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DOES IT REALLY MAKE A DIFFERENCE?. Does it really matter?. Religious division is no secret Often in discussing faith, one will express that it doesn’t matter what we believe – except for a few fundamental points But when we study the Bible we find that God does care what we believe!.
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Does it really matter? • Religious division is no secret • Often in discussing faith, one will express that it doesn’t matter what we believe – except for a few fundamental points • But when we study the Bible we find that God does care what we believe!
Does it really matter? • He demands genuine unity – 1 Corinthians 1:10, Philippians 2:1-2John 17:20-21 • He holds us accountable for the details- Adam and Eve – one tree- Nadab & Abihu- Uzzah
Does it really matter? • When you study the Bible: • Does it make a difference what church we are a part of? • Does it matter how we worship God? • Does He care about our moral standards? • Does He tell us how to be saved? To God, such things matter. And they should matter to us too!
It makes a difference: • What we hear • Mark 4:24, Luke 8:18, “Take heed what you hear.” • Matthew 11:15, 13:9, 43,… - “He who has an ear, let him hear.” (Also Revelation 2:7, 11, 17,…) • Luke 18:6, “Hear what the unjust judge said…” • Jesus is saying, “Listen!” “Consider what I am saying”
It makes a difference: • What we hear • Romans 10:17, where our faith begins • Acts 17:11, the Bereans were more fair minded. They received the word and searched • Matthew 7:24-27 It matters what we hear. The source The interpretationThe application
It makes a difference: • What we think • Proverbs 23:7, “as he thinks in his heart, so is he” • Proverbs 4:23, out of the heart spring the issues of life Matthew 15:18-20, out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries,…these defile a man
It makes a difference: • What we think • John 16:2-3, Acts 26:9, faulty thinking • Philippians 4:8, “meditate on these things”2 Corinthians 10:4-5, the “weapons of our warfare”…will even bring our thoughts into captivity to the obedience of Christ. Your thoughts CAN be wrong. To God, these things make a difference
It makes a difference: • What we say • Many sins involve the tongue • James 3:6-12, describes how destructive it can be • Matthew 12:36-37, we will give an account for every idle word we speak
It makes a difference: • What we say • We must use our words for good! • Proverbs 13:3, 16:1-2, a soft answer turns away wrath • Colossians 4:6, seasoned speech • James 1:19, be slow to speak • Psalm 141:3 What we say makes a big difference It can determine what direction someone will go
It makes a difference: • What we believe • Far too many think this doesn’t matter. • 2 Thessalonians 2:10-12, they believed the lie. • There are many reasons why people believe what is wrong – ignorance, prejudice, agendas, relationships, consequences, laziness, etc. • Such do NOT change what is truth!
It makes a difference: Every warning in scripture against false teachers and teaching tells us it does matter what we believe!Cf. Matthew 15:13 • What we believe • John 17:17, “Your word is truth” • John 3:36, he who does not believe (obey) the Son shall not see life. • 1 John 4:1, we must not believe every spirit, but test them • Ephesians 4:4-6, these things matter!
It makes a difference: • What we love • 1 John 2:15-17, “Do not love the world…” • 2 Timothy 3:1-5, men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, etc. • 1 Timothy 6:9-10, the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil
It makes a difference: • What we love • We need to love: • Matthew 22:37-39, God and our neighbor • John 14:15, 21, Jesus to the point that you will obey Him • Psalm 119:97, 1:1-2, the truth (cf. 2 Thess. 2:10) • John 13:34-35, 1 Peter 1:22 – one another as brethren What we love will determine what we do and why we do it. And that makes a difference!
It makes a difference: • What we do • Knowing and loving the truth is not enough. • 2 Corinthians 5:10-11, one day we will give an account for what we have done! • Ecclesiastes 12:13-14, God will bring every work into judgment • Matthew 7:21-23, we must do the will of the Father (cf. Luke 6:46)
How we live our life does makes difference.The choices we make do matter