Day 4 INTRODUCTION: We started a series of short posts about how the enemy proliferates our fleshly desires and causes our downfall. Identifying each trait and breaking them down into 7 parts to make it easier for you to understand and protect your loved ones from falling prey. Our intent is not to create fear or pass judgement on those with medical conditions but simply to state the truth as presented in the Holy Bible. We are passionate about your welfare, emotional, and physical wellbeing. We welcome your request for prayers, individually or in a group setting. God bless you and me.
BLASPHEME DEFINITION: To speak of, or address, with impious irreverence; to revile impiously to God. Or, to calumniate; to revile; to abuse.
The word blasphemy is mentioned fourteen times in the King James Bible. It is used only twice in the Old Testament and twelve times in the New. Two of the main Scriptures that use the word are found in the books of Matthew and Revelation. In Matthew, Christ uses the word to warn the Pharisees who accuse him of using the power of the devil to cast out demons. In Revelation, the word is used in reference to the Beast power that will soon take control of the entire world and force the worship of Satan onto all people.
"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, NKJV
"Then I stood on the sand of the sea. And I saw a beast rising up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and on his horns ten crowns, and on his heads a blasphemous name." - Revelation 13:1 NKJV (see also 13:6 and 17:3).
The English word in question is translated, in all twelve of its New Testament references, from the Greek word blasphemia (Strong's Concordance #G988). It means to vilify, speak evil of, or rail against a person.
The above shows that blasphemy is not done by accident. It is done when one has the knowledge of the person, object, or idea that is being discussed. This was the initial charge against Jesus, made by Jewish religious leaders, that justified he be put to death (Matthew 26:63 - 66).
The Bible makes a distinction between what it means to commit this act against the Son of Man (Jesus) versus the Holy Spirit. This, however, begs the question as to why there is a distinction. Why are sins against Jesus forgiven but not those against the Holy Spirit? Does this mean that the Spirit, given upon repentance and baptism, is somehow GREATER than the Savior of mankind who made the gift possible?
BLASPHEMY, THE UNPARDONABLE SIN
People, out of their lack of full knowledge and understanding, may wrongly commit blasphemy against Jesus and still receive forgiveness. For example, many people living at the time of Christ - who saw his miracles and heard him speak - concluded that he was from God. However, they also blasphemed because they denied and rejected He was God's son and the Messiah. Yet, because of their ignorance, this sin (upon repentance) will be forgiven. In fact, a person's rejection of Jesus and his message can sometimes be due to God himself hardening their hearts. Why would He do such a thing?
"He has blinded their eyes and hardened their hearts,Lest they should see with their eyes,Lest they should understand with their hearts and turn,So that I should heal them." - John 12:40 NKJV
Speaking against or committing blasphemy against the Holy Spirit is a different matter entirely. Although the Eternal certainly worked with a few people in the Old Testament, he did not make His Spirit available to mankind in general until Pentecost in 30 A.D. (Acts 2:16 - 21).
To receive of the gift of God's Spirit, a person must accept and believe that Jesus is the Son of God and the Savior of the world, repent of sin, be willing to surrender their entire life to His will, and publicly claim their faith through water baptism. (Acts 2:38).
If, after all this and receiving the Spirit a person with full knowledge REJECTS God and commits blasphemy (has contempt for the Spirit within them), they then becomes one of HIS adversaries (like the devil). Someone who does this has no hope of forgiveness, as they now refuse to repent of their sins and change. The apostle Paul explains this further.
"For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins," - Hebrews 10:26 NKJV
"Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire." - Revelation 20:14 - 15 NKJV
There is no such thing as an "unforgivable sin" for a born again Christian who has put their faith and trust in Jesus. That word is not even in the Bible. The dictionary defines "blasphemy" as insulting or showing contempt, or lack of reverence for God. However, the "blasphemy against the Spirit" in Matthew 12:31-32 is very specific: the Pharisees had attributed Jesus' miracles to the power of Satan instead of God (see Matthew 12:22 - 28).
Jesus said that He cast out demons by the Spirit of God (vs. 28)(see also Acts 10:38), but the Pharisees said it was the power of Satan (Beelzebub). Jesus then says,
"For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned." - Matthew 12:37
The Pharisees will stand before the Judgment seat of God one day ("in the age to come") and will have to listen to their own words as they are condemned for not believing in Jesus.
In fact, Jesus says He is the one to whom all judgment is given, so they will stand before the very One they rejected on earth.
But why is it that blasphemy against the Holy Spirit in particular is unforgivable?
Because it is the Holy Spirit who convicts men in their hearts of the truth about Jesus (John 15:26; John 16:7-14), and to ignore or reject that convicting means there is no other chance, no other WAY for a person to believe and be saved (Hebrews 6:4-6; Heb. 10:29).
Since all other sins can be forgiven when a person accepts Jesus as Savior, then the sin of hardening their hearts against the convicting of the Holy Spirit (and thus rejecting that forgiveness through Jesus) has no way of being forgiven.
UNDERSTANDING BLASPHEMY IN MODERN TIMES
DEFINITION: Webster's Dictionary defines the word as meaning to insult, show contempt of or not revere God sufficiently. The word can be applied to a person who claims some or all of God's attributes. The word "profane," a synonym, is defined as abusing or treating with contempt or disdains that which is sacred.
PSYCHOLOGY: Blasphemy is another main trait of narcissism. Narcissists cannot handle being upstaged in any way; you must not be seen to be more powerful, more successful, more beautiful, more intelligent, in fact “more” anything. To do so renders you to becoming the narcissists arch enemy, an instant rival to be spoken of in an irreverent or impious manner.
BLASPHEMY IN THE NEWS:
The list is pretty extensive, however, on the other hand, people are adopting violence and violent behavior to stop "blasphemers" and in many ways are following most sinful ways of making a difference. Today, we must really ask ourselves, what is our TRUE MOTIVE to cause for us to take a STAND FOR THE TRUTH:
1. By standing up for this TRUTH, am I hoping to gain fame from it? (Even though it is for just a few minutes)
2. By standing up for this TRUTH, am I sinning to make my point? (To stop one sin, am I committing others?)
3. By standing up for this TRUTH, am I hoping to persevere to uphold righteousness? ( Am I following Christ and Seeking GOD's Will first?)
Knowing God's TRUTH and ABIDING by it is the TRUE calling and PURPOSE for all believers. Friends, we offer fellowship to seek, gain, repent and share the WORD of GOD. Would you bow your head and pray with us?
Please stay tuned for the next part of this series that will cover: UNTHANKFUL.
God bless you and your family. May you keep on guard and protect your heart and minds from the slick enemy who is always on the prowl to grab an unsuspecting soul. Please share your thoughts and views in the comment box below and share it with your family and friends. You can share your love and save someone from falling into a trap.
References and footnotes:
The Bible Study - Definition of Blasphemy.
Christian Research Network on Blasphemy
Berean Research Site Jesus Calling Devotional Bible?–Putting Words in Jesus’ Mouth–And in the Bible March 2016
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