Question:  Dear Greg,

            Once again I’m having difficulty with interpreting a scripture verse.  Matthew 12:32 seems to indicate that there are some sins which will be forgiven after death.  Am I missing something?

            In Him,

            Dave

Answer:  Dear Dave,

            The phrase “either in this age or in the age to come” does not speak of forgiveness of sins after death, but of Jesus’ reference to the fact that blasphemy against the Holy Spirit is the one sin that will not be “forgiven”.  Some refer to this as the unpardonable sin, but in reality what Jesus is talking about is a hardened and willful refusal to accept God’s forgiveness, which of course is always available (all sins, right now, nothing “saved” for an after-death forgiveness).  But, Jesus says, what will not be “forgiven” is a constant and determined denial on a human’s part to accept God’s forgiveness—either now (and that would be in the time of Jesus’ ministry) or in the age to come (any time after his life, death, and resurrection).  God forgives everything always—but we, of course, must accept that forgiveness—and sadly, some refuse to accept his forgiveness.

            In Christ,

            Greg Albrecht