1 00:00:01,199 --> 00:00:03,466 Do something a little different. 2 00:00:04,766 --> 00:00:07,599 Gotta shake things up every once in a while, right? 3 00:00:07,966 --> 00:00:08,800 I think. 4 00:00:09,266 --> 00:00:13,566 We're going to start a series of topical expository 5 00:00:13,566 --> 00:00:16,433 topical sermons. 6 00:00:16,533 --> 00:00:19,533 Instead of going, through a 7 00:00:19,533 --> 00:00:22,699 complete book, verse by verse, through a whole book, 8 00:00:22,699 --> 00:00:26,899 as I typically do, we're going to take a little time to 9 00:00:26,899 --> 00:00:29,899 cover some important subjects that 10 00:00:29,899 --> 00:00:33,366 all Christians absolutely must have 11 00:00:33,366 --> 00:00:36,299 a sound knowledge of. 12 00:00:38,666 --> 00:00:42,500 This type of preaching is still expositional, 13 00:00:42,500 --> 00:00:45,933 but instead of me standing before you to unpack 14 00:00:45,933 --> 00:00:49,633 verses in the context of a book will 15 00:00:49,633 --> 00:00:53,000 be unpacking verses related to the context 16 00:00:53,000 --> 00:00:54,633 of our subject matter. 17 00:00:56,000 --> 00:01:00,066 And the first subject that I want to tackle is 18 00:01:00,066 --> 00:01:03,666 going to be a three part series that 19 00:01:03,666 --> 00:01:05,533 all Christians have to understand. 20 00:01:07,099 --> 00:01:10,633 When RC sproll was asked, what 21 00:01:10,633 --> 00:01:14,299 is the biggest problem in the evangelical 22 00:01:14,299 --> 00:01:17,366 church today, he said this, 23 00:01:18,700 --> 00:01:20,000 we don't know who God is. 24 00:01:22,000 --> 00:01:25,233 And then when John MacArthur was 25 00:01:25,233 --> 00:01:26,433 asked the same question. 26 00:01:27,766 --> 00:01:31,366 He said, a lack of discernment. 27 00:01:33,466 --> 00:01:36,533 And those two answers fit perfectly together, do they not? 28 00:01:37,900 --> 00:01:40,933 We don't have a proper understanding of who 29 00:01:40,933 --> 00:01:43,933 God is, because we have such a 30 00:01:43,933 --> 00:01:47,099 lack of discernment in 31 00:01:47,133 --> 00:01:49,233 the professor church of America today. 32 00:01:51,466 --> 00:01:54,666 And before we get started, I want to remind you that here at 33 00:01:54,666 --> 00:01:57,666 our church, we 34 00:01:57,666 --> 00:02:01,333 place a high premium on 35 00:02:01,333 --> 00:02:06,966 biblical and theological knowledge, 36 00:02:06,966 --> 00:02:10,033 and that knowledge, I want you to understand, you've heard me 37 00:02:10,033 --> 00:02:13,466 say it before, I'm say it again, that knowledge is 38 00:02:13,466 --> 00:02:14,966 only valuable. 39 00:02:16,566 --> 00:02:19,666 if it becomes the driving, 40 00:02:19,666 --> 00:02:23,099 compelling force in 41 00:02:23,133 --> 00:02:26,266 the choices that we make in our life. 42 00:02:26,300 --> 00:02:29,900 Otherwise, it's just theological knowledge for knowledge, say. 43 00:02:31,266 --> 00:02:34,533 A proper use, of 44 00:02:34,533 --> 00:02:38,666 biblical knowledge, leads 45 00:02:38,666 --> 00:02:43,066 to possessing biblical wisdom, 46 00:02:43,066 --> 00:02:46,333 and biblical wisdom, should always be 47 00:02:46,333 --> 00:02:49,400 the rudder of the ship that 48 00:02:49,400 --> 00:02:52,466 guides your Christian living, and the 49 00:02:52,466 --> 00:02:54,433 choices that you make, 50 00:02:56,166 --> 00:02:58,466 including the opinion of what happened up here last week. 51 00:03:00,566 --> 00:03:03,933 Now, as I quoted from MacArthur, 52 00:03:03,933 --> 00:03:07,666 earlier, the lack of discernment really is the biggest problem in the church today. 53 00:03:09,699 --> 00:03:12,866 And included in that is what RC said, not having a 54 00:03:12,866 --> 00:03:15,866 proper understanding of who God is, the God of the 55 00:03:15,866 --> 00:03:18,933 Bible, which is at the very top of a long 56 00:03:18,933 --> 00:03:22,266 list of improper understanding of 57 00:03:22,266 --> 00:03:25,500 even the most basic doctrines 58 00:03:26,666 --> 00:03:27,833 of the Christian faith. 59 00:03:29,466 --> 00:03:32,766 So many Christians are prone to 60 00:03:32,766 --> 00:03:34,400 accepting bad theology. 61 00:03:36,500 --> 00:03:39,800 They make terrible choices in who they follow. 62 00:03:40,966 --> 00:03:44,199 and what they listen to, and what they read. 63 00:03:45,966 --> 00:03:49,066 I can't remember who started the slogan online, but it's a good one. 64 00:03:50,400 --> 00:03:52,166 Bad theology hurts people. 65 00:03:54,766 --> 00:03:58,366 There are so many churchgoers in our land who 66 00:03:58,366 --> 00:04:02,066 lack precision in their thinking. 67 00:04:02,766 --> 00:04:06,099 They have no consistency at 68 00:04:06,099 --> 00:04:09,900 all in the content that they engage with. 69 00:04:09,966 --> 00:04:13,699 They just listen to anybody and everybody, with 70 00:04:13,699 --> 00:04:16,466 no judgments given about anything. 71 00:04:16,533 --> 00:04:19,066 It's all just good Jesus stuff. 72 00:04:20,966 --> 00:04:22,300 There's good in all of it. 73 00:04:23,866 --> 00:04:27,066 And how dare you, preacher, with 25 people on 74 00:04:27,066 --> 00:04:29,833 Sunday morning, question anybody's view on anything? 75 00:04:31,399 --> 00:04:31,833 Who are you? 76 00:04:32,866 --> 00:04:34,166 to say that we're in error? 77 00:04:35,966 --> 00:04:38,966 It's really amazing to consider, especially when you think about 78 00:04:38,966 --> 00:04:42,199 the primary role that Christianity played in 79 00:04:42,199 --> 00:04:44,433 the founding of our country. 80 00:04:44,800 --> 00:04:48,433 To hear the truth of what John MacArthur said before he died. 81 00:04:50,100 --> 00:04:53,433 In our nation, he said, Biblical 82 00:04:53,433 --> 00:04:56,300 Christianity is fighting for its life. 83 00:04:58,699 --> 00:04:59,600 There's no question. 84 00:05:00,699 --> 00:05:03,733 That aside from the sovereignty in the 85 00:05:03,733 --> 00:05:06,733 grace of God that the biblical Christianity that 86 00:05:06,733 --> 00:05:09,866 you and I know and worship and practice would go 87 00:05:09,866 --> 00:05:12,933 out of existence if it were solely left up 88 00:05:12,933 --> 00:05:15,800 to the majority report of church leaders in our country. 89 00:05:15,866 --> 00:05:17,133 It would vanish. 90 00:05:19,866 --> 00:05:20,633 But God? 91 00:05:22,399 --> 00:05:25,933 will always be the most important phrase in the Bible. 92 00:05:27,466 --> 00:05:30,833 If there is any problem that outweighs 93 00:05:30,833 --> 00:05:34,566 all other problems that we have in the church and individual 94 00:05:34,566 --> 00:05:40,100 Christians' lives, it's this growing lack of discernment, faulty reasoning. 95 00:05:41,800 --> 00:05:45,433 Superficial understanding, shallow 96 00:05:45,433 --> 00:05:48,566 knowledge, basic biblical 97 00:05:48,566 --> 00:05:52,233 illiteracy, have always contributed more 98 00:05:52,233 --> 00:05:55,266 hurt and anguish to the church than 99 00:05:55,266 --> 00:05:58,266 any persecution of the church ever has. 100 00:05:59,666 --> 00:06:00,766 In fact, in the big picture? 101 00:06:02,966 --> 00:06:06,800 it would really be better for the church in America to 102 00:06:06,800 --> 00:06:08,066 be persecuted right now. 103 00:06:09,300 --> 00:06:12,733 Ask Paul Washer, who goes out all 104 00:06:12,733 --> 00:06:15,300 across the world all the time, and he comes back. 105 00:06:16,600 --> 00:06:19,766 And he's sickened about how lax and 106 00:06:19,766 --> 00:06:21,100 comfortable the church has gotten. 107 00:06:22,866 --> 00:06:25,933 Again, MacArthur writes, I would rather Christians shed their blood 108 00:06:25,933 --> 00:06:27,300 than abandon their theology. 109 00:06:29,266 --> 00:06:32,066 Now that sounds extreme. 110 00:06:33,899 --> 00:06:34,633 But it's really true. 111 00:06:36,399 --> 00:06:39,800 If real actual persecution ramped 112 00:06:39,800 --> 00:06:44,300 up, like we see in Nigeria right now, in our nation, 113 00:06:44,300 --> 00:06:47,533 we would quickly find out who the true church 114 00:06:47,533 --> 00:06:48,966 is in America. 115 00:06:50,466 --> 00:06:53,466 And I can guarantee you, you wouldn't find 116 00:06:53,466 --> 00:06:55,500 it in the health, wealth, and prosperity movement. 117 00:06:57,966 --> 00:07:01,133 I can guarantee you, you wouldn't find it 118 00:07:01,133 --> 00:07:04,466 in the shallow Christianity light, moralistic therapeutic 119 00:07:04,466 --> 00:07:07,699 deism crowd, the seeker friendly churches, 120 00:07:08,199 --> 00:07:09,800 that water down the gospel. 121 00:07:11,466 --> 00:07:14,500 All you have to do, really, is survey church history, 122 00:07:14,500 --> 00:07:17,600 and there's no question that the lack of 123 00:07:17,600 --> 00:07:21,933 discernment and precision regarding the truth has 124 00:07:21,933 --> 00:07:25,833 cost the church far more than all the persecutions 125 00:07:25,833 --> 00:07:27,100 of the church combined. 126 00:07:27,133 --> 00:07:30,300 Show me a persecuted church, and I'll show you 127 00:07:30,333 --> 00:07:33,399 a church that clings with great 128 00:07:33,399 --> 00:07:36,733 tenacity to God's truth, even 129 00:07:36,733 --> 00:07:38,233 under the threat of death. 130 00:07:38,300 --> 00:07:41,300 It's happening right now in Africa, not 131 00:07:41,300 --> 00:07:43,233 just in Nigeria, several countries. 132 00:07:45,199 --> 00:07:49,533 But an affluent, comfortable 133 00:07:49,533 --> 00:07:52,600 church, such as we have 134 00:07:52,600 --> 00:07:55,866 in the majority report in our land today, is 135 00:07:55,866 --> 00:07:59,766 a church that easily abandons the truth and 136 00:07:59,766 --> 00:08:02,100 severely lacks discernment. 137 00:08:03,199 --> 00:08:06,266 Yes, persecution takes lives. 138 00:08:07,800 --> 00:08:10,833 But it also strengthens the church because it 139 00:08:10,833 --> 00:08:14,366 strengthens our grip on the truth all 140 00:08:14,366 --> 00:08:15,633 over the Bible. 141 00:08:15,666 --> 00:08:19,500 There are two major, constant, 142 00:08:19,533 --> 00:08:24,699 continual themes that we run into, two 143 00:08:24,699 --> 00:08:28,100 things available to all of us in this world. 144 00:08:29,300 --> 00:08:33,133 One is the truth of God, and 145 00:08:33,133 --> 00:08:35,600 the other is the lie of the enemy. 146 00:08:37,266 --> 00:08:40,266 We live in a world where truth and lies 147 00:08:40,266 --> 00:08:42,600 are in constant conflict. 148 00:08:44,500 --> 00:08:46,866 And that started at the very beginning. 149 00:08:48,966 --> 00:08:54,533 Satan comes to Eve and says, that God really say this? 150 00:08:56,966 --> 00:09:01,100 He makes her question what God said, 151 00:09:01,100 --> 00:09:04,766 and then he says, You shall not surely die. 152 00:09:05,899 --> 00:09:08,000 Which means, God lied to you. 153 00:09:09,566 --> 00:09:11,066 God said you'd die. 154 00:09:12,666 --> 00:09:14,433 And I'm telling you that you won't die. 155 00:09:16,299 --> 00:09:19,833 And ever since then, all throughout 156 00:09:19,833 --> 00:09:23,833 human history, God says one thing, and 157 00:09:23,833 --> 00:09:24,866 Satan says another. 158 00:09:26,000 --> 00:09:29,000 And that's the two systems that we live 159 00:09:29,000 --> 00:09:32,466 in in this world, the 160 00:09:32,466 --> 00:09:34,566 truth, and the lie. 161 00:09:36,000 --> 00:09:40,100 And it's absolutely critical for us to sort this out. 162 00:09:40,866 --> 00:09:44,533 For our own lives, and for all the people that we influence 163 00:09:44,533 --> 00:09:46,266 with the truth, for the glory of God. 164 00:09:47,700 --> 00:09:51,133 As you know, the Bible is chocked full of 165 00:09:51,133 --> 00:09:53,533 warnings about liars. 166 00:09:56,200 --> 00:09:57,266 God hates liars. 167 00:10:00,066 --> 00:10:02,966 The Bible says, He always speaks the truth. 168 00:10:04,299 --> 00:10:05,433 And he cannot lie. 169 00:10:07,399 --> 00:10:09,866 Jesus himself said, Satan is a liar. 170 00:10:11,200 --> 00:10:12,633 And the father of lies. 171 00:10:12,733 --> 00:10:13,399 What a name. 172 00:10:15,200 --> 00:10:15,799 Just listen. 173 00:10:16,700 --> 00:10:20,433 I'm just going to give you a quick run through some of the things that 174 00:10:20,433 --> 00:10:22,399 the Bible warns us about in this area. 175 00:10:24,500 --> 00:10:28,100 Warns us about ear tickling teachers who give us what we want to hear. 176 00:10:29,500 --> 00:10:31,866 Rather than the absolute truth of what we need to hear. 177 00:10:33,000 --> 00:10:37,333 We're warned about doctrines of demons, destructive 178 00:10:37,333 --> 00:10:40,333 heresies, myths, perverse 179 00:10:40,333 --> 00:10:43,700 teachings, commandments of men, rather than commandments 180 00:10:43,700 --> 00:10:45,366 of God. 181 00:10:45,433 --> 00:10:48,866 We are warned about speculations, and lofty 182 00:10:48,866 --> 00:10:51,566 ideas raised up against the knowledge of God. 183 00:10:51,633 --> 00:10:53,866 We're warned about deceitful spirits. 184 00:10:54,899 --> 00:10:58,399 Worldly fables, traditions of men, 185 00:10:59,266 --> 00:11:00,766 worldly wisdom. 186 00:11:01,500 --> 00:11:04,933 We're warned about wolves in sheep's 187 00:11:04,933 --> 00:11:09,299 clothing, that come to devour the sheep. 188 00:11:10,399 --> 00:11:14,299 We have many warning, all over the Bible, in both the Old and the New Testament. 189 00:11:15,266 --> 00:11:18,333 And our adversary has 190 00:11:18,333 --> 00:11:21,333 been around observing human 191 00:11:21,333 --> 00:11:24,700 nature since the Garden of Eden. 192 00:11:26,366 --> 00:11:27,266 That's a long time. 193 00:11:28,899 --> 00:11:29,899 And he knows our ways. 194 00:11:31,500 --> 00:11:33,933 And as we just learned in Ephesians, he's very powerful. 195 00:11:35,000 --> 00:11:36,933 He's very clever. 196 00:11:36,933 --> 00:11:40,066 He's not equal with God in any way, shape, or form, but he 197 00:11:40,066 --> 00:11:44,466 is superior in all ways in which he acts, and 198 00:11:44,466 --> 00:11:48,133 how he works in this structure, in this system of 199 00:11:48,133 --> 00:11:51,733 evil that is wrapped up in this world system that we live in. 200 00:11:53,166 --> 00:11:57,566 Every minute of every day, his 201 00:11:57,566 --> 00:12:00,566 lies are at odds with the 202 00:12:00,566 --> 00:12:03,633 truth of God and church, we have to 203 00:12:03,633 --> 00:12:06,033 be able to discern the difference. 204 00:12:06,600 --> 00:12:07,100 Every day. 205 00:12:08,966 --> 00:12:12,333 And as Christians, we have absolutely no 206 00:12:12,333 --> 00:12:13,399 excuse not to. 207 00:12:14,866 --> 00:12:15,700 God is truth. 208 00:12:17,100 --> 00:12:19,566 He has revealed his truth to us in his word. 209 00:12:19,633 --> 00:12:22,799 He has given us His Holy Spirit to lead us into 210 00:12:22,833 --> 00:12:25,533 all truth and illumine His word to us. 211 00:12:25,633 --> 00:12:29,100 And that's why it's really, really sad to 212 00:12:29,133 --> 00:12:32,200 see Christians drift off into error. 213 00:12:33,600 --> 00:12:35,833 Drift off and be taken away by lies. 214 00:12:38,066 --> 00:12:39,233 But it happens all the time. 215 00:12:41,266 --> 00:12:44,899 And it's very often the result of 216 00:12:44,899 --> 00:12:48,433 bad theology and weak, unbiblical teaching. 217 00:12:49,799 --> 00:12:53,399 Now, let's get into some scripture, for an illustration 218 00:12:53,399 --> 00:12:56,433 out of Matthew chapter 16, and you 219 00:12:56,433 --> 00:12:59,500 can look on the screen, or you can look in your Bible with me. 220 00:13:01,666 --> 00:13:03,399 Matthew chapter 16. 221 00:13:09,666 --> 00:13:12,733 The Pharisees and the Sadducees, as you know, could 222 00:13:12,733 --> 00:13:16,866 never agree on anything except their mutual 223 00:13:16,866 --> 00:13:18,966 hatred society of Jesus. 224 00:13:19,033 --> 00:13:19,633 They agreed on that. 225 00:13:20,666 --> 00:13:23,666 And they never agreed because the Pharisees were the strict fundamentalists 226 00:13:23,666 --> 00:13:26,799 in Judaism, and the Sadducees were the religious 227 00:13:26,799 --> 00:13:30,066 liberals, and those two kind of groups never agree on anything. 228 00:13:30,133 --> 00:13:31,933 But they did agree to hate Jesus. 229 00:13:32,000 --> 00:13:33,366 and assault Jesus. 230 00:13:34,299 --> 00:13:38,166 So let's read verses 1 to 3 of Matthew 231 00:13:38,166 --> 00:13:39,200 16. 232 00:13:41,500 --> 00:13:45,700 The Pharisees and Sadducees came up in testing Jesus. 233 00:13:46,500 --> 00:13:49,633 They asked him to show them a sign from heaven. 234 00:13:50,766 --> 00:13:51,933 But he replied to them. 235 00:13:52,666 --> 00:13:56,133 When it is evening, you say it will be fair weather, 236 00:13:56,133 --> 00:14:00,066 for the sky is red, and in the morning, there 237 00:14:00,066 --> 00:14:03,433 will be a storm today, for the sky is red and threatening. 238 00:14:04,466 --> 00:14:07,433 Do you know how to discern the appearance of the sky? 239 00:14:08,266 --> 00:14:12,266 that cannot discern the signs of the times? 240 00:14:13,866 --> 00:14:14,799 So Jesus? 241 00:14:15,866 --> 00:14:18,933 Again, he's right there in their face. 242 00:14:18,966 --> 00:14:22,033 They're standing around him, and 243 00:14:22,033 --> 00:14:26,233 he's saying, look, you guys are 244 00:14:26,233 --> 00:14:27,600 the religious elite. 245 00:14:27,733 --> 00:14:32,833 In Israel, you are the religious authority 246 00:14:32,866 --> 00:14:35,933 over all of the people in this nation. 247 00:14:37,299 --> 00:14:42,133 And your very simplified way of telling the weather is 248 00:14:42,133 --> 00:14:43,866 better than your spiritual discernment. 249 00:14:45,566 --> 00:14:46,466 Look in verse three again. 250 00:14:46,533 --> 00:14:49,533 Do you know how to discern the 251 00:14:49,533 --> 00:14:52,933 appearance of the sky, but 252 00:14:52,933 --> 00:14:55,399 cannot discern the signs of the times? 253 00:14:56,299 --> 00:14:57,566 And what he means by that is this. 254 00:14:59,299 --> 00:15:01,566 You can't discern spiritual issues. 255 00:15:03,766 --> 00:15:05,566 You don't even realize. 256 00:15:06,766 --> 00:15:11,466 that right now, this very moment, 257 00:15:11,466 --> 00:15:16,000 you are addressing your Messiah, you don't even realize it. 258 00:15:16,466 --> 00:15:19,466 You don't understand that the kingdom 259 00:15:19,466 --> 00:15:22,533 of heaven has come to you and is standing 260 00:15:22,533 --> 00:15:25,933 before you with an overwhelming 261 00:15:25,933 --> 00:15:29,066 amount of evidence, even though 262 00:15:29,066 --> 00:15:30,933 you're simpletons at reading the weather. 263 00:15:32,166 --> 00:15:34,466 You're better at that than you are at theology. 264 00:15:37,566 --> 00:15:39,133 So this is the issue with this subject. 265 00:15:41,166 --> 00:15:44,233 The ability to distinguish between the 266 00:15:44,233 --> 00:15:45,899 true and the false. 267 00:15:47,566 --> 00:15:50,633 And this is absolutely essential and possible for 268 00:15:50,633 --> 00:15:54,566 us as Christians in order that we might make right decisions. 269 00:15:55,766 --> 00:15:58,899 Now, next, I want us to look at 2 Corinthians 11. 270 00:16:01,799 --> 00:16:03,033 starting at verse one. 271 00:16:06,666 --> 00:16:07,466 I love this. 272 00:16:07,566 --> 00:16:09,299 sentence, verse one. 273 00:16:12,266 --> 00:16:16,233 Paul tells these Corinthians, I wish that you would bear with me in a little foolishness. 274 00:16:18,166 --> 00:16:19,766 But, indeed, you are burying with me. 275 00:16:21,500 --> 00:16:23,899 Paul had a lot of problems with the Corinthian Church, as you know. 276 00:16:25,399 --> 00:16:28,533 Not the least of which was them believing in false teachers. 277 00:16:29,399 --> 00:16:32,433 And next, we see his concern, starting in verse two, look at it, for I 278 00:16:32,433 --> 00:16:35,433 am jealous for you, with a godly jealousy, for I 279 00:16:35,433 --> 00:16:38,433 betrothed you to one husband, so that, to Christ, I might 280 00:16:38,433 --> 00:16:41,000 present you as a pure virgin. 281 00:16:41,066 --> 00:16:44,133 In other words, I have a relationship with you 282 00:16:44,133 --> 00:16:49,466 that's like a marriage, but not between us, but between you and Christ. 283 00:16:49,566 --> 00:16:50,633 That's the picture here. 284 00:16:51,600 --> 00:16:55,833 And I want to present you to Christ someday, when 285 00:16:55,833 --> 00:16:59,566 you enter into his presence, as pure. 286 00:16:59,666 --> 00:17:01,899 And of course, he doesn't mean sinlessly, perfect. 287 00:17:02,899 --> 00:17:04,233 But that's what I tell you I'm doing. 288 00:17:04,233 --> 00:17:05,733 Up here is your pastor all the time. 289 00:17:05,766 --> 00:17:08,599 We're all going to die, and I'm just getting ready to meet Jesus. 290 00:17:08,733 --> 00:17:12,799 And I want you to meet Jesus in the best condition possible when you get there. 291 00:17:14,066 --> 00:17:17,966 So Paul says, I have this godly jealousy. 292 00:17:20,599 --> 00:17:23,733 I've linked you to Christ, and 293 00:17:23,733 --> 00:17:27,099 I want to keep you straight until you go to meet him. 294 00:17:27,700 --> 00:17:31,033 Verse three, but I am afraid, that 295 00:17:31,033 --> 00:17:34,033 as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness. 296 00:17:35,099 --> 00:17:38,466 Your minds will be led astray from the simplicity and 297 00:17:38,466 --> 00:17:40,433 purity of devotion to Christ. 298 00:17:41,400 --> 00:17:44,433 For if one comes and preaches another 299 00:17:44,433 --> 00:17:47,133 Jesus, whom we have not preached. 300 00:17:47,700 --> 00:17:51,200 Or you receive a different spirit, which 301 00:17:51,200 --> 00:17:56,433 you have not received, are a different gospel, which you have not accepted. 302 00:17:58,900 --> 00:17:59,966 You bear this beautifully. 303 00:18:02,266 --> 00:18:06,099 He's saying you tolerate it when they come with the false Jesus. 304 00:18:06,966 --> 00:18:09,700 with a false gospel, another Christ. 305 00:18:11,066 --> 00:18:12,166 You don't have a problem with it. 306 00:18:13,066 --> 00:18:14,033 You don't say anything. 307 00:18:15,200 --> 00:18:17,900 You lack discernment. 308 00:18:20,166 --> 00:18:23,933 My great fear, Paul is saying, is this, that you're going to get led astray. 309 00:18:25,299 --> 00:18:28,833 Let me tell you, that's why I'm preaching this little series to you today, 310 00:18:28,833 --> 00:18:32,200 on discernment, because I don't want you to be led astray either. 311 00:18:35,299 --> 00:18:36,966 Look next at 1 Thessalonians 5. 312 00:18:39,500 --> 00:18:42,633 This passage is going to give us some great bullet 313 00:18:42,633 --> 00:18:45,466 points of basic Christian living. 314 00:18:45,500 --> 00:18:46,766 Notice verse 16. 315 00:18:48,866 --> 00:18:51,166 Paul says, Rejoice sometimes. 316 00:18:52,766 --> 00:18:53,666 Is that what he said? 317 00:18:54,166 --> 00:18:55,299 Rejoice always. 318 00:18:56,066 --> 00:18:58,966 Verse 17, pray without ceasing, we talked about that. 319 00:18:59,066 --> 00:19:00,266 Verse 18. 320 00:19:00,433 --> 00:19:01,566 And everything, get thanks. 321 00:19:02,500 --> 00:19:03,200 Verse 19. 322 00:19:03,366 --> 00:19:04,099 Do not quench. 323 00:19:04,966 --> 00:19:05,366 the spirit. 324 00:19:06,799 --> 00:19:09,733 And then comes verses 20 to 22, and that's what I want to focus on. 325 00:19:11,266 --> 00:19:11,733 Verse 20. 326 00:19:13,966 --> 00:19:17,433 Do not despise prophetic utterance, verse 21. 327 00:19:18,500 --> 00:19:21,066 But examine everything carefully. 328 00:19:22,500 --> 00:19:25,833 Hold fast to that which is good, verse 329 00:19:25,833 --> 00:19:29,733 22, abstain from every form of evil. 330 00:19:31,599 --> 00:19:33,066 Folks, that's a call to discernment. 331 00:19:35,099 --> 00:19:35,900 So let's go back. 332 00:19:35,966 --> 00:19:36,799 Let's break it down, OK? 333 00:19:36,933 --> 00:19:37,533 Verse 20. 334 00:19:38,466 --> 00:19:40,900 Do not despise prophetic utterance. 335 00:19:41,000 --> 00:19:44,066 That phrase, do not despise, in the Greek 336 00:19:44,066 --> 00:19:46,400 means, do not make light up. 337 00:19:47,966 --> 00:19:48,866 Do not belittle. 338 00:19:50,566 --> 00:19:54,500 Do not treat as trivial, or 339 00:19:54,500 --> 00:19:58,400 insignificant, prophetic utterances. 340 00:19:58,466 --> 00:19:59,833 Now, listen to this little bit of nuance. 341 00:19:59,900 --> 00:20:04,900 That phrase can refer, can refer, 342 00:20:04,900 --> 00:20:08,133 back during the time of the apostles, to direct 343 00:20:08,133 --> 00:20:11,133 revelation given by God to people who had 344 00:20:11,133 --> 00:20:14,366 the spiritual gift of prophetic utterance 345 00:20:14,366 --> 00:20:17,599 while the church was being established during 346 00:20:17,599 --> 00:20:21,966 the times of the apostles, but after the apostolic age ended. 347 00:20:23,066 --> 00:20:24,533 That's done? 348 00:20:25,066 --> 00:20:28,299 And now, in our age, it refers to the preaching of the word. 349 00:20:28,333 --> 00:20:29,466 What I'm doing right now. 350 00:20:30,566 --> 00:20:33,733 The gift of interpreting and publicly proclaiming 351 00:20:33,733 --> 00:20:36,733 God's word, prophetic utterance. 352 00:20:36,799 --> 00:20:38,966 And what Paul is saying is, don't despise preaching. 353 00:20:41,099 --> 00:20:42,500 Don't belittle preaching. 354 00:20:45,566 --> 00:20:48,933 If ever, our increasing secular 355 00:20:48,933 --> 00:20:52,400 society has shown 356 00:20:52,400 --> 00:20:55,400 something very clearly is that 357 00:20:55,400 --> 00:20:58,633 preaching is definitely belittled. 358 00:21:00,099 --> 00:21:03,266 Sadly, what happens is sound 359 00:21:03,266 --> 00:21:06,333 preaching gets mixed in with 360 00:21:06,333 --> 00:21:10,233 really bad preaching on TV and 361 00:21:10,233 --> 00:21:13,766 online, and it's the bad preaching that 362 00:21:13,766 --> 00:21:15,133 gets most of the coverage. 363 00:21:16,599 --> 00:21:18,266 But Paul is giving a warning here. 364 00:21:20,000 --> 00:21:23,833 Don't preach, don't treat biblical 365 00:21:23,833 --> 00:21:25,799 preaching lightly. 366 00:21:27,066 --> 00:21:28,133 or in a trivial way. 367 00:21:29,666 --> 00:21:32,766 And when you're hearing biblical preaching, verse 368 00:21:32,766 --> 00:21:35,766 21, but examine 369 00:21:35,766 --> 00:21:39,966 everything carefully, the 370 00:21:39,966 --> 00:21:42,733 Greek word for examine means something that is tested. 371 00:21:45,266 --> 00:21:49,066 Something that is tested very carefully so 372 00:21:49,066 --> 00:21:53,533 as to reveal its genuineness, something 373 00:21:53,533 --> 00:21:57,500 that is subjected to scrutiny, to 374 00:21:57,500 --> 00:22:00,433 analysis, tests everything you hear. 375 00:22:01,700 --> 00:22:02,900 Be like the Bereans. 376 00:22:02,966 --> 00:22:06,066 Search the scriptures to determine if what 377 00:22:06,066 --> 00:22:08,933 you are hearing preached is true. 378 00:22:10,200 --> 00:22:12,433 And then he says next, in verse 21. 379 00:22:13,666 --> 00:22:14,933 Hold fast. 380 00:22:16,666 --> 00:22:17,733 to that which is good. 381 00:22:17,766 --> 00:22:21,900 And what he means there is, with 382 00:22:21,933 --> 00:22:25,066 what you find, as you're searching, is 383 00:22:25,066 --> 00:22:28,266 good, and right, cling to it. 384 00:22:28,400 --> 00:22:29,733 Hold on to it. 385 00:22:31,400 --> 00:22:35,966 But on the other hand, verse 22, abstain 386 00:22:36,766 --> 00:22:39,633 from every form of evil. 387 00:22:39,866 --> 00:22:44,266 The word for abstain means, push it away from you. 388 00:22:46,200 --> 00:22:48,566 Folks, you simply have to make this distinction. 389 00:22:50,366 --> 00:22:51,533 The sermon is everything. 390 00:22:52,866 --> 00:22:54,333 Precision is everything. 391 00:22:55,900 --> 00:22:59,466 When preaching and when sitting under the preaching of the Word of God. 392 00:22:59,599 --> 00:23:03,566 If you go to the doctor, with 393 00:23:03,566 --> 00:23:04,633 a severe headache, 394 00:23:06,599 --> 00:23:09,566 And he looks at you and he says, well, it could be a lot of things. 395 00:23:10,400 --> 00:23:11,599 Kind of like Christie's doctor. 396 00:23:13,400 --> 00:23:16,400 It could be a brain tumor, or it could 397 00:23:16,400 --> 00:23:18,066 be you drinking too much caffeine. 398 00:23:19,266 --> 00:23:21,933 Or it could be, maybe you're out in the sun too much. 399 00:23:23,299 --> 00:23:23,666 Guess what? 400 00:23:24,299 --> 00:23:26,299 You're welcome to believe anything you want to. 401 00:23:26,366 --> 00:23:27,333 Just take your pick. 402 00:23:29,166 --> 00:23:30,566 Now that's not real helpful, is it? 403 00:23:32,466 --> 00:23:36,033 The one thing you want to know about your condition is what? 404 00:23:36,066 --> 00:23:37,333 The truth! 405 00:23:38,466 --> 00:23:38,566 Right? 406 00:23:40,799 --> 00:23:45,200 So, if we demand that 407 00:23:45,200 --> 00:23:48,433 kind of precision in 408 00:23:48,433 --> 00:23:51,500 the physical realm, why would 409 00:23:51,500 --> 00:23:54,633 we not demand that kind of precision in the 410 00:23:54,633 --> 00:23:55,766 spiritual realm? 411 00:23:56,700 --> 00:23:59,466 Precision in understanding the scripture. 412 00:24:01,400 --> 00:24:03,266 That's why Paul is saying, test everything. 413 00:24:05,000 --> 00:24:05,900 You've heard me say it. 414 00:24:05,966 --> 00:24:06,500 I say it again. 415 00:24:06,566 --> 00:24:07,233 Test me. 416 00:24:07,900 --> 00:24:09,966 Examine what I say from this pulpit. 417 00:24:10,033 --> 00:24:11,466 I will never, ever be offended. 418 00:24:11,666 --> 00:24:14,833 If you come to me with questions, or I need more clarity, or I'm 419 00:24:14,833 --> 00:24:15,966 trying to understand what you're saying. 420 00:24:16,033 --> 00:24:17,299 I'll sit down and talk with you. 421 00:24:17,366 --> 00:24:20,233 We'll put on some of Joey Strong coffee, and we'll get at it. 422 00:24:23,299 --> 00:24:27,433 Paul says in verse 21, again, hold fast to that which is good. 423 00:24:27,500 --> 00:24:29,166 Now, here's a little nuance. 424 00:24:30,599 --> 00:24:34,833 Agathos is a Greek word that is translated good, 425 00:24:34,833 --> 00:24:37,933 meaning in the sense of beautiful, something that has the 426 00:24:37,933 --> 00:24:40,933 appearance of great goodness, but that's not the word used for good 427 00:24:40,933 --> 00:24:42,200 here in verse 21. 428 00:24:42,566 --> 00:24:47,000 The word here is kalos, which means inherently good. 429 00:24:48,599 --> 00:24:51,633 Noble, inherently true, 430 00:24:51,633 --> 00:24:54,033 and genuine, and righteous. 431 00:24:55,299 --> 00:24:58,466 So when you're listening to preaching, or reading 432 00:24:58,466 --> 00:25:01,700 a theological book, or whatever it is, 433 00:25:01,700 --> 00:25:02,766 examine it carefully. 434 00:25:02,900 --> 00:25:04,099 Put it to the test. 435 00:25:05,500 --> 00:25:08,466 And the test is always scripture itself. 436 00:25:09,366 --> 00:25:11,066 Scripture interprets scripture. 437 00:25:11,966 --> 00:25:14,733 And when you determine something's good, hold onto it. 438 00:25:14,766 --> 00:25:17,933 Cling to it, hold fast to that, which is good. 439 00:25:18,966 --> 00:25:21,166 And then on the other hand, go back to verse 22. 440 00:25:23,400 --> 00:25:25,700 Abstain from every form of evil. 441 00:25:25,766 --> 00:25:29,200 The word for abstain literally means, shun it. 442 00:25:30,866 --> 00:25:32,500 Hold it far away from you. 443 00:25:33,599 --> 00:25:36,266 Separate yourself completely from it. 444 00:25:36,966 --> 00:25:38,266 Don't sit under it. 445 00:25:39,099 --> 00:25:40,866 Don't expose your mind to it. 446 00:25:41,866 --> 00:25:42,533 Why? 447 00:25:42,566 --> 00:25:45,266 Because it will have a corrupting influence on your mind. 448 00:25:46,366 --> 00:25:47,966 You can't play around with evil. 449 00:25:48,566 --> 00:25:50,433 You can't play around with false doctrine. 450 00:25:50,466 --> 00:25:53,933 It is always presented in scripture as something that 451 00:25:53,966 --> 00:25:56,500 is very harmful to the believer. 452 00:25:57,866 --> 00:25:59,366 Something working disaster. 453 00:26:00,700 --> 00:26:04,700 Corrupting, defiling, and influencing everything it touches. 454 00:26:04,833 --> 00:26:07,000 Evil is like a poison. 455 00:26:07,033 --> 00:26:08,666 It's like an infectious disease. 456 00:26:08,833 --> 00:26:12,666 Stay away from it, like the plague, is what Paul is saying. 457 00:26:14,766 --> 00:26:16,666 That's a clear call for discernment. 458 00:26:18,166 --> 00:26:21,666 The New Testament commentator Linsky wrote this, the worst forms 459 00:26:21,666 --> 00:26:24,900 of wickedness consist of perversions of 460 00:26:24,933 --> 00:26:29,066 the truth, spiritual lies. 461 00:26:30,099 --> 00:26:32,833 Now, there's a lot of wickedness in the world. 462 00:26:33,866 --> 00:26:37,700 I mean, you can think about abortion, 463 00:26:37,700 --> 00:26:41,500 transgenderism, homosexuality, 464 00:26:41,500 --> 00:26:44,666 the murder rate, you can think about all of the heinous crimes, you 465 00:26:44,666 --> 00:26:45,733 can pick your category. 466 00:26:45,799 --> 00:26:46,533 There's plenty to go around. 467 00:26:48,099 --> 00:26:50,900 But all things considered, Linsky is right. 468 00:26:52,466 --> 00:26:55,533 The worst form of wickedness that exists in the world is 469 00:26:55,533 --> 00:26:59,400 the perversion of the truth, because, 470 00:26:59,400 --> 00:27:03,933 consider the offense it is to God. 471 00:27:05,400 --> 00:27:06,366 That's why it's the worst. 472 00:27:08,299 --> 00:27:09,933 You don't ever want to be guilty of that. 473 00:27:11,866 --> 00:27:15,033 You don't ever want to get sucked in by those 474 00:27:15,033 --> 00:27:17,566 who are guilty of the perversion of God's truth. 475 00:27:19,099 --> 00:27:22,233 John MacArthur writes this, Your value to the kingdom of God, 476 00:27:22,233 --> 00:27:25,700 your value as a Christian, as one who serves Christ, 477 00:27:25,700 --> 00:27:29,666 is going to be directly related to your discernment regarding the truth. 478 00:27:30,700 --> 00:27:33,733 Also, the blessedness, the productivity, the 479 00:27:33,733 --> 00:27:36,733 fruitfulness, the joy of your Christian life, is going to be 480 00:27:36,733 --> 00:27:39,966 directly related to your ability to discern, because 481 00:27:39,966 --> 00:27:43,099 that's going to aid you to make good choices. 482 00:27:44,166 --> 00:27:45,400 That's biblical wisdom right there. 483 00:27:47,700 --> 00:27:51,633 When the church loses its ability to discern, 484 00:27:53,866 --> 00:27:55,766 and puts itself in a disastrous situation. 485 00:27:57,466 --> 00:28:00,633 And that's why biblical Christianity is fighting 486 00:28:00,633 --> 00:28:03,733 for its very life in America, because 487 00:28:03,733 --> 00:28:06,500 it's lost its ability to discern. 488 00:28:06,566 --> 00:28:09,866 We can't even keep up with all the false doctrine that exists out 489 00:28:09,866 --> 00:28:13,900 there, especially now in this age of the internet and social media. 490 00:28:13,933 --> 00:28:17,599 Now I want to round all of this out by asking some questions. 491 00:28:18,966 --> 00:28:22,366 Number one, Why? 492 00:28:23,599 --> 00:28:25,466 Is there such a lack of discernment? 493 00:28:27,000 --> 00:28:28,533 What has contributed to this? 494 00:28:30,599 --> 00:28:33,866 The major contributor to this is a weakening 495 00:28:33,866 --> 00:28:36,933 in the church of doctrinal clarity 496 00:28:36,933 --> 00:28:38,000 and conviction. 497 00:28:39,900 --> 00:28:43,266 There have been much better times in the history of 498 00:28:43,266 --> 00:28:46,333 the Church, and in the history of our nation, 499 00:28:46,333 --> 00:28:49,500 as well, when Christians in much larger 500 00:28:49,533 --> 00:28:52,833 numbers were encouraged to think biblically, 501 00:28:52,833 --> 00:28:56,966 to think theologically, to think with precision. 502 00:28:57,033 --> 00:29:00,033 In the majority of evangelical churches in 503 00:29:00,033 --> 00:29:03,033 America, those realities don't exist 504 00:29:03,033 --> 00:29:06,099 anymore, like they did at the founding of our country, 505 00:29:06,099 --> 00:29:09,533 like they did at the very beginning, and 506 00:29:09,566 --> 00:29:10,766 they haven't for quite some time. 507 00:29:12,266 --> 00:29:15,733 In line with that, we have pastors with these big platforms 508 00:29:15,733 --> 00:29:19,200 online who take strong 509 00:29:19,233 --> 00:29:22,400 stands on all kinds of theological 510 00:29:22,400 --> 00:29:24,633 and cultural issues that are right. 511 00:29:26,500 --> 00:29:29,599 and they get roundly criticized by 512 00:29:29,599 --> 00:29:31,866 so many on a regular basis. 513 00:29:33,066 --> 00:29:36,099 The internet and social media have become the town square 514 00:29:36,099 --> 00:29:39,966 in the marketplace of ideas, and in 515 00:29:39,966 --> 00:29:43,333 the marketplace of ideas, now the biblical worldview, takes 516 00:29:43,333 --> 00:29:45,666 a pounding online every single day. 517 00:29:45,733 --> 00:29:45,900 day. 518 00:29:48,366 --> 00:29:51,400 Think back to when I promoted the pastors supporting 519 00:29:51,400 --> 00:29:54,500 the legislators to veto the override 520 00:29:54,500 --> 00:29:56,533 of the gender bills. 521 00:29:57,566 --> 00:30:01,233 I want you to know that I had so many vile, 522 00:30:01,233 --> 00:30:04,566 vulgar, nasty comments that 523 00:30:04,566 --> 00:30:07,799 flooded my Facebook page that Christie 524 00:30:07,833 --> 00:30:11,266 had to turn the comments off, except for 525 00:30:11,266 --> 00:30:15,266 the people that are my friends, because I couldn't have all that on my page. 526 00:30:16,900 --> 00:30:18,366 Then I got Shadow Band. 527 00:30:18,766 --> 00:30:21,933 By Twitter, which inhibits my ability 528 00:30:21,933 --> 00:30:25,000 to gain followers, and it also keeps my post 529 00:30:25,000 --> 00:30:28,099 very limited as to who can see them, and as 530 00:30:28,099 --> 00:30:31,099 far as I know, that's never been undone since that time. 531 00:30:32,400 --> 00:30:33,033 Why? 532 00:30:34,000 --> 00:30:37,233 All because of bringing a biblical worldview into 533 00:30:37,233 --> 00:30:40,000 play with the subject of transgenderism. 534 00:30:41,599 --> 00:30:45,366 And a lot of times, the weakening of 535 00:30:45,366 --> 00:30:48,799 doctrinal clarity and precision does 536 00:30:48,799 --> 00:30:52,033 not come about because of 537 00:30:52,033 --> 00:30:55,700 people who disagree, but 538 00:30:55,700 --> 00:30:58,866 because they are afraid of 539 00:30:58,866 --> 00:31:02,033 not being accepted in the mainstream 540 00:31:02,966 --> 00:31:04,366 of the evangelical world. 541 00:31:05,599 --> 00:31:08,166 Oh, behind closed doors, they will agree with you. 542 00:31:09,866 --> 00:31:13,033 But they don't have the courage to 543 00:31:13,033 --> 00:31:14,166 make a public stand. 544 00:31:16,000 --> 00:31:19,099 None of the pastors, from the Central 545 00:31:19,099 --> 00:31:22,533 Pastors Association, ever even responded 546 00:31:22,533 --> 00:31:25,833 to my email about that legislator meeting, 547 00:31:26,466 --> 00:31:28,900 nor did they attend the meeting, not a one. 548 00:31:30,666 --> 00:31:34,733 The same is true in most of the Southern Baptists that I contacted. 549 00:31:34,833 --> 00:31:37,866 They did not even respond to my email, 550 00:31:37,866 --> 00:31:40,733 or come to the meaning. 551 00:31:42,366 --> 00:31:43,466 That's just what the enemy wants. 552 00:31:45,000 --> 00:31:48,133 Do you know how many local pastors have reached out 553 00:31:48,133 --> 00:31:51,733 to me or Brian, or even to discuss the topic that 554 00:31:51,733 --> 00:31:53,000 we'll be addressing tonight? 555 00:31:54,366 --> 00:31:55,166 Goose egg? 556 00:31:56,700 --> 00:31:57,266 None. 557 00:31:59,200 --> 00:32:00,266 It's just me and him. 558 00:32:02,166 --> 00:32:03,400 And as I said online, 559 00:32:04,700 --> 00:32:07,933 Your silence as a pastor in this situation speaks just 560 00:32:07,933 --> 00:32:09,866 as loudly as any opinion you'll ever give. 561 00:32:12,400 --> 00:32:15,633 The prevailing attitude from many church leaders 562 00:32:15,633 --> 00:32:17,866 is today is this, don't rock the boat. 563 00:32:19,900 --> 00:32:21,066 Just tolerate everything. 564 00:32:22,700 --> 00:32:24,799 Don't say anything one way or another. 565 00:32:25,866 --> 00:32:27,233 Just stay out of it. 566 00:32:28,466 --> 00:32:29,500 That's not your laying. 567 00:32:30,299 --> 00:32:31,466 It's too controversial. 568 00:32:34,766 --> 00:32:35,666 I can't roll that way. 569 00:32:36,900 --> 00:32:38,666 I get one life to be a pastor. 570 00:32:40,000 --> 00:32:42,866 And I have to stand up, and I have to lead. 571 00:32:44,766 --> 00:32:47,366 Now, let's get back a little more to the theological side of this. 572 00:32:48,666 --> 00:32:51,833 There's very little doctrinal clarity and conviction today. 573 00:32:53,700 --> 00:32:57,066 in the mainstream, especially when 574 00:32:57,066 --> 00:33:00,233 you get into conservative politics, there's christless 575 00:33:00,266 --> 00:33:02,966 conservatism, and then there's man centered confervatism. 576 00:33:03,066 --> 00:33:06,133 I want you to think about, for heaven's sakes, the president's top 577 00:33:06,700 --> 00:33:08,166 evangelical advisor. 578 00:33:09,400 --> 00:33:10,633 Paula White. 579 00:33:13,400 --> 00:33:16,633 Now, he might not listen. 580 00:33:17,966 --> 00:33:19,066 Probably won't. 581 00:33:19,766 --> 00:33:22,833 But has anybody gone to him to tell him that this 582 00:33:22,833 --> 00:33:25,166 woman is a clear, blatant, false teacher? 583 00:33:26,966 --> 00:33:30,266 I've seen many well known pastors 584 00:33:30,266 --> 00:33:34,099 gathered around that resolute desk with 585 00:33:34,099 --> 00:33:37,166 Paula White, and not one of them ever 586 00:33:37,166 --> 00:33:40,233 call her out publicly for what she 587 00:33:40,233 --> 00:33:41,666 is, a false teacher. 588 00:33:43,366 --> 00:33:44,733 They just go along to get along. 589 00:33:46,400 --> 00:33:49,633 They value that seat at the table more 590 00:33:49,633 --> 00:33:51,066 than they value the truth. 591 00:33:52,000 --> 00:33:55,099 Clearly demonstrating, with their silence, a 592 00:33:55,099 --> 00:33:59,900 complete lack of doctrinal clarity and conviction, 593 00:33:59,900 --> 00:34:03,566 and I would add, the absence of a spine. 594 00:34:06,166 --> 00:34:09,933 And then there's so much relativism in the professing church of today. 595 00:34:09,966 --> 00:34:12,966 As I said earlier, anybody who 596 00:34:12,966 --> 00:34:16,633 uses the lingo of Christianity, no 597 00:34:16,633 --> 00:34:19,800 matter what the substance is, is tolerated and 598 00:34:19,833 --> 00:34:22,833 considered Christian by so many people, 599 00:34:22,833 --> 00:34:26,166 and it would literally take us months of Sundays 600 00:34:26,166 --> 00:34:29,166 to go through and categorize all the different false 601 00:34:29,166 --> 00:34:33,000 doctrinal movements that we have in America, much less in the world. 602 00:34:36,133 --> 00:34:38,166 So that's the first reason why discernment disappeared. 603 00:34:39,699 --> 00:34:43,099 Because if you don't have sound doctrine, if 604 00:34:43,099 --> 00:34:46,400 you don't hold tightly to the conviction that 605 00:34:46,400 --> 00:34:49,933 those doctrines should bring to you Christian, then guess what? 606 00:34:50,000 --> 00:34:53,133 You have no standard by which to discern 607 00:34:53,133 --> 00:34:57,033 anything, because you have no fixed point by which to measure anything. 608 00:34:59,566 --> 00:35:02,766 For example, I 609 00:35:02,766 --> 00:35:04,266 believe in the doctrine of the Trinity. 610 00:35:06,466 --> 00:35:09,733 When somebody comes along and says, God is not three and one, 611 00:35:09,733 --> 00:35:12,199 I say, That's a lie. 612 00:35:13,500 --> 00:35:14,733 Here's an inconvenient truth. 613 00:35:16,699 --> 00:35:18,333 That's what the preacher down the street believes. 614 00:35:18,433 --> 00:35:20,166 God is not Trinity. 615 00:35:21,599 --> 00:35:24,133 God is not Trinity is a God who does not exist. 616 00:35:25,666 --> 00:35:28,133 If we don't want to talk about that, but I will. 617 00:35:29,400 --> 00:35:32,966 I believe in the doctrine of the deity of Christ that 618 00:35:32,966 --> 00:35:34,400 says, Jesus is the god man. 619 00:35:35,166 --> 00:35:38,333 And so, in modern day, Gnostics come along and say, Oh, 620 00:35:38,333 --> 00:35:41,466 he's a created emanation, descended from God, 621 00:35:41,466 --> 00:35:43,400 and he's an elevated angel, really. 622 00:35:43,533 --> 00:35:44,666 I say, that's a lie. 623 00:35:46,699 --> 00:35:49,833 Because I understand that the Bible teaches that he is God. 624 00:35:52,933 --> 00:35:56,166 I believe in the doctrine of justification by 625 00:35:56,166 --> 00:35:59,400 grace through faith alone, with no mixture of works. 626 00:36:00,599 --> 00:36:03,666 And if somebody comes along and says, You don't have to 627 00:36:03,666 --> 00:36:06,900 believe that doctrine to be saved, I say that is a lie. 628 00:36:08,466 --> 00:36:09,933 I don't care who says it. 629 00:36:09,966 --> 00:36:11,033 I don't care who wrote it. 630 00:36:11,133 --> 00:36:14,133 That's contrary to the gospel truth that's 631 00:36:14,133 --> 00:36:16,166 so clearly established in the scripture. 632 00:36:17,866 --> 00:36:21,633 The point is, you can't even have 633 00:36:21,633 --> 00:36:25,266 discernment unless you have the fixed 634 00:36:25,266 --> 00:36:26,599 standard in place. 635 00:36:26,666 --> 00:36:29,500 That is why you have to know your theology proper. 636 00:36:31,500 --> 00:36:34,866 The truth of biblical Christianity has been assaulted for 637 00:36:34,866 --> 00:36:38,166 the entire life of the New Testament church since the very beginning. 638 00:36:38,300 --> 00:36:41,599 And here we are still today, fighting 639 00:36:41,599 --> 00:36:44,000 for it, no different than at any other time. 640 00:36:46,599 --> 00:36:50,066 That's why Jude appeals to all Christians, for 641 00:36:50,066 --> 00:36:54,133 all time, to contend earnestly, 642 00:36:54,133 --> 00:36:57,133 for the faith, which was once for all handed 643 00:36:57,133 --> 00:36:58,866 down to the saints. 644 00:37:01,099 --> 00:37:02,733 So we are to persevere. 645 00:37:03,966 --> 00:37:07,133 We are to protect the faith, so that we can 646 00:37:07,133 --> 00:37:11,500 pass the torch down to the younger generation, 647 00:37:11,500 --> 00:37:14,766 and they can keep it going, just like we're 648 00:37:14,766 --> 00:37:18,300 striving to keep it going right now, and 649 00:37:18,333 --> 00:37:21,333 that includes calling out all 650 00:37:21,333 --> 00:37:24,800 the weak, need, superficial, false Christianity 651 00:37:24,800 --> 00:37:27,933 that doesn't want to say anything too dogmatic, that 652 00:37:27,933 --> 00:37:29,866 doesn't want to say anything too controversial. 653 00:37:31,300 --> 00:37:34,400 Man, if that were to totally take over, that would be how you'd lose the faith 654 00:37:34,400 --> 00:37:36,500 altogether on the Earth, but God. 655 00:37:38,366 --> 00:37:42,566 In Christ makes the promise 656 00:37:42,566 --> 00:37:46,666 that the church will continue to be built 657 00:37:46,666 --> 00:37:49,833 by him till the end of time, 658 00:37:49,833 --> 00:37:51,766 and hell itself will not stop it. 659 00:37:53,666 --> 00:37:57,533 So if we're going to be discerning, 660 00:37:58,800 --> 00:38:03,166 We have to start with a strong conviction 661 00:38:03,166 --> 00:38:06,366 about sound doctrine, and that's why our 662 00:38:06,366 --> 00:38:09,533 statement of faith is the 1689 663 00:38:09,566 --> 00:38:11,833 London Baptist confession of fate. 664 00:38:11,900 --> 00:38:14,066 Go read it again, if you haven't read it lately. 665 00:38:14,166 --> 00:38:17,166 That is a strong statement of sound doctrine 666 00:38:17,166 --> 00:38:20,400 that covers the basis of all the major doctrines 667 00:38:20,433 --> 00:38:22,466 of the Christian faith. 668 00:38:23,366 --> 00:38:25,233 I'm gonna have more to say about this subject. 669 00:38:27,000 --> 00:38:30,199 But you have to come back next week to hear more about it. 670 00:38:30,266 --> 00:38:33,266 Let's pray together about heaven, we thank you. 671 00:38:34,866 --> 00:38:37,533 for the ability.