JP50: Curse God and Die?: How to Know if We Have Committed the Unforgivable Sin

In one of the earliest recorded marital spats, Job's wife told her husband to "curse God and die" as she observed him, afflicted from head to toe with boils, sitting in absolute misery (see Job 2:7-9). Perhaps she thought he would be better off dead, and what better way to exit than to curse God?  Or would it be? No, on the contrary, Jesus teaches that all sins can be forgiven - except one.

“And so I tell you, every kind of sin and slander can be forgiven, but blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven. 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.”  (NIV, Mt 12:31–32)

What is the Unforgivable Sin?

After reading this passage, some wonder whether or not they have committed the unforgivable sin.  Let's start by defining this transgression.

When someone observes the work of the Spirit of God and attributes that work to lesser means, they have committed the unpardonable sin, similar to how the Pharisees claimed that Jesus healed the demon-possessed man by the power of Satan.

Could I Have Committed the Unforgivable Sin?

If you're genuinely concerned that you've committed the unforgivable sin, it's highly doubtful that you have.  Unlike the Pharisees, whose consciences were seared apparently beyond remedy, a person who comes to Jesus in godly sorrow and repentance validates the ongoing work of the Holy Spirit in their life, and thus has not committed the unforgivable sin.

What is the Root of Blasphemy?

The root of blasphemy emerges from a heart that resolutely desires personal preference and autonomy over humble submission to Creator God's authority and His ways by grace through faith.

The prophet warns against blasphemy:

"Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness,  who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter. (NIV, Isaiah 5:20)

The consequences of this resolute stance against the manifest truth of God extend into eternity, where one’s choice to deny the Spirit’s work on earth results in eternal separation from God.

How are Other Sins Forgiven?

Jesus said all other sins, even blaspheming Christ himself and cursing God, are forgivable.  But how do we receive forgiveness for those sins?

Forgiveness for sin comes to us by turning from our authority and rebellion against God and trusting in the completed work of Jesus to save us from the just punishment for our sins.

One might ask, why do I need to trust in Jesus? Because Jesus received the just punishment from the Father that our sins deserved.  He took our place.  Rejecting Jesus’ perfect life, substitutionary death on the cross, and resurrection from the grave sets us up to directly receive the wrath of God and death for eternity.  

God doesn’t send people that He loves to hell, we arrive there by default because we’re not prepared to face a Holy God’s righteous judgement against our sin nature by humbly receiving beforehand Jesus’ perfect payment.

Jesus explained the matter this way,

"Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God's wrath remains on them." (NIV, John 3:36)

What a gift the Father gave us through His only Son, Jesus, who loved us enough to receive the guilt, shame, and punishment in our place.  Under His covering, we escape God's just punishment and gain the presence of Jesus within us so that we can reflect His righteousness to the world.  May we respond with humility as the Holy Spirit confirms this truth in our lives.

Prayer:  Jesus, I love you.  Thank you for taking my place on the cross, receiving the punishment that my sin deserved, and making way for me to be reconciled to the Father by grace through faith.  Help me to honor the work of the Holy Spirit and take this message of forgiveness and love to those around me.

Questions For Application:

1. Are you open or closed to God’s story of forgiveness through Christ?

2. What friend would want to know about God’s love and desire to forgive them?

3. How is the Holy Spirit speaking to you about this message from Jesus?

JP50: Curse God and Die?: How to Know if We Have Committed the Unforgivable Sin

1. What is the Unforgivable Sin?

…but anyone who speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven

2. Have I Committed the Unforgivable Sin?

“Yet to all who received Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God.” (NIV, John 1:12)

"Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death. (NIV, 2 Cor 7:10)

3. What is the Root of Blasphemy?

“Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness,  who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter. (NIV, Isaiah 5:20)

"The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?" (NIV, Jeremiah 17:9)

4. How are Other Sins Forgiven?

“But God demonstrates His own love for us in this, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (NIV, Romans 5:8)

“For Christ died for sins, once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God.  He was put to death in the body, buy made alive by the Spirit. (NIV, 1 Peter 3:18)

Photo by Dmitry Vechorko on Unsplash