Word for Word

Have I Committed the Unforgivable Sin?

“What if I’ve gone too far? What if God can’t forgive me?” For many Christians, few fears cut deeper than the idea of committing “the unforgivable sin.” It can keep you up at night, make you avoid church, and paralyze your prayers. But what if the very fear of being beyond forgiveness is actually strong evidence that you haven’t committed this sin at all? In this episode of Word for Word, Austin W. Duncan walks through Jesus’ words in Matthew 12 and explores what blasphemy against the Holy Spirit really is—and what it is not. By looking carefully at the historical context, the Pharisees’ response to Jesus’ miracles, and the nature of persistent unbelief, we’ll see why this sin is far more specific (and far less “accidental”) than many anxious believers fear. In this episode, we’ll cover: * The biblical context of the unforgivable sin in Matthew 12 * What “blasphemy against the Spirit” actually means—and why Jesus warned the religious leaders so sharply * What the unforgivable sin is not: doubt, intrusive thoughts, ugly words said in anger, or even serious past sins * How to recognize the difference between Holy Spirit conviction and condemning fear * Why ongoing concern about your soul is one of the clearest signs that the Spirit is still at work in your heart * How to find assurance in Christ’s finished work, God’s promises of forgiveness, and the Spirit’s ongoing presence If you’ve ever worried, “Maybe I crossed a line and God is done with me,” this episode is for you. My prayer is that you’ll walk away not only understanding what the unforgivable sin really is, but resting more deeply in the grace of a God whose arms are still open wide. Chapters: Chapters00:00 – Introduction02:04 – The Biblical Context02:27 – The Historical Context of Matthew 1210:39 – What Jesus Was Responding To12:37 – Jesus' Response: A Stark Warning16:22 – Definition of Blasphemy Against the Holy Spirit18:32 – What the Unforgivable Sin Is Not24:01 – What the Unforgivable Sin Is27:53 – How to Know The Holy Spirit Is Working in Your Heart31:06 – Finding Peace37:26 – Moving Forward

What is Sin?

Buddhists call it suffering. Philosophers call it “the human condition.” Psychologists call it the “shadow self.” Every culture recognizes that something is deeply wrong with us and with the world. The Bible uses a much simpler word for it: sin. In this episode of Word for Word, Austin W. Duncan unpacks what the Bible actually means by sin—and why understanding it is essential if we want to make sense of ourselves, our relationships, and our need for salvation. Sin isn’t just “breaking rules” or “feeling guilty”; it’s a deep rupture in the three core relationships we were created for: with God, with others, and with creation itself. In this episode, we’ll explore: * The aspects of sin: transgression, rebellion, inherited/original sin, imputed guilt, and our daily personal sins * How sin fractures our relationship with God (vertical), with each other (horizontal), and with creation (outward) * Why even “small” sins matter, and why good deeds can’t simply “balance out” our bad ones * Common misconceptions about sin that keep us stuck in shame, self-righteousness, or denial * God’s holy and loving response to sin in the cross of Christ—where our guilt is taken and His righteousness is given * Practical ways to recognize sin, confess it, repent, pursue restoration, and live as beloved children of God If you’ve ever wondered why the world feels so broken—or why you feel so conflicted inside—this episode is meant to help you see sin clearly, not to crush you, but to magnify the good news of what God has done in Christ. Chapters: 0:00:00-0:00:56 - Introduction0:00:56-0:01:53 - The Aspects of Sin0:01:53-0:05:55 - Sin as Transgression0:05:55-0:09:59 - Sin as Rebellion0:09:59-0:14:41 - Original Sin0:14:41-0:20:09 - Imputed Sin0:20:09-0:25:46 - Personal Sin0:25:46-0:33:17 - The Effects of Sin on Original Design0:33:17-0:34:52 - The Consequences of Sin0:34:52-0:38:53 - Consequence 1: The Vertical Fracture0:38:53-0:48:15 - Consequence 2: The Horizontal Fracture0:48:15-0:56:54 - Consequence 3: The Outward Fracture0:56:54-0:57:45 - Common Misconceptions About Sin0:57:45-1:00:55 - "Some Sins Aren't Really That Bad"1:00:55-1:04:17 - "Good Deeds Can Offset Sin"1:04:17-1:08:14 - "Sin is Just About Breaking Rules"1:08:14-1:12:58 - God's Response to Sin1:12:58-1:13:31 - How Do We Live This Out?1:13:31-1:15:06 - How To Recognize Sin In Our Lives1:15:06-1:19:56 - What To Do When We Spot Sin1:19:56-1:23:32 - Wrapping Up

What is the Biblical Definition of Faith?

We exercise faith every day without thinking about it—taking prescriptions from doctors we just met, boarding planes with pilots we’ve never seen, stepping into elevators we didn’t install. So why, when it comes to Christianity, do so many people think “faith” means a blind leap in the dark? In this episode of Word for Word, Austin W. Duncan digs into Hebrews 11:1 and the original Greek words behind it—hypostasis and elegchos—to show that biblical faith is anything but vague, flimsy, or blind. It’s a solid, evidence-based trust in the character and promises of God. In this episode, we’ll explore: * What Hebrews 11:1 really says about the nature of faith * Why biblical faith is not “blind faith” (and what Thomas’s story actually teaches us) * The three components of true faith: understanding, action, and personal trust * How God’s unchanging character and fulfilled promises form the foundation of our faith * What faith in action looks like—through Abraham, Shadrach/Meshach/Abednego, and a modern story of walking through cancer with hope in Christ * Practical ways to build stronger faith: Scripture, remembrance, obedience, and community Whether you’re wrestling with doubt, trying to understand how faith “works,” or just wanting to grow deeper in your walk with God, this episode is meant to help you move from vague belief to confident, biblical trust in Christ.

What Are the Essential Christian Doctrines?

In a world that says “your truth, my truth,” what does the Bible mean by the truth? In this episode, Austin W. Duncan walks through the core doctrines that make Christianity what it is—and why some beliefs are matters of preference while others are matters of spiritual life and death. Starting at Nicaea and that famous “one iota” debate, we look at how the church has guarded the truth about who Jesus is and why it matters for your salvation, your worship, and your daily walk with God. From the Trinity and God’s character, to the person and work of Christ, salvation by grace through faith, and the authority of Scripture, this episode lays out the non-negotiables of historic Christian faith. In this episode, we’ll cover: * What makes a doctrine “essential” (1 Corinthians 15:3–4) * The Trinity and God’s attributes as the foundation of Christian belief * Who Jesus is: fully God, fully man, virgin-born, sinless, crucified, risen, and returning * Why salvation is by grace through faith in Christ alone—not by works * Why the Bible is trustworthy, “God-breathed,” and the final authority for faith and life * How these doctrines shape our worship, relationships, and witness If you’ve ever wondered, “What are the core truths I must believe as a Christian?” this episode is meant to give you clarity and confidence. Chapters: 00:00-02:05 – Introduction02:05-03:28 – The Nature of Essential Doctrine03:28-07:18 – The Trinity07:18-07:38 - The Trinity: There is One God07:38-07:56 - The Trinity: Baptism of Jesus07:56-08:46 - The Trinity: Each Person is Fully God08:46-09:14 - The Trinity: The Holy Spirit is God09:14-09:38 - The Trinity: Each Person is Distinct09:38-11:21 - The Trinity: This Has Always Been True11:21-18:05 – God’s Attributes18:05-19:10 – Christ | Fully God and Fully Man19:10-24:35 – Virgin Birth of Christ24:35-29:32 – Christ's Sinless Life29:32-32:50 – Christ's Substitutionary Death32:50-36:27 – Christ's Resurrection36:27-44:06 – Salvation Through Christ Alone44:06-45:11 – The Authority of Scripture45:11-46:18 – Divine Inspiration46:18-48:04 – Trustworthiness and Authority48:04-56:26 – Inerrancy and Infallibility56:26-01:00:35 – Application

How Do I Grow Spiritually?

Many Christians know how to answer, “What must I do to be saved?” but get stuck on the next question: “What now?” In this episode, Austin W. Duncan walks through what spiritual growth looks like after conversion and how God uses ordinary habits over time to make us more like Christ. We look at key passages like 2 Peter 3:18, 1 Corinthians 3, and Hebrews 5 to see why growth is a process, not an instant jump to maturity. Then we walk through four essential disciplines—Bible study, prayer, fellowship, and service—and talk honestly about common obstacles like lack of time, inconsistency, and struggles with Scripture. Austin also gives practical ways to build a simple daily plan, set realistic goals, find accountability, and recognize whether you’re actually growing: the fruit of the Spirit, increasing discernment, deeper love for God and others, and a life that reflects Jesus more over time. Chapters: 00:00-05:53 – Intro05:53-15:50 – Essential Disciplines15:50-22:24 – Identifying Obstacles22:24-25:16 – Overcoming Obstacles25:16-27:09 – Noticing Progress27:09-30:36 – Putting It Into Practice30:36-35:07 – Encouragement Moving Forward