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Answering Doctrinal Questions (Part 9)

Answering Doctrinal Questions (Part 9). Stan Crowley. But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear; (1 Pet 3:15 NKJV).

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Answering Doctrinal Questions (Part 9)

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  1. Answering Doctrinal Questions (Part 9) Stan Crowley But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear; (1 Pet 3:15 NKJV)

  2. 21. Should those who teach doctrine contrary to the N.T be marked (noted, ASV) and avoided? • Paul admonishes the Romans: (Rom 12:9 KJV) … Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good. (Rom 16:19 KJV) … I would have you wise unto that which is good, and simple concerning evil. • How do we do that—protect from the evil? • In the preceding verses (16:17-18), Paul tells us. 2

  3. 21. Should those who teach doctrine contrary to the N.T be marked (noted, ASV) and avoided? • Paul instructs (commands): (Rom 16:17 KJV) Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them. (Rom 16:18 KJV) 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. • We are told to be vigilant against a great danger. 3

  4. 21. Should those who teach doctrine contrary to the N.T be marked (noted, ASV) and avoided? • Let us consider: • [1] What is in danger? • [2] What is the source of the danger? • [3] How can the danger be neutralized? • [4] In what forms does this danger appear today? 4

  5. What is in danger? • Souls are in danger. • They are in danger because men can be deceived. (Mat 24:4 KJV) And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you. (Col 2:8 KJV) 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. • Cunning men purposefully deceive. 5

  6. What is in danger? • Who are most in danger? • Those most vulnerable are the “simple” (the unsuspecting). • They are innocent, and thus not suspicious; often they are gullible. • The results can be spiritually fatal! • The word translated “offenses” in verse 17 means deathtraps. • Souls can be lost. 6

  7. What is the source of danger? • The danger comes from believing a corrupted form of the gospel. • There is only one valid gospel. (Gal 1:6-7 KJV) … unto another gospel: Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. (Rom 16:17 NKJV) … divisionsand offenses, contrary to the doctrine which you learned, … (1 Tim 4:1 KJV) … depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; (Jude 1:3 KJV) … thefaith … once delivered … 7

  8. What is the source of danger? • There are many pleas for unity. (John 17:21 KJV) "… all may be one, … (1 Cor 1:10 KJV) … no divisions among you, … (Jude 1:3 KJV) … earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints. (2 John 1:10 KJV) If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed: (Rom. 16:17-18) … divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; 8

  9. What is the source of danger? • The source of the danger is: • … the perversion, • … the distortion, • … the “spinning” of true doctrine • … into something that will appeal to men in order to lure them away from the truth of the gospel 9

  10. How can the danger be neutralized? • The way to avoid damage from a physical danger is: • Take notice of it. • Stay away from it. • Warn others about it. • The same is true for spiritual dangers. (Rom 16:17 KJV) Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them. 10

  11. How can the danger be neutralized? • What does it mean “to mark”? • “Mark” is from a Greek word that means to “notice carefully, watch out for, be concerned about, keep thinking about.” • The NKJV has “note.” • The word is consistently used that way (Luke 11:35, II Cor. 4:18, Gal. 6:1, Phil. 2:4). • The word means “take notice of,” with no implication of the item noted being bad. (Phil 3:17 KJV) Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an ensample. 11

  12. How can the danger be neutralized? • Some have misunderstood the word in this text as meaning to place a visible mark or stain upon, or to stigmatize someone as disgraceful or evil. • The English word “mark” can have that meaning. • That is not the meaning of the Greek word in this passage. • The Greek word refers to something I do within myself (take notice), not some-thing done to others (put a mark on). 12

  13. How can the danger be neutralized? • “Note” is no mere academic exercise! • The “taking note” is not the end, but a means toward an end. • In Philippians, it is a step toward following. • In Romans, it is a step toward running away from! • For those who represent danger, neither tolerance nor indifference is an acceptable response: “avoid them.” 13

  14. How can the danger be neutralized? • Avoiding them neutralizes the danger: • We protect ourselves. • We protect our influence. • We draw attention to their error. • We send those in error a warning. • These people are too dangerous to tolerate; Paul says: “avoid them.” 14

  15. In what forms does the danger appear today? • The root of the danger is a philosophy of men that is guiding their decisions. • There are two fundamentally opposite philosophies: • Selflessness • Selfishness • Our text speaks of those who serve either Jesus Christ or their own bellies. 15

  16. In what forms does the danger appear today? • There are many “’isms” today—philosophies that seek to avoid restrictions. • Man denies there is a God, hence avoiding responsibility to a Creator. Atheism • Man denies there is absolute truth, so devises whatever “truth” suits his purpose. Relativism 16

  17. In what forms does the danger appear today? • There are many “’isms” today—philosophies that seek to avoid restrictions. • Man claims things are not objective, but subjective, preventing any constraints by any absolutes. Existentialism • Man claims that any religious belief must pass his test of reason (he puts himself above God). Modernism 17

  18. In what forms does the danger appear today? • One “’ism” is particularly dangerous. • We often do not recognize it for what it is! • The problem is Gnosticism. • We may think of Gnosticism as an ancient abandoned philosophy. Not so!! • Gnosticism is claiming to have “special knowledge.” • Because only they have this knowledge, the world must come to them. 18

  19. In what forms does the danger appear today? Catholicism • Councils and “the pope” are claimed to receive direct guidance. • They have the “teachings of the church.” • Even priests are believed to have special God-given insights. • They claim to have special knowledge not available to anywhere else. 19

  20. In what forms does the danger appear today? Continued Revelation • Many religious groups have preachers who contend that God has directly “laid a message on their hearts.” • Some have modern day “apostles.” • Some have books of “new revelation.” • Many claim authority for their “pastors” or “priests” or councils. • Many claim to have unique information. 20

  21. In what forms does the danger appear today? Gnosticism in the Church • Many are claiming direct revelation (enlightenment/understanding). • Often this is attributed to a direct operation of the Holy Spirit on the person’s mind. • Some claim they can discern when the Holy Spirit is or is not giving them understanding. 21

  22. In what forms does the danger appear today? Gnosticism in the Church • Many claim their academic achievements give them a superior ability to understand the Scriptures. • They claim such knowledge cannot be attained without completing the same curriculum. • This has contributed to the conclusion that our “old hermeneutic” is fatally flawed. 22

  23. CONCLUSION • The errors that corrupted sound doctrine in the days of Jesus, Paul, and John, have grown and spread. • They continue to appear in new forms, even within the Lord’s church. • The gullible are persuaded by the appeal of these “fables”; they seek to avoid the constraints that come from the truth (II Tim. 4:4). 23

  24. CONCLUSION • The Lord’s church is paying a high price for failing to heed the warning of the apostle Paulin Rom. 16:17: Now I beseech you, brethren, mark {note, NKJV} them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them. 24

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