Page 61 - Pneumatology - Student Textbook

Jesus told the crowd that the Pharisees’ blasphemy against the Holy Spirit “will not be forgiven, either in
this age or in the age to come” (Matthew 12:32). This is another way of saying that their sin would never be
forgiven, ever. Not now, not in eternity. As Mark 3:29 puts it, “They are guilty of an eternal sin.”

The immediate result of the Pharisees’ public rejection of Christ (and God’s rejection of them) is seen in the
next chapter. Jesus, for the first time, “told them many things in parables” (Matthew 13:3; cf. Mark 4:2).
The disciples were puzzled at Jesus’ change of teaching method, and Jesus explained His use of parables:
“Because the knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of heaven has been given to you, but not to them. . .
Though seeing, they do not see; though hearing, they do not hear or understand” (Matthew 13:11, 13).
Jesus began to veil the truth with parables and metaphors as a direct result of the Jewish leaders’ official
denunciation of Him.

Again, the blasphemy of the Holy Spirit cannot be repeated today, although some people try. Jesus Christ is
not on earth—He is seated at the right hand of God. No one can personally witness Jesus performing a
miracle and then attribute that power to Satan instead of the Spirit.

The unpardonable sin today is the state of continued unbelief. The Spirit currently convicts the unsaved
world of sin, righteousness, and judgment (John 16:8). To resist that conviction and willfully remain
unrepentant is to “blaspheme” the Spirit. There is no pardon, either in this age or in the age to come, for a
person who rejects the Spirit’s promptings to trust in Jesus Christ and then dies in unbelief. The love of God
is evident: “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him
shall not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16). And the choice is clear: “Whoever believes in the Son has
eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on him” (John 3:36)
(https://www.gotquestions.org/blasphemy-Holy-Spirit.html).

11.4 Let’s Practice…

1. What was the primary purpose of miraculous gifts given by the Holy Spirit?

2. Describe the issue with the filioque controversy that arose with the writing of the Nicene
Creed:

3. What is the correct view of the procession of the Holy Spirit?

4. What is the sin of blaspheming the Holy Spirit?

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