“I’m afraid I’ve committed the unpardonable sin.” This grim statement climaxed a telephone conversation the writer recently had with a lady in our city. Among other things she related how an accusing conscience tormented her “day and night” till she was almost at the point of mental derangement. Realizing that the Bible speaks about such a sin, and being unable to arrive at the knowledge of sins forgiven, this lady, like many others, concluded that she must have committed the “unpardonable sin,” and consequently, would never be forgiven.

It was the writer’s joy and privilege to point out the Scriptural, as well as dispensational solution, to her distressing problem.

Matthew 12:31,32 states: “Wherefore I say unto you, all manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men: but the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men. And whosoever speaketh a word against the Son of Man, it shall be forgiven him: but whosoever speaketh against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world [age], neither in the world to come.”

These words of warning came from the lips of the Son of God while He walked among men in His earthly ministry. They were addressed to the religious leaders of the nation Israel. Their blasphemy against Him even when He hung on the Cross was forgiven by the Father in answer to the prayer, “Father forgive them, for they know not what they do” (Luke 23:34).

But when at Pentecost, Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, announced the return of Messiah on the condition of Israel’s national repentance, these leaders instigated a persecution that reached its climax in the stoning of Stephen, a godly man, “full of the Holy Ghost” (Acts 7:54-60). It was here that the “unpardonable sin” was committed by Israel’s leaders. The Third Person of the Trinity had been blasphemed and His pleadings through the Apostles ignored. This sin will never be forgiven.

In this age it is blessedly true that “we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace” (Eph. 1:7). Though all sin is unpardoned till it is forgiven, it is not unpardonable. Christ died for all sin. The penalty has been paid and God now offers eternal life as a gift to be received by faith. Have you received this gift? Do you know the joy of sins forgiven? You can! “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved” (Acts 16:31 cf. I Cor. 15:1-4).