BLASPHEMY AGAINST THE HOLY SPIRIT
& OTHER RELATED SINS
By David J. Riggs
Intro.
A. Some have been very concerned as to whether or not they
have committed the sin of blasphemy against the Holy Spirit
because they know there is no forgiveness.
B. As we will see, their attitude already demonstrates they are
not guilty of that sin.
I. Matt. 12:22-32
A. This is also revealed in Mark 3:20-30 and Luke 11:14-24.
B. Jesus was casting out demons and the Pharisees charged Him
with acting by the power of Beelzebub, the prince of demons.
C. Jesus replies with three illustrations:
1. Vs. 25-26 - A kingdom, city, or house divided against
itself cannot stand. Division from within leads to
destruction.
a. Satan would not harm or be opposed to himself.
2. Vs. 27 - You are inconsistent because you accept that
your sons cast out demons.
a. This either indicates that some of their own children
had become disciples and were given the power to
cast out demons (Luke 10:17), or they had sons who
claimed to cast out demons (false exorcists). The
former is probably the correct idea.
b. Vs. 28 - They should have accepted what the signs
demonstrated about the kingdom and should have repented.
3. One must first bind a strong man before plundering his
house. By casting out demons, Jesus had bound the
strong man.
a. Thus, Jesus was manifesting His power over Satan
and by it declaring who He truly was.
b. Vs. 30 - Applying this to them, they were either with
Christ or Satan. There is no middle ground.
D. Jesus now shows the result of their enmity toward Him. Vs.
31-32
1. Blasphemy is:
a. "Language irreverent or hostile to God, blasphemy,
irreverence in speech." (A Grammatical Analysis
of the Greek New Testament by Zerwick).
b. "The strongest form of calumny (slander, railing
DR) which is very near to a curse, is expressed by
the word of the blasphemeo group. In the NT, this
group of words almost always refers directly or
indirectly to an attitude towards God." (The New
International Dictionary of the New Testament
Theology by Wahrisch and Brown).
2. Vs. 32 - As Saul of Tarsus, one's words against the Son
may be temporary, for the testimony of the Holy Spirit
may convict him.
a. However, when one speaks against the Holy Spirit,
it is an eternal sin, because there is no other means
of conviction.
b. "Either in this age or in the age to come." - They
will not have a second chance after death. There is
no forgiveness ever.
3. Mark's account shows the context involves attributing
Christ's work to the devil. (Mark 3:20-30; see especially
vs. 30).
Chart #1
What Is Blaspheming Against The Holy Spirit?
1. They attributed to Satan the power by which Jesus worked miracles.
2. For one to blaspheme (speak against) the Son may have been
temporary. The testimony of the Spirit may later convict him.
3. However, to speak against the Holy Spirit was permanent because
there was no other source to convict him.
4. Can one commit this sin today?
a. In one sense, "No" - Seeing the miracles and attributing the
power to Satan.
b. In another sense, "Yes" - If he turns his back on (or
blasphemes) the only source which will convict him. There
is no other source of conviction.
II. Heb. 6:4-6
A. Vs. 4 - "impossible." Some want so supply "difficult" here,
but the inspired writer said, "impossible."
1. "Have tasted" - a metaphor implying personal
experience.
B. Vs. 5 - experienced the benefits of the Word.
1. Experienced the powers (in this life) which will be
exerted in the world to come.
2. Thus, verses 4 and 5 are definitely referring to a
Christian. These are very strong verses against "once
saved, always saved" or "the eternal security of the
believer."
C. Vs. 6 - Complete apostasy.
1. "Since" - the reason it is impossible to renew them to
repentance.
a. Because by their actions they continually re-crucify
Him and put Him to an open shame.
b. By their actions they hold Him up as a worthless
Savior, and expose Him as an impostor.
Chart #2
Conclusion to Heb. 6:4-6
It is impossible to bring to repentance those saints who have
personally experienced salvation, and who then, by their actions,
continually re-crucify Christ and put him to an open shame.
When and if they stop these things, they can be brought back. The
problem is they do not want to repent, and in that condition it is
impossible to renew them.
Thus, their sins will not be remitted because the blood of Christ
which alone can remove sins, is profaned and trampled on by them,
making their final destruction unavoidable.
See his illustration in Heb 6:7-8.
2. A good example of this: A young lady and her husband
had been withdrawn from by the congregation. Her reply
was, "We're lost. We know we are lost, and we don't
care."
III. I John 5:16-17
A. Verse 16 - The "death" here refers to the second death,
eternal punishment.
1. If a brother sins and manifests repentance, pray for him.
James 5:16
2. If a brother sins and manifests stubborn impenitence,
don't pray for him.
B. Verse 17 - God's commandments are righteousness. Psalm
119:172
1. Therefore, sin is failure to keep God's commandments -
either doing what's wrong or failing to do what's right.
2. "There is a sin not leading to death" - The person who is
of a penitent and contrite heart, though a sinner, will not
have the same fatal outcome as other sinners.
Chart #3
Syllogism
1. The Lord will forgive every sin that a brother confesses.
1 John 1:9
2. There is, however, a sin that is unto death (without
forgiveness). 1 John 5:16
3. Therefore, the sin unto death is any sin a brother will not
confess.
Chart #4 forms a conclusion to this study.
Blasphemy Against The Holy Spirit And Similar Sins
1. It is not some mysterious sin that one has secretly or ignorantly
done.
2. They attributed the power by which Jesus worked miracles (the
Holy Spirit) to Satan.
3. Persecution is an element in it. They spoke out of malice,
desiring to destroy Jesus.
4. The same type of sin flows from those who have completely
apostatized. Heb. 6:4-6
5. Impenitence and hardness of heart comprises it, and it is sin
which leads to death. 1 John 5:16-17