blaspheming the Holy Spirit?
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My understanding is Jesus is talking about people witnessing an event, so there
is literally no dispute about it happening the only issue is how and why.
At this point people who choose to lie and deny a work clearly of the Lord are blaspheming the Spirit.
Some interpret this as the hardness of their hearts but I think equally people can do things out of loyalty to a particular group, and are not really thinking it through. The problem is this does not mean it is not a sin.
Now where this issue comes to bear is with people like Benny Hinn. I have testimony about the approach to God he takes, the various herisies he has preached, yet people even here have testified to miracles done at his meetings.
Now I accept the Lord can work anywhere, it is a question of the person calling out to the Lord and the Lord himself. It does not imply the Benny is right or sound. Often in these groups they do not claim to be the source of healing but testifying to the healing after the fact. It would be a bigger issue for me if Benny laid hands on people and they were healed. I have this problem because of testimonies of friends of Benny and others in his ministry who 100% are not of the Lord.
But if the Lord moves and works within these contexts, then amen.
I would caution, taking Jesus's description that the pharisees cast out demons, and said this was the work of God, so how could such people not apportion similar power to his works when they were hypocritical and deceptive people.
This leads me to great caution and openness to how the Lord deals with people and uses every opportunity to bring glory to His name.
Hi Magenta,
Regarding the blasphemy of the Holy Spirit, we need to keep it in the context in which it was stated. The Pharisees said that Jesus was driving out demons by the prince of demons, Beelzebul. And since Jesus was driving out demons by the Holy Spirit, they were in essence saying that the Holy Spirit was unclean. It must remain in this context, otherwise people begin to make all kinds of sins as being blasphemy against the Spirit as we are seeing on these other posts and that is not the case. No one can inadvertently commit blasphemy against the Spirit. One would have to proclaim the same thing as the Pharisees did in order to commit it.
Perhaps that was a bit tangential and off subject, and I can see how that might spook those who are weak in faith. If anyone here was put off by that statement I do apologize.
But, I see waaay too many otherwise good and faithful brothers and sisters here and elsewhere who willingly throw themselves into such blaspheme. And I don't think it is too off subject to remind them that they, too, must STOP IT!
I agree.
Saying It out of anger ignorantly in unbelief will be forgiven but saying it knowing that it is wrong would be said whether the person Is angry or not angry because they just wouldn't care and the only way to do that is to be mature.
If Its done at the heart that means the person really feels that way.
GOD looks at the heart.
I will try by using a example to show give a better understanding although Its just an example.
IE
A person decides one day they will start walking hunched over and someone ask them why are you walking like that and the person says I like the attention but I'm not really like that and then he stands strait and walks normally and then goes back to walking hunch over and time goes on and one day that other guy sees him again and ask him why are you walking like that and he tries to stand and walk strait but realizes that he really Is that way now.
IE
A person decides one day they will start walking hunched over and someone ask them why are you walking like that and the person says I like the attention but I'm not really like that and then he stands strait and walks normally and then goes back to walking hunch over and time goes on and one day that other guy sees him again and ask him why are you walking like that and he tries to stand and walk strait but realizes that he really Is that way now.
Hi P1lGri1m ,
very good questions I will try to answer very respectfully
." (1) the Blasphemy of the Holy Spirit is limited to the sin in view when the Lord mentions the Blasphemy "
I think the context of why Jesus said and to who he said is very important. Matt 12 and Luke 11 both show us that was spoken to the pharisees for what they said. At no time did the Pharisees use the name "Holy Spirit" they said that HE Jesus was casting out the Devil by the Power of a specific Devil named " Beelzebub" Matt 12 . That tells me they did not know the Holy Spirit and were making personal attacks on Jesus because the people were Believing more in what Jesus was doing healing, casting out devils etc.. If we look at the context of what "Blasphemy of the Holy Spirit " is from the three chapter that speak n this Matt 12 the two in Luke at starting at chapter 11.
"(2) can we see the Blasphemy of the Holy Ghost described anywhere else in Scripture?"
very good question:
I think what we can see is the personification of the Holy Spirit in and throughout the bible example:
The Holy Spirit can be grieved
The Holy Spirit can be quenched
The Holy Spirit can be lied to found in Acts Ananias & Sapphira
I don't see anywhere in Scripture other than the Words of Jesus speaking about this.
I respectfully disagree,
The pharisees knew the term Holy Spirit they did not even use the name of the Spirit of God they said " casting out of the devil by the power of Beelzebub a name for a specific devil " meaning Lord of the Flies". That is the context jesus was admonishing them and warning them.
No it is not Mantvydas. it can be said out of ignorance, immaturity, and error of teaching. I would warn against it and I would note 1 cor 12, 13, 14 which calls the gifts " Gifts of the Holy Spirit" and I would not speak ill of those gifts even if one believes they are for today or not.
I disagree we cannot assume they were speaking about the Holy Spirit specifically and that is why Jesus did not tell them " YOU have Blasphemed the Holy Ghost". It was a very very serious warning. the context is very clear to that.
sorry I do not see that cause and effect of the statement no where in the pharisees statement was Holy Ghost every used.
Hi Magenta ,So you are saying that teaching error is blasphemy?
I am simply seeking clarity on what you are saying
no i am not. What I believe the bible shows us is those who do Blasphemy the Holy Spirit have Knowledge of who the Spirit of God is and do so knowing fully what and who The Holy Ghost is. there are people who teach error of God's word and do so out of ignorance. They are just that unlearned, and in error and not blasphemy of the Holy Spirit if that is not the case then many of us if not all of us are in serious trouble.
P
P1LGR1M
Guest
Hi P1lGri1m ,
very good questions I will try to answer very respectfully
" (1) the Blasphemy of the Holy Spirit is limited to the sin in view when the Lord mentions the Blasphemy "
I think the context of why Jesus said and to who he said is very important. Matt 12 and Luke 11 both show us that was spoken to the pharisees for what they said. At no time did the Pharisees use the name "Holy Spirit" they said that HE Jesus was casting out the Devil by the Power of a specific Devil named " Beelzebub" Matt 12 . That tells me they did not know the Holy Spirit and were making personal attacks on Jesus because the people were Believing more in what Jesus was doing healing, casting out devils etc.. If we look at the context of what "Blasphemy of the Holy Spirit " is from the three chapter that speak n this Matt 12 the two in Luke at starting at chapter 11.
"(2) can we see the Blasphemy of the Holy Ghost described anywhere else in Scripture?"
very good question:
I think what we can see is the personification of the Holy Spirit in and throughout the bible example:
The Holy Spirit can be grieved
The Holy Spirit can be quenched
The Holy Spirit can be lied to found in Acts Ananias & Sapphira
I don't see anywhere in Scripture other than the Words of Jesus speaking about this.
I am out of time right now but did want to pop in and say thanks for the response. I'll return the favor at the next appointed time.
God bless.
Could you please clarify this post? The first part of your first sentence seems contradictory. Thank you.
no problem magenta.
In matt 12 and Luke 11 read it and show me where the Pharisees said Holy Ghost? it's not there Jesus was the One who said Holy Spirit in His admonishment, warning, and correction to the Pharisees. it is clear they the Pharisees did not know the Holy Ghost.
This is an interesting topic, and I am curious to know what you would think in a certain scenario. If somebody was seeking, exploring things perhaps better left alone, and experienced something spiritual while not having any idea what it was, but thought maybe it was something satanic while in truth it was something from God through the Holy Spirit... would you call that not knowing but thinking it was one thing and not the other, blasphemy? Or would the fact that the person did not know either way be enough to say it was not blasphemy?
It is true that nobody knows everything
But some people do teach what looks to be to me to be blatant error... as in the case of my question at the top of the page (post #61), where they will insistently and repeatedly assert something that directly contradicts what the revealed written Word of God explicitly states. It is puzzling. Thank you for your response