The Unpardonable Sin Against the Holy Spirit # 1

The Unpardonable Sin Against the Holy Spirit # 1 

Let every man who has a regard for his soul take great care to beware of that sin against the Holy Spirit that Christ said "hath never forgiveness" ... neither in this life, nor in that life which is to come" (Mark 3:29; Matthew 12:32). And why did He say that a sin against the Father or Son would be forgiven, but that against the Holy Spirit would never be forgiven? Clearly not because the Holy Spirit is more worthy or higher in nature than the Father and the Son, but because the work of the Spirit within the human heart is the last and highest manifestation of the Holy Trinity in and to fallen man. Many weak things have been conjectured and published to the world about the sin against the Holy Spirit, whereas the whole nature of it lies in this, that it is a sinning or rebellion against the last and highest dispensation of God for the full redemption of man.

He that resists this ministration of the Spirit resists all that the Holy Trinity can do to restore and revive the first life of God in the soul, and so commit the unpardonable sin, because there remains no further or higher power of redemption from it. For no sin is pardonable because of that which it is in itself, but because there is some power or authority that can forgive it; nor can any sin be unpardonable, except that it has withstood or turned from that which was its last and highest remedy. Hence it is that resisting the Holy Spirit is the sin of all sins that prevents the work of redemption and in the highest degree separates man from all union with God. And how can we possibly avoid this sin of resisting the Holy Spirit but by continually waiting for, trusting in, and solely attending to that which the Spirit of God wills, works, and manifests within us?

What was it that caused the Pharisees to commit this sin,saying that Beelezebub was the one who worked through Christ? Simply because the Son of God demonstrated a reality of power and life for which they only professed the letter of Scripture words. Could it be this same jealous rage against an experience exceeding their own orthodox opinions that causes learned adherents of the letter to decry as fanaticism any real manifestation of the Holy Spirit's presence? In their contention for doctrinal correctness, they deny for today what Paul deemed essential in his day of the Holy Spirit's "demonstration and power" (1 Corinthians 2:4); and must therefore explain away all such as mere emotionalism, or worse, the deceptive work of a seducing spirit. Are these religious leaders of today not in danger of committing the same blasphemy against the Holy Spirit for which Christ so severely condemned the Pharisees?

To turn from the inward redeeming work of the Holy Spirit in our souls, and to deny His outward manifestations and power in the ministry of the Church, is to turn from all true knowledge of God. Let a man admit every so many logical demonstrations of God's Being and existence from the witness of the created universe, and memorize all the testimony of Scripture. Yet he must remain without any real knowledge of God until the Holy Spirit's quickening power manifests the risen Christ as life, light, love, and goodness  essentially found, vitally felt, and adored in his soul. This is the one knowledge of God that is eternal life and it is that knowledge of which Christ says, "No one knoweth the Father but the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son reveals him" (Matthew 11:27), "and this is life eternal, to know thee, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom thou hast sent" (John 17:3). Therefore, this knowledge can be found only in that man in whom Christ is living; for so it is that Christ, who is the express image of the invisible God, reveals the Father.

Since none belong to God but those who are led by the Spirit of God - and all are reprobates in whom the Spirit of Christ is not living - what all-important essential of gospel salvation is the continual, immediate guidance, unction, and teaching of His Holy Spirit in redeemed man! How then can one more profanely sin against the Holy Spirit, or more expressly turn men from God to satan, than by denying a faith and hope that look solely to the Spirit's continual operations for all that can be holy and good in man? And here let men beware of setting a standard of life lower than Christ's, and through denying to the Holy Spirit His full redeeming work in their hearts, limiting His power in men's lives in the present day to less than full authority and triumph. "Not my will, but thine be done" is not only a submission to the lordship of Christ, but in truth a belief that He will work His good pleasure in us - and thus is the faith that overcomes the world. 

~William Law~

(continued with # 2)