The Unpardonable Sin

SBS:  Next Week Mother’s Day

Prayer

Intro: The U/P sin shows up in all kinds of places.  It is the title for a movie from 1918; a biography written about Nathaniel Hathwhorne; Hathwhorne himself writes a story about a man Named Ethan Brand who is obsessed with the U/P sin.  John Bunyan writes of a man trapped in an iron cage.  These pictures are frightening.

 My Father preached and advertised a sermon like this and I remember the phone ringing all day before with people asking what the sin was.  Well, what did he say? . . .  I will tell you later.

EVERY PERSON WHO IS HERE TODAY OUGHT TO BE CONCERNED ABOUT THE SIN THAT JESUS WARNS ABOUT.

I.                    WHAT CAUSES THE SITUATION?  VV. 22-30

a.       Healing-vv.22-23  Jesus shows he is better than they are at what they claim to be best at.

b.      Hatred  v. 24  because he lowers their status, they hate him

c.       House of Satan v. 25-30  Jesus is asking “Is Satan divided?”  He then shows them that the Kingdom of God {unusual for Matthew, usually Kingdom of Heaven} is here.

II.                 WHAT CHARACTORIZES THE SIN?  VV. 31-32

a.       It is not like any other sin. V. 31

b.      It is a particular sin. V. 32

c.       It is blasphemy of the Holy Spirit The particulars have been divided into three basic options:

                                                               i.      Unknown

                                                             ii.      Known-some sort of specific denial of God the Spirit’s power

                                                            iii.      A specific sin that was stating that Jesus miracles were done by the power of Satan.  Thus this sin could no longer be committed.

III.               WHAT COMMUNICATES SALVATION VV. 33-37

a.       You will be judged by your fruit. V. 33-34

b.      You will be judged by your words. V. 35-36

c.       You will be justified by your words. V. 37

d.      You will be forgiven of any sin. V. 31

The news that my father told those people who called was that if they were worried about having committed the unforgiveable sin, then they had not committed it.  Anyone who had committed this sin would not be worried about it.

William Cowper was convinced that he had committed the U/P sin.  He went to sleep in the dark and woke up in the light.  There is a fountain filled with blood . . .