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.”
I used to get questions about this all the time. People would call thinking that for some reason they had committed the unpardonable sin and were beyond the reach of God’s grace. Of course, that spiritual concern is evidence that they hadn’t committed that eternal or “unpardonable sin” and that they didn’t really understand the grace of God.
“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.”
Comments:
I used to get questions about this all the time. People would call thinking that for some reason they had committed the unpardonable sin and were beyond the reach of God’s grace. Of course, that spiritual concern is evidence that they hadn’t committed that eternal or “unpardonable sin” and that they didn’t really understand the grace of God.
Those who commit the blasphemy against the Holy Spirit never have forgiveness because they never repent. They think that the conviction and other work of the Holy Spirit are of the devil; so they don't respond, they don't repent and return to God, and thus they never experience redemption. They die without a saving relationship with Christ and their sin is not forgiven. The only sin that is not forgiven is that which is not confessed in believing faith to the Lord Jesus Christ.
For many years, psychologists have tried to convince people that the conviction and guilt that they feel is the result of some kind of religious brainwashing—turning people against the work of the Holy Spirit. Naturalistic scientists have long tried to persuade people to disbelieve creation and other miracles—believing only in evolution (a much more ridiculous idea than the supernatural). Deep down, most people know they are not all that they were meant to be. They know they need forgiveness for the wrongs they have done and the right things they have left undone. The good news is that forgiveness is available through the work of Christ to anyone and everyone who asks in faith.
For many years, psychologists have tried to convince people that the conviction and guilt that they feel is the result of some kind of religious brainwashing—turning people against the work of the Holy Spirit. Naturalistic scientists have long tried to persuade people to disbelieve creation and other miracles—believing only in evolution (a much more ridiculous idea than the supernatural). Deep down, most people know they are not all that they were meant to be. They know they need forgiveness for the wrongs they have done and the right things they have left undone. The good news is that forgiveness is available through the work of Christ to anyone and everyone who asks in faith.
And for me as a Christian, the lesson I draw from this is that I should not resist the work of the Holy Spirit in my life. I should not grieve the Holy Spirit, by continuing to live as though I had not been redeemed by the blood of the Lamb.
Therefore, having put away falsehood, let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are members one of another. Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and give no opportunity to the devil. Let the thief no longer steal, but rather let him labor, doing honest work with his own hands, so that he may have something to share with anyone in need. Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you. (Ephesians 4:25-32 ESV emphasis mine)
The Holy Spirit is the Christian's power for godly living and witnessing as we respond to the love of God. I need to be careful that I don't become so systematic, self-confident and settled in my religious expression of my faith that I deny the present work of the Spirit in my life and in the church.
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