The Sin That Cannot Be Forgiven
What Did Jesus Really Mean? Few passages in the Bible have caused as much fear and confusion as Jesus' words about blasphemy against the Holy Spirit, in Mark 5 . Many sincere Christians have wondered if they committed this sin years ago without realizing it. Some remember saying something foolish before they were saved. Others think back to a time when they doubted God or questioned the Bible. Still others have heard preachers speak about the "unpardonable sin" in such frightening ways that they have spent years wondering if there is any hope left for them. Yet when we carefully read what Jesus actually said, and especially why He said it, we discover that many of these fears come from misunderstanding the passage rather than from understanding it. Whenever we come to a difficult passage in Scripture, we should remember that the Bible interprets itself. First , we look at the definition of the words being used. Second , we examine the context by reading the verses bef...