What is the Blasphemy of the Holy Spirit?
I tell you the truth, all the sins and blasphemies of men will be forgiven them. But whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven; he is guilty of an eternal sin. (Mk 3:28-29)
Although many fear that they have done unforgiveable things, Jesus said that there is only one unforgiveable sin, and that is the blasphemy of the Holy Spirit.
What does it mean to blaspheme someone? You might have heard that it is taking the Lord’s Name in vain, but that doesn’t capture the meaning of blasphemy.
In the original Greek, the words blasphemy and blaspheme mean to slander or to speak falsely of someone in a manner than injures their good name.
When people accused Paul of preaching grace as a license to sin, he said their reports were blasphemous, or slanderous (Rom 3:8). In other words, the reports were false and injurious to his reputation and message.
Jesus’ warning about not slandering the Holy Spirit is reported in three gospels (Matt 12:32, Mark 3:29, Luke 12:10). In two of those accounts the warning comes after Jesus had been driving out demons “by the Spirit of God” (Matt 12:28).
The Pharisees and law teachers thought Jesus’ power came from Satan. “By the prince of demons he is driving out demons” (Mark 3:22). They were giving the devil credit for work done by the Holy Spirit, which is fairly slanderous!
In Luke’s account the context is a little different. This time Jesus was preaching to a large crowd when he gave this famous couplet:
I tell you, whoever acknowledges me before men, the Son of Man will also acknowledge him before the angels of God. But he who disowns me before men will be disowned before the angels of God. (Luke 12:8-9)
Right there you have a baseball bat for whacking every believer who has been cowardly in their witness. Well, you would, if Jesus didn’t immediately follow up with this:
And everyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but anyone who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven. (Luke 12:10)
What are the forgiven sins?
Peters of the world be encouraged! Peter disowned Jesus before men but Jesus says of him, “he’s forgiven!”
When Jesus warned us about the blasphemy of the Holy Spirit, he made it clear that the sin of speaking a bad word against the Son of Man, like all sins and blasphemies, will be forgiven.
If you have cursed God, be assured that this sin – along with all your sins and blasphemies – was forgiven when Jesus went to the cross (Col 2:13). You may have cursed him, but he has blessed you! How? By removing your sins as far as the east is from the west (Ps 103:12).
People sometimes ask me, why do you grace preachers say all our sins are forgiven? Because Jesus said so! This is the Good News and either you take him at his word or you don’t. You are not forgiven because of anything you’ve done but in accordance with the riches of his grace (Eph 1:7).
But just because you’re forgiven, it doesn’t follow that you’re saved. Grace is ineffective unless it’s matched with faith (Eph 2:8). And this brings us to…
The blasphemy of the Holy Spirit
As we have seen, to blaspheme someone is to slander or speak falsely about them. To understand what it means to speak falsely of the Holy Spirit, we must first discover what is true about him and his ministry. Jesus tells us:
When he comes, he will convict the world of guilt in regard to sin and righteousness and judgment: in regard to sin, because men do not believe in me; in regard to righteousness, because I am going to the Father, where you can see me no longer; and in regard to judgment, because the prince of this world now stands condemned. (John 16:8-11)
Jesus said his blood would be poured out for the forgiveness of sins (Matt 26:28). If all the sins and blasphemies of men were forgiven at the cross, there’s only one sin the Holy Spirit can convict you of: “in regard to sin, because men do not believe in me.”
Do you believe that you have been eternally redeemed through the blood of Jesus (Heb 9:12)? Do you believe the Spirit-inspired scriptures when they declare that Jesus’ sacrifice has done away with sin once and for all (Heb 9:26)? If not, you are resisting his conviction and calling him a liar.
If you think you must do things like confess and repent from your sins in order to get what Christ has freely given, then you are denying him and his finished work. You are walking after the flesh and slandering the Spirit.
What’s the solution? “Repent and believe the good news” (Mark 1:15).
Biblical confession is agreeing with the Holy Spirit about your sins (1 Jn 1:9). Although you were completely and eternally forgiven 2000 years ago, you will not experience his forgiveness until you say “yes!” to Jesus.
Jesus also said, “unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and law-teachers, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven” (Matt 5:20). Writing under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, Paul declared that the gospel reveals a righteousness from God, a gift that is received by faith from first to last (Rom 1:17). You are not righteous because of anything you’ve done, but because of everything he’s done.
On the cross Jesus took our sin and gave us his righteousness (2 Cor 5:21). In Christ you are as righteous as he is (1 Cor 1:30). So the second aspect of the Holy Spirit’s ministry is to convict you of your righteousness. If you believe him you will look at yourself in the mirror and confidently declare, “I am the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus!”
The third aspect of the Holy Spirit’s ministry is that he will seek to convince you that the prince of this world is condemned. You are not condemned, Satan is. If you are responsive to the Holy Spirit’s conviction, you will confidently declare, “there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus!” You will ask, “if God is for us, who can be against us?”
With a firm revelation of the Father’s love for you – revealed through the Son and affirmed in your heart by the Spirit – you will have no fear of punishment (1 John 4:18). You won’t wonder whether God gives and takes away and you won’t view natural disasters as divine judgments. Instead of confessing your sins you will boldly confess your sonship and lay claim to all the rights of intimacy and inheritance that come with that (Gal 4:7).
The Holy Spirit must be the most misunderstood Person in the Bible. I plan to write more about him and his ministry soon. But to answer the question above – what is the blasphemy of the Holy Spirit? – it is refusing to believe the Holy Spirit’s testimony regarding the grace of God revealed through Jesus Christ.
In a word, it is unbelief.
Unbelief may manifest in a hard heart or in a religious spirit that confuses the devil’s work with the Lord’s. In either case, to resist the Holy Spirit is to trample the Son of God underfoot and treat as unholy the blood of the new covenant that sanctifies us. It is slanderous and insulting to the Spirit of grace who seeks to convince us – through the written word and revelation – that Jesus is true, you are forgiven, and he now offers you the free gift of his righteousness.
The Holy Spirit is not some Divine Policeman in the sky with a big stick. He’s the most awesome, powerful, and wonderful Being in the universe.
And he is absolutely committed to your success in Christ!
___________
Want more? Check out the article, “Have I committed the unforgivable sin?”
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Thank You Paul!
I was just ponder this very thing yesterday 20/4/11. And Low and behold I get my answer…Thank You Holy Spirit!! I am looking forward to more of your insite regarding the Holy Spirit….since I now know he is leading me…I want to understand him more and more….Blessings and Peace to you.
Just read this again!!! and it is very cool!!! Thanx!
Absolutely PAUL, in summary, the HOLY SPIRIT will point people to Jesus, and in rejecting Christ one blasphemy’s the HOLY SPIRT, because there is no other sacrifice left by which man/woman can be saved. Jesus is the only way.
Thank you so much for this in sight. I became a christian early in life was baptized by the time I was 16 and unfortunatlely after that the ways of the world got a hold of me. I am now 35 and have never stopped my beiefs of Christ and the great sacrifice made for me, but never showed it . I recently recomitted my faith to the Lord and gave everything back to him. Shortly after that have been attacked with horrible thoughts in my head that were never there before. Thoughts that made me want to curse the lord and the holy spirit. Personaly trying to make me beleive that I had comitted the unforgivalbe sin. (which is a real downer and sucks away hope)I know that I have not but the thoughts still try to poke their ugly head. But in my heart I know where I stand with the Lord. I’m pretty sure I know where the thoughts came from lucifer himself. Because never in my life had such horrible thoughts thoughts crossed my mind about something so pure as our Lord. I love the our lord Jesus more than anything and everyone that crosses my path will know it.
Hi Curtis, thanks for writing. I understand something of your struggle. Years ago – while I was leading a church – I was suddenly assaulted with the thought that I might not be saved, that I was a complete fraud who would one day be exposed. This thought shook me and I lost my certainty for a while. I am convinced that this idea did not originate in my own mind, but it lodged there and unsettled me. I didn’t know what to so I asked for wisdom. The Holy Spirit immediately led me to 1 Cor 12:3: “No one can say, ‘Jesus is Lord,” except by the Holy Spirit.'” As soon as I read that I thought, I can say “Jesus is Lord!” And I said it. I said it again and again with increasing freedom and the heaviness lifted. It was like the devil had come at me with a butter knife and the Holy Spirit had given me a lightsaber! I firmly believe that praise and lifting up the name of Jesus is like kryptonite to demons (Jas 4:7).
Man, I’ve been really unsettled last 5 months. I’ve been really firm in believing the secure love of God, and the grace he had given us. It made me so enthusiastic. That nothing in this world i can do to make him reject me.
But after I’ve seen a documentary about a Pastor who was raised from the dead and claimed to be in hell for unforgiveness towards his wife (Mat 18:35). This shocked me to my core… But still, my heart comes alot of times in fear again. I don’t know how to deal with it. But my understanding overgrows the painful lies. Thats for sure.
That’s why it’s called a battle. That’s why we strive to enter his rest. No one said it would be easy. But I have found that the more we settle it in our minds that our Father really loves us and Jesus has done it all, the easier it becomes. When you are plagued by those oppressive thoughts, I encourage you to take them captive and make them bow to King Jesus. Tell yourself, “I have the mind of Christ and that dark thought is not from me. It’s a lie. I do not receive it. My heavenly Father loves me and will never let me go.” And watch what you watch.
For over ten years I wonder if I had blasphame against the holy ghost and it made me feel depress to think that I had done such thing. Now I understand that it was SAtan that was trying to destory me. He wanted to steal my joy which he had done time after time. Thank you for having the answers to questions avalible on line. May God bless you and your household.
Hey I have struggled with the same thing Brother. I always confess “Jesus Is LORD” because no one can say that unless it’s by the power of The Holy Spirit. I still struggle with thoughts and attacks. I know what you’re fighting. I personally need people to reassure me in the LORD. My cell is #727 488 6082. Please pray for me.
So similar to what I went through and 35 as well. Going back to the Lord and turning from sinfulness and backsliding.
Thank you Paul for explaining this so clearly. 1 John 1 has been used sooo badly over the years and has led to much confusion. I rejoice that you have been able to write this which I found today through a friend’s blog! Bless you.
Blasphemy of the Holy Spirit is to reject Jesus Christ as your savior after you have been saved. People who do it before they are saved are doing it out of igorance like Paul did, because the Holy Spirit hasn’t entered them yet. They still have hope until they die. It is once you are a Christian and if you decide to go back to the Law (Sin) wilfully on purpose, then you have trampled his blood under feet. Then there is no more sacrifice for sin. The Pharisees were rejecting him as savior but they had not received him yet. Heb 6:6 and Heb 10:28 talks about this. It can onlly happen after you are saved.
Jodi,
Your very comment betrays itself. Your either saved or your not, there are plenty of instances were we sin wilfully. Whether it be in thought, word, or deed. Jesus declared blasphemy of the Holy Spirit to unsaved people, because they wouldn’t receive his witness (Jn 15:26, 16:7-15, Heb 10:15-17). Another example is in Acts 7:51-53. In v.51 they RESISTED the witness of the Holy Spirit through Stephen, and earlier when they couldn’t refute him in Acts 6:9-10 they decided to lie concerning him instead of believing on Christ in v.11 (They blasphemed the Spirit by which he spoke). Notice that they’ve been told numerous times, Stephen declared by the Holy Spirit “you ALWAYS RESIST the Holy Spirit…
Check out my comments in the archive “Son or Sinner, what are you confessing”, the Father was just pouring out revelation there. He loves us so much and he wants us to know the truth concerning his character and his word. You can never lose your salvation, we couldnt change your standing with God (as a sinner) by our works so what makes any of us think we lose are standing by our works (Jesus is our everlasting righteousness Dan 9:24, Heb 9:24-28*). Jesus calls it a everlasting covenant which are sin cant change because they have been payed for, forgiven, removed, and forgotten legaly by Jesus Blood (Matt 20:28, Col 2:13-14, Heb 10:17). In the end they resisted what Stephen was full of Acts 6:8, Grace and Power (Eph 2:8-9, Rom 1:16-17).
The word faith is actually grace (charis in the GRK #5485) in Acts 6:8, theres a caption there next to the word Faith (a*), it more accurately reads GRACE. Grace in the New Testament is the same word in every use except once in James (in the greek). Power in Acts 6:8 is also the same as in Rom 1:16 as well. So thus those he preached to resisted the gospel (Rom 1:16-17), and yet another opportunity to receive Jesus Christ and His Righteousness (Eph 2:8-9, Rom 10:1-4). God bless you Jodi, I know this will encourage many, and thank you Father Amen.
I love this, because the Scriptures basically say that someone who persists in unbelief cannot be forgiven simply because they don’t believe they need to be. I used to be terrified of this verse, because thoughts would pop into my head of all kinds of blasphemous things, probably just a nervous reaction. And other times, I would just be afraid that if I doubted, I couldn’t be forgiven. But instead – and this is so beautiful – it’s saying that the only time you cannot be forgiven is if you don’t want to be. If you do not want God’s forgiveness, he will not force it on you. What an incredible, gentle, LOVING God we serve.
Dont for your sakes ever disrespect any member of God. God bless you all. Jesus Christ is awesome. But to slander is sin and a really deadly one, so please guys, let’s never ever don’t.
About five or six years ago I was hit by hard core condemnation and my rug of security in Christ was totally taken out from under my feet. I went from being a bubbly over achiever to a grumpy mess. I found myself reading a passage of blasphemy of the holy spirit and that through me into a further spiral. It tipped me over the edge. I had this chronic, intense nagging fear that I was eternally condemned. It nearly sent me crazy. Like most people with most fears I avoided it – and it persisted. I make small attempts to address it but none really lead me to restful peace. Over the years I turned into an obnoxious religious striver, judgemental and unloving. I tried harder than an other person but was the least secure of them all. I went to an international mission school in Mozambique for three months. I met these guys who were crazy about Jesus and the cross, not in a ‘tow the party line’, ‘that what we should believe’ kind of way. These guys knew something that I didn’t and I wanted to know. A long story short is that I went (and still am) going on an adventure learning about the difference between the old and new covenant, how Jesus didn’t exclusively preace grace but he also was wrapping up the ministry of the law, how the work is finished and our role is to rest, how the law is truely fullfilled and past and finished, how we are united to Jesus and his love never changes…. So to bring it back, I always thought that blasphemy of the holy spirit was a super legal thing, “think a bad thing and your out”, kind of thing. It paralysed me with fear and I could never budge it. Learning more about the gospel and the finished work has helped me to let go and start the process of moving on.
Hello, I’ve been struggling with this fear for about a year now. I’ve hand memories come into my head and a OCD like attack of tormenting blasphemy, accusing or convicting me. Can you please pray for me.
A year ago I came to Christ , well I accepted the truth. The attacks or convictions go like this. There are 3 memories of things I said. I’m not even sure I said them but that’s what my mind is saying.
First one is I’m watching tv and someone was talking in tongues and I said that person was possessed.
Second one is I’m driving down the road and it was around Halloween and these kids were dressed as devils at a church, I said there devil worshipers .
The third one is. That I called god a evil spirit. I tried to remember why I’d say such a thing and I don’t even know why, I didn’t know who god was and after knowing him I couldn’t say them things, I think I was saying them things cause of how evil this world is. But it’s not him it’s the ruler of this age who is bad.
Now I don’t believe these things. And like I said I don’t even remember if I said these things. I never liked religion or knew much about God or Jesus. But one day I started looking for the truth about life and came to the bible after looking at many other religions and science theory’s. anyone willing to talk to me? I’ve prayed a lot over this and tried to explain myself to the God of Abraham Isaac and Jacob.
Any help would be awesome. Prayers would be nice also, I’ve confessed and repented with tears and fear like no other to these things even though I don’t remember if I did them or not. Should I have done that? Please help.
With Love
Charles
Charles, relax, you may have done some foolish and sinful things, but you have not blasphemed the Holy Spirit. The fact that you want to get right with God is proof of that. God’s grace is greater than your sin. I encourage you to take a minute to read the good news and trust in Jesus.
Hi Charles,
I have been there brother. I have experienced that crippling fear and overwhelming uncertainly. The chronic oppressive fear day in and day out for years. I would think that I could never be another way. I couldn’t think that I could be any different.
In regards to those three fears you described.
1. I too have been watching a DVD about the Azusa Street revival and had similar thoughts.
2. I went through a stage calling anything that moved the devil
3. At different times I’ve had thoughts calling each on of the trinity something horrible.
I was crippled by this for years. My mind constantly looking back to certain thoughts and being crippled by the wave of condemnation that followed.
Over the years I found that this is quiet a common experience – and you are definitely not alone.
Your repenting won’t get you anywhere. Your sins were forgiven on the Cross. You need to learn the love of Jesus, the design of the gospel and the freedom of the law. Then you will be able to understand clearly what Jesus meant by ‘blasphemy of the holy spirit’ receive your forgiveness for these things and they wont be able to condemn you.
Emotions are a product of your inner belief system. For example, a teenager who wants a car walks into a room where his parents are discussing the car issue. They don’t notice him. He looks at the table where they are seated and notices newspaper open to the car sales page. He believes this means they are going to get him a car so he feels excited. The parents talk about not getting him the car. Believing this he feels down because he doesn’t think that he is going to get the car. As he walks back out the door glum because he believes his dream is gone. The following day the father comes to the son and tells him that he is not getting the car that he wanted, the son emotions dip even lower believing this piece of information. The father continues, stating that, he was looking at the car sales in the news paper last night with his mother an they decided not to not get the car that he wanted but instead to get the new model – it wasn’t that much more but was a far better vehicle. The son, now with the full picture leaps up with excitement believing that he is going to get the car.
You see Charles, emotions are a product of inner believe system. What we believe is the deepest controller of our emotions. The horrible emotions you are experiencing are a because what you are believing.
You need to get a greater understanding of the unadulterated original gospel of grace. And then allow yourself to let go and believe it. You emotions will follow.
Let me know what you think. I can tell you some great books and testimonies that will help you.
Im just praying and praying that i didnt do them things i never knew the God i know now. every time i read i get refreshed them the attack comes and says i did them things, constantly telling me i said that .
Those things do not exist anymore once you have been washed in the blood of Jesus. Just grab onto the promise that God forgot all of your sins. It doesn’t matter if you really did do or just imagined those events. God can’t see them anymore. The next time the mental attack comes say to yourself or outloud if you want to “These events do not exist anymore! Jesus washed them away. God cannot see them. I am innocent!” If you can, read the book Raggamuffin Gospel by Brennan Manning for some peaceful teaching on what Jesus really did for us on the cross.
Dave I would like to know those books and testimonies
Hi Rose, one book distinctly has helped me above all other in regard to this crippling fear. It’s called Destined to Reign by Joseph Prince. I really lead me into an understanding of Grace and what Jesus accomplished on the cross. I re-read it it when I am struggling and find great encouragement in it.
Hi Dave,
I also struggle with this fear. I wake up thinking about it and fall asleep thinking about it. I constantly feel sick. I think that what I’ve done is way worse than what anyone else has. So I find testimonies are helpful to me because I see that other people have done what I’ve done or worse and have been forgiven. Can you tell me about those testimonies and books?
Thank you,
Kristina
good day children of God! me too have been experiencing those attacks. i just cant forget it and it always plays on my mind. im really tired of this sin and i really want to break free. it made me go crazy in overcoming it and it even depressed so much. im really afraid to tell anyone in our ministry because im afraid they might just not understand me and just condemn me more.
According to the post, if one believes they must confess sin to be forgiven, then they are trampling the son of God. This is a problem for me as I often fear I must confess sin to be forgiven. If one believes they must confess sin, is this belief blasphemy of the Holy Spirit? If so, is it too late and we can’t be forgiven? Also, what if you believe your fear over the unforgivable sin is itself blasphemy of the Holy Spirit because you are resisting the truth about salvation in Jesus. Does this become the unpardonable sin? Is it too late? This article seems to imply (I am not sure), that doubting Jesus and his forgiveness is the unforgivable sin, or believing we must confess. If this is true, then as we have doubts we are committing this sin and if it is unforgivable is it too late? Otherwise, it isn’t “unforgivable”. Help, I am so confused. This issue has been beating me down for many years and I feel spiritually drained and sick. I want to believe but feel it may be too late sometimes, and is this doubt itself unforgivable?
Dean, you misread the post. We do not confess-to-be-forgiven. Such an attitude is a work of religious flesh. It promotes trust in self instead of Jesus. If anything, we confess – meaning, we agree with God and call Jesus Lord – because we are already forgiven. It is only because he has dealt with our sins already that we can receive the free gift of his righteousness. Read this for more.
My concern is that if I doubt am I trampling on Jesus and therefore committing the unforgivable sin? You seem to imply that not trusing in Jesus is the unforgivable sin, so is my doubt unforgivable?
If you don’t believe Jesus is the Savior, then you are not saved. You need to repent and believe the good news.
Thanks for responding, and being patient with me. I do believe in Jesus, however I struggle with doubts about the unforgivable sin and worry that these doubts mean I am denying jesus. Is my doubting salvation unforgivable?
Dean, someone once asked CS Lewis the same question and he said that sinners don’t struggle with these sorts of doubts. So I guess you’re not a sinner, huh? You must be a saint. You must be someone who cares about Jesus.
Let me put your mind at rest with this: “No one can say, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ except by the Holy Spirit” (1Co 12:3). Can you say “Jesus is Lord”? Is he your Lord? Then rejoice, for this is the Holy Spirit’s doing – you could not believe this except the Holy Spirit had revealed it to you.
Please hear me! I occasionally get these attacks in my mind, i think its demons but i feel i have blasphemed against the holy spirit because it seems I willfully said it. Even though the words didn’t spring from my lips. I never wanted these thoughts ever and I feel very much distanced from God. Can you willfully commit the unforgivable sin in your mind or is Satan tricking me into suicide, because I feel so depressed.
John, believe it or not, I totally understand your situation, as I have been fighting the same battle as you. You may very well be suffering from a form of OCD called scrupulosity. With this, blasphemous thoughts are very common.
Jesus died for ALL of your sins. The unforgivable sin is not believing in Jesus like an atheist, they cannot recieve forgiveness because they won’t accept it. Doubting out of confusion or misunderstanding is more like a confused child lost in the dark.
I agree, Colleen. They should be very careful about how they explain doubt here, because it seems that many times when a person writes about having doubts, they assume that person is saying they don’t believe, when they really mean they’re having doubts like any other christian will have from time to time. NOBODY is perfect, and that includes having perfect faith. Please, Paul, stop hurting young Christians who are having a hard time by telling them if you doubt, you’re not saved. (Your reply to birdviewer from January 8, 2013.) It’s obvious there are many here who are having some tough struggles with doubt, but please don’t tell them they’re not saved if they have doubts! Thinking that nearly ruined my entire time (up to just recently) as a Christian, and it’s damage that isn’t going to disappear overnight. I believe if a person has the faith to ask God into their life and for Him to erase their sins, they surely have expressed enough faith to be saved then and there. You who are struggling with doubts, don’t confuse that with refusing to believe. The disciples in the boat in the storm were almost sure they were going to perish, but Jesus calmed the waters and saved them in spite of their fear (doubt) and asked them “Where is your faith?”
The last thing I would want to do is hurt anyone. The second to last thing I would want to do is be vague when it comes to the importance of trusting in Jesus. I don’t believe I said a person was unsaved if they have doubts, but salvation comes through faith in Jesus.
“Feed your faith, starve your doubts.”
Gary I have been in a place of doubt so extreme I genuinely a couple of years ago I thought I was going to turn my back on all things Christian forever. This page is one place I knew I could come and not be judged or pushed farther into doubt.
Paul regarding Charles’ comments Jan 3, 2013 Is this sin forgiveable because he did it out of ignorance and if a Believer would do these things would it be unforgiveable?
It is impossible for a Christian to commit the unforgiveable sin.
I have struggled with this on several occasions over the last 20 years. I have OCD, and was recently diagnosed with it a few months ago. I have the most terrible thoughts against God, particularly the Holy Spirit. It has become so bad at times that I have said things out loud that I regret. I have thoughts against my salvation, God hearing me, etc. I hate these thoughts and my inability to stop them. They are so constant that they warp my view of God and destroy my hope. The terrible thing, for me, is that I don’t know what is from me and what is not.I asked Christ to be my Lord and Savior 20 years ago. It wasn’t a “lightning bolt” moment, but God worked on me over a period of time. In fact, have asked Christ to save me several times, as I was convinced that someone with such terrible thoughts couldn’t be saved to begin with. Often, my days are filled with confession over these terrible acts. It has lead to me living a legalistic lifestyle that has robbed my joy and security and given me fear instead. The thoughts are so terrible, blasphemous, and angry. I feel as though I have to confess them because they are so terrible. The more I confess, the worse it gets. On the other hand, I feel as though I am insulting the Lord Jesus by saying that these sins are too great for Him to handle. My mind is my own worst enemy with OCD. It’s as though it tries to separate me from God. After hearing that the only way that a Christian could lose his or her salvation was to “give it back”, my mind was filled with such thoughts. Any prayer and advice would be appreciated.
Brother,
I to fear i might of said something in my past life while i was blind and dumb to the truth. Most people have a mad made image of God. Ever hear when someone die’s that they went to hell? seems like everyone go’s to heaven. in fact there sleeping when they are dead. . Look. God know’s us better then we know our self.. I know for a fact its a devil or satan or a demon playing off these. once you come to realize that its not your fault, that there not what your heart believes and knows to be true, you can laugh at the attacks and they will go away. try a fast, and pray. take them all on. Tell your self they are lies and you know the truth and you love everything about God. Im in the same boat. God know’s whats up. please tell us more if you need help. remember they come to steal, kill and destroy. they are subject to the name and power of Christ Jesus. Wash yourself in his blood, and fight my friend. Its not a easy fight but you know deep down its all lie’s. admit to the OCD and know you dont have to be subject to its lies
I can say first hand, it is the most frightful thing that can happen to a person on earth. I am going thru this same thing and have been for months. It has effected everything about my life. I cannot even get a job because my personality is gone. Please pray hard for me…Thank you
I decided to google to see if anyone had these same problems as myself, and I found this. These evil thoughts often come into my head when I am trying to do right, when I am in the church, or simply in worship. I believe the devil tries to attack us by getting the horrific thoughts to enter our mind… its sometimes makes you want to just hide. The devil wants you to not be able to worship and give God the praise. I deal with this on a daily basis, but I know it’s not me thinking those evil thoughts, it’s the devil who wants me to believe that. People say I have this ocd stuff because I have the symptoms, but I didn’t want a label, bc I believe ocd is an illness from evil, I just always thought that. My family encourages me , by telling me that the devil attacks the ones trying to be near the cross… although it’s a struggle, keep positive, keep praying, I am praying with and for you.
Just surrender your self to Jesus and let him take over. I too have had these thoughts and still recovering i pray for all of us having these thoughts. The unpardonable sin has a grave consequence and i dont think Jesus would make it so easy that anyone can just do it on a thought or whim. I think it has to be a deliberate act and premediated wishfull harm.
The unpardonable sin is rejecting God’s lifeline. If you won’t receive the pardon that has been given in Christ, you will remain unpardoned. If you don’t receive the life that he offers, you will remain under the sentence of death. Consequently, it is impossible for those who have received Christ to commit the unpardonable sin. Those who have been rescued cannot be lost.
Jay, let us pray for each other. It is hard for me to imagine God forgiving these terrible blasphemous thoughts. It is difficult for to grasp COMPLETE forgiveness. The kind of forgiveness that says “No matter what…” These thoughts are so terrible, so hateful, so rejecting. Of the thousands of these thoughts it is hard to believe that at least a few are not my fault. Sometimes my speech slips with these thoughts. It is hard to grasp that the blood of Jesus Christ cleanses me from EVERY dark, twisted, sin ever dreamed up. I struggle so much with that. I struggle with the idea that salvation could be “given back” some kind of way, or that I could do something to make Him not hear me any more. Regardless of the outcome Jesus Christ is LORD. We must trust in the power of His shed blood and the power of His resurrection.
So did i commit the unforgivable sin
If you are a Christian, then NO. It’s impossible. In your former life you may have done 101 repugnant things but that is not who you are any more. “Christ is your life.” Fix your eyes on him instead of yourself.
Paul, is it really as simple as unbelief? For me, it is so hard to accept that the stuff that I have done, after becoming a Christian, is forgiven. I do not not believe or want these terrible thoughts. I wonder at times if I was truly saved, did I have “saving” faith, etc. I have read/ heard different takes on these passages- some say it can’t be committed after the cross, some say that it only dealt with Jesus responding to the Pharisees and Isreal when they rejected Him as King. I dunno. I spend most of my day trying not to think this stuff, net let it rub off on me, and praying every few minutes to ask forgiveness.
The reason you are caught in this cycle is because you are self-conscious instead of Christ-conscious. The Accuser would love for you to dwell on your self – your sins or your attempts to remedy them; it makes no difference – because doing so gets your focus of Jesus and His perfect work. Any thought you have – good or bad – that puts the emphasis on you, is a potential distraction. You need to take it captive to the obedience of Christ.
See him! Trust him! His work is perfect and cannot be improved upon. Thinking or not thinking about what you’ve done or asking or not asking for forgiveness makes no difference to what he has done. Every time you are assailed with these thoughts of insufficiency (eg: “Have I done enough?”), fortify your mind, turn your eyes to Jesus, and thank him for what he has done. He has done it all!
One thing that might help out is to write down the things that Christ HAS done for you and to you. Then when this mental turmoil start up go to your list and say “No! Jesus already dealt with this.”
A good basic book that covers some of your struggles is Classic Christianity by Bob George.
I understand Eric, It is hard for me to function….I was alone, but I said mine aloud, and have not had a peaceful day or night since….It was an emotional outburst, and I wasn’t mad at anyone.I guess a person should not let emotions get in the way of their thinking because it can cause great strife, and even illness in the home. Pray for me as I do you……Yes, most of my days are spent asking over and over for forgiveness…….I didn’t mean to hurt God, or the Holy Spirit in any manner, but evidently I did, and all that has come with it has been a nightmare. I pray that He will forgive me and heal the sickness that has come on. I was a loving, happy person until now.I cannot stand the feeling of not hearing from God…. Please continue to pray…..Thank you
Jay, why do you think you hurt God? You seem to think God had something to do with your sickness. He did not! Jesus never made anyone sick.
Why do you refuse to believe the gospel? God has forgiven you. He forgave all your sins 2000 years ago not because of anything you said or did but in accordance with the riches of his grace. I encourage you to take these lying thoughts and make them bow to king Jesus. I don’t say this to condemn you but inspire you. God has set before you life and death – choose life! Wallowing in fault-finding self-examination is death but Jesus is the Life. It takes no faith to confess your imperfections. It takes faith to confess what God says is true about you (you’re forgiven! you’re loved!) in spite of your imperfections. Fix your eyes on him and end this sad cycle of self-pity.
Me: God i’ve let you down so many times.
God: you can’t let me down because you don’t hold Me up. Neither did you hold Me on the cross. My Love and Righteousness held me there. I even brought you through that process with me that the old man you were would die – and the new man would live fully in Me. Make no mistake my precious child I, not you, uphold you with My Righteous Right Hand.
He Himself is our Peace, and has broken down all the walls of division between us and each other brother. The challenge IS (and only is this)… We must rest from our misbelief, change our minds and believe HIM for what HE has already done. Be at peace brother. Anyone who is worried about having committed this blasphemy is not even in the ballpark of having done it.
My new understanding of the Holy Spirit makes me feel all the infatuation of a highschool crush. Where before He was my “policeman”, He now is the enforcer of God’s love and gentle guide. The song by Blake Shelton keeps popping into my head every time I think about the Holy Spirit.
God gave me you for the ups and downs.
God gave me you for the days of doubt.
And for when I think I’ve lost my way
There are no words here left to say, it’s true.
God gave me you.
He is love. To speak evil of him is impossible. Its that fear in my past that scares me to death. I can only as you all to keep praying for the ones who are struggling with this fear that is without words
I have felt sick over something that happened for over a year now. And have found it very hard to repent from my sins and begin to and worship live for him again. . This is what happened. I have had a problem with drugs on and off most of my life. Jesus has rescued me and brought me back into his peace more times than anyone deserves. While I was back slid en I began to unknowingly date a girl in the occult. I began once again to do drugs. At the same time in my life strange things started to happen. I felt something around me. One night as i was smoking cocaine I slipped into what I could only call a trance. I could here two spirits plainly speaking to me. I was afraid at first, but I was high and also very curios about who i was speaking to. There was a moment, at least I think it was only a moment, that i can not remember. Before coming back to simi consciousness I heard a male voice say ” Do you understand” I said yes. I had agreed to something and i don’t even know what it was. The voice told me to call him God. Once again as a fool I did as he ask. This went on for hours. I was being told that I would be able to leave my body. The last thing I remember before coming out of the trance was the male voice saying “He is sealed” He said this in such a way as to make me feel that this was not something he was happy about. Than as quickly as I had slipped into my trance I awoke and for a second did not remember the night at all. But then a female voice laughed as she ask me if I remembered last night. It all came rushing back to me and I began to cry like I hadn’t cried sense I was a child. She informed me that I would be going to hell and that God would not take me back again. She said i had blasphemed so that it was all over.The thing is I had been talking to my girl friend earlier in the day, and told her whatever she did please don’t blaspheme the holy spirit. And this was the exact attack that they came at me with. If I called a spirit of a man God. or worse yet being that i don’t know who the male voice was. If I called the devil God. Did i blaspheme the Holy Spirit.???? If not Please Please Pray for me because my faith is on life support. If I burn in hell I will still testify that God is Righteous and Jesus is Lord. . But My fear of not being forgiven is crippling me. I believe that Christ protected me that night even in my sin. Sealed me so that my soul could not be taken.
A few years earlier I had prayed repeatedly for God to humble me and to increase my faith 1000%. Well as you can imagine humility is no longer something I struggle with. I feel unworthy and unforgivable. But my faith is dying. O yes i still believe Jesus died for the worlds sins. But how do i muster the faith to believe Im still forgivable.
Rom 5:8 “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
Are you a sinner, Paul? Then rejoice, for God loves sinners! Jesus died for sinners! You don’t have to muster anything. You just need to say “Thank you Jesus.”
Amen. He became sin who knew no sin, that we might become the righteousness of God. Read the later part of 2 Corinthians 5. He took this sin and all (read ALL) our sin. This is a done deal brother!
i to feel that satan plays this as his trump card. he knows its unforgivable, what a easier way to dam you. It is unfair and unjust. God knows what he is doing. Satan wants to be God. didnt Jesus say the ruler of this world is condemed. Or the god of this age. Look. There isnt one thing that God dont know. I know in my heart the holy spirit is holy, love, and all the good fruits that are written in the Word of God.If we did every say something as of that nature and there was some kind of influence in that we spoke it God know’s. God is saving people at a awesome rate, ive noticed that alot are struggling with this unpardonable sin.
Ive always looked at religion as having there own gods. Buddha, Muslim, Jewish, christian, voodoo, native Americans,Hindu, new age “we our gods”, aliens made us, there isnt a God we just get recycled and live again, and unbelief, pagans. witchcraft.
you can see there is many. Who creates confusion? not the true God. I to fear for my soul i have said something about God, as i written above a few moths ago. After knowing who the true God is,There is no way anyone could speak bad about him. there is no darkness in him. I will pray for ya man. If we are judged my him and his saints let them have mercy on us. God knows are fear of that sin. And we know the truth. why would we say such things?
We each have are own story and its for his glory. Ive prayed and cryed many times. telling him i was in ignorance and unbelief , that i didnt know him as God, and if i said anything it was me speaking of the price of the power of air, the evil of this world. you name it. i hope others can write back to us who have such fear in us.
Happy sabbath.
Has anyone ever told you that they find it hard to proclaim Jesus as they once did because of the quilt they feel. This is how I feel. In the past I have noticed that the more I testify of his love and forgiveness the stronger my faith seems to become. I am thankful to Jesus and very sorry. I feel sick when I think of how I must have hurt Jesus and the Father and the Holy spirit. But I know i must begin to look forward again instead of letting my past hold me in that moment.
So, no matter what, what,what,what, what, what, what; no matter what was said, thought, intended, unintended, no matter if it was hate, an accident-whatever I or the depths if hell could dream up- I am forgiven.
YES!!! How great is God’s love for us! How great is his grace!
Yeah, no matter what, it has already been paid. Every sin. Are we humble enough to believe SomeOne loves us this much? That is the question.
im still in fear for my soul…
Well that spirit of fear did not come from God! Rebuke it and take those fearful thoughts captive to the obedience of Christ.
Every sin is blasphemy against the Holy spirit. “For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it” (James 2:10). So blasphemy against the holy spirit is forgiven along with all sins because Jesus died for you you will go to Heaven.
blaspheming the Holy Spirit is rejecting the gift of faith that the Holy Spirit offers to all men… we can only believe in Christ and be born again by recieving the free gift of faith that does not come from ourselves. (eph 2:8-9) unbelief in Christ as Lord and Savior is therefore a result of rejecting this gift of faith…
blaspheming literally means “refusing to acknowledge good”… and the Holy Spirit convicts unbelievers of their unbelief in Christ by testifying of God’s goodness – Jesus and His finished work – which brings men to repentance (rom 2:4)
unbelief in Christ is a sin that was forgiven at the cross… Jesus says this in luke 12:10… if it were not so, people who lived any part of their lives not believing in Christ would never be able to become believers… it is only when a person dies rejecting the Holy Spirit’s gift of faith – which would have enabled him to believe in Christ – that a man dies in sin…
the Holy Spirit has been ministering the gift of faith to man from the beginning… He did not have to live in men for them to receive His gift of faith – the “hall of faith” in the book of hebrews is a proof of this. the Holy Spirit doesnt have to live in men now to convict them of the sin of unbelief either. the big difference in receiving the gift of faith between old and new testament believers is that, because we are living in the world after Christ’s finished work on the cross, when we receive the Spirit’s gift of faith which enables us to believe in Christ – there is no longer any sin to stop Him from taking up residence in us! 🙂
Well all i can do is have hope and faith in him after receiving the truth. He is our only hope. Hope everyone had a good pass over. I hope and pray them thing didn’t happen and they our just attacks on my playing off my worst fear’s and if they did it wasn’t speaking about the God i now know.His kingdom will come then we can changed in a twinkle of a eye. Plase pray for me that God might consider forgiving me.
Charles, there is no point asking God to do what he’s already done. That’s faithless. Look to the cross. The work of forgiving you was finished 2000 years ago. Stop asking Jesus to come and die for your sins and thank him that he already did. Gratitude is the language of faith; begging is the language of unbelief.
Its true it says that. whoever speaks. I know what your going through. You can read my post above. Its a crippling fear. I pray almost everyday about this subject. I was a non believer and didnt know if God really existed or who or what the truth was. What did i say in my non belief and ignorance. Would he condemn those who might of did things in non belief or ignorance? Its up to him. Im noticing he is calling All kinds of people. we are talking big time, He is at the door people. We will have a answer real soon, I pray Lord That i never committed this sin, it wasn’t done with intent or with knowledge and i was blind and had no light of the truth. Please have mercy and not charge me with a unforgivable sin have mercy.
I would like to minister this to you as it was ministered to me. We live on this side of the cross and Jesus died for ALL sins. God is not imputing sins to you. He is not accounting your sins against you. If he was why did Jesus have to die? This is not to say we just go out there and commit sin because of our eternal position. He knew even before the foundation of the world He knew we would commit this sin & He knew our destination but He doesn’t want ANY to perish so He took our place, our punishment. No matter how you feel or how things look take it by faith and trust God & thank Him for His forgiveness. Easy said than done, just thank God that He doesn’t even remember your sins, He has forgiven you, you are the Righteousness of God, He loves you SO much, He doesn’t want you to suffer any longer, He did it for you, just receive and believe the finished work of Jesus!!!
prior to being saved one never had to sin to be sent to the Lake of Fire …. one was condemned already through unbelief … therefore, how does a person actually ‘believe’ if they are already lost in sin and at enmity with God? One literally must realize that they need to be ‘saved’ the same way a drowning person realizes that they are not only drowning but that the shark is coming … one must call on THE LORD in true desperation:
ROMANS 10:9,10,11 … King James Bible
That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.
being born again means to be saved which is the antithesis of being damned (by blaspheming the Holy Spirit) … it is as impossible for a born again believer to be damned by blaspheming the Holy Spirit as it is for Satan to be saved
when one is truly saved, one is already ultimately ‘clean’ for eternity … Jesus’ own righteousness becomes our own before the Bema Seat Judgement … no born again believer will ever stand at the Great White Throne Judgement
I’ve been very worried about this for some time now. I was raised a Christian and was baptized and confirmed at my Lutheran church. I did not fully understand this though. Years later at my friends church I asked Jesus to enter my heart and accepted him. Sadly I still went through periods of doubt and about a year ago I was watching videos of Christians and atheists debating. I began thinking about one debate in my head and for one brief moment I reached a point where I thought “That makes no sense! God must not be real” and then I said softly out loud to myself “I just became an atheist” That very moment I began to feel sick and then I said “No I’m a Christian” and I went back and forth a few times and then I felt so terrible I went downstairs and prayed to God. I don’t know why I said what I did but I have been worried about this ever since. I wouldn’t be worried about this but I said it out loud and that makes me worried.
Ethan, cast your cares about the Lord for he cares for you. Here’s a simple test to see where your heart truly lies. Can you say “Jesus is Lord” and mean it? If so, then rejoice, because only the Holy Spirit could have taught you that (1 Cor 12:3). Trust me, if you were truly an atheist, you wouldn’t be worried about whether you might be an atheist. You are your Father’s son and he loves you deeply.
Thanks for your quick reply. That makes sense to me but wouldn’t I have been blaspheming or speaking against the holy spirit by having said that? That is what really concerns me.
Are those thoughts in your past your thoughts today? I guess not, otherwise you wouldn’t be asking these questions. Seems to me like you have repented (changed your mind).
We are not responsible for all the thoughts that enter our minds. Thoughts are like little birds that fly over head. These birds tried to make a nest in your mind and you have shooed them away. Good!
a born again believer never needs to even consider blasphemy against the Holy Spirit because they are truly, born AGAIN
Alright, so the reason blasphemy against The Holy Spirit is unforgivable is because it is the very nature of that sin to not repent or want forgiveness?
BLASPHEMY against the Holy Spirit basically reveals that one is just not saved, and never will be as long as they continue to do so … the remedy? … get saved … John 3:3, 3:16 …ASAP because Jesus is coming imminently for his ‘ecclesia’ in the harpazo at any moment … best not to miss this boat which will be the greatest Divine event in history since the incarnation of Jehovah the Son as Jesus Christ (Yeshua HaMaschiach (in hebrew))
Maranatha Lord … any moment now … any moment ….
… the endtime signs of Matthew 24 and other scriptures are all coming to pass around us simultaneously … and these are signs of the coming time of Jacob’s Trouble (the Great Tribulation) and the Parousia (Second Coming of Christ at the end of the 7 year Great Tribulation) … since this IS the case, how close must the harpazo of the ecclesia (rapture of the Church) be? One must be saved now, today, asap. John 3:3, 3:16
Maranatha
I’m waiting to and see it is close. but first must come the great deception. I pray everyday over this sin. The truth has changed me so much. Knowing that there is a God. And we our sinners. I have cryed and repented of my evil ways and i and all my family see’s a new me. I pray i never blasphemed the holy spirit. Its a terrible fear. Please if you read this pray that i wasn’t created for this to happen. God could of took me before such a sin was committed. Please Jesus forgive me please Father!
I want to ask you a question. Doesn’t Mark 3:30 say that Jesus spoke about Blasphemy of the Holy Spirit because the Pharisees said that he had an evil spirit? I’m really worried because I was thinking about this sin and in my head I said exactly what the Pharisees said. This wasn’t an accident; these were my thoughts. I wish I had never done this and I’m worried sick. I don’t know why I was stupid enough to think of something like that. Will God forgive me?
He already has.
Hi Paul. Thanks for the quick response and sorry for the late response. Doesn’t Mark 3:30 say that Jesus spoke about Blasphemy of the Holy Spirit BECAUSE the Pharisees said that he had an evil spirit? I don’t mean to disprove your argument or anything, but it just says it right there. Could you clarify this please?
1 Timothy 1:13 “Even though I was once a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent man, I was shown mercy because I acted in ignorance and unbelief.” Do not worry people If you trully obey Jesus untill the end, you are saved, now stop worrying. Now study the Bible, start with the new testament, and understand what God want for You and us.
” Do not worry people If you truly obey Jesus until the end, you are saved, ” … interesting statement. Salvation is not based on ‘obedience/works/personal perseverance/reformation…etc etc., but upon this: Jesus does the keeping, the Holy Spirit does the empowering and convicting of sin (1 John 1:9). Salvation is by grace through faith plus nothing else and therefore: Jude 1:24-25 Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.
But doesnt it say that we must follow Him till the end otherwise it has been in vain? Istn our faith death without work! On top of the comments is a short story of a pastor who died went to hell for ungorgiveness towards his wife and was brought back to life…im so worried! Some say you commit one sin and if you were to die you would go to hell! Others say that even thou we still do ‘things’ sometimes cos we learn all the time even if we die we go to met God! Which one is true? How to rest knowing that one sin takes a person to hell? It is God who sets us free from sin.I ve heard about so many stories about people in hell only for one sin and i dont know what is the truth.
Jesus is the Truth. Knowing him and the gospel of his grace will set you free from fear. Hearing stories about other people’s bad experiences and nightmares will give you fear.
You don’t belong to the law, you belong to jesus. (Rom 7:4) Someone you dont belong to cannot judge you. And he who can judge you says nothing in this world can separate you from Him. So stop worrieing and start believing his UNCONDITIONAL love… So as certain as this covenant he made a new covenant with you see Isaiah 54:10
His Love shall not depart from you and his peace between you and Him shall never be shaken. He will never be angry with you again!!!
You are dearly loved, His lover never fails.
Bless! Juriaan
Juriaan, thank you for your comments. However, I had to delete several of them and trim this one because they did not meet E2R’s comment policy. In future, please keep comments brief and don’t cut and paste scripture. We want to hear your thoughts. Thanks.
such obedience must not be a result of law enforcement. I believe pure obedience is a result of a Genuine Relationship with the Lord. The Lord loves us unconditionally, whether we love him or not, read the bible or not. Reading the bible, going to church, doing good things does not make God love us more but rather when you read the bible more or any other good thing it makes you love God more.
Thanks Paul for such Insights.
I have been this question in my mind for a long time and finally i have got the answer about What is the Blasphemy against the Holy Spirit. I also believe that the reason why this sin is unpardonable is because a person who commits is rejecting the Holy Spirit the only one supposed to help the person understand his/her need for salvation. Without the conviction of one’s position it is impossible to recognizes the need for salvation. I also believe that confession of sins is not the repentance that the bible is talking about. If confessing our sins was the condition for our salvation, then, i believe no one would be saved because there are many committed sins which i do not remember today. Those who put repentance from sins as a condition for salvation reject the Work of Jesus on the Cross. He said it is finished and he meant it. In fact when God talks about the establishment of the New Covenant with His people he says :
Jer_31:34 For I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.”
Heb_8:12 For I will be merciful toward their iniquities, and I will remember their sins no more.”
This verses should not leave any doubt in us. We are freely forgive what we need to do is to just receive God’s grace by Faith. And that’s all. I thank Him for His Grace poured out for me. He is Great indeed.
I know that got emotional one night during a movie, and asked God a stupid question, now I am sick and dying. All grace was removed from my life, physically and spiritually. It’s been 2 years of hell. Do not ever let your emotions get an upper hand on you. Give no place to the devil. None.
I don’t agree with this definition of the “blasphemy of the Holy Spirit” that the bible refers to. There are times when everyone’s faith is tested. I think it’s doing something much worse, like thinking yourself equal to God–such as what Satan did.
J, there is no such thing as asking God a stupid question. If you feel that you offended him in some way, pray to him. Ask for forgiveness. I will pray for you.
well… a man who thinks he is equal to God is basically saying that he doesnt need a Savior – so basically, he is rejecting the good news of Jesus that the Holy Spirit witnesses to all men… 😉
Hi, everyone, iv been reading this post and all your replys I think this looks like the best place to try find an answer for my little dilemma I have as of Monday,
My hands are shaking as I type this i to am having panic attacks from this all the research iv done i feel I’m damned,
Basically from what I remember when I was very young like 4-5 my parents became Christians just before I was born i have a Jehovah’s Witness …
Now I find out its a blaspheme to confess my sins in prayer which I did last night so now I’m just thinking I’m completely done now and didnt even know what I was doing!. I feel like I found god a few days ago and now I’m going to hell and their is nothing to change this. Whats the point of living now if I’m doomed please help me if any of you have an answer, thanks so much,
Jacob.
Jacob, two things: (1) Do you love Jesus? Then you’re not going to hell. (2) I hate trimming heartfelt comments, but your’s was an essay. Please keep any future comments short. Thanks.
Paul, do you feel conviction in your life? I have a grave concern that I blasphemed the Holy Spirit. Right after I got saved, my fear of hell was so intense that I began doubting my salvation almost from the beginning. The I Never Knew you passage kept me in bondage for a long time. However, during that time the Holy Spirit was convicting me (I was so new to it, that I didn’t know that’s what it was called) to believe on Jesus and that it is a sin not to. The Spirit also called my attention to Hebrews, which I read but did not take away what I now know He wanted me to take away. He gave me many signs and wonders within a short period of time, as well as being baptized in the Holy Spirit. He also warned me about the helmet of salvation, and called my attention to “My people die from lack of knowledge.” All of this happened within a three month period. No matter how much I fought the fear with scripture, my fears kept expanding. I also fell back on works. I repented of that and have been trying to rest in Jesus, but I have no peace about going to heaven-quite the opposite. My fears daily are that I am going to hell because of all my doubts and resisting the Spirit’s convictions. I have not felt any convictions or leadings since February, which is just confirming my fears that I am lost. I long for a relationship with Jesus, but insulting the Spirit of Grace carries a heavier punishment and I’m trying to manage my terror which isn’t easy. I feel spiritually dead, and unable to love. My heart literally feels hard.
I do feel conviction but conviction wrapped in fear is not from the Lord. I talk about the Holy Spirit’s conviction here and give a personal example here. Grace and peace to you.
Perhaps it’s better to say conviction of righteousness, which is what happened before fear of hell took over my life. The Holy Spirit was warning me to trust Jesus and I tried, but I fear I lost faith in Him and that’s why all conviction stopped. I’ve prayed for months for help, but I’m fighting despair. I also used to get ways out of temptation, but that stopped too. I do love your story about Jesus laughing…that’s the kind of relationship I’m dying to have with Him, but if I blasphemed the Spirit there’s no hope. I pray every day to hear His voice and guide me.
Paul why you say
It is impossible for a Christian to commit the unforgiveable sin?
For the same reason I say it’s impossible for light to be dark or water to be dry. A Christian is one with the Lord and he’s not going to hell.
Hi, iv been to freaked out to check back here again because my hearts been telling me i have crossed the line and didnt realise it, to Paul I do love jesus, but then I said all them stuped comments in regards to what I had learned about evolution and Big Bang theory’s ect and thought i was an athiest, but in the same contexts i didn’t remember the whole picture that god created jesus ect and I have never denied to myself or anyone else that jesus is real ect if I had of used my brain before I came to that conclusion I would have never of came up with the statement I referred myself as being, if that makes sence?,
My hearts still telling me I’m in big trouble, all those things I done and said i would have never done if i had of bothered to learn a few of the fundamental basic ethics.
What a revelation! THANKS.
Hi I just found this after going through all the google searches on the matter,
I feel I have a fairly unique situation with this topic, I have a few mental conditions OCD severe anxiety panic disorder and depression cant rule out some psychotic features either,
Anyways I decided to become a believer recently have faith in Christ as my lord, I’m my own worst enemy once I get my mind on something like this i wasn’t thinking about it much then I couldn’t get it out of my head,
Dont get me wrong i have not said anything negative about The Lord with evils or anything but my problem is with myself, 4 years ago i was drunk and was talking to my uncle about how much trouble I would get in as a kid and I said I was probibly a child from satan at the time I thought it would be funny and didnt believe in god or satan, didnt think about it again till I started learning about this sin, because of this thought and my conditions i have in my head now that I feel different than I should like because I have gone through my life sinning and not even thinking twice about it that I must have some evil in me or something i am a caring and nice person but and I know I have a good heart, my thoughts would say god wouldnt even let someone as bad as me in heaven, and I’m not even that bad i haven’t killed anyone raped anyone robbed anyone ect,
So last week i was having all these thoughts how I can’t be forgiven and stuff i sometimes speak what I’m thinking and I said something like I probibly am from the devil then thought the rest and the last part of the sentence was because if I’m unforgivable i must have evil In me.
Then just today I’m thinking again i can feel the Holy Spirit in me but I feel like I have a demon aswell like really I think it’s my conscience that’s been missing for a few decades the old good/bad voices, and again I wasn’t supposed to speak i don’t think the words all came out my mouth i mostly lip synct it and said i wonder if I do actually have a demon inside me or something close to that I was asking myself that but it was supposed to be a thought. Then iv finally realised i don’t have an evil spirit or demon it’s because I have been such a disgrace in gods eyes that I basically told myself i cant be one of gods children because I’m the complete opposit to what one would be like and all i could relate that to was satan and having a demon inside me i know I’m not a child of satan and that was a joke but then I said last week i must be from satan caus I’m as sinfull as someone in he’s category and and today i said I wonder if I am possessed by a demon,
So gods sitting their now thinking good work you just told me i am an evil spirit when I didn’t i ment I feel so dirty and impure i feel like I really do have a demon in me aswell as the good Holy Spirit which I can feel because I feel permanently convicted now, I haven’t read of anyone doing saying anything similar to me that’s how messed up my mind is. Please help
Jay, this is why Hebrews speaks of striving to enter his rest. If you feel bothered by a demon or an unbroken cycle of bad thoughts, take authority over that thing or situation and rebuke it. Lift up the name of Jesus over your life. If you can’t do that, you need to preach the gospel to yourself – your heavenly Father loves you no matter what – until you believe it. There is nothing you need to do to clean yourself up before coming to the throne of grace. Come as you are and find grace in your hour of need.
Your mind is the battleground so choose sides. Don’t agree with the devil who says you’re dirty and impure. Agree with the Holy Spirit who says that in Christ you are perfect and righteous and holy forever! Your old life may be a mess, but set your mind on things above and see yourself hidden in Christ (Col 3:1-3). He is not a mess.
The devil will speak his lies – you can’t help that. But you can choose who you will listen to. Listen to the Holy Spirit who seeks to convince you of God’s great grace and love for you.
Thanks Paul, that explains it well. I should of asked for that advice before I let my thoughts get the better of me yesterday.
It’s one of those things I try and not think about bad thought patterns ect and then its all i can think about, I know the truth and another part of my mind tells me the opposit which I know isnt the truth.
I was thinking what I said about being posessed then next thing i know I’m speaking it so i was really asking myself this question not actually trying to make a statement to god or anything,
I know that most of the blaspheme sin is ultimetely to reject christ but the other part to contribute gods work to that of the devil i know I’m not jesus and don’t perform miracles but I wasn’t implying that the Holy Spirit was from a demon I ment that I felt like I had been posessed by an demon aswell as the Holy Spirit now I feel like I have actually just commited this sin i woke up before and just felt sick.
When I became a Christian after 40 Yeats of outspoken atheism (I rejected God publically aged 12 following the death of my grandmother) I struggled with the idea that I had committed this sin. Now I am reconciled and believe I am redeemed. I am a sinner but God loves me anyway. I have stopped asking forgiveness and now all my prayers are in praise and thanks. I pray that others will feel the joy of knowing him and the security of believing they were saved once and for all. To those who have posted their fear and guilt, try praising and thanking Him instead of asking for what you already have. When I pray that way I am filled with joy and light which I believe is a gift from the Holy Spirit, like a hug :).
I think this a convenient doctrine. I would call it cheap grace and an excuse for the condemnation of the Body.
I’ve been struggling with these thoughts as well I even remember trying to blaspheme God in my mind and its been bothering me the comments hhere has really helped but please pray for me as well !!!! I hate these thoughts as they enter my mind its messed up seriously. Please pray for me!
Jerusha what do you mean about your statement can you explain? I feel like I’ve rejected God iny mind and have ridiculed Him, being one of those who have snuck in unnoticed and trampled the Spirit underfoot I really hate feeling like that and the feeling even comes back as though its funny somehow to have done it. Its horrible. I feel deceitful all around.
Someone pray for me!
What if you done this in the past but every so often you say it again you get so caught up reading and looking at posts regarding this sin, that you are consumed by it, you want to feel better about God, you want to feel a real peace about it but haven’t & when you don’t feel condemned you think you really are condemned because it has been said if you don’t care you have committed confused! I would love to get pass this, but always finding myself coming back reading the posts. I have in the future gotten peace about it, but what causes doubt is there are so many teachings. I do not want to become cold hearted &there are times I do get cold naturally we tend to go toward the negative. I once was going hard doing all the things we as a grateful person does when they learn they are forgiven then I stared to say things that are not right, saw a devotional on the topic & every since I have been struggling
my name is Victoria and I am afraid that I might go to hell because of some things that I have thought please help understand what the blaspheme of the holy sprit is. I have not been able to shake this and its driving me crazy
so what I have come to understand through this article is that the unforgivable sin is really not believing in Jesus which is blasphemy toward the holy spirit because your choosing to not believe the holy spirit. I’m I right .how is not believing in Jesus blasphemy toward the holy spirit. Can someone explain this a little more please because I have had enough of this fear. It is time to end this once and for all.
Victoria, you’re on the right track. For more, check out this post entitled “What is the unforgiveable sin?“
I was wondering if someone could help me. I had a horrible thought where I agreed with the Pharisees, but I don’t actually believe that is true. Will God forgive me as it’s not my true belief? I love God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit and the thought was not intentional.
So you want God to forgive you for thinking something you don’t believe? Seems to me that it’s not your thought at all. Don’t take ownership of every crazy little wingnut idea that crosses your mind. Just kick it out and move on.
Paul, what if the thought comes from me? What if these horrible thoughts come from my own dark mind? What if I willingly go around saying and thinking those same awful blasphemies? Am I forgiven then? If my spiritual wellbeing is based on my willingness in thinking a thought, then I have no hope.
Do you think darkness is stronger than light? Of course you have hope. Let me give you a scripture to put your mind at ease: “No one can say, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ except by the Holy Spirit” (1 Cor 12:3). Can you say Jesus is Lord? If you can, praise God for his Holy Spirit who taught you to say this. If you have conflicting thoughts, you can rest assured they are not from him and they do not originate in the mind of Christ – which is what you have (1 Cor 2:16). So don’t waste time on them. If they trouble you, grab them by the neck and take them captive. Make them bow to the name of Jesus. Do give air time to every silly thought that crosses your mind. Renew or fortify your mind and I guarantee you these dark thoughts will flee.
Thank you. You are right. Even if the thought was mine, it’s just the devil trying to trick me? I haven’t blasphemed as I know The Lord Jesus is all holy?
The devil is the father of lies. He speaks rubbish all the time and his words can be heard on TV, FB, everywhere. We can’t control what he says or even what we hear. But we do have the freedom to choose what we feed on and believe. The Bible says we have the mind of Christ, so if you find rubbish thoughts in your head, you can rest assured they are not from your new, Christlike mind. And no, you haven’t blasphemed the Holy Spirit.
Eric, might I present another response.
First read Romans 7:15-25. Confusing? Read it again. Only this time substitute yourself. Be the person Paul is being. A believer with thoughts that he hates. See it?
Note what Paul becomes > the saved believer observing the lies in his head. He’s not the lies; He belongs to Jesus.
So now you too are freed to be the observer because you are freed in Christ. You are observing the lies. You thought you were destined to have them. But that is the lie!! You are the saved observer seeing the liar. You the observer, like, Paul, hate the liar, just like Paul. And,like Paul, you realize Jesus saved you from those lies are you are NOT condemned by these evil learned lies.
Now you can tackle these lies. They are not you.
How to tackle these thoughts ? Well, you can fight them; but the same person who wrote this passage warned how when he focused on his sin (covetousness) the sin got worse.
Now read John 8. There are many, many applications in these verses But consider a simple one.
We tend to want to eliminate sin by stoning it. But Jesus teaches us that sin is only defeated by love.
Armed with option this try the following
A) sinful thought
B) be the observer (I am a child of God freed from lies)
C) realize these are lies in your head, and they are not you (reread Romans 7 if needed).
D) then, don’t have a conversation with them; lovingly observe them. See their foolishness. Feel pity for the self-deception. Love the liar, not because he deserves love but because you are so loved. Watch the power of the liar weaken in the presence of love.
Eric, if you practice this in love. I think you might just find wonderful freedom. And then, when you encounter sin in others; you might find yourself saying. Hey! I get it. Those poor souls are listening to the lies in their heads. I was there. Maybe, just maybe, I can help them be freed from those lies. Just like Jesus freed me.
I’m no theologian, just a Divine Nobody (great book by the way 🙂 ). But this understanding changed my life (based, of course, on Jesus, and Him crucified).
I hope this is helpful,
Jimmi
Paul, Thanks for the wonderful revelation of ministry of holy spirit through this post. Now i am very much eager to get more revelation about ‘gifts of holy spirit'(spiritual gifts) as given in ICor 12th chapter. Please guide me.
I am demon possessed and i need God but i know the spirit of god has left me as he did saul. I feel myself getting worst each day. I grew up in the church saved and a month ago i started doubting jesus and the bible.. the thoughts took control it may have turned into unbelief… its like a nightmare my mind wouldnt let go. Then i read a verse the blaspheme chapter and then my mind automatically everytime i said the holy spirit would go to the name that they called the evil spirit. I KNEW it wasnt true i didnt believe it but its like when you try not to think of something you think it constantly. It was driving me insane. Now ive qsked for forgiveness so many times but its only grnted throught the holy spirit. I know im possessed by demons. I also believe jesus is lord and that he came in the flesh and he is the son of god amen. At this point i have tingling all over my body face and head and pain sometimes and movement in my stomach. My pupils are black and dialated. Im unable to retain memory. My heart felt like it was being chewed and ripped apart so now i feel nothing emotionally. I just want the holy spirit, nothing more nothing less.
I read the word because its the only thing i have left and im trying to have faith.
Tell me your honest opinion. Dont worry about my feelings
Jesus died to set you free. That’s the truth. Do you believe it? If so, then act on it and command those unclean things to go. Stop asking for things God has already given you (like forgiveness) and stop doubting that he is with you (for he said he would never leave you). Have faith that God has already provided everything you will ever need, and it’s found in Jesus Christ.
You can’t control all the thoughts that come into your head, but you can choose what you will believe, so believe what God says about you – that you are his dearly, beloved child. Ask the Holy Spirit for guidance. He is the most powerful Spirit in the universe! Preach the good news to yourself, if it helps. Give thanks and praise to Jesus for who he is and what he has done. It is definitely possible for someone to cast demons out of himself just as it’s possible to resist sickness and all the works of the devil. Greater is He that is in you, than he that is in the world.
You want an honest opinion , the Spirit of God is given without repentance , he is a gift from God.You are grieving the spirit by asking for things that you already have, and trying to get rid of things you do not have.All you have is a perverted view of scripture that is probably not of your own thoughts but what you have inherited from someone else’s insecurities.Romans11:29 Gods gifts are given without repentance.You are a free man insisting on putting on chains.The truth will drive out anything unclean or make it clean and the spirit of truth lives in you , you can command his power or you can believe the lie that he has left you . Saul operated under a different set of rules, in his day the spirit came upon men and departed, even David had this fear and had to beg for the spirit to remain, we do not need to have this fear , if you do you are believing a lie.
I am afraid that i might of blasphemed against the Holy Spirit. I dont know why and how but i have a OCD problem and sometimes i cant control it but i had this voice in my head that said it cured the holy spirit, because im OCD like i just had this feeling that if i dont repeat the word bad stuff will happen. please help me.
Andrew, you are not alone. There are a number of folks who have come here with OCD, including myself. I think the reason that so many people with OCD contact Paul and this site is that OCD sufferers desperately seek God’s grace. OCD is also called “pathological doubt”. Know this: God loves you unconditionally. OCD operates in a way that is the polar opposite of God’s truth. OCD works on your fears; God’s perfect love drives fear away. OCD tells you to jump through hoops- pray more, confess more, go to church more for God’s acceptance; Jesus said “it is finished.” I hope that this helps you in some way.
God bless,
Eric
thank you very much. but sometimes I think that the holy spirit and god are very separate and even if I say sorry to god, the holy spirit wont listen. I know it sounds very weird but that’s how I think
That’s not weird, Andrew, that’s just the fruit of bad teaching that many, many of us have received. I encourage you to check out this post entitled “10 Myths about the Holy Spirit” – it will bless you!