Blasphemy Against The Holy Spirit Is The Unforgivable Sin
Three times in the New Testament Gospels we are told that blasphemy against the Holy Spirit is an unforgivable or unpardonable sin.
In the Gospel of Matthew chapter 12 verses 22-32 we have the story of Jesus and Beelzebub (Be-Ls-A-Bub) the prince of demons. Here Jesus was taken to a demon possessed man who was also a blind mute and Jesus healed him and he was able to see and speak after the demons were drawn out of him.
The people who witnessed the miracle were amazed and asked "Could this be the Son of David?"
But the Pharisees or Jewish leaders and teachers of the Law who Jesus on several occasions called snakes and a brood of vipers said he was Beelzebub the prince of demons or Satan and he was driving out his fellow demons.
To which Jesus said in verses 25-28:
"Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation, and every city or house divided against itself will not stand. If Satan casts out Satan, he is divided against himself. How then will his kingdom stand? And if I cast out demons by Beelzebub, by whom do your sons cast them out? Therefore they shall be your judges. But if I cast out demons by the Spirit of God, surely the kingdom of God has come upon you. (NKJV)
Then Jesus went on to say in verses 30-32:
He who is not with me is against me, and he who does not gather with me scatters abroad. Therefore I say to you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven men. Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man, it will be forgiven him; but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit, it will not be forgiven him, either in this age or in the age to come. (NKJV)
The gospels of Mark 3:20-30 and Luke 12:8-12 also tells us that blasphemy against the Holy Spirit is an unpardonable sin.
There is one sin that will not be tolerated nor forgiven and that is blasphemy against the Holy Spirit.
But what is blasphemy?
Blasphemy is irreverence, disrespect, profanity or slander.
If you confess that Jesus Christ is your lord and savior you will be forgiven for each and every sin and blasphemy you commit and this is a promise from God.
In reading these passages most people seem to miss that promise because they are more concerned about the warning of blasphemy.
But if you believe in God and accept the free gift of salvation by the blood of Jesus all of your sins will be forgiven even blasphemies or words against God and the son of man Jesus Christ. But only if you confess your sins and repent because there is no sin that God cannot forgive you for as long as you ask.
However there is one sin that will not or cannot be forgiven and that is blasphemy against the Holy Spirit.
It is important to note here that Blasphemy against the Holy Spirit is not so much your actions, thoughts or words but your attitude or way of thinking. Those souls who are lost or not saved by grace or salvation or those such as those Jews who deny the power and authority of Jesus and refuse to believe He is the Messiah are blaspheming against the Holy Spirit.
Jesus was not talking about rejecting him as a man but of refusing to believe that he was the Messiah and therefore rejecting the power of the Holy Spirit behind him.
Here the Jewish Pharisees blasphemed against the Holy Spirit when they said that Beelzebub or Satan performed the miracle and not Jesus by the power of the Holy Spirit. Therefore their sin is unforgivable as they lived and is carried over when they die.
By their conscience rejection of the Holy Spirit they blasphemed and therefore rejected God.
It is funny to note that the Pharisees said Jesus was guilty of blasphemy when they were the guilty ones because they said Jesus was in league or possessed by Satan.
Simply put when you deny the power behind Jesus The Holy Spirit you deny and reject God.
Jesus said that those who blasphemy against the Holy Spirit can not be forgiven but it is not because their sin is worse than any other but simply because they as unbelievers will never ask for forgiveness of their sins.
This is in effect a separation from God because when you refuse to accept the works of the Holy Spirit you remove yourself from the only one who can lead you to repentance and a restoration with God and that is the Holy Spirit.
This sin cannot be forgiven in this life or age or in the age to come because the consequences are forever or eternal.
Sometimes as Christians we worry that maybe we unintentionally committed this sin. However only those who have rejected God and Jesus Christ need to worry. If you find that you are worried about this sin you should realize that by simply worrying about it is evidence that you have not.
Why?
The Holy Spirit is convicting you and thorough the Holy Spirit we are compelled to ask for forgiveness and repent.
Because blasphemy against the holy spirit is the unforgivable sin, we must be willing to ask for and accept the forgiveness of our sins - but not if we blasphemy against the Holy Spirit.
