There is a Limit

Jesus spoke plainly.

Recognize/acknowledge me before others-and you will be acknowledged in heaven before the angels of God, He said. Deny me…you will be denied before all in heaven.

Then He followed these thoughts with chilling words. To speak against Jesus, we can be forgiven He said. But blasphemy against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven. This is not a concocted tactic designed to frighten those listening-or us. These are not empty words without power. Remember Jesus powers the universe. His words stand.

What is blasphemy?

Who is the Holy Spirit?

The Holy Spirit is the 3rd person in the Trinity-Father, Son, Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is the POWER of God. The Spirit of God leads us in truth and the Spirit is our guarantee of life forever. Read verse 12 -God’s Holy Spirit even gives us words to speak to others about God.

What is blasphemy? My study Bible says it is “persistent and unrepentant resistance against the work of the Holy Spirit and His message concerning Jesus. This Jesus tells us-will not be forgiven.” There is one more sentence-it could not be clearer: “The person who persists in hardening their heart against God, against the work of the Holy Spirit, and against the provision of Jesus as Savior, is outside the reach of God’s provision for forgiveness and salvation.”

Does the idea of being outside of God’s provision for forgiveness and salvation sound like a good place to be?

Both of us can sense the call of God if we are willing. God’s calling us is the work of the Holy Spirit. And Jesus tells us there is a limit to God’s speaking to our hearts…

“And everyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but the one who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven. And when they bring you before the synagogues and the rulers and the authorities, do not be anxious about how you should defend yourself or what you should say, for the Holy Spirit will teach you in that very hour what you ought to say.””

Luke 12:10-12

Just one more thought:

Resistance against the Holy Spirit of God is something I can only point out. This is entirely personal-between the individual and God. My prayer for both of us is that our hearts will be willing to listen as the Spirit of God speaks. Eternity is forever and permanent.