Kingdom Principle: There will be those who vehemently oppose the gospel. We should confront them with the truth of Scripture, trusting the Spirit in our times of need.
Three Important Questions Concerning Blasphemy of the Holy Spirit:
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_________________ is Blasphemy of the Holy Spirit?
Luke 12:10 (ESV) — 10 And everyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but the one who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven.
Blasphemy of the Holy Spirit is a unique, specific, and intentional sin.
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Unique
The sin that Jesus is addressing here is a sin that is so hardened that it continues into eternity. This is not a “typical” sin. Blaspheming the Holy Spirit is in a whole n’other league.
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Specific
Mark 3:28–30 (ESV) — 28 “Truly, I say to you, all sins will be forgiven the children of man, and whatever blasphemies they utter, 29 but whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness, but is guilty of an eternal sin”— 30 for (explanation) they were saying, “He has an unclean spirit.”
Blaspheming the Holy Spirit is claiming that the work that Jesus is doing is the work of Satan. It is to falsely assert that Jesus has not come from the Father of lights, but the father of lies.
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Intentional
Luke 11:23 (ESV) — 23 Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters.
Blasphemy of the Holy Spirit is a deliberate and hardened rejection of the work of Christ that motivates you to oppose the advance of the kingdom of God at every turn.
“The sin against the Holy Spirit consists in a conscious, malicious, and willful rejection and slandering of the grace of God in Christ… It is not a sin of ignorance but one committed against better knowledge and therefore is unpardonable.”
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_________________ commits this sin? (with examples)
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Who does NOT commit this sin. (Luke 22:54-62)
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Who commits this sin? (Acts 5:12-42)
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_____________________ does it matter?
Luke 12:11–12 (ESV) — 11 And when they bring you before the synagogues and the rulers and the authorities, do not be anxious about how you should defend yourself or what you should say, 12 for the Holy Spirit will teach you in that very hour what you ought to say.”
John 15:18 (ESV) — 18 “If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you.
Matthew 24:9 (ESV) — 9 “Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and put you to death, and you will be hated by all nations for my name’s sake.
Jesus is saying that we should not be overly concerned with what we will say in the moment we are tested, but he is not saying we shouldn’t be prepared.
Proverbs 21:31 (ESV) — 31 The horse is made ready for the day of battle, but the victory belongs to the Lord.
The comfort in Proverbs 21:31 is that your preparations are not done in vain.
Jesus promises here, that in those times when you are called upon to give a defense for your faith, the Father loves you no matter your circumstances, the Son accepts you no matter your opposition, and the Spirit will be with you no matter your strength.
