If we allowing the Bible to define the term blasphemy, by examining how the word is used in the scriptures, it is very easy to understand the meaning of the word, as it applies to blaspheming God. Then, by knowing the Biblical definition and proper usage, we can discover what blaspheming the Holy Ghost would entail.
Luke 5:21
20 And when he saw their faith, he said unto him, Man, thy sins are forgiven thee. 21 And the scribes and the Pharisees began to reason, saying, Who is this which speaketh blasphemies? Who can forgive sins, but God alone?
If anyone in the world, past or present, ever knew the definition of the term blasphemy, and it’s proper usage, it was the Pharisees. In this passage, these learned teachers of the law are saying, that by claiming to have a power that only God possesses (the power to forgive sin) Jesus is speaking blasphemy against God. And, had anyone else said these words (Man, thy sins are forgiven thee) the Pharisees would have been correct. Therefore, in this application, we can define blasphemy as follows; The act of claiming powers or abilities belonging to God.
Mark 14:64
. Again the high priest asked him, and said unto him, Art thou the Christ, the Son of the Blessed? 62 And Jesus said, I am: and ye shall see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven.63 Then the high priest rent his clothes, and saith, What need we any further witnesses? 64 Ye have heard the blasphemy:
Here we get another definition and application for the word blasphemy; this time from the high priest. Now, surly the high priest knows the definitions for the word, and its proper usage. By claiming to be the son of God, Jesus makes himself a god. For this cause, Jesus was charged under Jewish law with the crime of blasphemy. In this application we can define blasphemy as follows; making the claim to be God or a god.
John 10:33
30 I and my Father are one.
31 Then the Jews took up stones again to stone him. 32 Jesus answered them, Many good works have I shewed you from my Father; for which of those works do ye stone me?33 The Jews answered him, saying, For a good work we stone thee not; but for blasphemy; and because that thou, being a man, makest thyself God.
Here, the Jewish people use the word in the same context, as it was used by the high priest.
36 Say ye of him, whom the Father hath sanctified, and sent into the world, Thou blasphemest; because I said, I am the Son of God?
And here, Jesus is making sure of the accusation made against Him in verse 33 is what it is.
Now that we know two ways of defining blasphemy, and two ways the word can be applied, let’s make a couple of sentences illustrating the blasphemy of the Holy Ghost.
1) Antichrist claims to be filled with the Holy Spirit = Blasphemy
2) Antichrist causes fire to come down from the sky and says this is the power of the Holy Ghost
working through him = Blasphemy
The one example of direct blasphemy of the Holy Ghost, is different from the two methods that we have already discovered, and can be found. In the book of Mark Chap. 3, Jesus was accused, by the Pharisees of using the power of Beelzebub to cast out demons. Then, through a lengthy brow beating, Jesus told them that they had sinned, and what they had done was blasphemy against the Holy Ghost. Jesus cast out the demons by the power of the Holy Ghost, and the Pharisees gave credit to Satan, thereby denying the Holy Ghost His due.
Blasphemy, like many words in the English language, has more than one definition and application. Take the word abide. It could mean to live in;( I will abide in this home); To live up to or fulfill; (I will abide by this contract; To obey or comply with; (I will abide by the Law) It seems that to reach the Full Gospel, we should use the full meaning of Gods Word.
At any rate, there seems to be more than one way to skin a cat, and more than one way to blaspheme the Holy Ghost. I never would want to do either one.
So here it is in a nut shell.
1) Claiming to be filled with the Holy Ghost, when it’s not true = Blasphemy
2) Claiming spiritual gifts, when it’s not true = Blasphemy
3) Denying the Holy Ghost the credit due and giving the credit elsewhere = Blasphemy
4) Accusing the Holy Spirit of evil = Blasphemy
Luke 5:21
20 And when he saw their faith, he said unto him, Man, thy sins are forgiven thee. 21 And the scribes and the Pharisees began to reason, saying, Who is this which speaketh blasphemies? Who can forgive sins, but God alone?
If anyone in the world, past or present, ever knew the definition of the term blasphemy, and it’s proper usage, it was the Pharisees. In this passage, these learned teachers of the law are saying, that by claiming to have a power that only God possesses (the power to forgive sin) Jesus is speaking blasphemy against God. And, had anyone else said these words (Man, thy sins are forgiven thee) the Pharisees would have been correct. Therefore, in this application, we can define blasphemy as follows; The act of claiming powers or abilities belonging to God.
Mark 14:64
. Again the high priest asked him, and said unto him, Art thou the Christ, the Son of the Blessed? 62 And Jesus said, I am: and ye shall see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven.63 Then the high priest rent his clothes, and saith, What need we any further witnesses? 64 Ye have heard the blasphemy:
Here we get another definition and application for the word blasphemy; this time from the high priest. Now, surly the high priest knows the definitions for the word, and its proper usage. By claiming to be the son of God, Jesus makes himself a god. For this cause, Jesus was charged under Jewish law with the crime of blasphemy. In this application we can define blasphemy as follows; making the claim to be God or a god.
John 10:33
30 I and my Father are one.
31 Then the Jews took up stones again to stone him. 32 Jesus answered them, Many good works have I shewed you from my Father; for which of those works do ye stone me?33 The Jews answered him, saying, For a good work we stone thee not; but for blasphemy; and because that thou, being a man, makest thyself God.
Here, the Jewish people use the word in the same context, as it was used by the high priest.
36 Say ye of him, whom the Father hath sanctified, and sent into the world, Thou blasphemest; because I said, I am the Son of God?
And here, Jesus is making sure of the accusation made against Him in verse 33 is what it is.
Now that we know two ways of defining blasphemy, and two ways the word can be applied, let’s make a couple of sentences illustrating the blasphemy of the Holy Ghost.
1) Antichrist claims to be filled with the Holy Spirit = Blasphemy
2) Antichrist causes fire to come down from the sky and says this is the power of the Holy Ghost
working through him = Blasphemy
The one example of direct blasphemy of the Holy Ghost, is different from the two methods that we have already discovered, and can be found. In the book of Mark Chap. 3, Jesus was accused, by the Pharisees of using the power of Beelzebub to cast out demons. Then, through a lengthy brow beating, Jesus told them that they had sinned, and what they had done was blasphemy against the Holy Ghost. Jesus cast out the demons by the power of the Holy Ghost, and the Pharisees gave credit to Satan, thereby denying the Holy Ghost His due.
Blasphemy, like many words in the English language, has more than one definition and application. Take the word abide. It could mean to live in;( I will abide in this home); To live up to or fulfill; (I will abide by this contract; To obey or comply with; (I will abide by the Law) It seems that to reach the Full Gospel, we should use the full meaning of Gods Word.
At any rate, there seems to be more than one way to skin a cat, and more than one way to blaspheme the Holy Ghost. I never would want to do either one.
So here it is in a nut shell.
1) Claiming to be filled with the Holy Ghost, when it’s not true = Blasphemy
2) Claiming spiritual gifts, when it’s not true = Blasphemy
3) Denying the Holy Ghost the credit due and giving the credit elsewhere = Blasphemy
4) Accusing the Holy Spirit of evil = Blasphemy
