What is the “unforgivable sin?”
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“Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters. And so I tell you, people will be forgiven every sin and blasphemy. But blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven. Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but anyone who speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come.” (Matthew 12:30-32, TNIV)
“Truly I tell you, people will be forgiven all their sins and all the blasphemies they utter. But whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven, but is guilty of an eternal sin.” (Mark 3:28-29, TNIV)
Recently, a group of atheists actually encouraged people to “deny the Holy Spirit” online by saying the words “I deny the Holy Spirit” and uploading a video! Of course, the passages above say nothing about ‘denying’ the Holy Spirit. Clearly there is more to it than merely speaking certain words; if that were all it took, everyone who read that Bible verse aloud would have committed it!
Life Lesson: Biblical perspective on the end times
Experience It: Walk in the power of the Holy Spirit
It is not merely an academic question; it’s something many Christians agonize over. Rev Dr Victor Shepherd, who has also been a pastor for several decades, describes some of his congregants’ fears:
I have been a pastor for 27 years. In that time I have had scores of people huddle in my study and confess what they could barely bring themselves to mention: falteringly they have croaked out what they regard as heinous, so heinous as to have been mentioned to no one else. They have poured out vile mixtures of vice, immorality, folly, even criminality. And I have told them with conviction that as wide and deep as their depravity is, God’s forgiveness is wider and deeper still. And I have assured them that however inexcusable, horrific, and even despicable the sin they have committed, they have not committed the “sin against the Holy Spirit.” And I have told them that Jesus Christ himself authorizes me to press all of this upon them.1
How is it possible that Dr Shepherd knows these people have not committed this “sin against the Holy Spirit”? In order to determine that, we first must understand exactly what Jesus was referring to.
First we should be careful to note that calling this “sin against the Holy Spirit” is misleading, as Dr Shepherd himself points out. What Jesus actually says is that “whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven” (Mark 3:29). Clearly “sin” and “blasphemy” are different since in Matthew 12:31 Jesus refers to “sin and blasphemy” separately. So what Jesus is talking about here is not merely sin but blasphemy. The Greek blasphe?mia means “vilification (especially against God): – blasphemy, evil speaking, railing.”2 So here the properly termed blasphemy against the Holy Spirit seems to refer to speaking evilly about God; not merely as a one-time utterance but as an active and ongoing opposition. It is to witness God’s goodness and call it (and continue to call it) evil.
What specific evil was spoken about God in Matthew 12 (Mark 3)?
In context, Jesus has been performing miracles, and the Pharisees, who have witnessed these miracles, claim that Jesus did these good works “by the power of Beelzebub [Satan]” (Matthew 12:24). Thus these Pharisees denied the power and authority of the Holy Spirit and attribute it instead to Satan! These Pharisees, “who, though they knew the miracles of Christ were wrought by the Spirit of God, yet maliciously and obstinately imputed them to the devil, with a view to obscure the glory of Christ, and indulge their own wicked passions and resentments against him.”3
This reinforces what we already know: That someone who has consciously rejected God cannot be saved, because they have rejected their only path to salvation: “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6) Since the power of God’s Holy Spirit is the means by which we are saved, a person who rejects Him cannot be saved.
Biblical scholar Ron Rhodes explains:
The Holy Spirit brings conviction upon people and leads their hearts to repentance, making people open and receptive to salvation in Jesus Christ. So the one who blasphemes the Holy Spirit effectively separates himself from the only one who can lead him on the path to salvation in Jesus Christ.4
What does this mean for the Christian who is worried that they have committed blasphemy against the Holy Spirit?
- Blasphemy against the Holy Spirit is not merely a certain sin or cursing God in a moment of anger or misery. Nor is it merely saying or writing the words “I blaspheme the Holy Spirit.” Any sin can be forgiven if a person honestly confesses, repents, and asks God for forgiveness, as Jesus Himself says in this passage: “people will be forgiven every sin and blasphemy” (Matthew 12:31) and as we read in 1 John 1:9: “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”
- Only someone who has totally closed themselves off from God’s love and marvelous offer of grace could be so calloused as to continually and unrepentantly call God and His glorious works “evil”.
- Thus, if you are worried that you have committed blasphemy against the Holy Spirit, you could not possibly have done it, for someone whose heart is so calloused would not be at all concerned about such a thing! Dr Shepherd comments that a person’s “apprehension is proof positive that the Holy Spirit hasn’t been blasphemed and the power of God maligned.”5
Doubt or weak faith are not the same as blasphemy against the Holy Spirit. Dr Shepherd concludes:
The weakest faith; the most faltering discipleship; the most hesitant, doubt-filled following; honest doubt and genuine perplexity; all of this our Lord sees and notes and helps. None of it will he scorn or dismiss. And none of it must we ever, ever suggest to be anything approaching the blasphemy against the Spirit. Weak faith he strengthens; faltering faith he makes resolute; genuine perplexity he addresses. … He has nothing but compassion and help for all who cry that their struggle for faith is just that: a struggle.6
Friend, if you have accepted God’s glorious offer of forgiveness, confessed your sin, and pledged to give your life over to Him in faith, you are reborn. “In Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith” (Galatians 3:26, TNIV). And for those who are in Christ there is no condemnation. (Romans 8:1) Therefore, “if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!” (2 Corinthians 5:17, TNIV)
If your soul has been tormented by fear that you have committed blasphemy against the Holy Spirit, know today that if the Spirit of God lives within you, you who are a new creation, you must not fear.
“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” (Romans 15:13)
Read For More?
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Lent: Find some breathing room
Notes:
1. Rev Dr Victor Shepherd, “The Sin Against The Holy Spirit,” n.p. Cited 28 January 2009. Online: http://www.victorshepherd.on.ca/sermons/the%20sin%20against%20the%20holy%20spirit.htm
2. Strong’s Hebrew & Greek Dictionaries entry G988, “blasphemia”
3. John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible, commentary on Matthew 12:31
4. Ron Rhodes, Commonly Misunderstood Bible Verses (Eugene: Harvest House Publishers, 2008), 141.
5. Shepherd. “The Sin Against The Holy Spirit.” n.p.
6. Ibid.
So are you saying that blasphemy cannot be considered as a “sin”?
What I am questioning is if that means that Jesus’ sacrificial death for us did not include the atonement for the “Blasphemy” part of our sinful nature.
Thank you in advance.
David, Comments can get confusing so let’s just go straight back to the word of God. We can be sure that what He says is true. There are two passages that come to mind in your circumstance and they are these:
“For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 8: 38-39)
and
“But he [Jesus] was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed.” (Isaiah 53:5)
If you have asked Jesus to come in to your life and accepted that what He did for you on the cross is the only way to be right with God, then you are right with God. I can’t see how anything you or I could ever do would undo what Jesus did. The whole point of Jesus’ sacrifice is that we don’t have to fear Hell anymore. The Bible says that He has removed our sins from us as far as the east is from the west. If you are a Christian your name is written in the book of life. That’s permanent.
So my advice to you is this: Pray. Go to God and tell Him your fears, claim the blood that Jesus shed for you. The Bible says that if we confess our sins He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and will cleanse us from all unrighteousness. So claim that. Know that you are forgiven. Then go take a shower, grab something to eat and move forward rejoicing in the grace that is yours, keeping short accounts with God, and spending time in His presence – through prayer and reading the Bible – so that you will become more like Christ each day. Satan comes to kill and destroy and he has lied to you to steal your peace. Jesus’ sacrifice is enough, it’s the only thing that could ever be enough. Claim that and you can be sure that Hell is not your destiny.
Yes i was reading the commits on blaspheming the holy spirit and and the root words containing to the meaning of blasphemy and I am really scared. Are the people’s commits just opinions or truth. I have been grieving for several days I haven’t eaten anything or taken a shower because this is a real grieving crisis. I am scared to face god now? Did I blaspheme the holy spirit? I don’t want to go to hell. I cried and I cried and I have nowhere to turn. Can someone please help me. Thank you!!
i am enjoying the responses from this blog, thank you
My desire for the below is to save a soul for the Kingdom. If my story saves just one soul for the Kingdom of God, Lord Jesus Christ/Messiah Yeshua and from eternity in Hell then glory to God!
August 31, 2011, Wednesday
I am 28 1/2 years old (born December 07, 1982). My name is Tracy S. Thompson and I was raised (and still live) in Pensacola, Florida, U.S.A.
I grew up in church – knowing and loving the Lord. At 12 1/2 I stopped attending, because my grandmother couldn’t take me anymore. While I lost some interest in the Lord, I never lost love for Him.
In 2006 He began pulling me to Him.
In 2007 He began pulling me even closer to Him.
By 2008 I was back strong with Him.
In October 2010 I pursued sin (and had pursued it since the age of 16), something nonpositive happened. I went to the Lord and begged Him to fill me with Him love. And He told me not until you give up that lifestyle. So I said, ‘Okay, Lord. I give it up.’
In December 3, 2010, He baptised me with His Holy Spirit and gave me my first spiritual gift – Prophecy by interpretation of His Word.
Between December 2010 and mid March 2011, Lord Jesus Christ gave me somewhere between five (5) to six (6) (possibly 7) different spiritual gifts (Prophecy, Knowledge, Wisdom, Revelation, Seer, Tongue, Power Tongue). And He gave me Stigmata (with the pain, not the blood, from the wounds).
In May of this year, I return to doing evil – I lusted with my eyes, heart, and mind after men and women though mostly women. I knew I was (defiantly) sinning and even did it with a smile on my face (I did not know about Hebrews 6:4-6, nor of the knowledge that willful/defiant/deliberate sinning could result in demon oppression/demon possession, reaching the-point-of-no-return with Holy Spirit.) But since then I have repented and renouned unto the Lord both lusting and Homosexuality, and have completely turned from them both.
After two (2) weeks of lusting with my eyes, mind, and heart one day while at home (and I was just as wide awake then as I am now) I felt a presence enter into my eyes.
Then I felt the Holy Spirit leave me (though He has come back to me many times since, and I really felt Him very strong/and dwell in my spirit Friday, August 12).
Within 20 minutes I immediately knew what that presence was and why it entered through my eyes.
I went into a five (5) day fast and prayer.
On the third day of the fast and prayer, a portion of this presence literally broke off from my eyes and went through my mind and my neck. Went it entered my body I felt it multiply into many. That is the best way I can explain it. The presence just multiplied into many.
On the fifth day of the fast and prayer I could feel the entities just jumping in jumping in jumping in and jumping in. It was like they didn’t want to leave.
Of course being tired after five (5) days of fasting and praying I discontinued the fast and prayer.
Two (2) days after the Lord came to me and I heard His voice. I was very familiar with His voice and quickly was able to distinguish it. (I was wide awake.) He was very strict and stern with me; and, He had every right to be.
He said to me, ‘YOU WERE TOLD TO DEPART FROM EVIL.’
About two (2) days later I heard the Lord come to me again and He said, ‘And these words are true – you will not enter My Kingdom.’ Within seconds of this message the bible verse of ‘And the works of the flesh are manifested and they are: emulation, idolatry, fornication, adultery …. and those who practice such shall not inherit the Kingdom Of God.’
About a day or two after this I went online and googled ‘demon possession’ and came across an article that told how a person becomes demon possessed. And it basically told my experience word for word.
A week later, I believe the Lord came to me again. It was nighttime, I was asleep and the only person in the room. The Holy Fire (some call it the Fire Of God, others call it the Fire Of The Holy Spirit) came upon me and I immediately woke up. I heard what I believe was the Lord’s voice and He said to me, ‘I have come to you in many ways and have told you that you will not inherit My Kingdom.’
A week later, the same thing happened. It was nighttime, I was asleep and the only person in the room. The Holy Fire came upon me and I immediately woke up. I heard what I believe was the Lord’s voice and He said to me, ‘Your presence isn’t wanted in My Kingdom. You are an abomination.’
All this happened in the month of June (from the time the demon entered my eyes (June 4th 2011) to the above message).
Since then I have received other messages (that were not good messages) with experiencing the Holy Fire. One of these messages was ‘You belong to satan.’ Yes, it was nighttime, I was asleep, the only person in the room, and the Holy Fire came upon me and woke me out of my sleep.
Whenever I’ve gone to the Lord asking Him for deliverance from this I began to feel the Holy Fire upon me, and sometimes it is both the Holy Fire upon me and feeling the Fear of God at the same time.
I don’t feel the Lord’s presence like I use to and I don’t hear from Him, in great depth, like I use to. I am concerned that I may have lost my Salvation. I am concerned whether the Lord will deliver me or not.
I want deliverance (if the Lord Jesus Christ is willing – AND I PRAY HE IS!).
- Tracy Thompson
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******* [it is our policy not to publish personal contact information]
No one is born Homosexual, Lesbian, Bisexual. The born -Homosexual/Lesbian/Bisexual theory is a lie from the pit of Hell. I CHOSE at the age of 16 to like other females, because of how boys always treated me (very badly) and I had not ever had a strong relationship with a particular female relative (whom is still alive and I, out of respect for her, desire not to name). And while I had like males my preference was for females, because of the aforementioned reasons. There has been four (4) postive things that have come out of this experience. My fear (of the Lord) and my desire to obey Jesus Christ’s Word AT ALL COST is much stronger and greater than it has ever been in my entire life, my relationship with my (earthly) Dad grew even stronger than what it was before (and was strong even then), AND I absolutely desire women NO longer. I am convienced beyond doubt that this sin, Homosexuality, is just an outright abomination to Him.
Ashamed, embarrased, fearful (of what others may think/say/feel/do) I will not be. Again, if just one soul is saved and goes to Heaven by the reading of my story THEN SO BE IT.
Have you asked for forgiveness Jose? Did you talk to God and confess the anger and the hurtful words you said? Have you turned away from that sin and turned back to God? That is all evidence of the Holy Spirit at work in your life. It is the Spirit’s role to convict us of our sin (john 16:8. However, it is Satan who is the one who accuses (Revelation 12:10). Satan wants you to feel unforgiven so that you stop depending on the Holy Spirit. If you have repented that is evidence that the Holy Spirit has convicted you and that He has empowered you to repent. If you have responded to the Holy Spirit in your life than you have come to Jesus and He promises, “The one who comes to Me I will certainly not cast out” (John 6:37) Don’t let Satan rob you of the peace and joy of your repentance.
I wanted to share my personal story….1 day i got mad at God and started blabbing curse words and When i went to sleep….i had a dream with a sister from church telling me I blasphemized the holy spirit….now it is so hard to feel forgiven…
good article, thanks
Thank you Jamie
It sounds like that dream really impacted you caprice2012. Do you remember the story of Jonah? God told him to go and tell the people of Nineveh that God was going to destroy them because of their wickedness. When the people of Nineveh heard the message they were genuinely convicted of their sin and repented. The result was that God withheld their punishment from them.
Jesus said that conviction of sin is the work of the Holy Spirit, “When He comes, He will convict the world of guilt in regard to sin and righteousness and judgment” (John 16:8) If you have felt the conviction of your sin then it is evidence that the Holy Spirit is working in your life. He is not removed from you. Just like the people of Nineveh, you have the opportunity to repent as well and receive forgiveness from God because of what Jesus Christ has done for you. “If we confess our sins to him [God], he is faithful and just to forgive us and to cleanse us from every wrong.” (1John 1:9) The Holy Spirit has convicted you and has called you to confession and repentance (that means turning your back on the wrong you had done and head for the right which God calls you to). Accept His gift of forgiveness and be free from the guilt of your past.
Does that make sense?
the dream did come true, his man was a minister, told me in front of the church that their is no Holy Spirit for me without calling out my name, use this in his sermon. I knew instantly he was talking to me.
I have not shared this dream with this minister, he does not know anything about it. I have however shared my dream and this situation with other pastors every prominent one Billy Graham Prayer Associations believe I can be forgiven and that I am saved. I do not know in what to think or believe.
Back in 2000 I had a terrible nightmare awhile seating at an Italian restaurant, the voice reveal to me my sin of blasphemy of the Holy Spirit that I had committed long time ago over thirty plus years ago that everything in the Bible is true and that his man will crucify me and remove me from God’s people. I do not fall sleep at restaurants nor do I do drugs and harsh drink. What I did in my dream and in my past was I curse the Holy Spirit, I was angry, I felt no one love me not even God. I am warning everyone not to speak unkind word to the Holy Spirit in thoughts or action.
Willys, there is more going on in the story of Ananias and Sapphira then what was revealed in Luke’s account in Acts 5. There are others in the Bible who lied and did not share their destruction. I think the main part of the story is that the Holy Spirit gave Peter discernment to see the truth of their offering. This was obviously something that was beyond Peter’s natural ability.
I think your situation is different. If God is convicting you of sin the you need to repent and make that right. Go and talk with the guys and let then know of your reservations and your thankfulness. Ask for their forgiveness for the half-truth you told and make it right. Also, ask God for forgiveness and ask for His help to refrain from that kind of insincerity in the future.
God’s promise is, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just, and will forgive us our sins and cleanse us of all unrighteousness.” (1John 1:9) So you do not have to live in fear but in the joy of God’s forgiveness.
You may also want to talk with someone who can help you walk through this process and claim the freedom from guilt and fear. Talk with a godly friend or a pastor or one of our online mentors. You can find a Mentor Request Form here.
Lord God I ask that you help Willys to be free from the fear of condmnation. Give him the courage to repent of his half-truths and then wash him clean in the blodd of Your Son Jesus Christ. Amen.
IM ONE OF THE PEOPLE WHO FEELS I HAVE COMMITED THIS UNFORGIVABLE SIN,I TOLD SOME GUYS THAT I WAS GRATEFUL TO THEM FOR WHAT THEY HAD DONE IN MY LIFE AND SAID THAT THE SPIRT OF GOD KNOWS I WAS GRATEFUL,IRONICALY I HELD RESERVATIONS FOR THAT BUT AS I SAID SO MY MIND AND SOUL WAS CLEARLY NOT TO MAKE THE HOLYSPIRIT A LIAR BECAUSE ILOVE HIM SO MUCH AND I REALLY REGRET THAT DAY.IHAVE KNOWN NO PEACE SINCE THEN AND MY APPETITE HAS COMPLETELY VANISHED.WHY DO YOU THINK ANNANIAS AND SAPHIRA WERE DESTROYED YET THEY JUST LIED.
God came to earth and many rejected Him.
Jesus came to earth and many rejected Him.
The Holy Spirit is within all believers and many reject Him.
Gods Grace is for believers and non-believers.
Jesus Salvation Grace is for the believers.
The Holy Spirits irresistible Grace is for all believers that respond to the Holy Spirits convictions confess and turn back to Jesus and His way the truth and eternal life.
According to Strong’s Concordance the following are definitions for every occurrence in the King James Version of your Bible for every variation of the verb “to Blaspheme:”
Blaspheme:
(Hebrew) #5006, “Na’ats,”to cause scorn to flourish,” Of course scorn means contempt or disdain.
(Hebrew) #1288, “Barak,” (by implication) to sarcastically “Bless God.”
(Greek) #987, “Blasphemeo,” to vilify, speak impiously, defame, revile or speak evil of. (from #989)
Blasphemed:
(Hebrew) #5344, “Nagab,” (to figuratively) “shoot down,” “pierce with holes” or “to curse.”
(Hebrew) #2778, “Charaph,” (to figuratively) defame as if by exposure.
(Hebrew) #1442, “Gadaph,” (to figuratively) hack or cut with words.
Disdain – to look upon or treat with contempt; despise; scorn. To think unworthy of notice, response, etc.; consider beneath oneself: to disdain replying to an insult. A feeling of contempt for anything regarded as unworthy; haughty contempt; scorn.
Contempt is an intense feeling or attitude of regarding someone or something as inferior, base, or worthless—it is similar to scorn. It is also used when people are being sarcastic. Contempt is also defined as the state of being despised or dishonoured; disgrace, and an open disrespect or wilful disobedience of the authority of a court of law or legislative body.
The unforgivable sin is when believers don’t respond, notice, accept, wilful disobedience and all the other things that the believers do that rejects what the Holy Spirit is doing their lifes. Those that are in a constant cycle of sin are sinners who profess to be Christians.
You are in the Lambs book if you are a Christian that confesses your sins AND repents. You sin less and not sinless. You are known as a beloved child of The Lord through your relationship with Him. You live by His grace and your faith and His word and spirit. You will be known by your fruits.
It is very simple. Live a Spirit led life.
Linda, where in the Scriptures does it “clearly state” that “denying the Holy Spirit is the unpardonable sin and meant for the believers not the unbelievers”? And, how do you define “deny”? Peter “denied” Jesus three times, was forgiven, and went on to become the “rock” of the Church. Are not Jesus and the Holy Spirit equal components of the Trinity? And, did not Jonah “deny” God’s instruction to sail to Nineveh, yet was eventually redeemed? If “denying the Holy Spirit” is THE unpardonable sin, and it’s only possible for believers to do, then only those believers who consistently obey the Holy Spirit will be forgiven, along with all unbelievers. This is a total contradiction of the Gospel. Rejecting the truth of the Gospel, and therefore rejecting Jesus as one’s Lord and Savior, is the only unpardonable sin today.
Eldean, while committing suicide is undoubtedly one of the most grievous acts a believer can do, and it denies God’s provision and purpose for our lives, there is nothing in the Scriptures that support it as THE unpardonable sin. Suicide is usually the result of a tormented spirit, of mental/emotional instability, and God, being compassionate, would not betray His own children, who have fallen into such despair! The key is: His own children. If one is saved, then he/she does not, can not become ‘unsaved.’ And, when we are saved, we are forgiven ALL of our sins. However, unbelieving people are not so protected by the umbrella of God’s forgiveness, which He promises to those who receive the gift of salvation through His Son, Jesus. This is why making one’s decision for Christ so paramount, as we do not know when we will take our last breath — whether by our own hand or not — and our position in Christ is what determines our being ‘pardoned’ or not, not the particular sin.
I’m confused I thought the only unpardonable sin was committing suicide. I was taught that you could be forgiven for anything else although blasphemony is terribly bad.
The unpardonable sin is to deny the Holy Spirit, and it clearly states in God’s Word that this is meant for the believers not the nonbelievers.
As an ex-Christian with occasional tendencies towards maltheism (I realize intellectually that people who have stayed Christians have a different understanding of God from mine, and I respect that, but on a personal level it’s a whole ‘nother ball game), I think I’m one of the few people who has genuinely blasphemed against the holy spirit. And Christians who agonize over whether they’ve done it can rest easy, because having ascertained that I’ve done it, I’m relieved. I think worrying about it is proof that you’ve got nothing to worry about.
I understand ‘blaspheme’ as two things. You blaspheme when you:
1. fail to credit God (Holy Spirit) for doing something. For example, you credit the Devil with doing something for something that the Holy Spirit actually did.
2. you deny God (Holy Spirit) completely.
I understand these things to be whether you are Christian or not.
If a real and true christian once blespheme against the holy spirit does still has a chance to enter into the Knigdom of Heaven?
those who play down or doubt this warning have not experianced it. Many young Christians have been derailed and crippled for years because of believing that they have committed the unforgiveable sin. Go to your pastor or elder or trusted brother or sister and get on your knees with them and go back to that place you first believed and were saved. Ask for grace and forgiveness in Jesus name and the peace which passes understanding will once again cover you with love and forgivness. Please dont delay because God longs for you to be free once again.
Darren, Psalm 1:1 tells us,”Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers.” As it is clear that Steve is mocking God, it might be wiser to leave him to his foolish ways. The Book of Proverbs is filled with wisdom on identifying a ‘fool’ according to God’s definition, and, as the “tongue of the wise commends knowledge, but the mouth of the fool gushes folly (Prov 15:2)” we are instructed “not to speak to a fool, for he will scorn the wisdom of your words.” (Prov. 23:9) Such impiety does not deserve the honor of a response.
Dear Steve,
I was a bit confused by your post. If someone is not a Christian, they would not believe that the Bible is true, and would not believe what Jesus said. And since you have said you are not a Christian, it stands to reason that therefore you would not believe what Jesus said.
However, in this specific instance, you seem to be taking seriously what Jesus said about a particular topic, namely blaspheming the Holy Spirit. But that makes no sense unless you believe what Jesus said.
So it’s hard to make sense of your statement. The only way I can think to reconcile it is like this: What if, on some intuitive level, you know that there’s something special about Jesus’ words, and that they are in fact true, but rebellious human nature is causing you to reject them? This makes sense of why you would be taking Jesus’ words seriously, but also why you might be so quick to reject Him.
Something to think about. Please feel free to respond, or contact us privately if you feel like talking.
I just blasphemed the holy spirit…felt good, man. Too bad I’m not a Christian.
It seems to me that the only ‘unpardonable sin’ would be to decline God’s offer of forgiveness by rejecting His Son as one’s atoning sacrifice. Before the second coming of Christ, the world will have been ‘told’ of Jesus’ work on the cross for the forgiveness of sins for those who acknowledge Him as Lord and Savior. God’s Word tells us that His creation has revealed the truth about Him to all peoples, that none are deemed innocent, without knowledge. It is when Jesus is denied as the ONLY means of satisfying God’s requisite for forgiveness, that forgiveness is withheld. This is the ‘unpardonable sin,’ to reject Jesus as one’s Lord and Savior. And, one can only do that by rejecting the Holy Spirit, Whose divine purpose is to glorify Christ.
Morris, I agree wholeheartedly with what Hebrews 6:4-6 says. Obviously, someone who knows and has experienced God (through His Holy Spirit) and then proceeds to turn his or her back on God cannot be forgiven, because they have rejected God’s offer of grace.
But nowhere in Hebrews 6:4-6 does it mention blasphemy against the Holy Spirit. This passage is therefore not referring to the same circumstance as the gospel passages. When Jesus talks about blasphemy against the Holy Spirit in Matthew 12:30-32 and Mark 3:28-29, he is speaking against the skeptical Pharisees who accuse Jesus of casting out demons by Satan’s power! (Matthew 12:24) Clearly these men are not followers of Christ. This is who Jesus accuses of blasphemy against the Holy Spirit.
So it seems that blasphemy against the Holy Spirit is not what Hebrews 6:4-6 is referring to; rather that passage is describing a different circumstance, which is equally tragic and saddening to God. I think we should lament both circumstances and pray for all those who don’t truly know God.
Thank you Morris for your comments and giving me the opportunity to clarify!
The only person who can blaspheme the Holy Spirit is the believer. Hebrews 6:4-6
A person who does not know the Holy Spirit or thinks it is some mythological religious creation cannot harm the Holy Spirit. Hebrews clearly states that a person who has tasted of the heavenly gifts and has been partaker of the Holy Spirit—if they fall away, they will not be brought back to repentence because they have crucified Christ all over again. This has to be somebody who knew the Holy Spirit otherwise God would reject anybody that didn’t come to Christ at any altar call.
The Christian who rejects the power of the Holy Spirit after he is saved is lost forever. God will not let him come back to repentence.
How can you possibly crucify Christ over again if you never believed in Him to begin with?
Your brother in Christ, Morris