What does it mean to sin against the spirit? (page 2)

SixofNine

It's when you forgot to feel guilty for masturbation. You were doomed to outright apostacy from that moment on.

Speaking against the Son of man might be due to a failure to recognize Him for what He is. So Paul recalls how in his pre-Christian days he thought it his duty to oppose the name of Jesus of Nazareth. But if, having seen the light on the Damascus road, he had deliberately closed his eyes to it and kicked out against the goad which was directing him into the true path, that would have been the sin against the Holy Spirit.

This reference to an unforgivable sin has troubled many unnecessarily. Those who are concerned that they have done something for which Jesus will not forgive them show a very different attitude from the Pharisees, who refused to accept even the most compelling evidence that Jesus was the Son of God. The person who rejects the Spirit's message about Jesus will not be forgiven. Anyone who seeks Jesus' forgiveness certainly has not committed the unforgivable sin" [Larry Richards, 735 Baffling Bible Questions Answered (Grand Rapids, Michigan: Fleming H. Revell, 1993), pp. 241-242.] .

Jesus thus regards blasphemy against the Spirit—permanently rejecting his identity (Matthew 12:18) as attested by the Spirit's works (12:28)—as the worst of sins"
[Craig S. Keener, The IVP Bible Background Commentary, New Testament (Downers Grove, Illinois: InterVarsity Press, 1993), p. 80.].

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"I would like to just know if what it says in Matthew is true. It states that every sin is forgivable, except if a person speaks badly about the Holy Spirit. I have attended a private Christian school and one day my Bible teacher was saying that a person is not forgiven if he/she speaks against the Holy Spirit. As he stated that… I thought something against the Holy Spirit. I did not mean to… it just happened. I prayed and asked forgiveness, but does that mean I am forgiven or eternally condemned? SINCERELY WORRIED"

Clearly, this student is confused about the true meaning of this biblical reference. Once understood, this young person can rest assured that the unpardonable sin was most certainly not committed in this case. In fact, this sin cannot be committed by a true Christian.

A n unforgivable sin is described in Mark 3 and Matthew 12. These passages involve Jesus Christ's repeated and widespread public defeat of Satan and his demons. Many readers and theologians have been confused about the true nature of this sin. As you read these verses for yourself (below), bear in mind part of the purpose of Jesus Christ's ministry was to directly confront darkness with the light of truth in a public battle of pure good versus pure evil. The only being in the universe that is more powerful than the Evil One, is God. He is the only one with enough power to bind Satan himself and forcibly dispossess him.

Mark 3:22-30 states,

"And the scribes who came down from Jerusalem said, 'He has Beelzebub,' and, 'By the ruler of the demons He casts out demons.' …'Assuredly, I [Jesus] 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'" (NKJV, emphasis added / Note: The Pharisees made the same charge in Mat 9:34.) .

In Matthew 12:31-32, Jesus says to the Pharisees,

"Therefore I say to you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven men. Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man, it will be forgiven him; but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit, it will not be forgiven him, either in this age or in the age to come" (NKJV, emphasis added) .

wobble

Dear Bluecanary,

Your putting it in a modern setting does present some difficulties,but I think if we were blessed in some measure like Paul we would know,and we would know AS we rejected that Spirit,if we chose that course.

So again, I do not believe that a loving God is out to trap us, by our sinning in a manner we did not understand, I have faith He would explain to our spirit what was happening,and only then if we shoved Him away would we have a problem.

Love

Wobble

bluecanary

Thanks for posting that information caliber. What's the difference between rejecting the spirit's message about Jesus and speaking "a word against" him?

caliber

but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven men. IMO It means after having full knowledge

to publiclly deny the power of Holy spirit. And to assign its power to an evil force !

'He has

Beelzebub

,' and, 'By the ruler of the

demons

He casts out demons

.'

whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit

keyser soze

It's when you forgot to feel guilty for masturbation.

Thank god. Because I never masturbated.

bluecanary

Thanks Wobble!

Caliber, so you mean the difference is that if one doesn't know that Jesus is the savior by having it revealed to them through holy spirit, it won't be held against them if they disbelieve because they haven't received the spirit?

caliber

I think you just came up with a caught 22 ! In effect Christ was saying you can deny me(as son of man ) as a person but

don't deny the spirits power. IMHO. It's all about intent and knowledge. A similar idea is found in the difference

between say first degree murder and second degree murder ! (imperfect illustration in that you're still accountable to a degree )

Farkel

The whole dub argument about sinning against the spirit goes right into the toilet when you point out that one can NEVER commit that unforgivable sin if one continues to reject WT doctrine. So is GUARANTEED a resurrection, too!

This is why they probably don't tell you about that doctrine until AFTER you become a dub! Then you're screwed.

Farkel

OUTLAW

Anyone who mix`s Coke with Grey Goose,could have chosen a much cheaper Vodka to ruin..

....................LOL!!...OUTLAW

What does it mean to sin against the spirit?

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