Core Christian Value
The blasphemy of the Holy Spirit is the only sin in the Bible characterized as “unforgivable”. A true believer should never expect the re-enactment of the crucifixion, for his sins.
Merriam-Webster defines it as follows: 1 a: the act of insulting or showing contempt or lack of reverence for God. b: the act of claiming the attributes of deity. 2: irreverence toward something considered sacred or inviolable.
Now listen to the words of Jesus: “Therefore I say to you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven men. 32 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.” MATTHEW 12:31-32 NKJV
Why would Jesus single out blasphemy of the Holy Spirit as the only unforgivable sin? Listen to the words of the writer of the book of Hebrews: “For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted the heavenly gift, and have become partakers of the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come, if they fall away, to renew them again to repentance, since they crucify again for themselves the Son of God, and put Him to an open shame.” HEBREWS 6:4-6 NKJV
These teachings make it very clear that blasphemy of the Holy Spirit is a fatal offense. In my opinion, once you have known the peace of Jesus and have experienced His cleansing, forgiveness and love, if you then were to then have contempt for our Lord and God, it would indeed be something that borders on mental illness. To have truly known Him and then to insult Him, makes no sense at all. It is far more likely that if you have claimed to have been born again and then “intentionally insult” the Holy Spirit, the power of Christ in you, in a conscious, hateful manner, you never really entered into His peace and He never really was your indwelling Lord.
Salvation is not for sissies. Do not timidly and half-heartedly seek Him. It would be like getting married and then telling your spouse, “I did not really mean it when I said our vows.” Jesus is teaching us that He went to the cross to die for our sins and once was enough! Do not, as it says in Hebrews, ask Jesus to go to the cross again and again, putting Him to open shame.
Listen to a description of the soul of one who is saved: “Come now, and let us reason together,” Says the LORD, “Though your sins are like scarlet, They shall be as white as snow; Though they are red like crimson, They shall be as wool. ISAIAH 1:18 NKJV
Jesus has cleansed us and will, because of His eternal love for us, continue to cleanse us and empower us via the Holy Spirit. Do you sense His empowerment? Where do you turn for wisdom? Do you understand what it means when it says blasphemy is unforgivable? Discuss the many ways that the world tempts you to deny your Lord.