What Is Your Religious Standard?

What Is Your Religious Standard? 1 Peter 1:23

1 Peter 1:23-25 “23 Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever. 24 For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away: 25But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you.”

Introduction • There is One religious standard! • God’s Word - the Bible! • Ephesians 4:1-6

Ephesians 4:1-6 • “1I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, 2 With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; 3Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. 4There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; 5One Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.”

“Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.” • John 17:17 • “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that hearethmy 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 5:24 • “Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed. 32 And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” • John 8:31-32 • “He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day.” • John 12:48

What Is Your Religious Standard?

Is It The World? • “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” • Romans 12:1-2 • “Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.” • James 4:4

A lady was moving to a place where no congregation of the Lord’s church existed. She went to Brother J.D. Tant to get his advice on what she should do. She said she had about decided to unite with some other group until a church of Christ was established there. Brother Tant had learned that her husband intended to precede her in the move, so he suggested that he take another wife, until the time of the arrival of his wife, and then he could return to her. The lady was insulted and horrified at the suggestion of infidelity and any unfaithfulness, but her concern for and connection with the church was obviously superficial – certainly not characterized by such depth of conviction. She could move in and live with nearly anybody, at least as far as the church was concerned. She had forgotten that the church is the bride of Christ, who is the bridegroom. Are you faithful to the “husband” in this spiritual relationship? (Ephesians 5:22-23; Romans 7:4)

Is It Human Creeds? • “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. 9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts” • Isa. 55:8-9 • “This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me. 9 But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men” • Matthew 15:8-9

Is It Your Thoughts? • “8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. 9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.” • Isa. 55:8-9 • “18 And when Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles' hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money, 19 Saying, Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy Ghost. 20But Peter said unto him, Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money. 21 Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter: for thy heart is not right in the sight of God. 22Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee.” • Acts 8:18-22

Is It Your Thoughts? • “9 I verily thought with myself, that I ought to do many things contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth. 10 Which thing I also did in Jerusalem: and many of the saints did I shut up in prison, having received authority from the chief priests; and when they were put to death, I gave my voice against them. 11 And I punished them oft in every synagogue, and compelled them to blaspheme; and being exceedingly mad against them, I persecuted them even unto strange cities.” • Acts 26:9-11 • “Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ.” • 2 Corinthians 10:5

Is It “I Don’t See Why Not”? ? • “1 But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession, 2 And kept back part of the price, his wife also being privy to it, and brought a certain part, and laid it at the apostles’ feet. 3 But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land? 4Whiles it remained, was it not thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thine own power? why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart? thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God. 5 And Ananias hearing these words fell down, and gave up the ghost: and great fear came on all them that heard these things. 6 And the young men arose, wound him up, and carried him out, and buried him. 7 And it was about the space of three hours after, when his wife, not knowing what was done, came in. 8 And Peter answered unto her, Tell me whether ye sold the land for so much? And she said, Yea, for so much. 9 Then Peter said unto her, How is it that ye have agreed together to tempt the Spirit of the Lord? behold, the feet of them which have buried thy husband are at the door, and shall carry thee out. 10Then fell she down straightway at his feet, and yielded up the ghost: and the young men came in, and found her dead, and, carrying her forth, buried her by her husband.” • Acts 5:1-10

Is It “It Feels Right To Me”? ME • “There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.” • Proverbs 14:12

Is It “I’m Sincere”? • “6 And when they came to Nachon’s threshing floor, Uzzah put forth his hand to the ark of God, and took hold of it; for the oxen shook it. 7And the anger of the LORD was kindled against Uzzah; and God smote him there for his error; and there he died by the ark of God.” • 2 Samuel 6: 6-7; cf. Exodus 25:9-16

Is It “God Do Not Say Not To”? • “1 And Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, took either of them his censer, and put fire therein, and put incense thereon, and offered strange fire before the LORD, which he commanded them not. 2And there went out fire from the LORD, and devoured them, and they died before the LORD.” • Leviticus 10:1-2

Is It “The Preacher Said”? • “6 I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: 7 Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. 8 But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. 9As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.” • Galatians 1:6-9

Is Tradition or Practice? • “1Then came to Jesus scribes and Pharisees, which were of Jerusalem, saying, 2Why do thy disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? for they wash not their hands when they eat bread. 3 But he answered and said unto them, Why do ye also transgress the commandment of God by your tradition? 4For God commanded, saying, Honour thy father and mother: and, He that curseth father or mother, let him die the death. 5But ye say, Whosoever shall say to his father or his mother, It is a gift, by whatsoever thou mightest be profited by me.” • Matthew 15:1-5 • “Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.” • Colossians 2:8

Is Tradition or Practice? • “And profited in the Jews’ religion above many my equals in mine own nation, being more exceedingly zealous of the traditions of my fathers.” • Galatians 1:14 • “He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.” • Matthew 10:37

Is it Your Conscience? • “And Paul, earnestly beholding the council, said, Men and brethren, I have lived in all good conscience before God until this day.” • Acts 23:1 • “And herein do I exercise myself, to have always a conscience void of offence toward God, and toward men.” • Acts 24:16

Is it Your Personal Preference? • “1 Thus saith the LORD, The heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool: where is the house that ye build unto me? and where is the place of my rest? 2 For all those things hath mine hand made, and all those things have been, saith the LORD: but to this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at my word. 3He that killeth an ox is as if he slew a man; he that sacrificeth a lamb, as if he cut off a dog’s neck; he that offereth an oblation, as if he offered swine’s blood; he that burneth incense, as if he blessed an idol. Yea, they have chosen their own ways, and their soul delighteth in their abominations.4 I also will choose their delusions, and will bring their fears upon them; because when I called, none did answer; when I spake, they did not hear: but they did evil before mine eyes, and chose that in which I delighted not.” • Isaiah 66:1-4

Test Your Standard with God’s Standard!

Test Your Standard With God’s Word • The Plan of Salvation • Mark 16:15-16; Acts 2:36-37 • Church Membership • Matthew 16:18; Acts 2:47 • Worship • John 4:23-24; Acts 2:42 • Works • 2 Timothy 3:16-17; Matthew 7:21-23 • Conduct • Matthew 7:12; Philippians 1:27 • Attire • 1 Timothy 2:9-10; Galatians 5:19-20; Proverbs 7:10-12 • Family Responsibility • Ephesians 6:1-4; 1 Timothy 5:8, 14

Final Question! Is Your Standard God’s Word?

What Is Your Religious Standard?