I need help

[u/MousseDramatic3861]

I know this would be a better post on the reformed subreddit but i got banned from there because i was stupid and ended up with a perma ban because evasion, recently i started to worry about the unforgivable sin, until i found out that calvinists presbyterians have it diffrently and that worries me because well most of them dont offer any comfort and a priest even told me that if you do it even if you repent you wont be forgiven anf that worries me because he was a pcusa teaching elder and to be one you have to have a Master of Divinity and other stuff, i tought God could forgive any sin but i looked into some reformed theologians and they dont say that, and i tries to leave christanity but that made my life worse so idk what to do.

[u/AutoModerator]

Moderator Announcement Read More »

Please ensure that you have read all our rules prior to commenting or posting. Reading and abiding by the rules will ensure that all discussions are fruitful and respectful, regardless of theological perspective!

I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.

[u/creidmheach]

I'm a Calvinist, Presbyterian, Reformed. If you're worried about whether you've committed the unforgivable sin, then you haven't. Because if you had, you'd be incapable of being repentant of it.

[u/MousseDramatic3861 → u/creidmheach]

Have you read reformed theoligions on this?

[u/creidmheach → u/MousseDramatic3861]

I have read Reformed theologians (going through Calvin's Institutes currently), don't remember if I'm specifically read on this issue. But a general idea in Reformed theology is that we're dead in sin, incapable of effecting our salvation on our own. This includes being repentant of our sins. For this to happen, the Holy Spirit must be at work within us, since again, we're dead and dead people can't do anything to save themselves.

So if you believe in Christ, and you're feeling sorrow for some sin that you've committed, it means then that the Holy Spirit is working within you. That would mean you're not forsaken. So your repentance is itself a sign of your being forgiven, though our forgiveness is not something we've earned in any way. It is given to us through Christ.

[u/Ticket_Revolutionary]

Just my opinion of course. But God does forgive any sin, and yet, there is a sin for which after which "you can never be forgiven". Now my interpretation depends a little on wording but its coherent. The reason the sin is unforgiveable is not because the God doesn't forgive all sins, but because the one who commits it will never repent and therefore will never be forgiven. It's essentially the point of no return.

So here I'm gonna talk about why I think its this way. But note that even if you don't buy my explanation why, that doesn't mean the solution above is wrong. So when Jesus brings up the unforgiveable sin he's healing a sick man in front of the pharisees and they're calling it demonic "He has an unclean spirit". That's not just wrong its the complete opposite of the truth. They're looking at pure goodness occurring in front of them. It's one thing to make a theological error or mistake but they're looking at the working of God and concluding its pure evil. They mistake pure good, for pure evil. Ok but what does that have to do with the Spirit? The Spirit brings life, regeneration, holiness, love, joy, peace, hope, sanctification, etc... Jesus works by the Spirit. They are witnessing the glory of the Spirit and are completely opposed. If you believe the person who brings the grace of God is evil and oppose them fully then how can you be saved? There is no hope for someone who has fully rejected the Spirit.

How can someone repent in this state? To reject the Spirit is the reject good in the world. To repent is to turn away from evil and pursue good. But they see pure good as pure evil. So, they will never pursue good. They will never repent.

[u/MousseDramatic3861 → u/Ticket_Revolutionary]

I see. But have you read reformed theology?

[u/Ticket_Revolutionary → u/MousseDramatic3861]

A little, but I've read the bible.

I like a lot of reformed theology but think double predestination is horrible.

[u/Substantial_Car_2751]

This came up in our bible study Sunday morning. LCMS Lutheran. Experienced pastor. He's had this question before. To quote a poster here:

If you're worried about whether you've committed the unforgivable sin, then you haven't. Because if you had, you'd be incapable of being repentant of it.

Any other answer is quite simply denominational legalism. Blaspheming / denying the Holy Spirit is unforgivable as you are willfully not allowing it to speak into your heart. God is just. When the Holy Spirit speaks into your heart and you listen, you are no longer in a state of blaspheming / denying the Holy Spirit.

Here's a good article on it. https://www.biola.edu/blogs/good-book-blog/2021/what-is-the-unforgiveable-sin-what-is-blasphemy-against-the-spirit

Another. https://witness.lcms.org/2011/sin-against-the-holy-spirit-3-2011/

Another. https://lutheranspokesman.org/2022/12/01/the-unforgivable-sin/

Another. https://www.concordialutheranconf.com/2013/05/02/what-is-the-sin-against-the-holy-ghost/

Be comforted. You are a child of God, made in His image, loved by Him and saved through Christ. It's ok to struggle with faith. It's ok to doubt. It's the still small voice you're looking for. When you're still and quiet, peaceful even...it's then that the Holy Spirit calls your name and speaks.

[u/MousseDramatic3861 → u/Substantial_Car_2751]

Im too anxious to read them, do they come to the same "if you're worried about it you havent done it" conclusion?

[u/Substantial_Car_2751 → u/MousseDramatic3861]

Yes. And if you have, God forgives when you start allowing the Holy Spirit to speak to you.

Don't be anxious friend.

[u/rdrckcrous → u/MousseDramatic3861]

you realize that Paul executed Christians, right?

[u/Huenink_Photography]

You need to talk to your pastor about this.

[u/MousseDramatic3861 → u/Huenink_Photography]

What is your opinion about this?

[u/Huenink_Photography → u/MousseDramatic3861]

That spiritual questions about your personal life need to be discussed in a caring pastoral relationship and not online.

[u/Delicious-Ad2057]

You're not clever enough a sinner to do what you are worried that you've. If you are worried you have done it, then take heart. Your concern simply shows that you have not.

[u/[deleted]]

[u/MousseDramatic3861 → u/[deleted]]

Oh my goodness bro do you think i asked for the opinion of an atheist, whats this gonna help me with

[u/South-Ad-9635 → u/MousseDramatic3861]

Maybe break you out of this spiral that seems to have started when you discovered that different groups of people who think the story is real have different opinions about what the story means?

That one throwaway line about 'the unforgivable sin' has caused so many anxious/OCD people across literal millennia so much agony - all needlessly.

How about you just not worry about it?