I ran into a problem. I was trying to show a member of the Church of Christ denomination that Paul would have been damned by Peter's gospel, because of his blasphemy of the Holy Ghost in the stoning of Stephen. His response was this. Why then weren't the Jews damned by their blasphemy at the cross, screaming "Crucify him!... "? I had no answer. What could I have said?
Hello, thanks for writing. The question that you ask is a good one and pretty easy to answer if the person that you are dealing with believes the verses! But in my experience with people who reject Paul's authority today as our Apostle, no matter what you show them, they will resist and gainsay. So whether your so-called Church of Christ person receives this truth or not, it will help you understand what's going on with Paul's conversion on the road to Damascus. So I have included the verses in this answer so that you may print it out and actually go over it with the church of Christ member. If he/she shows a genuine interest of learning more, well, you all may contact me again, if not, don't waste your time with them and if you ever need more help from me you may contact me anytime!
Titus 3:10-11
A man that is an heretick after the first and second admonition reject; Knowing that he that is such is subverted, and sinneth, being condemned of himself.
Paul could in no way be forgiven his sins and blasphemy by God under the old gospel of the kingdom preached by John the Baptist, the Lord Jesus Christ and Peter and the 11 because he committed the unpardonable sin of blaspheming the Holy Ghost!
Matthew 12:31
Wherefore I say unto you, all manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men: but the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men.
The Jews at the cross did not blaspheme the Holy Ghost because he had not been given yet. He did not come into the world until after our Lord's ascension into heaven.
John 16:7
Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you.
The Holy Ghost's ministry did not start until Acts 2...
Acts 1:4-9
And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me. For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel? And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power. But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight.
Ten days later....
Acts 2:1-4
And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.
The Jews at the cross blasphemed or spoke against the Lord Jesus Christ, which could and was forgiven, but not the Holy Ghost, Who had not come yet into the world. Therefore, contrary to your Church of Christ "friend’s" belief, the Jews at the cross did not commit the Unpardonable sin—blaspheme the Holy Spirit! Paul was not at the cross, his blasphemy came after the Holy Ghost came into the world in Acts 2!
Luke 12:10
And whosoever shall speak a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but unto him that blasphemeth against the Holy Ghost it shall not be forgiven
So we see that simply blaspheming the Lord, although reprehensible, was not unpardonable, but speaking against the Holy Ghost's ministry was unpardonable. It was unpardonable because there was no other member of the Godhead to appeal to for mercy once a person rejects the Holy Ghost! And those Jews at the Cross were granted forgiveness by the Father at the request of the Lord Jesus Himself!
Luke 23:34
Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots.
This petition for mercy was answered in the affirmative by the Father by giving Israel another year to receive her King and his kingdom....which we see prophesied in the book of Luke, and played out in the other book written by Luke, the book of Acts, in Acts chapters 1-7, when the Holy Ghost ministered to Israel until he was rejected in Stephen's stoning.
Luke 13:6-9
He spake also this parable; A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard; and he came and sought fruit thereon, and found none.Then said he unto the dresser of his vineyard, Behold, these three years [Christ’s earthly ministry] I come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and find none: cut it down; why cumbereth it the ground? nd he answering said unto him, Lord, let it alone this year also, till I shall dig about it, and dung it: And if it bear fruit, well: and if not, then after that thou shalt cut it down.
This year of "digging and dunging" was done by the Lord when he, after His Ascension, sent down the Holy Ghost onto his apostles and the little flock of Jewish believes in Acts 1-7!
So in conclusion, the unpardonable sin was not blaspheming the Father, or the Son, the first two members of the triune Godhead. But, the unpardonable sin was the blaspheming of the third and last member of the Godhead, the Holy Ghost, who came into the world to minister in Acts 2, and was blasphemed against by Israel represented by their religious leader Saul of Tarsus/our Apostle Paul in Acts 7!
Therefore, in order for Paul to get forgiveness of sins from God, God had to begin a new dispensation called grace! Paul was the first person saved in this new dispensation of God's grace and he was also the pattern for all the rest of us born into this present dispensation until it ends at the resurrection/rapture when the Lord returns to our skies and escorts us home into the heavenly places to his judgment seat!
1 Timothy 1:12-16
And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me, for that he counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry; Who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious: but I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief. And the grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus. This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief. Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might shew forth all longsuffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting.
Hopefully this helps!
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