The Bible says there is no sin God cannot forgive. What does this mean?

There is no sin which is too small or big for God to forgive.

Isa 1:18: “Come now, and let us reason together, said the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.”

1Jn 1:9: “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” 1 John does not specify which sins God will forgive if we confess which means that all sins are covered there.

However Jesus in the gospels said that blasphemy against the Holy Spirit cannot be forgiven: “But when the Pharisees heard it, they said, This fellow does not cast out devils, but by Beelzebub the prince of the devils. And Jesus knew their thoughts, and said to them, Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand: And if Satan cast out Satan, he is divided against himself; how shall then his kingdom stand? And if I by Beelzebub cast out devils, by whom do your children cast them out? therefore they shall be your judges. But if I cast out devils by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God is come to you. Or else how can one enter into a strong man’s house, and spoil his goods, except he first bind the strong man? and then he will spoil his house. He that is not with me is against me; and he that gathers not with me scatters abroad. Why I say to you, All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven to men: but the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven to men. And whoever speaks a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but whoever speaks against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, neither in the world to come.”

What He meant here is that if you try to attribute the work of the Holy Spirit in the salvation of man to Satan you cannot be forgiven.This means that if you try to seek salvation outside christ or the Holy Spirit your sins are not forgiven and you are still a sinner even though you believe you are saved because salvation is by Jesus Christ and Holy Spirit only and not any other way.


Robert Mugayi
Associate Director Bible Study,Answers2P