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Righteous by Association?. Not Guilty or Righteous by Association.
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Not Guilty or Righteous by Association The soul who sins shall die. The son shall not bear the guilt of the father, nor the father bear the guilt of the son. The righteousness of the righteous shall be upon himself, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon himself.Ezek. 18:20
Not Guilty or Righteous by Association • Mere contact with sinners does not make one a sinner,Lk. 15:1-2; 1 Cor. 5:9-10 • This is not permission to ignore the influence of wicked,1 Cor. 15:33-34
The Problem Stated • The temptation to consider ourselves righteous because of our association with those we deem to be righteous • Mere contact with righteous people & activities does not make us righteous (Ezek. 18:20) • In the presence of Jesus, Lk. 13:23-27
Influence of the Righteous is Powerful & Needed • In a marriage, 1 Cor. 7:14 • In the home, 2 Tim. 1:5 (3:14-15) • In the world, Matt. 5:13-16 (Col. 4:5-6) • In the church, 2 Cor. 9:2
Influence of the Righteous does not Remove Personal Responsibility • Marriage: Unbeliever must obey to be saved (1 Pet. 3:1-2) • Home: Child becomes accountable (Lk. 2:52) • World: Will give account to God (1 Pet. 4:5) • Church: Each bears own burden (Gal. 6:5)
“Faith by Association” is not True Faith • Judas, John 6:70 • Job’s wife, Job 1:1; 2:9-10 (Ezek. 14:14, 20) • Take responsibility & confess your own faith, John 12:42-43
“Repentance by Association” is not True Repentance • Pharisees & Sadducees, Matt. 3:5-9 • Repentance is not reporting • Repentance is changing of the mind & the life, Acts 19:18-20
“Worship by Association” is not True Worship • Christians are to assemble, Heb. 10:24-25 • Being present does not mean you are truly worshipping, Matt. 15:8-9 • Can eat Lord’s Supper without discerning the body & blood of Christ, 1 Cor. 11:27-31 • Worship in spirit & truth, Psa. 5:7; 29:2; Heb. 2:12
“Morality by Association” is not True Morality • Live moral lives, Titus 2:11-13 (1 Jno. 3:3) • Morality begins in the heart, Mk. 7:21-23 (Col. 3:12) • It is then seen in how we live • Holiness & modesty,1 Tim. 2:8-10 • Children of light give off light, Eph. 5:8-14
“Bible Study by Association” is not True Bible Study • Personal testimonies, Jno. 6:68 • Forwarding error via e-mail, without exposing it as error, is not Bible study (Eph. 5:11) • Genuine Bible study (Acts 17:11-12) • Good & honest heart (Lk. 8:15) • Open the book of God (Lk. 4:17) • Search for truth of God (Jno. 5:39) • Produces faith & obedience (Acts 18:8)
“Evangelism by Association” is not True Evangelism • “Friendship” / “Relationship” evangelism, Jno. 1:41 • Prior relationship not prerequisite, Acts 2:41; 8:5-6; 8:29-30 • Associating with erring brethren is not teaching them the truth (2 Jno. 10-11)
“Salvation by Association” is not True Salvation • Being saved does not mean those you associate with are saved • Saved parents does not mean you are saved • Knowing what you need to do to be saved does not save you (Matt. 7:21) • Knowing you are lost does not save you (Acts 2:37-41)
Association with Christ is Necessary for True Salvation • “I tell you I do not know you…depart from me, all you workers of iniquity”(Lk. 13:27) • Be baptized into Christ (Gal. 3:26-27) • Put on Christ…Live with Christ • Obey Christ…Be saved by Christ