INTRODUCTION
The Persons of the Holy Trinity each have a distinct work to do in the great plan of redemption. Because their work and mode of manifestation is different we find that sins can actually be perpetrated against the separate Persons of the Godhead (Matthew 14:32).
The Holy Spirit has the particular work of dealing with men's hearts and bringing them to receive the saving benefits of Christ's work. He indwells the saints and is present with the Lord's churches. He also convicts the unsaved and strives with sinners. Because of His work in our lives and in our midst the Bible mentions certain sins that are committed against Him as He carries out His special work. May God use this lesson in making each of us more sensitive to the danger of displeasing the Spirit of God. I. LYING TO THE HOLY GHOST.
In Acts 4:34 -5:11, we have the story of Ananias and Sapphira lying to the Holy Spirit. Their sin was not in holding back part of the money but in making pretense of having given all so that they might receive honor for a sacrifice that they did not make. They are the parents of all those who seek praise for consecration that they do not possess.
The carrying of such deceit into the church is a sin against the Holy Spirit. To try and deceive the church is to attempt to deceive the Spirit who is the omniscient administrator of the assembly. Men forget that to trifle with God's House is to trifle with God. In carrying out their sin Ananias and Sapphira were tempting God (Acts 5:9), and their fate stands as a warning to those who would follow their steps.II. GRIEVING THE HOLY SPIRIT.
In Ephesians 4:30, Paul commands us to not grieve the Holy Spirit of God. The fact that the Spirit may be grieved implies that He loves God's people. We can only grieve those whose love and kindness we make ill returns upon.
This idea of the Spirit's love is used by Paul as a motive for not grieving Him. The fact that He seals us reveals that His love causes Him to dwell in us to help and to bless. That He seals us until the day of redemption shows that He will never forsake us. In light of such love and kindness would we wish to sin and grieve Him.
The Holy Spirit is grieved by sin in the lives of saints. Our bodies are His temple and we should beware of defiling ourselves. He is perfectly holy and sin is offensive to Him. Particular ways in which the Spirit may be grieved are mentioned in the context of Ephesians 4:30. A. Sinful words - Ephesians 4:29 & 31, 5:4.
B. Sinful attitudes - Ephesians 4:31.
C. Sinful acts - Ephesians 5: 3.
May God help us to walk circumspectly as we remember His presence. III. QUENCHING THE HOLY SPIRIT.
In I Thessalonians 5: 19, we are warned against quenching the Spirit. This a saint may do for a time by hardening his heart against the leadership of the Spirit.
Let us beware of stifling the voice of God's Spirit. Men like David, Abraham, and Jonah seem to have quenched the Spirit for a time and paid dearly. This sin is sure to bring chastisement and leaves us open to commit many foolish mistakes. Common ways in which the Spirit is quenched are as follows: A. By rebelling against the inspired Word of God as recorded in the Bible or as given in former times orally by the prophets (I Thessalonians 5 :20).
B. By stifling the Spirit's rebukes when we have grieved Him.
C. By resisting the Spirits inner leadership for our lives.
IV. RESISTING THE HOLY SPIRIT.
In Acts 7:51, Stephen accused the Jews of resisting the Holy Spirit as did their fathers (Hebrews 3:7-10, and Isaiah 63:10). In Genesis 6:3, God speaks of the Spirit as striving with the people before the flood. Some have tried to interpret these Scriptures as referring only to the people's rebellion against the Word of God. They falsely conclude that because the Spirit’s work in the elect is effectual that He never works in the hearts of those who are not finally saved. While rebellion against God's word is resisting the Holy Ghost, yet there is no reason to deny that He deals personally with those who are never saved. As with other of the blessings of common grace (i.e., the gospel call) the Spirit's strivings with the non-elect are ineffectual only because of the depravity of their hearts. V. BLASPHEMY AGAINST THE HOLY SPIRIT.
In Matthew 12:22-32, we have the story of some who committed the unpardonable sin. These Pharisees accused Christ of working by the power of Satan. In doing this they blasphemed the Holy Spirit by whose power Christ had worked (Acts 10:38). Our Lord proclaims this sin to be unforgivable.
While all this is rather simple yet when men begin to apply these precepts to our day great confusion ensues. Some have asserted that the unpardonable sin cannot be committed today and others have defined it as merely dying without Christ (this latter view confounds the issue for the unpardonable sin is unforgivable in this world as well as in the world to come). The author has often wondered why we could not accept the simple assertion of Christ that the unpardonable sin is that of knowingly blaspheming (profanely abusing and insulting) the Holy Spirit. Those unsaved persons who willfully malign the Spirit of God will never be recipients of His regenerating power.================= Go to Chapter Twenty of Holy Spirit Study
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