The Sin against the Holy Ghost.

"The blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men." Matt. 12:81.

The sin against the Holy Ghost is the gravest of all sins. But even this sin, though it consists in the malicious denial of the heavenly truth by one who has been taught it and blasphemous and pernicious opposition to it, is unpardonable not on account of its greatness, but on account of its nature.

It is not a sin against the person of the Holy Ghost, but against His office. For the Holy Ghost has a special office to perform. His office is to lead us through the means of grace to Christ, our Savior, and thus to make us children of God. For we cannot by our own reason or strength believe in Jesus Christ, our Lord, or come to Him; but the Holy Ghost must call us by the Gospel, enlighten us with His gifts, sanctify and keep us in the true faith. Now, if He comes to a person in the Gospel and shines in his heart, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ, and that person is divinely convinced of the truth of the Gospel, his soul is greatly moved, and he opens his mouth to pray and to praise the Lord; if such a man later denies that conviction and the known heavenly truth, opposing the work of the Holy Ghost in his heart, and wilfully and persistently hardens himself against his better knowledge and with satanic malice blasphemes the truth and speaks against the Gospel: then he commits the sin against the Holy Ghost.

One of the characteristic features of this sin is that men do it knowingly, willingly, deliberately, blasphemously, and persistently. Scripture says Heb. 6: “ It is impossible for those who were once enlightened and have tasted of the heavenly gift and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost and have tasted the good Word of God and the powers of the world to come, if they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance.” But as long as you do not wish to commit this appalling sin, you surely have not committed it.

Prayer.

O heavenly Father, do Thou preserve me from sin and all evil, from the wiles of the devil, from the offenses of the world, and from the evil lusts of my own sinful flesh. Let me not follow those who crucify to themselves Thy dear Son afresh and put Him to an open shame. Grant unto me patience, hope, and perseverance. And when the time of my sojourning is at an end, O grant unto me an easy and a blessed death through Jesus Christ, my Savior and Re­deemer, to whom be glory forever and ever! Amen.

To-day you live, to-day repent;
Perhaps your life will soon be spent. 

To-day you’re well, your cheeks are red, 

To-morrow sick, yea, even dead.

 DAILY READINGS IN THE LIFE OF CHRIST - J.R. Miller (1890)

March 19. Trials Leading us to Christ

"When he heard that Jesus was come out of Judaea into Galilee, he went unto him, and besought him that he would come down, and heal his son: for he was at the point of death." John 4:47 

The trouble in his home — sent this man to Christ. Perhaps he would have never have gone at all — had it not been for his son's sickness. Many of those who went to Christ in the olden days — were driven by their distress of heart. They tried everything else first — and then when all else failed, they hurried to Jesus.

The same is true in these days. Many people who have never prayed before — have gotten down upon their knees by the bedside of their sick and dying children, and cried to God on their behalf. Many people have first been sent to God — by their own troubles. It was not until the prodigal was in great poverty, and every other resource had been exhausted — that he said he would arise and go to his father. Many sinners never think of Christ — until they are in despair under the sense of guilt. Not until they see the storm of wrath gathering, do they seek the shelter of the cross. But what a comfort it is that even going so late to the Savior — He does not reject or cast away those who come!

We ought to remember always, that when any trouble comes to us, whatever other purpose it may have — it is certainly intended to send us anew to Christ. Perhaps we have drifted away from Him, or grown careless, or lost our first love. The trouble that touches us — is the merciful hand of God laid on us, to lead us back to our place of safety and blessedness at His side!

A man was traveling and was hungry — but did not know where to go to find food. A sudden and violent storm came up, compelling him to seek shelter. Fleeing under a tree for refuge, he found not shelter only — but food — for the storm brought down fruits from the tree's branches for his hunger. Those whom trouble drives to Christ — also find both shelter from the storm, and food to meet their cravings!

 “I AM COME A LIGHT INTO THE WORLD"

 Devotion for 18 March, the Anglican Orthodox Communion Worldwide

“Jesus cried and said, He that believeth on me, believeth not on me, but on him that sent me. ⁴⁵And he that seeth me seeth him that sent me. ⁴⁶I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darkness. ⁴⁷And if any man hear my words, and believe not, I judge him not: for I came not to judge the world, but to save the world. ⁴⁸He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day. ⁴⁹For I have not spoken of myself; but the Father which sent me, he gave me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak. ⁵⁰And I know that his commandment is life everlasting: whatsoever I speak therefore, even as the Father said unto me, so I speak.” (John 12:44-50; all scripture quoted is from the Authorized King James Bible)

 

Today’s scripture text is taken from the lectionary for evening prayer. The greatest light to enter our physical world is the light of the sun. Without that light, there would be no energy and no life on earth. The Lord Jesus Christ is the Light of the World to those who seek a permanent citizenship in the Kingdom of Heaven. He is the Sun of Righteousness who rises with healing in His wings (See Malachi 4:2) and whose glimmer ascent began as the Morning Star of our night in the world’s wilderness journey that pointed to that coming of our Lord as a babe in a manger at Bethlehem long after those prophecies were uttered by Holy men inspired of God. He brings healing to the gaunt and sallow sinner, and life and energy to all who have eyes to behold that Light. There can exist no promise of eternal life apart from the grace of God and the faith that grace imparts to our hearts.

Some of the many benefits of light is what light reveals. It reveals two ways – the safe way and the way of tragedy. It reveals truth and exposes error. It serves as a guide for our direction to salvation in Christ. Without that Light of the World, we would be as lost in life as the corrupt politician in the cesspool of Washington, D.C.

If we would see the sun, we must look up. Likewise, if we would see the Sun of Righteousness, we must focus on the things above – the things of love and righteousness. 

A few years ago, I related a story from Pilgrim’s Progress by John Bunyan entitled, “The Man with a Muckrake.” The point of Bunyan’s parable is how many miss the light simply because their focus is upon the earth that can only create Shadows and darkness instead up at the Light that can give a Holy wisdom and knowledge leading to eternal life.

In following the ways of the world and her Prince of Darkness, our spiritual senses may become dim of hearing and seeing truth. The paltry rags and mudholes of the world for some reason appeal to us more than the celestial stairway leading up to the Gates of Splendor. Our eyes are made blind to beauty, and our ears deaf to truth. Our consciences become seared as with a hot iron so that feeling has waned. Our knowledge dwindles and our wisdom fails of lack thereof. 

“In Bunyan’s Pilgrim’s Progress you may recall the description of the Man with the Muck Rake, the man who could look no way but downward, with the muck rake in his hand; who was offered a celestial crown for his muck rake, but who would neither look up nor regard the crown he was offered, but continued to rake to himself the filth of the floor”. True knowledge and wisdom cannot abide in a wicked heart. The enemy may be cunning and shrewd, but he lacks true wisdom for he has lost sight of the Eternal Light.

Without him what would be the blessing of sight? So without Jesus we should have no spiritual knowledge, no happy love to God or man, no fruitfulness. 

Conclusion - We may gather some thoughts of Jesus from the laws of light, or the modes of its operation. Is the sun an inexhaustible fountain of light? In Jesus there is an infinite fulness of grace. Does the light travel with amazing rapidity? How swiftly do the thoughts of Jesus flow out towards His servants — "…Before they call I will answer." (Isaiah 65:24) Does light travel only in straight lines? Jesus is a Holy Savior; His eyes look straight before Him in the prosecution of His Father's purposes. Is the angle of reflection always equal to the angle of incidence? The Christian knows that the light he receives from heaven, he will find it his honor and happiness to reflect on earth. Is light a radiant force, and does a small approximation to its center bring 

In Christ Alone during Season of LENT,

 † Jerry L. Ogles, D.D.