BLASPHEMY OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
Those who truly have intimate knowledge of Scripture and profess Christ as Lord and Messiah cringe at the tiniest possibility of ever hurting that pure relationship between Savior and saved. Inappropriate actions, misdeeds, wrong attitudes, and defiance are sins that should never be blown off with a flippant “Oh, well” or “Thank God for His grace” attitude. Jesus explains the importance of treating the Godhead with the utmost in respect and devotion. Blasphemy; especially, blasphemy of the Holy Spirit, is a scary and horrific notion that can shake any Christian to the very marrow of his bones. It is the purpose of this article to discuss the Holy Spirit and what it means to blaspheme the Holy Spirit.
Who is this Holy Spirit who could be blasphemed in the first place? What makes Him so special? First, He is part of the Godhead/Trinity; therefore, He is God (Matthew 28:19; 2 Corinthians 13:14). Second, He is a helper (John 14:16, 26). Third, He is the giver of gifts (Romans 12:6-8; 1 Corinthians 12:8-11). The Holy Spirit is someone who is special, purposeful, and relational. Since He is relational, His feelings can be wounded or uplifted by our positive or negative conduct.
Does the Holy Spirit have emotions? Well, the apostle Paul said this about the Holy Spirit, “And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you (Christians), along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you” (Ephesians 4:30-32). Some synonyms of grieve are: mourn, feel sad, lament, upset, suffer, be distressed, be upset, and be unhappy. Grieving the Holy Spirit is possible for Christians to do when they act improperly. By the same token, if He can be grieved then He can also be encouraged by our obedient actions; such as, kindness, tenderheartedness, and the ability to forgive as Christ forgives. I don’t know about you but I would rather please God persistently than displease Him out of ignorance or with knowledge. So, is it possible to go beyond grieving the Holy Spirit to truly offending Him? Jesus said it is possible and He called it blasphemy, “but whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness, but is guilty of an eternal sin” (Mark 3:29).
Now, what is the next logical question? What is blasphemy? Some general synonyms of blasphemy are: profanity, sacrilege, wickedness, or irreverence. The Bible, even more so, contextually explains about the concept of blasphemy. First, to blaspheme is to claim equality with God. Jesus was accused of blasphemy (John 10:30-39). His accusers said that He made Himself equal with God. If it weren’t true it would be blasphemy. Notice that Jesus’ response of innocence had to do with the works that He had done. The “works of miracles” He did is an important concept in this discussion. Second, blasphemy is to lower God’s position in the eyes of others. This can be done by a person’s actions or inactions. “Then David said to Nathan, ‘I have sinned against the Lord.’ And Nathan said to David, ‘The Lord also has taken away your sin; you shall not die. However, because of this deed you have given occasion to the enemies of the Lord to blaspheme, the child also that is born to you shall surely die” (2 Samuel 12:13-14). It is at this time that the enemies of God basically have their so-called “proof” that the true God is no God at all or; at least, not a very powerful one. Boy, talk about blasphemy. Third, rejection of Christ’s teachings is blasphemy. “This charge I entrust to you, Timothy, my child, in accordance with the prophecies previously made about you, that by them you may wage the good warfare, holding faith and a good conscience. By rejecting this, some have made shipwreck of their faith, among whom are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I have handed over to Satan that they may learn not to blaspheme” (1 Timothy 1:18-20). These gentlemen blasphemed because they departed from the true teachings of Christ. Therefore, the apostle Paul handed them over to Satan. They were to be taught a lesson for their misconduct. This discipline is for the purpose of restoration. How do I know this? Well, it comes from a proper balance of understanding Scripture. Why discipline someone who could not benefit from it – if they so chose to learn from their mistakes?
Ok. Now, what is the blasphemy of the Holy Spirit (Mark 3:21-35)? In the context, Jesus defined it as, “whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness, but is guilty of an eternal sin--for they (covenant people) had said, ‘He (Jesus) has an unclean (demonic) spirit’” (Mark 3:29-30; cf. John 7:20; 8:48-49, 52; 10:20-21). You see, it was the Holy Spirit who had an integral part in the “works/miracles” that Jesus used to confer that what He taught was from God and that He was the Son of God. What they (covenant people) said was that His miracles were not of God but of Satan. “And the scribes (covenant people) who came down from Jerusalem were saying, ‘He (Jesus) is possessed by Beelzebul,’ and ‘by the prince of demons (Satan) he casts out the demons.’ And he called them to him and said to them in parables, ‘How can Satan cast out Satan?’” (Mark 3:22-23). They (these covenant people) basically believed that the Holy Spirit’s works was from Satan and not from God; thereby, lowering the position of the Holy Spirit, who is God, to equality with Satan. This is blasphemy of the Holy Spirit. These same people would also be in continual opposition to Christ by never accepting Christ. This is understood by the continuation of thought in the Gospel of Mark. “And he (Jesus) answered them, ‘Who are my mother and my brothers?’ And looking about at those who sat around him, he said, ‘Here are my mother and my brothers! Whoever does the will of God, he is my brother and sister and mother’” (Mark 3:33-35). These people, who do the will of God, would not reject Christ. These people would listen to Christ’s teachings. These people would attribute the miracles of Jesus to the works of God/Holy Spirit.
What if someone initially disbelieved Jesus’ miracles while He lived as a man? Does Jesus give the impression that they are done for it and have no hope? If that is the case it would not seem to be in balance with the totality of Scripture. Their heart would have to be one that would continue in disbelief and disobedience. So, the final question to ask is, can blasphemy of the Holy Spirit be done today? The answer is both no and yes. Technically, blasphemy of the Holy Spirit cannot be done today with respect to the idea that it was done in the context of Jesus’ use of miracles as He was alive as a man while claiming to be the Son of God. However, it can be done if a person continues to refuse Christ’s teachings because the Holy Spirit is an integral part within the teachings of Christ. “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness” (2 Timothy 3:16).
Who is this Holy Spirit who could be blasphemed in the first place? What makes Him so special? First, He is part of the Godhead/Trinity; therefore, He is God (Matthew 28:19; 2 Corinthians 13:14). Second, He is a helper (John 14:16, 26). Third, He is the giver of gifts (Romans 12:6-8; 1 Corinthians 12:8-11). The Holy Spirit is someone who is special, purposeful, and relational. Since He is relational, His feelings can be wounded or uplifted by our positive or negative conduct.
Does the Holy Spirit have emotions? Well, the apostle Paul said this about the Holy Spirit, “And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you (Christians), along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you” (Ephesians 4:30-32). Some synonyms of grieve are: mourn, feel sad, lament, upset, suffer, be distressed, be upset, and be unhappy. Grieving the Holy Spirit is possible for Christians to do when they act improperly. By the same token, if He can be grieved then He can also be encouraged by our obedient actions; such as, kindness, tenderheartedness, and the ability to forgive as Christ forgives. I don’t know about you but I would rather please God persistently than displease Him out of ignorance or with knowledge. So, is it possible to go beyond grieving the Holy Spirit to truly offending Him? Jesus said it is possible and He called it blasphemy, “but whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness, but is guilty of an eternal sin” (Mark 3:29).
Now, what is the next logical question? What is blasphemy? Some general synonyms of blasphemy are: profanity, sacrilege, wickedness, or irreverence. The Bible, even more so, contextually explains about the concept of blasphemy. First, to blaspheme is to claim equality with God. Jesus was accused of blasphemy (John 10:30-39). His accusers said that He made Himself equal with God. If it weren’t true it would be blasphemy. Notice that Jesus’ response of innocence had to do with the works that He had done. The “works of miracles” He did is an important concept in this discussion. Second, blasphemy is to lower God’s position in the eyes of others. This can be done by a person’s actions or inactions. “Then David said to Nathan, ‘I have sinned against the Lord.’ And Nathan said to David, ‘The Lord also has taken away your sin; you shall not die. However, because of this deed you have given occasion to the enemies of the Lord to blaspheme, the child also that is born to you shall surely die” (2 Samuel 12:13-14). It is at this time that the enemies of God basically have their so-called “proof” that the true God is no God at all or; at least, not a very powerful one. Boy, talk about blasphemy. Third, rejection of Christ’s teachings is blasphemy. “This charge I entrust to you, Timothy, my child, in accordance with the prophecies previously made about you, that by them you may wage the good warfare, holding faith and a good conscience. By rejecting this, some have made shipwreck of their faith, among whom are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I have handed over to Satan that they may learn not to blaspheme” (1 Timothy 1:18-20). These gentlemen blasphemed because they departed from the true teachings of Christ. Therefore, the apostle Paul handed them over to Satan. They were to be taught a lesson for their misconduct. This discipline is for the purpose of restoration. How do I know this? Well, it comes from a proper balance of understanding Scripture. Why discipline someone who could not benefit from it – if they so chose to learn from their mistakes?
Ok. Now, what is the blasphemy of the Holy Spirit (Mark 3:21-35)? In the context, Jesus defined it as, “whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness, but is guilty of an eternal sin--for they (covenant people) had said, ‘He (Jesus) has an unclean (demonic) spirit’” (Mark 3:29-30; cf. John 7:20; 8:48-49, 52; 10:20-21). You see, it was the Holy Spirit who had an integral part in the “works/miracles” that Jesus used to confer that what He taught was from God and that He was the Son of God. What they (covenant people) said was that His miracles were not of God but of Satan. “And the scribes (covenant people) who came down from Jerusalem were saying, ‘He (Jesus) is possessed by Beelzebul,’ and ‘by the prince of demons (Satan) he casts out the demons.’ And he called them to him and said to them in parables, ‘How can Satan cast out Satan?’” (Mark 3:22-23). They (these covenant people) basically believed that the Holy Spirit’s works was from Satan and not from God; thereby, lowering the position of the Holy Spirit, who is God, to equality with Satan. This is blasphemy of the Holy Spirit. These same people would also be in continual opposition to Christ by never accepting Christ. This is understood by the continuation of thought in the Gospel of Mark. “And he (Jesus) answered them, ‘Who are my mother and my brothers?’ And looking about at those who sat around him, he said, ‘Here are my mother and my brothers! Whoever does the will of God, he is my brother and sister and mother’” (Mark 3:33-35). These people, who do the will of God, would not reject Christ. These people would listen to Christ’s teachings. These people would attribute the miracles of Jesus to the works of God/Holy Spirit.
What if someone initially disbelieved Jesus’ miracles while He lived as a man? Does Jesus give the impression that they are done for it and have no hope? If that is the case it would not seem to be in balance with the totality of Scripture. Their heart would have to be one that would continue in disbelief and disobedience. So, the final question to ask is, can blasphemy of the Holy Spirit be done today? The answer is both no and yes. Technically, blasphemy of the Holy Spirit cannot be done today with respect to the idea that it was done in the context of Jesus’ use of miracles as He was alive as a man while claiming to be the Son of God. However, it can be done if a person continues to refuse Christ’s teachings because the Holy Spirit is an integral part within the teachings of Christ. “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness” (2 Timothy 3:16).