The Christian Conscience

“Assuredly, I say to you, all sins will be forgiven the sons of men, and whatever blasphemies they may utter;  but he who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness, but is subject to eternal condemnation,” because they said, “He has an unclean spirit.”  This quote from Jesus is found in Mark 3:28-30.

Some are troubled by the thought that they, at some time in the past, may have committed blasphemy against the Holy Spirit.  What exactly does this mean, “blasphemy against the Holy Spirit?” Have you ever committed this?

In the early days of Jesus’s earthly ministry, there were some Jews, who for various reasons, did not accept Jesus as their Messiah.  They watched Him heal, and cast out demons, and concluded, in their messed up minds, that He must be doing this by the power of the Devil.

Jesus told the Pharisees: “Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or else make the tree bad and its fruit bad; for a tree is known by its fruit.  Brood of vipers! How can you, being evil, speak good things? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.  A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good things, and an evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth evil things.  But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment. For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”  (Matthew 12:33-37)  The concept is simple.  Good fruit comes from a good tree, and bad fruit comes from a bad tree.  Or, in other words, good comes from a good source, and bad comes from a bad source.

Have you ever attributed the miracles of Jesus to the Devil?  Even in our present time of falling away, I doubt that there are many, who have done this. 

There is something else, however, that some have done, which is dangerously close to blasphemy against the Holy Spirit.  Jesus sent the Holy Spirit to be with us in this present age.  The Holy Spirit is our comforter and teacher.  You can find this information in the gospel of John, Chapters 14 to 17, and also at the end of the book of Luke, and the beginning of the book of Acts. Through the action of the Holy Spirit, Jesus gave a number of spiritual gifts to His followers. Read 1st Corinthians, Chapters 12, 13, and 14.  The Corinthian church had a problem in that they were using the gift of speaking in tongues, excessively and carelessly, in their gatherings.  The Apostle taught that this gift is very important, but its use in the church should be limited.

Some have misunderstood this teaching, and concluded that tongues ceased in the apostolic age.  Some even teach that speaking in tongues is of the Devil.  Like the first century Pharisees, they are attributing a work of the Holy Spirit to the Devil.

These are getting dangerously close to blasphemy against the Holy Spirit.  If you read those three chapters, in 1st Corinthians, over and over a few times, you will see that the spiritual gifts were never meant to cease, until the return of Jesus.

Questions or comments?  Send an e-mail to the address below.

At the Mexico Beach Christian Worship Center, we preach basic Bible truths, just as Jesus and His followers did.  At the MBCWC, we don’t pass an offering plate and plead for money, or twist your arm to join.  Please check us out this Sunday!  Our services begin, with a time of greeting and fellowship, at 9:30 a.m. CT on Sunday.  Worship begins at 9:45 a.m.  Come early so that you can meet, and fellowship with us, and enjoy the praise and worship music led by TJ!  We meet, and worship, at the Mexico Beach Civic Center on 105 N. 31st Street, behind Parker Realty, and the Beach Walk gift shop, just off Highway 98, in Mexico Beach.

God Bless,

Pastor Tim Morrill

Mexico Beach Christian Worship Center

pastor@mexicobeachcwc.com

http://www.mexicobeachcwc.com