Happy Pentecost Sunday!
We celebrate today the birth of the Church as the Holy Spirit stirred and empowered us into mission.
Our next verses are not celebratory ones but words of warning from Jesus to the Pharisees and the crowds.
“Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters. And so I tell you, every kind of sin and slander can be forgiven, but blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven. Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but anyone who speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come.” (Matthew 12 v 30-32)
Jesus has set free the demon-possessed man who was also blind and mute. The Pharisees are accusing him of blasphemy and they will continue to do so. But it is them who have actually committed blasphemy.
So what is this unforgiveable sin?
Firstly, if you think you may have committed it then you haven’t!
This is a sin for the unbeliever.
The Pharisees are on the brink of committing this sin for they see the work of the Spirit and attribute it to Satan’s work.
You can accuse Jesus of many things and you will still be able to repent and find forgiveness. But if you reject the Spirit’s endorsement that the forgiveness of sins is from God and through Jesus by demonstrating exorcisms and healing then where do you actually go for your own forgiveness? If you reject this then you can’t have that. You have no place to go. If you reject the evidence and the conviction then how can you reach the place of forgiveness? You make yourself unreachable and unforgiveable.
There is no middle ground with Jesus. He is Messiah or He is not. The Pharisees had chosen and the crowds soon will.
Today Churches around the world will gather to celebrate Pentecost.
They will start their services in welcoming the Holy Spirit. They will pray that He will endorse the work of Jesus’ power to forgive sins by moving amongst them and healing those who are sick. They will hope that all will be forgiven. They will not want anyone to reject that invitation and remain unforgiveable.
Come Holy Spirit.
Missions Paul 