WHAT is the unpardonable sin? When and how is it committed? These questions have often been asked, and demand a Scriptural answer.
It is very evident that there is an unpardonable sin, for in 1 John 5:16 we read, "There is a sin unto death." And also we read in Matt. 12:31 of a sin against the Holy Ghost. Christ visits His people in the form of the Holy Ghost. John 14:16; 16:7, 13.
The unpardonable sin is not a specific sin, for do we not read in 1 John 1:9, "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness"? In this we do not see any limitations to God's forgiveness, but that it may appear stronger; in Isa. 1:18 the Lord says, "Come now, let us reason together, saith the Lord: tho your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; tho they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool." And we are promised in Zeph. 2:3, "Seek ye the Lord, all ye meek of the earth; . . . it may be ye shall be hid in the day of the Lord's anger." Also we read in Eze. 33:13-16 that repentance brings forgiveness.
But God will not admit of any half-hearted work. "Ye shall seek Me, and find Me, when ye search for Me with all your heart." Jer. 29:13.
It may seem to some that in these texts we have a direct contradiction, but in the light of God's word we hold to the text, "Ye shall know the truth," and believe it still rests with man whether he will be saved or not, for God is still stretching out His hand to Israel. Rom. 10:21.
Christ has said, "Ye will not come to Me, that ye might have life." John 5:40. And His pleading voice is still heard, "How often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!" Matt. 23:37. Also please read Luke 14:16-24.
God's commission to all is: "Whosoever will, let him take of the water of life freely." Rev. 22:17. Let us heed the admonition of Paul in Phil. 2:5, "Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus." But how can we let this mind be in us?
In the state of Nevada the great irrigation system is used. After returning to the house one morning, my little daughter asked me where I had been. I told her, "To let the water into the ditch," and explained to her how, by raising the flood-gate, I let the water flow in. Just so we let the mind of Christ flow into our hearts.
What is the flood-gate that is keeping Him out? — Sin. Isa. 59:1, 2, "The Lord's hand is not shortened that it can not save; neither His ear heavy, that it can not hear: but your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid His face from you, that He will not hear."
Therefore with all the heart let us heed the injunction of Isa. 55:6, 7, "Seek ye the Lord while He may be found, call ye upon Him while He is near: let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the Lord, and He will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon."
Thus we believe that the unpardonable sin is the final and lasting rejection of the Holy Spirit; the final, "I will not" that the individual gives to God's pleadings.