Tuesday, February 9, 2016

With THE WORD and a word for the Day: Calumniate


...perhaps one of the most asked, and concerning, questions about the Bible is : What is the "unpardonable" sin- e.g. "blasphemy against the Holy Spirit."

The Greek word translated "blasphemy" in Mark3:29 is βλασφημέω / blasphēmeō [G987]. This Grk word means to calumniate the character of another. What does "calumniate" mean? I'm glad you were wondering so that I could tell you...

Calumniate basically means to damage the reputation of another. [How many know that one's actions{not just words} can often result in the defamation of an entire corporation?]
In reference to blasphemy of/calumniating the Holy Spirit, this is when a professing born-again follower of Christ [and "partaker of the Holy Spirit"{cf. Heb6:4}]  premeditates and knowingly commits sin despite having conviction from the Holy Spirit against that sin. Such behavior is not only an offense to the Holy Spirit{Eph4:30}; but also, is defamatory of the Christian-walk which is guided by the Holy Spirit. [Someone may ask: "How is it defamatory if no one knows about it?" -Well, "the eyes of the Lord are in every place..."{Pro15:3} ...and He's the main Witness all should be concerned about since it's His Spirit we are calumniating.] How do I justify such an emphatic statement concerning the presumed scriptural-ly elusive: "unpardonable sin?"

Some suggest that "the unpardonable sin" nowhere dictated in the Scriptures... ...but let's first talk about the word "nowhere." I'm sure most have been given a word puzzle in which you were told to construct a word list making as many words as you can from the word "____." Well, I'm going to address just two words extracted from "nowhere."
Obviously, we all know that "no-where" means not to be found anywhere... ...but is it true that the "unpardonable sin" is no-where to be found explained in the Scriptures? -Or is the answer NOW-HERE: In the chapters of Heb6:4-6 and Heb10:26-31 we are given a clear and decisive occasion for which sin would be "unpardonable:"
} Hebrews 6:4-6
Heb 6:4  For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost,
Heb 6:5  And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come,
Heb 6:6  If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame.

} Hebrews 10:26-31
Heb 10:26  For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins,
Heb 10:27  But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries.
Heb 10:28  He that despised Moses' law died without mercy under two or three witnesses:
Heb 10:29  Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace?
Heb 10:30  For we know him that hath said, Vengeance belongeth unto me, I will recompense, saith the Lord. And again, The Lord shall judge his people.
Heb 10:31  It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

...so let's sum it up: Jesus informs us that blaspheming the Holy Spirit is unpardonable; Heb6:4-6 and Heb10:26-31 informs us that it is unpardonable to sin with premeditated knowledge of that sin... ...thus "blasphemy of the Holy Spirit" aka "the unpardonable sin" is to calumniate the Holy Spirit through sin(s) of commission.

Suffice to say, if you have confessed all known sins{the Holy Spirit will reveal it} and genuinely repented of those sins, then according to 1John1:9, God is "*just*"{meaning that He will discern whether one has genuinely repented} and we can trust that, if our repentance is genuine, He will "forgive us and **cleanse us of all unrighteousness.**" So, if you know, through the Holy Spirit, that *right now* you have confessed and repented of all sins for which the Holy Spirit has convicted you -then *right now* you are "cleansed of ALL unrighteousness" and therefore not [/no longer] guilty of "the unpardonable sin." If while reading this the Holy Spirit convicts you of any sin then confess and genuinely repent right now to receive forgiveness and cleansing... ...then follow Jesus' advice: "You are to no longer continue in sin"{cf. John5:14/John8:11}.

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cf. Calumniate-  http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/calumniate