This Bible study answers most common questions about unforgiveness and the Holy Spirit such as: Is there such a thing as being unforgiven or having unforgiven sin? At what point can you not be forgiven for your sins? What does sinning against the Holy Ghost mean? These are commonly asked questions and more often than not these questions are usually asked by believers more than non believers. God’s word is very specific regarding sins and how to get forgiveness for sins. However, many people just assume that when they are saved that they will be forgiven for their sins, not just the sins of the past but also for any future sins. In this study we will discover what sins can be forgiven, when sins will not be forgiven and find out about resisting the Holy Ghost and the big one-the unpardonable sin-blasphemy of the Holy Ghost. You Cannot Get Forgiveness of Sin If You Cannot Forgive Others If you do not forgive others God the Father will not forgive your sins. This is a pretty strong but true statement which can relate to your everyday life. If you are holding a grudge ie. unforgiveness in your heart against someone else, God cannot forgive you of your own sins. This means when you ask forgiveness for your sins-you will not be forgiven until you forgive or make amends to the person or persons you are holding a grudge against. Sometimes, we feel harmed emotionally or physically by another person and as a result of this feeling we hold a grudge against them, harboring dislike, hatred, or anger in our hearts. Jesus clearly tells us that if we do this, God the Father will not forgive us of our own sins.
But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. Matthew 6:15
No matter what grudge, hatred, dislike, disgust, or anger you may feel toward someone else, it is critical to your salvation that you find Christ’s love within your heart and gain the ability to forgive them. This does not mean you must subject yourself to abuse or neglect by this person or person’s again but it does mean that you have to forgive them to remove those feelings of ill will that are bottled up inside you. Those feelings can develop over time and become volatile causing self destructive behavior, lashing out behavior, depression, and other emotional disorders. Pray about it, talk to someone you trust in confidence, bring it to the elders of the church, ask God the Father to remove from your heart in Jesus Christ’s name. Once you find it in your heart to forgive those who have sinned against you, you will feel a sense of relief, a cleansing so to speak and after this is complete, you yourself can be forgiven of sins you have committed. However, there is a sin which has no pardon and for which there is NO redemption. Resisting the Holy Ghost In the book of Acts chapter 7, we find Stephen giving a speech to the Sanhedrin, during which there was a dispute with the members of the synagogue. Stephen addressed them as people who resist the Holy Ghost just as their fathers did (indicating the history of resistance of the Holy Ghost long before their time) but emphasized that these people were resistant against the Holy Ghost because they were unbelievers who did not believe that Jesus Christ was the Son of God and that He died for our sins and rose again in three days. Stephen’s aggravation shows when he tells them, "Ye stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Ghost: as your fathers did, so do ye." Acts 7:51 Which of the prophets have not your fathers persecuted? and they have slain them which showed before of the coming of the Just One; of whom ye have been now the betrayers and murderers: Acts 7:52 Who have received the law by the disposition of angels, and have not kept it. Acts 7:53. They had received the law but did not keep it, they resisted the Holy Ghost, they were uncircumcised in heart and ears meaning that they were rebellious and would not make a change of heart. Sin of Grieving the Holy Spirit of God Grieving the Holy Spirit is a sin which is most often unwittingly committed by believers. The Holy Spirit (Spirit of God) sealed unto the day of redemption. Sealed indicating ownership, something of worth, authentic, irrevocable sign of our salvation unto the day of redemption. And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption. Eph. 4:30. To seal something means to close it securely, monitoring an area to prevent entrance to or exit from it. To conclude, establish or secure. Redemption is the act of being saved from sin, error, or evil. Once sealed we are to let all bitterness, wrath, anger, evil speaking, and clamour in our lives go, put it away from you.
Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: Eph. 4:32
If you do not do put it away from you, you are grieving the Holy Spirit. Sin of Quenching the Holy Spirit (Ghost) When people sin and continue to do so without confessing and asking for forgiveness they are guilty of the sin of quenching the Holy Ghost. Quench not the Spirit. 1 Thess. 5:19 Sin of Lying to the Holy Spirit Will NOT Go Unpunished God will not be mocked, the punishment for lying to the Holy Spirit is severe as demonstrated in the telling of Ananias and Sapphira. Ananias and Sapphira was an example of deception, born in jealousy and how they tried to mock God Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.Gal. 6:7 Ananias and Sapphira Tested the Holy Spirit of the Lord and Were Punished Immediately Acts 5:1-11 But a man named Ananias, with his wife Sapphira, sold a piece of property, Acts 5:1 and with his wife’s knowledge he kept back for himself some of the proceeds and brought only a part of it and laid it at the apostles’ feet. Acts 5:2 But Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back for yourself part of the proceeds of the land? Acts 5:3 While it remained unsold, did it not remain your own? And after it was sold, was it not at your disposal? Why is it that you have contrived this deed in your heart? You have not lied to man but to God.” Acts 5:4 When Ananias heard these words, he fell down and breathed his last. And cgreat fear came upon all who heard of it. Acts 5:5 The young men rose and wrapped him up and carried him out and buried him. Acts 5:6 After an interval of about three hours his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. Acts 5:7 And Peter said to her, “Tell me whether yousold the land for so much.” And she said, “Yes, for so much.” Acts 5:8 But Peter said to her, “How is it that you have agreed together to test the Spirit of the Lord? Behold, the feet of those who have buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out.” Acts 5:9 Immediately she fell down at his feet and breathed her last. When the young men came in they found her dead, and they carried her out and buried her beside her husband. Acts 5:10 And great fear came upon the whole church and upon all who heard of these things. Acts 5:11 The Unforgiveable Sin-Blasphemy of The Holy Ghost The unforgivable sin is the only sin for which there is no forgiveness-no redemption, and that sin is referred to as, sins against the Holy Spirit (Ghost). Now, I am not going to beat around the bush and there is no way to sugar coat what Jesus Christ said. Facts are facts. Jesus Christ was very specific when He tells of this unforgivable sin, the sin of blasphemy of the Holy Ghost. In the previous studies we discussed who the Holy Spirit (Ghost) is, how to get this raw power. However, we did not discuss what happens if we abuse this power or worse yet, speak against it, which is considered as, sinning against the Holy Spirit. Jesus Was Accused of Blasphemy Matthew 12:22-30 Then one was brought to Him who was demon-possessed, blind and mute; and He healed him, so that the blind and[a] mute man both spoke and saw. Matt.12:22 And all the multitudes were amazed and said, “Could this be the Son of David?” Matt.12:23 Now when the Pharisees heard it they said, “This fellow does not cast out demons except by Beelzebub,the ruler of the demons.” Matt. 12:24 Who is Capable of Sinning Against the Holy Spirit? Believers and unbelievers alike can sin against the Holy Spirit (Ghost). Sinning against the Holy Spirit (Ghost) is considered as an unpardonable sin for which there is no forgiveness. Jesus was accused of this blasphemy by His enemies (the Pharisees) when he cast devils out of a man possessed with a blind and dumb devil using the Spirit of God.The man was then able to see and speak. The Pharisees accused Jesus of casting out devils by the power of Satan but Jesus explains that He casts them out by the spirit of God. "And Jesus knew their thoughts, and said unto them, Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and shall not stand: Matt. 12:25 And if Satan cast out Satan, he is divided against himself; how shall then his kingdom stand? Matt. 12;26 And if I by Be-el'-ze-bub cast out devils, by whom do your children cast them out? therefore they shall be your judges. Matt. 12:27 But if I cast out devils by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God is come unto you. Matt. 12:28 Or else how can one enter into a strong man's house, and spoil his goods except he first bind the strong man? and then he will spoil his house. Matt. 12:29 He that is not with me is against me; and he that gathereth not with me scattereth abroad. Matt. 12:29 Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters. Matt. 12:30 Jesus repeated Two times the Punishment for Blasphemy of the Holy Ghost-The Unforgivible Sin Jesus clarified the punishment for blasphemy of the Holy Spirit (Ghost) as an unforgivable sin when He said, "Whererfore 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".Matt. 12:31 According to Mirriam Webster's Online Dictionary Blasphemy means: Definition of BLASPHEMY a : the act of insulting or showing contempt or lack of reverence for God b : the act of claiming the attributes of deity 2: irreverence toward something considered sacred or inviolable Reference: Blasphemy. Mirriam Webster. http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/blasphemy Jesus Defines the Punishment and Meaning of Blasphemy of the Holy Ghost of which there is NO Forgiveness-No Redemption Jesus defined the punishment and the meaning of blasphemy of the Holy Spirit (Ghost) as speaking against the Holy Ghost when He said, "And whosever speaketh 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." Matt. 12:32 Take the Pop Quiz!
Memory Verse You, however, are not in the realm of the flesh but are in the realm of the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, they do not belong to Christ. Romans 8:9 NIV