An Awakening Truth

Mark 3:28-30  “I tell you the truth, all the sins and blasphemies of men will be forgiven them. But whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven; he is guilty of an eternal sin.” 30 He said this because they were saying, “He has an evil spirit.”
 
GOD forgives. The Bible is very clear about that. That is the reason Jesus established the new covenant: Matthew 26:28 “This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. 29 I tell you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it anew with you in my Father’s kingdom.” How, then, is it possible that one who blasphemes the Holy Spirit is guilty of an eternal sin?
   First, remember the beginning of Jesus’ ministry: Mark 1:10 As Jesus was coming up out of the water, he saw heaven being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove. From that day, Jesus ministered God’s redemptive love for Israel in the Spirit’s power.
   Let’s, then, return to the previous lesson from Mark 3:22-27. The teachers of the law claimed Jesus was under Satan’s authority. They credited Satan. Do you see why this is an eternal, unforgiveable sin? To blaspheme the Holy Spirit is to equate the devil’s power with the Spirit’s power. One is hostile toward the Triune God. He has formed God in his own image. He has no repentance in his heart. With no repentance there is no contrition before God’s grace. There is no room to receive God’s forgiveness because the blasphemer’s heart is full of lies.
   This was the ruling Jews’ great sin. Each time Jesus healed diseases, forgave sins and exorcised demons, these teachers and other authorities confronted Jesus as if he were Israel’s and God’s enemy. They could not grasp God’s truth; and thus, they could not know their sin. They stood condemned. God cursed them because they cursed him.  
   Be awakened to Jesus’ warning. Be awakened to his promise, too: I tell you the truth, all the sins and blasphemies of men will be forgiven them. When you come to know who God is, no sin you’ve done or curse you’ve spoken will keep you from God. Knowing God is knowing Jesus has told you the truth of God. He has ministered the fulfillment of God’s law into the world to reveal God’s enduring love and forgiveness for his people.
   Time and again throughout Scripture God has called his people to repentance. When they responded with broken and contrite hearts, he forgave them. His love is so great even the cross could not stop the LORD God from fulfilling Jesus’ words.
   If you are thinking, “My sin is too great!” then know it is Satan, not Jesus, who accuses you. Destroy the accusation with Jesus’ assurance. His all-powerful Spirit will come upon you to redeem and remove your confessed sin from your life. Know it is so. Jesus promised his blood is for sin’s forgiveness.