Presented by Vincent Cheung

Once, in a bustling metropolis alive with the hum of traffic, towering skyscrapers, and endless crowds, there lived a man named Gavin Marston. Gavin was a devout follower of a preacher named Jonathan Merrick, a celebrated expositor of the Bible, known for his booming sermons and unwavering defense of what he called “historic orthodoxy.” Merrick’s congregation filled massive halls, and his books lined the shelves of Christian homes across the land. Gavin admired him deeply, believing Merrick to be the epitome of faithfulness to God’s word.

Gavin’s own life was shaped by Merrick’s teachings. He zealously repeated Merrick’s arguments, debating those who spoke of miracles or modern-day manifestations of the Holy Spirit. Merrick had taught him that such things were relics of the apostolic age, and to entertain them was to flirt with folly, or worse, deception. Gavin believed he was defending the truth.

One evening, while browsing a theological website, Gavin stumbled upon a volume on the blasphemy against the Holy Spirit. Intrigued and vaguely uneasy, Gavin downloaded the book from the site and began to read it.

That night, as Gavin began to read, his world began to unravel. The author—which some have nicknamed “the theologian of the unpardonable sin,” a nickname given due to his unique commitment to proclaim the truth about this sin, even against centuries of historic consensus and orthodoxy—wrote with a clarity and force that stunned Gavin. The theologian dismantled Merrick’s teachings with meticulous precision, exposing contradictions and condemning Merrick’s dismissive attitude toward the supernatural works of God. The theologian argued directly from Scripture, emphasizing Jesus’ words: “Whoever speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come.” He warned that rejecting or mocking the Spirit’s work—even carelessly—could lead to eternal damnation.

Gavin’s breath caught in his throat as he read:

“The blasphemy against the Holy Spirit is not some distant, impossible act. It is a sin committed by many today, disguised under the banner of orthodoxy. It is easy to commit, for a careless word or a mocking tone against the Spirit’s work is sufficient. Beware those who make a ministry out of denial, for they lead others into the same hell they are bound for.”

The theologian’s words were sharp, unyielding, and deeply unsettling. For years, Gavin had parroted Merrick’s claims, mocking those who spoke of tongues, prophecy, or healing. Had he spoken against the Spirit?

Gavin’s mind raced. Memories flooded back: the sneer in his voice when dismissing a friend’s testimony of healing, the ridicule he heaped upon a visiting missionary who shared stories of miracles in the field, the flippant way he’d called speaking in tongues “gibberish.” Could it be true? Had he followed a teacher who led him astray?

The book’s final chapters were devastating:

“The Pharisees believed themselves the defenders of God’s truth, yet they condemned themselves by attributing the work of the Spirit to demons. Today, many do the same, calling miracles fraudulent, tongues nonsense, and healing a lie. They become twice as much sons of hell as their teachers. There is no repentance for them, only a dreadful expectation of judgment.”

Gavin’s hands trembled as he closed the book. He felt a suffocating weight in his chest, as though the very walls of his home were closing in. He realized the theologian was right. Jonathan Merrick, for all his eloquence and scholarly appearance, had led Gavin into error. Worse still, Gavin had eagerly followed him instead of Jesus. Merrick’s disdain for the Spirit’s work had become Gavin’s disdain, his words Gavin’s words. And now, those words would condemn him.

In the days that followed, Gavin’s despair deepened. He returned to Merrick’s writings, hoping to find some rebuttal, some reassurance. But instead, he saw arrogance in Merrick’s tone, a cavalier dismissal of anything that challenged his faithless framework. Merrick’s teaching suddenly appeared hollow, his confidence a mask for unbelief.

Gavin tried to pray, but his words felt empty, echoing in a void. The theologian’s warning haunted him: “If you have spoken against the Spirit, you are finished.” He replayed his past conversations, every mocking remark and careless dismissal, and saw himself in the Pharisees who accused Jesus of casting out demons by Beelzebub. Their fate was his fate. He had mocked the Spirit, denied his works, and led others to do the same. There was no undoing it.

One evening, Gavin attended one of Merrick’s sermons, desperate for clarity. Merrick’s voice thundered from the pulpit, denouncing charismatics and reaffirming cessationism. But now, Gavin heard something else in the words: a contemptuous pride, intellectual dishonesty, and a refusal to submit to the fullness of Scripture. Merrick’s preaching no longer inspired confidence. It terrified Gavin.

Gavin stood abruptly and left the church. The cold night air hit his face like a slap. He wandered the streets, lost in thought, until he found himself back at his desk, staring at the book. He opened it again to the final page:

“There is no hope for those who have committed the unpardonable sin. Their condemnation is eternal, their regret unending. But let this serve as a warning to others: do not dismiss the Spirit’s work. Honor him. Fear God. And beware of false teachers who would lead you to mock the very power that saves.”

Gavin sank into his chair, his head in his hands. He had followed the wrong teacher, defended the wrong doctrine, and mocked the very Spirit of God. The weight of his guilt crushed him, and he knew—with chilling certainty—that it was too late to turn back.

The finality of his realization was unbearable. Gavin stared into the darkness, the words of Jesus echoing in his mind: “By your words you will be condemned.”