Tuesday, June 9, 2009

Blasphemy against the Holy Spirit

In my profession I constantly find others reading the bible and on occasion praying. I'm always delighted to see others looking for a spiritual connection to our father. I look for opportunities to talk with others about Gods word, and the other day was no exception.

What I found was a gentleman discussing blasphemy against the Holy Spirit. He had his own belief on what this subjects interpretation means, as many do. He even asked me to look it up and research it myself because he felt my understanding was off. Always looking to make sure I have my own head on straight I went for it. Plus, to be honest I don't argue with others. Most people I've ever met are stuck in their ways of thinking, and some have accused me of heinous things in the past. However, I do listen, check my own understanding, and am very willing to change my thinking if I find I'm off the word. So I looked.

Mark 3:22-30

-And the scribes that 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 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 shallblaspheme: But he that shall blaspheme agasint the Holy Ghost hath never forgiveness, but is in danger of eternal damnation:" Because they said he hath an unclean "spirit."-

For me the real question comes in "why?" They blasphemed against the Holy Spirit by accusations against our Lord that he was casting out devils by the power of Satan. But why? If they didn't believe in God they would have been happy for the healings and went about their business. If they were truly working for the one true God they would have rejoiced that God worked through this man even if they didn't believe he was the Son of God. So the real question is WHY. Why were they so quick to dismiss it?

John 8:42-44

Jesus said unto them, "If God were your father ye would love me: for I proceeded forth and came from God; neither came I of myself, but he sent me. Why do ye not understand My speech? even because ye cannot hear my word. YE ARE OF YOUR FATHER THE DEVIL, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it. (emphasis mine)

John 8:48-49

Then answered the Jews, and said unto Him, "Say we not well that thou art a Samaritan, and hast a devil?" Jesus answered, "I have not a devil; but I honor my father, and ye do dishonour me.


So from this will can conclude that the Jews in John A) sold out to the devil, and B) accused jesus of being possessed with a devil, which is exactly what was happening in Mark. So blasphemy against the Holy Spirit may very well have been accusing Jesus of casting out devils by the power of Satan. However, what came before that? What causes a man to accuse our saviour of being possessed? It would make sense that such a man had already given his life to Satan. I don't know if the Jewish leaders of that time knew they had sold out to the Devil. Many people in the old testament sold out to devils in Ashtaroth, Molech and other pagan gods. I'm not saying that people can't have a change of heart and turn from Budda to Christ. I am saying that many of the hard core leaders in any movement have already sold out to their God. The followers of such leaders do many times find Christ. However, the guys in the seats of power (the gurus if you will) have sold out to their god. Unfortunately, they just don't realize yet that they've sold out to the wrong one.

In the end I hope this was beneficial to you. Please do the research yourself. I have found many many interpretations of this passage, but mostly find that people theorize that because it's never mentioned again it must mean: X,Y,and Z. I know what I believe to be the truth through prayer and study. But who's to say I'm right? Please do your own reseach on this subject.

Below is a opinion slightly different from my own that I got off the web (with the site listed). My objective here isn't to get you to believe me but to do your own research and believe the truth.







http://www.gotquestions.org/blasphemy-Holy-Spirit.html

The following was taken from the above site.

Question: "What is the blasphemy against the Holy Spirit?"Answer: The concept of “blasphemy against the Spirit” is mentioned in Mark 3:22-30 and Matthew 12:22-32. The term blasphemy may be generally defined as “defiant irreverence.” The term can be applied to such sins as cursing God or willfully degrading things relating to God. It is also attributing some evil to God, or denying Him some good that we should attribute to Him. This case of blasphemy, however, is a specific one, called “the blasphemy against the Holy Spirit” in Matthew 12:31. In Matthew 12:31-32, the Pharisees, having witnessed irrefutable proof that Jesus was working miracles in the power of the Holy Spirit, claimed instead that the Lord was possessed by the demon “Beelzebub” (Matthew 12:24). Now notice that in Mark 3:30 Jesus is very specific about what they did to commit “blasphemy against the Holy Spirit.”

This blasphemy has to do with someone accusing Jesus Christ of being demon-possessed instead of Spirit-filled. As a result, this particular incidence of blasphemy against the Holy Spirit cannot be duplicated today. Jesus Christ is not on earth—He is seated at the right hand of God. No one can witness Jesus Christ performing a miracle and then attribute that power to Satan instead of the Spirit. The closest example today would be attributing the miracle of a redeemed person’s changed life to Satan’s power rather than to the effects of the indwelling Holy Spirit.

The blasphemy of the Spirit today, which is the same as the unpardonable sin, is the state of continued unbelief. There is no pardon for a person who dies in unbelief. Continual rejection of the Holy Spirit’s promptings to trust in Jesus Christ is the unpardonable blasphemy against Him. Remember what is stated in John 3:16: “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” Further on in the same chapter is the verse “Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God's wrath remains on him” (John 3:36). The only condition wherein someone would have no forgiveness is if he is not among the “whoever believes in Him,” for it is he who “rejects the Son.

”Recommended Resource: Hard Sayings of the Bible by Kaiser, Davids, Bruce, & Brauch.

1 comment:

Randy said...

Hi Mousiemarc,

Some good observations here. I have aproached looking for that answer even a bit differently.
I looked for some examples of those who seemed not to have any forgiveness and observe what they did if I could.
First, there is Lucifer. I don't see any forgiveness offered to him.
Then there is Judas, whose bowels burst in the field. I don't see any forgiveness there either.
And there is Simon the sorcerer in the book of Acts. Peter said for his money to perish with him. Forgiveness available? I'm not sure.
And in Matthew, Jesus talks about those who would offend little children, and that it would be better if a millstone were hanged about his neck and he were cast into the sea. Forgiveness? That's a tough one too.
I'm like you, and these seem to be something to seek God about in prayer.
My blog is http://thedailysacrifice.blogspot.com/

Have a great day in Jesus,
Randy