For “car people,” the Ferrari F40 is one of the most iconic sports cars of all-time. This legendary Ferrari was manufactured from 1987 to 1992. The appeal of the car was speed - The F40 could reach a top speed of 201 mph, making it the first production car to reach speeds exceeding 200 mph.
Only about 1,300 were ever made, making this Ferrari incredibly rare. The cost alone made the car out of reach for pretty much everyone. Back then, the cost of a new F40 was the modern-day equivalent to $1.4 million. The Ferrari F40 has become one of the most recognizable and sought-after cars of all-time. As a result, these cars have dramatically increased in value.
In Germany, an ultra-high-end auto dealer had a 1990 Ferrari F40 for sale. The sales price was $3.3 million (U.S. dollars.) This past Sunday (April 21), the dealer wanted to show off this rare specimen at an exclusive auto show, which was 11 miles away. They entrusted a 24-year-old employee to drive the car on this seven-minute journey.
It did not go well (see the picture below.)
The young driver lost control of the legendary automobile while driving through a tunnel, causing the multi-million-dollar car to smash into the wall. The driver was not injured (although he may have been once his bosses found out about the mishap.) As for the car, we do not know of the extent of the damage, but the dealer has removed the car from its website.
Was the young man fired? We don’t know (this happened just four days ago.) Did his bosses forgive him? Again, we don’t know. Is crashing a $3.3 million classic car an unforgiveable sin? I guess it depends on who you ask. But the Bible certainly doesn’t refer to this as an unpardonable sin.
But Scripture does speak of one unforgiveable sin. But this is often misunderstood. I have heard some people refer to suicide as an unforgiveable sin. They are wrong. But even when we read the exact words Jesus said, there is confusion about the actual unforgiveable sin.
The one sin which God cannot forgive is mentioned in Mark 3:28-30 and Matthew 12:31-32. Let me give you the context before we look at the actual statement Jesus made. It was still fairly early on in his public ministry, and the growing crowds of people “were amazed at his teaching, because he taught them as one who had authority, not as the teachers of the law” (Mark 1:22.)
The “teachers of the law” referred to the Scribes, a group of well-educated, influential, high-ranking Jewish leaders. As the Scribes heard more and more of these comparisons, they experienced mild concern, which soon grew into jealousy, which quickly turned into anger, which would eventually morph into their sinful desires to have Jesus killed.
Jesus had been performing miracles, including driving unclean spirits out of people. But the Scribes scoffed at this, accusing Jesus of being possessed by Satan.
Jesus heard their comments and replied, “How can Satan drive out Satan? If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand” (Mark 3:22-23.)
But here’s the focus of much confusion. In verses 28-30, Jesus declared, “Truly I tell you, people can be forgiven all their sins and every slander they utter, but whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven; they are guilty of an eternal sin.” He said this because they were saying, “He has an impure spirit.'"
So the reference to an “eternal sin” and to sins that “will never be forgiven” have created a lot of consternation for some Christians, fearful that maybe they have been guilty of this. But the truth is simple – if you are concerned that you have committed the sin that God won’t forgive, then you have not committed this sin.
Jesus was speaking to the Scribes and other religious leaders who had accused Jesus of being controlled by Satan. By attributing the miracles of Jesus to Satan, they were denying the deity of Jesus Christ. They were saying He could not be God. And if it’s through Jesus that we receive forgiveness, then they were closing to door to that possibility.
To put it simply and bluntly, while there is an unforgivable sin, it is not one that a true believer in Jesus Christ can commit. To commit this sin one must consciously, persistently, deliberately, and maliciously reject the deity and saving power of Jesus. If a person keeps doing that until death, there is no hope of forgiveness and eternal life in heaven.
Note that Jesus did not necessarily declare that the scribes were already condemned, but he did give them the dire warning that they were displaying a hardness of heart toward God.
Once again, the unpardonable sin is not some particularly grievous sin committed, nor is it thinking or saying something terrible about the Holy Spirit. Rather, it is deliberately resisting the Holy Spirit’s invitation to turn to Jesus.
I hope that clears things up for someone, and I hope it eases the minds of others. It’s not that forgiveness isn’t granted, but that it isn’t sought.
Friends, I am so grateful to be a part of a church where we do recognize our need for forgiveness, and that we seek to bring the Good News of our Savior to everyone. I look forward to worshiping with you on Sunday. Until then, know that you are loved.
Joe
|