The difficult passages found below are some those knowledgeable in God's Word have gone to great lengths to explain. In brief, here is how they explain this sin, blasphemy against the Holy Spirit: it is a sin which can be committed only by those who have had the true witness of God's Word. They had been enlightened by the Holy Spirit, being among the fellowship of true believers; but after having had the knowledge of God's truth they walked away, returning back to the world (the world of lusts and desires they had seemingly been set free from). It is much stressed... this sin is not committed by the unchurched, it is not using God's name in vain, nor is it a temporary backsliding! They have rejected God's truth wholly, counting it as unworthy, or an unholy thing. They have betrayed Christ and have now become His enemy.
The first scripture of study is found below:
Mark 3:22-30
"And the scribes which came down from Jerusalem said, He hath Beelzebub, and by the prince of the devils casteth he out devils.
And he called them unto him, and said unto them in parables, How can Satan cast out Satan?
And if a kingdom be divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand.
And if a house be divided against itself, that house cannot stand.
And if Satan rise up against himself, and be divided, he cannot stand, but hath an end.
No man can enter into a strong man's house, and spoil his goods, except he will first bind the strong man; and then he will spoil his house.
Verily I say unto you, All sins shall be forgiven unto the sons of men, and blasphemies wherewith soever they shall blaspheme:
But he that shall blaspheme against the Holy Ghost hath never forgiveness, but is in danger of eternal damnation:
Because they said, He hath an unclean spirit."
The second is found at:
Luke 12:9-10
- "But he that denieth me before men shall be denied before the angels of God.
- And whosoever shall speak a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but unto him that blasphemeth against the Holy Ghost it shall not be forgiven."
The two scriptures, along with the prior brief explanation, certainly offer a sound interpretation regarding this particular sin, and yet it cannot be misunderstood . . . . Jesus is telling us this sin is not greater against Him (the Son of God) but is an unforgiveable blasphemy against the Person of the Holy Ghost.
Experts on the Bible also point to Judas, the betrayer of Christ, in regard to this sin of blasphemy.
Even as he dwelt among the body of believers the heart of Judas was not changed. The Bible called him a 'thief'.
John 12:6
"This he said, not that he cared for the poor; but because he was a thief, and had the bag, and bare what was put therein."
This identifies him with the evil one, Satan.
John 10:10
"The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly."
Let us also look at another story found in Acts 5:1-11
It is the story of Ananias and Sapphira. Satan filled their hearts to lie to the Holy Ghost, to keep back part of the price of the land.
Peter said, "Thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God". "Ananias hearing these words fell down, and gave up the ghost"
Later, when Sapphira came in, this same judgment awaited her.
The Bible describes their sin: they 'tested the Spirit of the Lord'.
Let us not be found guilty in any way of sinning against the Holy Spirit. We must study and know God's Word.
One last story we cannot forget here: Sodom and Gomorrah and Lot's wife, who God turned into a pillar of salt.
God gives us a perfect picture in this story of what we have been describing. While fleeing the coming wrath and destruction of God upon sinful man, Lot's wife revealed all her heart by looking back at her true desire. . .the world and it's pleasures. We all know what happened next!
Some excellent scripture verses often used in connection to this unforgiveable sin are:
Hebrews 6:4-6
"For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost,
And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come,
If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame."
2 Peter 2:20-22
"For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning. For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them. But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire."
We are told in 1 John, that they were not of us. Even though they were among us they were not the truly saved who are sealed by the Holy Spirit unto the day of Redemption.
1John 2:19
"They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us."
Let us go back and take a closer look at verse 30 in Mark Chap. 3:
"Because they (the scribes) said, He (Christ) hath an UNCLEAN SPIRIT."
The 'unclean spirit' was the blasphemy directed at the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is also known as the Spirit of Truth so to call Him an unclean spirit is the greatest of blasphemies.
The previous verses reveal that the Scribes accused Christ of casting out devils through the power of
Satan. This blasphemy was towards the Holy Spirit (Ghost) who performed all miracles through Christ.
See Acts 10:38
"How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the HOLY GHOST and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him."
*Another name given the Holy Spirit is the'Comforter.'
John 14:16-17
"And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you forever;
Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you."
We should understand the sin of blasphemy against the Holy Ghost can be committed today…but not by a true believer.
Ephesians 1:13
"In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,
The Holy Spirit indwells all true believers. Any and all of God's children may be and will be ridiculed by the world; as Christ was, and not only by the
Scribes but by the world then and now. We are told to expect this. . . it will be.
Yet, even as God's truth is preached today with power from the Holy Spirit producing conviction, repentance and the leading of souls to Christ, it is ridiculed, mocked and sometimes called a 'lie' (again, comparing the truth to an unclean spirit). Could it be that mocker or blasphemer is committing this same sin against the Holy Ghost?
Christ gives us the Holy Spirit. He indwells and empowers the children of God.
Acts 1:8
"But ye shall receive power, after that the HOLY GHOST is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth."
God's true Gospel has the power to save! It is the Word which God uses to bring us to Christ. The greatest
miracle ever performed is Salvation. And YES, part of this miracle includes the 'casting out of devils'. This miracle of casting out demons happens even today, every time someone is truly saved!
And not how one of the world's leading influences might want you to believe it happens... no, not by calling in the priests to perform an exorcism.
How does God's Word reveal to us by which means demons are cast out?
God's truth!
"The truth shall set you free"! John 8:32
Contrary to what some churches may be teaching . . . Demons cannot, NO CANNOT, NOT EVER…. reside in the same individual as the Holy Spirit.
"Not everyone that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven."
"Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?"
"And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity." Matthew 7: 21-23
Christ tells us to go into all the world to proclaim this powerful message of Salvation.
