Article by: Kenneth J. Ester
Blasphemy of the Holy Spirit
Jesus clearly tells us the only unforgivable sin is blasphemy of the Holy Spirit. The problem is that most Christians don't fully understand what this sin is. I remember one time when I was once worried that I might not get to heaven because I may have committed this sin in my youth. Not wanting others to worry senselessly about this sin, I want to teach you the truth of Blasphemy of the Holy Spirit.
The best scripture that I have found on this subject is in Mark chapter 3, because it has everything gathered right together nice and neat to make it easy.
Mark 3:22-30 (NASB)
22 The scribes who came down from Jerusalem were saying, “He is possessed by Beelzebul,” and “He casts out the demons by the ruler of the demons.” 23 And He called them to Himself and began speaking to them in parables, “How can Satan cast out Satan? 24 If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. 25 If a house is divided against itself, that house will not be able to stand. 26 If Satan has risen up against himself and is divided, he cannot stand, but he is finished! 27 But no one can enter the strong man’s house and plunder his property unless he first binds the strong man, and then he will plunder his house.
28 “Truly I say to you, all sins shall be forgiven the sons of men, and whatever blasphemies they utter; 29 but whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness, but is guilty of an eternal sin”— 30 because they were saying, “He has an unclean spirit.”
The scribes saw Jesus performing a miracle of casting a demon out of someone and the claimed that Jesus was Beelzebub and that He was casting the demons out by the ruler of demons. Jesus was not bothered much about them calling Him Beelzebub, but it was their claim that the demons were being cast out by the ruler of demons. Claiming the Holy Spirit is the ruler of demons. Making the claim that the Holy Spirit was truly evil, was the unforgivable sin.
Years ago, I used to fear the possibility that I could have mocked the Holy Spirit when I was younger. That maybe I could never go to heaven because of that sin. I had that fear because I didn't fully understand the unforgivable sin.
Immediately after the scribes had committed that sin, Jesus began speaking in parables. Why? We learn that in the next chapter. Jesus is speaking in parables and when they get Him alone, the disciples ask Him about the parables.
Mark 4:10-12 (NASB)
10 As soon as He was alone, His followers, along with the twelve, began asking Him about the parables. 11 And He was saying to them, “To you has been given the mystery of the kingdom of God, but those who are outside get everything in parables, 12 so that while seeing, they may see and not perceive, and while hearing, they may hear and not understand, otherwise they might return and be forgiven.”
You see, after the scribes had accused the Holy Spirit of being a demonic spirit, Jesus then teaches that Blasphemy of the Holy Spirit is the only unforgivable sin. Then he begins speaking in parables and when the disciples ask him about the parables he explains that for them it is given to know the mystery of the Kingdom of God. But to those outside, (the scribes) He will speak in parables so they will not understand what he says anymore. Because if they understood, there would be a chance they could have a change of heart and repent, and then God would forgive them. Since they had committed the unforgivable sin, God was not even going to allow them any opportunity to have a repentant heart anymore.
Learning that, is what put my heart at ease. There are often cases in the Bible where God causes a rebellious heart to become hardened. He clearly begins speaking in parables so as not to allow them to repent of Blasphemy of the Holy Spirit. So if you have a desire to be forgiven for your sins or to follow Christ, that in itself is absolute proof that you have not truly committed the unforgivable sin. For if you had, you would not have the desire in your heart to even worry about it. You would not have a desire in your heart to have Jesus in your life.
As for those who are already believers, I do not believe it is possible for us to commit this sin.
1 Corinthians 12:3 (NASB)
3 Therefore I make known to you that no one speaking by the Spirit of God says, “Jesus is accursed”; and no one can say, “Jesus is Lord,” except by the Holy Spirit.
If you are a true believer in your heart that Jesus is the Son of God and that He rose from the dead, it means that you already have the Holy Spirit inside you. You would not have the ability to commit the unpardonable sin.
The best scripture that I have found on this subject is in Mark chapter 3, because it has everything gathered right together nice and neat to make it easy.
Mark 3:22-30 (NASB)
22 The scribes who came down from Jerusalem were saying, “He is possessed by Beelzebul,” and “He casts out the demons by the ruler of the demons.” 23 And He called them to Himself and began speaking to them in parables, “How can Satan cast out Satan? 24 If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. 25 If a house is divided against itself, that house will not be able to stand. 26 If Satan has risen up against himself and is divided, he cannot stand, but he is finished! 27 But no one can enter the strong man’s house and plunder his property unless he first binds the strong man, and then he will plunder his house.
28 “Truly I say to you, all sins shall be forgiven the sons of men, and whatever blasphemies they utter; 29 but whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness, but is guilty of an eternal sin”— 30 because they were saying, “He has an unclean spirit.”
The scribes saw Jesus performing a miracle of casting a demon out of someone and the claimed that Jesus was Beelzebub and that He was casting the demons out by the ruler of demons. Jesus was not bothered much about them calling Him Beelzebub, but it was their claim that the demons were being cast out by the ruler of demons. Claiming the Holy Spirit is the ruler of demons. Making the claim that the Holy Spirit was truly evil, was the unforgivable sin.
Years ago, I used to fear the possibility that I could have mocked the Holy Spirit when I was younger. That maybe I could never go to heaven because of that sin. I had that fear because I didn't fully understand the unforgivable sin.
Immediately after the scribes had committed that sin, Jesus began speaking in parables. Why? We learn that in the next chapter. Jesus is speaking in parables and when they get Him alone, the disciples ask Him about the parables.
Mark 4:10-12 (NASB)
10 As soon as He was alone, His followers, along with the twelve, began asking Him about the parables. 11 And He was saying to them, “To you has been given the mystery of the kingdom of God, but those who are outside get everything in parables, 12 so that while seeing, they may see and not perceive, and while hearing, they may hear and not understand, otherwise they might return and be forgiven.”
You see, after the scribes had accused the Holy Spirit of being a demonic spirit, Jesus then teaches that Blasphemy of the Holy Spirit is the only unforgivable sin. Then he begins speaking in parables and when the disciples ask him about the parables he explains that for them it is given to know the mystery of the Kingdom of God. But to those outside, (the scribes) He will speak in parables so they will not understand what he says anymore. Because if they understood, there would be a chance they could have a change of heart and repent, and then God would forgive them. Since they had committed the unforgivable sin, God was not even going to allow them any opportunity to have a repentant heart anymore.
Learning that, is what put my heart at ease. There are often cases in the Bible where God causes a rebellious heart to become hardened. He clearly begins speaking in parables so as not to allow them to repent of Blasphemy of the Holy Spirit. So if you have a desire to be forgiven for your sins or to follow Christ, that in itself is absolute proof that you have not truly committed the unforgivable sin. For if you had, you would not have the desire in your heart to even worry about it. You would not have a desire in your heart to have Jesus in your life.
As for those who are already believers, I do not believe it is possible for us to commit this sin.
1 Corinthians 12:3 (NASB)
3 Therefore I make known to you that no one speaking by the Spirit of God says, “Jesus is accursed”; and no one can say, “Jesus is Lord,” except by the Holy Spirit.
If you are a true believer in your heart that Jesus is the Son of God and that He rose from the dead, it means that you already have the Holy Spirit inside you. You would not have the ability to commit the unpardonable sin.
