God, the Holy SpiritThe Holy Spirit is God, a divine person in the Trinity of God; in the Old Testament, the Holy Spirit works, for example, in creation or on individuals. The Holy... More, is actively present on earth and in people. On one hand, He worksAnother word for deeds or actions. God's works are perfect (Gen 1:31), men's can be good works (Matt 5:16) or dead (Heb 6:1). On the basis of his works, unbelieving... More in unbelievers to lead them to repentanceWhile remorse (Greek metamellomai) means to regret a previous act or behavior and to have a different way of thinking about it, Repentance (Greek metanoia) goes further than that: It... More; on the other, He worksAnother word for deeds or actions. God's works are perfect (Gen 1:31), men's can be good works (Matt 5:16) or dead (Heb 6:1). On the basis of his works, unbelieving... More in believers to fill and guide them completely. However, the Holy SpiritThe Holy Spirit is God, a divine person in the Trinity of God; in the Old Testament, the Holy Spirit works, for example, in creation or on individuals. The Holy... More does not force anyone to submit to His work. God has endowed humanity with free will. Just as individuals can choose to accept or reject the Lord Jesus, they can also resist the workings of the Holy SpiritThe Holy Spirit is God, a divine person in the Trinity of God; in the Old Testament, the Holy Spirit works, for example, in creation or on individuals. The Holy... More. This applies to both unbelievers and believers.

1. Unbelievers

a) Resisting the Holy Spirit

An unbelieving person can resist the work of God's Spirit by rejecting the realization of their sinful state and disregarding the offer of a holy and righteous God, who is also loving. In the Book of Job, one of the oldest texts in the Bible, we find Elihu's profound statement to Job: “Behold, God worksAnother word for deeds or actions. God's works are perfect (Gen 1:31), men's can be good works (Matt 5:16) or dead (Heb 6:1). On the basis of his works, unbelieving... More all these things, Twice, in fact, three times with a man, To bring back his soul from the Pit, That he may be enlightened with the light of life.” (Job 33:29-30)Those familiar with New Testament teachings may recognize that this illumination of the human soul is a reflection of the Holy Spirit's activity (cf. Luke 15:8). God reveals Himself to every individual through His Spirit.

If a person willfully and consciously ignores this work, they contradict the Holy SpiritThe Holy Spirit is God, a divine person in the Trinity of God; in the Old Testament, the Holy Spirit works, for example, in creation or on individuals. The Holy... More. In Acts 7, Stephen accused the religious leaders of his time after delivering a powerful speech. He exclaimed: “You stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears! You always resist the Holy SpiritThe Holy Spirit is God, a divine person in the Trinity of God; in the Old Testament, the Holy Spirit works, for example, in creation or on individuals. The Holy... More; as your fathers did, so do you” (Acts 7:51). The worksAnother word for deeds or actions. God's works are perfect (Gen 1:31), men's can be good works (Matt 5:16) or dead (Heb 6:1). On the basis of his works, unbelieving... More of God were evident both in the Old Testament and, especially, in the earthly life of Jesus ChristA title of the Lord Jesus, which is also used as an epithet; Messiah (Hebrew) and Christ (Greek) mean "anointed one". The title refers to the fact that Jesus is... More. Despite the powerful workings of the Holy SpiritThe Holy Spirit is God, a divine person in the Trinity of God; in the Old Testament, the Holy Spirit works, for example, in creation or on individuals. The Holy... More, the religious leaders resisted this influence and deliberately rejected it.

This principle applies to every unbeliever today. One cannot remain neutral toward the work of the Holy Spirit. Either you follow His voice and accept God's message in faith, or you resist His work and thereby reject God. There is no "happy medium." In this sense, only an unbeliever can truly "resist" the Holy SpiritThe Holy Spirit is God, a divine person in the Trinity of God; in the Old Testament, the Holy Spirit works, for example, in creation or on individuals. The Holy... More, and the consequences of such resistance can be dire.

b) The Blasphemy of the Spirit

Another way that unbelievers can reject the Spirit is through blasphemy, as explained by Jesus Himself. He stated: “Therefore I say to you, every sinThe Bible carefully differentiates between sin and sins. • Sin: the evil power at work in man that causes him to engage in sinful activities (Rom 7:17, 18). God pronounced... More and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven men.” (Matthew 12:31-32, NKJV)At first glance, this statement may seem harsh and inconsistent with other biblical passages that emphasize God's graceTo the one who earns something through performance, the reward is not according to grace but according to debt (Rom. 4:4). Grace is a favor that is not given by... More. However, it is crucial to consider this statement in context. By examining the entire passage in Matthew 12:22-37, we can better understand what the blasphemy of the Spirit means and why it is an unforgivable sinThe Bible carefully differentiates between sin and sins. • Sin: the evil power at work in man that causes him to engage in sinful activities (Rom 7:17, 18). God pronounced... More.

After healing a blind and mute man possessedA possessed person has a demon inside of them, which means that this evil, satanic spirit (demons are servants of Satan) controls the body and wreaks havoc and destruction. Sometimes,... More by a demonIn the Bible, demons are described as "unclean spirits" that are controlled by Satan (cf. Rev 16:13-14). On several occasions during His life on earth, the Lord Jesus cast out... More, people began to question if Jesus was the Son of David, which would imply His right to the royal throne. The PhariseesThe Pharisees were a small but influential religious group at the time of the New Testament. They demanded a strict separation from the lifestyle and practices of the gentiles and... More, uncomfortable with this notion, claimed that Jesus cast out the demonIn the Bible, demons are described as "unclean spirits" that are controlled by Satan (cf. Rev 16:13-14). On several occasions during His life on earth, the Lord Jesus cast out... More by the power of SatanThe Bible introduces us to the great adversary of God in Rev 20:2 under four terms: • Dragon • Old Serpent • Devil • Satan Under the term 'Satan,' the... More. In reality, Jesus expelled the demonIn the Bible, demons are described as "unclean spirits" that are controlled by Satan (cf. Rev 16:13-14). On several occasions during His life on earth, the Lord Jesus cast out... More through the power of the Spirit of God (Matthew 12:28). By attributing the worksAnother word for deeds or actions. God's works are perfect (Gen 1:31), men's can be good works (Matt 5:16) or dead (Heb 6:1). On the basis of his works, unbelieving... More of the Holy SpiritThe Holy Spirit is God, a divine person in the Trinity of God; in the Old Testament, the Holy Spirit works, for example, in creation or on individuals. The Holy... More to SatanThe Bible introduces us to the great adversary of God in Rev 20:2 under four terms: • Dragon • Old Serpent • Devil • Satan Under the term 'Satan,' the... More, the PhariseesThe Pharisees were a small but influential religious group at the time of the New Testament. They demanded a strict separation from the lifestyle and practices of the gentiles and... More committed blasphemy against the Holy SpiritThe Holy Spirit is God, a divine person in the Trinity of God; in the Old Testament, the Holy Spirit works, for example, in creation or on individuals. The Holy... More, a sinThe Bible carefully differentiates between sin and sins. • Sin: the evil power at work in man that causes him to engage in sinful activities (Rom 7:17, 18). God pronounced... More so grievous that it cannot be forgiven.

Is it still possible to blaspheme the Spirit today and commit an unforgivable sinThe Bible carefully differentiates between sin and sins. • Sin: the evil power at work in man that causes him to engage in sinful activities (Rom 7:17, 18). God pronounced... More? Many individuals, including children of God, are concerned about this question. However, I believe that this sinThe Bible carefully differentiates between sin and sins. • Sin: the evil power at work in man that causes him to engage in sinful activities (Rom 7:17, 18). God pronounced... More was limited to the time when Jesus walked the earth. It was only during that period that people could attribute His actions to satanic origins. As one commentator has noted, we are convinced that this sinThe Bible carefully differentiates between sin and sins. • Sin: the evil power at work in man that causes him to engage in sinful activities (Rom 7:17, 18). God pronounced... More could only have been committed while Jesus was alive and was specifically perpetrated by the PhariseesThe Pharisees were a small but influential religious group at the time of the New Testament. They demanded a strict separation from the lifestyle and practices of the gentiles and... More. Therefore, it cannot be forgiven, neither in this age nor in the age to come (A.C. Gaebelein).

Blasphemy against the Holy Spirit should not be confused with the "sin unto death" mentioned by John in 1 John 5:16-17. The sinThe Bible carefully differentiates between sin and sins. • Sin: the evil power at work in man that causes him to engage in sinful activities (Rom 7:17, 18). God pronounced... More unto death pertains specifically to a believer; God may punish a particular sinThe Bible carefully differentiates between sin and sins. • Sin: the evil power at work in man that causes him to engage in sinful activities (Rom 7:17, 18). God pronounced... More in the life of one of His children with death. However, this death pertains only to this earthly life and not eternity. In His sovereign ways, God may allow a believer to die, and we should not intervene in such cases, but this has no bearing on their eternal salvationSalvation is part of God's plan of saving people. Those who are in danger and cannot help themselves need salvation. We owe our salvation to our Savior, who went to... More. In contrast, blasphemy against the Holy SpiritThe Holy Spirit is God, a divine person in the Trinity of God; in the Old Testament, the Holy Spirit works, for example, in creation or on individuals. The Holy... More results in eternal damnation.

2. Believers

a) Grieving the Holy Spirit

Paul writes to the Ephesians: “And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.” (Ephesians 4:30). To "grieve" means to "make sad" (see, for example, 2 Cor 2:2, where the same GreekUnlike Hellenists (Greek-speaking Jews; Acts 6:1; 9:29), Greeks, in the narrow sense of the word, come from Greece and have at least one Greek parent (Acts 16:3 in connection with... More expression is used). This indicates that our behavior can indeed make the Holy SpiritThe Holy Spirit is God, a divine person in the Trinity of God; in the Old Testament, the Holy Spirit works, for example, in creation or on individuals. The Holy... More sad. The context of this verse, which mentions the sealing by the Holy SpiritThe Holy Spirit is God, a divine person in the Trinity of God; in the Old Testament, the Holy Spirit works, for example, in creation or on individuals. The Holy... More, clarifies two key points:

1. The individuals being addressed are those sealed with the Holy SpiritThe Holy Spirit is God, a divine person in the Trinity of God; in the Old Testament, the Holy Spirit works, for example, in creation or on individuals. The Holy... More, meaning they are believers and children of God. This does not apply to unbelievers who may grieve the Holy SpiritThe Holy Spirit is God, a divine person in the Trinity of God; in the Old Testament, the Holy Spirit works, for example, in creation or on individuals. The Holy... More.
2. Even though a child of God can grieve the Holy SpiritThe Holy Spirit is God, a divine person in the Trinity of God; in the Old Testament, the Holy Spirit works, for example, in creation or on individuals. The Holy... More, their status as sealed with the Spirit remains unchanged.

The thought of sealing relates to our positionThe Christian position cannot be separated from Christian practice, but a distinction must be made. "Position" means how God sees us now. In the eyes of God, we are "in... More as believers. Nothing and no one can take that positionThe Christian position cannot be separated from Christian practice, but a distinction must be made. "Position" means how God sees us now. In the eyes of God, we are "in... More away from us. On the other hand, the idea of grieving the Spirit pertains to our practical behavior.

God's Word often demonstrates both the blessings of our positionThe Christian position cannot be separated from Christian practice, but a distinction must be made. "Position" means how God sees us now. In the eyes of God, we are "in... More and the practical responsibilities that accompany it. Being sealed with the Holy SpiritThe Holy Spirit is God, a divine person in the Trinity of God; in the Old Testament, the Holy Spirit works, for example, in creation or on individuals. The Holy... More is a tremendous blessingA blessing is something good, in the Old Testament, usually associated with possessions, prosperity, and health, and is usually pronounced over someone. In principle, the lesser is blessed by the... More. However, we are also called to avoid grieving the Spirit—this is our daily responsibility. If we misbehave, we do not lose the Spirit; He remains with us for eternity, but our actions can certainly grieve Him.

How can we grieve the Holy Spirit and make Him sad? First, we think of obvious sins that, unfortunately, can occur repeatedly in our lives. Every sin in the life of a child of God disrupts our fellowship with the Father and undeniably grieves the Holy Spirit. The Spirit is known as the "Holy" Spirit of God, and as such, He is grieved by anything that does not align with God's holinessIt generally denotes something separate from the ordinary or even evil. Holiness is, above all, an attribute of God; He is glorious in holiness, He sits on his throne of... More.

However, it's important to recognize that not only obvious sins can grieve Him. To illustrate this, consider the following scenario: You are invited to a good friend's house. Full of joy, the hostess pulls out a photo album to show pictures of her friends working in the mission field. While she enthusiastically explains the pictures, you glance out the window, seeming bored and distracted by what's happening outside. After noticing your lack of interest, she closes the album and thinks sadly, "They don't care about my pictures; there's no point in sharing this with them."

This example illustrates how we can grieve the Holy SpiritThe Holy Spirit is God, a divine person in the Trinity of God; in the Old Testament, the Holy Spirit works, for example, in creation or on individuals. The Holy... More through our behavior, even without committing direct sins. The Holy SpiritThe Holy Spirit is God, a divine person in the Trinity of God; in the Old Testament, the Holy Spirit works, for example, in creation or on individuals. The Holy... More is present to fill us with the beauty and glory of the Lord Jesus. He testifies to Him, sharing the joy of the Father. But if we are preoccupied with worldly concerns, the Holy SpiritThe Holy Spirit is God, a divine person in the Trinity of God; in the Old Testament, the Holy Spirit works, for example, in creation or on individuals. The Holy... More may withdraw from this work. A Christian whose focus is on worldly matters cannot simultaneously be filled with the glory of the Lord. When we grieve the Holy SpiritThe Holy Spirit is God, a divine person in the Trinity of God; in the Old Testament, the Holy Spirit works, for example, in creation or on individuals. The Holy... More, His teaching, guidance, and direction in our lives become hindered and interrupted. Even though the Spirit continues to dwell within us, He is no longer free to carry out His work in us.

b) Extinguish the Spirit

In 1 Thessalonians 5:19, Paul admonishes, "Do not quench the Spirit." This phrase uses the imagery of fire to illustrate how the Holy Spirit operates. It's essential not to extinguish this fire. The Greek term for "quench" also implies dampening or suppressing. Throughout the New Testament, this word refers to fire in both literal (e.g., Matthew 12:20; Hebrews 11:34) and figurative senses (e.g., Mark 9:48; Ephesians 6:16). We risk diminishing, suppressing, or even completely extinguishing the influence of the Holy SpiritThe Holy Spirit is God, a divine person in the Trinity of God; in the Old Testament, the Holy Spirit works, for example, in creation or on individuals. The Holy... More.

Quenching the Spirit can occur in a believer's personal life and also apply to the Spirit's activity during gatherings of believers. On a personal level, quenching means consistently neglecting the Spirit. This leads to a state where He no longer has His rightful place. We may fail to allow Him to lead, guide, or correct us, and we could miss out on our heavenly blessings, particularly the glories of the Lord. In such cases, our lives can resemble those of unbelievers.

However, there are two key reasons to believe that quenching the Spirit primarily refers to the gatherings of believers:

1. The subsequent verse (1 Thessalonians 5:20) advises us not to despise prophecyProphecy includes any message that God saw fit to pass on to his people or anyone from the nations. Romans 16:26 speaks of the New Testament Scriptures as "prophetic writings."... More. According to 1 Corinthians 12 and 14, prophecyProphecy includes any message that God saw fit to pass on to his people or anyone from the nations. Romans 16:26 speaks of the New Testament Scriptures as "prophetic writings."... More is produced during meetings by the Holy SpiritThe Holy Spirit is God, a divine person in the Trinity of God; in the Old Testament, the Holy Spirit works, for example, in creation or on individuals. The Holy... More. To despise prophecyProphecy includes any message that God saw fit to pass on to his people or anyone from the nations. Romans 16:26 speaks of the New Testament Scriptures as "prophetic writings."... More is to despise the Spirit who produces it. If we quench the Spirit, preventing Him from working as He wishes, we may be on a dangerous path toward ultimately despising Him.
2. Fire is typically extinguished by something external. Thus, Paul may be indicating that we should not suppress the Spirit's work in others. This suppression is most likely to happen in the exercise of spiritual gifts during assemblyThe literal meaning is “called out”: • called out of "the darkness" (1. Pet 2:9)—this refers to the area where there is a lack of light about God Himself, His... More. The Spirit wants to lead these meetings, using whomever He chooses. Quenching the Spirit implies that we reject His leadership in favor of human authority. This can lead to two extremes: overemphasizing the mystical and falling into enthusiasm (which is not of the Spirit) or becoming overly formal and intellectual (which also is not produced by the Spirit). Any form of human leadership—whether official or unofficial—contradicts the guidance of the Holy SpiritThe Holy Spirit is God, a divine person in the Trinity of God; in the Old Testament, the Holy Spirit works, for example, in creation or on individuals. The Holy... More and can extinguish His work.

We should critically examine ourselves to determine if we are, perhaps, at risk in this area. God's message remains clear: "But one and the same Spirit worksAnother word for deeds or actions. God's works are perfect (Gen 1:31), men's can be good works (Matt 5:16) or dead (Heb 6:1). On the basis of his works, unbelieving... More all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills (1 Corinthians 12:11). Quenching this Spirit is a serious issue that should not be taken lightly. Conversely, allowing the Spirit to work brings immense blessings.

Our aim should be to neither grieve nor quench the Spirit but to walk in Him and let Him operate freely in our personal lives and during gatherings. Walking by (or in) the Spirit means embracing its power and blessings, leading to "joy in the Holy Spirit" (Romans 14:17) and true happiness.