Which Sin is Without Pardon?

I have never seen so much theological discussion on TV as we have in the past few weeks.
Every political and social commentator seems to have an opinion on who will or will not go to hell, and even on whether or not hell exists.

Of course Israel Folau started it all just over 12 months ago and then reignited the fuse this year.
And Bill Shorten introduced the hell questions into the recent Federal election campaign in an attempt to score a political point over our proudly Christian Prime Minister.

I have previously congratulated Israel on his courage and bravery, while pointing out his need to widen his view of God's love for His creation and Jesus' success in dealing with the sins of the world 2000 years ago.

However, since then I have been taken to task about the success of Jesus' part in God's plan "to bring unity to all things in heaven and on earth under Christ". 
[Ephesians 1 : 10 NIV]
I am told there is one sin that will never be pardoned, described as blasphemy against the Holy Spirit.

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.”
[Mark 3 : 28 - 29 NIV]

Let's take a close look at this verse as it does seem to contradict so many other verses which confirm that Jesus died on the cross for the sins of the whole world [1 John 2 : 2] and that God is subsequently no longer counting our sins against us [2 Corinthians 5 : 19].

Now, back to Mark 3 : 28 - 29 from the New International Version of the Bible.
Blaspheming is showing contempt and disrespect, often by verbal slandering.
The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of God who teaches us, helps us make right decisions, fully reveals the purpose of Christ's mission to us, empowers us and moulds us into the image of Christ.

The Holy Spirit's work is vital to our reconciliation to God and being shaped into co-workers with Christ in implementing God's plan for His creation.
So, blaspheming the Holy Spirit disengages people from this ministry of the Holy Spirit in their lives - keeps them separated from God.

Never (= not ever) sounds pretty final, and is meant to by translation teams who filter their translation process through previously held belief systems.
Eternal reinforces the preceding "never" so that the doctrine of eternal doom for non-believers is written into our English translations, and the plan of God to be the Saviour of the world [1 Timothy 4 : 10] is trumped by man's will over God's.

Let's give some literal translations of Mark 3 : 29 - translations of the words of the original Greek text regardless of what man-made doctrines they might challenge.

But whoever may speak evil in regard to the Holy Spirit hath not forgiveness -- to the age, but is in danger of age-during judgment; [Young]

But, whosoever shall revile against the Holy Spirit, hath no forgiveness, unto times age-abiding, - but is guilty of an age-abiding sin: [Rotherham]

Who but ever may speak evil to the spirit the holy, not has forgiveness to the age, but liable is of age-lasting judgment. [Diaglott]

Yet whoever should be blaspheming against the holy spirit is having no pardon for the eon, but is liable to the eonian penalty for the sin. [Concordant]

But whoever blasphemes against the Spirit, the Holy one, has no excuse throughout the age, but is answerable for a transgression in the Age. [Hart]

It looks like the uninterpreted words of Jesus in Mark 3 : 29 are saying that pardon is not available for a period of time and the penalty for committing this sin is also time-limited.

If we look at Matthew's record of this conversation we will see that the conclusion we have drawn from the literal translations of Mark are indeed the correct ones.

Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but anyone who speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come. [Matthew 12 : 32 NIV]

Even the translators of the "eternal doom" translations have no opportunity to import their doctrine into this verse, so I won't bother quoting the literal versions.

Let me illustrate what this is really saying?
Suppose a criminal is convicted and sentenced to a period of time in jail. He is not pardoned or excused, but after serving his time he is then freed. Society does not keep people in jail after they have served their sentence.
A blasphemer of the Holy Spirit is not pardoned or excused during this age or the next, but after serving his age-during sentence he is then freed. God does not keep people imprisoned (eternally) after they have served their sentence.

Bible versions in which translators have inserted their doctrines as part of their translations need to be read with great caution. Readers of these can totally miss the magnificence and magnanimity of God's plan for His creation and adopt a diminished view of God's love and sovereignty and a blasphemous opinion of the value of Jesus' mission to earth.

I believe the Bible teaches that God is a God of unconditional love and supreme sovereignty with an awesome plan for His creation; and that Jesus was and is a successful Saviour.

So, to answer our opening question: there is no sin without eventual pardon 'so at the name of Jesus everyone will bow down, those in heaven, on earth, and under the earth. And to the glory of God the Father everyone will openly agree, “Jesus Christ is Lord!”'
[Philippians 2 : 10 - 11 CEV]
 
Won't that be a great day!
Blessings, Barry