3 Bible Tips: Blasphemy
Blasphemy is "an act of effrontery in which the honour of God is insulted by man" (New Bible Dictionary).
1. God takes blasphemy very seriously (punished by death under the Old Covenant).
"And whoever blasphemes the name of the Lord shall surely be put to death. All the congregation shall certainly stone him, the stranger as well as him who is born in the land. When he blasphemes the name of the Lord, he shall be put to death" (Leviticus 24:16).
2. The apostle Paul repented and was forgiven of being a blasphemer.
"And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord who has enabled me, because He counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry, although I was formerly a blasphemer, a persecutor, and an insolent man; but I obtained mercy because I did it ignorantly in unbelief" (1 Timothy 1:12-13).
3. We must not blaspheme under any circumstance.
"But now you yourselves are to put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth" (Colossians 3:8).
Many have wondered about the related issue of blasphemy against the Holy Spirit, the sin that cannot be forgiven. What is this unpardonable sin? Click the link to find a biblical examination of this subject.