I. INT.
A. The Bible is a book of warnings
B. Let’s look at some of these warnings
II. SOME WHO WERE WARNED
A. WARNINGS ARE AS OLD AS THE HUMAN RACE
B. ADAM AND EVE WERE WARNED-GEN. 3:1-6
1. God’s commands are clear! Does He mean what He says?
2. They failed to heed the warning-Vs. 6
3. Disobedience always brings consequences
a. Physical consequences-Gen. 3:16; 3:17-19; ,22-24; I Cor. 15:21
b. Spiritual consequences-Gen. 3:3; Spiritual death was introduced into the world by Adam
4. Let’ apply this principle to Marriage/Divorce/Remarriage-Mt. 19:3-9
C. PHAROAH-EX. 4:21-23
1. TEN PLAGUES were brought upon Pharaoh and the Egyptians because Pharaoh failed to obey God
2. The last plague was the death of the firstborn brought upon the Egyptians
3. What lesson do we learn?-When God commands, He expects men to obey!
D. GOD COMMANDED THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL-DEUT. 5:
1; 6:1-3; 8:1; 13:4
1. Did God expect Israel to obey?
2. In a recent discussion with a Baptist preacher, I asked the following question, “Did the children of Israel have to obey God to please Him?”-His answer to me was “NO”-Explain the above passages
3. If God does not expect man to obey, why the command?
4. When we turn to the N.T. to I Cor. 10:7-11
5. They suffered the consequences of their disobedience
6. We are warned in I Cor. 10:12
III. LET’S LOOK AT SOME OF THE OTHER WARNINGS
A. WARNING-ACTS 20:29-30
1. “Among the flock”
2. “own selves”-Eldership
a. What shall they teach?-“Perverse things”-Why?-“to draw away disciples after them”
b. What are some of these things?-Sponsoring church arrangement-I Pet. 5:2; Church supported colleges; Family life centers; Mother’s day out programs; Church schools are but a few-Where is the authority?-2 JN. 9-11
3. “Therefore watch”-Acts 20:31-Elders are to watch
B. WARNING IN COL. 2:8
1. “Beware”-warning-What was this warning?-“lest any man spoil you”-How?-“though philosophy and vain deceit” AFTER “the traditions of men”
2. “NOT AFTER CHRIST”-THE TEACHING OF CHRIST
3. APOSTASY ALWAYS BEGINS IN ATTITUDE TOWARD TRUTH - IT BEGINS SMALL AND GROWS
C. WARNING OF HEB. 3:12
1. “departing from the living God”-From His word
D. WARNING IN 2 PET. 2:2
1. “Many shall follow”
2. “The way of truth shall be evil spoken of”
E. WARNING IN REV. 3:1, 17
F. THE CHURCH OF THE FIRST CENTURY WENT INTO APOSTASY
1. Nothing is known of those churches today except what is written in the N.T.-Where are those churches? Jer.? Antioch? Ephesus? Corinth? Thessalonica?
IV. HOW IS IT POSSIBLE? H0W DOES IT HAPPEN THAT CHURCHES GO INTO APOSTASY?
A. FALSE VIEW OF LOVE-PROV. 13:24
1. The essence of love to many is less rebuking
2. Do you believe God loves us? He says He does-Jn. 3:16
a. What does He do?-Heb. 12:6,7; Rev. 3:19
3. The Bible commands-2 Tim. 4:2 Why? - 2 Tim. 4:3-5
B. TOLERANCE IS GODLINESS; REBUKE IS “HATE SPEECH" - MATT. 11:28-30
1. Many say that this is the kind of preaching we need today
2. BUT, LOOK AT VS. 20-24
3. MATT. 21:12-15; MATT. 23
C. THE IDEA THAT FAITH IS INCLUSIVE NOT EXCLUSIVE
1. Is faith inclusive? Absolutely
2. Is it exclusive?-Matt. 10:34-38
3. Denominational preachers and members as well as some in the church condemn those of us who teach that one is not saved unless he is “BAPTIZED”
a. Jesus said-Mk. 16:16; The Bible says-Acts 2:38; 22:16
b. They say “this excludes all the Lutherans, Methodist, Baptist, Catholics,” they are lost because they have not been baptized for the remission of sins
4. Apply this principle to “Belief in Jesus”
a. The Baptist say, “Except you believe in Jesus you are lost”
b. Are they not excluding? Absolutely! They are excluding all Atheist, Jews, Mohammedans, etc-Why? Because they do not believe in Jesus
c. What does the Bible say?-Jn. 8:24; JN. 3:16; Jn. 14:6
d. The same Bible that teaches Faith in Christ, also, teaches Baptism
5. The faith (doctrine of Christ) is inclusive and also exclusive
a. It excludes false doctrine-Matt. 15:9
b. It excludes the immoral-Gal. 5:19-21
c. It excludes those who do not obey the will of the Father-Mt. 7:21
D. LUSTS, ITCHING EARS, NO LOVE FOR TRUTH-ISA. 30:8-12; 2Th. 2:10-12, 15; 2 Tim. 4:2-5
E. FAD SEEKERS-ACTS 17:21
1. That spirit is alive and well in the church today
2. They talk about the “church of Christ tradition”-Do we have a tradition?-Absolutely!-2 Th. 2:15; 3:6
3. BUT, NOTICE MK. 7:8
F. THOSE WHO BECOME WEARY IN WELL DOING
1. Those who fought error during the 50’s, 60’s, 70’s
2. Some have become weary and so they have surrendered-Gal. 6:7-9; 2 Tim. 4:7
a. Opposing religious error, immorality, gambling, social drinking, immodest dress is a fight that we must continue to fight-I Tim. 6:12
G. INTER-DENOMINATIONAL UNITY IN DIVERSITY HAS DRAWN MANY TO APPLY SAME CONCEPTS TO THE CHURCH
1. What does the Bible teach?-I Cor. 1:10; 4:6,17; 11:2; 2 Th. 2: 15; 3:4, 6
H. THE SPIRIT OF INDIVIDUALISM WHICH SAYS MAN MUST DETERMINE HIS OWN DESTINY-JUDGES 21:25; Prov. 14:12; Jer. 10:23; Psa. 81:11-16
1. This attitude condones Homosexuality, Abortion, Pornography, while personally disapproving
I. THINKING CONTROVERSY IS CONTRARY TO “THE SPIRIT OF CHRIST” SOME REFUSE TO STAND AGAINST ERROR-MATT. 15:12; 23:3-39; LK. 4:28; 6:11; 11:45; 13:13-14; 2 COR. 10:3-5; JUDE 3
1. One cannot think correctly about Jesus without thinking of controversy
2. Preaching and teaching like Christ will bring opposition
J. LACK OF KNOWLEDGE-ISA. 5:13; HOS. 4:6; COL. 2:8
K. LOVE OF THE WORLD’S WISDOM, MONEY, PRAISE - JN. 12:42-43; 2 TIM. 4:10; ISA. 5:11, 21-23; I COR. 3:18-21
VI. CONCLUSION: