Some Good Reasons Not To Sin

Temple Baptist Church - 3-19-2014

1 John 2:1

 

Introduction:

A. Over the past few weeks, we have studied the basis of fellowship: walking in light. The “if” of walking in light shows:

1. Human responsibility in the matter of sinfulness.

2. The importance of personal choices.

3. The necessity of watchfulness, repentance, and confession.

B. In our verse for tonight, we find the will of God for His children: sin not!

1. Many in our day have a warped perspective of God. He is absolutely holy and hates sin! There is pleasure in “sin for a season” (Hebrews 11:25) but seasons change!

2. Many in our day have a warped perspective of sinfulness. We have this idea that God will either overlook it or He will do little or nothing about it. Both are wrong! The worldly Christian somehow has come to view God as indulging and tolerant.

C. We need to have a proper perspective of sin and its probability in our lives.

1. In the first chapter, verses 8, 10 show us the sinfulness of the flesh. Paul said it right when he said, “For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not. (19) For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do. (20) Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. (21) I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me.” (Romans 7:18-21)

2. In verse 9 of that chapter, we find sin’s realization and repentance for forgiveness.

D. Why “sin not?” Because all sin has great consequences!

Galatians 6:7 Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.

1. Some more than others. Luke 12:47-48 And that servant, which knew his lord's will, and prepared not himself, neither did according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes. (48) But he that knew not, and did commit things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes. For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more.

2. Confession and repentance does not give immunity from consequences. Hebrews 10:26-27 For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, (27) But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries.

3. Sinfulness’ results are not the fault of God or others. James 4:17 Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.

E. Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

1. Death to Joy and Happiness. Psalms 51:8, 12 Make me to hear joy and gladness; that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice … Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit.

2. Death to God’s Perfect Peace. Isaiah 26:3 Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.

3. Death to Answered Prayer. Isaiah 59:2 But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear.

4. Death to the Blessings of God. 1 Kings 8:35-36 When heaven is shut up, and there is no rain, because they have sinned against thee; if they pray toward this place, and confess thy name, and turn from their sin, when thou afflictest them: (36) Then hear thou in heaven, and forgive the sin of thy servants, and of thy people Israel, that thou teach them the good way wherein they should walk, and give rain upon thy land, which thou hast given to thy people for an inheritance.

5. Death to Usefulness in Service. 1 Corinthians 9:27 But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.

6. Death to Finances. Haggai 1:6 Ye have sown much, and bring in little; ye eat, but ye have not enough; ye drink, but ye are not filled with drink; ye clothe you, but there is none warm; and he that earneth wages earneth wages to put it into a bag with holes.

7. Death to Good Health. Psalms 38:3, 7 There is no soundness in my flesh because of thine anger; neither is there any rest in my bones because of my sin ... For my loins are filled with a loathsome disease: and there is no soundness in my flesh.

8. Death to Physical Life. 1 Corinthians 11:30 For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep.

Biblical Inspiration

Temple Baptist Church - 3-16-2014

2 Timothy 3:16

 

Introduction:

A. Inspiration or Expiration? When reading this verse, most look at the word “inspiration” and define it as “expiration.” Though God does use “expiration” when giving the original words of scripture; the word used is “inspiration!”

1. “Expiration” - exhalation of breath. I have seen on many bibles the words “God Breathed.” I have no problem with these words as long as the definition is right. God spoke or gave by “expiration” the very word of God. I believe that every word of God is pure. God spoke and it was and still is so! No mistakes in what God said as the word of God is very pure.

2. “Inspiration” – to infuse, to breath in, an inspiring or animating action or influence. “Inspiration” is something that is done to another or to something else. God breathed out the word of God but also infused the word of God into a physical form. The original autographs were actually the first act of preservation: holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Ghost and those words were then preserved in writing. The word of God was written down in an act of preservation!

B. Once again, I want to look at the Book of Genesis for a minute to give a proper definition of what I said.

Genesis 2:7 And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul. (Here we find the “Breath of divine inspiration.” God literally breathed into Adam life and that life continues in every person born after Adam. God does not breath or re-inspire life into each of us; it is inherent through Adam. Thus it is with biblical inspiration: God gave the word by divine inspiration and that inspiration continues to give life through our bible today. It is not re-inspired; it is inspired through preservation.)

C. This evening, this will not be a complete biblical study but a single message so I will not go into great detail at this time. Everything is moving to the left: morally, politically and spiritually. The problem with the political shift is the same as the problem with the spiritual shift. As a matter of fact, the two are tied together. As the world turns from the bible and Christ, they progressively become more liberal. I want to take a look at a subject that is of vital importance to each of us in these last days of apostasy.

1. The subject of inspiration and preservation of the Scripture. It is a problem that has been around since the Garden of Eden when, soon after God said, “Thou shalt surely die,” Satan said, “Thou shalt not surely die.” The word of God has been under attack since that time.

2. Paul alluded to this same attack in 2 Thessalonians 2 when he said, “Letters as from us.” False manuscripts were already in circulation in the first century AD. This attack has continued to our day and has escalated over the past 130 years.

3. When I was a child, I was raised in a Baptist church and knew of no other version of the bible other than the King James. I was taught it; I memorized it; I believed it! While in Bible College, a friend of mine was preaching at a nursing home, mentioned the existence of other false “bibles” and one of the old ladies asked, “What other bibles?” She was “old school” and knew of only one bible, the King James.

4. Over the last 60 years, the controversy has grown as many “other bibles” have come into existence and been promoted by liberal seminaries, liberal preachers, and worldly “Christian” book stores. Therefore, I feel the necessity of preaching on the subject occasionally to a good King James Bible preaching church.

a) You and I, who still stand for the King James Bible, are the “Tea Party” in this world of religion!

b) We stand where our fathers stood 50-100 years ago. We have not moved, they have moved. We have not compromised, they have compromised and, yet, we have become the enemy (though they may not openly call us such) because—by standing in the Old Paths—we expose these moderates and liberals for what they are! We believe what our Fathers believed: that we have the very word of God in our hands: inerrant, infallible, preserved, and inspired! Yes, I said inspired! That is what our text just said.

c) Thus we who stand where our forefathers stood are now demonized by the liberal religious left. We are narrow-minded and full of hate and cruelty in their minds because we believe this blessed old book I hold in my hand this morning.

d) No, this is not a political lesson though we can learn from it. Hang on! I know where I am going with this message. Let us go back to the political world for a moment. What has destroyed our youth in America? Higher education! Colleges and universities are permeated with liberal progressives who stand against what our parents stood for and brainwash our youth. Now, the same thing is killing our churches and young Christians: higher education in so called Christian schools where the bible is taught as errant and fallible; where its preservation and inspiration are called into question. Liberal progressive bible teachers are destroying the faith of the next generation in the name of Christian education. Enough said!

D. Though we are a conservative Baptist church, we need to know not only what we believe about the bible but also why we believe what we believe about the bible.

1. It is important that we have a basis for our faith. The bible asks this question, “If the foundations be destroyed, what can the righteous do?” The bible is the sole foundation for both faith and practice.

2. Without the bible, we have nothing to base our salvation or blessed hope on; we have nothing with which to teach sound doctrine; we have no basis for holiness and sanctification; there is no right or wrong and every man can do that which is right in his own eyes. Therefore, I am not “majoring on a minor” as some would have you believe. I am majoring on the MAJOR! The word of God is the foundation upon which we base all that we believe.

E. It has often been said, “A text taken out of context becomes a pretext.” Context and pretext defined:

1. Context - the parts of a written or spoken statement that precede or follow a specific word or passage, usually influencing its meaning or effect:

2. Pretext - a reason that you give to hide your real reason for doing something.

F. Two mentions of the word “inspiration” in the bible:

1. In the Old Testament, Job 32:8 which speaks of the inspiration from God of a man’s spirit that gives understanding: “But there is a spirit in man: and the inspiration of the Almighty giveth them understanding.”

2. In the New Testament, 2 Timothy 3:16 speaks of the inspiration of the scripture which is given by God: “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.”

G. Now, let us look at our text in its biblical context. If you are going to interpret a verse, do it within its context. It does not matter what I think; it does not matter what you think; it does not matter what a school, church, or pastor thinks; it does not matter what a Greek or Hebrew scholar thinks; it only matters what the bible says!

1. What was the Book of 2 Timothy written for? 2 Timothy is one of the Pastoral Epistles. In 1^st Timothy, 2^nd Timothy, and Titus, the Apostle Paul is writing young pastors instructing them in the work of the ministry and the operation of the local church.

a. 1^st Timothy’s key verse is 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.” It is a doctrinal book that explains the operation and regulation of the local curch.

b. 2^nd Timothy’s key verse is 2 Timothy 2:15: “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” 2^nd Timothy is a foundational book that explains how to refute false doctrine through rightly dividing the word of truth. In order to refute error, one must have truth!

c. Titus’ key verse is Titus 1:5: “For this cause left I thee in Crete, that thou shouldest set in order the things that are wanting, and ordain elders in every city, as I had appointed thee.” It is a corrective book that sets in order the things that were wanting in the local church.

2. What is the context of our verse: 2 Timothy 3:16? In order to properly interpret the verse, we need to look at the verses both before and after it.

a. Verse 13 speaks of spiritual deception through evil men (false prophets, grievous wolves).

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.

b. Verse 14 speaks of biblical succession. Continue, learned, assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them.

2 Timothy 1:13 Hold fast the form of sound words, which thou hast heard of me, in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.

c. Verse 15 speaks of the holy scriptures that Timothy was saved under and that continued to give him wisdom. These were not original manuscripts! To make them such is to willfully twist the scriptures in order to make them fit your particular doctrinal error.

Psalms 19:7-11 The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple. (8) The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes. (9) The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring for ever: the judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether. (10) More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb. (11) Moreover by them is thy servant warned: and in keeping of them there is great reward.

d. Verse 17 speaks of the perfecting and furnishing the man of God. This refers to Timothy and the rest of God’s called men, not the prophets who wrote the original manuscripts. You cannot be perfected or throughly furnished by scriptures that you do not have!

Psalms 119:98-100 Thou through thy commandments hast made me wiser than mine enemies: for they are ever with me. (99) I have more understanding than all my teachers: for thy testimonies are my meditation. (100) I understand more than the ancients, because I keep thy precepts.

3. Now that we have seen that the context deals with the preparation of God’s man to deal with apostasy through scripture, let us look at verse 16, which is in the middle of the context.

a. All scripture speaks of the present day manuscripts that Timothy had in his day, not the original autographs. It is not double inspiration but rather one act of inspiration couple with a continual preservation that keeps the inspiration intact. Ignorant scholars always apply verse 16 to the originals only when the originals are not mentioned in the context. These manuscripts that are being referred to are the ones that brought Timothy to Christ and what were to throughly furnished him for the ministry.

b. To maintain the perfection of the original manuscripts (which I do believe that they were) does absolutely nothing for us today! It is a pretext! It has no present value! They are gone! You cannot reference them!

c. Paul called Timothy’s scripture “holy scripture” and verse 16 is speaking of them! Notice that they are now profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness! The inspired, holy scriptures are something that must be available to us today! I do not preach out of manuscripts, I preach out of a bible. I do not learn my doctrine from manuscripts or Greek-Hebrew scholars; I learn it from my bible. I thank God that He gave us His eternal word and I hold in my hand.

Conclusion: Most doctrinal statements find inerrancy and infallibility, and inspiration in the original manuscripts only. That is not what God said in these verses! 2 Timothy 3:16 says that what Timothy had was inspired, holy scriptures. We have the inerrant, infallible, preserved, and inspired word of God today and it is the Authorized King James Bible! The King James Bible is not just the best translation off of the best manuscripts, it is God’s Word!

Jesus Christ In The Tabernacle - The Table of Shewbread

Temple Baptist Church - 3-16-2014

Exodus 25:23-30

 

Introduction:

A. As we consider our Lord Jesus Christ portrayed in the Tabernacle in the Wilderness, I want to look at the second piece of furniture found in the Holy Place: the Table of Shewbread.

B. We saw:

1. Jesus as the Way in the gate to the East

2. Jesus as our Propitiation in the Brazen Altar

3. Jesus as our Mediator and Cleansing at the Laver of Brass

4. Jesus as our Light of Witness in the Golden Candlestick

C. The Table of Shewbread actually represents two things: the Care of God and Our Communion with God. I will deal more with our communion with God than the Care of God in this message.

1. The Table Of Shewbread Typifies The Care Of God

a. Perpetual Presence

b. Perpetual Provision

c. Perpetual Thanksgiving

2. The Table Of Shewbread Typifies Our Communion With God

a. The table, in those days, represented a place of fellowship and communion. Before the deliverance of Israel, we find that eating and fellowship were essential to each other.

1) Abraham prepared a meal for the Angel of the Lord in Genesis 18.

2) Israel prepared a meal during the Passover in Egypt.

3) God gave the pattern or the Table of Shewbread, typical of constant fellowship at the table.

4) Our Lord broke bread with His disciples and fed the multitudes.

5) Our Lord gave the ordinance of the Lord’s Supper to us in the local church.

6) There will be the Marriage Supper of the Lamb.

7) There will be the gathering of Israel at God’s table in the Millennium.

8) There will be perpetual eating in eternity at the Tree of Life.

b. These are just a few examples of the “table” and communion together before the Law, during the Law, during the Life of Christ, during the age of the Church, in Heaven, during the Millennium, and in eternity.

c. Today, it is simply a place of nourishment with little or no conversation or time spent. Here we find a dual danger in our modern day churches.

1) The Danger Of Communion Without Proper Respect And Fear (Contemporary Worship).

2) The Danger Of Communion With Ritual and Deadness (Liturgical or Form Worship).

3. Five things our communion with God does.

a. Communion with God keeps us in fellowship - 1 John 1:5-7 This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. (6) If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: (7) But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. (Both with the Lord and one another)

b. Communion with God is essential to a proper perspective of God - Philippians 3:8-10 Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, (9) And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith: (10) That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;

c. Communion with God brings about fullness of joy – Psalms 16:11 Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.

1 John 1:3-4 That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ. (4) And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full.

d. Communion with God brings about holiness of life – 1 John 1:6, 9 If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth … If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

e. Communion with God shows us the will of God - Colossians 1:9-10 For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; (10) That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God;

Amos 3:3 Can two walk together, except they be agreed?

Conclusion: In every child of God, there needs to be a desire for communion with the Lord.

Psalms 42:1 To the chief Musician, Maschil, for the sons of Korah. As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God.

Sinfulness and Forgiveness

Temple Baptist Church - 3-12-2014

1 John 1:8-10

 

Introduction:

A. Before we take a look at verses 8-10, we need to establish something.

1. The context of chapter 1 is that of fellowship. The word “fellowship” is found 4x in the preceding verses. Salvation is not mentioned in this chapter at all. 1 John is written to “my little children.” Chapter 2:1 makes this perfectly clear as the Holy Spirit said, “My little children, these things write I unto YOU, that YE sin not.”

2. The forgiveness offered in chapter 1 is in light of fellowship. Verse 9 is not a safeguard against losing your salvation. The forgiveness of verse 9 is a gracious remedy for sinfulness that breaks fellowship, the cleansing of all unrighteousness, and opens the door for the blessings of God to flow.

3. Fellowship can be broken but relationship cannot. I will give you verses but a great analogy is that of the parent-child relationship. Our children are born unto us and that birth establishes a relationship that cannot be broken. They cannot be unborn and their DNA cannot be changed. Mom and Dad, like it or not they are YOURS!

4. When fellowship is broken between the parent and child, there must be either confession and forgiveness or chastening. Restoration of that parent-child fellowship is essential to happiness, communion, and blessings restored. The relationship is never in question.

B. There is salvation’s forgiveness is both singular in its occurrence and eternal in its duration. I will not spend a lot of time here as you and I know that salvation is eternal, therefore, it cannot be lost. Otherwise it CANNOT be eternal! We are not put on probation; we are gloriously, eternally saved!

Romans 10:9-13 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. (10) For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. (11) For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. (12) 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. (13) For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

John 3:16 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.

John 10:27-30 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: (28) And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. (29) My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand. (30) I and my Father are one.

1 John 5:11-13 And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. (12) He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life. (13) These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.

C. God is light and in Him is no darkness at all, therefore, sinful man must have a way to maintain fellowship with Him and that is what our verses are all about.

1. Confession of the reality of sinfulness in the flesh. Vs. 8, 10.

a. Sinfulness is more than just a probability! If we say we have no sin, we have made God a liar and his word of truth is not in us. Notice that these verses are written to God’s “little children,” not to the lost. We that are saved are still sinners.

b. We must come face to face with the fact of our sinfulness and desire forgiveness.

Ecclesiastes 7:20 For there is not a just man upon earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not.

2. There must be honest confession of our sinfulness. Vs. 9.

a. Confession means to agree with God about our sin. It is not, Lord, forgive me if I have sinned; it is not, Lord, I know I have sinned but not as badly as others that I know; it is, Lord, I have sinned against Thee and Thee only! My sin is wicked and I am ashamed.

b. Confession must be coupled with repentance. It is not, Lord, I know that I have sinned and will probably do it again; it is, Lord, I have sinned and, by the grace of God, will do so no more. Godly sorrow worketh a repentance not to be repented of.

Luke 18:11-13 The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. (12) I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess. (13) And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner.

3. Confession must be made to the right Person! Vs. 9

a. Confession of sin is not to be made to man! We do not live in the age of the Priesthood as we now are individual priests and can go directly to God for forgiveness. Only God can forgive sin.

b. Confession is to be made through our Mediator and Advocate, the Lord Jesus Christ.

1 Timothy 2:5 For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; (We do not pray to priests, idols, or to Mary for forgiveness. There is ONE MEDIATOR, Christ Jesus! Mediator – a go betweem. He is our Buffer!)

1 John 2:1 My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: (Advocate - a person who argues for the cause of another person.)

4. Confession must desire the right result! Vs. 9.

a. The cleansing of all unrighteousness. We must want to be clean and holy before the Lord.

b. The restoration of the fellowship that we had with the Lord before sin took its toll.

Contrasting The Times

Temple Baptist Church - 3-9-2014

2 Timothy 3:10-14

 

Introduction:

A. Over the past couple of months, we have seen the problems associated with these last, perilous times in which we live. Once again, we all know what time it is according to prophecy. The Lord is coming and we that are saved are leaving! As one man once said, “We have quit looking at the signs and are listening for the shout!”

B. We that are older certainly understand the changes that have taken place in our lifetime and our children will never have the blessing of knowing the America that we once knew and grew up in. It is a sad fact that must be dealt with.

C. Now, in light of all that is prophesied, the Holy Spirit commands to “continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them.” I find no better advice to give tonight than what God gave!

D. It takes a realization of what God has blessed and a resolve to continue in them. Simple, right? Yet people that we know and love have done almost everything other than that. I believe that every believer must make a personal choice and then the members of the local church must make a corporate one.

E. I made mine long ago when the Lord called me into the ministry. It was His call into His ministry and both are anchored deep in the Word of God.

1. Timothy’s Spiritual Assurance – vs. 14 - More important than knowing what you believe is knowing that what you believe is right!

a. Timothy knew what he believed because the tense of “hast been” is past. Timothy is a young pastor and a pastor had better know what he believes.

b. Timothy knew his predecessors. “Knowing of whom thou hast learned them” speaks of those who taught the Word of God to him. I have sat under sound, fundamental, bible believing men of God throughout my years of spiritual growth. I learned my doctrine through their teaching and preaching along with personal reading and study of the Word of God.

c. The admonition was not to forget that what Timothy believed was right. I have been in church, gone to school with, and preached with good men who have changed over the years. This tells me that they either had no confidence in who taught them, did not believe the Word of God, or did not value where they came from and what they once believed.

d. I have experienced this in my pastorate: people coming to Temple Baptist Church and sitting on the pews while in disagreement with the pulpit. God is not the Author of confusion and their sitting there was not God’s doing! I would not sit under a pastor that I thought was preaching or teaching false doctrine. I am not talking about “dotting your I’s and crossing your T’s.” I am talking about major doctrinal teaching.

2. Timothy’s Spiritual Assets – vs. 14 – “continue thou in the things which thou hast learned” If they are right; if you learned them from godly men who were right; then continue in them!

a. Continue In The Word. John 8:31 Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed;

b. Continue In The Old Paths. Jeremiah 6:16 Thus saith the LORD, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls. But they said, We will not walk therein.

c. Sound Biblical Doctrine. 2 Timothy 4:2 Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.

d. Continue In The Amazing Grace of God. Romans 5:2 By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.

e. Continue In Love – John 15:9 As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love. (saints, sinners, the local church)

f. Continue In Separation. 1 John 2:15 Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. (worldliness, apostasy, ecumenism)

g. Continue In Missions – Mark 16:15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. (home and around the world)