SERMON SUMMARY:

Drawing from 2 Peter 2:10-18, this sermon examines the sin of blasphemy as Peter describes it in the context of false teachers who had infiltrated the early church. The pastor carefully defines blasphemy, distinguishing it from heresy by explaining that heresy concerns errors of truth while blasphemy concerns violations of honor. The false teachers are described as bold and willful in their blasphemies, mocking supernatural powers beyond their understanding, acting more like irrational animals than rational beings. Peter's comparison of these teachers to Balaam illustrates that their blasphemies stem from confident ignorance. The sermon closes with two practical applications: that Christians should guard their own tongues against blasphemy, and more pointedly, that Christians should guard their ears and hearts against the blasphemies of others, recognizing that persistent exposure to mockery and degrading speech breeds arrogance, foolishness, and sin. The remedy for any who have fallen into blasphemy is repentance and the mercy of Christ, who transforms even former blasphemers, as the apostle Paul testified.

QUOTES:

Heresy is about an issue of truth, but blasphemy is about the issue of honor. Heresy is about truth. Blasphemy is about honor.

I am your pastor. I am not your savior.

Let's not confuse triumph with taunting.

These men are so confident and yet so clueless.

We know that scoffing shapes the scoffer more than it shapes the thing it scoffs at.

The Christian life is not about strutting out the truth, having to prove ourselves with bold, willful blasphemies against anybody who would disagree.

Blasphemies are born out of bold ignorance.

If we allow these blasphemies to continue to pour into our ears, they start to work their way down into our hearts and start to breed sin in us of arrogance and foolishness and ignorance.

We are not to be characterized mostly by what we are against as Christians, but we're to be characterized by what the Spirit means to produce in us.

Even true words can be used to bash fame, to blaspheme and degrade honor.

SCRIPTURE REFERENCES:

2 Peter 2:10-18, the primary passage, describing the sins and character of false teachers including their blasphemies

Matthew 12:31, where Jesus speaks about sins and blasphemies being forgiven, with the exception of blasphemy against the Holy Spirit

Mark 2:5-7, where scribes accuse Jesus of blasphemy for forgiving the paralytic's sins

Jude 9, the parallel passage where Michael the archangel refuses to pronounce a blasphemous judgment against Satan, instead saying "the Lord rebuke you"

Titus 3:1, Paul's instruction to speak evil of no one

Numbers 22, the account of Balaam and his donkey

KEY POINTS:

- Blasphemy is a spoken harmful report that desecrates, degrades, or demeans someone or something. It is not the same as heresy. Heresy concerns truth; blasphemy concerns honor. Even true words can be used to bash the fame of another.

- Blasphemy is rooted in bold ignorance. The false teachers Peter describes did not know their own proper place before God. They spoke before they knew, acted on instinct, and were therefore like irrational animals.

- Christians are not called to blaspheme even their greatest enemies. The archangel Michael did not revile Satan but said, "The Lord rebuke you." Actions speak louder than taunts.

- We must guard not only our mouths but also our ears. Peter's primary concern is that Christians would not listen to blasphemies and allow them to take root in their hearts.

- Our victory is secure in Jesus. The Christian life is marked by humble confidence in Christ, not by strutting or taunting or proving ourselves through mockery.

2 Peter 2:10-18

Matthew 12:31

Mark 2:5-7

Jude 9

Numbers 22

Titus 3:1

1 Timothy 1:13-14

Genesis 3:15

Matthew 16:13-16

John 10:30

2 Peter 3

Galatians 5:22-23

2 Samuel 11-12

2 Peter 1:3