Authority – Page 20 – Sound Teaching

The Patternists: “We Know What We Worship”

As our Lord spoke with the Samaritan woman in John 4, she made the statement, “Sir, I perceive that You are a prophet. Our fathers worshiped on this mountain, and you Jews say that in Jerusalem is the place where one ought to worship” (19-20).

Her statement is similar to those we hear today. People often compare different “styles” and “acts” of worship, and do so in a non-judgmental way. “We do this, and you do that”, as if the actual acts that are performed are equally acceptable to God.

However, consider that Jesus was critical of the worship of the Samaritans, judging it to be unacceptable. He stated that the worship of the Jews, in contrast, was acceptable. He said, “we know what we worship, for salvation is of the Jews” (22). A question: How did they know what they worshiped? How did they know that they were to worship in Jerusalem? Because God told them!

The Samaritans presumed to know God’s will, though He had not told them to worship Him on the mountain. Such presumption is foolish. We can’t know how to worship God unless He tells us how He wants to be worshiped! Jesus clearly condemned worship that had man as its authority rather than God, telling the Pharisees, “Hypocrites! Well did Isaiah prophesy about you, saying: ‘These people draw near to Me with their mouth, and honor Me with their lips,but their heart is far from Me. And in vain they worship Me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men'” (Matthew 15:7-9).

To see The Patternists Page on Facebook, click here, and Like!

The Patternists: A Different Gospel

In Galatians 1:6-7, the apostle Paul wrote, “I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel, which is not another; but there are some who trouble you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ.”

I often explain this text by noting what the word “gospel” means. The word literally means “good tidings” or good news. The message of the Christ is good news for mankind. Because of His perfect life, his sacrificial death, and his resurrection from the dead, men have the hope of heaven.

Keeping that in mind, consider this paraphrase of our text. Paul basically is saying, “I marvel that you are turning away so soon to a different good news, which is not good news, but a perversion of the good news.”

The lesson is simple, if someone changes the “good news” or gospel of our Lord, it is no longer good news at all! Why? Because it no longer has the power to save!

The “some” of which Paul speaks were teaching that it was necessary to be circumcised in order to be accepted of God. By binding circumcision they were changing the gospel message to one that no longer was “the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek” (cf. Romans 1:16). They were people who believed in Jesus as the Son of God, and believed every aspect of His life, death and resurrection. And yet their change condemned them, and also condemned those who accepted their teaching (cf. Galatians 1:8-9).

This is an object lesson to all who claim that what we believe and teach does not impact our standing before God. How many times have we heard the sentiment, “It doesn’t matter what you teach, as long as you believe that Christ is your Savior”? Paul writes that such is not the case! As our Lord proclaimed, “And in vain they worship Me, Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men” (Matthew 15:9).

To see The Patternists Page on Facebook, click here, and Like!

The Patternists: Red Letters are a Start

Anyone who has a red letter edition of the New Testament is aware of the small amount of teaching that Jesus did which was recorded by the gospel writers. Every word is precious, and despite the relatively few words known, contain an inestimable wealth of wisdom, instruction and guidance for mankind.

Some today seem to think that these words constitute the entirety of God’s will for man. They think that if they heed Jesus’ spoken words, recorded in the gospels, they will have a sufficient knowledge of the Lord’s will to please Him.

It is interesting that by making this claim, they actually ignore what Jesus Himself said on the matter. In response to a question by Judas Iscariot, Jesus said in John 14:23-26:

“If anyone love Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him. He who does not love Me does not keep My words; and the word which you hear is not Mine but the Father’s who sent Me. These things I have spoken to you while being present with you. But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.”

Several things here are notable: 1) All of the words that come both from the Lord and the Holy Spirit have their ultimate origin with the Father. 2) Jesus did not share with the apostles everything the Father wanted revealed. 3) After Jesus left the earth, the Holy Spirit both revealed the remainder of God’s will, and reminded them of what Jesus had already said.

All scripture is inspired by God (cf. 2 Timothy 3:16-17), including the writings of Paul and the other apostles (cf. 2 Peter 3:16). As such, we are not at liberty to disregard any of it. The words of the New Testament writers are equally important and binding upon us, because they too have their origin with the Father in Heaven.

Some people in the first century opposed Paul, John and the other apostles. Their refusal to heed the writings of God’s servants were to “their own destruction” (cf. 2 Peter 3:16). The same mistake is being made today. Consider Peter’s warning in 2 Peter 3:17:

“You therefore, beloved, since you know this beforehand, beware lest you also fall from your own steadfastness, being led away with the error of the wicked.”

To see The Patternists Page on Facebook, click here, and Like!

The Patternists: Rightly Dividing the Word

Patternist

The Apostle Paul wrote to Timothy, “Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15). Without going into specifics about what IS “rightly dividing the word of truth”, there are a few evident conclusions from this short text.

First, consider that a worker who does NOT rightly divide the word of truth has reason to be ashamed. This stands in contrast to the popular, but uninformed view that God is not concerned with our understanding or heeding His will for us. He is! And for the one who is willfully ignorant, it is appropriate to say, “You should be ashamed of yourself!” Consider prayerfully that such shame is in the eyes of God, not man.

Second, consider that the admonition to rightly divide indicates the possibility of dividing the truth in a wrong or illegitimate way. Too often religious disagreements are attributed to the fact that “we just see things differently”, or “these are just equally valid interpretations.” Spiritual truth is no more subjective than the solution to a common math problem. We are not free to believe what we wish, we are commanded to believe God’s will!

Third, it takes diligence to rightly divide the word of truth. I recently read an article that bemoaned the loss of respect for the “expert.” In our egalitarian society, every person seems to believe his opinion on any matter is as valid (true) as any other, no matter how uninformed he may be. As a preacher, I have actively studied God’s word for over 35 years. And yet, it is common for individuals who are completely ignorant of what the Bible teaches to argue as if they are equals in understanding God’s will. It is not necessary to get a university degree to know God’s will for man, but it does take diligent study.

I encourage you to diligently study the Bible, so that you may receive God’s approval. In so doing, you will equip yourself for “every good work” (cf. 2 Timothy 3:16-17).

(Note: This passage alone is sufficient reason for the articles here on the Patternist Facebook page. If we take this admonition seriously, our first question should be HOW to rightly divide the word of truth). These efforts serve to assist in that pursuit.

To see The Patternists Page on Facebook, click here, and Like!

Sermon: The Lord’s Supper – A Study in Authority

The lesson consists of two parts, describing what the Bible teaches on the subject of the Lord’s Supper, and dealing with certain issues (number of containers, evening observance, etc.) by an appeal to the authority of God’s word.

Audio 1 Audio Part 1
Audio 2 Audio Part 2

Powerpoint Slides

Sermon: Institutionalism

The following sermon was preached in two parts, in the AM and PM services.

The practice of Institutionalism has caused a large and unfortunate division among God’s people. Those who practice it violate the authority of scripture.

The lesson discusses the dangers of 4 aspects of the Institutional question, showing the contrast between such practices and the pattern established in scripture. These four aspects are:

The church support of human institutions.
The sponsoring church arrangement.
The concept of unlimited church benevolence.
The practice of the Social Gospel.

Audio (Part 1)

Audio (Part 2)

Powerpoint Slides

Sermon: Rightly Dividing the Word of Truth

The sermon is in two parts. Part 1 reviews the concept of patternism in scripture. Part 2 shows the need for common sense in interpreting scripture.