How does one grieve the Holy Spirit?

“And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God.” This somewhat obscure statement occurs in Ephesians¹ regarding the Holy Spirit. Understanding that this passage also speaks to something that the Holy Spirit does for the Christian today (e.g. seals), how can a Christian grieve the Holy Spirit?

How Scripture answers "How does one grieve the Holy Spirit?"

The Christian can “grieve the Holy Spirit”¹ by not being obedient to God^3,4 and true to their calling by doing away with works of the flesh^2,5. There seems even to be a progression shown in Scripture whereby a believer with the Holy Spirit that engages in sinful/unholy behavior can first grieve/upset the Spirit^1,4, further outrage the Spirit³, and finally extinguish completely the Holy Spirit⁵, even having God working against them in their rebellion⁴.

Answer built on scripture-blocks below

2

Ephesians 4:31-32

Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.

What does it say?

Put away all bitterness, wrath, anger, screaming, and backbiting, along with all hatred. Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted and forgiving, as God in Christ has forgiven you.

What is the context?

Paul is in the midst of instructing against various things like corrupt speech, bitterness, anger, slander, etc. Instead, he is encouraging the saints to be kind, tenderhearted, forgiving (vs 32).

How does it apply here?

To grieve the Holy Spirit would involve a Christian not putting away (or continuing to engage in) behavior that is ungodly instead of being kind, tenderhearted, forgiving, etc.

3

Hebrews 10:28-29

Anyone who has set aside the law of Moses dies without mercy on the evidence of two or three witnesses. How much worse punishment, do you think, will be deserved by the one who has spurned the Son of God, and has profaned the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and has outraged the Spirit of grace?

What does it say?

Anybody [a Hebrew/Jew] that sets aside the law of Moses justly dies based on the evidence of two or three witnesses. How much worse than death do you think will be the end for the one [Christian] that has turned his back on Jesus and cursed His blood sacrifice which he had been sanctified by and outraged the Holy Spirit?

What is the context?

The Hebrews writer is beginning the conclusion of his letter imploring the Jewish Christians to remain faithful and not forget all of the “better” things they have in Christ.

How does it apply here?

The Holy Spirit’s grief¹ can turn to “outrage” when a Christian completely rejects God and His sacrifice that he once had accepted.

4

Isaiah 63:10

But they rebelled and grieved his Holy Spirit; therefore he turned to be their enemy, and himself fought against them.

What does it say?

But they [God’s people] turned [from God] and grieved His Holy Spirit. As a result, He [God] became their enemy and fought against them.

What is the context?

This chapter is divided into three sections that seem to be speaking both of the days of Moses as well as the promised new covenant, “last days” time so often spoken of in the prophets generally and Isaiah particularly (though we can’t be sure).

Vss 1-6 describe God’s Messiah coming in “crimsoned garments” that spoke “in righteousness” (vs 1) and brought with Him a “day of vengeance” (vs 4).
Vss 7-14 describe God’s “compassion” and “steadfast love” (vs 7) for His people, their rebellion (vs 10), and the promise that God might still make “a glorious name” (vs 14).
Vss 15-19 is a prayer (presumably of Isaiah) that God might remember His people in spite of the fact they had become “like those who are not called by your name” (vs 19).

How does it apply here?

God’s people had “rebelled” and thus “grieved His Holy Spirit”.

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How does one grieve the Holy Spirit?

How Scripture answers "How does one grieve the Holy Spirit?"

Ephesians 4:30

What does it say?

What is the context?

Ephesians 4:31-32

What does it say?

What is the context?

Hebrews 10:28-29

What does it say?

What is the context?

Isaiah 63:10

What does it say?

What is the context?

1 Thessalonians 5:19-22

What does it say?

What is the context?

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