Thank you for the question on sinning against the Holy Spirit, “Regarding James 2:10, if one offense makes me guilty of all, then how can I not also be guilty of the sin of presumption, an unforgiveable sin?”
A person can be guilty of breaking the Royal Law and not be guilty of sinning against the Holy Spirit. The context of James 2:1–13 and Matthew 12:22–37 enables us to distinguish the two different settings.
Here are some thoughts for one’s consideration:
A. Sins against other human beings can be forgiven. The Law is singular. Thus if one violates one of the Laws, that person has broken not a part of the Law but the Law itself. God has provided forgiveness for violating against the Royal Law of loving one’s neighbor as oneself.
Jesus said this in Matthew 12, “And so I tell you, every kind of sin and slander can be forgiven…” (vs. 31). I John 1:9 would apply for believers.
B. Sins against Jesus can be forgiven. Jesus said, “Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven” (vs. 31b)..
At the cross, Jesus asked the Father to forgive them for they do not know what they are doing. They thought that they were executing a criminal as decree by Pontius Pilate. If Jesus forgave them, he will certainly forgive our sins against him when we use his name in vain or act unbecoming as a Christian. See I John 1:9.
C. Sin against the Holy Spirit. Jesus said this, “ but blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven. 32 Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but anyone who speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come” (A searchable online Bible in over 150 versions and 50 languages). Bible citations are from the New International Version.
If a person attributes the works of Jesus to Beelzebub, then that person has closed his or her heart and mind to the works of God through Jesus among the people. To knowingly attribute and declare that the works done by Jesus is from Satan would be slanderous to God and offense to the Holy Spirit. As no Jew would attribute the works of Moses, Elijah or Elisha to Satan, then why would that person refuse to believe that the works of Jesus comes from God! Their rejection of the Spirit’s work through Jesus only condemns themselves for if they will refuse the work of the Spirit of God among or upon them, they will not believe Jesus’ words.
It has been argued that Christians and non-Christians can’t commit blasphemy against the Holy Spirit since Jesus is not present doing those signs. It is a historical event, not a present event. This may well be true but as one reads the Scriptures and rejects the words and works of Jesus, then in one sense s/he is closing his or her heart to the Spirit’s working in that person’s life.
SUMMARY: A person can sin against God and others by violating his own moral code or the commands of God and yet be forgiven. If a person rejects the words and works of Jesus, then there is no forgiveness for one doesn’t believe that Jesus died for his or her sins. In that sense one can say that person is blaspheming the Holy Spirit for refusing to believe the works are from God. That person condemns himself and rejects God’s salvation.
For more perspectives: