Update on the "unpardonable sin" of bitterness

----- Forwarded Message -----
From: Dwight Burford
dpburford@all4liberty.net


Update on the "unpardonable sin" of bitterness

Dear Family and Friends,
In reply to my October 9, 2019 email on bitterness, someone challenged my referring to bitterness as an unpardonable sin (see original Oct. 9 email below).

My reply (edited here) went something like the following: It would seem logical that the greatest punishment would be affixed to breaking the greatest commandment(s). It does not seem reasonable that the greatest punishment would be affixed to any lesser crime than the greatest crime which comes of breaking the greatest commandment(s). Can we not then conclude that if there is an unpardonable sin it must be associated with not loving God with our whole beings or loving each other as ourselves – i.e. the two great commandments (Matthew 22:35-39)? Hence Matthew 6:16.

“For if ye forgive men their trespasses, who trespass against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you; but if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your heavenly Father forgive you your trespasses.”

Over the last six months or so the Lord has been leading me into a more complete understanding of the unpardonable sin and why those who choose bitterness over God’s love separate themselves from His Holy Spirit (e.g. Jude 1:17-19). In particular, those who choose to abide in bitterness rather than God’s love once He has revealed His love to them by the Holy Ghost, fail His grace (Hebrews 12:15). For God is love, not bitterness. Thus those who allow the root of bitterness to take hold in their hearts, defile themselves because they live contrary to God’s very nature and His two great commands. Yes, there are other ways people speak blasphemy against the Holy Ghost once they’ve known God’s light and love. But bitterness and its fruit of thorns and thistles (Hebrews 6:8) springing forth from a root of bitterness (as described in Hebrews 12:15) causes many to depart from the Spirit of the living God. To put it plainly, Jesus stated that our Heavenly Father will not forgive us if we do not forgive each other (Matthew 6:16). Clearly an unwillingness to forgive is portrayed in the scripture as unpardonable by God.

Hope this helps,
Dwight Burford

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October 9 email

The October 8, 2019, message in a series of sermons by Pastor Jeff Schreve linked below is an insightful and helpful lesson on this insidious beast, bitterness, and how to be freed from it:

https://www.fromhisheart.org/series/life-goes-on-how-to-face-a-new-normal/Radio

Please take time to listen to the message. It helps explain why bitterness defiles many and keeps them from seeing the Lord in their lives.[1]

Ultimately, bitterness is an “unpardonable” sin before God – should one die in the hardness and deceitfulness of bitterness toward the Lord and His body, the church.[2]

Why? God is love,[3] and He created us in His image and likeness.[4] To be bitter toward God or others, then, is to live in opposition to God’s very nature, to live contrary to His very image and likeness of light and love.
Bitterness goes against the very teachings of Jesus Christ, which are ultimately to love one another.[5] Thus, to harbor bitterness within ourselves against another is to contradict His teachings and strive against His ministry and that of the Holy Spirit by whom He baptizes His church to fill each member with His love.[6]

Remember, the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us (i.e. by the Comforter, who is His Spirit of truth).[7] Therefore, to speak bitterly of another is to speak against or contrary to the Spirit of God, who speaks otherwise of each member.

In a word, bitterness is blasphemy against the Spirit of God and His temple, the church.[8] For the Spirit of God moves in us to pray for one another, and to minister to each other’s needs, [9] not to think or to speak evil of one another.[10]
But is not this vile world filled with innumerable reasons to be bitter? How then can we then be freed from bitterness? Remember the cross of Jesus Christ and forgive for His sake.[11] Forgive – the person or circumstance which has caused you to be bitter – in the person of Jesus Christ, “Lest Satan should get an advantage of us.”[12]

In other words, walk after the Spirit, not after this world.[13] Live as new creatures in Christ, having been created anew in God’s image of light and love through Jesus Christ.[14] Live according to His commandments while focusing on the two great commandment

Love,
Dwight Burford



[1] Hebrews 12:14,15
[2] cf. I Corinthians 6:18 with I Corinthians 12:12-27 & I John 5:16-21
[3] I John 4:8,16
[4] Genesis 1:27-29
[5] e.g. Matthew 5, esp. 45-50 with John 13:34,35, 15:12-14 & I John 3:18-24
[6] Acts 2 with Mark 1:1-13
[7] Romans 5:5 with John 14:16,17,26
[8] I Corinthians 3:16-17 & 6:19,20
[9] Romans 8:26,27 & I Peter 1:22-25 with I Thessalonians 4:7-9 & Galatians 5:22-26
[10] Romans 12:1-21
[11] Ephesians 4:32
[12] II Corinthians 2:10-11
[13] Galatians 5:14-26 with Romans 8:1-39
[14] cf. II Corinthians 5:14-21 with I Corinthians 3:3