The unpardonable sin therefore must be a sin that is not confessed. If we confess, then we have His promise to forgive. And God cannot break His promise. So, if we have confessed and still feel guilty, it is not the Spirit who is saying that we are guilty. God does not hold against us sins that He has forgiven. Rather, it is our own minds and the enemy who continues to accuse us. Satan is called the accuser of the brethren (Revelation 12:10). Thus, having confessed, we need to trust God and deal with the thoughts of accusation that continue to come into our lives. We deal with them by reforming the mind, memorizing and meditating on Scripture, focusing on heaven and Christ and not looking at ourselves, becoming His servants in this world, and loving God and loving others. As John states, the one who practices righteousness is born of Him (1 John 2:29). So leave sin behind and practice what is right. Have faith in God and do what is right. If you do these things, you will be blessed by God, find that your mind is transformed to think about Him, and become a blessing to those around you.
“Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but anyone who speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come. ” (Bible, New Testament, Matthew 12:32)
There was the First Aion Age when Jesus was walking the Earth and arguing with the Pharisees, which corresponds to when Jesus said “This age” (Bible, New Testament, Matthew 12:31-32)
There was the Second Aion Age when Jesus was dead in the tomb, which corresponds to when Jesus said “the age to come” (Bible, New Testament, Matthew 12:31-32)
There is a the Third Aion Age when Jesus was resurrected alive again and also is the Age when Blasphemy Against the Holy Spirit is forgiven and is also the age that we are in now. This age goes on for eternity.
Thus ALL GO TO HEAVEN and nothing changed about grace.
Blasphemy against the Holy Spirit is the term word for unbelief.
ALL GO TO HEAVEN BECAUSE unbelief is forgiven.
A Time in the Life of Jesus is an Age because Jesus is God and is that important.
“Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but anyone who speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come. ” (Bible, New Testament, Matthew 12:32)
Matthew 12:32 is when Jesus canceled the Old Code of the law found in Matthew 12:31.
I’m Diane, I’m being tormented. Severely. I started having blasphemous thoughts about 8yrs ago, the other day I was sitting in the floor and a thought came to mind, I really wanna type what it is but I’m terrified to do so. I feel as tho I’ve gone to far, I DESIRE to be saved. I feel as tho I’m a lost cause.
You are not a lost cause. Satan wants you to think that way. Jesus desires that none be lost (2 Peter 3:9). He loves you. Toss away those deceptive thoughts and return to Him.
Please look up The Bondage Breaker. Biblical based book by Neil T. Anderson and he has you tube videos , what your experiencing is spiritual warfare , not all the thoughts we get are from us, or God the devil can also plant thoughts in our mind, cast those thoughts down thru Jesus and be de free, please try and look into Neil T. Anderson’s books , he is a Christian and sheds light on this subject
Oh yea when the thought came to mind I kinda sat there for a sec then a few moments later I realized that I was wrong and asked for forgiveness, and now it’s eating me alive.
same brother.
can you feel Peace, love, joy, Happiness, Rest?
Same Its eating me alive too add my facebook so we can talk https://www.facebook.com/jizzly2009
Just forgive yourself thats what your struggling with. I deal with blasphemy against, Gods Spirit but Gods fighting for me Hes fighting for you too.
Hey this is awesome yeah i have been dealing with ocd for 2 years makes me feel so low. I had suicide thoughts more than i ever had when havinf this, before this none maybe in the world a little but nothing like this. I had all kinds of ocd cleaning, numbers, tapping, sexual, harm, lust now i deal with blasphemy its the worst one. But i know Jesus is fighting for me. The amazing strategy to fight this is use,Gods Precious Word. God Word has everything we go through. When i use it the intrusive thoughts loses its power but sometimes its so bad im like ugh. When i ignore it, its okay but sometimes it comes back even harder. Another strategy i do is I just write songs to Jesus praising Him thanking Him, put on Christian music. He has never…
He has never ket me fail He has always haf my back. If you guys go through this do not give up. We havr a loving God who will fight this battle. Remember JESUS ALREADY won. We just claim that. Also make that verse 2 corinthians 10:4 a prayer like i cast this thought down to make it obedience to Jesus Christ. Jesus help me think pure thoughts phil 4:8. And thank Him. I habe learned when i want restoration. I first say Jesus i believe you can heal me. Than 2nd i ask Him to heal me than 3rd I praise and thank Him for healing me. Its totally faith. Also i have to warn you when you do things for Jesus you will have resistance by the evil one. Put the Armor of God on you should put that on when you get up. It does work. At the end i put this on…
on in say in Jesus name. I hope this
advice helps you. All glory to JESUS 🙂 So 1ST put the ARMOR OF GOD ON
2nd When a thought comes Use Gods Word not your own words they dont work
3rd Write a letter to Jesus or a song or a poem
4th Praise and worship our amazing Lord Jesus
Remember He loves you and is fighting for you. If you want to email me or call me heres my email [email protected] and ask for my number 🙂 Jesus and i love you all. I still battle it but today is a good day also thank Jesus for the Good days also bad day. When i used to not get them i forgot about Jesus, when i got them i asked Him to help me. So i used Him and than forgot Him. Dont do what i do. Jesus doesnt deserve it. I am learnimg to praise Him…
I have read somewhere that the blasphemy that Jesus referred to as unpardonable sin was when He performed miracles and those who witnessed them attribute them to the devil and not to God. It is my belief that in this context, you can only commit blasphemy if God has revealed Himself to you and performed miracles in your presence (witnessing them first hand) and yet you attribute those miracles to be the works of the devil.
May God bless us all.