And so we are solemnly warned against resisting the Spirit, and
almost tearfully and always tenderly exhorted to "quench not the
Spirit," and to "grieve not the Holy Spirit of God, whereby,"
says the Apostle, "ye are sealed unto the day of redemption."
There is one great sin against which Jesus warned the Jews, as a
sin never to be forgiven in this world nor in that which is to
come. That was blasphemy against the Holy Ghost.
That there is such a sin, Jesus teaches in Matthew xii. 31, 32,
Mark iii. 28-30, and Luke xii. 10. And it may be that this is the
sin referred to in Hebrews vi. 4-6; x. 29.
Since many of God's dear children have fallen into dreadful
distress through fear that they had committed this sin, it may be
helpful for us to study carefully as to what constitutes it.
Jesus was casting out devils, and Mark tells us that "the scribes
which came down from Jerusalem said, He hath Beelzebub, and by
the prince of the devils casteth He out devils." To this Jesus
replied with gracious kindness and searching logic: "How can
Satan cast out Satan? And if a kingdom be divided against itself,
that kingdom cannot stand. And if a house be divided against
itself, it cannot stand. And if Satan rise up against himself and
be divided, he cannot stand, but hath an end. No man can enter
into a strong man's house and spoil his goods, except he will
first bind the strong man; and then he will spoil his house.
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