This is a question I had for years growing up. In fact, for most of my life I was taught the wrong thing. I was always taught that blaspheming the Holy Spirit was simply rejecting God. But then I found the definition of blaspheming the Holy Spirit in the Bible.
But he that shall blaspheme against the Holy Spirit has never forgiveness, but is in danger of eternal damnation: Because they said, He has an unclean spirit. Mark 3:29-30
If you go back a few verses, you see what prompted Jesus to say this. The pharisees had just said that Jesus healed and cast out devils because of the power of “Beelzebub.”
So, blasphemy is denying God is who He says He is.
A friend of mine put it this way:
If you don’t believe that the Holy Spirit is capable of working miracles, etc., then you’ll attribute it to something else (Satan, witchcraft, liars, etc.). If you don’t believe the Holy Spirit inspired the Bible, you’ll attribute it to someone else (stories taken out of context or blown out of proportion, etc.).When the grace of God (his forgiveness) covers you, you could have the most vile sins on your record, but you’re still forgiven and able to enter Heaven. The reason blasphemy of the Holy Spirit is unforgiveable is this: You have to believe that God is who He says He is before you can ask him to forgive you.
Taking the Lord’s name in vain or mocking Jesus is not blaspheming the Holy Spirit. Both are sins, but neither is the “unpardonable sin” spoken of in Mark 3.
Couldn’t have said it better myself… good post.
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Man, the church sure needs clarification on this issue. Thanks for stepping up to the plate.
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I left you an email. I will not say anything about this matter because it is your choice whether to listen to the false prophet or not. Listen to the black sheep or stay with the white sheeple and follow your shepherds to your demise? Who cares, eh? To you it is I going to demise, your open is my closed and my closed your open.
I have to say though the book you are reading is yet another bad source for your argument.
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huh???????
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Carmel, I’m with you… huh???????
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Okay…that one commentor is like um what??? made no sense to me either.
anyways, What you said was correct. and you said it well. Good to have that clarity.
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When I speak to God, I’m not sure if he is listening. I never hear him reply.
How do you get God to talk to you and what does his voice sound like?
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