Bible Question:

What is the blasphemy against the Holy Spirit?

Bible Answer:

The blasphemy against the Holy Spirit can be committed today. It occurs after someone has come to a full understanding about Jesus Christ and then finally and ultimately rejects Him. They never believe in Christ later. That is the short answer to the question. For an explanation of the answer to the question, “What is the blasphemy against the Holy Spirit?” please read the following.

Blasphemy Against Holy Spirit

Blasphemy Against the Holy Spirit

Blasphemy against the Holy Spirit is mentioned in the gospels of Matthew, Mark and Luke. Here is one of the passages.

Therefore I say to you, any sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven people, but blasphemy against the Spirit shall not be forgiven. 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. Matthew 12:31-32 (NASB)

Jesus tells us that there is only one sin that God the Father will never forgive. Once a person commits the sin, God the Father will not forgive the sin now or at any time in the future. The Greek word for “age to come”  is mello. The Greek word refers to an event that occurs sometime in the future. That is, God the Father will never forgive this sin at some point in the future.

What is the sin that God will never forgive? Is it the sin of speaking against the Holy Spirit? Have you ever spoken against the Holy Spirit? Now before you panic, we must discover what is this sin. What does blasphemy against the Holy Spirit mean? Luke 12:10 helps us understand that it is blasphemy against the Holy Spirit. That is the message of Luke 12:10.

And everyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man, it will be forgiven him; but he who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit, it will not be forgiven him. Luke 12:10 (NASB)

For an understanding of what this sin involves, we will now study Mark 3:28-30.

The Unforgivable Sin

Mark 3:28-30 helps us understand what blasphemy against the Holy Spirit means. It is more than just words or calling the Holy Spirit names or demeaning His character or claiming that He is not God.

Truly I say to you, all sins shall be forgiven the sons of men, and whatever blasphemies they utter; but whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness, but is guilty of an eternal sin” —because they were saying, “He has an unclean spirit.” Mark 3:28-30 (NASB)

Notice first of all, that once again we are told that the sin of blasphemy against the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven. It is an unforgivable sin or the unpardonable sin. It is an eternal sin. This sin lasts into eternity. The person who commits this sin will never be forgiven! Next we are told that the sin of blasphemy against the Holy Spirit occurred when the Pharisees said, “He has an unclean spirit.”

In order to understand this statement in verse 30, we must read Mark 3:20-27. In these verses we are told that the scribes were accusing Jesus of casting “out the demons by the ruler of the demons.” Throughout the New Testament we are told that Jesus performed His miracles and wonders by the Holy Spirit. He also died and was resurrected by the Holy Spirit. Because Christ was filled with the Holy Spirit, He was able to do all that He did. For more information read, “Was Jesus filled with the Holy Spirit before He was baptized?” Therefore, when the Pharisees said, “He has an unclean spirit,” they were actually accusing Jesus of doing the work of God by demonic power. That is why He said, “How can Satan cast out Satan?”

That is, the blasphemy against the Holy Spirit is believing that Jesus did His miracles, signs and wonders through demonic power. The Pharisees even claimed Jesus was demon possessed. Walvoord states it is

. . . attributing to Satan what is accomplished by the power of God.[1]

Can The Sin Be Committed Today?

To claim that Jesus’ miracles, signs and wonders were performed by demonic power is a final and total rejection of Jesus Christ. The works He performed should help anyone who reads the gospels understand that Christ is God (John 10:37-38; 20:30-31). Therefore, can someone blaspheme against the Holy Spirit today? The answer is yes! Can someone commit the unpardonable sin by ultimately and finally rejecting Jesus after having full knowledge about His miracles, signs, wonders and reading His teachings? Yes! Because what else can be done to help them believe in Christ? There is nothing else that can help them believe. The sin of blasphemy against the Holy Spirit is an unpardonable sin. There is no future hope for someone who finally concludes that Christ did not do the miracles and who rejects Him!

Conclusion:

For those who fear they have committed the unpardonable sin, you can save yourself great heartache by asking if you believe Christ did His miracles, signs and wonders. Do you believe that Jesus is God? Do you want God to forgive your sins? Are you willing to let God takeover your life? Then pray and tell Him that you want your sins forgiven, you believe in Him and you give yourself to Him. Then notice what these verses say. Note the promise that those who believe in Christ will never be disappointed and will be saved! These are wonderful promises.

That if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation. For the Scripture says, “WHOEVER BELIEVES IN HIM WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED.” For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, abounding in riches for all who call on Him; for “WHOEVER WILL CALL ON THE NAME OF THE LORD WILL BE SAVED.” Romans 10:9-13 (NASB)

 

References:

1. John F. Walvoord. Matthew. Thy Kingdom Come. Moody. 1974. p. 89.

Suggested Links:

Was Jesus filled with the Holy Spirit before He was baptized?
How To Be Filled With The Spirit
The Unpardonable Sin
What is the unforgivable sin? — Blasphemy of The Spirit
Second Blasphemous Rejection
Pharisees Blaspheme Jesus Again
Is there a sin that God will not forgive? When does He forgive?