3713 — What Is the Sin Against the Holy Ghost?
Another person would like to know what is sinning against the Holy Ghost.
C. S. There is but one agency by which God reaches the heart of men, and that is the Holy Spirit. Read John 16:7, 8, of the Comforter, "And when He is come, He will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment." The Spirit uses the law of God to convince men of sin. See Rom. 3:20; 4:15; 7:7. If men will heed the Spirit, and admit and confess the sin, God will forgive through the efficacy of the blood of Christ; but if men reject the pleading of that Spirit, there is no other agency more powerful which God has to bring men to Him. God will do everything in His power in appealing to men through His Word, and through heavenly angels, and through His children, entreating souls to come to Him; but if they reject His message, He can do no more. They may yield to Him, and then fall away and sin again, and still His Spirit pleads with them; and this may be done many times, and the Spirit will still plead, as long as the soul will listen; but when that time comes that man has rejected the Spirit's call, has no repentance of sin, no desire to return to God, then there is no way for God to reach him, and he has sinned against the Spirit of God. The sin against the Holy Ghost is unforgivable because it is unrepentable. Just as long as man feels sorrow for sin — not for its consequences, but for the sin itself — sorrow not because he is punished, but sorrow because he has sinned against a God who is so good — there is hope for him. Let him not be discouraged; let him know that the very Spirit that pleads with him to return, will enable him to return and find mercy. "As I live, saith the Lord God, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die?" Eze. 33:11. "Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: tho your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; tho they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool. If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land: but if ye refuse and rebel, ye shall be devoured with the sword: for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it." Isa. 1:18-20. The mercy and the kindness and the cleansing is on God's part. The rebellion and the refusing of that mercy is with us. There is no limit to the mercy of God to him who desires God's pardon. When we reach that place where there is no forgiveness, it is because we have placed ourselves where there is no repentance.