Grieving the Holy Spirit

Mark 3:28–30 CSB

“Truly I tell you, people will be forgiven for all sins and whatever blasphemies they utter. But whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness, but is guilty of an eternal sin”—because they were saying, “He has an unclean spirit.”

All sins will be forgiven.

(CSB) 28 “Truly I tell you, people will be forgiven for all sins and whatever blasphemies they utter.

28 “Truly I tell you, people will be forgiven for all sins and whatever blasphemies they utter.

Jesus had both the knowledge and the power to forgive sins.

(CSB) 28 “Truly I tell you, people will be forgiven for all sins and whatever blasphemies they utter.

Illus: The early chapters of the book of mark are written to help you see Jesus had the authority to do all he did.

Within the direct context, Jesus had healed to the anger of the religious leaders, broken the overly specific rules about the sabbath to prove he was lord over the sabbath, and had made the bold pronouncement that He could forgive sins.

Here at this moment, people, including Jesus’ own family were accusing Jesus of either being crazy or being demon possessed.

Jesus’ response was to draw a line. He stated his authority.

(CSB) 7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace 8 that he richly poured out on us with all wisdom and understanding.

8 If we say, “We have no sin,” we are deceiving ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace 8 that he richly poured out on us with all wisdom and understanding.

There is nothing you have done, nor can do so great that Jesus can’t forgive.

(CSB) 28 “Truly I tell you, people will be forgiven for all sins and whatever blasphemies they utter.

Illus: Isn’t it good that Jesus forgives us of our sins. THere really is nothing either in our past or our future that Jesus can’t forgive.

Most times when I preach about forgiveness, I talk through the regular sins most of struggle with, anger, lying, gossip, lust, hatred. But Jesus forgiveness goes deeper than that.

Jesus forgives every woman who has had an abortion. He forgives every thief. He forgives every glutton. But Jesus’ forgiveness goes deeper than this.

There is no sin in our culture more despicable than molestation. When an adult sexually abuses a teenager or child there is a vileness to thier heart and actions. A common phrase we use for molesters is “there is a special place in hell for those people.”

But Jesus forgives child molesters. Let’s be clear, Jesus does not tolerate moslestation. Saying he forgives does not mean their sins goes un punished.

In fact, Jesus know the real cost for the sins of the molester. When Jesus says that He forgives sin, he saying that he will personally suffer for the sins he forgives. Justice must be met, and Jesus bore the justice.

When Jesus hung on the cross, every sin needed to be paid for. Jesus took the wrath of God for the worst sins of humanity. Only when those sins were paid for could men find forgiveness.

(CSB) 7 If we walk in the light as he himself is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. 8 If we say, “We have no sin,” we are deceiving ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

7 If we walk in the light as he himself is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. 8 If we say, “We have no sin,” we are deceiving ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

What does it mean to blaspheme against the Holy Spirit?

(CSB)

28 “Truly I tell you, people will be forgiven for all sins and whatever blasphemies they utter. 29 But whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness, but is guilty of an eternal sin”,—

The continual actions of your life prove what you really are.

(CSB) 28 “Truly I tell you, people will be forgiven for all sins and whatever blasphemies they utter. 29 But whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness, but is guilty of an eternal sin”,—

Illus: We live in a day where you really can be whatever you want to be.

Think about it, a few years back the woman of the year was well a man who self identified as a woman even though his entire biology was male.

But in this spirit I have decided to self identify as the president of the united states. It really does not matter that no one voted for me, I live in a white house and I have decided… but the evidence proves that I am not in fact the president of the United States.

I can self identify that I can fly. The rules of gravity really don’t matter as long as I remain unwavering in my belief. Except that I cannot fly no matter what I think.

I can self identify as a pink elephant with purple polkadots. Sure there are no pink elephants, certainly none with polkadots, and physically I am not an elephant… I self identify as that, so I am that.

Evidence matters. The evidence proves who you are. It proves what is true.

Here in the south there are many who self identify as Christians. Sure they don’t live for Jesus. Many have habitual sins which they have no desire to repent of. Few read the Word of God, and some when they read it simply ignore the places that bring conviction. But they self identify as Christians.

Your works, life, devotion don’t make you a christian, but they prove you are a christian. If you self identify as a christian, yet reject the basics of Christianity, ignore sin in your life, don’t care for gathering with other believers, don’t spend time regularly in church, what does the evidence say?

(CSB) 26 For if we deliberately go on sinning after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, 27 but a terrifying expectation of judgment and the fury of a fire about to consume the adversaries.

WARNING AGAINST DELIBERATE SIN

26 For if we deliberately go on sinning after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, 27 but a terrifying expectation of judgment and the fury of a fire about to consume the adversaries.

If you are once saved, you will always be (and live) saved.

(CSB) 28 “Truly I tell you, people will be forgiven for all sins and whatever blasphemies they utter. 29 But whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness, but is guilty of an eternal sin”,—

Illus: We as baptists believe in Once saved, always saved. It is the doctrine that God does not fail. If God saves you then you are saved.

But if we really believed that God does not fail, then when he saves us, there will be a difference in our lives on this earth.

If we really believe God does not fail, then one who trusts Christ will continue to trust him with all their life for the rest of their life.

Over and over in scripture God teaches that there will be people who self identify as christians, even get baptized, but aren’t really saved.

How do you know the difference between really saved people, and fakes? 2 things: 1. do they display the fruit of God’s Spirit 2. does their faith last throughout their life?

God doesn’t fail. God finishes what he starts.

(CSB) 6 I am sure of this, that he who started a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.

6 I am sure of this, that he who started a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.

(CSB) 19 They went out from us, but they did not belong to us; for if they had belonged to us, they would have remained with us. However, they went out so that it might be made clear that none of them belongs to us.

(CSB) 31 Then Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you continue in my word,, you really are my disciples. 32 You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

(CSB) 14 For we have become participants in Christ if we hold firmly until the end the reality that we had at the start.

How does this apply today?

(CSB) 28 “Truly I tell you, people will be forgiven for all sins and whatever blasphemies they utter. 29 But whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness, but is guilty of an eternal sin”,—

We all must examine our own hearts and lives to see if we are saved.

Illus: The bible wants you to have security if you are genuinely saved. God does not fail. The bible wants you to have no security if you do not have genuine faith.

Over and over in scripture the bible teaches people to examine their lives, to test themselves, to see if their faith is genuine. Why? There is nothing more dangerous than believeing your are saved when you are not. So test yourself. Understanding that God’s desire is for you to come to him and find life.

2 Corinthians 13:5–6 CSB

Test yourselves to see if you are in the faith. Examine yourselves. Or do you yourselves not recognize that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless you fail the test. And I hope you will recognize that we ourselves do not fail the test.