Is There a Sin God Cannot Forgive?
Notes
Transcript
Welcome to the last Wednesday of the month and another installment of “You asked for it!” There is no one to blame for tonight’s Bible study but the person who asked the question!
I’m taking a bit of a different approach this evening, I am going to read the question and then immediately answer it, and then build upon the answer. The question is straightforward and the answer is short, but it gives us a chance to dive into deeper waters. Here we go:
Q: Is there a sin that God cannot forgive?
A: Yes, and no.
Here is the issue or the crux of the matter. Perhaps we should ask the question differently. Instead of “Is there a sin that God CANNOT forgive” we should ask, “Is there a sin that God WILL NOT forgive.”
God CAN forgive and God WILL forgive anyone who will believe in His Son, but God WILL NOT forgive anyone who does not believe on Jesus. God can, and will, forgive anyone who rejects the sacrifice of His So, but God will not forgive anyone who rejects His Son.
Listen to the words of Jesus:
18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
Compare this verse with John 3:16
16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
I have said repeatedly that I used to preach God would send unbelievers to hell, but that is not true. God in His mercy and in His grace gives unbelievers an entire lifetime to believe but by their refusal the choose hell for themselves by rejecting the gospel.
Now, here is an interesting concept that relates to tonight’s question: Does God give us a choice in whether or not we will believe?
Some say no. Some say that God has “predestined” some to be saved and only those in that number can and will be saved. Others say yes, that God can save anyone anytime anywhere if they will just believe. We are not interested tonight in what man says, but rather what does the Bible say?
Turn with me to Ephesians 1:1-13. Let’s read these verses together.
Immediately several words jump out:
Predestination
Chosen
Sealed
These words seem to indicate that the evidence for mankind not being able to choose to believe for themselves is overwhelming, however, what about all those verses that teach “whomsoever will”?
16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
1 My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:
2 And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.
17 And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.
17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
Now go back to Ephesians 1:1-13 with me and let’s look at those same words again, but in context and see where the emphasis lies:
These verses drive home for us the fact that we have free will to choose Jesus or to reject Jesus. This demonstrates to us that the only sin God cannot, will not forgive is the sin of hearing the gospel, of learning of your need to be saved, and then rejecting the same message of forgiveness and choosing death and hell over forgiveness and eternal life in heaven.
Does God give us a choice? Yes. He gives us the chance to trust in Jesus or else He wouldn’t be fair and just. He could not withhold from someone the ability to to choose Jesus and then condemn them for not choosing Him. Perhaps the scariest part of this question is not knowing when our time is up. Hebrews 9:27
27 And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:
God is not a respecter of persons. We all meet the same fate. We are born spiritually dead in need of restoration. Failure to be reconciled to God by faith in Jesus Christ will determine your eternal destination. John warns of a “sin unto death” in 1 John 5:16–17 “16 If any man see his brother sin a sin which is not unto death, he shall ask, and he shall give him life for them that sin not unto death. There is a sin unto death: I do not say that he shall pray for it. 17 All unrighteousness is sin: and there is a sin not unto death.”
If you have ever read these verses in 1 John and been confused by them, you are in good company. Admitatedly they are among some of the most confusing verses in the Bible. Essentially they remind us that we are not the captains of our own vessesls. God is in control. While we are all born sinners, and while the wages of sin is death, we do not determine on our own when payment is due. God does. That being said, God has given us all we need to know about eternity, about our sin, and about heaven and hell. God decides when we leave this world for the next one.
So while there is not sin God cannot forgive, there is one sin He will not forgive, rejecting the sacrifice of Jesus for your sins. You clearly have a choice in choosing Him, but you do not decide when it will be too late. That is why you must act now!