In Matthew 12:24, the Pharisees accused Jesus Christ of casting out evil spirits or demons by the power of demons: “But when the Pharisees heard it, they said, This fellow doth not cast out devils, but by Beelzebub the prince of the devils.”
Matthew 12:22-32 : “Wherefore I say unto you, All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men: but the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men. And whosoever peaketh a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but whosoever speaketh against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, neither in the world to come.”
Jesus explains that a house divided against itself cannot stand, and then He warns them of the unpardonable sin: blasphemy against the Holy Ghost.
What is blasphemy against the Holy Ghost?
Charismatics would use this verse to say that the denying of signs and wonders is the act of blasphemy against the Holy Ghost. Once someone says that speaking in tongues does not come from God, they would lose their eternal life or salvation.
Fundamentalists believe that blasphemy against the Holy Ghost is when you reject Jesus and there’s no turning back. Where does the verse say this?
Christ Jesus clearly reveals what blasphemy against the Holy Ghost actually means in the following verse:
Mark 3:28-30: “Verily I say unto you, All sins shall be forgiven unto the sons of men, and blasphemies wherewith soever they shall blaspheme: But he that shall blaspheme against the Holy Ghost hath never forgiveness, but is in danger of eternal damnation. Because they said, He hath an unclean spirit.”
Blasphemy against the Holy Ghost is telling Jesus personally that He has a devil. This is only possible during the millennium!
Not to us now. Why did Jesus say this then? Because the Pharisees were saying, He cast out demons by the power of Beelzebub, prince of demons!
Can people today commit this blasphemy against the Holy Ghost?
Jesus was here during the first advent (2,000+ years ago) and will be present physically again at the second advent. Christians are unable to commit this sin today! But it can be committed in the future at the second advent, during the millennium because Jesus is once again reigning with us.
This is not a continual rejection nor a public rejection of Christ in the church age. There is nothing we can do to undo our salvation. Our salvation through faith by grace (Ephesians 2:8-9) is something for the church age.
When someone asks you about the blasphemy of the Holy Ghost, ask them straight out: What is the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost? They will most likely not be able to answer you.
For further reading,
– Do you need to show perfect repentance to be saved?
– The errors in the teachings of John Calvin
– What is the plan of salvation?