Question Corner

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Jan 9, 1896

No. 251. The Unpardonable Sin.

WHAT is this sin? and what is the destiny of those who commit it? Will they live and die the same as other sinners? How long is it supposed that the wicked will be punished? Mrs. H.

1. The unpardonable sin is a sin that can not be pardoned. This is not because God is not willing to pardon, but because the unpardoned sinner has rejected the means of pardon. The only means of salvation are the blood (or life) of Christ, by which we are transformed. See Heb. 10:29. Now if a man rejects salvation through the sacrifice of Christ’s life, if he counts as naught the power of the Spirit of God, how can he be reached? God will not compel belief. He asks, invites, entreats, men to come to him, accept the salvation purchased by the blood of Christ, and let the Spirit of God into their hearts, that their lives may be transformed to his image. See Rev. 1:5; Zech. 4:6; Eze. 36:26, 27; Rom. 8:9, 10. Now when in the light of the Gospel men reject these means of grace, turn from them, cast them away, their case is described in Heb. 10:26–29: “For if we sin willfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins. . . . Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye [than temporal punishment anciently], shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden underfoot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace?” The Jews committed this sin in attributing the works of the Spirit of God through Jesus to the works of Beelzebub. Read Mark 4:22–30. The Spirit of God if received would have healed them, but they rejected it. And every one commits the same sin who year after year resists God, and at last rejects him altogether. God has no other means of cleansing and pardon. They, having rejected its strongest pleading, will never recognize it more, nor yield to its entreaty.

2. “The wages of sin is death.” Rom. 6:23. “Sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.” James 1:15. Death, or destruction, is the end of sin. We do not know as there is any difference between unpardonable sin and the sins of the finally impenitent. In both cases sin is chosen instead of righteousness, and thereby death is chosen instead of life.

3. The Bible reveals that God will reward every man according to his deeds. Matt. 16:27; Rom. 2:6–11; 2 Cor. 5:10; Rev. 22:12. Some will doubtless be longer in dying than others, but the punishment of each and all will be eternal death.

4. One word more on the unpardonable sin. Satan persuades precious souls who have fallen or departed from God to think that they are past hope, that they have committed the unpardonable sin. But we are never past hope as long as we have a desire to do the Lord’s will for the Lord’s sake. As long as his Spirit pleads with us and we recognize its voice, there is hope. As long as we hate sin of itself and long for righteousness, there is hope. Those who commit the unpardonable sin are generally little worried about the matter. O, there is all hope in God if we will return to him! Whosoever comes to him he will in nowise cast out. The only one who will not be forgiven is the one who loves sin more than righteousness, self more than Christ.

No. 252. John 4:24.

PLEASE explain what is meant when it says, “God is a spirit.”

The Revised Version is better, “God is spirit.” It means that God is a spiritual being. 1 Cor. 15:45, 46. He is not gross, material, mortal, earthly, but spiritual, yet not less substantial; for Christ is said to have been “the express image of his person,” or, as in the Revised Version, “the very image of his substance.” The things of heaven are more substantial than those of earth. See Heb. 10:34. Angels are spirits, yet real beings. See Heb. 1:14. We must not think that our idea or conception of substance is the one by which to judge the heavenly. While the heavenly beings have form and substance, they have not the flesh of man.

No. 253. The Second Creation.

WILL you please tell me your opinion as regards the second creation. In Gen. 1:29 it says God created man in his own image, male and female. But in the next chapter verses 18 to 23 would seem to imply that a second creation took place. Will you please explain in your next issue and oblige a subscriber. P. C.

Both chapters refer to the same creation—the first is a general description or narrative as regards the world, and the second is a detailed account as regards the first male and female, preliminary to their test and fall. The same order is common in Scripture. The second creation is when God regenerates men (2 Cor. 5:17), and will be completed in the new heavens and new earth (Rev. 21:1, 5).