Latest / Harvest After Sunday / The Unforgivable Sin: Digging Deeper
Transcript
- Harvest Media: Sunday podcast. I'm Natalie and I'm your host and I'm with Stefan Wilson, pastor of preaching and teaching and today we're gonna be digging deeper into a sermon from a few weeks ago, Matthew 12 32 to 37 because there's a serious warning given about a sin that is not to be forgiven, blasphemy of the Holy Spirit. I'm glad we have the opportunity to unpack this further because if our church congregation is anything like me they still have some lingering questions. You spent several minutes on these two verses in there specifically in your sermon, but there were some things that became more clear and some things where I know I and I think others were still wondering, what does that exactly mean? Maybe, ⁓ I mean especially just coming off of Easter celebrating the fact that Christ has conquered sin and death to offer us forgiveness and then we're grappling with these verses in Scripture about a sin that is unforgivable. It's complicated. And so I'm glad that we can kind of air it out further here. Maybe it would be helpful to start by just defining terms. Can you give us a clear definition of blasphemy? Yeah. Yeah, and so I agree. It's good that we have this format to be able to talk more because I think I only was able to give about five or six minutes to this in the sermon because it was in a broader text. And sometimes that almost feels criminal. Like, could we have a whole sermon on this one verse? But you need it. You need to see it in the context of what's happening to be able to then figure out what is he referring to? So just to define blasphemy, blasphemy is to speak slanderous words. with evil intent. when I say something out of ignorance, can be blasphemous because I am slandering something in my ignorance, which we can certainly say that that ignorance is a part of my own brokenness, my own flawed way of viewing the world. there is that kind of blasphemy, but then there's the intentional where I am I am intentionally speaking words that are meant to frame whatever I'm talking about in the most negative light possible and I think that it's helpful to see the difference between intentional blasphemy and ignorant blasphemy because scripture actually parses those out Paul calls himself a blasphemer when he was in ignorance of who Christ was yet he repented and and though he was an ignorant blasphemer in his own words, Christ saved him and and and he says that that Though I'm the worst of sinners Christ died for me and his point is if he'll save me he'll save anybody so it is not simply the the fact that I say Negative words that makes me guilty of what Jesus is talking about in Matthew 12 with the blasphemy of the Holy Spirit because There are multiple instances in the New Testament where those who have blasphemed God in general one of the persons of the Trinity ⁓ that they have been forgiven. So Jesus has to then be talking about a very specific, narrow understanding of that word and a very specific and narrow application of that idea to a very specific and narrow situation. ⁓ because he gives the caveat that it will not be forgiven, but within the very same context says blasphemy against the son will be forgiven. Yeah, I found that especially confused. Like you said, that was such clarity in the sermon. but I was like, don't understand how it would be forgiven against the Son of Man, but not against the Spirit. That differentiation was still unclear after the sermon. Yeah. And I think the most helpful way to be able to understand why he makes that distinction is when we understand the role of the Holy Spirit within the Trinity and the role of the Holy Spirit in the life of the believer. The role of the Spirit is to point to the Father and the Son. Jesus says that the Spirit will glorify me. Jesus does not say the Spirit will glorify himself. The Spirit points us to the person and work of Christ, to the glory of God. So to then blaspheme the Son is to get his identity wrong. But if I talk about his work and specifically the work of the Spirit through him, I'm not getting identity wrong. What I'm getting wrong is the work that is actually being done through the Son by the Spirit to the glory of the Father. So there's a, that's why I kept using that phrase narrow and specific is because what Jesus is highlighting in that context where the Pharisees say he casts out demons by the power of demons, it is obvious that Jesus is doing what he's doing through the power of God. It is the work of the Spirit of God that is doing these things. And they're zeroing in on that work and they're reattributing it in an evil way. So they are taking the truth and are intentionally speaking slanderous words with evil intent in order to diminish the person of Jesus. So they're no longer talking about Jesus. They think they're talking about Jesus. They're trying to discredit him. And Jesus correction to them is you're not talking about me. You're talking about the spirit of God who's working through me and that's different. And because that's different, you are in grave danger of committing something that you're you don't think you're committing. But but you are you are in grave danger of committing it nonetheless. So there's is there no way misunderstand the work of the spirit and then be corrected later? Like you might misunderstand the identity of Christ. But then and that would be like an ignorant blasphemy. But then you come to a corrected understanding. This is like I fully understand that this is the work of the Holy Spirit of God. And I'm still. ⁓ rejecting it? Yeah, so I think we're I think we're orbiting the truth. ⁓ So Hermann Baavink was a Dutch theologian ⁓ in the late 19th century, and he wrote extensively in theology, very, very helpful, insightful, sharp theological mind. ⁓ and he makes a really helpful comment about the difference between ignorant blasphemy and intentional blasphemy that we would categorize as blasphemy of the Holy Spirit. He says, for it to be blasphemy of the Holy Spirit, there must be a great deal that precedes it. So there are things that happen that precede my blasphemy of the Spirit, that now make my blasphemy qualify as blasphemy of the Spirit. And those things that precede it are obvious revelation of the truth of God, obvious... awareness and we could even use the word enlightenment to the work of the spirit. That's the language of Hebrews 6, those who have been enlightened to the truth but yet walk away. ⁓ It's the idea that there is no other way to describe this. I have encountered something where there is no other way to describe this than this is the power of God. and I will purposefully recategorize it so that I don't have to believe in that God. That's very narrow ⁓ and ⁓ very intentional. So it isn't, ⁓ am told the gospel and I shut myself off to it. It is, I see that the gospel is true. that the powerful work of the Spirit in the life of Christians and in the world around me is very obviously the work of God. But that would mean that I have to submit to that God and I will not. I will not do it. I will go so far as to say the most untrue thing I could about him so that I don't have to believe in him. That's what Boving is getting at when he talks about the things that must precede the blasphemy for it to qualify as the blasphemy of the spirit. And I think that's helpful because it... It really guards against the fear that I think when as a believer as you're like reading through that and you see that ⁓ it won't be forgiven in this age or the age to come and you're like, what if I did it on accident? I mean, I think that will bring relief because there's so much clarity in how you just explain it. There's no accidental blasphemy of the Holy Spirit. That's right. That's the I think that is the biggest takeaway from. Jesus words to the Pharisees is you're not doing this on accident. You're doing this on purpose because you have hardened your heart and closed yourself off to the truth of God so much because you really do just want this to fit your categories. And so like the Christian, the Christian couldn't do this. Additionally, The non-Christian who one day does turn and repent and follow Jesus has necessarily, by definition, not committed this because they have then turned. So that, I think, helps the believer. To in their own life to have peace to know that they're not guilty of this But then also to be able to to have confidence and peace when it comes to their their non-believing neighbors and friends I I'm not I'm not in a place to say I think at some point you committed this in so I'm just gonna give up on you and I'm gonna move on it's just because just because my my friend or my family member or my neighbor or my co-worker is resistant to the gospel. It is still possible that they will repent and so i'm still gonna point them to jesus because while they're still drawing breath There is still time for them to repent This is the beauty of scripture because I think these complex things we want to come and look at them So that we can get this relief in this understanding and be like, okay and then move forward but the tension that the lord Rightly and necessarily leaves us in where we see the significance and the urgency Um, like you're talking about for unbelief family, friends, neighbors. ⁓ We don't have to live in either the fear or ⁓ the apathy and just say, well, that they've rejected the Lord. We still can have a serious and an urgent ⁓ desire to share the gospel with them ⁓ while feeling the relief of knowing that we are not the ultimate judge. So we just see these, we can have this right understanding. ⁓ in these complex verses, but there is still a tension that goes on where we say there's a difference between the outright rejection of God forever and just they don't know God yet. you know, even for us believers, we're differentiating between blasphemy of the spirit and the work of God versus just our. sanctification and our ongoing learning. Like there will be some resistance to ⁓ righteousness, you know, as we're dealing with the conviction of sin, we're gonna not be fully submitting to God. But that doesn't mean we are blaspheming the Spirit and rejecting God outright. Yeah, I think that fear and apathy, I think it's really great that you bring those two things up because ⁓ both of those are errors that are rooted in an incomplete picture. And when I have the complete picture, I don't have to commit either of those errors. can I can say I have confidence in my own position with God and I have confidence that even some of the most hardened people, God can still save. But because this passage is in scripture, we must say that it has to have a place in my thought process. It has to have a place in my understanding of the nature of rejection of the gospel. And ultimately what it can do is it can it can help me then to make sense out of those who ultimately die in their sin having never repented. ⁓ It it it allows me to be able to say ultimately that person's salvation wasn't up to me. ⁓ That's between them and God. But. but for the person that is still in my life, I can continually go to them with urgency, ⁓ appealing to them. Don't harden your heart toward the Lord, lest you be hardened unto disbelief to your dying day and be separated from his loving presence forever. I have that urgency now to say, Come to Jesus. Come to Jesus. ⁓ Knowing though that there are some, there will be some who will harden themselves against the gospel. And I don't answer for that. I answer for if I harden myself against the gospel. So then the the the imploring message is don't harden your heart toward the gospel. I'm reminded as we're talking of our conversation several weeks ago about even the problem of evil, just in rightly understanding the good character of God and the reality of sin. ⁓ there's like shadows of that in this conversation I feel like because it can feel potentially confusing to understand how when scripture says God is faithful and just to forgive all unrighteousness then we can say there's something he is he's that's unforgivable which people could understand as he is unwilling to forgive and we can see as we dig into this passage it is not about his willingness to offer forgiveness it is about our response or someone's response and outright rejection of the identity and work of God, ⁓ which even as you were describing that all of the knowing that they would have and the things that have to proceed blasphemy of the spirit, I just was thinking like they're just it's an outright intentional rejection and almost like an aligning themselves with evil. It seems. ⁓ And so that brings comfort as well that the character of God is not ⁓ to be questioned or uncertain. You can say, no, he still is a loving God offering forgiveness of sins. But if we're gonna outright reject that, then that's unforgivable based on our response. Because God is good, His kindness is meant to lead us to repentance. And so what does that say about the state of heart that hates that kindness so much to... ⁓ Slander it with evil intent so that I don't have to repent It's actually it is the furthest thing from calling into question the character of God that Jesus says this in Matthew 12 It is the furthest thing it is we need to understand it as an indictment of the human heart and the extent that the human heart will go to be able to to stay in control of my own life and Because God God is slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness and forgiving sin and iniquity like Who he reveals himself to be in exodus when he when he passes before moses He says I will declare my name to you And that is where he says the lord the lord slow to anger, merciful, abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness, forgiving sin and iniquity, but who will by no means pardon the guilty. That is all in God saying, this is my name. This is who I am. Okay, so if we take that. and then we nestle Jesus' words in Matthew 12 into that statement, it's very consistent with the character of God. He is slow to anger, and he's kind, and he's patient, and he's not late to the party, he's not slow as many count slowness, he is patient. So then those who do harden themselves against him to the most extreme extent God says Have it your way I'm not gonna pardon the guilty But I am slow to anger and so the opportunity to repent is before you But if you don't want me You'll get exactly what you want And that's really what C.S. Lewis was talking about when he writes that hell is locked from the inside. He's not saying it's actually locked from the inside. He's using a locked door to say that those who find themselves in eternity, apart from the presence, the loving presence of God, God is in essence treating them according to what they wanted in this life. God will treat you in eternity according to what you wanted in this lifetime. If what you wanted was to be right with him, so you repented, he will treat you accordingly in eternity. And if what you wanted was to be far from him, then... then that's exactly what will happen. And that is completely consistent with Jesus' words in Matthew 12 and with God revealing himself in Exodus to Moses. I feel such relief in that, like coming to a complex passage that we feel like, we've got to jump in and untangle. But then as we really examine it, we see that it's completely consistent with the character of God and the rest of scripture. It feels like such a relief. And again, with the tension ⁓ that the Lord leaves us in, you can see the significance of the warning that Jesus would be saying to them. You can see exact the power of God is on display. Do not reject it. And again, we can carry that urgency into our daily lives because the power of God is never not on display. And of course, we would want those in the world while they still can to see and respond instead of reject. ⁓ I find it so helpful for us to flush these things out, not only just to have understanding, but then to know how we can operate in the world and act and live. a part of that is understanding things we might hear in the world about things like this, because we're looking at this and we're saying this is the unforgivable sin. But there are others who say that there are other unforgivable. So my question is based on scripture. Is this the only unforgivable sin and what do we do with ⁓ the times where we hear people say that there are other things and acts in this life that we can do that will not be forgiven by God? Yeah, that and especially depending on your church background, that list might be long. ⁓ This is this is where. We have a we have a work as human beings This is not ⁓ a given church issue or a denominational issue. This is a human issue ⁓ We are always in danger of legalism That is bound to man-made doctrine because we think very highly of ourselves ⁓ and We also really like checklists and we like to think really highly of ourselves when we check the right boxes and we don't check the wrong ones. And that is legalism. It is the listing of dos and don'ts that if I will follow this list of dos and don'ts, then I'm good with God. And if I don't follow this list of dos and don'ts, I'm not good with God. And so I would say in any context in which we create a list of do's and don'ts and we attach God's ability to forgive based on whether we follow the list or not. We're in serious jeopardy of legalism or we're completely guilty of legalism. And I think that's helpful to understand that kind of undergirding and background of this question that you put forward, which I think is a good one. ⁓ because we're able to then say, okay, so sometimes we come to claims about something that will be told God won't forgive or can't forgive, but it's not actually rooted in scripture. It's rooted in thinking A plus B plus C equals D, and therefore that must mean that, right, that's man-made doctrine and becomes legalism. So with that in the background, I think the most obvious, the most prominent is probably the better word for a sin that some people claim can't be forgiven is suicide. And there's a very specific reason why it's very easy for us to think that that is somehow not forgivable. Because in the Catholic Church, forgiveness, is tied directly to your ability to observe the ordinances of the church. So the things in the church that are set out for you to do that by doing them, you are made right with God again. And those ordinances in the Catholic Church are baptism, confession, penance, and communion. My baptism in the Catholic view removes original sin so that I'm not guilty of original sin anymore. ⁓ confession to a priest as a representative of God is the way in the Catholic Church that you confess your sins? Well, if I don't confess them to a priest, then God can't be faithful and just to forgive me of all unrighteousness, because I haven't confessed it in the way that it is given to me in the ordinance of confessing to a priest. then the priest assigns penance, the things that I must do to make right the wrong that I did, I need to carry that out. And then communion is the way that that forgiveness is now applied to me so that I can actually live in the reality of forgiveness. That's why in the Catholic Church, it's such a big deal when someone is not allowed to take communion. If we you hear about like high profile people like presidents who endorse certain Legislation and the Catholic Church will say that you're no longer allowed to take communion That has happened with previous presidents who endorsed abortion the Catholic Church has said You're not allowed to take communion now because you support the killing of the unborn well, what that means is Any sins that you commit will not be forgiven now because you can't do the thing through which forgiveness comes. So when we understand that in the Catholic ⁓ sphere, then we can say, okay, so in the instance of suicide, are you able to confess your sin, to do penance, to take communion? No, you can't. Therefore, as is believed in that tradition, you can't be forgiven. ⁓ And I would just say emphatically, that is completely devoid of the gospel. There is no gospel truth in that. That is a man-made system of making ourselves right with God through checking the right boxes and not checking the wrong ones. That is legalism. I think that if we look at the gospel and Jesus' death on the cross being sufficient for all sin, and then we look at the realities that God discerns our hearts deeper than we could ever fathom or understand, that Jeremiah says that the heart is desperately wicked who can know it what what person can discern just how wicked their own heart is and Then in Hebrews were told that the Word of God is living inactive sharper than any two-edged sword able to pierce between soul and spirit Bone and marrow so that we are exposed before the one to whom we will give an account Okay, so we put those two together and we say I can't know the depth of the sin of my heart and God's Word gets to the very heart of it and Jesus death was sufficient for the the full depth of my sinfulness not just the depth that I understand What does that mean? That means that Christ's death on the cross is sufficient to cover even the sins I'm unaware I've committed. Even the sins that went further than I thought they did. When I say, Lord, I have sinned, please forgive me. That forgiveness is not tied to my ability to define the scope of my sin. And so what we can't do is limit the forgiveness of God to our ability to define the scope of it. The second piece that I think is important is if we start to look at all the different factors that go into the reason why someone would take their own life. what we have to do is have an incredible amount of compassion on the mind that could even get there. Because that is a mind that is weighed down by the brokenness of the world, weighed down by the distortion of sin, the way that sin distorts the truth in their own mind. That I think that we would do really well to say, think that that person was struggling beyond what I could possibly comprehend. But the gospel goes further than what I can comprehend or what they can comprehend. And when we factor in the issues of mental health, the issues of of just the the spiritual turmoil that people find themselves in. What we should really be asking is, is the gospel, does the gospel go deep enough to even get past those things in the grace and kindness of God? And the answer should be a resounding yes. God's forgiveness absolutely can overcome. my own brokenness and the ways that I brokenly respond to it. And so, though some will claim that suicide is an unforgivable sin, you do not find that in scripture. You find that there are people in scripture who do kill themselves. Saul, Judas. ⁓ and and in those in those instances what we shouldn't do is we shouldn't take Jesus words in Matthew 12 and say Okay, that applies to that too because I think that it applies to that We should only we should only say that it applies to it because scripture says it applies to it Which we don't find that anywhere in scripture So, is suicide sin? Yes. It violates the sixth commandment, you shall not murder, that includes self-murder. Man is made in the image of God, and to shed the blood of the image of God is to commit a heinous sin called murder. But is murder forgivable? Yes, it is. And, I mean, Saul himself says he was a persecutor of Christians that included presiding over the death of a Christian and giving approval to it. And yet, Saul is forgiven. So is suicide sin? Yes. But is there the need for compassion toward the one who has carried that out or toward the one who is struggling with those kinds of thoughts. Yes, compassion is absolutely necessary, not enablement, but compassion to say, ⁓ you need Jesus and I want to care for you and walk with you and and and hold your hand as you walk toward him so that you can be renewed and restored and redeemed and healed of of these things that are plaguing you. the unforgivable sin is specifically unforgivable because I will not go to Jesus. So ⁓ that puts those two things in wildly different categories where we should think totally differently about the two. And we want to and need to submit ourselves to the truth of scripture. ⁓ And thank you for teaching us further on that today, this topic and those beautiful gospel reminders at the end. think that's a really important place to root any kind of topic that we're grappling with, other scripture, how we're living ⁓ to check it against the truths of the gospel, which you did there so beautifully at the end. ⁓ Thank you guys for joining us today for the Harvest After Sunday podcast, where we help you grow into the image of Christ by applying the truths of His Word for His mission. We'll see you Sunday.