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Perhaps in soteriology discussions we're often asking the wrong questions. Instead of asking how men are saved, maybe we should ask how men are condemned.
There's an intriguing passage spoken by Jesus in which he directly addresses this question.
This would seem to be an explicit affirmation of the forgiveness of all sins of all kinds committed by all men. They're all covered and going to be forgiven—that is except one—the blasphemy of the Spirit.
This is one of those passages where some very off-the-wall interpretations are offered, but none of them seem to make any sense. It's a very simple statement, and should taken at face value. All sins will be forgiven except one. All sins are covered except one. Figure out what this sin is and we may inch closer to a more true and perfect soteriology.
My take:
Most explanations of this passage are way off. This is not speaking of some vague sin that can't be committed anymore. It's not the act of accusing Christ of casting out demons by the devil as some propose. I realize the theological motives for such an interpretation, but it's a stretch at best.
The sin of blaspheming the Spirit still exists today, and should be feared (the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom). But what is it?
Well, first maybe we should think about the function or role of the Spirit. What does He do? Is it not the Spirit who enlightens us to our condition and our need for forgiveness? And if that's true, wouldn't the rejection of Christ be an offense to the One that pointed us to Christ? Look at this passage in Hebrews.
Here the rejection of Christ is specifically linked to insulting the Spirit of grace. It is the Spirit who gives us grace to believe. Naturally then, rejecting Christ would be akin to insulting or blaspheming the Spirit.
Therefore I will submit the following hypothesis. The blasphemy of the Holy Spirit is the continual rejection the gospel which the Spirit Himself enlightened us to, to the point that the Spirit takes away our enlightenment and allows our hearts to once again become hardened. That in a nutshell is what I believe this sin is.
You'll notice this is not merely the simple act of rejecting the gospel, but a continual act to the point of a particular result—hardening. You'll notice that rather than condemnation being the result of a lack of atonement, it is instead the result of specific offense which the atonement was never intended to cover. If one rejects Christ to the point of hardening, there is no sacrifice to cover that. That is an unforgivable sin.
The passage above, BTW, has nothing to do with one losing his salvation. It is rather a picture of the man who is enlightened, and who tastes and who partakes in blessings but never believes. The above I believe is a picture of one who commits the blasphemy of the Holy Spirit.
And if this understanding of the blasphemy of the Spirit is correct, notice all the textual and theological problems is solves. First, there would no longer be any reason to resist the clear biblical teaching that atonement is universal. As John proclaimed.
According to Jesus all sins are covered for all men except one. If one does not commit this one sin, he will be saved, for his sins have been atoned for. But if he rejects Christ and insults the Spirit of grace who pointed him to Christ to the point where he becomes hardened, he will be condemned.
This explains why Peter spoke of false teachers being bought by our Lord (2Pet. 2:1). This is yet another passage where all kinds of backflips are done sway people from the plain reading. But if blasphemy of the Spirit is the permanent rejection of Christ, it makes perfect sense. They were atoned for! But they rejected Christ and thus blasphemed the Holy Spirit who pointed them to Christ.
This also explains why young children are always saved. For they are covered by the blood of Christ, and died at an age prior to the Spirit's enlightenment. Here again, some very educated men have to create all kinds of ways to explain how children are saved, and some even believe that many infants that die go to hell. But a proper understanding of the blasphemy of the Spirit solves this problem as well.
That's my take anyway. It's a work in progress, some adjustments are likely needed, but I'm hoping I'm on the right track.
There's an intriguing passage spoken by Jesus in which he directly addresses this question.
Matt. 12:31 “Therefore I say to you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven men.
This would seem to be an explicit affirmation of the forgiveness of all sins of all kinds committed by all men. They're all covered and going to be forgiven—that is except one—the blasphemy of the Spirit.
This is one of those passages where some very off-the-wall interpretations are offered, but none of them seem to make any sense. It's a very simple statement, and should taken at face value. All sins will be forgiven except one. All sins are covered except one. Figure out what this sin is and we may inch closer to a more true and perfect soteriology.
My take:
Most explanations of this passage are way off. This is not speaking of some vague sin that can't be committed anymore. It's not the act of accusing Christ of casting out demons by the devil as some propose. I realize the theological motives for such an interpretation, but it's a stretch at best.
The sin of blaspheming the Spirit still exists today, and should be feared (the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom). But what is it?
Well, first maybe we should think about the function or role of the Spirit. What does He do? Is it not the Spirit who enlightens us to our condition and our need for forgiveness? And if that's true, wouldn't the rejection of Christ be an offense to the One that pointed us to Christ? Look at this passage in Hebrews.
Heb. 10:29 Of how much worse punishment, do you suppose, will he be thought worthy who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, counted the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified a common thing, and insulted the Spirit of grace?
Here the rejection of Christ is specifically linked to insulting the Spirit of grace. It is the Spirit who gives us grace to believe. Naturally then, rejecting Christ would be akin to insulting or blaspheming the Spirit.
Therefore I will submit the following hypothesis. The blasphemy of the Holy Spirit is the continual rejection the gospel which the Spirit Himself enlightened us to, to the point that the Spirit takes away our enlightenment and allows our hearts to once again become hardened. That in a nutshell is what I believe this sin is.
You'll notice this is not merely the simple act of rejecting the gospel, but a continual act to the point of a particular result—hardening. You'll notice that rather than condemnation being the result of a lack of atonement, it is instead the result of specific offense which the atonement was never intended to cover. If one rejects Christ to the point of hardening, there is no sacrifice to cover that. That is an unforgivable sin.
Heb. 6:4 For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted the heavenly gift, and have become partakers of the Holy Spirit, 5 and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come, 6 if they fall away, to renew them again to repentance, since they crucify again for themselves the Son of God, and put Him to an open shame.
The passage above, BTW, has nothing to do with one losing his salvation. It is rather a picture of the man who is enlightened, and who tastes and who partakes in blessings but never believes. The above I believe is a picture of one who commits the blasphemy of the Holy Spirit.
And if this understanding of the blasphemy of the Spirit is correct, notice all the textual and theological problems is solves. First, there would no longer be any reason to resist the clear biblical teaching that atonement is universal. As John proclaimed.
1John 2:2 And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world.
According to Jesus all sins are covered for all men except one. If one does not commit this one sin, he will be saved, for his sins have been atoned for. But if he rejects Christ and insults the Spirit of grace who pointed him to Christ to the point where he becomes hardened, he will be condemned.
This explains why Peter spoke of false teachers being bought by our Lord (2Pet. 2:1). This is yet another passage where all kinds of backflips are done sway people from the plain reading. But if blasphemy of the Spirit is the permanent rejection of Christ, it makes perfect sense. They were atoned for! But they rejected Christ and thus blasphemed the Holy Spirit who pointed them to Christ.
This also explains why young children are always saved. For they are covered by the blood of Christ, and died at an age prior to the Spirit's enlightenment. Here again, some very educated men have to create all kinds of ways to explain how children are saved, and some even believe that many infants that die go to hell. But a proper understanding of the blasphemy of the Spirit solves this problem as well.
That's my take anyway. It's a work in progress, some adjustments are likely needed, but I'm hoping I'm on the right track.
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