The Spiritual State Of The Blasphemer
The following is an argument made in debate with a Baptist while discussing the subject of apostasy. Only slight mention of one passage in this argument was made by the Baptist preacher following the first time the argument was presented. Matt. 15:18-20 was the only passage to which he made reference. When the argument was made the second time; at which time it was magnified, emphasized, and pressed, he made no reference to it at all. Copies of a detailed outline of this argument had been previously printed and were given to all who were present at the debate. This is the second time this argument has been used in debate on this subject. Neither time has it been answered, and reference has only been made to it this one time. It is the conviction of this writer that this argument cannot be answered by any Baptist or anyone else who believes in the impossibility of apostasy. Any brother who wishes extra copies of this outline to give out at a debate may obtain them free from this writer at 14655 Sherman Way, Van Nuys, California.
What is the spiritual state of the blasphemer, while guilty of blasphemy, lost or saved: Which?
Surely my opponent will not contend that the person who is guilty of blasphemy is in a saved condition. Peter declared that it would be "the righteous that would scarcely be saved" I Peter 4:18.
The word "blaspheme" is from the Greek word "blasphemeoo" which means — To vilify, defame, rail, revile, speak evil" Strong's Lexicon Page 19 Paragraph 987. "used of those who by contemptuous speech intentionally come short of the reverence due to God or to sacred things. Thayer Page 102-b.
It is declared in Matt. 15:18-20 that — "But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man. For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies: These are the things which defile a man .. .."
The word "heart" in this passage comes from the Greek word "kardia" and means "the center and seat of spiritual life, the soul or mind as in the fountain and seat of thoughts, passions, desires, appetites, affections, inner man" Thayer Page 325-a. The word "defile" is from the Greek word "kaino'oo" which means "to make unclean, render unhallowed, profane; — repugnant to the holy law".
Thus the blasphemer is rendered unclean and profane — repugnant to holy law by uttering contemptuous speech that comes from the seat of spiritual life or the soul. Thus the Soul is defiled and is evil.
Again Mark 7:21-22 declares "from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness: All these evil things come from within, and defile the man."
We have already seen that the word "Heart" referred to the soul of man. Here we have another word. This word is "within" which comes from the Greek word "esoothen" and means "the internal, inner man. i.e. the soul, conscience — that which is within, the inside — your soul" Thayer Page 254-a.
Thus the Lord used two words to show that blasphemies and the other evil things come from the soul of man. This shows the spiritual status of the person, whosoever it might be, who is guilty of blasphemy or any of these sins.
In Acts 26:9-11 we have a case where some saints blasphemed. This is a clear cut case of apostasy. When they blasphemed they entered into such a spiritual state as given above. Paul said "I verily thought within myself, that I ought to do many things contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth. Which thing I also did in Jerusalem: and many of the saints did I shut up in prison, having received authority from the chief priests; and when they were put to death, I gave my voice against them. And I punished them oft in every synagogue, and compelled them to blaspheme... "
Here is a case where "saints" turned to blaspheme in order to save their lives. There were, of course, some who died before they would blaspheme. We have seen the spiritual status of the blasphemer above. Thus we have here a case where "saints" from their hearts, their souls, their inner man turned to blaspheme the Christ in order to live. But according to Baptist doctrine these blasphemers will be saved the same as those who gave their lives before they would speak evil of Jesus of Nazareth.
On Acts 26:9-11 we have this comment by some of the most able commentators in all the Baptist ranks. Note them carefully - - - - Lyman Abbot Commentary on Acts page 244-b. "compelled them to blaspheme — Literally, to speak evil of; here of the name of Christ, i.e. to recant from their faith, and renounce Christ. — Such apostasies have occurred in all times of persecution, and did occur in the primitive church (2. Tim. 1:15; 4:10; Heb. 6:6)
Commentary on Acts by Horatio B. Hackett edited by Alva Hovey in consultation with Ezra Abbot. (These three men were as great scholars as the Baptists ever had.) "That among the many who suffered this violence, everyone preserved his fidelity, it would be unreasonable to affirm." Page 284-b.
There is another such case in I Timothy 1:18-20 where Paul declares that Hymenaeus and Alexander had cast off their faith and good conscience, they had made shipwreck of faith, and Paul said that "whom I delivered unto Satan, that they may learn not to blaspheme."
The evidence is clear. Blasphemies come from the heart, soul, inner man, the seat of spiritual life. They make the soul to be unclean or profane. A saint of God can blaspheme, thus bringing him into such an evil state that he will be cast off to Satan.
Note The Following Syllogisms . . . .
I.
1. The words "heart" and "within" refer to the inner man or soul.
2. Blasphemies come from the "heart" or from "within". Matt. 15:18-20, Mk. 7:21
3. Therefore, blasphemies come from the inner man or soul.
II.
1. It is a sin to blaspheme, which sin comes from the inner man or soul.
2. "The soul that sinneth it shall die" Ezek. 18:20 3. Therefore, the soul that blasphemes shall die.
III.
1. The word "die" in Ezekiel 18:20 means "to separate from God."
2. The soul that blasphemes sins — it dies.
3. Therefore, the soul that blasphemes separates from God.
-IV.-
1. Separate from God there is no salvation. Who will deny this?
2. When a saint blasphemes he sins — dies — separates from God.
3. Therefore, when a saint blasphemes he separates from salvation.
V.
1. Some saints blasphemed. Acts 26:9-11; I Tim. 1:18-30.
2. To blaspheme is to sin, to die, to separate from God, to separate from Salvation.
3. Therefore, those saints sinned, they died — separated from God, they lost their salvation.
-VI.-
1. Without salvation one will be lost. Who would deny this?
2. These saints in Acts 26:9-11; I Tim. 18-20 lost their salvation.
3. Therefore, those people who had been saints, but had blasphemed, will be lost.
If my opponent contends that these people who blasphemed were still in a saved state, while guilty of blasphemy, he will be forced to contend that Heaven will be filled with blasphemers, evil thinkers, murders, adulterers, fornicators, thieves, false witnesses, and all such as are mentioned in Matt. 15:18-20 and Mark 7:21-22. This would reduce Heaven to a level of that of the underworld. That is, if a blasphemer is still saved while guilty of blasphemy.