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November 13, 2002
Unforgivable?
He who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness. —Mark 3:29

An elderly man thought he had committed the unpardonable sin. Overwhelmed with guilt, he mistakenly thought he had done something that God would not forgive.

Then a question came to his mind: If I am headed for hell, what would I want to do there? He thought, I would want to meet with others for prayer. Immediately he saw the absurdity of his fears. He knew that years earlier he had trusted Christ as his Savior, and he had a desire to know and please God. This was evidence that God's Spirit truly lived in his heart.

Many sensitive Christians fear they have done or said something that is beyond forgiveness. Maybe it was a blasphemous thought that crossed their mind. Even though they confessed it to God, they wonder if they have committed the one sin that God will not forgive.

What is the unpardonable sin? In Mark 3:22-30, we read that religious leaders accused Jesus of performing miracles by the power of Satan. We can't sin that way today, because Jesus isn't physically here on the earth.

The only unforgivable sin is to continually and willfully reject the witness of the Holy Spirit that Jesus is the Savior. Nothing but complete rejection of Christ is unpardonable. He graciously forgives all who come to Him.  — Dennis J. De Haan

There are no sins that can't be pardoned,
All were paid for on the cross;
It's only when the heart is hardened
That we choose eternal loss. —D. De Haan

Christ's cleansing power can remove the deepest stain of sin.


For similar resources, search these topics:

Bible in One Year: Lamentations 1-2; Hebrews 10:1-18
http://www.rbc.org/devotions.aspx?id=6482
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