Blasphemy against the Holy Spirit and Eternal Sin

[Follower Of Christ]

From Mark 3:28-30 "Truly, I say to you, all sins will be forgiven the children of man, and whatever blasphemies they utter, but whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness, but is guilty of an eternal sin”— for they were saying, “He has an unclean spirit.”"

So what is blasphemy against the Holy Spirit? In Mark 3:30 we have the clue for the scribes were claiming that Christ had an unclean spirit in Him.

Well, the Holy Spirit indwelled in Christ but not in the scribes yet they claimed to be righteous before God. It follows that anyone that confesses that the Holy Spirit indwells in them and that Scriptures are breathed out of God and yet that person does not abide in the truth is guilty of blasphemy against the Holy Spirit and hence guilty of an unforgivable eternal sin.

What is this truth? Well, first from 1 John 2:18-20 "Children, it is the last hour, and as you have heard that antichrist is coming, so now many antichrists have come. Therefore we know that it is the last hour. They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us. But they went out, that it might become plain that they all are not of us. But you have been anointed by the Holy One, and you all have knowledge."

Further, from Galatians 3:28 "There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus."

Also, from John 14:6 "Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me."

Jesus Christ is the Truth. He is God the Son, with no beginning and no end and only through Him we attain immortality. Anyone that believes the Scriptures are breathed out of God and further claims to be indwelled by the Holy Spirit and yet goes against the Truth is guilty of an eternal sin which is unpardonable.

Let me finish with 2 Peter 3:16 "as he does in all his letters when he speaks in them of these matters. There are some things in them that are hard to understand, which the ignorant and unstable twist to their own destruction, as they do the other Scriptures."

 

[Follower Of Christ]

1 John 5:16 "If anyone sees his brother committing a sin not leading to death, he shall ask, and God will give him life—to those who commit sins that do not lead to death. There is sin that leads to death; I do not say that one should pray for that."

 

[miamited]

Hi Follower Of Christ

I agree that blasphemy of the Holy Spirit is to allow credit for something evil to the Holy Spirit. As you pointed out, Jesus said this in response to the Jewish leaders ascribing the good works of healing that Jesus was doing to Satan (Beelzebub).

 

[Follower Of Christ]

Hi Follower Of Christ

I agree that blasphemy of the Holy Spirit is to allow credit for something evil to the Holy Spirit. As you pointed out, Jesus said this in response to the Jewish leaders ascribing the good works of healing that Jesus was doing to Satan (Beelzebub).

Absolutely, from John 5:39 "You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about me". The scribes acknowledged that Scriptures were breathed out of God, and also claimed righteousness before God yet they failed to identify Christ as the Truth but spoke falseness against Him. That is blasphemy against the Holy Spirit.

 

[Follower Of Christ]

Romans 1:18-23 "For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse. For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Claiming to be wise, they became fools, and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things."

 

[Wrg1405]

I believe the unpardonable sin today is to reject Jesus, it's the sin of unbelief in Jesus.

John 16:7-9
7 Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you. 8 And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: 9 of sin, because they do not believe in Me;

 

[st_worm2]

I believe the unpardonable sin today is to reject Jesus, it's the sin of unbelief in Jesus.

Hello Wrg1405, what you believe about the "unpardonable sin" seems to be the majority opinion, since, as we are told in Hebrews 10:26-27, if a person rejects the Savior, they also reject the only sacrifice that can save them from their sins.

Hebrews 10 (NASB 95')​

26 If we go on sinning willfully after receiving the knowledge of the truth, ~there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins~, ​

27 but a terrifying expectation of judgment and THE FURY OF A FIRE WHICH WILL CONSUME THE ADVERSARIES. ​

However, if we look carefully at the description of the "unpardonable sin", it is unique in several ways.

1) It is a unique/specific kind of blasphemy.​

2) It is always unforgiveable ~from the very moment that it's committed~. IOW, it is a blasphemy that can never be repented of and forgiven, ~even while someone is still living on this side of the grave~.​

3) While rejecting the Lord Jesus as one's Savior and Lord is certainly sinful, it is not necessarily blasphemous (if a person hears the Gospel but is not ready to believe in Him/surrender their lives to Him at that moment in time, for instance, that's a sin that can be repented of later in life, NOT an unpardonable blasphemy).​

This is why I don't believe that rejecting the Lord Jesus Christ as one's Savior and Lord can actually be the "unpardonable sin", because many do so when they first hear about Him, but then later (perhaps years later) they repent, receive Him as their Savior, are forgiven of their sins and are saved.

This could not happen if the sin of rejecting Him was truly, "unpardonable".

Matthew 12 (NASB 95')​

31 "Therefore I say to you, any sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven people, but blasphemy against the Spirit shall not be forgiven.​

32 Whoever speaks a word against the Son of Man, it shall be forgiven him; but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit, it shall not be forgiven him, ~either in this age or in the age to come~.”​

​

Mark 3 (NASB 95')​

28 "Truly I say to you, all sins shall be forgiven the sons of men, and whatever blasphemies they utter;​

29 but whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit ~never~ has forgiveness, but is guilty of an ~eternal~ sin”—​

30 because they were saying, “He has an unclean spirit.”​

Finally, many (most?) believe that a true Christian cannot commit this particular sin today, because we have the permanent indwelling of the Holy Spirit in us (and He preserves us in the faith).

Others believe that it cannot be committed today by anyone since Jesus no longer walks among us as a man. I believe that both may be true, but that we really cannot know for sure.

Another belief is that this particular blasphemy is "unpardonable" because it can only be committed by those with such black, cold hearts that they don't care that they are committing it and (for this reason) would never choose to repent of it. I believe this may be true, too, but that we (again) cannot really know for sure.

On thing that I am sure of is that just the thought of it is disturbing and frightening

God bless you!!

--David

 

[Josheb]

So what is blasphemy against the Holy Spirit?

Neither the question nor its answer is very complicated. The passage in which that verse occurs provides an answer. In that passage the work of the Spirit was being attributed to the devil. That is blaspheming the Holy Spirit.

The word "holy" simply means "separate." That is its literal definition, its denotation. In the context of religion, the word holy carries with it the connotative meaning of something being separated for sacred purpose. Therefore, the Holy Spirit is the separate Spirit of God, the Spirit separate(d) for sacred purpose. Scripture speaks of God having many spirits, but only one of them is specifically designated as the Holy spirit, the Spirit separated for sacred purpose. To take the Spirit of God that is specifically separate for the sacred purpose of indwelling, inspiring, and empowering God's will and purpose and attribute its work to the devil (or any unclean spirit) is blasphemy. Its reverse would be to call Satan "God, or "LORD."

So, blaspheming the Holy Spirit is not a complex matter, a hidden matter, nor a matter that takes a lot of exegesis to know and understand. Do not expect to be forgiven for calling God a devil or attributing His works to the adversary. That sort of thing is very fleshly and absolutely nothing whatsoever to do with God. As Paul once put it,

Galatians 6:7-8
Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, this he will also reap. For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life.

Just say, "No."

 

[Carry_Your_Name]

Blaspheming against the Holy Spirit is the same as sanctimony, i.e. "having a form of godliness, but denying the power of the Holy Spirit", that's what the pharisees were guilty of in that context. They witnessed a miracle performed by Jesus with their own eyes, yet they denied it and attributed it to the devil. Blaspheming against the Son usually comes out of ignorance, that can be forgiven; but blaspheming against the Spirit is sinning with full knowledge, that's cognitive disonance, and that cannot be forgiven. It's like the paradox of free speech - the only speech that can't be free is the Newspeak that shuts down all other speeches, the only sin that can't be forgiven is denying the forgiveness of sin.

 

[JLB]

This is why I don't believe that rejecting the Lord Jesus Christ as one's Savior and Lord can actually be the "unpardonable sin", because many do so when they first hear about Him, but then later (perhaps years later) they repent, receive Him as their Savior, are forgiven of their sins and are saved.

So true.

 

[mailmandan]

The "blasphemy against the Holy Spirit" is mentioned in Matthew 12:22-32 and Mark 3:22-30. This case of blasphemy is a specific one. In Matthew 12:31-32, the Pharisees having witnessed irrefutable proof that Jesus was casting out demons in the power of the Holy Spirit, claimed instead that Jesus had an unclean spirit and casts them out by Beelzebul the ruler of the demons. (Matthew 12:24; Mark 3:30). Jesus was specific about what they did to commit "blasphemy against the Holy Spirit" and these Pharisees who committed this unforgivable sin were not believers.

 

[for_his_glory]

1 Timothy 1:13 Paul (Saul) was a blasphemer and even persecuted Christians to death, but was a blasphemer out of ignorance in unbelief for he knew not Christ or the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. It wasn't until his conversion on the road to Damascus that his spiritual eyes and ears were opened, to understanding, Acts 9.

Those who walk in unbelief are just that being nonbelievers and are none of Christ like Paul was at one time. Those who have walked in truth given them by the Spirit of God (Holy Spirit) John 14:26, are those who have also turned back to the flesh just as the foolish Galatians who walked away from faith in Galatians chapter 3. Those who blasphemy the Holy Spirit knowing the truth have walked away from it as their hearts become hardened and they speak evil against the (Holy Spirit)

Matthew 12:31 Wherefore I say unto you, All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men: but the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men. 32 And whosoever speaketh a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but whosoever speaketh against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, neither in the world to come. 33 Either make the tree good, and his fruit good; or else make the tree corrupt, and his fruit corrupt: for the tree is known by his fruit.

Galatians 3:1 O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you? 2 This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? 3 Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh? 4 Have ye suffered so many things in vain? if it be yet in vain. 5 He therefore that ministereth to you the Spirit, and worketh miracles among you, doeth he it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?

This might help us understand what blasphemy against the Holy Spirit is all about in a simpler understanding. It's a conscious and hardened opposition to the truth because the Spirit that is God is truth. Conscious and hardened resistance to the truth leads man away from humility and repentance and without repentance there can be no forgiveness. Because of defiance they refuse to hear what the Spirit (God) is speaking to them. The only unpardonable sin is refusing to let God pardon you for without repentance there is no forgiveness of sin.


Strong's Concordance definition of blasphemy - contempt

Contempt: the feeling that a person or thing is beneath consideration, worthless, or deserving scorn.

Provocation : action or speech that makes someone annoyed or angry, especially deliberately

Example: Nehemiah 9:18; 26; Ezekiel 35:12-15

Dictionary blasphemy - the act or offense of speaking sacrilegiously (evil) about God or sacred things; provain talk

Blasphemy in scripture: (read the full context as I only picked out certain verses that contain the word blasphemy)

2 Samuel 12:14 Howbeit, because by this deed thou hast given great occasion to the enemies of the LORD to blaspheme, the child also that is born unto thee shall surely die.

Isaiah 52:5 Now therefore, what have I here, saith the LORD, that my people is taken away for nought? they that rule over them make them to howl, saith the LORD; and my name continually every day is blasphemed.

Matthew 9:3 And, behold, certain of the scribes said within themselves, This man blasphemeth.

Matthew 12:31 Wherefore I say unto you, All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men: but the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men.

Mark 3:29 But he that shall blaspheme against the Holy Ghost hath never forgiveness, but is in danger of eternal damnation: 30 Because they said, He hath an unclean spirit.

Mark 14:64 Ye have heard the blasphemy: what think ye? And they all condemned him to be guilty of death.

Luke 5: 21 And the scribes and the Pharisees began to reason, saying, Who is this which speaketh blasphemies? Who can forgive sins, but God alone?

Acts 26:11 And I punished them oft in every synagogue, and compelled them to blaspheme; and being exceedingly mad against them, I persecuted them even unto strange cities.

Romans 2:24 For the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles through you, as it is written.

James 2:7 Do not they blaspheme that worthy name by the which ye are called?


Reprobate mind means a depraved, unprincipled or wicked person rejected by God and beyond hope of salvation

Example:

Romans 1:28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; 29 Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, 30 Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, 31 Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: 32 Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.