The following has been adapted from Don Stewart’s FAQs, a Q&A resource with thousands of entries available at the BLB.
“Therefore I say to you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven men. 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)
How Does Someone Today Blaspheme the Holy Spirit?
When Christ was on earth the Holy Spirit was blasphemed when His works were attributed to the devil. How does one blaspheme the Holy Spirit today?
We must first understand that His situation was unique. Christ was physically present, performing miracles through the Holy Spirits power to testify that He was the Messiah. But He is not with us today in a physical presence. How then does blasphemy of the Holy Spirit occur?
The work of the Holy Spirit is still the same: to speak of Jesus Christ and to show the world it needs His forgiveness:
“Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you. And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: of sin, because they do not believe in Me; of righteousness, because I go to My Father and you see Me no more; of judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged”
(John 16:7-11 NKJV).
Therefore, the blasphemy of the Holy Spirit is unbelief. Those who continually reject the Holy Spirits work portraying Christ as Savior are blaspheming the Holy Spirit. If this state continues they will not receive forgiveness for their sins.
Thus, today, as in Christs time, the blasphemy of the Holy Spirit is a continuous state of being rather than one particular sin. It is the state of unbelief.
We conclude regarding the blasphemy of the Holy Spirit:
1. People today are not in the same situation as when Christ was physically present.
2. Today one blasphemes the Holy Spirit by rejecting the ministry of the Holy Spirit that speaks of Christ.
3. Thus the blasphemy of the Holy Spirit is the state of unbelief in Christ as Savior. It is more of a continuing and persistent rejection of the Holy Spirit than one particular sin.
4. The only way to avoid the blasphemy of the Holy Spirit is to turn to Christ for forgiveness.