What happens when you push away the Holy Spirit
In John 6, Jesus’ disciples comment that His words were “hard sayings.” Pastors are often asked, “What is the unforgivable sin?” Remember Jesus’ response to this question: “Every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven people, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven. And whoever speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven.” (Matt. 12:31–32) This is an amazing pronouncement about forgiveness. What an astonishing statement. God, this majestic, glorious being, who has authority and power, whose kingdom endures through all generations, forgives sinners. Even from the cross, we hear Jesus beseech the Father for us, “Forgive them, for they know not what they do” (Luke 23:34). Yet there is a seeming contradiction here: “Every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven people, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven.” How can we resolve this paradox? D.A. Carson suggests that we ...