Blashphemy against the Holy Spirit

blashpheme against the Holy Spirit they received?

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huh??

anyone baptised in the Holy Spirit cannot blaspheme the Holy Spirit.

This is a topic in the Bible I cannot simply comprehend.  I guess because I couldn't do it.  How could you?  I don't even understand how you could blaspheme the Holy Spirit.  Maybe that's because I've received it, but I'm not sure  

This is a difficult passage in the Bible. It's hard to know what is meant by this. Read literally, it would seem to say that anyone who curses the Holy Spirit will never be saved no matter what they do after that.

In the context of the passage, it "blasphemy against the Holy Spirit" seems to mean to attribute to Satan things that are actually of God. But even this is problematic -- does that mean that anyone who has called Catholicism satanic or pagan will never be saved? I personally don't think so.

This troublesome verse has required literalists and conservatives to kind of invent an explanation from other passages -- since Jesus died to save you from your sins if you believe him, logically the only "unforgivable" sin must be not believing in him. Ergo, "blasphemy against the Holy Spirit" must be not believing in Jesus. But I find this explanation lacking a little bit, it seems to be a constructed explanation to support a particular theological viewpoint.

I really don't know what to make of that passage.

-Chris

I read once a very interesting argument that no one who has committed this sin can ever be concerned with any question of salvation or sin, so anyone who wonders about it has not committed it.

I find this passage to be quite simple, honestly.  First of all, in proper context, Christ was speaking with the Pharisees, the Jewish leaders.  Second of all, you can bet your bottom dollar that if someone could commit the "unpardonable sin" which would permanently exclude them from heaven, God would have mentioned it in His Word more than just once in a passing conversation between Christ and the Pharisees.  Christ died for all sins...all sinners.  He accomplished salvation for all at the cross.  I have NEVER read a reliable commentary that has ever stated that the "unpardonable sin", as labeled, really exists to us today, but instead, it was addressed to the Pharisees in that context.

Just some thoughts...

If it wasn't important, it would not be in the book.

I found a good commentary once, I'll see if I can find it again.

Simply put, the sin against the Holy Spirit is rejection of him to the end. The very nature of final rejection of the Holy Spirit is unpardonable because you have refused him your free will to allow him to work in your life. The Holy Spirit is constantly calling you to follow Christ and the application of the Holy Spirit in your life leads you to repentance and the pursuit of truth. You sin against the Holy Spirit when you don't allow him to work through you, even unto death.

That's really hard to explain!

Thanx, Luv
Theresa

Originally posted by Theresa
I found a good commentary once, I'll see if I can find it again.

Simply put, the sin against the Holy Spirit is rejection of him to the end.

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I just don't see this in the passage. To reproduce Matthew 12:31-32:

"Therefore, I say to you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven people, but blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven. And whoever speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven; but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come."


I am not sure how "whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit" can be interpreted as "whoever rejects God until the end".

When we say that someone has committed blasphemy, we do not mean that the person has rejected God until the end of their life. This is not the dictionary definition of blasphemy, nor is it the way the word is normally used. So why interpret blasphemy in that manner for this particular verse?

-Chris

Because nothing else makes sense. I don't believe that Christ will deny me forgiveness for anything that I do if I'm contrite, whether it be blasphemy or ignorance, etc.. At any moment, as long as I'm alive, I can partake of Christ's forgiveness and have my slate wiped clean. It takes some participation on my part, I need to repent and avoid those sins in the future but it can be done.

Christ and the Holy Spirit are the same God. You would think that it you sin against Christ, you sin against God (except perhaps it is the Spirit's specific job to lead you to repentence). The only thing that makes sense in this passage is "final impenintence." Whether it's technical or exact matters not to me in this instance. I cannot live in fear of a sin that nobody knows what it is and that cannot be forgiven either in this age, or in the age to come. I cannot believe that Christ will not forgive me so therefore, I have to come to the conclusion the only sin that cannot be forgiven is the sin of final rejection of God in choosing hell instead of repentence.


CCC-vs1864:

"'Whoever blasphemes agianst the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness, but is guilty of an eternal sin.' There are no limits to the mercy of God, but anyone who deliberately refuses to accept his mercy be repenting, rejects the forgiveness of his sins and the salvation offered by the Holy Spirit.  Such hardness of heart can lead to final impentitenca and eternal loss."


Thanx, Luv
Theresa

There are three instances in the Bible where it speaks of blaspheming the Holy Spirit. Each one has to be interpreted in by the purpose that the author had in mind. Matthew's purpose in speaking of the unpardonable sin is to show that "to blaspheme the Spirit" is to reject God and his purpose in Jesus as Messiah.

The teaching from Scripture concerning blaspheming the Spirit depends on which version you read (either Matthew 12:31-32, Mark 3:28-30, and Luke 12:10), yet each evangelist can speak to the church today. A central scriptural lesson can be blended from this saying of Jesus in tis various contexts. First, contrary to some thinking, God's grace is not irresistible; it can be spurned, rejected, and ignored. Moreover, persistent denial of God's revealing himself in Jesus through the power of the Spirit can have eternal consequences. God's revelation of himself is not limited to, but certainly includes, manifesting his grace through the gifts of the Spirit. Any refusal of grace (i.e., salvation) is in a sense "unforgivable," because grace that is "given" must be "received". Second, blaspheming the Spirit concerns a willful rejection of God's grace and power. This especially includes atributing God's working through the power of the Spirit--whether in Jesus or his disciples--to Satan. To blasphme the Spirit is also to reject both the offer of grace and the power to remain faithful to God. Thus, the one blaspheming the Spirit rejects the very power through which grace is manifest and made available...Appreciating the uniqueness of blaspheming the Spirit lies in understanding that for JEsus' hearers the Spirit's activity had largely ceased. Jesus, though, knows the Spirit is active through his ministry and is himself revealing that presence. "In other words, Mark 3:28 speaks of sin against the God who is still hidden, v. 29 of sin against the God who is revealing himself. The former can be forgiven, the latter is unforgivable" (Jeramias, 150). Thus, he rightly continues, "the unforgivable sin is not a particular moral transgression, as it is in the sphere of Rabbinic casuistry; rather, it is the sin that arises in conection with revelation" (by the way, this is taken from a passage written by P.H. Alexander)

Does that make sense? Hope so...Good luck on finding your answer!