Expert: Rev. Stuart Woodward - 11/19/2009

Question
QUESTION: Hello my name is Shaheen, I wanted ask if having a negative thought about the Holy Spirit is an unpardonable sin? I'm just not sure of what blasphemy against the Holy Spirit is. The reason why I ask this question is because I have had a bad thought about the Holy Spirit. I know what God has done when He sent His one and only Son Jesus down to the earth just like in John 3:16 and I love God because He loves me. I don't want to be an enemy God and be like the ones who are against God and His Son Jesus. I rather be with the believers of Jesus Christ worshiping the One and only true God. Please help me, and also I ask you to pray and ask God to speak through you to me before you answer my question, I'm not trying to be rude I just need God so please ask Him to speak through you to me.

ANSWER: Hello Shaheen,
I have indeed prayed that God may take my comments and bring you what you need. The Holy Spirit is the one Jesus promised to send when He returned to heaven. He promised that He would send another comforter. The Greek word for other here means 'another that is the same'. In other words Jesus was promising to send one who would be just like Him. There is no disagreement or disharmony between Father, Son and Spirit. They are one God, agree on all things and work to the same purpose. The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of Jesus who lives inside each one who trusts Him. Therefore the Holy Spirit is never to be feared and can always be trusted just as Jesus can always be trusted.
A negative thought about the Holy Spirit is not the unforgivable sin. The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of truth. To blaspheme against Him is to call what is good evil and what is evil good. Once we get to the stage of genuinely believing that evil is good and good is evil then it becomes unforgivable because we have no capacity to repent.
A wise teacher I knew years ago said that the surest sign that you have not committed the unforgivable sin is fearing that you might have. If you genuinely commit that sin you would not care.
The Holy Spirit is the means today by which we experience the love of God and His saving power. He is the one who links us to things divine and who enables us to have a deep friendship with the Lord Jesus Christ.
I hope these comments are of some help and I pray that God will lead you forwards in an ever deeper understanding of His love and trust in him
Stuart Woodward

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Hey Stuart, I was wondering does Hebrews 10:26-31 talk about what blasphemy of the Holy Spirit is?

Answer
Hi Shaheen,
I am glad my previous answer was of some help. Hebrews 10:26-31 is fascinating because if it is left to stand alone it suggests that we can lose our salvation by going on sinning. Yet elsewhere in scripture we know that salvation is by grace alone and no one can pluck out of God's hand one who is His.
The Hebrews passage makes it clear that there is no other way sin is atoned for than through the blood of Jesus. A continuing theme of Hebrews is comparing and contrasting the Old Covenant and the New. It may well be that this passage is touching on the sin against the Holy Spirit as in verse 29 it refers to insulting the Spirit of grace. Also verse 26 refers to the knowledge of the truth not the inner experience of the truth.
When a person sees and understands the Gospel but will not respond to it they put themselves in a dire position because there is no other way to salvation. It is as if they refuse to believe there is only one way out of a burning building or refuse to take the flames seriously because they are enjoying their sensual pleasures to much. The end result is catastrophe.
Having seen the truth and rejected it then sin sears the conscience and the ability to understand right from wrong departs gradually until right becomes wrong and wrong right in the mind.
Again I hope this is helpful.
God bless you
Stuart Woodward