Part One: The Christian and the Grieving of the Holy Spirit

As Christians we need to take seriously the issue of sin and how it grieves the Holy Spirit of God that indwells us.

Ephesians 4:30 we see this warning 

 “And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.”

So What grieves the Holy Spirit?  All sin grieves the Lord- 

We like our laundry list of sins and categorize them.....lying is not as bad as sexual sin, and that’s not as bad as murder----you know the drill...but all sin is sin—God is Holy and He cannot be in the presence of it. 

 In this Ephesians passage we see specific sins that break the heart of God. In context chapter 4…. first speaks to the unity of all believers baptized in the Holy Spirit (it is clear that all believers are baptized in One body, one spirit.
4 There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling; 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism; 6 one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in [c]you all.

 In this same passage in chapter 4 we see Paul lay out the issue, calling out specific sins that grieve the Holy Spirit--- let’s read these in Eph. 4:25-32--

 25 Therefore, putting away lying, “Let each one of you speak truth with his neighbor,” for we are members of one another. 26 “Be angry, and do not sin”: do not let the sun go down on your wrath, 27 nor give place to the devil. 28 Let him who stole steal no longer, but rather let him labor, working with his hands what is good, that he may have something to give him who has need. 29 Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers. 30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31 Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. 32 And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.

Not only are there sins of commission, but we see in James 4:17 Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin.

Our main struggle in this world is found in 1 John 2:15-17. 

“Do not love the world or the things in the world- if anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is of the world- the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes and the pride of life, is not of the Father but is of the world- and the world is passing away and the lust of it- but he who does the will of God abides forever.”

So we see there are 3 things that are always coming against humans in our sin nature...lust of flesh..lust of the eyes and pride of life.

This is not a salvation issue—-it is a sanctification issue.

 “And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins- in which you once walked according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience.” Eph. 2:2 

Eph 2:13 “But now in Christ Jesus you who were once far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.”

We do not lose our salvation but we lose our fellowship with Jesus. We lose the intimacy with our Father, now estranged, so to speak- but we are still His child. Our rebellion can bring far reaching consequences. 

We must repent and allow God to restore us.

All music content written and performed by Darryl Riden, Taylor Riden, Caiti Riden (c) 2024

Contact info: cpmlife.org Christ Powered Ministries