2.  What is a sin against the Holy Spirit?  Several sins specifically noted (blasphemy) ◦ Mt 12:31-32; Mk 3:28-29; Lk 12:10  Let’s take a deeper look to see if we can identify what are some sins against Holy Spirit

3.  God is willing to forgive the vilest of sinners ◦ Is 1:18; 1 Tim 1:15-16  Blasphemy against the Spirit - Mt 12:14-30 ◦ Jesus worked a miracle vs 14-23 ◦ Pharisees attributed it to Satan vs 24 ◦ Jesus explained why they were wrong vs 25-30 ◦ Jesus did it by the Holy Spirit vs 28 ◦ Blasphemy “Impious & reproachful speech injurious of the divine majesty” – JH Thayer

4.  Blasphemy against Spirit shall not be forgiven? ◦ Miracles, proof He was Son of God – Jn 20:30-31 ◦ One who believes Christ’s miracles are by Satan won’t ever believe in Him – Jn 12:37-40 ◦ Not God’s unwillingness to forgive, but one’s unwillingness to believe in the truth

5.  Can we blaspheme the Holy Spirit? ◦ Becoming so hardened of the heart we are unreachable  Alien Sinners – Mt 13:13-15  Erring Christians – Heb 3:7-15; Heb 6:4-6

6.  Resist: To fall, rush or stand firm against – Jim Tuten, The Holy Spirit, His Person & Work  The Jewish nation killed the prophets  The council killed Christ  The council killed Stephen – Act 7:54-60  When one closes his ears to the Word of God and persecutes the preacher, he is fighting not just a man but God – Lk 10:16

7.  Ananias & Saphira lied to Spirit – Act 5:1-4  How did they tempt the Holy Spirit? ◦ Not in the sense of enticing Him to sin – Jas 1:13 ◦ Testing His power, knowledge & punishment ◦ They lost the test – Acts 5:5-11  We tempt God by sin and unbelieving disobedience – Heb 3:7-9 ◦ We will lose the test – Heb 3:10-11

8.  Eph 4:30  Godly parents grieve when their children sin  God is saddened when we leave Him – Heb 3:10-13

9.  1 Thes 5:19  1 st Century Christians “quenched” Spirit by: ◦ Discouraging use of Spiritual gifts – 1 Thes 5:20 ◦ Failing to use Spiritual gifts – 1 Tim 4:14; 2 Tim 1:6  We can be guilty of a parallel sin if we: ◦ Discourage others service to God – 1 Sam 8:1-7 ◦ Fail to use opportunities & abilities in service to Christ – Mt 25:14-30

10.  Be on guard so not to make mistake of: ◦ Rejecting the testimony of the Spirit in unbelief ◦ Resisting & refusing the Gospel ◦ Tempting the Spirit through sin & disobedience ◦ Grieving the Spirit by sinning ◦ Quenching the Spirit by discouraging others in their service to God or failing to work ourselves  The Spirit invites all to be saved - Rev 22:17