BLASPHEMY of the HOLY SPIRIT

Whoever is not for Me is against Me, and whoever does not gather with me sitters. And so I tell you, every kind of sin and slander can be forgiven, but blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven. And anyone who speaks a word against the Son f Man will be forgiven, but anyone who speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either intros age or in the age to come.
Matthew 12:30-33

It is not an unusual occurrence for Christians-especially ones yet to be fully grounded in their faith, to hear about the ‘unpardonable sin’ and immediately start to worry if they somehow have done it. To make it even worse, Bob, the author of Hebrews hints that once it is done, it cannot be undone. (Hebrews 6:4-6) But to answer the question: of course not. The fact that you even ask that question assures that you have’t. But this isn’t really much of an answer because the underlying question still remains: what IS the unpardonable sin and how do I recognize it?

Jesus talks about it in Matthew 12. So first we look at the context under which the question was asked, and we see that the Pharisees were accusing Him of working for Satan. Not verbally, but no matter-Jesus knew their hearts AND their thoughts. And they were not denying that there was a power there, rather they were denying where the power CAME from. So if we see a miracle occur, unless we say: it came from (insert anything OTHER than the power of God through the Spirit) then we are pretty safe. But then we don’t see miracles very often. (Because the very nature of a ‘miracle’ means it’s pretty rare and goes against the natural law of things).

But there IS one time we see the ‘blasphemy of the Holy Spirit’ on a daily basis. Everyone who denies Christ is doing it. Because the only way we know Christ is by the work of the Holy Spirit.  Jesus says in Luke 12:25 ‘I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because You have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children’. And He was not referring to anyone under the age of five, He was referring to people who were willing to put aside everything and come to Him as a child-having, owning and knowing nothing. (Matthew 18:3).

Paul, in 9 Corinthians 2:10 will write ‘…these are the things that God has revealed to us by His Spirit. The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. And it reveals to us our need for the Savior. And denying that need for the savior-not repenting and accepting Christ’s sacrifice-THAT is unpardonable because it wasn’t ASKED for. 

And THAT is the unpardonable sin, the sin of omission-simply not asking for forgiveness. It is free for all, but damnation for all who do not ask. There is no redemption, no ‘just this once’ no leniency. Ask and we get it. Don’t ask and there is NOTHING to keep us from eternal damnation.

And what’s really scary? Anyone who says ‘let me think about it’ or  ‘tomorrow’ has just blasphemed the Holy Spirit. Unless they repent and seek the covering of Christ they have just damned themselves, committing the unpardonable sin just by delaying. 

2 Corinthians 6:2
…I tell you now is theme of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation.