Blasphemy Against The Holy Ghost
Apr 25, 2018 22:01:36 GMT -5
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Post by John on Apr 25, 2018 22:01:36 GMT -5
There has been a lot of controversy over a very simple thing in the Bible, the sin of blasphemy against the Holy Ghost. Why the controversy? Because if you accept it for what it is, it goes contrary to certain church doctrines. The best passage of scripture where we can get understanding about this is Matthew 12:22-32. We see the context by beginning with what was taking place when the warning was given.
Then was brought unto him one possessed with a devil, blind, and dumb: and he healed him, insomuch that the blind and dumb both spake and saw. And all the people were amazed, and said, Is this the son of David? But when the Pharisees heard it, they said, This fellow doth not cast out devils, but by Beelzebub the prince of the devils.
Lets examine what happened. A man is brought to Jesus that is devil possessed. He had spirits of infirmities that caused him to be blind and dumb. After Jesus cast the devils out, the man could suddenly speak and see, to the amazement of those who were onlookers. The religious leaders known as the Pharisees wanted to discredit the miracle so they claimed that it was the power of the devil that Jesus used to cast out the devils. Lets continue.
And Jesus knew their thoughts, and said unto them, Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand: And if Satan cast out Satan, he is divided against himself; how shall then his kingdom stand? And if I by Beelzebub cast out devils, by whom do your children cast them out? therefore they shall be your judges. But if I cast out devils by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God is come unto you. Or else how can one enter into a strong man's house, and spoil his goods, except he first bind the strong man? and then he will spoil his house. He that is not with me is against me; and he that gathereth not with me scattereth abroad.
Jesus uses logic to come against what they are saying. If the devil is divided against himself, and he is fighting against those who are part of his army, his Kingdom will be destroyed. Ever read some of those stories in the Old Testament where Israel was out numbered by this huge army, and the Lord caused confusion to come over them to where they started killing each other? It would amount to the same thing. If the devil fights his own army, and pits them against each other, that army won't stand. The devil wont cast himself out.
If Jesus is casting out devils by the prince of the devils, he asks whose power is being used by others when they cast out devils? If he is casting them out by Beelzebub, prince of the devils, they must be utilizing the same power. After showing the folly of this, he comes back and lets them know whose power it is that is casting out devils. It is "the Spirit of God." The other comment Jesus makes is to show that often times, there is more than one devil, and you must get the strongest one to leave first and then the others will follow. Now that we have seen the context, notice what Jesus says next.
Wherefore I say unto you, All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men: but the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men: And whosoever speaketh a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but whosoever speaketh against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, neither in the world to come.
Given the context, what has just taken place, and the warning Jesus gives, what is blasphemy against the Holy Ghost? It is attributing the works of the Spirit of God to the devil. There is no question about it. Not only that, but I like this version of the story because if there was any doubt left as to what the sin is, that is taken away by verse 32, where it doesn't use the word blasphemy, but it says that "whosoever speaketh a word against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, neither in the world to come." When is the last time you ever heard anyone speak of the unpardonable sin of speaking a word against the Holy Ghost? Other than me saying it, I can't recall anyone else doing it, unless they were reading the text, but never mentioning what it said. Speaking against the Holy Ghost won't be forgiven. It doesn't say rejecting Christ. Jesus said that can be forgiven. You can speak the most vile things about Jesus and can be forgiven. The same for God the Father, but if you speak a word against the Holy Ghost, there is no forgiveness ever.
We really need to understand this because it means we had better be careful when it comes to speaking against a move of God, like someone healing the sick, raising the dead, casting out devils, etc. If you aren't sure they are a fraud, you should think twice before making the accusation. If you aren't sure it is a false manifestation and of the devil, you shouldn't make the accusation. I have questioned a lot of things I have seen done in the name of the Lord, but I am careful about making accusations because this is such a serious sin.
Now that you know what the sin is, one final note. Do you want to be saved, but fear you committed the unpardonable sin in the past and cannot be saved? If you ever go that far, God won't bother to convict you anymore. Why would he when you are beyond hope. If you are still feeling a desire to be saved, you can be. Just ask God to forgive you of your sins. Then ask Jesus to come into your heart and save you. Ask him to be your Savior and Lord, and promise to take up your cross and serve him from that day forward. If you want to be saved, God will save you, but if you ever commit the unpardonable sin, it will be too late, and God will be through with you. You won't care about being saved and will die in your sins.
Then was brought unto him one possessed with a devil, blind, and dumb: and he healed him, insomuch that the blind and dumb both spake and saw. And all the people were amazed, and said, Is this the son of David? But when the Pharisees heard it, they said, This fellow doth not cast out devils, but by Beelzebub the prince of the devils.
Lets examine what happened. A man is brought to Jesus that is devil possessed. He had spirits of infirmities that caused him to be blind and dumb. After Jesus cast the devils out, the man could suddenly speak and see, to the amazement of those who were onlookers. The religious leaders known as the Pharisees wanted to discredit the miracle so they claimed that it was the power of the devil that Jesus used to cast out the devils. Lets continue.
And Jesus knew their thoughts, and said unto them, Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand: And if Satan cast out Satan, he is divided against himself; how shall then his kingdom stand? And if I by Beelzebub cast out devils, by whom do your children cast them out? therefore they shall be your judges. But if I cast out devils by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God is come unto you. Or else how can one enter into a strong man's house, and spoil his goods, except he first bind the strong man? and then he will spoil his house. He that is not with me is against me; and he that gathereth not with me scattereth abroad.
Jesus uses logic to come against what they are saying. If the devil is divided against himself, and he is fighting against those who are part of his army, his Kingdom will be destroyed. Ever read some of those stories in the Old Testament where Israel was out numbered by this huge army, and the Lord caused confusion to come over them to where they started killing each other? It would amount to the same thing. If the devil fights his own army, and pits them against each other, that army won't stand. The devil wont cast himself out.
If Jesus is casting out devils by the prince of the devils, he asks whose power is being used by others when they cast out devils? If he is casting them out by Beelzebub, prince of the devils, they must be utilizing the same power. After showing the folly of this, he comes back and lets them know whose power it is that is casting out devils. It is "the Spirit of God." The other comment Jesus makes is to show that often times, there is more than one devil, and you must get the strongest one to leave first and then the others will follow. Now that we have seen the context, notice what Jesus says next.
Wherefore I say unto you, All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men: but the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men: And whosoever speaketh a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but whosoever speaketh against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, neither in the world to come.
Given the context, what has just taken place, and the warning Jesus gives, what is blasphemy against the Holy Ghost? It is attributing the works of the Spirit of God to the devil. There is no question about it. Not only that, but I like this version of the story because if there was any doubt left as to what the sin is, that is taken away by verse 32, where it doesn't use the word blasphemy, but it says that "whosoever speaketh a word against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, neither in the world to come." When is the last time you ever heard anyone speak of the unpardonable sin of speaking a word against the Holy Ghost? Other than me saying it, I can't recall anyone else doing it, unless they were reading the text, but never mentioning what it said. Speaking against the Holy Ghost won't be forgiven. It doesn't say rejecting Christ. Jesus said that can be forgiven. You can speak the most vile things about Jesus and can be forgiven. The same for God the Father, but if you speak a word against the Holy Ghost, there is no forgiveness ever.
We really need to understand this because it means we had better be careful when it comes to speaking against a move of God, like someone healing the sick, raising the dead, casting out devils, etc. If you aren't sure they are a fraud, you should think twice before making the accusation. If you aren't sure it is a false manifestation and of the devil, you shouldn't make the accusation. I have questioned a lot of things I have seen done in the name of the Lord, but I am careful about making accusations because this is such a serious sin.
Now that you know what the sin is, one final note. Do you want to be saved, but fear you committed the unpardonable sin in the past and cannot be saved? If you ever go that far, God won't bother to convict you anymore. Why would he when you are beyond hope. If you are still feeling a desire to be saved, you can be. Just ask God to forgive you of your sins. Then ask Jesus to come into your heart and save you. Ask him to be your Savior and Lord, and promise to take up your cross and serve him from that day forward. If you want to be saved, God will save you, but if you ever commit the unpardonable sin, it will be too late, and God will be through with you. You won't care about being saved and will die in your sins.
