The Question Of Salvation: Blasphemy!
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)
Assuredly, I say to you, all sins will be forgiven the sons of men, and whatever blasphemies they may utter; but he who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness, but is subject to eternal condemnation--because they said, 'He has an unclean spirit.'
Mark 3:28-30 (NKJV)
Who wants to ponder the prospect of eternal damnation?
Most people, including many Christians, think hell is ghoulish and surely not true. But Jesus says Heaven and Hell are real.
Jesus NEVER lies, nor exaggerates.
Therefore, salvation remains His theme song. It's sung by Him and every disciple in the Playbook of the New Testament. So…
Let's listen to THE King of Rock and Roll. When we tune in Jesus, He’ll rock our world, break down every lie, clear up false beliefs, and roll away the stones… to bring us light.
Pastors seldom discuss today’s Scriptures, much less preach about the subject of Hell. If blasphemy is unforgivable, then what, specifically, did Jesus mean?
If we've messed up and cursed God in our stress, have we doomed ourselves? Absolutely not. He says He forgives a word against Him. All too well, He knows, 'No man can tame the tongue. It is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison' (James 3:8).*
Some theologians believe blasphemy is a believer's habitual sin. Certainly, habitual sin is wrong, but I believe it’s about the Spirit. Yes, in sin, we grieve God’s Holy Spirit.**
But publicly denouncing His Spirit is what the Lord calls ‘unforgivable’. The Pharisees, who said that Christ’s power to perform miracles came from Satan, blasphemed the Spirit.
Actors, models and talent for Christ: While media sees it differently, be careful of roles that make bad look good… because devious darlings aren’t darling. Glamorizing evil is shaky ground that can lead innocents away from God.
Consider the following Words from God as one definition of blasphemy:
‘For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted the heavenly gift, and have become partakers of the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the good Word of God and the powers of the age to come, if they fall away, to renew them again to repentance, since they crucify again for themselves the Son of God, and put Him to an open shame' (Hebrews 6:4-6).
The Question Of Salvation: Blasphemy! (Part 7)
* Although no man can tame his own tongue, God can. If any of you are tempted toward rash words like I am, pray to God: 'Set a guard over my mouth, Lord; keep watch over the door of my lips' (Psalm 141:3). His Word and Spirit will perfect us. It may take time and diligent prayer, but He will transform us not only to look like Jesus--but to speak like Him, too.
** See Ephesians 4:25-32: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ephesians%204%3A25-32&version=NIV
NOTE: This is a 2023 update of a 2013 Carey Lewis Devotion. You may see notes to 'Actors, Models & Talent for Christ.' If you think you're not in show business, think again. Shakespeare said, 'All the world's a stage and all its men and women merely players. Mostly true. But you're not merely players. You are messengers and ambassadors for the King of kings.