Are There Any Sins That Cannot be Forgiven?

 

Orthodox Christians believe the only unforgivable sin is the rejection of God's mercy and forgiveness. This is often referred to as "blasphemy against the Holy Spirit." This rejection signifies a deliberate and persistent refusal to accept God's love and forgiveness. The Church teaches that as long as a person remains unrepentant and unwilling to seek forgiveness, their sins cannot be absolved.

Through the sacrament of Holy Confession, it is believed that all sins, no matter how grave, can be forgiven. This sacrament is where believers confess their sins before a priest and receive absolution. When a person confesses their sins to a priest, they are opening up to God's presence and seeking reconciliation. The priest, as a representative of the Church and in the person of Christ, listens attentively and provides guidance and counsel, helping the penitent understand the nature of their sins and offering advice on how to grow in their spiritual life.

After the confession, the priest, by the authority given to him by the Church, offers the prayer of absolution. The absolution is the work of the Holy Spirit (grace), a formal act of God's forgiveness, acknowledging the penitent's repentance and expressing God's mercy and forgiveness. 

The priest does not himself have the power to forgive sins, but acts as an instrument through which God's grace and forgiveness are imparted.

Jesus granted authority to the apostles to forgive sins (John 20:22-23) which has been passed down to the bishops and priests through the laying on of hands in the sacrament of Holy Orders. This unbroken chain of succession is seen as preserving the apostolic authority and ensures the continuity of the Church's teachings and sacraments. This is know as Apostolic succession.

Forgiveness does not negate the consequences of our actions in this earthly life. There may still be temporal consequences or effects of our sins that we have to face. However, in terms of our relationship with God, Orthodox Christians believe that sincere repentance and acceptance of God's forgiveness restore our communion with Him.

The Orthodox Church encourages believers to continually seek forgiveness and repentance throughout their lives. 

In summary, while the Orthodox Church believes that all sins can be forgiven through repentance and God's grace, the rejection of God's mercy and refusal to seek forgiveness are seen as the primary obstacles to forgiveness. The emphasis is on the importance of genuine repentance through the sacrament of Holy Confession based on a sincere desire to reconcile with God. In this way all sins are forgiven.

Christ said, “every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven” (Matthew 12:31)