Blasphemy against the Spirit

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The following is a quote from Billy Graham

“Yes, Jesus said only one sin couldn’t be forgiven, and that was “blasphemy against the Spirit” (Matthew 12:31). But what does it mean to blaspheme the Spirit? I have studied Jesus’ words very carefully, and it simply means this: To deny the Holy Spirit’s witness to Jesus.”

How do non-Catholics interpret Matt. 12:31. Do you agree with Billy Graham?
 
Third_Day said:
The following is a quote from Billy Graham

“Yes, Jesus said only one sin couldn’t be forgiven, and that was “blasphemy against the Spirit” (Matthew 12:31). But what does it mean to blaspheme the Spirit? I have studied Jesus’ words very carefully, and it simply means this: To deny the Holy Spirit’s witness to Jesus.”

How do non-Catholics interpret Matt. 12:31. Do you agree with Billy Graham?
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It more or less means the same thing. It depends on how eloquently you say it. 🙂

The mission of Jesus was salvation of mankind. He did that by his death and resurrection. In order that we receive this grace (of salvation) we need to believe this and to live out a life required of a believer. Unlike what many section of Protestants believe, it is not enough just to believe without having to live this belief in our life by repentance, by the actions and the practices that we do.

The Holy Spirit was promised by Jesus primarily to take over his place after his death (when he is not with us physically) and to empower us so that we are strong in our faith and thus able to live the life as a victorious Christians (a life that he wants us to live).

There are many ways how the Holy Spirit helps us in this or in our journey of faith so that we will be closer to Jesus and able to attain the salvation promised. This is called the graceful action of the Holy Spirit. It is blasphemy if we, as Christians attribute this action to that of Satan or the Devil and therefore refuse it and thus prevents us from achieving salvation. That sin is an unforgiveable sin.

Others may word it differently or with greater clarity.

God bless.
 
To Blaspheme the Holy Spirit one must know and eternally reject the revelation of God they have recieved.

The Pharisees that Jesus warned had witnessed God’s works in a way that there was no more that could be done to change their mind. That’s why Jesus said if not for the teaching at least believe for the miracles they saw. They were saying that the works of God were the works of Beelzabub. There was no reason for them to deny the works they saw were from God except they didn’t want them to be and they were rejecting God openly and consciously. A person able to do this must be very close to being in an eternal ( changeless) state of hating God.

Satan rejected God after knowing God . In as much as God could be known to him Satan rejected God. What more could God do? If God is revealed to us in as much as is proper to our state of being what more can God do to change our mind?

After God has become man and lived and died among us, after the humiliation of the cross, can God stoop any lower? If we live a life knowing God has done this and refuse to acknowledge what it means we aren’t much different than the Pharisees Jesus warned.

Edit: Oops you want comments from non-catholics. .<-- Finds a bucket and wanders to a corner of the room to sit.
 
Third_Day said:
The following is a quote from Billy Graham

“Yes, Jesus said only one sin couldn’t be forgiven, and that was “blasphemy against the Spirit” (Matthew 12:31). But what does it mean to blaspheme the Spirit? I have studied Jesus’ words very carefully, and it simply means this: To deny the Holy Spirit’s witness to Jesus.”

How do non-Catholics interpret Matt. 12:31. Do you agree with Billy Graham?
Click to expand...
I am inclined to agree with Billy Graham’s interpretation.
 
Reuben_J said:
It more or less means the same thing. It depends on how eloquently you say it. 🙂

The mission of Jesus was salvation of mankind. He did that by his death and resurrection. In order that we receive this grace (of salvation) we need to believe this and to live out a life required of a believer. Unlike what many section of Protestants believe, it is not enough just to believe without having to live this belief in our life by repentance, .
Click to expand...
Refusal to repent is the unforgivable sin. Billy Graham doesn’t say that. He say “I have studied Jesus’ words very carefully, and it simply means this: To deny the Holy Spirit’s witness to Jesus”
Repentance is considered a “work” in Protestant theology. Repentance is a one time event. Protestants please correct me if I am wrong but Billy Graham has it wrong.
 
Benadam said:
To Blaspheme the Holy Spirit one must know and eternally reject the revelation of God they have recieved.

.
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From the Catechism
1864 Therefore I tell you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven." There are no limits to the mercy of God, but anyone who deliberately refuses to accept his mercy by repenting, rejects the forgiveness of his sins and the salvation offered by the Holy Spirit. Such hardness of heart can lead to final impenitence and eternal loss.
 
Third_Day said:
Refusal to repent is the unforgivable sin. Billy Graham doesn’t say that. He say “I have studied Jesus’ words very carefully, and it simply means this: To deny the Holy Spirit’s witness to Jesus”
Repentance is considered a “work” in Protestant theology. Repentance is a one time event. Protestants please correct me if I am wrong but Billy Graham has it wrong.
Click to expand...
I have to admit I do not know the depth of Billy Graham’s theology. What he said (highlighted) seems to make sense to me if it means that the Holy Spirit leads us to know Jesus. This was included in my explanation in my last post. How the Holy Spirit leads us to Jesus are the details in what we do as guided by the Holy Spirit. The Church is guided by the Holy Spirit. Good work is guided by the Holy Spirit. Maybe Graham does not believe in good work but there are other ways that the Holy Spirit leads us to Jesus. In that case, his understanding is incomplete if he does not believe in ‘work’.
 
I’m thinking Mr Graham is saying that by not acknowledging that Christ’s work has a divine witness one denies that Christ’s sacrifice transcends time, rejects the forgiveness of sins offered and refuses to repent.

The Pharisees were saying that the miracles Jesus worked were the works of the devil when Jesus warned them of this sin.
 
Haha Billy Graham :rotfl: I’m inclined to listen to a real Theologian and not one who blows hot air on the TV.

Aquinas wrote on the Blasphemy against the Holy Ghost here’s a link to that section in his Summa Theologica:

newadvent.org/summa/3014.htm

He uses titles to refer to certain people:
The Master = Peter Lombard
The Theologian = St. Augustine
The Philsopher = Aristotle

A quick summary: The Sin against the Holy Ghost is final impentience, that is refusing to repent of ones sins, because one refuses to be forgiven ipsum factum one will not be forgiven. It’s not because God is unwilling to forgive but because man is unwilling to be forgiven, hence he’s not asking for forgiveness so he will not be forgiven.

Laus Deo
 
Reuben_J said:
I have to admit I do not know the depth of Billy Graham’s theology. What he said (highlighted) seems to make sense to me if it means that the Holy Spirit leads us to know Jesus. This was included in my explanation in my last post. How the Holy Spirit leads us to Jesus are the details in what we do as guided by the Holy Spirit. The Church is guided by the Holy Spirit. Good work is guided by the Holy Spirit. Maybe Graham does not believe in good work but there are other ways that the Holy Spirit leads us to Jesus. In that case, his understanding is incomplete if he does not believe in ‘work’.
Click to expand...
This is why we have a Church with the authority to interpret scripture

From the Catechism
1864 Therefore I tell you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven." There are no limits to the mercy of God, but anyone who deliberately refuses to accept his mercy by repenting, rejects the forgiveness of his sins and the salvation offered by the Holy Spirit. Such hardness of heart can lead to final impenitence and eternal loss.
 
I wonder if it’s possible to commit an eternal sin before we enter eternity.
 
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