Unity in the Spirit
The goal of rebuke according to 2 Timothy 3:17 is equipping of the saints for good works. Did you notice in 2 Timothy 3:16-17 that the words of rebuke come first in order to produce the actions of good works? Words must come first because, "In the beginning was the word," John 1:1.
Words are spirit according to Jesus, John 3:34, 6:63. That is why demons are cast out by speaking the words of truth, Matthew 8:16, Luke 4:36. Thus, to blaspheme the Holy Spirit is to speak ill of the Holy Spirit, Matthew 12:32; Mark 3:23-30; Luke 12:10. In Mark 3:23-30, people called the Holy Spirit by the name of Satan. This was blasphemous. Jesus then refutes their claims with the truth in a parable and by defining one of the unforgivable sins.
In Mark 3, Jesus modeled the process of rebuke which includes identifying and renouncing lies by refuting them with truth. This is what the apostle spoke of when he commanded us:
And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect. Romans 12:2
Jesus also gave us an example of refuting lies with truth while He was tempted by Satan in the wilderness, Matthew :1-11; Mark 1:9-13-; Luke 4:1-13.
Paul says the same thing about this process here:
We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ, and we are ready to punish all disobedience, whenever your obedience is complete. 2 Corinthians 10:5-6
See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception, according to the tradition of men, according to the elementary principles of the world, rather than according to Christ. Colossians 2:8
The Bereans in Acts 17 gave us an excellent example of doing 2 Corinthians 10:5-6 and Colossians 2:8. They tested the words spoken by Paul by searching the Torah to see if Paul said the same thing written in the word of God. Hence they made sure Paul was unified with the Holy Spirit and did not contradict the words of God.
If, today, we do not say the same things Jesus said, then we are sons of Satan and not sons of God. Jesus was quite clear on His definition of unity in the Spirit, John 8.
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