QUESTIONS/ANSWERS ABOUT THE UNPARDONABLE SIN

QUESTION #300 -- Are there other sins, besides blasphemy against the Holy Ghost, that may become unpardonable sins? Does "crossing the dead line" mean that the individual will die physically before he. has another call from God? May not the Lord leave one for a time and then return, as in the cases of His dealings with the ancient Hebrews?

ANSWER #300 -- Any persistent sin may become unpardonable. Crossing the dead line does not always imply early physical death. There are doubtless people still living who have been abandoned by the Holy Spirit for thirty or more years. Yes, there may come another call of the Spirit after a long period of cessation of such striving.

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QUESTION #301 -- Twelve years ago I came to feel that I had committed the "unpardonable sin." Nine years ago I was awakened to find this was a false notion and I sought God's mercy and found it in abundant pardon. I was taught that I should be sanctified; I sought for that experience and finally professed it, but I think now I never did have it. Now I have drifted far away from God, have lost my relish for the Bible and spiritual things and now feel that I have in reality passed the "dead line" and that there is no mercy for me. My heart is so dead and indifferent that I am distressed beyond measure. Do you believe there is still mercy for me?

ANSWER #301 -- I certainly do believe there is mercy for you. The fact that you wrote me the detailed letter shows that you are interested in spiritual things and that God has not left you. The devil has tripped you at the same point where you fell before. Quit worrying about what God will do and come to Him in all sincerity-He will not fail you. There is a lot of preaching on "The Unpardonable Sin" that is a travesty on the character of God, but remember that if you think there is no mercy and as a consequence do not seek it in faith, it is the same as though there were none, for you will never find it This is where the devil uses the fallacy to drive people into insanity and sink them into hell. Resist the devil. Refuse to believe your doubts. Seek God with all your heart in true repentance and faith and as sure as God is God and truth is truth His Spirit will come to you in healing, even as He has already come to you in bruising. Death lurks only in procrastination. Life looks out from faith and obedience. "Look to Jesus now and live."

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QUESTION #302 -- I am afraid I have crossed the dead line, and can never be saved. And yet I do have a desire to love and serve God. But I am haunted with the idea that about two and a half years ago I crossed the line between God's mercy and His wrath. Do you believe I am doomed to be lost? Is there not any way for one who has sinned against the Holy Ghost to get back to God?

ANSWER #302 -- I certainly do not believe you have sinned against the Holy Ghost or that you are fated to go to hell. If this were the case, a merciful God would not continue to call you by His Spirit and make your hell the more intolerable by giving you a glimpse of heaven. But I do believe you are the victim of the devil's scheme to keep you from ever coming to God in faith for pardon and mercy. Argument will probably not help much, so I am going to exhort you to "doubt your doubts and believe your faith," and come to God for immediate pardon and salvation. If He turns you down, you will be the first who ever came that way that He turned down.