The question does not arise often, but it does arise. Some are fearful of the answer and rightly so. Depending on the answer, it could impact their eternal destiny.

The question about the unpardonable sin often arises because of a warning found in the Scriptures. In Mark 3:28-29 Christ stated, “Assuredly, I say to you, all sins will be forgiven the sons of men, and whatever blasphemies they may utter; but he who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness but is subject to eternal condemnation.”

Examine the context.

Christ performed miracle after miracle. So much so, it is said about Him in Mark 3:10, “For He healed many, so that as many as had afflictions pressed about to touch Him.” Those miracles were designed to prove that He was God. Some, though, were convinced that He was doing them by the power of Beelzebub, the prince of the demons.

Christ’s answer was, “How can Satan cast out Satan?” – Mark 10:23. He then went on to warn about blaspheming the Holy Spirit, saying, in essence, “I have nothing more to show you. If these miracles do not convince you, nothing I do or say will.”  That’s why the unpardonable sin is attributing to Satan the works done by the Holy Spirit. In rejecting the miracles, they were rejecting Christ who is the source of the miracles. The miracles were designed to prove He was who He claimed to be, the Son of God.

Today there is no unpardonable sin. Christ is not here in the flesh performing miracles. However, although there is no unpardonable sin, there is an unpardoned sin. That unpardoned sin is going to one’s grave having rejected Christ as one’s only way to eternal life. We are told in Acts 4:12, “Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”

How should that truth impact our witness and encourage us to tell anybody and everybody the good news of Christ’s death and resurrection? The answer is in two outstanding ways, and they are related to each other.

First, there is no sin that cannot be forgiven.

Christ’s death on the cross paid for all the sins one could ever commit. His resurrection the third day proved His victory over sin and the grave. Whether it be the smallest sin one thinks of (such as a “little white lie”) or the worst sin one could ever hear of (such as a mass murder), all can be forgiven. We do not have to ask a person for a list of the things he or she has done wrong before we can extend to them the good news of Christ. That is why 1 John 2:2 tells us, “And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world.”

Second, since there is no sin that cannot be forgiven, there is no sinner that cannot be saved.

That is one reason that the term “whoever” is frequently used in Scripture. One of the better known verses of the Bible, John 3:16, tells us, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.” Hence, if someone goes to their grave without Christ, it will not be because He rejected them but because they rejected Him.

Once more, today there is no unpardonable sin. There is but one unpardoned sin: rejecting Christ’s sin payment for our sin problem. Each of us should ask, have I trusted Jesus Christ as my personal Savior, my way to eternal life? If not, why not today? If we have done so, we ought to ask, “Have I told those I know how they too can experience His pardon?” What better news do we have for anyone and everyone than the good news – But with God there is forgiveness. (Psalm 130:4)