Category: Error
Subject: Error
Sermon: Emotion VS Emotionalism
There is a difference between having an emotion connection with the Lord due to your faith and relationship with Him, and being subjective in your assessment of your obedience, which is prevalent, and an example of Emotionalism.
Mining the Scriptures: Titus 1:15-16
In verses 5-9, Paul instructed Timothy to find qualified men to serve as elders in the churches of Crete. This was especially needed at that time because of false teaches described in verses 10-14.
Our text continues this theme, describing the hypocrisy of these evil men, especially the Jews who were seeking to bind the Law upon the brethren. First, Paul noted that those who are “pure” have liberty in “all things.” (Context is important here, as Paul is referring to the limitations regarding diet, etc., that were given to the Jews, but were removed when the law was nailed to the cross, cf. Colossians 2:14-17).
In contrast, these evil men claimed to be religious, “They profess to know God”, but their evil hearts brought defilement to them, even as they imbibed in things that otherwise were pure (cf. Romans 14). Paul was able to discern their hypocrisy (claiming purity, but being defiled) by their actions. They deny Him, being characterized by disobedience. Thus, qualified elders were needed to deal with them.
The Presumptuous Prophet
In Deuteronomy 18, Moses told the people that prophets other than Moses would rise from the nation to “speak to them” all God required of them, (cf. 18:15-18). This, of course, is seen in the history of the nation. The most significant voices that followed, men like Elijah, Isaiah, Jeremiah, etc., have had their voices recorded in the canon of the Old Testament. The Hebrew writer spoke of these men. “God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets…” (Hebrews 1:1).
An obvious question arises. How were they to know the prophet was from God? Consider Moses words, “And if you say in your heart, ‘How shall we know the word which the Lord has not spoken?’— when a prophet speaks in the name of the Lord, if the thing does not happen or come to pass, that is the thing which the Lord has not spoken; the prophet has spoken it presumptuously; you shall not be afraid of him” (Deuteronomy 18:21-22). Continue reading “The Presumptuous Prophet”
Poisoning Minds
In Acts 14, we are told that Paul and Barnabas were in Iconium, preaching in the synagogue. Their preaching was effective among Jews and Gentiles. But, the unbelieving Jews “stirred up the Gentiles and poisoned their minds against the brethren” (14:3). Many believed, but the opposition was strong and active, and they eventually had to flee for their lives.
We will always emphasize the need for defending the faith, and the capability of truth to stand and convict men of sin. But, we also realize that it is possible for the minds of men to be poisoned. And, when it happens there is often nothing that can be done.
When men call light darkness and darkness light, they can poison the minds of some. When they state with extreme conviction and flattering words a false doctrine that has appeal to the masses, they can poison the minds of some. When they make false accusations about the faithful, characterizing their faith as extreme or irrelevant, they can poison the minds of some.
Such poison minds can make life more difficult for the servant of God. Not only does such opposition confuse the innocent, it emboldens the enemies of the cross to persecute the faithful. What do we do in response?
“I charge you therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ” … “Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching” (2 Timothy 4:1a,2).
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Sermon: Taught and Established
Peter wrote in 2 Peter 14-18 that untaught and unstable people may twist the scriptures to their destruction. This shows us how important it is to be taught, and established in the faith.
There is No Wisdom
How often the righteous are derided as ignorant and superstitious. We are told that a belief in God is a belief in fairy tales. The truly educated, it is contended, have no use for such a crutch.
The dependence upon scripture as a standard of morality is condemned. As the enlightenment of man continues, our moral standards must evolve and improve. No longer should we judge others with dogmatic contentions about the rightness and wrongness of moral choices others make. Social warriors rail against those with the temerity to speak out against sin.
Even religious people today often follow their own counsel rather than the counsel of God. Doctrinal views are established by the opinions and speculations of men rather than an appeal to the Bible.
The wise man had something to say about these attacks on faith that are present in every generation, but seemingly pervasive in our own:
“There is no wisdom or understanding or counsel against the Lord” (Proverbs 21:30).
Such human wisdom is not wisdom at all. It is simply the presumptuous railing of the ignorant, who refuse to hear the words of the Lord.
No man is wise who rejects the wisdom that descends from above (cf. James 3:13-18). Don’t be intimidated by the claims of the unrighteous…they lack understanding.
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Beware of Dogs!
“Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers, beware of the mutilation!” (Philippians 3:2).
Paul here refers to the Judaizing teachers, who sought to “spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, that they might bring us into bondage” (cf. Galatians 2:4).
Any departure from the gospel of Christ brings the condemnation of God upon them (cf. Galatians 1:9), and endangers the souls of those who might be influenced by them.
Paul’s words were strong. While our society holds a soft place in its collective heart for domesticated canines, the term “dog” meant something far different in the first century. Most were vicious and untrained, roaming streets, and feeding on garbage. Consider the words of the prophet Ahijah, “The dogs shall eat whoever belongs to Jeroboam and dies in the city, and the birds of the air shall eat whoever dies in the field; for the Lord has spoken!” (1 Kings 14:11).
As such, when the term is used to describe a person, it was always a term of strong derision, just as Paul used it here, (cf. 2 Samuel 16:9 for another example of this).
How do we feel about those who teach error? Do we note the danger they bring, and denounce without equivocation their efforts to bewitch the vulnerable? Or, do we tolerate or accept them as they spread their lies?
We must stand with Paul, denounce the false teacher, reject his error, keep the church pure!
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The Patternists: Is There a Difference Between Gospel and Doctrine?
Back in the 1970’s, brethren were troubled by the teaching of men, the most famous being Carl Ketcherside, who taught a bifurcation of the gospel of Christ and the doctrine of the church. This has long been a popular view held by many in the denominations. If you have ever heard someone say that unity in doctrine is not important so long as we all accept Jesus as our Savior, you have heard this position taken.
Some say, “You have to believe in the resurrected Jesus, but you don’t have to agree on whether baptism is for believers or it can include infants too.” Or, “You can differ on whether to take the Lord’s Supper every Sunday or twice a year.” Or, “God doesn’t care if you use an mechanical instrument in musical worship or not!”
Continue reading “The Patternists: Is There a Difference Between Gospel and Doctrine?”
The Patternists: Entrusted with the Gospel
Paul wrote to the Thessalonians, “But as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, even so we speak, not as pleasing men, but God who tests our hearts” (1 Thessalonians 2:4). He contrasted the “gospel of God” (vs. 2) with error, uncleanness, deceit, flattering words, and a cloak of covetousness. He wrote, “So, affectionately longing for you, we were well pleased to impart to you not only the gospel of God, but also our own lives, because you had become dear to us” (vs. 8).
This careful treatment of the gospel of God is described by the apostle as devout, just and blameless behavior (cf. vs. 10). It must be understood that his work was the work of an apostle, having been given the responsibility to witness Jesus to the world. Paul had been given the gift of inspiration, joining others in writing the scripture which constitutes the new covenant of Christ (cf. 2 Peter 3:16). Peter noted the nature of this work, writing, “knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation, for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit” (2 Peter 1:20-21). This work was also contrasted with false apostles. Notice Paul’s words about them:
Continue reading “The Patternists: Entrusted with the Gospel”
Persuasive Words
In Colossians 2, the apostle Paul expressed his desire for the church in Colosse as well as Laodicea, that they might have an understanding of the mystery of God. His reason for this is simple:
“Now this I say lest anyone should deceive you with persuasive words” (Colossians 2:4).
The nature of religious and philosophical error is that it can be persuasive. I once heard a gospel preacher talk about a particular false teacher who had some influence in the 1970’s. Regarding this errorist, and his effect on young college students, the preacher said that if you gave him 20 minutes he could convince those vulnerable students that white was black and black was white.
This is how error works. It exploits (2 Peter 2:3). It entices (2 Peter 2:14). It consists of “great swelling words of emptiness” (2 Peter 2:18).
False teachers “allure” (2 Peter 18). They serve “only themselves” (Jude 12). They “mouth great swelling words, flattering people to gain advantage” (Jude 16).
Edification is the only protection we have against such evil influences. We must be “building [our]selves up on [our] most holy faith” (Jude 20). Using the language of our text, “attaining to all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the knowledge of the mystery of God, both of the Father and of Christ, in who are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge” (Colossians 2:2-3).
May we all work at having such an understanding of the truth.
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Sermon: Hindrances to Understanding the Scriptures
A discussion (borrowed from Jeremiah Cox’s sermon of the same name) of men’s self-imposed impediments to understanding God’s word.
Why Can’t You See?
Have you even wondered why, when you share the truth with those who are caught in denominational error, that they just can’t see it? Some will claim that the truth is not clear enough to be understood alike, but that’s not it. Paul told the Corinthians what the problem is in these cases:
“But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them” (2 Corinthians 4:3-4).
Whether it be the one taken in religious error, the one who no longer retains God in his knowledge (cf. Romans 1:28-32), or the immoral, they don’t understand because they have been blinded by the influences of this world.
It is not surprising that this would happen. The devil is active, and men are surprisingly willing to believe what they want rather than what they should. All men are susceptible. You and I are susceptible.
Do you have a blindspot? Is there some truth from God’s word that you resist because you have carnal biases and preferences? You don’t? Are you sure?! Am I?!
“Blessed are those who keep His testimonies,
Who seek Him with the whole heart!
They also do no iniquity;
They walk in His ways.”(Psalm 119:2-3)
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The Wise and the Foolish
Listening to the radio last week, the sports commentator was discussing a coach’s evaluation of one of his rookie players. He noted that the young man was very smart and teachable. He mentioned that this player seldom made the same mistake twice, and he never had to correct him more than once. Because of this aspect of his character, the coach was confident that the player would have a successful career as a professional.
The conversation brought to my mind the words of Proverbs 17:10, “Rebuke is more effective for a wise man than a hundred blows on a fool.” With each of us there is the potential for mistakes. These may come from ignorance, or perhaps because we have been taught wrongly in the past. What distinguishes the wise man from the fool is whether correction is accepted.
Sermon: The Establishment of False Religion
Judges chapters 17 and 18 record a man of Ephraim called Micah, who established his own religion by fashioning and idol, and hiring a Levite to be his priest. The record of Micah supplies some surprising parallels to the establishment of false religion in every age, including our own.
