This has perplexed many for generations and sometimes paralyze believers. Many of us has shared this fear. Have we committed the unpardonable sin and now is beyond all hope? I struggled with this question and sought out the answer to determine if seeking God was a vain proposition for me.
God being as faithful as always gave me understanding. I will share with you the understanding I received and give you a few scriptural truths for your own research. Therefore, this is not intended to be a long exposition of the subject.
I will give a few scriptures for comparison and show how they harmonize to represent the unpardonable sin. It is very simple. Here it is. The unpardonable sin is the continued rejection of Christ and/or what the scriptures says about him.
If you reject the trinity it may be hard for you to receive my explanation: Nevertheless, this is it in its simplest form.
There are three heavenly witnesses that testify about Christ. The Father, The Son, and The Holy Spirit. A scriptural representation of this would be 1st John 5:7-5:8 in the King James:
1Jn 5:7 For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.
1Jn 5:8 And there are three that bear witness in earth, the Spirit, and the water, and the blood: and these three agree in one.
Jesus comes in the authority of the Father who is his witness and Jesus is his own witness. He is a witness because he is a part of the triune God who is one.
We see Jesus appealing to his adversaries with this statement:
Joh 8:17 It is also written in your law, that the testimony of two men is true.
Joh 8:18 I am one that bear witness of myself, and the Father that sent me beareth witness of me.
When men rejected Jesus’s testimony and his authority received of the Father, they reject The Father and the son.
They have rejected both the witness of the Father and the son. Jesus said he does the work of the Father by the power of the Holy Spirit.
It is through the power of The Holy Spirit Jesus does mighty works. Therefore, the Holy Spirit bears witness to Jesus. He is the last heavenly witness. Therefore, there isn’t any other heavenly witness to bear witness. Therefore, blasphemy against the son is forgiven if a man/woman believes the last witness the Holy Spirit.
But if one rejects the testimony of the Holy Spirit, he has rejected the entire counsel of God, putting himself in the same station as Satan who stood before God and knew the counsel of God and rejected it. Therefore, no repentance is given Satan or anyone who rejects the counsel of God. He has refused to hear the heavenly witnesses, making himself God.
There is no other heavenly witness that can testify. No, Mary is not a heavenly witness (For you who are Catholics).
So, by virtual of rejection of the counsel of God a man/woman seals their fate. For there is no one else to hear. They have blasphemed the entire council of God by rejecting the Holy Spirit.
Let’s examine a scripture that codifies this truth.
(KJV) 1Jn 5:8 And there are three that bear witness in earth, the Spirit, and the water, and the blood: and these three agree in one.
Now, this scripture speaks of the Heavenly witnesses of the Godhead to those upon the earth.
The Spirit in this context is the Spirit refers to God The Father. A scripture that illustrates this context is Jesus’ words in John to the Samaritan woman:
(KJV) Joh 4:24 God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.
Now another witness from 1st John 5:8 is the water which is the Holy Spirit sent in Jesus’ name or authority. Scriptures that illustrate this are:
(KJV)Joh 4:10 Jesus answered and said unto her, If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water.
(KJV)Joh 4:14 But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.
(KJV) Joh 16:13 Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.
Joh 16:14 He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you.
(KJV)1Co 12:13 For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.
And from the Old Testament prophecies:
(KJV)Isa 44:3 For I will pour water upon him that is thirsty, and floods upon the dry ground: I will pour my spirit upon thy seed, and my blessing upon thine offspring:
Now we have addressed two of the witnesses in the context of 1st John 5:8 which are The Spirit(Father), The Water (The Holy Spirit) now let’s look at the witness of the Blood.
Special Note: It is important to read and interpret scripture according to the context. If you don’t first ascertain the context you will be confused. Be aware that in other scriptures the Holy Ghost (Spirit) is referred to as the Spirit but in this context, it is referring to the Father and the water is The Holy Spirit. We know John was familiar with this concept because of what he wrote in the 4th chapter of John. You will need to examine the context of what you are reading.
The witness of the Blood is Christ. Let’s look at scripture that codifies this truth:
(KJV) Col 1:20 And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.
(KJV)Eph 1:7 In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;
(KJV)Heb 9:14 How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?
(KJV) Heb 9:22 And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission.
It is evident by a reading of the scriptures that the blood is the man Christ Jesus. Therefore, we should be able to interpret
1stJohn 5:8 And there are three that bear witness in earth, the Spirit, and the water, and the blood: and these three agree in one.
Although, 1st John does not give the sequence of the witnesses, other scripture does. For example, in John where Jesus refers to the Holy Spirit as The Comforter.
Joh 16:5 But now I go my way to him that sent me; and none of you asketh me, Whither goest thou?
Joh 16:6 But because I have said these things unto you, sorrow hath filled your heart.
Joh 16:7 Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you.
Therefore, the sequence that is revealed is the Son(Word) is sent and comes in the name(Authority) of the Father testifying of the Father who testifies of him.
Then the Holy Spirit(Comforter/Water) is sent(given) by The Father and Son in the name(Authority) of the son, making The Holy Spirit the last of the heavenly witnesses. Rejecting the witness of the Holy Spirit results in the rejection of the entire counsel of God leaving one without hope. Such is the state of Satan who knew the counsel of God from the beginning.
We can conclude that blasphemy against the Holy Spirit is continued rejection of his testimony about Christ through the works done through or by the power of the Holy Spirit. Here are scriptures that codifies this truth.
(KJV) Joh 16:13 Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.
Joh 16:14 He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you.
Joh 16:15 All things that the Father hath are mine: therefore said I, that he shall take of mine, and shall shew it unto you.
Therefore, those who accused Jesus works of being of the devil were in danger of blaspheming the last of the heavenly witnesses thereby rejecting the whole counsel of God.
(KJV) Mat 12:22 Then was brought unto him one possessed with a devil, blind, and dumb: and he healed him, insomuch that the blind and dumb both spake and saw.
Mat 12:23 And all the people were amazed, and said, Is not this the son of David?
Mat 12:24 But when the Pharisees heard it, they said, This fellow doth not cast out devils, but by Beelzebub the prince of the devils.
Jesus’ reply to them was this:
Mat 12:28 But if I cast out devils by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God is come unto you.
Mat 12:29 Or else how can one enter into a strong man’s house, and spoil his goods, except he first bind the strong man? and then he will spoil his house.
Mat 12:30 He that is not with me is against me; and he that gathereth not with me scattereth abroad.
Mat 12:31 Wherefore I say unto you, All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men: but the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men.
Mat 12:32 And whosoever speaketh a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but whosoever speaketh against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, neither in the world to come.
The Father, Jesus(Son), and The Holy Spirit are the same God (Not three Gods as oneness folk accuse Trinitarians). Why is blasphemy against the Son forgiven and not the Holy Spirit? It is because he is the last and final heavenly witness of Christ. Reject his testimony by the works done through him, and you have no recourse.
This truth is connected to and related to the end times (eschatology). Those who blaspheme the Holy Spirit are the same as those who receive the mark of the beast. They are one and the same. I will expound on this in other presentations. God bless.