Category: Truth

What constitutes false teaching, and how does God require we limit ourselves as preacher’s of the gospel?

• Audio
• PPTX (Right Click to SAVE)
• YouTube Video of Sermon

<<———><><———>>

Most are familiar with the narrative in 1 Kings of the prophet Elijah and King Ahab. In 1 Kings 17:1 we read, “And Elijah the Tishbite, of the inhabitants of Gilead, said to Ahab, ‘As the Lord God of Israel lives, before whom I stand, there shall not be dew nor rain these years, except at my word.” At first glance one might think that Elijah was acting with hubris, making the claim that he could and would control the rain in Israel. This was not so at all.

First, there was a reason Elijah proclaimed this to Ahab. In the previous chapter we read of the ungodliness of this king of Israel. “Now Ahab the son of Omri did evil in the sight of the LORD, more than all who were before him. And it came to pass, as though it had been a trivial thing for him to walk in the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, that he took as wife Jezebel the daughter of Ethbaal, king of the Sidonians; and he went and served Baal and worshiped him. Then he set up an altar for Baal in the temple of Baal, which he had built in Samaria. And Ahab made a wooden image. Ahab did more to provoke the LORD God of Israel to anger than all the kings of Israel who were before him” (1 Kings 16:30-33). Continue reading “A True Troubler” →

In Titus 2, Paul exhorted the evangelist, “But as for you, speak the things which are proper for sound doctrine.”  This answers the question, “Is doctrine important?” Yes!

But it leads to another question. “What kind of doctrine is sound?” The Greek word translated “sound” (hygiain?) signifies wholeness, wellness (and in the realm of doctrine) uncorruptness. As Thayer put it, “Metaphorically, the phrase is used of one whose Christian opinions are free from any admixture of error.”

Put simply, sound doctrine is teaching that is based solely on God’s word. This is as it has always been, as men have sought to ensure their standing with God. Jesus Himself said, “If you love Me, keep My commandments” (John 14:15).

The scriptures are where we gain access to God’s will. Paul wrote that scripture is inspired of God, and is sufficient for man. It is “profitable for doctrine” and in it alone the “man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work” (2 Timothy 3:16-17).

As the Psalmist so wonderfully exclaimed, “How can a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed according to Your word. With my whole heart I have sought You; Oh, let me not wander from Your commandments! Your word I have hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against You” (Psalms 119:9-11).

In Romans 1 the apostle Paul wrote about a society (the Romans) who didn’t like to think about God. They “suppressed the truth” (18), “they did not glorify Him as God, nor were they thankful” (21), they “changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man” (23), they “exchanged the truth of God for the lie” (25). Paul summarized their attitude by writing, “they did not like to retain God in their knowledge” (28). He made it clear to his readers that because they acted this way, God “gave them over” to the debasement they preferred (28).

This has happened many times throughout history. It happened in Israel. Hosea recorded God as saying, “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge, I also will reject you from being priest for Me; because you have forgotten the law of your God, I also will forget your children” (4:6). I dare say that this is a large cultural problem in our day as well. Continue reading “Some Just Don’t Like Thinking About God” →

In 2 Timothy Paul predicted perilous times that would come in the last days. “But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away!” (2 Timothy 3:1-5).

We need to recognize that these are the times to which Paul refers. Not exclusively this decade or generation, rather the intent of Paul’s reference to “the last days.” In both the Old and New Testaments the phrase is used to refer to the present dispensation, what we might refer to as the Gospel Age. Christ has come and His rule will continue until “He has put all enemies under His feet. The last enemy that will be destroyed is death” (1 Corinthians 15:25-26). At the end of this era Jesus will come and the final judgment will be visited upon mankind. As Peter put it, “both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up” (2 Peter 3:10). Truly these are the last days. Continue reading “Personally Perilous Times” →

While the Christian should not have to be fact checked regarding his honesty, he should always self-examine, and also check to ensure he stands on the truth of God’s word.

• Audio
• YouTube Video of Sermon

<<———><><———>>

An examination of the text of 2 John, with applications.

• Audio
• YouTube Video of Sermon

Sermon Powerpoint View and Download:

[doc id=14437]

<<———><><———>>

God provided Ezekiel with His will and protection. He supplied for Ezekiel a forehead that was harder than that of rebellious Israel. A forehead of adamant stone, harder than flint.

• Audio
• YouTube Video of Sermon

Sermon Powerpoint View and Download:

[doc id=14393]

<<———><><———>>

In Acts 14 we read of Paul’s healing of a crippled man. Paul was preaching, but his message was not yet well known to many. So, when the man was healed the superstitious Lycaonians assumed Paul and Barnabas were gods. They thought Barnabas was Zeus, and Paul was Hermes since he was the chief speaker.

This indicates clearly the purpose of miracles. They do not identify truth, but do identify that those who perform those miracles are legitimate. Now, since the inhabitants of Lystra had no true knowledge of God or His Son, they did not know what these powers represented. Their ignorance led to supposition. This is always the case. And, since men do not know the things of God without his revelation, their suppositions were without merit. As Paul said about his own people in Romans 10, “For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge. For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and seeking to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted to the righteousness of God” (Romans 10:2-3 ). Continue reading “Misconceptions in Lystra” →

There are a number of occasions where the apostle Paul used the metaphor of a door to refer to an opportunity. For example, when Paul and Barnabas gave a report to the church in Antioch, Luke records, “Now when they had come and gathered the church together, they reported all that God had done with them, and that He had opened the door of faith to the Gentiles” (Acts 14:27). Paul himself wrote to the Corinthian church, saying in 1 Corinthians 16:8-9, “But I will tarry in Ephesus until Pentecost. For a great and effective door has opened to me, and there are many adversaries.” He wrote again in  2 Corinthians 2:12, “Furthermore, when I came to Troas to preach Christ’s gospel, and a door was opened to me by the Lord, I had no rest in my spirit, because I did not find Titus my brother; but taking my leave of them, I departed to Macedonia.” Continue reading “An Open Door” →

In the first three verses here, Paul expressed his concern and diligence in encouraging his brethren.  Specifically those in Laodicea and Colosse. He did this in his ministry by sharing his understanding of God’s will, in which are “hidden all treasures of wisdom and knowledge” (3).

In verses 4-10 he contrasts the Divine wisdom with the foolish philosophies of men. What he refers to as “persuasive words.” They have persuasive power to the uninformed, but are false. We are to walk in God’s word, not “philosophy and empty deceit, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ” (8).

This is an important warning that Christians need to hear today. We are complete in Christ.  He is the preeminent One, the “head of all principality and power” (10). To place our trust and faith in any man rather than the Lord Jesus Christ is foolish and Paul wrote that it “cheat”-’s us out of our standing with God!

The question, “what is sound?” is an interesting one.  It may have to do with doctrine, congregations, minds, individuals, etc.  Some may object to the adjective, but it is a biblical concept.  In 2 Timothy the apostle Paul exhorted his younger friend to “Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching.”  The reason for such an admonition? “For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables” (2 Timothy 4:2-4). Continue reading “Soundness” →

Justin Carrell discusses Jesus’ meaning in answering the Samaritan woman’s question regarding the proper place to worship God, recorded in John 4.

• Audio
• YouTube Video of Sermon

Stan Cox preaches on the importance of declaring the whole counsel of God (cf. Acts 20), without straying to solely positive preaching or solely negative preaching. Jesus, Stephen and Paul are all used as examples to follow.

• Audio
• YouTube Video of Sermon

Sermon Powerpoint View and Download:

[doc id=12563]

<<———><><———>>