Brothers in the Christian :
The Holy Spirit and Jesus
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6B. Witnessing and the Sin Tendency 
The Holy Spirit Witnesses. A witness is required to speak the truth, thus the witness of the Holy Spirit is truth. "And the Spirit is witness, because the Spirit is the truth." (1) Blaise Pascal writes, "The serene silent beauty of a holy life is the most powerful influence in the world." The Holy Spirit's witness accompanies our inner spirit in asserting that we are children of God. "It is the Spirit himself bearing witness with our spirit that we are children of God." (2)
Blasphemy of the Holy Spirit is an Eternal Sin.
There is a unique sacredness in the Holy Spirit's name such that blasphemy against him alone will not be forgiven. "But the blasphemy against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven... whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come." (3). Why this should be is a mystery, but perhaps it is that since the Holy Spirit is our channel to God then offence against the Spirit's name causes the means of communication to be broken irreparably. Thus even the power to communicate is lost and eternal separation from God is caused (4) where to say that the Holy Spirit has an unclean spirit is an eternal sin. God's Spirit is God's way of dealing with us in the most intimate and personal way.
Holy Spirit Kills the Sin Tendency.
Rose growers in Holland cultivate inferior flowers next to those of superior quality. By careful treatment the poorer takes on the characteristics of the most beautiful. In the same way, Christians take on the characteristics of Jesus by spending time with him. The Holy Spirit exchanges the prospect of death for that of life. "If by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body you will live." (5) As a boy, F. B. Meyer enjoyed visiting the Polytechnic science building in London. He liked the diving bell particularly. It had no bottom but there were seats attached to the inside. Visitors were sometimes allowed to enter the bell and were lowered into the water until submerged. What fascinated Meyer was that though they could reach down and touch the water the occupants didn't get wet because the air being pumped in from the top maintained a pressure on the water. If you are full of the Holy Spirit, the flesh life is underneath you, and though it would surge up, it is kept down.
Sowing to One's Flesh
We sow to the flesh by deliberately pampering our natural worldly lusts. To sow to the Spirit is to seek after God's right way and personal holiness which eventually brings eternal life here and on into eternity. "For he who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption; but he who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life." (6) "Say not that thou art begotten of God and hast Royal blood flowing through thy veins except thou canst prove thy pedigree by this heroic spirit - to dare to be holy in spite of men and devils" (7)
Notes
(1) 1 John 5.7 (2) Romans 8.16 (3) Matthew 12.31,32 (4) c.f. Mark 3.29,30 (5) Romans 8.13 (6) Galatians 6.8 (7) William Gurnall in "The Christian in Complete Armour."
"The Relationship of the Holy Spirit and Jesus."
