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3 comments about “#239-What is the “Unforgivable Sin”?”
Barb In Nebraska -- May 5th, 2010 at 8:28 pm
Thanks SO much for answering my question and throwing in some bonus info too. ;-)
Mary Robertson -- May 10th, 2010 at 11:30 am
Hello Apologies if I missed this angle but I find it hard to reconcile what you said about the ‘unforgivable sin’ when I think about people who live good lives but are atheists, unable to grasp the idea of God. I’d be interested to hear your response on this, please.
Jeff Shepard -- May 11th, 2010 at 9:35 pm
Quick correction from the “Unforgivable Sin” podcast. The feast celebrated in Cleveland’s Little Italy is the Feast of the Assumption (Virgin Mary) in August and not the Feast of the Ascension (Jesus Christ) as Brittany stated.
On a more serious note, isn’t the only unforgivable sin suicide? It is unequivocally clear that the one unforgivable sin is permanently rejecting Christ (John 3:18; 3:36). Thus, speaking against the Holy Spirit is equivalent to rejecting Christ with such finality that no future repentance is possible. The only way that no future repentance is possible is by committing suicide. God’s forgiveness is not limited by man’s sin. So if a person completely rejects Jesus, this is not a permanent sin while the person is alive. That person always has the chance to repent and accept Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. If the person never repents his rejection before death, this sin will not be forgiven, but this is not unlike dying with any mortal sin not repented. It results in eternal damnation.
Suicide is the deliberate and unlawful killing of one of God’s own beloved children, whom He cares for very much. Therefore, Suicide is, in effect, self-murder. The unfortunate thing about it is that the one who commits it cannot repent of it. The damage is permanently done. Since suicide is murder of one’s self and murder is a mortal sin the person committing suicide dies with unrepented mortal sin, ergo eternal damnation.
If suicide was a forgivable sin and a person truly believes in Heaven and the glory of God and Jesus Christ and eternal life in perfect union with God and Jesus Christ in Heaven is the ultimate goal and glorious beyond our imagination, why not take the short cut, suicide, to eternal life with God. Also, if suicide was forgivable, this in effect would validate religious cult suicides (e.g. Jonestown).
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Thanks SO much for answering my question and throwing in some bonus info too. ;-)
Hello Apologies if I missed this angle but I find it hard to reconcile what you said about the ‘unforgivable sin’ when I think about people who live good lives but are atheists, unable to grasp the idea of God. I’d be interested to hear your response on this, please.
Quick correction from the “Unforgivable Sin” podcast. The feast celebrated in Cleveland’s Little Italy is the Feast of the Assumption (Virgin Mary) in August and not the Feast of the Ascension (Jesus Christ) as Brittany stated.
On a more serious note, isn’t the only unforgivable sin suicide? It is unequivocally clear that the one unforgivable sin is permanently rejecting Christ (John 3:18; 3:36). Thus, speaking against the Holy Spirit is equivalent to rejecting Christ with such finality that no future repentance is possible. The only way that no future repentance is possible is by committing suicide. God’s forgiveness is not limited by man’s sin. So if a person completely rejects Jesus, this is not a permanent sin while the person is alive. That person always has the chance to repent and accept Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. If the person never repents his rejection before death, this sin will not be forgiven, but this is not unlike dying with any mortal sin not repented. It results in eternal damnation.
Suicide is the deliberate and unlawful killing of one of God’s own beloved children, whom He cares for very much. Therefore, Suicide is, in effect, self-murder. The unfortunate thing about it is that the one who commits it cannot repent of it. The damage is permanently done. Since suicide is murder of one’s self and murder is a mortal sin the person committing suicide dies with unrepented mortal sin, ergo eternal damnation.
If suicide was a forgivable sin and a person truly believes in Heaven and the glory of God and Jesus Christ and eternal life in perfect union with God and Jesus Christ in Heaven is the ultimate goal and glorious beyond our imagination, why not take the short cut, suicide, to eternal life with God. Also, if suicide was forgivable, this in effect would validate religious cult suicides (e.g. Jonestown).
Please note that the editorial staff reserves the right to not post comments it deems to be inappropriate and/or malicious in nature, as well as edit comments for length, clarity and fairness.