Everything is Forgiven

One day I was speaking with someone who was very angry with God. His life had taken some very painful turns. Some of the turns were his fault, but others were ‘just’ circumstances of life. He felt that God wasn’t there for him. He didn’t want to go to Church. He didn’t want to pray. He just wanted to be angry. My advice to him was simple. You can be angry with God all you want. Just don’t stop talking to Him even if you’re yelling at Him.

The Lord said, “Truly, I say to you, all sins will be forgiven the sons of men, and whatever blasphemies they utter; but whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness, but is guilty of an eternal sin,” for they had said, “He has an unclean spirit.” And his mother and his brothers came; and standing outside they sent to him and called him. And a crowd was sitting about him; and they said to him, “Your mother and your brothers are outside, asking for you.” And he replied, “Who are my mother and my brothers?” And looking around on those who sat about him, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers! Whoever does the will of God is my brother, and sister, and mother.”

Mark 3.28-35

What is blasphemy of the Holy Spirit? Some think it is using curse words. Others think it is being angry with God. Still others think it is showing weakness and doubt about faith and God. The word is defined as follows:

The act or offense of speaking sacrilegiously about God or sacred things

Blasphemy

My blog today is basic. It is almost impossible to blaspheme God with your heart. Even when we are angry with Him, we still acknowledge He is God. Even when we doubt our faith, He is still God. Since it is the ONLY sin that isn’t forgiven, it is important we understand how to avoid it.

In today’s Gospel Christ promises that all sins will be forgiven, except blasphemy. The reason is at the core of our understanding of God and His willingness to forgive. If we blaspheme the Holy Spirit, that means we no longer believe in Him. If we do not believe, then we will never bother to ask His forgiveness.

Those who called Jesus Beelzebub were the ones blaspheming because they were denying His divinity. Notice Christ included, “and whatever blasphemies they utter” to the list of forgivable sins. It is the Holy Spirit that dwells inside of us. It is the Holy Spirit that reveals God to us. It is the Holy Spirit that sustains us. Without the Holy Spirit, we are just heaps of flesh and bones.

So, here’s the deal. So long as you believe, there is NOTHING that cannot be forgiven by God. You only have to ask Him. Schedule confession and get the new year (starts tomorrow) off to a good start.