Rev. Neil Steven Lawrence, M.Div.
The Bible is clear that God can forgive all people even up to the last minute. The thief on the cross is a perfect example. The blasphemy of the Holy Spirit is the unforgivable sin (Mark 3:29), but it is not what people often times make it out to be. Since we know God‘s mercy extends up to the last minute and we know that God’s capacity for forgiveness is unlimited we must allow these truths to clarify Jesus’ teaching about the blasphemy of the Holy Spirit. it may be difficult to point to the exact moment it happened, but it is not difficult to identify the scriptural meaning of the blasphemy of the Holy Spirit. We will do both here.
The blasphemy of the Holy Spirit is also not speaking against miracles for there are people who have been vile toward the believers and God’s moving and yet have turned around and received forgiveness and become a believer.
ALL sins are forgiven on the cross. The agent Who activates that forgiveness is the Holy Spirit. The agent that testifies of what Jesus did on the cross is the Holy Spirit. And the agent that convicts and confirms mankind in his belief or disbelief is the Holy Spirit. Simply put the job of the Holy Spirit is to testify about Jesus. Jesus said it clearly when he describes the work of the Holy Spirit in John 14 and16, “he will not speak of himself but he will testify of me.“
Therefore the blasphemy of the Holy Spirit is the continual rejection of Jesus Christ as Savior and the one who died for your sins. You are in the condition of blaspheming the Holy Spirit if you are rejecting Jesus; but you do not actually commit the blasphemy of the Holy Spirit unless you die in your sins. So the moment of the blasphemy of the Holy Spirit happens when you die while rejecting Jesus.
All sins can be forgiven by God, except the sin of rejecting the One who takes away all sins.
Scriptures which are Foundational to Understand the Blasphemy of the Holy Spirit:
Matthew 12:31-32Matthew 12:31-32 “And so I tell you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven. Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but anyone who speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come.”
John 1:29John 1:29 “The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!”
John 16:7-10John 16:7-10 “But I tell you the truth: It is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Counselor will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you. 8 When he comes, he will convict the world of guilt in regard to sin and righteousness and judgment: 9 in regard to sin, because men do not believe in me; 10 in regard to righteousness, because I am going to the Father, where you can see me no longer;”
Galatians 3:22Galatians 3:22 “But the Scripture declares that the whole world is a prisoner of sin, so that what was promised, being given through faith in Jesus Christ, might be given to those who believe.”
Isaiah 63:10 Isaiah 63:10 “Yet they rebelled and grieved his Holy Spirit. So he turned and became their enemy and he himself fought against them.”
Ephesians 4:30 Ephesians 4:30 “And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.”
In the Economy of God, How Does the Blasphemy of the Holy Spirit work?
The Godhead works among mankind through the Holy Spirit. Jesus is the one who revealed the nature of the Trinity to us. Just before Jesus went to the cross he comforted His disciples with many powerful words in John 13-17. Scholars call this section of the Gospel, The Farewell Discourses. Specifically, in chapters 14 and 16, Jesus gives us many powerful explanations of how the Holy Spirit will work in and through believers after He returns to heaven
Part of that work of the Holy Spirit is to bring us to Jesus so Jesus can forgive us of our sins. If a person rejects His work and dies in this rejection, then that person is guilty of the blasphemy of the Holy Spirit. The Bible says that Jesus took the sins of the world upon Himself and died on the cross as a perfect sacrifice. Part of that work of the Holy Spirit is to bring us to Jesus so Jesus can forgive us of our sins. If a person rejects His work and dies in this rejection, then that person is guilty of the blasphemy of the Holy Spirit. The Bible says that Jesus took the sins of the world upon Himself and died on the cross as a perfect sacrifice. “He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the Part of that work of the Holy Spirit is to bring us to Jesus so Jesus can forgive us of our sins. If a person rejects His work and dies in this rejection, then that person is guilty of the blasphemy of the Holy Spirit. The Bible says that Jesus took the sins of the world upon Himself and died on the cross as a perfect sacrifice. “He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.” (I John 2:2) and .” (I John 2:2) and “that God was .” (I John 2:2) and “that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation.” (II Corinthians 5:19). Thus, to himself in Christ, not counting men’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation.” (II Corinthians 5:19). Thus, Jesus “killed” the potential effect of the sins of the world. If a person believes in Jesus then they begin to live “according to the law of the Spirit of life” not “according to the law of sin and death” (see Romans 8:1-11).
What is at stake in judgement is the righteousness of God – What is at stake in judgement is the righteousness of God – “For God does not show favoritism.” Men perish in relationship to their disobedience to the revelation of God given to them. Sin is not a sin against oneself, because man is not the one who reveals God to himself. Instead, sin is always a personal act against God. Revelation is God’s gift and it is always His personal act of Self disclosure. A violation of that which God reveals about Himself is a sin against God. The Holy Spirit is the Godhead’s eternal connection to the believer. Jesus promises He will give us the Holy Spirit, “and He will be with us forever.” (John 14:16) The Holy Spirit is everywhere all the time. He is testifying about Jesus to all people. This is why the unforgivable sin is called the blasphemy of the Holy Spirit.
Ultimately, Jesus died with the sins of the world on His shoulders – thus He established the possibility for all men both past, present, and future to accept or reject God’s revelation and salvation. It is the Holy Spirit’s role to convict men of sin and judgement and draw them to repentance. Jesus said, Ultimately, Jesus died with the sins of the world on His shoulders – thus He established the possibility for all men both past, present, and future to accept or reject God’s revelation and salvation. It is the Holy Spirit’s role to convict men of sin and judgement and draw them to repentance. Jesus said, “when I leave I will send you a Comforter and He will testify of me.” So when men reject Jesus, they are ignoring the Holy Spirit. Thus Jesus said, So when men reject Jesus, they are ignoring the Holy Spirit. Thus Jesus said, “there is only one sin that will not be forgiven – the blasphemy of the Holy Spirit.” All sins have been taken care of by Jesus, thus there is only one sin which will separate man from God for eternity – the constant rejecting of the Holy Spirit’s testifying about Jesus – this is the Blasphemy of the Holy Spirit. Even in the Old Testament, this was the work of the Holy Spirit – “Then the LORD said, “My Spirit will not contend (preach) with man forever, for he is mortal; his days will be a hundred and twenty years.” (Gen. 6:3). The rest of the sins that an unbeliever commits will also be judged. But only one will cause eternal separation.
A pastor was counseling a woman in a mental hospital who was going crazy because she thought she had blasphemed the Holy Spirit. Many people are unsure about this scriptural teaching of Jesus. Just the fact that someone is concerned about it shows they have not blasphemed. If they did not care, like the Pharisees, who Jesus warned, they would be in the condition of a reprobate mind, as the Old Testament describes it. And if they died in that condition without repenting then that is the Blasphemy of the Holy Spirit.
All sins can be forgiven by God, except the sin of rejecting the One who takes away all sins.
