BLASPHEMY AGAINST THE HOLY SPIRIT

As a young believer, I had always wanted to know what it meant “to blaspheme against the Holy Spirit”. To this end, I searched and searched so as to decode the meaning of that expression to no avail. I asked a few people about it but they didn’t give me any satisfactory answer.

I asked myself questions like, “Why would the Bible say if we sin against the Holy Spirit we will not be forgiven?“. But the Bible also says, “If we confess our sins, He (Jesus) is faithful and just to forgive us and cleanse us from all unrighteousness“ (1 John 1:9). This means that Jesus the Son of the living God forgives sins only if we confess them earnestly and live to please Him.

Now, does the Father also forgive sins? Jesus Himself answers that question in Matthew 23:34, “Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do”

Concerning the Holy Spirit, Jesus said in Matthew 12: 31-32 ”Therefore I tell you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven people, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven. And whoever speaks a word against the Son of Man (Jesus) will be forgiven, but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come”. Hmmmmm, please let’s ponder over these verses. Is the Holy Spirit greater than the other two personalities of the Godhead? Absolutely not! They are equal in glory, power and majesty. Can I shock us? Most of us Believers are guilty of this offense. Oh yes! We blaspheme against the Holy Spirit at all times.

Apostle Johnson Suleman of Omega Fire Ministries defines the expression “blaspheming against the Holy Spirit” as ascribing the works of God to Satan”. For example, some Christians say” This miracle is not of God. That man of God isn’t of God etc…. How sure are you? You maybe right at the wrong time or wrong at the right time. Let’s focus on our lives and leave what we don’t understand to God.

So why did God say if we blaspheme against the Holy Spirit, it cannot be forgiven? Some people think it’s because that’s the biggest sin. No, that isn’t it. When a man of God preaches and all of a sudden you feel the man of Gos is talking about you when He hasn’t even mentioned your name and may not even know you, you have to know it’s the Holy Spirit at work. The Bible says, He (the Spirit) convicts you of sins. So, it’s the Holy Spirit that’s the instrument of forgiveness. In fact, He is the one that makes you feel guilty. If you’re now offending Him, who will make you feel guilty to now repent? So when you sin against Him and He’s grieved, the forgiveness process will not be initiated for it’s still Him that’ll convict you that you’re wrong and now you have blocked Him from helping you. You can’t be forgiven because you have closed the door and He can’t help you. He the Spirit is a person (emotions, will and knowledge) and not human. Jesus said when “He” shall come. Grammatically speaking “he” is used for a person. Humans are made up of 206 bones, water and flesh. That’s biology for you. Bones, flesh and water don’t have knowledge, will and emotions. It’s the personality that has knowledge, emotions and will.

Ephesians 4:30 “And grieve not the Holy Spirit of God…” So, He can be grieved. To treat the Holy Spirit as a person, talk to Him. Say these things like “Holy Spirit, I love you, I adore you, you are welcome in this place”. Anyone who has a low self esteem, or is depressed may not know the Holy Spirit. If He’s in you, He will comfort you when the need arises and give you boldness. Be conscious of His presence with you at all times!

The good news is that if you grieve the Holy Spirit, you can go before Him, confess your sins and honesty repent from them and He that gentle personality will surely feel loved, respected, honored and blot out that sin. Yes, with God nothing shall be impossible. Go to Him, for He’s your Father and He yearns for your attention, communication and fellowship with Him.

Jesus is Lord!

Dr. David Tobi Ogoudou