Transcript
Ben Fallon: Paul, in one of your entries in your daily devotional Everyday Gospel, you write, “It is wonderful to know that if you are God's child, no sin is spiritually fatal. God's grace is more powerful than any compelling sin, so in the bounty of his mercy, God offers to each of his children the grace of fresh starts and new beginnings.”
Now, Jeremy took exception to that statement, and he encourages you to read Matthew 12:32, where Jesus himself tells us otherwise. So let me just read Matthew 12:32. It says, “And whoever speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come.”
So can you help us understand the unforgivable sin and what Jesus means in Matthew 12:32?
Paul Tripp: I want to begin by saying this, “Scripture is clear, over and over and over again, that no one who seeks God's forgiveness is beyond the reach of his forgiving grace.” Some passages, Jeremiah 29:13, “You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart.” 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.” Proverbs 28:13, “Whoever conceals his transgressions will not prosper, but he who confesses and forsakes them will obtain mercy.” James 4:8, “Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.”
It's very important to observe in these four passages that I have read that none of them has an exception clause; that they're blanket promises of forgiveness no matter what sin you're bringing that needs forgiveness. No exceptions in any of these passages. And it's important to remember that when you look at a particular passage, you must always remember two things.
It sits in some kind of context. And, we must use Scripture to interpret Scripture. So you can never fully understand a passage in and of itself.
Matthew 12:28–32 says:
But if it is by the Spirit of God that I cast out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you. Or how can someone enter a strong man's house and plunder his goods, unless he first binds the strong man? Then indeed he may plunder his house. Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters. Therefore I tell you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven people, but blasphemy against the (Holy) Spirit will not be forgiven. And whoever speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come.
Now let's unpack what this important passage is teaching. First, in its original setting, it is spoken to Pharisees who were in a persistent position of assigning the power of the Spirit to the devil. That's the blasphemy that's being talked about. And if you are in a position of life-shaping resistance of the person and work of the Holy Spirit, remember what that means. This is not a moment in the Pharisees' life; they were in a persistent resistance of the Spirit of God that was working with and through Jesus to do these miracles. Remember that it's the Holy Spirit who meets us with regenerating grace, breathes life into our dead hearts, opens our eyes to our need, so we would see, grieve, confess, and repent of our sins. So, you have got to get what this passage is about. This passage is not teaching that there are certain sins that God is unwilling to forgive. It's warning us about the horrible condition of someone who's not interested in seeking God's forgiveness because they are resisting the constant conviction of the Holy Spirit.
I can say this, “There was no forgiving grace for the Pharisees because, in their resistance of the Holy Spirit's work, they resisted the humble acknowledgement and confession of sin.” That is the means of forgiveness. They hardened themselves against God, against the work of his Spirit, about the person and work of his Son who came for their sake and for their forgiveness. It's impossible to resist the Holy Spirit's work of conviction and to enter into the grace of God's forgiving and justifying and reconciling work. So what is this passage actually teaching?
It's not teaching that there are certain sins that will never be forgiven. It's teaching the sorry condition of not wanting God's forgiveness, not caring about God's forgiveness, not seeking God's forgiveness because I've resisted the work of God's Spirit. Well, that means there's no hope for me because the means of forgiveness is regenerating, illumining, convicting grace. The Pharisees had a problem. It's that they repudiated what Jesus came to do because they repudiated the work of the Spirit. And in the same way, if I resist his convicting grace, there's no forgiveness for me because that conviction is the means of that forgiveness. It's not that God wouldn't be willing to forgive me. I could go to my Lord and say, “For years, I have mocked your Spirit, I have run from his conviction, but I now come to you, and I plead for your forgiveness.” God's going to open his arms, and he's going to draw me in with justifying, reconciling, transforming, and delivering grace!
BF: Well, Paul's second daily devotional, Everyday Gospel, follows a Bible-in-a-year reading plan, and it takes you from Genesis through Revelation with Paul's commentary throughout. It's a great resource to enhance your personal devotions and Bible study, but I would also recommend our five-minute Bible study series where Paul provides weekly short studies on passages of Scripture. We have seven seasons out right now with a new episode out each Monday. You can find that at paultripp.com on our podcast network, or across our social media channels.
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