The Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Pentecost, can be grieved. He can also be quenched, says Paul in another place. And Stephen, in his defense, accuses the unbelieving Jews of always resisting the Spirit. We may add to all of this, who of God's children does not resist, grieve or quench the Spirit? This is terrible, but it is true.

On the other hand, our Church Fathers have maintained, very emphatically, that the work of the Spirit is irresistible. This, no doubt, means that God's work is not frustrated by man. Instead that God always performs His good pleasure, saves whom He wills and that His work in the deepest sense always progresses. Someone once said that we could better speak of the invincibility of the Spirit. This word expresses the thought of the Spirit being unconquerable. The work of man can never over­come the work of the Spirit.

But when the Scriptures speak of grieving, quenching and resisting the Spirit they have refer­ence to man's disobedience to God's revealed will, the will of His command. In many ways every Christian disobeys the Lord every day. This grieves the Spirit, makes Him sad. But when the Word speaks of the one work of salvation of the Almighty Sovereign God, then it also speaks of God's work being irre­sistible, invincible. This does not merely mean that God saves His people in spite of their sins and grievings of the Spirit, although this is also true. It means that God always works with invincibility; nothing ever hinders Him. On the contrary, every­thing in the deepest sense serves His purposes, also the works of the devil. God always progresses, nev­er retrogresses. The Lord so controls all things in our lives, that even so terrible a sin as that of David with Bathsheba was made to be for David an advancement in the school of life. He learned of the riches of God's forgiving grace with this unforget­table experience, as he had never known it before.

Here Paul is speaking of the grieving of the Holy Spirit that was poured out on Pentecost. Notice the context of these words. Paul says that we must seek to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one Lord, one faith and one baptism for all His people. We must put on the new self. We must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to our neighbors. "In your anger do not sin." And do not give the devil even a foothold. No unwholesome talk should come from our mouths, but only what is help­ful for building others up according to their needs. It is in the context of this kind of admonition to Chris­tian living that he says, "And do not grieve the Spirit."

It is very important for a clear understanding of the text, to see that Paul adds to this admonition, "With whom you were sealed for the day of redemp­tion." What does that have to do with grieving the Spirit? Really a whole lot.

Why would the Holy Spirit seal us and give us the assurance of "making it all the way"? To seal means to make sure, to guarantee promises. Why does the Spirit give us such promises? Give such promises to people like we are, Christians but often still such big sinners? How can He possibly give us such assur­ances in the light of the fact that we are often unfaithful, earthly-minded, even carnally-minded in many ways? There is only one answer. He loves us so much, in Christ. His love is infinite, ocean deep, and everlasting. In that love He leads His people in the way of sanctification, He keeps them as sheep in the midst of the hungry wolves, the devils. No earthly love even that of a mother can be compared with it. And every Christian when he reaches "the shore" on the other side of the "Jordan of death" will have to give credit for his arrival only to the love of God.

When we sin we grieve this God with our sins. We sin against His grace. And provoke Him to His face. And so He says to us in and through the Word, Don't grieve me with disobedience and sin. Instead, do what is pleasing to the Lord, in walking in faith and obedience.

The unchangeable God, whose counsel stands, can also become sorrowful and sad. God is not just a cold abstract Being, in no way being affected by the deeds of men and of His dear children. Isn't God's wrath and terrible anger also a revelation of His "passion"? God surely has feelings. Isn't it Isaiah the prophet who tells us that in all the afflictions of Israel God was afflicted. He also sympathizes with His people. Doesn't Psalm 78 tell us that Israel often provoked God in the wilderness, and grieved Him in His heart? In the same manner the sins of His people grieve the Spirit.

Paul here takes a tender, passionate approach. He means to say, "The Spirit loves you as God's dear children. He loves you so much that He will never, never let you go."

Think of the example of parents. When we were small children they loved us dearly. Only we didn't often realize it, or show appreciation. But when we grow up and become parents ourselves, we reflect more upon the love of our parents in times past. We see how they loved us always, and think how we often sinned against them, while they loved us. Re­membering this grieves us now, and we try not to grieve them further.

Think of the incredible love of God. No words can describe it, and no mind can comprehend it. There­fore grieve not the Spirit of your Father by walking in sin. Let not the sun go down upon your wrath. Seek the unity of God's people in the bond of peace. Let no unwholesome talk come from your lips. Give heed to all his tender exhortations and warnings.  Apply this to yourself in your own particular fail­ures and daily weaknesses.

As we give heed to His words, He assures us of His comfort and nearness. And we will have peace in our hearts, the peace that surpasses all under­standing, the peace of the very Spirit of God.

Therefore, don't grieve Him, but do what is pleas­ing to Him.