The Course that is Infallibly Safe

1. The Course that is Infallibly Safe “Work out your salvation with fear and trembling.” Phil 2:12

2. Solomon pleads with his sons • Prov. 2:2-5 • Be wise, and seek discernment • “distinguish the things that differ” • Heb 5:14 • Understand the fear of Jehovah and find the knowledge of God (vs 5). • Prov 2:9-10 • Then you shall understand righteousness and justice, and every good path. • Knowledge shall be pleasant!

3. Solomon pleads . . . • Prov.1:4 “Give prudence to the simple.” • Prov. 1:7 “The fear of the Jehovah is the beginning of knowledge.” • Prov. 1:22; 29-32 Consequences fall upon those who are naïve. • vs 33 Listen to me you will dwell securely and avoid trouble! • Be careful!

4. The course that is infallibly safe • When in doubt, if err, err on side of caution! • I Tim 2:15 “pillar and ground of the truth.” • We hold up God’s truth faithfully, not establish our own. • The infallibly safe way is most often the infallibly correct way!

5. The Course that is Infallibly Safe .. Outline of lesson. • Five Reasons why it is important to be careful • Discussion of legalism vs obedience • Make a modern day application with the Lord’s supper.

6. Reasons why it is important to be careful to obey God exactly • We are commanded to do so • Jude 3 “Content earnestly for the faith” • The faith = one that is true! • Jn 8:32 “You shall know the truth.” • Warnings: • Deut 4:2 “Ye shall not add unto the word that I command you, neither shall ye diminish from it, that ye may keep the commandments of Jehovah your God which I command you.” • Rev 22:18-19 “If any man shall add unto the words of the prophecy of this book, God shall add unto him the plagues which are written..”

7. N.T. Warnings . . . • I Cor 4:6 “That you might learn not to go beyond what is written, lest ye be puffed up.” • II John 9 “Whosoever goeth onward and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God, he that abideth in the teachings of Christ hath both the father and the son!”

8. Why we need to be careful . . • Both Old Testament and New Testament Examples . . . • Demonstrate for us the proper attitude toward truth! • Jesus in Lk 20:37-39 made an entire argument on the tense of a verb! • Burning bush –”I am the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.” Not I was! • Too technical? Too legalistic? • Showed true discernment –I Peter 2:21

9. NT Examples . . . • Gal 3:16-17 Paul makes an entire argument based upon singular or plural! • Acts 17:11 Beroean’s more noble because they searched the scriptures daily!

10. Why we need to be careful?? • There is too much at stake! • Heaven or hell for eternity!! • I Cor 15:19 “Hope only in this life we are of all men most to be pitied.” • Makes sense to so live so as “to make our calling and election sure!” II Peter 1:10 • Nothing sadder than a wasted life! Gal 6:7-8 “Sow unto the flesh,= corruption.”

11. The ultimate tragedy is to sacrifice for spiritual things, but it does no good! • Ecc 5:1 “Keep your foot when thou goeth into the house of God, for to draw nigh to hear (listen) is better than to give a sacrifice of a fool, not knowing that you are doing evil.” • Mk 7:6-8 JESUS: ‘These people honor me with their lips but their hearts are far from me! In vain do they worship me, teaching as their doctrines the precepts of men. Ye leave the commandment of God in order to hold on to the traditions of men!”

12. The ultimate tragedy . . . • Matt 7:21 “Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord shall enter into the kingdom of heaven, but He that doeth the will of my Father who is in heaven. • Vs 23: “Depart from me, I never knew you, ye that work iniquity.” • Iniquity = “Without law.” • I Jn 3:4 “Sin is lawlessness.”

13. Be wary of opinions of men . . . • “Our opinions are our brainchildren and we love them like we do our own physical children, but our neighbors may not share our love for either. Both should be kept at home for the peace of the church and the neighborhood.”

14. Why be careful? • Because of the nature of truth! • Jn 8:32 • I Kgs 3:16-28 Solomon’s wisdom: The true mother would give up her child rather than have it divided! • Truth is like a baby! • No good unless you have all of it! • Preach “whole counsel of God.” Acts 20:27

15. The nature of truth . . . • Must have conviction about truth. • Prov 23:23 “Buy the truth and sell it not.” • Too many people lack conviction and accuse those who strive to be careful as “legalists.” • Ps 127:1 “Except Jehovah build the house they that build it build it in vain.” • Heb 5:8-9 “He is the author of eternal salvation to all those that obey Him.”

16. Remember that Satan is the deceiver! • Gen 3 The serpent • Rev 12:8 “Deceiver of the whole world and a liar from the beginning.” • “Angel of light” • “Minister of Unrighteousness.” • Prov. 14:12 “There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof is the way of death.” • Prov 3:5-6 “Lean not upon your own understanding … but acknowledge Him.”

17. Must Avoid a misunderstanding of legalism and obedience! • Legalism is not a Bible word! • Legalism (concept) is wrong. • Law depending = merit salvation = works and list of dos and don’ts. • Denies Grace! • Not to be confused with Obedience or obedience as a lack of love!

18. Three quick examples . . . • Lot’s wife – • Jesus said: “Remember Lot’s wife!” Luke 17:32 • Gen 19:17 “Escape with thy life, look not behind thee.” • Who wants to be a nasty legalist when you can be a pillar of salt instead?

19. Nadab and Abihu • Num 3:4 “Died before Jehovah for offering up strange fire.” • Fire was to come from the brazen altar which had Divine origin. • Details/origin’s don’t matter? • If done what God said exactly, would have lived, but chose a fiery death instead so avoid being a “terrible legalist.”

20. Moses and the rock – Num 20:8 • Moses told to speak to the rock to get water. • Moses took liberty and smote the rock twice instead. • Bravo—he got water without being a legalist –but he missed the promise land.

21. If strict conformity to law makes one a “legalist” and legalism is so terrible, then why not? • Hail Lot’s wife and her practice of individual liberty —erect a pillar of salt as a memorial to individual freedom? • Praise Nadab and Abihu for broad-mindedness and martyrs for the cause of “freedom” and “Worship as you please.” • Exalt Moses as one who denied himself the blessings of Canaan rather than be guilty of strict conformity?

22. Final modern day application: • The Lord’s supper every Sunday • Early Christians partook every Lord’s day • Justin Martyr—First Apology, 114-165 AD • Teaching of the Twelve Apostles, XIV (80-120 AD). “Every Lord’s day do ye gather together and break bread and give thanksgiving.” • Augustus Neander, History of the Christian church. Page 460 “The Celebration of the Lord’s supper was held to constitute an essential part of divine worship every Sunday.”

23. The shadow of the Lord’s supper • The Table of Shewbread –Lev 24:7-8 • vs 7 “Be as a memorial” I Cor 11:24 • Vs 8 “Every sabbath day you shall put it in order before Jehovah.” • If priests did not partake it was breaking the sabbath! Serious! • Acts 20:7 “Upon the first day of the week, when we were gathered together to break bread.”

24. Some object and say it doesn’t matter . . . • What day or how often!! • We remember Christ’s death on the day he conquered death! Complete gospel! • We know a weekly observance is right, why not follow the course we know to be right? • God’s grace? Heb 10:26 • How can I fellowship?

25. Conclusion: • If follow safe course . . • At very best.. Hear “well done!!” • At the worst . .”Been overly cautious, exceedingly prudent, done right—”enter in!” • If wrong, and we took liberties where we had no authority, and encouraged others to do the same . . . • “Depart, you that practice lawlessness!”

26. Conclusion: • Our Shepherds taken a strong stand for truth and the right course. • We stand on solid ground and can grow and look to the future with confidence!!