1. Sin Against the Holy Spirit
  1. Matthew 12: 31, 32 Sins agains the son of man will be forgiven but sin against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven.
  2. Not a one time thing.
    1. Peter denied Jesus and wept over his sin. (Matthew 26: 69 – 75)
    2. If we confess our sins, he is faithful to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1: 9)
    3. “Although I [Paul] was formerly a blasphemer, a persecutor, and an insolent man; but I obtained mercy because I did it ignorantly in unbelief. And the grace of our Lord was exceedingly abundant, with faith and love which are in Christ Jesus. This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief.” (1 Timothy 1: 13 – 15)
    4. Zacchaeus was a tax collector and one visit from Jesus and he is giving money to the poor and repaying the evil he had done. (Luke 19: 1 – 10)
  3. The people who are challenging Jesus are willfully resisting the work that Jesus is doing.
  4. What work did Jesus do?  healed on the Sabbath.
    1. Did Jesus break the Sabbath?
    2. it is alright to break the Sabbath to do good for another
      1. Sheep in a well (Matthew 12: 11)
      2. Alright to break the sabbath to do good
    3. This is what the Pharisees hated about Jesus (See Vs 14)
      1. It is not alright to heal on the Sabbath, but it is alright to plot a murder?
  5. Two ways to sin against the Holy Spirit
    1. When we take the work that Jesus is doing and put it on the devil, we are sinning against the Holy Spirit.
    2. When we resist the work of the Holy Spirit
      1. Convict world of sin
      2. Proclaim God’s righteousness
      3. Share of coming judgement. (See John 16: 8 – 11)
        1. Person who is resisting work of Holy Spirit (Hebrews 10: 29)

2. New Covenant More glorious 7 – 11

  1. The law is a ministration of death to the sinner Vs 7
    1. It cannot be kept; therefore death
      1. It awakened death in us (Romans 7: 5)
      2. It could not clear a guilty conscious (Hebrews 9: 14)
    2. Still it came “with glory”
      1. Still it was passing away
      2. Moses wore a veil because the glory of his face was fading.
  2. Our righteousness is not from the law. 8, 9
    1. It pointed us to the need of a blood sacrifice
  3. The comparison is not even worth comparison
    1. Unless we hate our brother or sister. (Luke 14: 26)
    2. Just as the sun outshines the brightest moon
  4. Old Covenant is glorious
    1. Paul is not rejecting the Torah and all of it commandments
    2. Jesus did not reject it, but fulfilled it. (See Matthew 5: 17 – 20)
    3. Example of coming to presence of God in each covenant (Hebrews 12: 18 – 27)

3. Ministry in the New Covenant 12 – 18

  1. New Glory is not fading Vs 12, 13
    1. There is a sense of permanence with the new covenant
    2. The glory does not fade like it did to Moses
    3. Just as some religions have marks to show their allegiance (Robes, haircuts, clothing) We have the glory of God in us that sets us apart.
  2. The Jews did not recognize the vanishing glory of the Law Vs 14
    1. They understood Moses glory to be an abiding glory
    2. They veiled their hearts to Jesus when he stood among them.
  3. the veil that was once on their faces is on their hearts Vs 15
  4. When they turn to the Lord, the veil is removed Vs 16
  5. With the New Covenant, we have freedom of access to God Vs 17
    1. We pass from death into life
    2. There is liberty in Christ.
    3. The liberty of the spirit contrasted with the letter of the law.
      1. Romans 8: 15 not a spirit of bondage, but adoption
      2. Galatians 5: 1 not entangled again with yoke of bondage.
    4. Spirit makes us ministers of this new covenant Vs 6
  6. Looking at Jesus we are transformed into His likeness Vs 18
    1. This belongs to all believers without exception
    2. We look at the bible through the eyes of faith.
    3. EXAMPLE: burns are staying in his presence and we are changed
    4. We continue to behold Him (See 1 John 3: 2)
    5. We no longer live by works and are transformed.
    6. three conditions must be met
      1. Turning to the Lord
      2. Every veil must be removed
      3. Desire that only his glory would be reflected
      4. Then we are transformed.