Wide Grace

Mark 3:28-30 Wide Grace[1]
Readings: Acts 2:22-24; Luke 23:32-43
Responsive Reading: Psalm 2:1-12

You know of Jesus of Nazareth, how God anointed Him with the Holy Spirit and with power, and how He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him. 
Acts 10:38 NASB
I. Context
  A. Jesus heals a man with a withered hand on the Sabbath (Mk. 3:1-5; Mt. 12:9-13).
  B. The Pharisees plotted to destroy Jesus (Mk. 3:6; Mt. 12:14).
  C. There were encounters with demons (Mk. 3:11, 12; Mt 12:22).
  D. Jesus grew in popularity (Mk. 3:20, 21).
    1. His own people thought Jesus had lost His senses.
  E. The scribes accuse Jesus of being controlled by Satan (Mk. 3:30).
      1. Matthew records the accusation coming from the Pharisees (Mt. 12:24).
II. Wide Grace
  A. All sins and blasphemies are forgivable (v28).
    1. Because Jesus is the propitiation for sins (I Jn. 2:2; 4:10)
  B. Blasphemy against the Holy Spirit is not forgivable (v29).
    1. Blasphemy: defame, revile, speak evil
      1a. The scribes were saying Jesus had an unclean spirit (v30).
        1b. The scribes said Jesus was possessed by (had) Beelzebul (Satan) (Mk. 3:22).
        2b. The scribes accused Jesus of casting demons by the ruler of the demons (Satan).
        3b. Blaming God’s work as satanic (Mt. 12:28)
 III. What is the Eternal or Unpardonable Sin?
  A. In this text, it is a blasphemy (speaking evil) of God’s agent of conviction (the Holy Spirit).
  B. The unpardonable sin is a rejection of the only source of pardon (Christ).
    1. Jesus’ works were public and undeniable (Mk. 3:2-6; Mt 12:9-14; Jn. 12:37).
      1a. Nicodemus, a Pharisee, noticed Jesus as from God by His works (Jn. 3:1, 2; 11:47, 48).
      2a. The raising of Lazarus from the dead was public (Jn. 11:45).
        1b. The Pharisees responded by plotting to kill Jesus (Jn. 11:53).
    2. Jesus’ works testified that He was from God (Jn. 5:36; 9:32, 33).
  C. The unpardonable sin is a hatred of Jesus Christ despite the evidence for Him (Jn. 15:22-27)[2].
IV. Challenge
  A. People who do not want Christ will get their desire (Jn. 12:37-40; Rom. 1:18-32).
  B. People who want pardon may have it (I Tim. 2:4; Is. 1:18; Rom. 10:13).


[1] April 13, 2025 Renewal Bible Fellowship and Hall Church
[2] (MacLaren, 1910)