The Devil’s Doctrine

Temple Baptist Church - 10-28-2015

2 John 7-11

Introduction:

A.  I gave this message the title “The Devil’s Doctrine” for this reason: everything God is or God says is being either denied or twisted by Satan’s deceivers. 

1.  In the Garden of Eden, Satan used the serpent to change God’s Word and has used men ever since.  2 John speaks of these deceivers either not having or not abiding in the Doctrine of Christ.  The Doctrine of Christ or Christology is the most important doctrine found in the Bible. 

2.  Jesus Christ is the Center and Executor of God’s plan of the redemption of fallen man.  I do not want to take the time during this series on 2 John to deal with the Doctrine of Christ in detail as that is a study in itself but it is important to know what John means in verse 9.

B.  Everything that God has ever done for mankind has been through Jesus Christ, by Jesus Christ, and for Jesus Christ.  **Colossians 1:12-29.

C.  The Devil’s Doctrine is any doctrine that changes or discounts the Biblical account of the Person or work of Jesus Christ!  It matters not what denomination, church, or preacher who does this as they are doing the work of Satan! 

1 Timothy 4:1  Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;

2 Peter 2:1-3  But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.  (2)  And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of.  (3)  And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not.

D.  What is the Doctrine of Christ?  A full explanation would take years as it would be a course in Systematic Theology.  I am preaching through the Book of 2 John, not teaching Bible College so:

E.  Here is a quick and simplistic overview of The Doctrine of Christ:

1.  Who Jesus Christ was: 

a)  He was Eternal and Self-sufficient.  Jesus the Christ has always been eternal God. He is Eternal and Self-Existent. Jesus Christ as God always existed in eternity past. He is not dependent upon anyone else for His existence. He is the uncaused cause.  John 1 declares that Jesus Christ was in the beginning with God and was God. 

John 1:1-2  In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.  (2)  The same was in the beginning with God.

b)  He was Jehovah God of the Old Testament.  The great I AM.  He was not  just the Son of God, He was very God!  He appeared many times in the Old Testament in what are called:  Theophanies, Christophanies, Anthropomorphisms (representation of Christ in inanimate forms such as the Burning Bush and the Rock of Horeb). 

Matthew 1:23  Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.

c)  He was the Creator of all things.  John 1 declares that He was the Creator of all things.  He is life and gives life.

John 1:3  All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.

2.  Who Jesus Christ became: 

a)  He became man, the virgin born Son of God. 

Matthew 1:23  Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.

John 1:14  And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

b)  The Hypostatic Union:  the union of two natures, human and divine: 100% God and 100% Man.  As God, He could not be tempeted (James 1:13) but, as man, He was tempted (Matthew 4:1).

John 1:14  And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

c)  He was the sinless Son of God.

Hebrews 7:26  For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens;

3.  What Jesus Christ did:

a)  He became sin for us that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him.

2 Corinthians 5:21  For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

b)  He died a substitutionary death of the cross for the sins of the world.

1 John 2:2  And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.

c)  He is the ONLY way of salvation.  Many denominations teach salvation through baptism, good works, sacraments, the church, Mary as co-redemptrix with Christ.

John 14:6  Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

Acts 4:12  Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.

John 10:9  I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.

d)  He physically died.  Some teach that Christ swooned and, pretending to be dead, was carried away by his disciples.

John 19:33  But when they came to Jesus, and saw that he was dead already, they brake not his legs:

e)  He was buried and rose again bodily according to the Scripture.  Some teach that it was a spiritual resurrection and not a bodily one.

Matthew 28:6  He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay.

f)  He ascended back to heaven.

Acts 1:9  And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight.

4.  What Jesus Christ is doing: 

a)  He is our High Priest.  He offered His blood on the Mercy Seat.

Hebrews 9:11-12  But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building;  (12)  Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.

b)  He is our Mediator.  He is the only Mediator between God and man.  Roman Catholicism teaches Mary as co-mediatrix with Christ.

1 Timothy 2:5  For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;

c)  He is our Intercessor.  He ever liveth to make intercession for the saints.  Roman Catholicism also teaches that Mary makes intercession for the saints.

Romans 8:34  Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.

5.  What Jesus Christ will do:

a)  He will come in the Rapture for His Church.  This is a pre-millennial, pre-tribulation return. 

1 Thessalonians 4:16-17  (16)  For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:  (17)  Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.

b)  He will come in the Revelation to set up His Millennial Kingdom.

Revelation 19:11  And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war.

Revelation 20:6  Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.

c)  He will sit on the Great White Throne to judge the unsaved.

Revelation 20:11-15  And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them.  (12)  And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.  (13)  And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.  (14)  And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.  (15)  And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.

d)  He will make a new heaven and a new earth.

Revelation 21:1-5  And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.  (2)  And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.  (3)  And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.  (4)  And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.  (5)  And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful.

e)  He will dwell eternally with His people.

Revelation 21:3  And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.

F.  What are we commanded to do concerning these deceivers?

1.  For those who knock on our doors.  These are the cults: Jehovah’s Witnesses, Mormons, Seventh Day Adventists, etc.

a. Do not allow them to come into your home.  2 John 1:10a  If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not intoyour house.

b.  Do not argue with them.  Proverbs 19:27-28  Cease, my son, to hear the instruction that causeth to err from the words of knowledge. (28)  An ungodly witness scorneth judgment: and the mouth of the wicked devoureth iniquity.

c.  Do not say God bless you to them.  2 John 10b-11  Neither bid him God speed:  (11)  For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds.

2.  For those who we encounter outside of our local church.  These are those of “Christendom” who profess to know Jesus Christ but have not the Doctrine of Christ.

a. Try them with the Word of God.  1 John 4:1-3  Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.  (2)  Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God:  (3)  And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.

b.  Turn away from them.  2 Timothy 3:5  Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.

c.  Remain separate from them.  2 Corinthians 6:16  And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.

3.  For those who are within our local church.   These are the ones who are a part of the “falling away” of 2 Thessalonians 2.  They are the hardest kind to separate from because they have been or supposedly have been a part of us who still believe the Doctrine of Christ.  These feast with us while constantly nibbling at the foundations of truth.

a.  Rebuke them.  Titus 1:13  This witness is true. Wherefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith;

b.  Mark them.  Romans 16:17  Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.

b.  Reject them.  Titus 3:10  A man that is an heretick after the first and second admonition reject;

Living In The Light Of His Coming

Temple Baptist Church - 10-25-2015

1 Thessalonians 4:4-12

Introduction:

A.  1 Thessalonians 4 is most noted for verses 13-18.  2 Thessalonians 2:1 says, “Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him.”  I will deal with verses 13-18 later but it will do us well to remember what time it is in Bible prophecy. 

1.  The time is near.  The time is here!  With all of my heart I believe that we are about to experience the truth our Lord set forth in John 14.

John 14:1-4  Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.  (2)  In my Father's house are many mansions: if it werenot so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.  (3)  And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.  (4)  And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know.

2.  As one preacher put it, “We have quit looking for the signs and are listening for the shout!”  We are not to be as some who now spiritually slumber.

Romans 13:11-14  And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed.  (12)  The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light. (13)  Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying.  (14)  But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.

3.  In these two portions of Scripture, we find: The Promise of His Coming (John 14) and the Prophecy of the Conditions of the times.

B.  We that are saved and awake are to possess our vessels in sanctification.  In verses 4-12, there are things that we are to avoid and things that we are to do.

1.  We are to be content!  Vs 5 This verse uses the phrase “the lust of concupiscence.”  Normally, the word concupiscence is used with a sexual connotation.  “Concupiscence” means a desire of the lower appetite contrary to reason.  1 Timothy 6:6-8  But godliness with contentment is great gain. (7)  For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.  (8)  And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.

2.  We are to be honest!  Vs 6  “Go beyond” refers to transgressing the bounds of justice and equity between men and men; it means cheating and defrauding in trade and business; it means to increase or devalue goods or prices; it means not keeping a bargain, contract, covenant; it means taking advantage of the weakness and ignorance of men.  1 Corinthians 6:7-8  Now therefore there is utterly a fault among you, because ye go to law one with another. Why do ye not rather take wrong? why do ye not rather suffer yourselves to be defrauded?  (8)  Nay, ye do wrong, and defraud, and that yourbrethren.

3.  We are to be holy!  Vs 7  In our day, holiness has been a word ascribed to the Pentecostal Movement.  Holiness has become a thing of antiquity among God’s people.  As the church conforms more and more to the world, the churches are being filled with carnal, worldly people.  We are to be holy!  1 Peter 1:15-16  But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation;  (16)  Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.

4.  We are to have fervent charity!  Vs 9-10  I have dealt with this in detail in a previous message so I will just “tap” on it tonight and move on.  LOVE ONE ANOTHER!  Fervent charity covers a multitude of sins.  1 Peter 1:22  Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently:

5.  We are to set a good example!  Vs 11-12  Here we find a three-fold admonition.  1)  Study to be quiet!  Learn to keep the old mouth shut.  2)  Do your own business!  Minding your own business has always been the right thing to do.  Don’t take the dog by the ears.  3)  Work a job!  In the days of a handout society, work hard and God will reward you with a living.  1 Timothy 4:12  Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.

Blessing The One Who Blesses

Temple Baptist Church - 10-25-2015

Psalm 103:1-5

Introduction:

A.  As Thanksgiving approaches this year, I thought it good to reflect upon the goodness of God to His children.  Psalm 103 is one of the more notable Psalms dealing with thanksgiving.  It begins with the blessed blessing God.  Verse 1 is a reflection upon what the Lord has done for those who know Him.

B.  Across our country there is a spirit of ingratitude.  So many people think that the government or society owes them a living and what they receive is never enough.  Their only concern is for self!  This attitude breeds a lack of thankfulness. 

2 Timothy 3:1-5  This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.  (2)  For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,  (3)  Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,  (4)  Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;  (5)  Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.

C.  As we approach everyday (not just Thanksgiving Day), as the children of God, let each of us remember to give thanks.  The Bible says much about thanksgiving:

    

Ephesians 5:20  Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in             the name of our Lord Jesus Christ; 

1 Thessalonians 5:18  In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.  

Philippians 4:6  Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.

Psalms 100:4  Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name.

Psalms 95:1-3  O come, let us sing unto the LORD: let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation.  Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving, and make a joyful noise unto him with psalms.  For the LORD is a great God, and a great King above all gods.

Hebrews 13:15  By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name.

D.  We need to thank God publicly.  We are here to do so this morning.  Psalms 35:18  I will give thee thanks in the great congregation: I will praise thee among much people.

E.   But, more importantly, we need to thank god privately.  Our personal devotion is who and what we are!  Psalms 119:62  At midnight I will rise to give thanks unto thee because of thy righteous judgments.

F.  David is the author of the Psalm through the inspiration of the Holy Ghost as all Scripture is given by inspiration of God.  Holy men of old spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.  David’s life was characterized by ups and downs.  His life was full to good times and bad times.  His life was noted for its successes and failures.

G.  Some of things that can certainly be noted concerning David’s relationship with the Lord were:

1.  David loved the Lord!  The 23rd Psalm is a reflection of David’s love for and trust in the Lord.  “The Lord is my Shepherd!”

2.  David desired to live his best for the Lord!  He is the only man in the Bible described as a man after God’s own heart.

a)  Abraham was called the “Friend Of God”

b)  Moses was called the “Servant Of The Lord!”

c)  John The Baptist was called the “Greatest Prophet Born Of Woman!”

d)  David was called a “Man After Gods Own Heart!” 

H.  Here, we find the “blessed” blessing the One who blesses!  Through all of the trials and tribulations that David experienced in his life, he knew that he was blessed and thanked the Lord for it.  Several things stick out to me in the first two verses.

1.  I see a man’s Resolving to bless the LORD.  “Bless the LORD” is a command given to self.  Gratitude is not a natural thing in the flesh. 

a.  Sometimes we take the blessings of the LORD for granted. 

b.  Sometimes we believe that we deserve the blessings of the LORD. 

c.  Sometimes we credit fate or luck for the things that the LORD has provided for us.

2.  I see a man’s Beseeching to bless the LORD.  “O my soul” 

a.  When in the hard times of life, it is easy to fail to see the good things of life because we are shrouded with the evil things.  All of us have had or are having hard times and, though it is in the valleys that we grow, it is easy allow our disappointments, discouragements, etc. to take our eyes off of the LORD. 

b.  God was good to David in his youth.  David spent his youth in obscurity watching over his father’s sheep. 

b.  God was good to David in his manhood.  In his young manhood, he was anointed King of Israel but never got to sit on a throne.  In the meantime, he spent most of his time hiding from King Saul.  His life was one of battles and, yet, he knew that he was blessed of God. 

c.  God was good to David in his failures as well as his victories.

3.  I see a man’s Whole Heartedness to bless the LORD.  “all that is within me” 

a.  What a blessing it is to praise the LORD with all of our hearts for His goodness and mercy.  So many times we say thanks without actually being thankful.  A good example of this is blessing our food.  We go through the right ritual and say the right words but often pay little attention to the wonderful food that God has provided for us while multitudes are starving. 

b.  We mention being blessed of God but move through life in a thankless manner without taking time to look around and “smell the roses.”  In the midst of problems, we have so much to be thankful for.

4.  I see a man’s Remembrance of Who he is blessing.  “bless his holy name” 

a.  Our thanksgiving is to the Giver of life.  The Bible says that He has given us everything pertaining to life and godliness.  He is our Creator who loves us and thinks upon us. 

b.  We live in the greatest nation on earth; we eat more than we need; we share the comforts of good homes, the conveniences of transportation, and the ease of royalty.  I love to hear the song “God bless America!”

5.  I see a man’s Possibility of forgetting the LORD’s benefits.  “forget not all his benefits” 

a.  Being saved is so much more than just going to heaven.  It is a blessing filled life here on earth and then heaven.  It is easy in this rat-race world to get caught up in the busyness of things and not taking time to simply say, “Thank you, LORD, for your blessings upon one as underserving as me.” 

b.  We have good health in the midst of so much sickness and suffering around us.

c.  We have our church family!  What a blessing and privilege it is to come and just see our brothers and sisters in Christ.  To come out of the world for a few minutes and experience the peace that only God can give.

d.  We have the Holy Spirit living within; we have the Word of God in our hand; we have the church when we are down and out.  We are blessed!  Let us bless the LORD for He has certainly blessed us.