Sermon 1
What Is Blasphemy of the Holy Spirit and Is This Sin Unforgivable?
One of the sins mentioned in Scripture that can strike fear into the hearts of people is the blasphemy of the Holy Spirit. When Jesus talked about this, the words he used were indeed frightening:
“And so I tell you, every kind of sin and slander can be forgiven, but blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven. Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but anyone who speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come” (Matthew 12:31-32).
What Does "Blasphemy of the Holy Spirit" Mean?
These are truly sobering words which should not be taken lightly. However, I believe there are two important questions to ask regarding this topic.
1. What is the blasphemy of the Holy Spirit?
2. As a Christian do you need to worry about committing this "unforgivable" sin?
Let’s answer these questions and learn more as we look into this very important topic of blasphemy.
In general, the word blasphemy according to Merriam-Webster means “the act of insulting or showing contempt or lack of reverence for God.” Blasphemy of the Holy Spirit is when you take the true work of the Holy Spirit and you speak evil of it, attributing his work to the devil. I don’t believe this is a one-time thing, but it is an ongoing rejection of the work of the Holy Spirit, of over and over again attributing his precious work to Satan himself. When Jesus addressed this topic, he was responding to what the Pharisees had actually done earlier in this chapter. Here is what happened:
“Then they brought him a demon-possessed man who was blind and mute, and Jesus healed him, so that he could both talk and see. All the people were astonished and said, ‘Could this be the Son of David?’ But when the Pharisees heard this, they said, ‘It is only by Beelzebub, the prince of demons, that this fellow drives out demons’” (Matthew 12:22-24).
The Pharisees by their words were denying the true work of the Holy Spirit. Even though Jesus was operating under the power of the Holy Spirit, the Pharisees were giving credit for his work to Beelzebub, which is another name for Satan. By doing this they were blaspheming the Holy Spirit.
Photo credit: ©Getty Images/Deagreez
Why Is Blasphemy of the Holy Spirit an "Unforgivable" Sin?
In Matthew 12 Jesus says that whoever commits the sin of blasphemy will not be forgiven. However, knowing that doesn’t really address the question of why this sin is unforgiveable? You could just say because Jesus said so but I think there is more to the answer.
To help you understand the why you must recognize how the Holy Spirit works in the heart of an unbeliever. The reason why I am focusing on the unbeliever is because I don’t believe a Christian or true believer can commit this sin, but more on that later. Let’s look at how the Holy Spirit works and you will understand why the person who commits this sin can never receive forgiveness.
According to John 16:8-9 one of the primary works of the Holy Spirit is to convict the world of sin. Here is what Jesus said:
“When he comes, he will prove the world to be in the wrong about sin and righteousness and judgment: about sin, because people do not believe in me.”
The “he” Jesus is referring to is the Holy Spirit. When a person does not know Jesus as Savior the primary work of the Holy Spirit in that person’s heart is to convict them of sin and point them to Christ with the hopes of them turning to Christ for salvation. John 6:44 says that no one comes to Christ unless the Father draws them. The Father draws them by the work of the Holy Spirit. If someone constantly rejects the Holy Spirit and speaks evil about him, attributing his work to Satan here is what is happening: they are rejecting the only one who can convict them of sin and move them towards repentance.
Consider how Matthew 12:31-32 reads in The Message Bible:
“There’s nothing done or said that can’t be forgiven. But if you deliberately persist in your slanders against God’s Spirit, you are repudiating the very One who forgives. If you reject the Son of Man out of some misunderstanding, the Holy Spirit can forgive you, but when you reject the Holy Spirit, you’re sawing off the branch on which you’re sitting, severing by your own perversity all connection with the One who forgives.”
Let me summarize why this sin is unforgivable.
All sin can be forgiven. However, the key to forgiveness is repentance. The key to repentance is conviction. The source of conviction is the Holy Spirit. When a person blasphemes, slanders and rejects the true work of the Holy Spirit, they disconnect their source of conviction. When this happens, there is nothing or no one who will move that person to repentance and without repentance there can be no forgiveness. In essence, the reason why they won’t be forgiven is because they can never come to the place where they can ask for it, because they have rejected the Holy Spirit. They have cut themselves off from the one who can lead them to repentance. By the way the person who falls into this sin would probably not even know that they are beyond repentance and forgiveness.
Also remember this was not a sin limited to biblical times. Blasphemy against the Holy Spirit is still happening today. There are people in our world who are blaspheming the Holy Spirit. Whether they realize the severity of their actions and the consequences attached to them I don’t know, but unfortunately this still goes on.
Photo credit: Unsplash/Anthony Tran
Is Blasphemy of the Holy Spirit Different Than Taking the Lord's Name in Vain or Swearing?
Though they can appear to be similar, there is a difference between taking the Lord’s name in vain and blasphemy of the Holy Spirit. To take the Lord’s name in vain is when you do not show proper reverence for who God is, which is similar to blasphemy.
The difference between the two lies in the heart and the will. Even though people who take the Lord’s name in vain often do so willingly, it is usually born out of their ignorance. Generally speaking, they have never had a true revelation of who God is. When someone has a true revelation of who God is, it becomes very difficult to take his name in vain, because they develop a deep reverence for him. Think of the centurion in Matthew 27 when Jesus died. The earthquake happened and he proclaimed “surely he was the son of God.” This revelation created the reverence.
The blasphemy of the Holy Spirit is different because it is not an act of ignorance, it is an act of willful defiance. You must choose to blaspheme, slander, and reject the work of the Holy Spirit. Remember the Pharisees we mentioned earlier. They saw the miraculous power of God at work because they saw the demon possessed boy completely healed. The demon was cast out and the boy who was blind and mute could now see and talk. There was no denying the power of God was on display.
In spite of that they willfully decided to attribute that work to Satan. This was not an act of ignorance, they knew exactly what they were doing. That’s why to blaspheme the Holy Spirit has to be an act of the will, not a passing ignorance. In other words, you can’t do it by accident; it is an ongoing choice.
Photo credit: ©Getty Images/RalphRenz
As a Christian Do You Need to Worry about Committing Blasphemy?
Here is good news. As a Christian, there are many sins you may fall victim to, in my opinion this is not one of them. Let me explain why you don’t have to worry about this. Jesus made a promise to all his disciples:
“And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever — the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you” (John 14:16-17).
When you gave your life to Christ, God gave you the Holy Spirit to live and dwell in your heart. This is a requirement to be a child of God. If the Spirit of God is living in your heart then the Spirit of God will not deny, slander, or attribute his work to Satan. Earlier when Jesus was confronting the Pharisees who attributed his work to Satan, Jesus said this:
“If Satan drives out Satan, he is divided against himself. How then can his kingdom stand?” (Matthew 12:26).
The same thing is true of the Holy Spirit, he is not divided against himself. He will not deny or blaspheme his own work and since he lives in you he will keep you from doing the same. Therefore, you don’t have to worry about committing this sin. I hope this puts your mind and heart at ease.
There will always be a healthy fear about the blasphemy of the Holy Spirit and there should be. However, if you are in Christ, you don’t have to be afraid. As grievous and dangerous as this sin is, as long as you remain connected to Christ you will be fine. Remember the Holy Spirit lives in you and he will keep you from falling into this sin.
So don’t worry about blaspheming, focus instead on building and growing your relationship with Christ as the Holy Spirit helps you to do that. If you do that you will never blaspheme the Holy Spirit.
Does God Really Work All Things Out for Good?
Does God Really Work All Things Out for Good?
Whenever we face trials or unexpected struggles, someone always seems to remind us that God works all things out for our good. It’s to remind us to stay hopeful that things will get better in time.
But for many of us, after hearing this uplifting comment, we wonder, How could God make good from this situation? How could He make good from this cancer diagnosis, from this marriage complication, from this job loss, from this faith crisis? We understand God can do the impossible, but could this be the one situation where He can’t?
Before giving this idea any time to marinade, the answer is no. There is not one situation that catches God off-guard or where He goes, “Well, I don’t know what to do about this situation, so you are on your own!”
We will explore here two specific instances in Scripture when God has worked all things out for good, while also demonstrating the importance of having faith in difficult times, knowing God is there and will help us in every way to victory.
Working All Things for Good
When we think of the concept of God working all things out for good, we typically go to Romans 8:28, which clearly states this truth: “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.” Romans 8:29 elaborates more about this purpose God calls us to, stating, “For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren.”
What these verses are saying is that before any difficult situation – or any situation at all for that matter – God already knew and planned what would be ahead for us and the good He would bring from those situations.
As stated before, nothing catches God off-guard because He knows the intricate details of all our lives, especially how certain challenges will work to strengthen us instead of robbing us of hope and blessing.
How could a difficult situation benefit us, you may ask? James 1:2-4 shares with us what we learn and gain when we hold onto our faith in God’s goodness during trials: “My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.”
So, when we endure trials, God’s blessing of goodness comes through in a few different ways.
Patience that is produced in us that builds strong character, faith, and resilience when the trail is complete. Basically, God’s gift of goodness is that we become better versions of ourselves as Christ followers when we stay the course and hold onto our faith. We don’t miss valuable lessons learned in this trial (to prevent having to repeat the trial), and we receive unexpected blessings that wouldn’t have been possible if we had given up and let the trial win.
How God Worked All Things Out for Joseph
There are countless stories in the Bible of God working impossible situations out for good, from the smallest to the largest. This demonstrates that no situation we face will be prevented from having a good outcome by God’s hand.
For example, the story of Joseph illustrates well God’s ability to change disastrous situations into outcomes that positively impact not only us, but those around us. For those unfamiliar with this story in Genesis, Joseph was one of several sons of Jacob and was considered his father’s favorite. Upset by their father’s treatment and Joseph’s arrogance, the brothers conspired to kill Joseph. But instead, they sold him into slavery and falsely told Jacob that Joseph was killed by animals.
Fast forward in his story. Joseph dealt with imprisonment, false accusation of rape, helping others only to be taken advantage of, and regular instances where his hopes for escaping his trials were dashed. However, Joseph continued to trust and rely on God, finally reaching a point of high authority under Pharaoh’s command. Soon after, he was reunited with his brothers and father who long thought he was dead.
After the passing of their father, Joseph’s brothers came to him asking for his forgiveness. Instead of exacting revenge against the years of trials and turmoil his brothers had caused him, Joseph explained how God had used these situations for good. “But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive” (Gen. 50:20).
Joseph reminds us that the actions of others, even if malicious, will be used by God for good to help us and others. Though his brothers wanted his demise and others took advantage of him, Joseph stayed faithful to God, believing He would help him through it all. And God did.
How God Worked All Things Out for Jeremiah
Another example of God’s capacity to turn difficult situations into something good is found in the story of Jeremiah, named “The Weeping Prophet.” Many may know of Jeremiah from his recognized words in Jeremiah 29:11: “’For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the LORD, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.’”
However, many may not be familiar with Jeremiah’s own story of persecution and rising above trials. In a nutshell, Jeremiah’s early calling as a prophet caused his family to reject him and even make plans to kill him. His call to follow God also led to him being attacked by a mob, thrown into jail, and even whipped and put into stocks.
Yet even with all that he dealt with for preaching God’s Word, Jeremiah remained strong in his faith. He believed God would bring good from his circumstances, and that he had to continue to share God’s Word. His words went on to inspire people years later to believe that God had good plans for their lives, bringing hope and peace for their futures.
What these men’s stories demonstrate to us is that no matter what life brings into your path, whether it is changes in health, family, job, or even your spiritual journey, God uses every difficult situation for good. Though they experienced unimaginable circumstances, God brought not only goodness to these men’s lives but continued to use their examples of faith to inspire others to believe God’s goodness during trials.
Can God Bring Goodness from My Trials?
It can be easy to read stories of hope in the Bible and think, That worked out for them but my situation won’t have a good ending or God won’t be able to bring any good from this situation. However, what these stories reveal is that if we don’t get caught up in the difficulties of the trial, if we believe God has a plan and that good will come from it, then God will strengthen us to get through the trial to the goodness He has promised.
The apostle Paul said it best in Romans 5:3-5 when sharing with the Romans what comes forth when we stay strong and hopeful in trials: “And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope. Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.”
Trials, uncertainties, and frustrations in life are never fun to experience, but if we remember the truth that God can bring good from any situation we go through, we can feel His strength rise up inside us. Keep hope alive and know that good things are coming!
Going Beyond Surface Christianity
Aug
20
One Life To Live
Attitude, Encouragement, Personal Growth, Purpose, The Word, Victorious Living
Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal. II Corinthians 4:16-18 (NKJV)
We all get just one life to live. The choice about how to live it is ours. Will we live for God, for others, or for ourselves? Will we do our best and give it our all, or will we waste our lives with wrong choices and apathy? We’ll all make mistakes- that’s part of being human. However, the biggest mistake anyone can make is to miss God by never knowing Him. He is life and He gives life to all- He’s the One to know above all others.
For those who have accepted God and know Him, it is important to be aware of the present. Life is precious and it is fleeting. Don’t miss the moment today by looking back on all the bad things. Remember the good and build on that. And don’t look to the future so much that you miss what’s right in front of you. Some people spend so much time and energy looking ahead. It’s only today that counts, so make today count now and for all eternity. Live today for God. Our days are meant to be full of God and everything He has for us. If we’re approaching life as something we just have to get through, we’re missing the point.
We should live life for God in the light of eternity. Whatever you do, do it for eternity. Eternal rewards await the faithful. That is what we should be aiming for instead of temporal rewards on earth. Everything in this world will pass away. Only what is done for Christ will have everlasting meaning and value.
Live your life to the full. Seek God with all your heart. Then empty out all that God has put into you. Pour out what you’ve been given to others. Pass along the knowledge, revelation, wisdom, and anointing God has given you so others can benefit from it, operating in and sharing what you’ve imparted to them. Then, when you are gone, your legacy will live on in others. That’s a life lived for the glory of God. That’s the significance of the one life you have to live. Now, go out there and really live!
Eternity, Legacy, temporary, Glorifying God, glory, God, Victory, Overcoming, apathy, Living, Live Large, Life, Daily Life, Giving, Deposit, effort, Encouragement, Seeking God, Deeper, pursuit, Present, The Past, Future, now, Intimacy with God, thrive, Purpose, Assignment, Enjoying Life, joy, A Good Life, Abundant Life, Reward, forever, Impartation, salvation, Knowledge, Revelation, wisdom, Anointing, Go, Personal growth, Christianity, Christian Values, Christian maturity, Bible, Attitude
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Jesus said in Luke 5:4, “Launch out into the deep."
Go beyond surface Christianity, gain deeper knowledge of the Word of God, and learn how to live victoriously. A Deeper Word is a Christian site for inspiration, sound doctrine, and insights that teach balanced truth from the Bible. Dr. Jim Reish and Janean Reish share keen Biblical truths and insights to empower you to live a meaningful Christian life. We promote successful Christian living with an emphasis on growing up in God through a deeper revelation of His Word. We cover more than religion, our blogs teach truth, offer encouragement and challenge you to go deeper in God. If you've ever thought, "There’s got to be more to life," you're right. And it's found in a meaningful daily walk with the Living God. As Jesus said, “Launch out into the deep.”
Going Beyond Surface Christianity
Dec
7
The Symbolic Meaning of Leprosy
Sin, Salvation, Healing, Restoration, The Word
When he was come down from the mountain, great multitudes followed him. And, behold, there came a leper and worshipped him, saying, Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean. And Jesus put forth his hand, and touched him, saying, I will; be thou clean. And immediately his leprosy was cleansed. Matthew 8:1-3 (KJV)
Leprosy was a disease that ate away at a person’s flesh. Spiritually speaking, leprosy represents sin and how it eats away at our lives. The leper was separated from people and was forced to live alone- he was an outcast. Sin always separates us from God and what He has for us. But, there was hope. For the leper in Old Testament times, the blood of an animal could be shed and applied to the leper to heal and cleanse him (see Leviticus 14).
In Matthew 8, a leper came to Jesus saying that if He wanted to, Jesus could make him whole. Jesus answered him and said “Of course I will.” Jesus touched him and made him whole. The leper had likely not been touched in a long time. Jesus’ touch was more powerful than the leprosy and the man was made well of the disease.
Only Jesus and His blood can cleanse and make us whole again- not the blood of animal sacrifices. In the Old Testament, the priest would put the animal’s blood on the leper and anoint him with oil. It was applied to his right earlobe, his right thumb, and his right big toe. The blood of Jesus and the anointingt is now applied to us where we can hear God, and work and walk with Him. The blood of Jesus cleanses, restores us, and the anointing sets us apart to God for His use. The blood of Jesus sets us free from the sin that had us bound, just as the blood of animals was used to heal the leper. And just like the leper is restored to his relationships, we are restored to relationship with God as well as family, society, etc. And the anointing sets us in our place and helps us function in it.
Jesus loves us so much that one touch from Him restores us back to life. His touch is more powerful than any sin or the effects caused by sin. It is all cleansed and wiped away when we accept the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. Jesus is willing and able to make us whole again from the results of sin and to restore us back to God.
Sin, Forgiveness, Restoration, Redemption, Blood, Sacrifice, Symbolism, Cleansing, Miracles, Healing, Salvation, Jesus, Doctrine, Bible
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Jesus said in Luke 5:4, “Launch out into the deep."
Go beyond surface Christianity, gain deeper knowledge of the Word of God, and learn how to live victoriously. A Deeper Word is a Christian site for inspiration, sound doctrine, and insights that teach balanced truth from the Bible. Dr. Jim Reish and Janean Reish share keen Biblical truths and insights to empower you to live a meaningful Christian life. We promote successful Christian living with an emphasis on growing up in God through a deeper revelation of His Word. We cover more than religion, our blogs teach truth, offer encouragement and challenge you to go deeper in God. If you've ever thought, "There’s got to be more to life," you're right. And it's found in a meaningful daily walk with the Living God. As Jesus said, “Launch out into the deep.”
A Deeper Word is the online ministry of Jim and Janean Reish. All posts are copyrighted and are the intellectual property of Jim and Janean Reish.
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Jesus said in Luke 5:4, "Launch out into the deep."
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