The Unpardonable Sin Against the Holy Spirit # 2

The Unpardonable Sin Against the Holy Spirit # 2

That which is here taught is the whole objective to which all Scripture directs us. For the most learned knowledge of the Bible is but empty and fails of its only purpose, until it brings us into that essential union with God that is so solemnly urged upon us by all Scripture words. A refusal to give ourselves to this work of God's Spirit within us is a sin from which there can be no salvation, no matter how sound our knowledge of every Scripture doctrine. For without this life of God in our souls conforming us to the image of Christ and under the power of satan, who is the god of this world and in whom the whole world lies in wickedness.

"When he, the Spirit of Truth is come, he will lead you into all Truth" (John 1613), said the Lord. Can any man then be in the truth, who resists the leading of the Holy Spirit? Impossible, says the Scripture, despite all the reasonings of men who would compromise the gospel. To present our bodies a living sacrifice to God is our reasonable service, said Paul; yet Christian leaders imply that such a standard of holiness is unreasonable because it demands our all, just as when Peter, full of human love for Christ, advised Him to avoid His sufferings. But our Lord rejected him with a "Get thee behind me, satan," and only gave this reason for that seemingly harsh statement: "For thou savourest not the things that be of God, but the things that be of men" (Mark 8:33). A plain proof that whatsoever is not of and from the Holy Spirit of God in us, however plausible it may outwardly seem to men, is yet in itself nothing else but the power of satan working in us his ancient and persistent rebellion against the will of God.

Christ "through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot unto God" (Hebrews 9:14). And thus will the Holy Spirit work the same submission to the will of God in those who are Christ's, even that willingness to take up the Cross and follow Him. "I am crucified with Christ" (Galatians 2:20), Paul said. And had he not yielded to and trusted in this sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit in his own heart and life, he could have never said in truth, "Nevertheless I live, yet not I, but Christ liveth in me" (2:20). But without this he could have known no salvation, nor can any man who is not willing thus to yield to the work of God in his heart through the eternal Spirit. Such a man has rejected the salvation that God offers, and for this sin there is no pardon, either in this life or in the one to come.

The apostle said of himself, "By the grace of God I am what I am" (1 Corinthians 15:10). So every wise disputer about Scripture doctrines, and every professing Christian not looking solely to the Spirit of God to be everything in and to him may as truly say of himself, "Through my turning and trusting to something else than the grace of God and the inspiration of His Spirit, I am what I am." And for this sin there is no possible salvation. For what makes any man incapable of finding that which Paul knew when he said, "I can do all things through Christ who strengtheneth me" (Phil. 4:13)? Just his refusal to allow Christ's Spirit to live through him, and his choosing fleshly reason rather than to be such a fool for Christ as to renounce all that He renounced, and to seek no more earthly honor and praise than He sought. Christ said, "Except a man deny himself and take up his cross and follow me, he cannot be my disciple" (Luke 9:23, 14:27). And this path can be known and followed only when we say like Christ, "I delight to do thy will, O my God" (Hebrews 10:9; Psalm 40:8); "I can of mine own self do nothing," (John 5:30); "the words I speak, I speak not of myself, but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works" (John 14:10).

Here and here alone lies the Christian's full and certain power of overcoming self, the devil, and the world. But Christians seeking and turning to anything else except to be led and inspired only by the one Spirit of God and Christ, will bring forth a Christendom that in the sight of God will have no other name than a spiritual Babylon, a spiritual Egypt, a Sodom, a scarlet whore, a devouring beast, and red dragon. For all these names belong to all men, however learned, and to all churches, whether greater or less, in which the spirit of this world has any share of power. This was the great sin of the Church, even within the apostolic age, which grieved the Holy Spirit and brought about her fall into an apostasy and corruption that Paul foretold before his martyrdom, and which has largely gripped the Church ever since.

Therefore all human reformations finding their root in ecclesiastic learning or doctrinal decisions will signify little or nothing until, willing to die to self, to their own will, and their own wisdom, men seek for no redeeming power but from that Spirit of God which converted heathen, publicans, harlots, and Jews into a holy apostolic Church at the first. Then and only then will the Church today be a proof of the wisdom and power of God that has made fallen men once more His own, and works in them His will to His glory.

"Beware," said Paul to the religious leaders of his day, "lest that come upon you which was spoken of by the prophets, saying, Behold, ye despisers, and wonder, and perish, for I work a work in your day, which ye will in no wise believe, though a man declare it unto you" (Acts 13:40-41). The great work of God being done today, the miracle of miracles, is the same as in apostolic times - the transformation of fallen men into children of God are manifest by His Spirit. Let us beware, lest by limiting in our minds that work which we think God is doing or can do today, we despise His real work, and thereby resist and blaspheme the Holy Spirit, and thus commit the unpardonable sin.

Some men preach as though Christ said, "By their doctrine ye shall know them"; others write as though He said, "By their gifts ye shall know them." But faithful disciples have recorded that our Lord said, "By their fruits ye shall know them" (Matthew 7:20). Keep close to this truth as a divine guide from the Saviour! Know that where the fruit of the Spirit is manifest in mortal flesh - that love, joy, peace, humility, patience, gentleness, and goodness which belong to Christ alone - there is the Holy Spirit triumphantly at work in a sinner saved by grace. To resist this work of the Holy Spirit uniting us to God, enthroning Christ in our hearts, manifesting through us His life and works, is to reject the whole end of the gospel; and thus is that unpardonable sin for which there is no further redemption.

~William Law~

(The End)