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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]