Just What Exactly Did Jesus Mean....

[wpe3bql]

..... When He said in Mark 3:29 that , ".... he that shall blaspheme against the Holy Ghost hath never forgiveness, but is in danger of eternal damnation"?

Some have told me that this is Christ's explanation of the "unforgiveable sin."

However, when the Apostle Paul in 1 Timothy 1:13 stated that he was once a blasphemer, but God forgave him of the sin of blasphemy.

It would seem that at first glance that these two verses contradict each other, but of course that cannot be true because, when rightly understood, no verses in God's Word can possibly contradict each other.

About the only thing I can see is that Jesus was addressing the specific sin of blaspheming the Holy Spirit rather than a person blaspheming in general.

Moreover, I remember years ago a Baptist preacher in a seminar saying that he's never heard of a cuss word expression that actually contain the words "Holy Ghost" or "Holy Spirit" in them because that would in fact be blaspheming the Third Person of the Trinity.

What do you folks out there in BB think Jesus meant when He said that blaspheming the Holy Spirit is a sin for which forgiveness is totally without forgiveness?

 

[Darrell C]

..... When He said in Mark 3:29 that , ".... he that shall blaspheme against the Holy Ghost hath never forgiveness, but is in danger of eternal damnation"?

Some have told me that this is Christ's explanation of the "unforgiveable sin."

However, when the Apostle Paul in 1 Timothy 1:13 stated that he was once a blasphemer, but God forgave him of the sin of blasphemy.

It would seem that at first glance that these two verses contradict each other, but of course that cannot be true because, when rightly understood, no verses in God's Word can possibly contradict each other.

About the only thing I can see is that Jesus was addressing the specific sin of blaspheming the Holy Spirit rather than a person blaspheming in general.

Moreover, I remember years ago a Baptist preacher in a seminar saying that he's never heard of a cuss word expression that actually contain the words "Holy Ghost" or "Holy Spirit" in them because that would in fact be blaspheming the Third Person of the Trinity.

What do you folks out there in BB think Jesus meant when He said that blaspheming the Holy Spirit is a sin for which forgiveness is totally without forgiveness?

We see the Blasphemy of the Holy Ghost here...


Acts 7:51

King James Version (KJV)

51 Ye stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Ghost: as your fathers did, so do ye.


...and here...


Hebrews 10:29

King James Version (KJV)

29 Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace?


It is impossible for anyone who refuses to obey the Spirit (in a salvific context) to be forgiven, because they are rejecting the very means of forgiveness.

That is what the Writer means here:


Hebrews 10:26

King James Version (KJV)

26 For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins,


Receiving the truth does not mean one has been regenerated and saved, it means simply they have received the truth. Contrast that with this...


2 Peter 2:20-22

King James Version (KJV)

20 For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning.

21 For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them.

22 But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire.


The One Who delivers the truth to the unregenerate is the Comforter, working in that Ministry which is unique to this Age, which did not start until Christ returned to Heaven, and is directed not just to believers but to unbelievers first and foremost:


John 16:7-9

King James Version (KJV)

7 Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you.

8 And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:

9 Of sin, because they believe not on me;


Israel fell into a state of destruction through her incessant refusal to obey God, as noted by Stephen. The Blasphemy of the Holy Ghost is a sin which, again, removes the only means of salvation, whether that was in an Old or New Covenant context.

But when one is saved we see the same statement applied to believers:


Hebrews 10:16-18

King James Version (KJV)

16 This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them;

17 And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more.

18 Now where remission of these is, there is no more offering for sin.



Hebrews 10:26

King James Version (KJV)

26 For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins,


For the one who receives Christ there is no more sacrifice for sin; for the one who rejects Christ there is no more sacrifice for sin.

The simple truth is that only Christ's Sacrifice can eternally redeem the unbeliever.


God bless.

 

[Alcott]

Just What Exactly Did Jesus Mean....

Mark 3:30--"...because they were saying, 'He has an unclean spirit.'”

If you claim the workings of God are from an evil/unclean source of active power... apparently that's it for you. In this case the scribes saw the Holy Spirit's power and attributed it to Beelzebub.

I have heard it argued that what they (the scribes) did was something that could be done only in that day and time, when Jesus was there in body-- but I can't really agree with that. Yet in Matthew 12, the same incident, the phrase used by Jesus is "speak against" the Holy Spirit. How did Peter not do that in Acts, when he had the vision of the sheet coming down with forbidden animals and was told by the Spirit to eat any he wished, and Peter replied "Not so, Lord..."?

 

[Scarlett O.]

Here's David Guzik's take on this:

4. (28-30) Jesus warns the religious leaders about the unforgivable sin.

"Assuredly, I say to you, all sins will be forgiven the sons of men, and whatever blasphemies they may utter; but he who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness, but is subject to eternal condemnation"; because they said, "He has an unclean spirit."
a. He who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness: This blasphemy against the Holy Spirit is serious indeed. The person guilty of this sin is subject to eternal condemnation. In other Gospels (such as in Luke 12:10), this sin is described as "unforgivable."

b. Because they said, He has an unclean spirit: These religious leaders were in danger of blasphemy of the Holy Spirit because they looked at the perfectly good and wonderful work of God in Jesus and officially pronounced it the evil of Satan. This pointed to a settled rejection of heart against Jesus - possible evidence of the blasphemy of the Holy Spirit.

i. "Notice that these men had not yet committed the unpardonable sin . . . Otherwise Jesus would never have warned them. By his own words, there is no use warning a man who has committed the unpardonable sin; he is beyond help." (Steadman)

c. He who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness: Many people wonder what the blasphemy of the Holy Spirit is, and some wonder if they have committed this sin. The warning of Jesus makes us recognize the terrible danger of the blasphemy of the Holy Spirit and our need to avoid this sin at all cost. At the same time, we guard our hearts against the unwarranted accusation of this sin.

i. We understand what the blasphemy of the Holy Spirit is by first understanding what the ministry of the Holy Spirit is all about. Regarding the ministry of the Holy Spirit, Jesus said, when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment (John 16:8), and that He will testify of Me (John 15:26).

ii. Therefore, when we persistently reject the work the Holy Spirit wants to do in us and when we have a continued, settled rejection of what He wants to tell us about Jesus, then we blaspheme the Holy Spirit.

iii. The blasphemy of the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven - not because it is a sin "too big" for God to forgive, but because it is an attitude of heart that cares nothing for God's forgiveness. It never has forgiveness because it never wants forgiveness God's way.

iv. "These words were never intended to torment anxious souls honestly desiring to know Christ, but they stand out as a blazing beacon warning of the danger of persisting in the rejection of the Spirit's testimony of Christ, until the seared conscience no longer responds to the gospel message." (Ironside)

 

[Darrell C]

Here's David Guzik's take on this:

Excellent commentary. Who is David Guzik?

God bless.

 

[Scarlett O.]

He's a pastor in California at Calvary Chapel and used to teach at Calvary Chapel Bible College in Germany.

He has an online commentary that is awesome. He quotes a lot of other people and connects the passage in question with all sorts of other scripture that connects to it. I use him almost exclusively when studying to teach Sunday School.

To find his commentary the quickest, I just google the chapter(s) in question and type his name. For example, in this thread, I knew what MY convictions were, but I wanted to see what he said, too, so I Googled: Mark 3 David Guzik

 

[Darrell C]

He's a pastor in California at Calvary Chapel and used to teach at Calvary Chapel Bible College in Germany.

He has an online commentary that is awesome. He quotes a lot of other people and connects the passage in question with all sorts of other scripture that connects to it. I use him almost exclusively when studying to teach Sunday School.

To find his commentary the quickest, I just google the chapter(s) in question and type his name. For example, in this thread, I knew what MY convictions were, but I wanted to see what he said, too, so I Googled: Mark 3 David Guzik

Thanks. All in all pretty solid, though I see a few things I would disagree with (such as interpreting teleiotes as meaning "maturity" rather than "completion," as the other variants to the root telos imply in the context of a contrast between the Covenants).

I do agree with this:


b. Not laying again the foundation: Many people regard this as a Biblical list of important "foundations" for the Christian life. Bible study series have been taught developing each one of these topics, with the thought that this is a good list of basic doctrines. But that isn't the writer's point here at all.



i. To understand this list, you must ask basic questions:



What is distinctively Christian about this list?

Where is the specific mention of Jesus or salvation by grace alone?

Can you believe or practice these things and still not be a follower of Jesus Christ, and not believe Him to be the Messiah?



ii. "When we consider the 'rudiments' one by one, it is remarkable how little in the list is distinctive of Christianity, for practically every item could have its place in a fairly orthodox Jewish community . . . Each of them, indeed, acquires a new significance in a Christian context; but the impression we get is that existing Jewish beliefs and practices were used as a foundation on which to build Christian truth." (Bruce)


Not often that I have seen commentary that properly teaches this.

Again, thanks for the resource.


God bless.

 

[Yeshua1]

..... When He said in Mark 3:29 that , ".... he that shall blaspheme against the Holy Ghost hath never forgiveness, but is in danger of eternal damnation"?

Some have told me that this is Christ's explanation of the "unforgiveable sin."

However, when the Apostle Paul in 1 Timothy 1:13 stated that he was once a blasphemer, but God forgave him of the sin of blasphemy.

It would seem that at first glance that these two verses contradict each other, but of course that cannot be true because, when rightly understood, no verses in God's Word can possibly contradict each other.

About the only thing I can see is that Jesus was addressing the specific sin of blaspheming the Holy Spirit rather than a person blaspheming in general.

Moreover, I remember years ago a Baptist preacher in a seminar saying that he's never heard of a cuss word expression that actually contain the words "Holy Ghost" or "Holy Spirit" in them because that would in fact be blaspheming the Third Person of the Trinity.

What do you folks out there in BB think Jesus meant when He said that blaspheming the Holy Spirit is a sin for which forgiveness is totally without forgiveness?

It was a specific sin that happened in the life of Jesus here on earth, as the religious leaders had so blinded and hardened their hearts to Jesus, that they saw Him as really being an Antichrist, and not the christ!

 

[heisrisen]

The key words in what Jesus said are: "IN DANGER". That is huge. That means there is still hope for that person that is blaspheming the Holy Ghost! So I believe this means that they still have a chance at getting saved, but if they die in their sin, they will be eternally damned.

 

[JamesL]

it was not simply uttering words, merely attributing the miracles to Beelzebub.

when Nicodemus came to Jesus at night, he said....

"WE KNOW you are from God"

we who? The leaders. Many of whom were believing in Christ, but were not confessing Him - John 12:41-42

Other leaders, even knowing He came from God, attributed His work to a devil. Out of the abundance of their hearts their mouths spoke.

Whitewashed tombs, brood of vipers

 

[MB]

...

Moreover, I remember years ago a Baptist preacher in a seminar saying that he's never heard of a cuss word expression that actually contain the words "Holy Ghost" or "Holy Spirit" in them because that would in fact be blaspheming the Third Person of the Trinity.

What do you folks out there in BB think Jesus meant when He said that blaspheming the Holy Spirit is a sin for which forgiveness is totally without forgiveness?

I would think that defaming God, no matter what term you use isn't wise. As far as an unforgivable sin I do not believe there is such a thing. If there were wouldn't it mean God would be restricted of forgiving that particular sin?
MB

 

[Darrell C]

As far as an unforgivable sin I do not believe there is such a thing. If there were wouldn't it mean God would be restricted of forgiving that particular sin?
MB

That is kind of the point of The Blasphemy of the Holy Ghost...they are making it impossible to be forgiven.

They rejected Christ, and that is the only means by which remission of sins can be attained.

We see that here...


Hebrews 10:26-29

King James Version (KJV)

26 For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins,

27 But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries.

28 He that despised Moses' law died without mercy under two or three witnesses:

29 Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace?


Verse 29 defines the willful sin of v.26. It is rejecting Christ, His Sacrifice, and the "Spirit of Grace," Who has a Ministry in this Age is to convict of sin, righteousness, and judgment.

This is why "there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins."

This is why those who blaspheme the Holy Ghost never have forgiveness:


Mark 3:29

King James Version (KJV)

29 But he that shall blaspheme against the Holy Ghost hath never forgiveness, but is in danger of eternal damnation.


The charge of having an unclean spirit makes little sense, the Lord points out, because He was casting out devils (demons). The point is, "Great, so you think Satan has empowered me to cast out those engaged in the work of his kingdom?" Or, "You think I have a devil who is intent on stopping what devils do?" lol

The corollary being that He was by the Spirit of God at war with Satan, his kingdom, and his minions.

The Spirit of God has always ministered in the hearts of men, and it was the Holy Spirit that men resisted in the Old Testament:


Acts 7:51

King James Version (KJV)

51 Ye stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Ghost: as your fathers did, so do ye.


Now this is declared by Stephen, and falls in the Church Age, and He attributes the fathers with the sin of resisting the Holy Ghost. So that aspect of God's ministry to men has not changed, but, the focus of faith has changed, so that in this Age those who reject Christ are first rejecting the Holy Ghost, the Comforter, Who seeks to glorify Christ and make Him known to those who are lost.


God bless.