Questions and Answers
Okay, what does the Bible mean by the unforgivable sin? Also called the blasphemy against the Holy Spirit? Yeah,
Blasphemy and Apostasy Defined
I think that there's a connection between that and apostasy. And apostasy, I think, is spelled out in Hebrews 6 and Hebrews 10. So, in the Gospel record, I think specifically the crime, the sin that is being dealt with is that Jesus did mighty deeds and miracles, and his opponents, the unbelieving Jews, were ascribing that to the devil himself. And so, it's in that context, in verse 31 of Matthew 12, therefore I say to you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, But the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven men.
Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man, it will be forgiven him. But whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit, it will not be forgiven him, either in this age or in the age to come." So by their conduct, by their rejection, by their resistance of our Lord Jesus, it was impugning the Holy Spirit. I don't think we're supposed to see, as we talked in the last section, you know, divisions amongst the Godhead. I think Berkhoff says it well.
Sin Against the Spirit's Official Work
It is not so much a sin against the person of the Holy Spirit as a sin against his official work. in revealing, both objectively and subjectively, the grace and glory of God in Christ. So it is to resist and reject that which God has done here, specifically in the miracles and the signs and the wonders that are attributed to our Lord Jesus. And then
Apostasy in Hebrews 6 and 10
in Hebrews 6 and 10, the commonality is to resist and reject what God has done in sending the Son of His love, who is superior to the Old Covenant, who is superior to the Aaronic priesthood, who is superior to all these things that you guys want to keep going back to. So an apostasy is a defection from the truth. It is a rejection of the truth. It is, in the language of Hebrews 10, to trample again underfoot the Son of God.
So, to witness the works, the power, the glory, the gospel of God, and then just to wholesale reject it. And
Who the Apostate Is Not
I don't think it's the struggling saint. I don't think it's the little faith guy that's, you know, am I a believer or not? These people don't want recovery. It's not like they've committed the unpardonable sin or they've committed apostasy and they feel bad.
That's not it at all. I mean, these guys in Matthew 12, not only did they not feel bad, but they clamored or cried out, away with him, away with him, crucified him, manipulated Pontius Pilate such that he would be crucified. in the same way in those contexts in Hebrews 6 and 10, they needed to stay in terms of their profession of faith in Christ and not go back to Temple, not go back to Moses, not go back to Aaron. Not that Temple, Moses, and Aaron were bad, but Temple, Moses, and Aaron pointed to Jesus. The substances here don't go back to the shadows.
To go back to the shadows was a defection from or an apostasy from the glory of the Lord Jesus Christ. But if they were like that in the next year, they might actually hear the gospel or they could come turn around again, right? That's right.
Gospel to Every Creature
We don't know who a genuine bona fide apostate is. We don't know who a genuine bona fide reprobate is. There's no markers. There's no indicators.
We preach the gospel to every creature. It's God's will, God's work to save his elect. And so, yeah, we don't, if somebody, Now, I mean, if somebody is a violent apostate or a violent reprobate, that doesn't mean we have to keep, you know, going into their yard while they try to shoot us. You know, you've got to exercise wisdom.
Paul says in Romans 12, as far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men. Well, I don't think that obligates me to get shot with buckshot by a reprobate neighbor. So yeah, we don't know decisively and we don't know beyond a shadow of a doubt who's a reprobate and who's an apostate. So I always try to be careful in using that language in preaching or teaching because we don't know.
Somebody may give expression or give evidences of being an apostate or a reprobate and get convicted and converted. And we praise God. Yeah. While there's breath in the lungs, there's hope for them.
That's right. Amen. That's how we operate. Yeah.
That's right. But there is a category of apostate and of reprobate, just because we don't know who they are. God does. So, you know, and I think that's what those Matthew 12 or the unpardonable sin and the apostasy passages in Hebrews 6 and 10, I think that's what's going on.
Yeah. And
Doubt as Evidence of Grace
if somebody's doubting and wondering, have I committed that sin? Does the fact that they're asking that question show that they haven't? Yeah. Yeah.