THE SINS AGAINST THE HOLY SPIRIT

Pastor Floyd Koenig

INTRODUCTION

The Persons of the Holy Trinity each have a distinct work to do in the great plan of redemption. Because their work and appearance is different, we find that sins can actually be committed against the separate Persons of the Godhead (Mt. 12:32).

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.

We need to be sensitive to the dangers of displeasing the Spirit of God.

Let’s consider some ways in which the Holy Spirit can be sinned against.

I. WE CAN LIE TO THE HOLY GHOST

A. Ananias and Sapphira were guilty of lying to the Holy Spirit (Acts 5:1-11). 1. Their sin was not in keeping part of the money, but in pretending to have given all so that they might receive honor for a sacrifice that they did not give (vv. 1-4).

2. They were hypocritical in their giving.

3. They wanted to appear more spiritual than they really were.

4. Here is a warning to anyone who seeks praise for a sacrifice that he doesn’t make.

 B. It is a sin against the Holy Spirit for a person to attempt to deceive the church. 1. To try and deceive the church is to attempt to deceive the Spirit who is the omniscient administrator of the assembly.

2. Men forget that to trifle with God’s House is to trifle with God.

3. In carrying out their sin, Ananias and Sapphira were tempting God (v.9).

4. Their offering was an affront to God.

5. Their execution was God’s work to keep the church pure.

6. This action of God was meant to impress upon each member of the church the seriousness of sin and rebellion.

 C. This passage teaches two important truths about the Holy Spirit. 1. It affirms that the Holy Spirit is a person.

- He is not a mere influence or impersonal force, since He can be lied to.

2. We see here that the Holy Spirit is God.

- When Ananias lied to the Holy Spirit, it is stated that he lied to God (vv. 3-4).

- Here is a clear affirmation of the deity of the Holy Spirit.

 II. WE CAN GRIEVE THE HOLY SPIRIT

A. We are commanded not to grieve the Holy Spirit (Eph. 4:30).

1. The fact that the Holy Spirit may be grieved implies that He loves God’s people.

2. He dwells in those He loves to help and bless them.

3. The fact that He seals us until the day of redemption shows that He will never forsake us.

4. Knowing the Spirit’s love for us should motivate us not to grieve Him.

5. He has done so much for us that, out of gratitude, we ought not to grieve Him.

 B. The Holy Spirit is grieved by sin in our lives. 1. Our bodies are His temple and we should beware of defiling ourselves (I Cor. 6:19-20).

2. The Spirit is perfectly holy and sin is an offense to Him.

 C. Some ways in which we can grieve the Spirit. 1. We can grieve the Holy Spirit by speaking sinful words (Eph. 4:29, 30; 5:4).

2. We can grieve the Holy Spirit by harboring sinful attitudes (Eph. 4:31).

3. We can grieve the Holy Spirit by committing sinful acts (Eph. 5:3).

- May God help us to walk carefully as we remember His presence.

 III. WE CAN QUENCH THE HOLY SPIRIT

A. We are warned not to quench the Spirit (I Thess. 5:19).

1. We can do this for a time by hardening our hearts against the leadership of the Spirit.

2. We quench the Spirit when we refuse to follow His gracious leading and when we do that which is contrary to His will.

 B. This sin is sure to bring chastisement and it leaves us open to commit many other foolish mistakes. 1. We need to beware of stifling the voice of God’s Spirit.

2. Men like David, Abraham, and Jonah seem to have quenched the Spirit for a time and paid dearly.

 C. Some common ways in which the Spirit is quenched. - We quench the Spirit:

1. When we rebel against the instructions and commands of God’s Word.

2. By stifling the Spirit’s rebukes when we have grieved Him.

3. By resisting the Spirit’s inner leadership for our lives.

 IV. THE UNSAVED CAN RESIST THE HOLY SPIRIT

A. Stephen accused the Jews of resisting the Holy Spirit as did their fathers (Acts 7:51).

1. Sinners resist the Holy Spirit by hardening their hearts toward God (Heb. 3:7-10).

2. God had given the Israelites ample proof of His power and provision, and yet they rejected Him and refused to enter into His place of rest.

 B. If Israel had more than enough evidence to trust God in Moses’ day, how much more do we have today?

V. SOME HAVE COMMITTED BLASPHEMY AGAINST THE HOLY SPIRIT

A. Jesus warned of the danger of committing the unpardonable sin (Mt. 12:31-32).

1. The Pharisees had accused Christ of working His miracles by the power of Satan.

2. In doing this, they blasphemed the Holy Spirit by whose power Christ had worked (Acts 10:38).

3. Our Lord proclaims this sin to be unforgivable (Mt. 12:32).

 B. It is a serious offense for anyone to willfully malign the Spirit of God. 1. However, I don’t believe that the unpardonable sin that is referred to here can be committed today.

2. The Pharisees had attributed Christ’s miracles, which were performed by the Holy Spirit, to the devil.

3. Christ is no longer in the world performing His miracles; therefore, this particular sin cannot be committed in our day.
 

 Return To Main Study Page

Source: http://www.woosterbaptisttemple.org/studies.html