Insufferable Sins

After reading a book on church discipline where the author suggested that there were certain sins that were considered insufferable, I began wondering if this was true.  Are there certain sins that if committed can disqualify someone from church leadership or membership indefinitely?  More accurately stated – forever?

I know that there are certain qualifications for those who are to be elders, but once disqualified does that mean forever disqualified?  Aren’t the gifts and callings of God irrevocable?  Didn’t I read that too somewhere?

What is an insufferable sin?  The book defined it as this:

Insufferable sins, “. . . namely: notorious and aggravating licentiousness. . .” such as  “. . .perjury, forgery, grand larceny, absconding in debt, habitual licentiousness, murder, treason, and such like gross violations of moral, civil, and criminal law” merit the “. . .exclusion” of the brother or sister, “without the ceremony of labor, upon the simple and certain ascertainment of the facts.”  (Link)

The book goes onto suggest that men and women who commit such high offenses should be excluded from the church, and never restored back into the body.

“Some may object to this view as being a course too summary, and as savoring of a spirit too uncompromising and too unforgiving, to accord to the genius of the gospel; and especially in case of real penitence. They may think that a transgression, however atrocious, if there be penitence in the case, should be forgiven; and the member retained in the church.”  However, “the position that every offender, in case of real penitence for his sin, should be retained in the Church, as well as forgiven, is as impracticable, in point of fact, as it is inconsistent with the universal sense of right.”  (Link)

This argument is very persuasive and bold.  The rule is hard and fast, and doesn’t leave any room for adifference of opinion.  But is it scriptural?

The book uses the scriptural support of 1 Corinthians 5.

Now the rule given by Paul for one of these cases . . , is found in 1 Cor. 5:13 and is the true rule for all of them.

“Put away from among yourselves that wicked person.”  (Link)

But that’s all the author offers in support of his position on insufferable sins.  Everything else seems to be extra-biblical.  One man’s interpretation of one small passage.

Let’s see if the Bible has anything else to say about sin:

Matthew 12:31 “Therefore I say to you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven men.

Mark 3:28 “Assuredly, I say to you, all sins will be forgiven the sons of men, and whatever blasphemies they may utter;

Luke 7:47 Therefore I say to you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven, for she loved much. But to whom little is forgiven, the same loves little.”

Luke 7:48 Then He said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.”

Romans 4:7  “Blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven,And whose sins are covered;

Ephesians 1:7  In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace

Colossians 1:14  in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins.

James 5:15  And the prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven.

1 John 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 2:12  I write to you, little children, Because your sins are forgiven you for His name’s sake.

Ok, I’m going to have to do some more digging.  I don’t see but only one insufferable sin?  And that sin is blasphemy of the Holy Spirit.  Most scholars are not even in agreement as to what this actually means, so I’m not going to try to define it here.

But the rest of the references seem to imply that everything else is fair game for being washed and covered by the blood?  In fact, I think it said that the more grievous the sins we’ve been forgiven of, the greater our love for the Father will be?

So for all those out there who feel that they are beyond redemption or have been told you are beyond redemption let me share with you the good news – “Assuredly, I say to you, all sins will be forgiven the sons of men!”  And those aren’t my words, they’re the words of the savior!

Blessings!