The Sin Against The Holy Ghost

Jesus said, “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 (Mark 3:28-29).”

But what does this really mean?

Does it mean if you deny the Holy Ghost, you cannot be forgiven?

Let’s put it into context.

In order to answer this question, we must first identify what the Holy Ghost does.

The Holy Ghost testifies of God the Eternal Father, and His Son Jesus Christ, and reveals God’s truth and enables us to recognize the truth.

With that said, if men and woman have the Holy Ghost and the Holy Ghost is prevalent in their lives, but they refuse it, eventually they will lose it.

If one chooses to live in the dark long enough, they will eventually lose the ability to see light, just like one who chooses to stay in bed long long enough, he or she will eventually lose the ability to walk.

If people choose to reject the guidance of the Holy Ghost long enough, they will eventually lose the ability to recognize God and His truth when presented before them.

William Barclay, author of “The Gospel of Mark - The New Daily Study Bible,” said, “But if people, by repeated refusals of God’s guidance, have lost the ability to recognize goodness when they see it, if they have got their moral values inverted until evil to them is good and good to them is evil, then, even when they are confronted by Jesus, they are conscious of no sin; they cannot repent and therefore they can never be forgiven.”

Denying the Holy Ghost is more than saying, “I don’t believe…” it’s the lost ability to discern between good and evil. Therefore, they who cannot discern between good and evil are not capable of knowing whether or not they are sinning, and if they believe there is no “sin,” then there is no need to repent or change.

God - first and foremost - will always choose to forgive, however the key to being forgiven is a penitent heart — a heart that is willing to change.

If someone is humble enough to recognize the need of repentance and change, God will always help those who are striving to overcome sin, however binding it may be.

God is never displeased, upset or frustrated as long as you keep trying.

This is a gospel of becoming, and we get credit for trying, however minimal the effort or difficult our journey may be.