Blasphemy of the Holy Spirit

[George Muller]

‘Lean not on your own understanding’
As I have said before, my faith is not in man’s views or opinions, but in what God has said. We can surely have our own understandings, but we should not lean on them.

This does not mean ignore the clear reading of scripture, but would suggest we heed the clear intention of scripture. I would say that when a man attempts to wash away this warning with mans logic, they are "leaning'' on their own understanding.

 

[George Muller]

To say God had his hand in the death of the child is saying the power He used is evil, or blasphemy of the Holy Spirit. This was Jesus warning and hence the lecture about the two kingdoms.

I must say mike, you go beyond what I can accept as clear and evident in the scriptures in question.

Mark 3:28-30 Verily I say unto you, All sins shall be forgiven unto the sons of men, and blasphemies wherewith soever they shall blaspheme: But he that shall blaspheme against the Holy Ghost hath never forgiveness, but is in danger of eternal damnation: Because they said, He hath an unclean spirit.

 

[George Muller]

I agree, but maybe not in the way you are saying. The missed point in all this is the matter of unbelievers and apostates rejecting the gospel message that has been clearly made known to them through a demonstration of power, not that we in the church have a hard time discerning what really is a miracle of God and what is not, which IMO is not a damnable offense. Much less unforgivable.

Yes caution is a commandment, "prove all things" but often this is not what we see.

 

[Brother Mike]

George Muller

I must say mike, you go beyond what I can accept as clear and evident in the scriptures in question.

The Word of God is so amazing that it's very easy to branch off and get tons of revelation despite what you started to study out. Trying to figure out what this blasphemy is though appears that everyone here is saying that calling the Holy Spirit a unclean spirit or satanic spirit puts one in danger. From reading all the post I think it's safe to conclude that.

Jesus gave 3 things before making his comment.

1) The Kingdoms are not divided. Satan is not using his ability to heal, and God is not Using the Holy Spirit to kill or make sick.
2) The strong man
3) If Jesus uses demonic power to cast out devils. Then your own sons would also have to use that power and are a judge against you.

So the conclusion is that accusing the Holy Spirit of evil work is akin to blasphemy. God's power and ability on earth is through the Holy Spirit.
I fully believe they made the comment to discredit Jesus by discrediting his source of ability. I don't think they had in mind everything that has been discussed here.

Mike.

 

[Edward]

Thank you to those who responded to me. It has been a good read. However, I need to meditate on these things for a few days perhaps, and pray for illumination of the truth of the matter. I can not take mere mens interpretaions of this, for all wisdom, understanding, and knowledge comes through the Holy spirit. (grin)

Kidding aside (I mean no offense to anyone) but I do need to seek the Holy Spirits interpretation, and shall do so. I have been being given so much illumination lately that I need time to digest and organize my heart and thoughts with all of this, lest I become distracted and fail to do so. I am going to continue to follow this as it is, to say the least, highly interesting. I have so much spiritual issues in the air right now that I need to step back a little and contemplate my next moves. The Lords taking me somewhere and I'm beginning to have things come into focus. (I had so many prayers answered today!! Praise the Lord!!!)

 

[Sparkey]

The simple truth is these people where calling a work of the Holy Spirit, an act of satans power.

Is that what they did? Looked to me like Jesus merely cautioned them against going too far down that path? Or at least, it could be interpreted that way. Jesus spoke and said that all blasphemy against The Father would be forgiven. He also clearly stated that blasphemy against him (the Son) would also be forgiven. Is it possible that in His abundant mercy, he Judged that even though it may sound like they were blaspheming the Holy Spirit (it did sound like that, no denying) he was also functioning even then as a Paraclete and Advocate and may have considered it a personal thing directed toward Him and hence forgivable.

The ultimate act of blasphemy against the Holy Spirit, is to me, still something that is seen through a glass darkly. The way that it shall be known is when "they" (not the Pharisees in the time of The Christ) speak against the one promised to The Christ. He will return with fire in His eye. This we know. Why? What is the 'straw' that breaks the camel's back so-to-speak?

For this we turn to the "Test of Solomon" and consider the "child" and the two mothers. With an eye to the Reveal that belongs to The Christ, and was given to the Sent-One, John, also known as "The Beloved" - while looking at what is revealed about the "man-child" --we may consider what that "Test" of Solomon is about. There were two women. Both gave birth. One child died (was it smothered in bed?) and the distraught mother claimed that she was the rightful mother of the living child.

Solomon, in his famous judgment, was able to rightly show who the real mother is. Looking at this as prophecy we are given a clue regarding the nature of the blasphemy of the Holy Spirit. The Lamb of God is also the Bridegroom. The Saints of God are seen to be the "body of Christ" and the mystery that Paul spoke of, about the two joining in one flesh is known true. This is the purpose of God, that the Prayer that Jesus spoke, that we be "One with Him, even as He is One with the Father," shall come to pass. During this time, we know there will be those who come and fight against the Purpose of God. Jesus spoke much of this time and with many warnings, exhortations and revelations so that we are not surprised by the events that are designed to deceive (if such a thing were possible) even the elect.

When that one accuses those who belong to our Jesus, they are accusing the Holy Spirit in them. It will be then as it was in the time when the Lord Jesus first appeared on the earth. It will also be like the time of Noah. There will be many giving and taking in marriage. There will come one who declares that the "child" is rightly hers. We will no longer see through a glass darkly but shall see Him face to face and it will be with joy that those who are called and have been matured in Christ will remain in Christ, trusting Him to do what is right.

 

[rick77]

Thank you to those who responded to me. It has been a good read. However, I need to meditate on these things for a few days perhaps, and pray for illumination of the truth of the matter. I can not take mere mens interpretaions of this, for all wisdom, understanding, and knowledge comes through the Holy spirit. (grin)

Kidding aside (I mean no offense to anyone) but I do need to seek the Holy Spirits interpretation, and shall do so. I have been being given so much illumination lately that I need time to digest and organize my heart and thoughts with all of this, lest I become distracted and fail to do so. I am going to continue to follow this as it is, to say the least, highly interesting. I have so much spiritual issues in the air right now that I need to step back a little and contemplate my next moves. The Lords taking me somewhere and I'm beginning to have things come into focus. (I had so many prayers answered today!! Praise the Lord!!!)

Brother I am seeking input in this subject would you please help me understand this topic? I am in deep depression , and anxious about this sin, I will truly appreciate your thoughts on it. I send t you also a PM. Thank you.

 

[handy]

There have been a lot of good thoughts shared on this subject. I skimmed over the four pages and saw that a lot has been addressed... but I'd like to add some thoughts as well, especially for you [MENTION=96716]rick77[/MENTION] because I know you are struggling with this.

I've shared this before here, so some will find it familiar but I would like to point out Pharaoh and how he would harden his heart.

Most will find the story familiar, if not, it's found in Exodus chapters 7-12. God sends Moses to Pharaoh with the demand that Pharaoh release the Hebrew slaves. Pharaoh refuses and God, with each refusal sends ever harsher plagues against Egypt. After Pharaoh appeals to Moses, Moses (through God) stops the plague, then Pharaoh "hardens his heart" and refuses yet again, to let the people of Israel go.

A key focus here is Exodus 9:22-35. Pharaoh has seen the power of the Lord and still keeps hardening his heart, refusing God. Then God sends a plague of hail that destroys everything in the land, except what is owned by His own people. Pharaoh then says something very important:

“I have sinned this time; the Lord is the righteous one, and I and my people are the wicked ones. Make supplication to the Lord, for there has been enough of God’s thunder and hail; and I will let you go, and you shall stay no longer.†(vs. 27-28)

Moses went out of the city and raised his hands to God and the storm ceased.

Pharaoh, once the storm stopped, hardened his heart yet once more. Even after his confession of sin before God, confessing that he believed in God and sinned against God, he hardened his heart yet again.

It was a sin committed with belief in God, not unbelief, but belief. Belief that can only truly come to us by the power of the Holy Spirit. The sin was basically, "I know You are God, I acknowledge Your power, but I choose to go against You."

All sins are committed either through unbelief, we really are not fully understanding or believing in God... or through ignorance. [MENTION=96716]rick77[/MENTION], when you tried, by your own power, to receive tongues, it was through ignorance. When the Holy Spirit convicts our heart regarding these sins and we confess them to God and ask for forgiveness, God freely forgives.

But, what Pharaoh did was very much like what those Pharisees that were watching Jesus perform miracles did... through the power of the Holy Spirit, he knew and understood that it was God performing the signs... and reject them outright anyway.

From then on, throughout the rest of the account in Exodus, we do not read that Pharaoh hardens his heart... God Himself hardens Pharaoh's heart.

Pharaoh had passed the point of no return. Pharaoh had committed the unpardonable sin...fully, completely acknowledging God and His power, confessing his own sin before God....and rejecting God anyway.

I know that many preach and teach that the Unforgivable Sin is unbelief, but it's not....not really. It's a sin born out of belief... by the power of the Holy Spirit, it is undeniably revealed that God Himself is at work, and one rejects God anyway.

 

[Brother Mike]

Brother I am seeking input in this subject would you please help me understand this topic? I am in deep depression , and anxious about this sin, I will truly appreciate your thoughts on it. I send t you also a PM. Thank you.

If your seeking................. you have not committed.

 

[JLB]

Brother I am seeking input in this subject would you please help me understand this topic? I am in deep depression , and anxious about this sin, I will truly appreciate your thoughts on it. I send t you also a PM. Thank you.

If your seeking................. you have not committed.

Ditto!

For God is still working in you to both will and do His good pleasure.

JLB

 

[Edward]

Brother I am seeking input in this subject would you please help me understand this topic? I am in deep depression , and anxious about this sin, I will truly appreciate your thoughts on it. I send t you also a PM. Thank you.

I'm sorry Brother, I started to reply to your PM and got sidetracked. The hustle-bustle of life. I am not ignoring you and hope to get back to you soon about it. I'll pray for you about it meantime.

 

[rick77]

Brother I am seeking input in this subject would you please help me understand this topic? I am in deep depression , and anxious about this sin, I will truly appreciate your thoughts on it. I send t you also a PM. Thank you.

I'm sorry Brother, I started to reply to your PM and got sidetracked. The hustle-bustle of life. I am not ignoring you and hope to get back to you soon about it. I'll pray for you about it meantime.

Thanks Brother, I hope to hear from you soon.

 

[Tony Hyman]

I have not looked at all the comments in this thread and if I touch on matters that have been stated all the better as far as understanding is concerned.
The thrust as I understand is the blatant rejection of the Spirit in the sense that one stubbonly attributes the work of the Holy Spirit to Satan ,as has been stated here by brother Jethro at the outset.In other words the Spirit are all lies.

One must must be led by the Spirit according to what God says in the Bible as is common knowledge but I believe a few learned comments on this subject might prove useful in illuminating this somewhat debatable and contraversial topic.

The Afrikaans Bible Commentary 1959 Prof's Gemser and others Stellenboch University say the following (my translation) "When the work the Holy Spirit is attributed to Satan."

Prof Bob Hutly Retired Texas Baptist University concurs in his Understanding .He comments in relation to his own discussion on the subject, not the Afrikaans comment, in the use of the term,"above" ,however ; he says"In light of the above , this sin is committed by those who , in the presence of great light and understanding, still reject Jesus asGod's means of revalation and salvation.They turn the light of the gospel into the darkness of Satan(cf v.30) They reject the Spirit's drawing and convition (cf.John 6:44,65).The unpardonable sin is not a rejection by God because of some single act or word ,but the continual ,ongoing rejection of God in Christ by willful unbelief(i.e. the scribes and the Pharisees).

This sin can only be committed by those who have been exposed to the gospel. Those who have heard the message about Jessus clearly are the most responsible for it's rejection.This is espesially true of modern cultures that have continual access to the gospel , but reject Jesus(i.e America ,western culture) " unquote (Now now !Americans please don't stone the learned Professor,I think we all know what he means).

The N.I.V .Disciples Study Bible also eloborate as follows."Ultimately , all sin is against God .Sin against the Holy Spirit is serious because the Holy Spirit is the One who convicts us of sin. Blaspemy against the Holy Spirit cannot be forgiven. Conviction precedes repentance. Without the convicting Spirit , we cannot find forgiveness "unquote they continue much in the same vain as above but offer the following food for thought "We must be cautious not to apply the doctrine in the wrong way.People sometimes fear they have 'sinned away the day of grace'People who feel such a yearning
for salvation may be sure the Spirit continues to work in their lives..Some people in desperation or anger shake a fist and complain to God.They are simply repeating the actions of many of the psalmists.Thet are not guilty of the unforgiveable sin."

In conclusion from what I have seen on Google generally ,it boils down to bone headed blindness which qualifies one for rejection but the mere fact that person ,even remotely worries about it ,shows that he or she dont qualify.Thank God for that.

 

[Edward]

We don't always get answers right away but if we're patient they come. I feel as if I have been pointed in the right direction on this, not by direct answer from the spirit, but by being impressed with some specifics in scripture while I was reading.

I think Mark says it best.

Mark 3: 28-29

28 Verily I say unto you, All sins shall be forgiven unto the sons of men, and blasphemies wherewith soever they shall blaspheme:
29 But he that shall blaspheme against the Holy Ghost hath never forgiveness, but is in danger of eternal damnation./(NIV)

Now then, that phrase "All sins...and blasphemies..." says what it means, and means what it says. Do we doubt the Love of the Lord, or the atoning power of Jesus Christs blood? God forbid. He came and shed His blood for sinners, for His enemies, such is the extent of the Lords love. This is all sins, my brothers and sisters. ALL Sins. ALL SINS.

Let us not doubt the Lords love by distractions and lies from the evil one. Repentance is just that, repentance. If one (anyone) comes to the Lord in repentance, asking for forgiveness for their sins, they WILL be forgiven. The Lord is not willing that any should perish, and laid down His very life to prove it. The Lord isn't playing games of whoops except you made a poor statement one time in unbelief so you're out...No, my friends. You will be forgiven.

Ok, so where does this leave us with the so-called unpardonable sin, 'blasphemy against the Holy Spirit'? This is true, and there is no contradiction present. The only way to the Father is through Jesus Christ. The only way to Jesus Christ...is through the Holy Spirit! It is the Spirit's work to draw men to the Lord Jesus Christ. If one rejects the Holy Spirit, one does not get to Jesus and His atoning works through His blood. To reject the Holy Spirit, is to call Him a Liar. To consciously reject Him, consistently, throughout one's lifetime. One can reject the Holy Spirit, and later truly repent of same within one's heart and then accept the gift of forgiveness, and find Jesus and His forgiveness. Such is the power and extent of the Lords grace and love. Only in continuing to reject the Holy Spirit unto death do we find it unpardonable. You can not reject the Holy Spirit for your entire life, and have Gods forgiveness after death of the flesh. The Lord will not 'force' eternal life and forgiveness upon you after a lifetime of rejecting the Holy Spirits prompting. You must accept the gift of forgiveness and confess with your mouth, your sins before God. Repent brothers and sisters, and you will be forgiven. It's that simple.

If the evil one can get you to believe that you oops, said the wrong phrase once in your life and now have no hope...then you will be led to not repent and make the effort needed to seek forgiveness. Don't fall for that! Have some faith in your God, and the Lord shall say, let it be so according to your faith.

Bless you all brothers and sisters, this is the truth. Even now, the Holy Spirit is pinging my heart that this is so. Don't worry, be happy. For we have a loving God that is overflowing with grace and mercy. Praise be to the most high God.