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Teach the Word of God… (3 points)
- 1st – False doctrine… vs. 3-4 (3 points)
- 1st – About FALSE DOCTRINE… vs. 3
- The word DOCTINE – simply means teachings or instructions…
- Teachings or instructions on HOW we are to live our lives – what is required of us…
- The question we need to ask is WHOSE teachings or instructions are we following…
- There are ONLY two sources of DOCTRINE – they either come from God or men!
- True DOCTRINE comes God ALONE – He tell us how He wants us to live our lives!
- John 7:16 – “Jesus… said, ‘My DOCTRINE is not Mine, but His who sent Me.’”
- Other DOCTRINES – heterodidaskaleō – 2x in NT – a DIFFERENT doctrine…
- This would be the DOCTRINES of men – meaning they were NOT from God…
- There were those in Ephesus teaching something OTHER than the TRUTH!
- Times have not changed much – there are a LOT of false DOCTRINES in the world today!
- The world is full of false faiths posing to be from God – but denying Jesus!
- They talk about a Jesus – but they are cults – their Jesus is not THE Jesus of the Bible!
- Mormons believe Jesus is a created being – not God – but the brother of satan…
- Jehovah witnesses – believe Jesus is Michael the arch angel – He is not God…
- Matthew 15:9 – “Teaching as doctrines the [ideas] of men.”
- How to recognize FALSE DOCTRINE…
- The way a banker learns to spot counterfeit money – is to study the real thing…
- When a counterfeit note comes along – they can spot the imitation immediately!
- We are to be so well versed in the Word – that when false doctrine comes along…
- We can spot it as an imitation immediately – and completely avoid it!
- Satan can and will imitate God – he looks like the real thing – II Corinthians 11:14
- The only way to know the truth is by being men and women of the Word!
- John 17:17 – “[Jesus said to the Father] Your word is truth.”
- The responsibility of a GODLY LEADER – is to protect…
- Paul wanted TIMOTHY to remain in Ephesus to STOP false DOCTRINE…
- Not that he was surprised by these teachings – he actually knew they would come!
- When Paul visited the church in Ephesus – where Timothy pastored – on this 3rd journey…
- He met with the Elders of the church on the Island of Miletus…
- Acts 20:29-31 – “I know full well that false teachers, like vicious wolves, will come in among you after I leave, not sparing the flock. Even some of you will distort the truth…”
- The TRUTH is – false teachers WILL COME and try and damage the church…
- They will try and steal people away from God – destroy their faith!
- Twisting the Word…
- When satan tempted Jesus – Luke 4 – he quoted from Psalms 91:11-12
- Satan knows the Word of God – and he is willing to misuse it to confuse people…
- He often does it by taking the Bible out of context – twisting the meaning!
- Just because someone quotes a verse – does not mean their DOCTRINE is true…
- Our responsibility is to know our Bible – in context – know the truth…
- When false teachers twist the Word of God – we can spot the lie!
- II Timothy 2:15 – “Study to shew yourself approved unto God, a workman that needs not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”
- The word DOCTINE – simply means teachings or instructions…
- 2nd – Do not give HEED to the DOCTRINES of men… vs. 4
- Do not give HEED – give attention / be devoted / or even addicted to…
- Fables – mythos – where we get the word mythology – literally a false story…
- They are the made-up stories / ideas of MEN – we would say RELIGIONS!
- All RELIGIONS the ideas of men about how to GET to Heaven – or how to KNOW God…
- But no man has EVER been to Heaven – or met God – so they do NOT know!
- ONLY the one FROM heaven – Jesus – can tell us how to get to Heaven!
- Endless genealogies – prioritizing family lineage – I am the son of so and so…
- I am saved because of who my family is – or because of my country!
- There are people to believe – because my father is a Christian – I am saved as well…
- Or because I am a Filipino – a Christian country – I am automatically saved
- God has NO grandchildren – and only ONE citizenship counts – belonging to heaven!
- Therefore – we are told to avoid both of these – because they focus on MEN!
- And the ideas and pedigree of men have NO POWER to save us from our sins!
- Do not give HEED – give attention / be devoted / or even addicted to…
- 3rd – The result of the DOCTRINES of men… vs. 4
- Causes disputes – the author / or cause of – questions / debates…
- Because there is NO authority in the DOCTINE of men – only another persons ideas!
- If I argue that I have the TRUTH about how to get to heaven – how to live Godly…
- But my TRUTH is just my idea – who is to say I am right / and everyone else is wrong…
- Another person will just ARGUE / DEBATE their TRUTH is better than my TRUTH…
- Many today in an effort to solve this problem will now argue – there is NO TRUTH…
- We all just have OPINIONS – and TRUTH is unknowable!
- John 18:38 – “Pilate said to [Jesus], ‘What is truth?’”
- Rather than GODLY edification in faith…
- Godly EDIFICATION – 7x in NT – better translated Godly administration or leadership…
- Romans 3:4 – “Let God be true but every man a liar.”
- When we give HEED to the DOCTRINES of men – we are no longer GODLY leaders!
- You may have seen this in churches where the Word is not taught…
- When a church starts to follow the DOCTRINES of men – rather than Jesus – BIG problem…
- The identity a church becomes a religion (denomination) – rather than Jesus!
- They focus on their differences – rather than coming together as the family of God…
- Causing division within the church of God – hindering the power of the Gospel!
- Causes disputes – the author / or cause of – questions / debates…
- 1st – About FALSE DOCTRINE… vs. 3
- 2nd – Godly Doctrine… vs. 5 (3 points)
- The PURPOSE of the COMMANDMENT… vs. 5
- The PURPOSE – we would say the end / or the conclusion / result…
- The commandment – parangello – the message of DOCTINE of God…
- Where the DOCTRINE of men only causes disputes and arguments…
- The DOCTRINE of God – the Word of God – has POWER to transform the hearer!
- The Word of God formed the universe – Genesis 1:3 – it has A LOT of power!
- The Word of God has the ability to cut right to our heart / convict us of our sin…
- It can turn us away from the world – and convince us to follow Jesus!
- Hebrews 4:12 – “For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two–edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.”
- 1st – LOVE from a pure heart…
- LOVE – agape – perfect love that comes naturally from a clean / PURE heart…
- Galatians 5:22 – “The fruit of the Spirit is love…”
- Notice it does not say the fruits of the Spirit – but the FRUIT of the Spirit…
- THE fruit is Love – the other 8 words describe what LOVE looks like!
- We know we are following the DOCTRINE of God when there is Love from a PURE heart!
- Most importantly – a Love for God – Deuteronomy 6:5
- But almost equally important – a love for others – Leviticus 19:18
- 2nd – A good conscience…
- GOOD – agathos – one of two words translated as GOOD in NT…
- Agathos emphasizes the moral goodness of something or someone…
- When we follow the DOCTRINE of God – our conscience becomes morally GOOD!
- People have lots of ideas how to ease their troubles conscience…
- Christians who practice flagellation and crucifixion (usually during Lent)
- Some turn to 12 step recovery programs for drug / alcohol addicts…
- The problem is these are all the ideas of men – and miss THE solution!
- Psalm 119:11 – “Your word I have hidden in my heart… I might not sin against You!”
- The ONLY way to have a good conciseness – find victory in life – read our Bible…
- The Bible will keep us from sin – but sin will keep us from the Bible!
- GOOD – agathos – one of two words translated as GOOD in NT…
- 3rd – Sincere faith…
- SINCERE – without hypocrisy – meaning our FAITH is genuine!
- The word hypocrisy come from the Greek stage – those who wore masks…
- The idea was who they looked like on the outside – was not who they really were!
- Many years ago – I had a roommate in college who was Muslim…
- At first he did not want me to talk about my God – he was content in his FAITH…
- But one day he shared – all he had ever seen in Islam was hypocrisy…
- And he wanted to know more about Jesus – because my faith was SINCERE!
- Many today (even in the church) live in HYPOCRICY – people who say they have FAITH…
- But in truth they just have a RELIGION – the DOCTINES of men – they use to hide their sin!
- And the world sees right through their MASK – they are still the same sinners!
- Through the DOCTRINE of God – people have SINCERE faith – Romans 10:17
- And our conscience is clean – our sins are PAID in FULL…
- All of our sins are wiped away – our hearts are made pure / filled with the Love of Jesus!
- The Word of God can do what nothing else can – it can change the inside…
- Only Jesus can bring lasting change – a transformed heart and give new life…
- As we look to Jesus – we are changed from the inside out – II Corinthians 5:17
- SINCERE – without hypocrisy – meaning our FAITH is genuine!
- The PURPOSE of the COMMANDMENT… vs. 5
Give them Jesus – point them back to the one who can change their heart!
3rd – The law of God… vs. 6-11 (5 points)
1st – Some have STRAYED … vs. 6
STRAYED – to miss the mark – shooting for a target but missing it completely…
Because they STRAYED (more on how in a moment) – they TURNED aside…
TURNED aside (passive / indicative) – used to describe a dislocated limb – twisted…
To IDLE talk – only here NT – literally empty or vain words (no power)!
Instead of teaching the Word – these men STRAYED and TURNED to their own ideas…
And since their IDLE talk had no power – those who listened were not changed!
II Timothy 4:3 – “A time is coming when people will no longer listen to right teaching. They will… look for teachers who will tell them what they want to hear.”
Many churches today have forgotten the POWER of the Bible…
They are more interested in entertaining the people – than teaching them…
But the church is not a theatre or a show / it is a place to hear the Word of God…
Fancy production does not change lives / jokes cannot take away sin…
The power of salvation is in the Word of God – we need to TEACH the Word!
2nd – HOW they STRAYED… vs. 7
They wanted to be teachers of the LAW…
Teachers of LAW – only used 3x in NT – used to describe RELIGIOUS leaders…
Luke 5:17 – of those who scoffed at Jesus when he forgave / healed the lame man…
Acts 5:34 – of Gamaliel – a teacher who was respected by MEN (not God) …
These teachers had position – and recognition by others…
The problem was they did NOT understand / perceive – what they were saying…
NOR did they understand – the consequences of what they were CONFIRMING!
CONFIRMING – to strongly and confidently assert something as TRUTH!
Rather than teach the Word – they taught rules – the DOCTRINES of men…
It is easier for a leader to teach rules – because he can tell the people what to do…
But then rather than teaching the people to trust in God – they learn to listen to a man…
It makes a leader feel important / needed – but it will always fail…
Because we can tell people what to do – but we cannot change their hearts!
Ignorant examples…
I was talking to a pastor once about a ministry pamphlet…
Most of the pamphlet was just Bible verses – because the power is in the Word…
He argued with me – he had taken a course on HOW to impact people…
He had ideas on how to make the pamphlet better – none of which included the Word!
Most leaders sadly have no IDEA of what they are saying…
They just repeat – follow the example – of what they have been shown / told to do…
And they never stop to consider the impact / consequence of what that will do to others!
3rd – The Law is good – when it is used lawfully… vs. 8
THE Law – speaking of THE Law of Moses – the 613 commands in the Torah / Pentateuch…
GOOD – kalos – the other word translated as GOOD in NT…
Kalos emphasizes the outward appearance of the goodness of something…
The Law is holy – the commandments of God are just and good – Romans 7:12…
The Law is perfect – but the problem is we are not perfect…
What the Law does is show us we are sinners – Romans 7:7 / Galatians 3:24
Once we see our sin – we understand our need for Jesus as a savior!
The problem comes when we try to use the Law to be a better person…
Like a speedometer – tell you how fast you are going – but cannot slow you down…
The Law can point out to us all our failures – showing us all our flaws…
The problem is it does nothing / can do nothing – to help us change!
The Law only stirs in us the desire for sin…
Have you ever seen a sign that says WET PAINT – and felt the need to touch it…
Why is it the only toy a child wants – is the one they do not have!
The moment we are given a RULE / LAW we want to disobey it…
Because we are sinners – and the Law stirs up our sinful desires…
Those sins inevitably lead to death – physical death / spiritual death – Romans 6:23
4th – The Law is made for those who the lawless… vs. 9-10
KNOWING – to see (perfect) – we ALL see the purpose of the Law…
If we are in line – waiting patiently for our turn to get lunch – no need for the LAW…
But the person who tries to cut the line – you point out the sign / LAW – no cutting!
The Law is NOT made for a righteous person – they are ALREADY doing what is RIGHT…
The Law is for the those who are LAWLESS – to show the error or their ways!
Paul lays out 5 GENERIC descriptions of those who are LAWLESS…
1- Insubordinate – (negative of hypotasso) those who refuse to SUBMIT to God….
2 – Ungodly – those who refuse to WORSHIP and revere God…
3 – Sinners – literally those who have devoted their lives to sin…
4 – Unholy – those who are NOT holy – NOT set apart for God…
5 – Profane – the word means common – only thinking about the things of this world…
Paul lays out 6 SPECIFIC descriptions of those who are lawless…
1 – Murderers – specifically of fathers and mothers…
This could mean they kill their own fathers and mothers…
But more likely – just man slayers – those who kill people who are fathers and mothers…
And they have no compassion for the families and children left behind!
2 – Fornicators – pornos – male prostitute (can also refer to any sexual act outside marriage)
3 – Sodomites – homosexuals – unquestionably a sin in the Bible – Leviticus 18:22
4 – Kidnappers – those who sell men into slavery
5 – Liars – those who do not tell the truth – this is where the list gets personal…
6 – Perjurers – those who do not keep their word / break their promise – James 5:12
We might look at the list and think up till the last two we are doing pretty good…
But since when does lying or breaking a promise – equate to fornication or murder!
There are no LEVELS of sin with God – all sin is equal – all is punishable – Romans 6:23
James 2:10 – “Whoever keeps the law, yet stumble in one point, is guilty of all.”
Paul concludes with a broad statement…
IF (first class) there is ANY other things contrary to sound / GODLY DOCTRINE…
The assumption is this is NOT an all-inclusive list – this is just a sample…
ANYONE who does ANYTING contrary to GODLY DOCTRINE – is therefore LAWLESS!
And they need to be warned by the LAW – because they are NOT going to heaven!
Galatians 5:21 – “Those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.”
Not to say that we never sin – but those who practice these things…
As believers – if we sin – there should be remorse – confession – repentance…
If there is no remorse – no repentance for sin – there is good reason for concern…
We cannot say we are saved and continue to live in unrepentant sin!
I John 3:9 – “Whoever has been born of God does not [continue to] sin…”
5th – Needing the Law… vs. 11
The Law will BREAK them – HUMBLE them – so they can receive the Glorious Gospel!
A wise man once told me – Grace sometimes has teeth…
What he meant is that in order for us to receive grace – we must be humbled…
And what humbles us is the LAW of God – it breaks us so God can heal us!
As leaders we are called to stand up for the truth – teach the DOCTRINE of God…
Not because we want to see people condemned – but so they can be broken…
So – they can see how sinful they are – and run to Jesus!
They can be SAVED – according to the Glorious Gospel…
We CANNOT save ourselves – we are saved ONLY through grace – Ephesians 2:8-9
So many people think that if they are good enough God will accept them…
But it is when God gets a hold of our life – changes our heart – we become good!
The cart does not push the caribou – the caribou pushes the cart…
Good works do not make us righteous – being right with God produces good works!
Rules will NEVER make us grow in Jesus…
Here is the danger – rules can only control your actions – not change your heart…
It is God that changes our heart – so we no longer want to go the wrong way!
If we see someone struggling with their walk – do not give them rules…
Instead tell them the truth – IN LOVE – do not let them go on in their sin…
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