BIBLICAL ALTERNATIVES FELLOWSHIP SERMONS ON GRACE Misuse & Abuse of the Bible - Pastor Steve Rowitt, Th,M. PhD. When you begin to understand the importance of God’s Word, you realize why the Spirit of Antichrist consistently attacks the authenticity of the Hebrew Scriptures. The foundational truth concerning God’s written Word (Logos) is that it reveals to mankind the ultimate truth that is embodied in the living Word of God, Messiah Yeshua, John 1:1-2. The Bible gives us the true history of the creation of the universe, John 1:3 as well as a God’s eye view of the history of human civilization (anthropology). God reveals to us our past, our present and our future revealed from the beginning in the book of Genesis through to our glorious future in the book of Revelation. Of utmost importance, the written Word declares to us the way of salvation, the glorious gospel of grace, Acts 20:24. Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth = BIBLE It is vitally important for every believer to study and utilize the Scriptures in their lives. God’s Word constitutes our only real authority in matters pertaining to life, Matt. 5:18; John 10:35; 2 Peter 1:19-21. The value of the Word of God in a believer’s life should never be understated or underestimated. Without a working knowledge of the Scriptures, we will suffer the consequences of having to learn our faith lessons by trial and error. The Word contains all the necessary information for a believer to succeed in every circumstance they may face. The Apostle Paul wrote to his son in the faith, Timothy, who at that time was the ruling Elder (Pastor or Bishop) of the body of believers in Ephesus, 1 Tim. 1:3. He wrote: All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work, 2 Tim. 3:16-17. Paul explains that the Word of God (only the Tanakh or Older Testament is in view at this time) is God-breathed, e.g. divinely inspired, and it is beneficial or useful in order to know doctrine = what to do, reproof = what not to do, correction = how to do it properly and instruction in righteousness, how to live a godly life. Many people twist the Word of God in order to make it conform to their own opinion(s). They hope to give pseudo-biblical authority to their own peculiar prejudices (eisegesis) rather than letting the Word of God speak for itself (exegesis). Such distortions have given rise to a plethora of cults or heretical views. Every Christian cult from the Mormons (Latter Day Saints) to the Jehovah’s Witnesses (Watchtower Society) to A Course in Miracles and Christian Science have all been established by men and women who say they received divine revelation from God. This is not a better understanding of His Word such as the process whereby a child of God grows in grace and knowledge of the Lord, but rather hidden (occult) knowledge that is revealed only to them. Beware of the Birds of the Air Yeshua taught a series of parables contained in the gospel of Matthew chapter 13. He begins with the Parable of the Sower and the Seed, Matt. 13:3-9. When He explains this parable to His disciples, Yeshua identifies the birds who ate the seed that were sown along the way, Matt. 13:4, as demons who snatch the seed of the gospel from a person’s head before they can understand it, Matt. 13:19. He continues his sermon of parables with the Parable of the Mustard Seed, Matt. 13:31-33. Within the context of the sermon, mustard seeds that are extremely small should grow into a large bush, but this mustard seed (used as an example of the Kingdom of God on earth) becomes a great tree. This is not a positive outcome, because the “birds of the air” come and make their nests in the branches of this tree, Matt. 13:32. Yeshua has already told them that the birds of the air are demons, Matt. 13:18, so we are told that demons will nest within God’s kingdom. The final parable in this sermon is the Parable of the Hidden Leaven. Here, the Kingdom of God is likened to a woman who inserts yeast or leaven into the dough. Leaven in the Word of God is always a symbol of false teaching, especially when it has to do with a false gospel of salvation by works. Then Jesus said to them, “Take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and the Sadducees… How is it you do not understand that I did not speak to you concerning bread?—but to beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees.” Then they understood that He did not tell them to beware of the leaven of bread, but of the doctrine of the Pharisees and Sadducees, Matt. 16:6, 11-12. If we are to be free from the influence of false teaching and false teachers, we need to learn from these parables. There are believers and there are make-believers. There are Shepherds and there are wolves in sheep’s clothing. Be as wise as serpents, but be as innocent as doves “Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves. Therefore, be wise as serpents and harmless as doves, Matt. 10:16. The meaning of this instruction must be understood within the context of this passage. He was instructing His disciples about how to behave when they were sent out in ministry. He understood that this present world is controlled by the god of this world, Satan, 2 Co. 4:4. He was telling them that they would be persecuted because of their faith in Him. This verse is not telling us to act like the children of disobedience; it indicates that we should be able to discern what is really going on because we used to be the children of disobedience. This is confirmed by the Apostle Paul as he instructed the Gentiles at Ephesus concerning this very topic. And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh (sinful nature) and of the mind (carnal mere human unregenerate mind), and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others, Eph. 2:1-3. Paul does not leave the Ephesians with only their past to dwell upon, he continues his letter by reminding them of the glorious transforming power of the gospel that they have personally experienced. In this, we too can embrace the truth of God’s Word concerning His beloved children. Even though we are still sheep among the wolves of this present age, we are more than conquerors through His love, Rom. 8:37. But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them, Eph. 2:4-10. The only way to prevent the misuse and abuse of God’s Word is to rely on God’s Holy Spirit to “rightly divide the Word of Truth” in our lives. The Word of God is a faith builder, then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God, Rom. 10:17. We are instructed to live by the gift of faith we received when we first trusted in our Lord and Savior, Hab. 2:4; Rom. 1:16-17, 4:3; Gal. 3:11; Heb. 10:38. Your word I have hidden in my heart, That I might not sin against You, Psalm 119:11 Biblical Alternatives Fellowship has been serving the South Florida community with God’s Righteousness At Christ’s Expense (GRACE) since 1986. biblicalalternatives.org/
Posted on: Sun, 23 Mar 2014 01:42:20 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015