The Landmark Of Salvation

 Temple Baptist Church - 2-14-2021

Genesis 4:1-7

 

Introduction:

 

A.  I have been preaching on the subject “Remove Not The Ancient Landmark, Which Thy Fathers Have Set” over the past couple of weeks. 

 

1.  Spiritual “landmarks” define boundaries and are points of reference from which all our doctrines are measured with the Bible being our Benchmark.

 

2.  We are not as many who corrupt the Word of God by making it conform to our doctrine, but we are those few who continually mold our doctrines to the Word of God.

 

B.  This morning, I want to look at the “Landmark of Salvation.”  To get a proper perspective of what salvation is and is not, I want to look Geneses, chapters 2-4.  First Mention is an invaluable tool in Bible interpretation.  I cannot say this enough!

 

1.  In Genesis 2-3, we find the fall of man and the initiation for God’s eternal plan of salvation for him. 

 

a)  Sin and its Result.

 

Genesis 2:17  But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.

 

Genesis 3:6  And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.

 

b)  Sacrifice for Sin.

 

Genesis 3:15  And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.

 

Genesis 3:21  Unto Adam also and to his wife did the LORD God make coats of skins, and clothed them.

 

2.  In Genesis 4, we find the wrong way and the right way of salvation in the lives of Cain and Abel and God’s judgment of Cain. 

 

a)  The Wrong Response of Cain.

 

Genesis 4:3  And in process of time it came to pass, that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto the LORD.

 

b)  The Right Response of Abel.

 

Genesis 4:4  And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof. And the LORD had respect unto Abel and to his offering:

 

C.  Genesis 4 declares that salvation is through the coming of the “seed of the woman” and requires the shedding of blood.  Genesis 4 shows both the acceptance and rejection of a blood bought salvation.  The account of Cain and Abel is profound:

 

1.  It Refutes Works for Salvation – God rejected Cain’s offering!

 

2.  It Refutes Ways for Salvation – God accepted only His Way!

 

3.  It Refutes Self-Righteousness for Salvation – God required blood!

 

4.  It Refutes Pre-destination for Salvation – God gave Cain a second chance and would have accepted him.  Cain’s problem was not election, it was rejection and, therefore, a sin problem!

 

D.  Though “Cain Worship” is almost as old as time, it has become much more prevalent in our day.  The Bible says, “Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.”  Our Lord said that the only way to heaven is through the new birth.  In these last days, the New Birth is looked down upon and its recipients are maligned and mocked.  The “Landmark of Salvation” is still Repentance and Faith! 

 

1.  It Is A Singular Salvation - Proverbs 16:25  There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.  (Man’s ways may seem to them as the right ways but they are “dead wrong.”)

 

Isaiah 43:11  I, even I, am the LORD; and beside me there is no saviour.

 

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.

 

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.  (Is salvation simple or not?  Is salvation plain or not?)

 

2.  It Is An Eternal Salvation - John 10:27-28  My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:  And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.

 

John 3:14-16  And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up:  That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.  For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

 

John 5:24  Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.

 

Romans 8:35-39  Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?  As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.  Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.  For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,  Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. 

 

1 Peter 1:3-5  Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,  To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you,  Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.  (I want to say, “Blessed be God!”  It is self-righteousness that keeps people from believing in the eternal security of the believer!  Salvation belongs to the Lord!)

 

3.  It Is A Life Changing Salvation - Acts 20:21  Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.  (It is both repentance and faith, not faith alone!  Our Lord said to repent or perish!)

 

2 Corinthians 5:17  Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

 

Ephesians 2:10  For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

 

Matthew 5:16  Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.  (As one old fashioned preacher said, “If you ain’t changed, you ain’t saved!)

 

4.  It Is A Universal Salvation - Luke 24:47  And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.  (I know that I have dealt with this in the beginning, but I want to say again that everyone of us has the same basic testimony of salvation.  Your circumstances and mine may be somewhat different, but the salvation remains the same.  We recognized our sinfulness and destination in hell, turned to Jesus Christ for salvation, and were gloriously saved!  “In my hand no price a bring; simply to they cross I cling; O Lamb of God, I come!”)

 

Romans 10:12-13  For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him.  For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

 

2 Peter 3:9  The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us–ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.  (Jesus Christ died for the sin of the whole world, not just the elect or the select.  What pride!  To thing that God chose me to salvation and rejected you!)

 

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.  (If you can interpret “the whole world” as being only the elect, you are totally ignorant of truth!)

 

5.  It Is A Gracious Salvation - Ephesians 2:8-9  For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:  Not of works, lest any man should boast.

 

Ephesians 2:5  Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)

 

Titus 3:5-7  Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;  Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour;  That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.  (We deserve nothing; we deserve Hell, but because of His great love wherein He loved us—Jesus Christ DIED IN OUR PLACE!)

 

Conclusion:  The Landmark of Salvation has been removed from many churches and the result is confusion.  People rely upon almost everything else other than the finished work of Jesus Christ: His death according to the Scripture, burial, and resurrection according to the Scripture.  There is no other way!

 

Acts 16:31  And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.

 

Romans 10:9  That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.     

 

Christ, Our Altar - Part 1

 Temple Baptist Church - 2-10-2021

Hebrews 13:9-12

 

Introduction:

 

A.  To understand the last part of verse 9, we need once again to understand who the Book of Hebrews was written to and why it was written.  Hebrews was written to the “strangers scattered,” dispersed Jews. 

 

Acts 8:1-4  And Saul was consenting unto his death. And at that time there was a great persecution against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judaea and Samaria, except the apostles.  (2)  And devout men carried Stephen to his burial, and made great lamentation over him.  (3)  As for Saul, he made havock of the church, entering into every house, and haling men and women committed them to prison.  (4)  Therefore they that were scattered abroad went every where preaching the word. (In verse 4, we find that there is spiritual accountability with these saved Jews.  They had heard the Word of God and put their faith in the Messiah, Christ Jesus.)

 

1 Peter 1:1  Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to the strangers scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia,

 

2 Peter 3:15-18  And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you;  (16)  As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction.  (17)  Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness.  (18)  But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.

 

B.  Since we are interpretating verse 9 within its context, I feel it necessary to break this verse down into its components.

 

Hebrews 13:9  Be not carried about with divers and strange doctrines. For it is a good thing that the heart be established with grace; not with meats, which have not profited them that have been occupied therein.

 

1.  A personal command: “Be not”

 

a.  Personal Responsibility - spiritual growth is a personal choice. 

 

1 Peter 2:2  As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:

 

2 Peter 3:17-18  Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness.  (18)  But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.

 

b.  God gives you a Pastor!  In verses 7-8, we have seen the tools that God gives to the believer to be used in this process.

 

Hebrews 13:7-8  Remember them which have the rule over you, who have spoken unto you the word of God: whose faith follow, considering the end of their conversation.  (8)  Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.

 

2.  A possibility: “carried” – to be carried, one needs a carrier. 

 

a.  This is not the falling away of 2 Thessalonians, chapter 2.  That is something that you personally do.  “Carried” is something that you allow others to do to you and with you. 

 

2 Thessalonians 2:3  Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;

 

b.  “Carried” also implies a destination.  They are carrying you somewhere!  To allow another person to take you where they desire.  When you are carried, you may protest but you are moving under the power of another person or thing.

 

2 Peter 3:17  Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness.  

 

3.  A perplexity: “about” – this speaks of an uncertain destination. 

 

a.  Oft times, when asked where we are going, we will respond with “out and about.”  This means that we are not sure where we will end up, we are just going out.  So, you do not know where you will end up, you are just leaving where you are.

 

b.  The one who carries knows the destination of his desire.  Where is that destination?  Away from where the pastor has led you to where he/she wants to take you.

 

John 21:18  Verily, verily, I say unto thee, When thou wast young, thou girdedst thyself, and walkedst whither thou wouldest: but when thou shalt be old, thou shalt stretch forth thy hands, and another shall gird thee, and carry thee whither thou wouldest not.

 

Ephesians 4:14-15  That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;  (15)  But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: (Here is that phrase used in the context of spiritual growth that comes from following your pastor!)

 

4.  A poisoning: “with divers and strange doctrines” – to be led astray by something different or foreign to what you learned from God’s man.

 

2 Timothy 3:13-14  But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.  (14)  But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them;

 

Romans 16:17-18  Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.  (18)  For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple.

 

5.  A problem: “which have not profited them that have been occupied therein.”  The Old Testament said, “Do and live.”  The New Testament says, “DONE!”

 

Conclusion:  God’s will for our lives is to have our hearts established in grace, not with meats.  These Hebrew recipients understood what Paul was saying. 

 

1.  Established with Grace means that the Sacrifice, Jesus Christ—the Lamb of God (John 1:29), had already died for the sins of the world.  Grace is unmerited; grace is done!

 

2.  Not with Meats refers to the Old Covenant sacrifices of “bulls and goats” which could never take away sin.  These offerings were atonements or coverings until Christ Jesus, the Seed of the Woman would come.

 

Hebrews 9:10-12  Which stood only in meats and drinks, and divers washings, and carnal ordinances, imposed on them until the time of reformation.  (11)  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.

 

3.  Whereas the sacrifice of Christ was a finished work, the offering of meats was a continual one. 

 

Hebrews 9:7-10  But into the second went the high priest alone once every year, not without blood, which he offered for himself, and for the errors of the people:  (8)  The Holy Ghost this signifying, that the way into the holiest of all was not yet made manifest, while as the first tabernacle was yet standing:  (9)  Which was a figure for the time then present, in which were offered both gifts and sacrifices, that could not make him that did the service perfect, as pertaining to the conscience;  (10)  Which stood only in meats and drinks, and divers washings, and carnal ordinances, imposed on them until the time of reformation.

 

4.  There is a Danger; there is a Deception; there is a Defilement; there is a Destruction.

The Landmark of the Sanctuary

Temple Baptist Church - 2-7-2021

Hebrews 10:24-31

 

Introduction:

 

A.  Sanctuary – A sacred place.

 

1.  Adam and Eve had a Sanctuary.  An Altar of Sacrifice.  As early as Genesis 4, we find that Cain and Abel “brought” their sacrifices.  They did not offer just anywhere but there was a special place where they offered.

 

2.  Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob had a Sanctuary.  Bethel.  Abraham built an altar at Bethel (The House of God) and later came back to that same altar, naming it El-Bethel (God-The House of God) and found God there. 

 

3.  Moses and Israel to David had a Sanctuary.  The Tabernacle in the Wilderness.  When God brought Israel out of Egypt (a beautiful type of salvation), He gave instructions to Moses for the building of the Tabernacle in the Wilderness; when Israel came into the land of Canaan—they brought the Tabernacle with them.

 

3.  Solomon had a Sanctuary.  Solomon’s Temple.  This beautiful temple was the center of Jerusalem.  Ezra had a Sanctuary, Zerubbabel’s Temple.  When the Jews returned from their captivity in Babylon, the first order of business was the rebuild the walls and Temple. 

 

4.  We have a Sanctuary.  The Local Church.  When the New Testament Jews and Gentiles got saved, they had a local church to attend.  The Bible says much about the local church and works only through it.  It is around the local church that our lives are to be centered.

 

B.  Sometimes, when we go back to Hebrews 10:25, I wonder if I am not “beating a dead horse,” but the Holy Ghost used the words “and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.”  We preach these verses, we quote them, and yet—continually—we see a decrease in the faithfulness of God’s people to the church.  This is a total disobedience to God’s Word and ignorance to its meaning and consequences.

 

C.  These verses are the most profound concerning faithfulness to church that you will find.  In them we find:

 

1.  Our responsibility to each other – vs. 24

2.  The importance and purpose – vs. 25

3.  The callousness of the sin – vs. 26

4.  The promise of the judgment of God – vs. 27-29

5.  The seriousness of unfaithfulness – vs. 29

6.  The fearfulness of the Lord – vs. 30-31

 

D.  If God said and meant all these things, you would think that His children would see the seriousness, repent of their sin, and get faithful but just the opposite is true.  “As the manner of some is” has become the norm for most professing believers. 

 

E.  In the last few years, we have seen a great “falling away” from the local church.  With the rising number of “home churches,” “TV churches,” “Radio Churches,” “golf, fishing, motorcycle, cowboy, etc. churches,” there has been a great forsaking of the house of the Lord. 

 

F.  How others have handled COVID is their business but, this past year, we have seen COVID take its toll on churches around the world.  In today’s world, we see the rise of Parking Lot Church, Internet Church, Virtual Church, and much of the time, No Church! 

 

G.  I am not judging what other churches do or how they deal with COVID, but I will say that I find no substitute in the bible for the local church.  We at Temple Baptist have chosen to assemble as always and God has blessed it!  “Not forsaking” means just what it says.  I am not trying to explain it away nor am I offering any excuses.  It says what it means and means what it says. 

 

H.  NOTHING TAKES THE PLACE OF ASSEMBLY IN THE LOCAL CHURCH!  The local church is a landmark of the Lord’s making and it needs not to be removed. 

 

1.  The Local Church Is A Place Of Assembly – Hebrews 10:25  Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.  (The word “church” means a called-out assembly.  We are called out of this world to assemble.  If the Lord did not think that we needed a place of gathering, He would have just let us stay at home.  “Lovers of pleasure more than lovers of God” describes the modern day “Christian.”)

 

2.  The Local Church Is A Place Of Exhortation - 2 Timothy 4:2  Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.  (We need each other’s strength to continue on in this “present evil world.”  Bearing one another’s burdens can only come about when we are together to know what those burdens are.)

 

3.  The Local Church Is A Place Of Fellowship - Acts 2:42  And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.  (We cannot love each other with a whole heart fervently if we are never together.  I love my family and spend much time with them.  I love my church family and spend much time with them!  We laugh, cry, eat, and share together.)

 

4.  The Local Church Is A Place Of Bible Teaching - 1 Timothy 3:15  But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.  (Most believers do not know how to behave in the house of God because they are not there often enough to be taught!   Teaching is an important part of our spiritual welfare!  The largest denomination in America is the “Church of the Ignorant Brethren!”)

 

1 Timothy 4:16  Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee.

 

5.  The Local Church Is A Place Of Powerful Preaching - 2 Timothy 4:2  Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.  (The pastor is commanded to preach the Word but many are never there to receive it.  So often I know that a particular message will be of help to someone and they do not show up.  We need bible preaching and need it from the pastor!)

 

6.  The Local Church Is A Place Of Prayer - Matthew 21:13  And said unto them, It is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves.  (We come, take prayer requests and pray!  We begin each service in prayer, we pray in the prayer rooms, we pray during the services, and we end each service in prayer.  We pray for each other, we pray for our families, we pray for our needs, we pray for the needs of others, we pray for our nation, we pray for Israel, we pray for those in authority over us, we pray for souls, and we pray for the coming of the Lord.  You have not because you ask not is an indictment against those who do not pray!)

 

7.  The Local Church Is A Place Of Faithful Giving - Malachi 3:10  Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.  (Bring ye all the tithes, not send.  I will also send my tithes if I am providentially hindered from coming but we had better watch carefully how we use the wording “providentially hindered” because providence is divine!)

 

1 Corinthians 16:2  Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come.  (Some tithe and give regularly while some tithe and give irregularly.  The local church pays its bills regularly and missions support should be paid the same.  How would we like it if we got paid on an irregular basis?  We would probably be a little upset.  Missionaries do not get full support because of irregular giving!)

 

8.  The Local Church Is A Place Of Divine Approval - Ephesians 5:25-26  Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;    That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word.  (It is a sanctifying place where we are cleansed through the water of the Word.)

The Danger of Not Following

 Temple Baptist Church - 2-3-2021

Hebrews 13:9

 

Introduction:

 

A.  God’s plan in predestination is for ALL of us to turn out right spiritually: to be conformed to the image, an exact likeness, of Christ!  That speaks of our responsibility in this life.  After death or rapture, we WILL be like Him for we shall see Him as He is!

 

Romans 8:29  For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.

 

1 John 3:2  Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.

 

B.  We often read or quote Jude 24, so let us take a short look at the verse:

 

Jude 24  Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy,

 

1.  God is able to present you Faultless.  The is our Positional side of salvation in Christ.  Thank God that our salvation cannot be lost!

 

2.  God is able to keep you from Falling.  This is the Practical side of salvation in Christ.  God is able to keep us from falling but will not override our choices in life to either follow God’s will for our lives or to walk in the flesh and pay the consequences.

 

3.  God gave you a pastor who loves you, labors in the Word of God, preaches doctrinally correct, and will be there for you when you need him. I will do my work but you will have to do yours!

 

Ephesians 4:13-15  Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:  (14)  That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;  (15)  But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:

 

C. We have spent several weeks on verses 7-8.  God’s COMMANDMENT to:

 

1.  Remember God’s Man. God gave him to you. 

 

2.  Obey God’s Man. God gave him authority over you. 

 

3.  Hear God’s Man. God gave him the ability, knowledge, and wisdom to rightly divide the Word of Truth. 

 

4.  Follow God’s Man.  If he is right with the Lord, he will always point you to Christ.

 

D.  Now, let us observe our text: “Be not carried about with divers and strange doctrines. For it is a good thing that the heart be established with grace; not with meats, which have not profited them that have been occupied therein.”

 

E.  Here, we find Possibility!  With all that God has given to us to keep us from falling, there will always unfortunately be some who will “do their own thing” and pay the price for it.  I heard a younger preacher make this statement: “Law without consequences is Advice!”  With God, there will always be consequences for disobedience.

 

1.  You can refuse to hear and dry up one the vine. 

 

Hebrews 5:11-12  Of whom we have many things to say, and hard to be uttered, seeing ye are dull of hearing.  (12)  For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat.

 

Many of God’s children never grow because they do not want to grow!

 

2.  You can fall away because of a shaken mind or troubled.

 

2 Thessalonians 2:1-2  Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him,  (2)  That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand.

 

Many of God’s children are shaken because they pick and choose who or what to listen to.

 

3.  You can be led away by following the error of wicked men.

 

2 Peter 3:17-18  Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness.  (18)  But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.

 

Many of God’s children follow the easy path instead of the hard path.  The broad way instead of the narrow way because it fits their lifestyle.

 

4.  You can be blown about by listening to those who are not doctrinally correct.

                                  

2 Timothy 3:13  But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.

 

Ephesians 4:14  That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;

 

Many of God’s children listen to the voices of heresy.  False doctrine and Bible correctors. 

 

5.  You can fall away by walking in the flesh and not in the Spirit.

 

Romans 8:1-6  There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.  (2)  For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.  (3)  For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:  (4)  That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.  (5)  For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.  (6)  For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.

 

Many of God’s children love this present evil world and conform to it instead of conforming to the Bible.

 

Conclusion:  Stay with your pastor; stay with your Bible; stay with your church!