Ephesians 4:30 - Grieving the Holy Spirit Leads to the Unpardonable Sin.
Ephesians 4:30 (KJV) And grieve not the holy Spirit of God,
whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.
Ephesians 4:30 (AMP) And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God
[do not offend or vex or sadden Him], by Whom you were sealed
(marked, branded as God's own, secured), for the day of redemption (of
final deliverance through Christ from evil and the consequences of
sin).
APPLICATION COMMENTARY
The Holy Spirit is a person, not just an influence, for only a
person can be grieved. [NIV SB]
Paul gives us a surprising reason for choosing the right over
the wrong: so that we don't grieve the Holy Spirit -- not just so
that we don't hurt one another, but also so that we do not sadden God
the Spirit. What a powerful incentive to do what is right and avoid
what is evil! What a privilege and responsibility to know that our
actions have that kind of effect on God. How do your words, thoughts,
and behavior impact him? (Life Application Commentary)
How would you like to live with somebody who was everlastingly
grieving your heart by his conduct? -- G. Campbell Morgan
Since the Spirit lives in us, our actions which are not under
His control bring anguish to Him. [Disciple SB]
God's Spirit grieves whenever someone in whom he dwells is
unfaithful or disloyal. Sin, whether by thought or deed, is an affront to
the Holy Spirit. Sin drives a wedge between us and God, causing the
Spirit great pain and sorrow. [Quest SB]
We can grieve the Holy Spirit by the way we live. Paul warns us
against unwholesome language, bitterness, improper use of anger,
brawling, slander, and bad attitudes toward others. Instead of acting that
way, we should be forgiving, just as God has forgiven us. Are you
grieving or pleasing God with your attitudes and actions? Act in love
toward your brothers and sisters in Christ, just as God acted in love
by sending his Son to die for your sins. [Life Application SB re
vv. 28-32]
That which grieves the Holy Spirit is sin. The remedy is
confession (cf. 1 Jn 1:9) [Wycliffe Bible Commentary]
To "give place to the devil" (v. 27) is to allow unconfessed sin
in your life that gives Satan an opportunity to take over. Some
sins to avoid are discussed here in this chapter. [Chapter by Chapter
Bible Commentary by Warren Wiersbe]
You have been set free from the old life, so why live in those
old sins anymore? Anything evil from the old life that is brought
into the new life will give the devil a beachhead. Paul names such
things as lying, losing your temper, stealing, corrupt speech,
bitterness, and an unforgiving spirit. These sins invite Satan into your
life, and they hurt you, harm the church, and grieve the Spirit of
God. Is it worth it? [Chapter by Chapter Bible Commentary by Warren
Wiersbe re Eph.4:17-32]
The Holy Spirit's power within gives new life to believers.
While we continue to battle with our sinful nature, we should be
living for Christ each day. To refuse to do so, to constantly give in
to lying, anger, stealing, and foul talk is to grieve the Holy
Spirit of God. (Life Application Commentary)
Already And Not Yet. That's how we experience Christ. Already we
have come out of spiritual darkness and into his light. Already we
have received his grace and come to know him. But not yet do we live
completely the way God wants. We have not yet arrived. Still, Jesus is
right beside us on this journey. [Quiet Time SB]
The reception of the Holy Spirit at conversion is God's
authentication that the believer is accepted, that the approval of Heaven rests
upon his choice and experience.... It is hoped that the believer will
persevere and that he will be glorified. This can be only if he holds
"fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end"
(Heb. 3:6). The act of sealing does not forever guarantee salvation,
for it is possible to sin against the Holy Spirit and thus forfeit
redemption (see on Matt. 12:31; cf. on Heb. 6:4-6). The sin for which there
is no pardon comes as a climax to a series of grievings. It is
important therefore to guard against even a single act of grieving. [SDA
Commentary]
All that the believer has must come from Christ, but it comes
solely through the channel of the Spirit of grace. Moreover, as all
blessings thus flow to you through the Holy Spirit, so also no good thing
can come out of you in holy thought, devout worship, or gracious
act, apart from the sanctifying operation of the same Spirit. Even if
the good seed be sown in you, yet it lies dormant except he worketh
in you to will and to do of his own good pleasure. Do you desire to
speak for Jesus--how can you unless the Holy Ghost touch your tongue?
Do you desire to pray? Alas! what dull work it is unless the Spirit
maketh intercession for you! Do you desire to subdue sin? Would you be
holy? Would you imitate your Master? Do you desire to rise to
superlative heights of spirituality? Are you wanting to be made like the
angels of God, full of zeal and ardour for the Master's cause? You
cannot without the Spirit--"Without me ye can do nothing." O branch of
the vine, thou canst have no fruit without the sap! O child of God,
thou hast no life within thee apart from the life which God gives
thee through his Spirit! Then let us not grieve him or provoke him to
anger by our sin. Let us not quench him in one of his faintest motions
in our soul; let us foster every suggestion, and be ready to obey
every prompting. If the Holy Spirit be indeed so mighty, let us
attempt nothing without him; let us begin no project, and carry on no
enterprise, and conclude no transaction, without imploring his blessing. Let
us do him the due homage of feeling our entire weakness apart from
him, and then depending alone upon him, having this for our prayer,
"Open thou my heart and my whole being to thine incoming, and uphold
me with thy free Spirit when I shall have received that Spirit in
my inward parts." [Morning and Evening by Charles H. Spurgeon]
Just so there'll be no mistake, Paul held up a mirror for us to
look into. Here, he said, is the new man. He doesn't lie. He gets
angry now and then, but not enough to lose control and sin. Once a
thief, he's now hard at work on an assembly line. Once foul-mouthed, he
now concentrates on saying loving, positive things that build others
up. Instead of bitterness and rage, the new man is marked by
kindness and compassion. Instead of brawling, the new man forgives others
just as Christ forgave him--freely, generously. Look closely in this
mirror. The person you see--the honest, decent, loving, forgiving
individual--is you! This is who you are in Christ! So put this new man on. And
take him with you wherever you go. [The 365-Day Devotional Commentary
re vv. 25-32]
|
|
