The Unpardonable Sin (Part 1)

Over the next few weeks I shall try to present my thoughts on the subject of the “Unpardonable Sin.” It is my hope that these words will give comfort, and inspiration, to those who have chosen to separate themselves from their brethren. It is my belief that they are not lost to us forever!

Q...Does the rite of baptism hold the key to understanding the unpardonable sin?

It is the example of the Bible that a resurrection from the dead is just that; a resurrection from death into life! However: it is the teaching of the ministry that those who are “begotten of God” in this lifetime and who “endure unto the end” will be resurrected “as spirit-beings;” going from death directly into life eternal! The Scriptures leave no doubt that the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord -- the question is: “Do the dead in Christ inherit eternal life “at the resurrection” or some time “after the resurrection”?

Whatever the answer: wisdom suggests that we try to understand just a little more perfectly the fate of those whom the Bible refers to as the “dead in Christ.”

Consider for a moment those who have been “begotten of God”: if they “fall-away” from the truth and die unrepentant what is their fate? Is it the teaching of the ministry that these individuals had their opportunity for salvation and failed? Are they doomed to be resurrected only to be cast into the lake of fire -- if so, in what form will they be resurrected? Having already experienced repentance, baptism, and the receiving of God’s Spirit, have they forfeited the salvation of their Father? As our brethren, are they irretrievably lost to us for all eternity?

Thus far, I have been unable to get a minister of any of the Churches of God to personally commit himself with regard to the fate of our brethren who have “fallen away.” Those ministers who have at least ventured an opinion usually tell me they are uncertain -- “and anyway” they usually add, “it’s not really our place to judge.” When pressed further as to those who were once our brethren the usual response has been: “God will judge them according to their works.”

However, much of the literature produced by the end-time Churches of God does provide a more definitive answer. There is a consensus (of sorts) that those who have once come to the knowledge of the truth and have “fallen away” must either repent of their sin “in this lifetime” and return to the Church or be rejected by God for all eternity.

Within this consensus lies the confusing question as to which “Church” the repentant individual should return. The assumption must be that whichever minister we ask, his answer must be to the specific “Church” or organization he represents. For him to admit that any other “Church of God” would be acceptable would be to admit that they, with their differing sets of doctrines, are also the true “Church” of God.

If there can only be one true Church of God would a return to one of the others be acceptable to God -- or can we assume that He sees little or no difference between any of them? If a return to any one of the many Churches of God would be acceptable to Him, would we be correct to wonder why the ministers of these many differing Churches have separated themselves one from the other; and in so doing have scattered the brethren to the four corners of the earth?

It is my personal belief that there is no one true “Church” of God! There is however one and only one true “church” of God; one “ekklesia”; one body of “called-out-ones” who are separated to God for His Holy purpose. This “church,” this “ekklesia,” is of one body no matter where the individuals may be found -- whether they exist as groups within various recognized organizations of men or as individuals scattered throughout the Earth they are the true “church” of God!

There are many “Churches of God” but these secular organizations have been created by men. These “Churches” include the Intercontinental Church of God, the Church of God International, the Living Church of God, the United Church of God, the Philadelphia Church of God, and many, many others. It is my belief that whether the truly repentant individual returns to any one of these “Churches” or to none of them is immaterial as to whether God will or will not accept his or her repentance.

The Unpardonable Sin

Let’s try to be clear about what the Bible has to say about the “unpardonable sin”:

Matthew 12:31-32 “[Jesus said] ‘Therefore I say to you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven men. Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man, it will be forgiven him; but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven men.’”

If we were to take this passage literally then we could commit any sin, curse and revile Jesus our Lord, perhaps even turn against God our Heavenly Father and still be forgiven if we experience a true and contrite repentance. However, if we even once curse and revile the Holy Spirit we cannot and will not be forgiven no matter how heartfelt our repentance. Does this make any sense to you -- or are we missing something?

The only reasonably clear explanation I have ever heard from the ministry to describe the “unpardonable sin” is this: “The unpardonable sin is any sin that has not been repented of.” However, if we accept this as an answer to our question, we must therefore assume that for those who have been begotten of God -- repentance for any and all sin must take place during this lifetime!

If we use this explanation for the “unpardonable sin” as an answer to the fate of those of our brethren who have “fallen away” there can only be one conclusion. Those who have fallen away and do not repent before their death -- cannot be resurrected to eternal life!

If we consider the tens of thousands who were members of the Worldwide Church of God during the early 1970’s, and if we believe that as many as 9 out of every 10 of them have fallen away and have remained unrepentant, then we must accept that fully 90% of those who were once our brethren are destined for the lake of fire! Is it possible that the Almighty and Everlasting God would allow such a thing to come to pass?

John 11:1-44 tells the story of the death and resurrection of Lazarus. Lazarus and his two sisters were all well loved by Jesus -- when Lazarus died and was buried in his tomb Jesus returned to Judea intending to raise him from the dead. From the story, as it is recorded in the Bible, it may be assumed that Lazarus -- had died in the faith fully expecting to rise up in the resurrection.

Q…Why would Jesus raise Lazarus from the dead if there was even the slightest chance that by giving him additional time as a mortal he might lose his chance for salvation?

Q…While it may be argued that Lazarus was a special case; what about the “saints” who rose from the dead following the crucifixion of Jesus, were they also special cases? Can we assume that every one of them lived out his or her new lease on life never having “fallen away”?

A Parable’s Message

Jesus said: “What do you think? If a man has a hundred sheep, and one of them goes astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine and go to the mountains to seek the one that is straying?” If we carefully consider this parable we must eventually wonder why there should be such concern over one sheep in a hundred when most ministers seem ready to accept as many as nine out of every ten of our brethren being cast into the lake of fire!

Now consider the fact that not only have up to 90% of the flock “gone astray,” many of them were forced out of the Church by some of those same ministers who today govern many of the separated Churches of God: and these ministers used the doctrines of the “Worldwide Church” -- which they themselves eventually rejected -- as the reason for casting out our brethren!

Far too many of our ministers have ignored God’s edict to “seek the one that has strayed” but who can blame them? There are so many lost sheep out there the ministers would have to leave the “one” they’re caring for in order to search for the “ninety-nine” that are lost!

It may be argued that by spreading the Gospel the ministers are in fact carrying out God’s injunction to search for our missing brethren -- on this, as in all other things I must defer to the judgment of Our Father. In His wisdom, He shall judge these ministers according to their works!

His Wisdom

Did God, in His wisdom, decree that as many as 90% of the 1970’s Church of God would one day be destroyed in the lake of fire? If we are to believe that those who leave the Church and die unrepentant have committed the “unpardonable sin” then we must accept this loss for eternity of so many of our brethren.

What would this do to our understanding of God: of His power, His wisdom, His mercy, and His compassion? Would a loving, merciful God decree that so many of His children, those who were at one time begotten of His Spirit should be lost? Or should we accept that He may not have been aware such a thing as this might happen -- was the loss of so many of our brethren a surprise and a disappointment to Him? What would this say about His wisdom?

I believe the answers are exactly what we would expect them to be (yet so often hesitate to put into words); “God ultimately rules in the heavens and the Earth!” “God’s power and His wisdom are infinite and far beyond the understanding of any man -- even that of our ministers!” “He has decreed what shall come to pass; and He shall see His creation not only continue, but prosper.”

So then, is it by God’s decree that so many of our brethren should be lost? This is the question of a fool! We might as well suggest we have earned our salvation by good works, but may lose it again by rejecting an arrogant and deceitful ministry. If there is a lack in our understanding of God’s mysteries then surely the fault lies with us and not with God!

Note: Today is the final day of the seven-day Feast of Tabernacles; and this evening begins what most of the Churches of God observe as the Last Great Day. I’m not sure what most of us see as the prophetic message of the Last Great Day, but some time soon I intend to share with you my own thoughts on this matter.

Next week I hope to continue my thoughts on “The Unpardonable Sin” with the posting of “Part 2” of this five-part series.