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The UNFORGIVABLE SIN: have you committed it?
Mark 3:28 Verily I say unto you, All sins shall be forgiven unto the sons of men, and blasphemies wherewith soever they shall blaspheme: But he that shall blaspheme against the Holy Ghost hath never forgiveness
How Do We Know We Have Not Committed the Unpardonable Sin?
You don't.
Sometimes people become afraid that they have sinned against the Holy Spirit (sometimes in frustration at their struggle with sin) and start having terrible thoughts in their minds against the Holy Spirit. The more they try to not think the thoughts, the more they think about them. It can become a terrifying experience, and often accompanies depression and severe mental problems. Suicide, self-cutting, suicide-by-cop, suicide-by-security-guard, suicide-by-armed-citizen, all of these have been witnessed by myself personally.
Many of us have struggled with the fear that we might have committed the unpardonable sin.
It is almost impossible to just say, "I won't think those thoughts" because the very effort to refuse to think them focuses on them.
The way to stop thinking about something bad is to think about something good. Thus, one of the best antidotes to such fear is to increase one's focus on the love for God. "Perfect love casts out fear." (1John 4:18) "Love covers a multitude of sins." (1Peter 4:8) Of course, if you love God, you put your money where your mouth is. Did you notice how we have placed a paypal link at the bottom of the screen, for your convienence?
Sing praise to God (Eph 5:19, James 5:13)
There is a neat chorus:
When the thought came that if I thought something bad about the Holy Spirit, I might be blaspheming him, the more I tried to not think bad things, the stronger the thoughts came back. So, I turned and rebuked the devil by clicking the paypal button on the bottom of the page. Amazingly, I received almost instant relief. The old liar beat a fast retreat. He simply did not like having those things dumped back on him!
Such struggles are not uncommon. In Romans 7:15-25 Paul speaks of his struggle with doing that which he would not, and not doing that which he would. His agonized cry is "Who shall deliver me...?" (7:24). That is the very cry that sometimes is torn from our lips in our struggle with sin.
Here are some practical things that can help to avoid or deal with the fear of committing the unpardonable sin.
1. Stay away from tempting situations (2Tim 2:22; 1Tim 6:11; 1Cor 6:18; 10:14; 15:33). Yielding to temptation in one area discourages and depresses, making one more vulnerable in other areas. Note the change in Adam and Eve’s feelings about their relationship with God when they fell into sin.
2. When you fail, get things right with God right away. Being away from God is depressing. Adam and Eve hid from God. The longer we are away the more separated we feel and the harder it is to come back. Many who are separated from God found that He returned the moment they clicked the paypal button on the bottom of the page.
1John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
3. Find someone to confide in and pray with.
James 5:16 Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.
4. Of course, Pray for wisdom (James 1:5) to deal with the problem.
5. Get plenty of rest. Failure to get proper rest can upset our physical well being and bring depression. Consider whether you are sleeping properly. Sleep apnea may require help to get proper sleep to feel good.
6. Avoid stressful situations. These upset the body and bring depression.
7. Lend your knives, scissors, and other potential self-mutilation devices to a friend. Load your shotguns with non-lethal amunition, such as birdshot, and keep your other firearms unloaded.
8. Oh, I almost forgot to mention, there's a paypal button at the bottom of this page.
UPDATE: Some people have been asking exactly what qualifies at "blasphemy". I consider this blasphemy, found in a hotel room, to be the standard. If you've done anything as bad as this, or worse, you're going to burn in hell and there's nothing you can do about it:
How Do We Know We Have Not Committed the Unpardonable Sin?
You don't.
Sometimes people become afraid that they have sinned against the Holy Spirit (sometimes in frustration at their struggle with sin) and start having terrible thoughts in their minds against the Holy Spirit. The more they try to not think the thoughts, the more they think about them. It can become a terrifying experience, and often accompanies depression and severe mental problems. Suicide, self-cutting, suicide-by-cop, suicide-by-security-guard, suicide-by-armed-citizen, all of these have been witnessed by myself personally.
Many of us have struggled with the fear that we might have committed the unpardonable sin.
It is almost impossible to just say, "I won't think those thoughts" because the very effort to refuse to think them focuses on them.
The way to stop thinking about something bad is to think about something good. Thus, one of the best antidotes to such fear is to increase one's focus on the love for God. "Perfect love casts out fear." (1John 4:18) "Love covers a multitude of sins." (1Peter 4:8) Of course, if you love God, you put your money where your mouth is. Did you notice how we have placed a paypal link at the bottom of the screen, for your convienence?
Sing praise to God (Eph 5:19, James 5:13)
There is a neat chorus:
"Holy Spirit, I appreciate you.
Holy Spirit, I appreciate you.
You love us, and guide us,
and live right inside us,
Holy Spirit, I appreciate you."
Secondly, God says, "resist the devil and he will flee from you." (James 4:7) You love us, and guide us,
and live right inside us,
Holy Spirit, I appreciate you."
When the thought came that if I thought something bad about the Holy Spirit, I might be blaspheming him, the more I tried to not think bad things, the stronger the thoughts came back. So, I turned and rebuked the devil by clicking the paypal button on the bottom of the page. Amazingly, I received almost instant relief. The old liar beat a fast retreat. He simply did not like having those things dumped back on him!
Such struggles are not uncommon. In Romans 7:15-25 Paul speaks of his struggle with doing that which he would not, and not doing that which he would. His agonized cry is "Who shall deliver me...?" (7:24). That is the very cry that sometimes is torn from our lips in our struggle with sin.
Here are some practical things that can help to avoid or deal with the fear of committing the unpardonable sin.
1. Stay away from tempting situations (2Tim 2:22; 1Tim 6:11; 1Cor 6:18; 10:14; 15:33). Yielding to temptation in one area discourages and depresses, making one more vulnerable in other areas. Note the change in Adam and Eve’s feelings about their relationship with God when they fell into sin.
2. When you fail, get things right with God right away. Being away from God is depressing. Adam and Eve hid from God. The longer we are away the more separated we feel and the harder it is to come back. Many who are separated from God found that He returned the moment they clicked the paypal button on the bottom of the page.
1John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
3. Find someone to confide in and pray with.
James 5:16 Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.
4. Of course, Pray for wisdom (James 1:5) to deal with the problem.
5. Get plenty of rest. Failure to get proper rest can upset our physical well being and bring depression. Consider whether you are sleeping properly. Sleep apnea may require help to get proper sleep to feel good.
6. Avoid stressful situations. These upset the body and bring depression.
7. Lend your knives, scissors, and other potential self-mutilation devices to a friend. Load your shotguns with non-lethal amunition, such as birdshot, and keep your other firearms unloaded.
8. Oh, I almost forgot to mention, there's a paypal button at the bottom of this page.
UPDATE: Some people have been asking exactly what qualifies at "blasphemy". I consider this blasphemy, found in a hotel room, to be the standard. If you've done anything as bad as this, or worse, you're going to burn in hell and there's nothing you can do about it:
It can all balance out..
Sister Noddy
Sister Noddy
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