“Convicting Those Who Contradict”

1. “Convicting Those Who Contradict” Helping Saints Prepare to Answer and Persuade Those in Error

2. Introduction • Title:“Convicting Those Who Contradict” (Titus 1:9) • Our Three-fold Goal: • Use “sound doctrine” to persuade those “who contradict”. • Determine what is “sound doctrine” versus “contradiction”. • Consider howto determine what is “sound doctrine”. • Selection: Significant, Local Threats to Christianity

3. Aside: Approaching People • Welcome to Visitors!  • Class questions represent “worst case” hostility. • “A soft answer turns away wrath, But a harsh word stirs up anger.” (Proverbs 15:1; Romans 12:17-21) • “Speech with grace, seasoned with salt … knowhow to answer each one” (Colossians 4:6) • Patiently “reason”, explain … not browbeat, intimidate (Acts 19:8-9; II Timothy 2:25-26). • Say what each person needs (Mark 10:21-23).

4. Aside: Approaching People • Start with love’s benefit of the doubt (I Corinthians 13:4-8). Assume they are – at worst – innocently mistaken or confused, not willfully blind and hardened. • React on an individual level with other person’s best interest in mind (I Corinthians 13:4-8): • “Now we exhort you, brethren, warn those who are unruly, comfort the fainthearted, uphold the weak, be patient with all.” (I Thessalonians 5:14; see also Jude 22-23) • Realize “power” is in the “gospel” (Romans 1:16; Ephesians 6:17), not socialization (I Cor. 2:1-5). • Work toward fundamental point of difference!

5. Introduction … • Motivation: Why have this class? • Even if we have studied these topics previously, why might this class be important for us to study now? • Integrity … Personal conscience for self and before the Lord. • Integrity! ... Answer others fairly, accurately, and appropriately. • Integrity!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Teach our children to teach their children, teach others, and have integrity themselves.

6. Introduction … • Direction: Answer 2 questions on every topic: • How do I know “they” are not right? • How can I convince “them” of the truth?

7. Administrivia • Questions available in the back … • Audio, slides, and questions on church web-site: • http://www.pepperroadchurch.org • Questions in “Member Files” section … • … always being updated. • Material divided into sections with questions … • Cover roughly 10 questions per class … • All quotations from NKJV, unless …

8. Synopsis – Sections • Introduction to Careful Bible Study (~4) • Catholicism (~2) • Calvinism (~5) • Common Denominational Errors (~3) • Charismatic Errors (~3) • Introduction to Answering Cult Errors (~1) • Seventy Day Adventist (~1) • Mormonism (~3) • Jehovah’s Witnesses (~3)

9. “Axe Laid to the Root …” • “Give me six hours to chop down a tree and I will spend the first four sharpening the axe.” – Abraham Lincoln • “If the ax is dull, And one does not sharpen the edge, Then he must use more strength; But wisdom brings success.” (Ecclesiastes 10:10) • See also: Luke 3:9

10. Section #1 Introduction to Careful Bible Study

11. Overview of the Bible • Authorship • Organization • Unity of Message • Imagine you were beginning a study with a neighbor, and they asked, “What is the Bible about?” How would you explain the central theme of the Bible?

12. Unity of Message • Imagine you were beginning a study with a neighbor, and they asked, “What is the Bible about?” How would you explain the central theme of the Bible? • God’s plan to save a remnant of mankind from their sins. • Old Testament (Galatians 3:24-25; Romans 7:13) • New Testament (Ephesians 3:10-11; Colossians 1:27-29) • Tree of life lost, regained (Genesis 3; Revelation 22).

13. Major Bible Periods • Patriarchal – Hebrews 1:1 … Genesis 6:13; 7:1; 18:19; 26:3, 24; 28:13; Job 1:5 …Genesis 14:18; 20:7; Numbers 22:1-20; Exodus 18:1-12; Job 42:7-10 • Mosaical – From giving of the Law of Moses to Jesus’ death on the cross. (One special people, Israelites). • Christian – From Jesus’ death on the cross until …? Open to all people!

14. Overcoming Barriers to Bible study • What spiritual virtues are essential for a proper understanding of God’s Word and resolving differences about the meaning of Scripture? • “Get wisdom! Get understanding! Do not forget, nor turn away from the words of my mouth. Do not forsake her, and she will preserve you; Love her, and she will keep you. Wisdom is the principal thing; Therefore get wisdom. And in all your getting, get understanding. … When you walk, your steps will not be hindered, And when you run, you will not stumble. Take firm hold of instruction, do not let go; Keep her, for she is your life.” (Proverbs 4:4-13)

15. Overcoming Barriers Barrier #1 –Failures IN MOTIVATION

16. 4. “But, I am already a Christian!” • Unity: • Division Is A Barrier To Evangelism • “I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me.” (John 17:20-21)

17. 4. “But, I am already a Christian!” • Unity: • Unity Enhances the Work of the Church • “Now the whole earth had one language and one speech. ... And the LORD said, ‘Indeed the people are one and they all have one language, and this is what they begin to do; now nothing that they propose to do will be withheld from them.’” (Genesis 11:1-6)

18. 5. “One is as good as another!” • Salvation: • Division Is Not Acceptable: • “Now I plead with you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly joined together in the same mindand in the same judgment.” (I Corinthians 1:10)

19. 5. “One is as good as another!” • Salvation: • Believing False Doctrine Can Condemn You or Me: • “And their message will spread like cancer. Hymenaeus and Philetus are of this sort, who have strayed concerning the truth, saying that the resurrection is already past; and they overthrow the faith of some. (II Timothy 2:17-18; also, Galatians 5:4; Matthew 7:21-23; Luke 6:39)

20. 6. “I don’t argue about religion!” • We do not have to “argue”. • Inappropriate Fighting is Condemned: • And a servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to all, able to teach, patient, … (II Timothy 2:24)

21. 6. “I don’t argue about religion!” • However, We Must Correct and Contend: • … in humility correcting those who are in opposition, if God perhaps will grant them repentance, so that they may know the truth, and that they may come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil, having been taken captive by him to do his will. (II Timothy 2:25-26) • Beloved, … I found it necessary to write to you exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints. (Jude 3)

22. Tip #1: Watch speech and tone Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one. (Colossians 4:6)

23. FLAWED Methods of Interpretation • Unbelieving • Rational • Mystical • Hierarchical • Majority • Allegorical • Literal • Spiritual • Reflects upon God as Revelator and Creator There is no Bible. Bible is Hopeless. Man is Hopeless. Bible has no literary orientation.

24. Overcoming Barriers Barrier #2 –Insufficiency of Scripture

25. 7. “Words cannot contain infinite God!” • The Bible contains what we need to know: • “… as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue.” (II Peter 1:3; also, II Timothy 3:16-17) • No one limits God, but God can limit Himself (Titus 1:2; Hebrews 6:17-18; II Timothy 2:13).

26. 7. “Words cannot contain infinite God!” • The Bible IS sufficient! It can be read and understood: • “… how that by revelation He made known to me the mystery (as I have briefly written already, by which, when you read, you may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ), which in other ages was not made known to the sons of men, as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to His holy apostles and prophets.” (Ephesians 3:3-5)

27. 9. “I Just Don’t Get It!” • Some parts of the Bible are difficult to understand: • “… be diligent to be found by Him in peace, without spot and blameless; … as also our beloved brother Paul, according to the wisdom given to him, has written to you, as also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things, in which are some things hard to understand, which untaught and unstable people twist to their own destruction, as they do also the rest of the Scriptures. You therefore, beloved, since you know this beforehand, beware lest you also fall from your own steadfastness, being led away with the error of the wicked;”(II Peter 3:14-18)

28. 9. “I Just Don’t Get It!” • Understanding them requires diligence: • “Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” (II Timothy 2:15) • God designed us as well as the Bible. If He said we can understand, then we can understand! • “Who has made man's mouth? … Have not I, the LORD?” (Exodus 4:1) • “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.”(Joshua 1:9)

29. 8. “That is your interpretation!” • Presumes one interpretation is as good (or, as bad) as another. • “… God, who cannot lie …”(Titus 1:2; Hebrews 6:17-18) • “For God is not the author of confusion but of peace, as in all the churches of the saints.”(I Corinthians 14:33) • Despairs that truth (God’s Word) is essentially unknowable or non-existent, but it is knowable and sufficient for all we need (II Timothy 3:16-17). • “Do you believe you are right?”

30. Tip #2: Adapt! • For though I am free from all men, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win the more; and to the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might win Jews; to those who are under the law, as under the law, that I might win those who are under the law; to those who are without law, as without law (not being without law toward God, but under law toward Christ), that I might win those who are without law; to the weak I became as weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all men, that I might by all means save some. Now this I do for the gospel's sake, that I may be partaker of it with you. (I Corinthians 9:19-23)

31. Overcoming Barriers Barrier #3 –Wrong Standard

32. “Holy Spirit Helps Interpret” • So, the Scriptures are insufficient? I can’t read and understand? • How do you know it is the Holy Spirit leading you? • Could be the Devil or his servants! (II Thessalonians 2:9-12; II Corinthians 11:13-15) • Could be yourself! (Jeremiah 14:14; 23:16-36; 29:8-9) • Modern revelation cannot contradict the ancient. • But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed. As we have said before, so now I say again, if anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have received, let him be accursed. (Galatians 1:8-9) • See also: I John 4:1, 6; I Corinthians 14:33, 37; John 5:31-47

33. “I feel this is right!” • If you were talking to a friend, convicting them of some sin, and they responded, “I feel this is right,” how would you answer? • Our feelings cannot be trusted: • “There is a way that seems right to a man, But its end is the way of death.” (Proverbs 14:12; also, Proverbs 16:2; Jeremiah 10:23)

34. “I feel this is right!” • For example, Paul was sincerely wrong: • Then Paul, looking earnestly at the council, said, “Men and brethren, I have lived in all good conscience before God until this day.” (Acts 23:1) • “I persecuted this Way to the death, binding and delivering into prisons both men and women …” (Acts 22:4) • “… I was formerly a blasphemer, a persecutor, and an insolent man; but I obtained mercy because I did it ignorantly in unbelief.” (I Timothy 1:13)

35. “My Parents Could Answer …” • What if you were studying with a schoolmate, and they answered, “My parents and my pastor could answer all of these questions!” What would you say? • Who comes first, Jesus or ancestry? • “If anyone comes to Me and does not hatehis father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple.” (Luke 14:26; also, Matthew 10:34-39; Galatians 1:13-14)

36. “My Pastor Could Answer …” • “Great! I would love to study with him too. ” • Whose traditions comes first, God’s or man’s? • He answered and said to them, “Why do you also transgress the commandment of God because of your tradition? … ‘And in vain they worship Me, Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’” (Matthew 15:3, 9) • We stand on our own before God on Judgment – not with anyone else including one’s pastor: • “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.” (II Corinthians 5:10)

37. “All Christians believe this!” • Imagine you were talking to a schoolmate about instrumental music, and they responded, “But, all Christians use mechanical instruments in worship!” What would be your answer? • Previously, God condemned the world and saved few! • …who formerly were disobedient, when once the Divine longsuffering waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared, in which a few, that is, eight souls, were saved through water. (I Peter 3:20)

38. “All Christians believe this!” • Jesus has foretold that only a few will go to heaven! • “Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.” (Matthew 7:13-14) • Lesson: How can the majority be a standard, if the majority are not even going to heaven?

39. Approaching the Bible Required Attitudes and Virtues

40. Ultimate Love of Truth • II Timothy 3:6-8 – “… always learning and never ableto come to the knowledge of the truth” • Romans 10:1-3 – “… that they be saved. … they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge.” • Luke 16:15 – “You are those who justify yourselves before men, but God knows your hearts.” • Matthew 13:14-15 – “Their eyes they have closed, Lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears, Lest they should understand with their hearts and turn, So that I should heal them.”

41. Ultimate Love of Truth • “The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders, and with all unrighteous deceptionamong those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this reason God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie, that they all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness.” (II Thessalonians 2:11-12) • People hear the truth, and they reject it and love of it. • God sends “strong delusion”. • People believe the lie instead, and are condemned.

42. God Cannot Lie or Tempt unto Sin • … in hope of eternal life which God, who cannot lie, promised before time began … (Titus 1:2 NKJV, see also, Hebrews 6:18) • Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am tempted by God”; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone. But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death. (James 1:13-15) • “Thus says the LORD: ‘Behold, I will fill all the inhabitants of this land -- even the kings who sit on David's throne, the priests, the prophets, and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem -- with drunkenness! And I will dash them one against another, even the fathers and the sons together,’ says the LORD.” (Jeremiah 13:12-15) • Recall: Jehu & Ahab, Assyria & Israel, Babylon & Assyria & Judah

43. More on Love of Truth … • Common, repeated, and emphasized theme throughout the Scriptures: • John 3:19-21 – “… this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil” • II Chron. 18:1-34; I Kings 22:1-36 – Ahab & Micaiah • Isaiah 66:2-4 – God says, “they have chosen their own ways, … So will I choose their delusions.” • Proverbs 23:23– “Buy the truth and sell it not!” • Psalm 11:4– “His eyelids tests the sons of men”

44. More on Love of Truth … • II Corinthians 3:14-4:4– Blinded minds – even while reading Scripture – by the god of this age through crafty, deceitful handling of Scripture. • John 7:17– “If anyone wants to do His will, he shall know concerning the doctrine, whether it is from God” • Romans 1:28-32– God “gave them up to a reprobate mind”, because they did not like to “retain God in their knowledge”. • Matthew 11:25-27– Truth was hidden from wise and prudent, but revealed to babes by God’s design.

45. More on Love of Truth … • I Corinthians 1:18-31– Cross is foolishness, a stumbling block – “not many wise … not many mighty … not many noble” • II Peter 3:5– “this they willfully forget”, “willfully ignorant” • Proverbs 18:13– “He who answers a matter before he hears it, It is folly and shame to him.” • Luke 22:67-68– Asking questions with intent to ignore answer. • Acts 22:21-22– Prejudicial listening. Rejection upon 1 word.

46. More on Love of Truth … • Jeremiah 5:30-31– “The prophets prophesy falsely … And My people love to have it so” • Isaiah 30:9-15– Wanted prophets to speak smooth deceits, turn out of the path, and remove God from before them. • Deuteronomy 16:19– “A bribe blinds the eyes of the wise and twists the words of the righteous.” What is the Devil offering? • Jer. 23:16-32; 27:12-28:17; 29:8; Ez. 13:1-16– Speaks against self-induced dreams and visions. People dream what they want to dream and hope it is from God.

47. Exegesis vs. Eisegesis • exegesis – interpret, “lead out” meaning • eisegesis – inject meaning • … Thus says the Lord GOD: “Everyone of the house of Israel who 1sets up his idols in his heart, and puts before him what causes him to stumble into iniquity, 2and then comes to the prophet, 3I the LORD will answer him who comes, according to the multitude of his idols, that I may seize the house of Israel by their heart, because they are all estranged from Me by their idols.” (Ezekiel 14:4-10) • The Bible pattern is to always hear then believe – not believe then hear! (Rom. 10:17; John 6:45; Acts 2:41)

48. Overcoming Barriers Barrier #4 –EMOTIONAL ESCAPES

49. 14. “As long as you are doing your best” • “Why do you think your judgment of yourself is enough?” • For I know nothing against myself, yet I am not justified by this; but He who judges me is the Lord. (I Corinthians 4:4)

50. 14. “As long as you are doing your best” • Sincerity and good works in Jesus’ name is not enough! • “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’” (Matthew 7:21-23) • Lesson: Obey the standard by which we will be judged (John 12:48).