James 3 -- False Teachers 3

Transcript Search
James  •  Sermon  •  Submitted   •  Presented   •  2:24:48
0 ratings
· 104 views
Files
Notes
Transcript
Sermon Tone Analysis
A
D
F
J
S
Emotion
A
C
T
Language
O
C
E
A
E
Social
View more →

Sunday November 27, 2022

James 3:

Two weeks ago, we returned to the text of James 3.
We began looking at the context, rather than jump straight in and begin to EISEGETE the text …
Woops did anyone catch that?
notice I didn’t say, exegete which is to take out from what is there ...
but eisegete which is to to read into the text what isn’t there. Put into it what we want to see, expect to see, or are misinformed that we will see.
If we aren’t aware of the context, or the presuppositions that we bring to the text, that is exactly what we will do: Read Into It.
The main way to quickly eisegete the text is to neglect the context. Just start reading and try to make it mean something. without first respecting the context.
So, we don’t ever want to Eisegete the text - we always want to Exegete!
That is why we review what came before, what follows, study concepts in the passage, examine language and grammar; make sure we are aware of culture or geography so that our ideas don’t end up being what we see. Because our goal is to accurately understand only what is there in the text - and teach that!

Summary of what we have learned:

So, two weeks ago, we read through Chapter 3, to expose ourselves in general to what the following context is: which is in general the role of the word or words that come from our mouths. What we say matters.
We reviewed the Thesis statement of the book that James wrote to the very young church to teach what to do as believers were tested in doctrine.

Theme - Divine Viewpoint is Tested

James wrote the first book of the New Testament to be written to the very young church to teach it what to do to deal with the test of doctrine. When divine viewpoint is challenged - what then? This theme is set up in verses 2-4 of the first Chapter:
James 1:2–4 NKJV
2 My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. 4 But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.

Organization - Responding to the Testing of Divine Viewpoint

James is instructing the believer in how to respond to tests in life. Three basic points of testing are covered by James, and he will establish this in verse 19.
James 1:19 NKJV
19 So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath;
This is our 3 point outline for James which he provides to us.
Be swift to hear
Be slow to speak
Be slow to wrath

Swift-to-Hear Results?

In the context of being swift to hear,
Swift-to-Hear man or the one who is properly enduring temptation yields the following:
The man who endures temptations will be Blessed-Happy.
The man who endures temptations will receive the crown of life.
The man who endures (overcomes) is a doer of the word and not a hearer only.
The overcomer (man who endures) is a person with functioning Bible doctrine in their soul.

Slow-to-Speak Reasons

In James 3 we move to the Slow-to-Speak section.
Now in the prior Swift-to-Hear section, of James 1-2, we concentrate on listening-and-learning and following divine viewpoint. The Slow-to-Speak section, is based on divine viewpoint too.
But by way of contrast, in the Swift-to-Hear section of James (Chapters 1-2), the emphasis is on listening-and-learning - and showing that true listening-and-learning results in doing. There is no Biblical admonition to listen and learn but NOT do. In the Slow-to-Speak section of James (Chapter 3) there is that given to which we are to listen-and-learn, but the emphasis is on the Doing. Our emphasis has changed.
Note: the dynamics of the spiritual life are no different, and are not changing with the change of emphasis from Quick-to-Hear to Slow-to-Listen. The need for the filling by means of the spirit, and the filling with the word of God is the same. The living of the spiritual life by grace is the same. The subject matter has switched from functioning Bible doctrine in the soul to Bible Doctrine that functions in the soul. That is only a change in emphasis.

History of James & the Epistle

As we return to the text of John 3, last week, it seemed helpful to go through the new testament history surrounding James himself, and the timing of the writing of the book of James. So we did that last week in an immersive sense reading through the actual history of James, straight out of the Bible, including the Gospels, the Acts of the Apostles, and multiple Pauline epistles for history and reference.

James 3:1 Admonition

We also looked at the contextual new testament examples that were given to us showing the presence of improperly motivated and ungifted teaching, and the reason for the admonition that James gives us in Chapter 3 verse 1.
James 3:1 NKJV
1 My brethren, let not many of you become teachers, knowing that we shall receive a stricter judgment.
From our historic studies in the bible last week, we saw that the gifting of teacher to the Church was a high calling that was equated to the Apostles, the Prophets and the Evangelists. While the other gifts moved about geographically, the Pastor-Teacher was a permanent gift given to a congregation to grow them into all truth.
Teachings were wrong we noticed in Acts 15, as Paul was called to invoke the Jerusalem Council among the Apostles and leaders of the Christian Church in Jerusalem: Acts 15:1, 5.
Acts 15:1 NKJV
1 And certain men came down from Judea and taught the brethren, “Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved.”
Acts 15:5 NKJV
5 But some of the sect of the Pharisees who believed rose up, saying, “It is necessary to circumcise them, and to command them to keep the law of Moses.”
Paul will call out a similar scenario to Timothy and charge him to handle the situation. Paul lays out for us proper teaching vs. wrong teaching. He mentions right doctrine, faith - or the body of teaching which becomes Bible doctrine in the Soul, the strayed having turned aside to idle talk, in excruciating parallel as if Paul is referencing the teaching of James, those desirous of being teachers who have no understanding of gifting. This is in 1 Timothy 1:3-7.
We reviewed this last week, but let’s go over this again this week, because the context and details are relevant.
1 Timothy 1:3–7 NKJV
3 As I urged you when I went into Macedonia—remain in Ephesus that you may charge some that they teach no other doctrine, 4 nor give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which cause disputes rather than godly edification which is in faith. 5 Now the purpose of the commandment is love from a pure heart, from a good conscience, and from sincere faith, 6 from which some, having strayed, have turned aside to idle talk, 7 desiring to be teachers of the law, understanding neither what they say nor the things which they affirm.
Teachers were necessary and needed, and more than were gifted were gravitating to the office, taking upon themselves a burden of destruction to themselves and to all who listen to those without the gifting. Before the writings of the New Testament, and while there were many who were saved but were not discipled, there were reasons that men may have stepped up to teach.
I’ll give you a few suggestions for Why the ungifted sought to teach:
They had turned aside to idle talk
Ego hates a vacuum, when it can so easily insert itself.
Courage in leading is based on knowledge of God and God’s word — teaching is based on courage or foolishness.
In a vacuum, many will listen.
The spiritually newborn and immature need milk.
Not all who teach, who have listeners/followers are gifted to teach.
Rabbis were engendered enormous respect. Teachers were the christian version of Rabbis to the Jewish Christian.
We return to our admonition: James 3:1
James 3:1 NKJV
1 My brethren, let not many of you become teachers, knowing that we shall receive a stricter judgment.
or the better translation:
James 3:1 NET
1 Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers and sisters, because you know that we will be judged more strictly.
It simply makes sense that because the misuse of the tongue by teachers can lead many others astray, they will be judged more strictly.
There is a close relationship in Jewish thought between the heart (or mind) and the tongue: Psalm 15:2-3, Matthew 12:34, even in the apocrypha Sir 27:4-7
Psalm 15:2–3 NKJV
2 He who walks uprightly, And works righteousness, And speaks the truth in his heart; 3 He who does not backbite with his tongue, Nor does evil to his neighbor, Nor does he take up a reproach against his friend;
Matthew 12:34 NKJV
34 Brood of vipers! How can you, being evil, speak good things? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.
It is seen then that what is in the heart will come out of the mouth. Jesus certainly asserted that.
Sirach 27:4–7 NRSV
4 When a sieve is shaken, the refuse appears; so do a person’s faults when he speaks. 5 The kiln tests the potter’s vessels; so the test of a person is in his conversation. 6 Its fruit discloses the cultivation of a tree; so a person’s speech discloses the cultivation of his mind. 7 Do not praise anyone before he speaks, for this is the way people are tested.
So you can see that the cultivation of the mind of the teacher is paramount. For the teacher teaches others, and so must be able to teach truth and not teach the error that is so common. The New Testament teacher is a Pastor, and as such is to teach that which edifies. We saw this in 1 Timothy 1:5
1 Timothy 1:5 NKJV
5 Now the purpose of the commandment is love from a pure heart, from a good conscience, and from sincere faith,

End of 1st Service

Beginning of 2nd Service

What is the commandment referred to in verse 5? To teach no other doctrine than what has been taught. Now I want you to see and understand this contextually:
1 Timothy 1:5 NKJV
5 Now the purpose of the commandment is love from a pure heart, from a good conscience, and from sincere faith,
Teachers are to teach no other doctrine than the doctrine that the Apostles taught the church. We are not to be inventors of doctrine.

False teachers

So we need to review the doctrine of False Teachers
Synopsis: False teachers are those who teach error and in so doing lead others astray. They are to be distinguished from false prophets who are equally condemned in Scripture. We should also distinguish Shepherds: which our study in Ezekiel on Wednesday has provided opportunity to understand that Shepherds are references to the Kings of Israel - who are to lead and teach God’s people. Some do, many don’t.

The OT prophets warned God’s people against being led astray by false teachers

Isa 9:16 , Eze 34:2
Isaiah 9:16 NKJV
16 For the leaders of this people cause them to err, And those who are led by them are destroyed.
Ezekiel 34:2 NKJV
2 “Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel, prophesy and say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord God to the shepherds: “Woe to the shepherds of Israel who feed themselves! Should not the shepherds feed the flocks?
See also Is 3:12 ; Is 8:20; Je 2:8; Je 10:21; Je 23:1; Eze 22:26; Mal 2:7–8
Isaiah 3:12 NKJV
12 As for My people, children are their oppressors, And women rule over them. O My people! Those who lead you cause you to err, And destroy the way of your paths.”
Isaiah 8:20 NKJV
20 To the law and to the testimony! If they do not speak according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.
Jeremiah 2:8 NKJV
8 The priests did not say, ‘Where is the Lord?’ And those who handle the law did not know Me; The rulers also transgressed against Me; The prophets prophesied by Baal, And walked after things that do not profit.
Jeremiah 10:21 NKJV
21 For the shepherds have become dull-hearted, And have not sought the Lord; Therefore they shall not prosper, And all their flocks shall be scattered.
Jeremiah 23:1 NKJV
1 “Woe to the shepherds who destroy and scatter the sheep of My pasture!” says the Lord.
Ezekiel 22:26 NKJV
26 Her priests have violated My law and profaned My holy things; they have not distinguished between the holy and unholy, nor have they made known the difference between the unclean and the clean; and they have hidden their eyes from My Sabbaths, so that I am profaned among them.
Malachi 2:7–8 NKJV
7 “For the lips of a priest should keep knowledge, And people should seek the law from his mouth; For he is the messenger of the Lord of hosts. 8 But you have departed from the way; You have caused many to stumble at the law. You have corrupted the covenant of Levi,” Says the Lord of hosts.

Jesus Christ condemned false teachers

He opposed legalism and hypocrisy

Mt 5:19
Matthew 5:19 NKJV
19 Whoever therefore breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.

He identified the teachers of the law and Pharisees as false teachers

Mt 23:1–33
Matthew 23:1–33 NKJV
1 Then Jesus spoke to the multitudes and to His disciples, 2 saying: “The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat. 3 Therefore whatever they tell you to observe, that observe and do, but do not do according to their works; for they say, and do not do. 4 For they bind heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on men’s shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers. 5 But all their works they do to be seen by men. They make their phylacteries broad and enlarge the borders of their garments. 6 They love the best places at feasts, the best seats in the synagogues, 7 greetings in the marketplaces, and to be called by men, ‘Rabbi, Rabbi.’ 8 But you, do not be called ‘Rabbi’; for One is your Teacher, the Christ, and you are all brethren. 9 Do not call anyone on earth your father; for One is your Father, He who is in heaven. 10 And do not be called teachers; for One is your Teacher, the Christ. 11 But he who is greatest among you shall be your servant. 12 And whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted. 13 “But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you shut up the kingdom of heaven against men; for you neither go in yourselves, nor do you allow those who are entering to go in. 14 Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you devour widows’ houses, and for a pretense make long prayers. Therefore you will receive greater condemnation. 15 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you travel land and sea to win one proselyte, and when he is won, you make him twice as much a son of hell as yourselves. 16 “Woe to you, blind guides, who say, ‘Whoever swears by the temple, it is nothing; but whoever swears by the gold of the temple, he is obliged to perform it.’ 17 Fools and blind! For which is greater, the gold or the temple that sanctifies the gold? 18 And, ‘Whoever swears by the altar, it is nothing; but whoever swears by the gift that is on it, he is obliged to perform it.’ 19 Fools and blind! For which is greater, the gift or the altar that sanctifies the gift? 20 Therefore he who swears by the altar, swears by it and by all things on it. 21 He who swears by the temple, swears by it and by Him who dwells in it. 22 And he who swears by heaven, swears by the throne of God and by Him who sits on it. 23 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faith. These you ought to have done, without leaving the others undone. 24 Blind guides, who strain out a gnat and swallow a camel! 25 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you cleanse the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of extortion and self-indulgence. 26 Blind Pharisee, first cleanse the inside of the cup and dish, that the outside of them may be clean also. 27 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs which indeed appear beautiful outwardly, but inside are full of dead men’s bones and all uncleanness. 28 Even so you also outwardly appear righteous to men, but inside you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness. 29 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! Because you build the tombs of the prophets and adorn the monuments of the righteous, 30 and say, ‘If we had lived in the days of our fathers, we would not have been partakers with them in the blood of the prophets.’ 31 “Therefore you are witnesses against yourselves that you are sons of those who murdered the prophets. 32 Fill up, then, the measure of your fathers’ guilt. 33 Serpents, brood of vipers! How can you escape the condemnation of hell?
See also Mt 15:14
Matthew 15:14 NKJV
14 Let them alone. They are blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind leads the blind, both will fall into a ditch.”

He warned his followers against them

Mt 16:6; Mt 16:12
Matthew 16:6 NKJV
6 Then Jesus said to them, “Take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and the Sadducees.”
Matthew 16:12 NKJV
12 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.

End of 2nd Service

Sunday, December 4, 2022

We are in James 3:1
James 3:1 NKJV
1 My brethren, let not many of you become teachers, knowing that we shall receive a stricter judgment.
We have reviewed the history and timeline of the book of James, and immersed ourselves in the very history recorded in the texts of the Bible itself about what was happening at the time the book of James was recorded. All conservative, non-liberal scholarship is in agreement that James penned this important epistle — the first written document to and for the Church — prior to the Jerusalem Counsel that is recorded in Acts 15.
Now in this Epistle, at the beginning of the 2nd section, which corresponds to the Slow-to-Speak portion of the outline of the epistle seen in James 1:19
James 1:19 NKJV
19 So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath;
We find in the 2nd section on the topic of speech, that the leader of the church at Jerusalem wants to front-load the discussion about speech, with comments about teaching and teachers. His end conclusion? Don’t do it … Teachers are to be accountable for their words. In fact, more strictly accountable.
Our investigation of the history showed us that there were many false teachers at the time. And through the early church there seemed to be waves of incoming false teachers that continually broke over the young church.
Synopsis: False teachers are those who teach error and in so doing lead others astray.
Last week we began a review of False Teaching in the New Testament, based on its being mentioned in the text of Scripture?
Why should we spend any time on false teaching or false teachers? Shouldn’t we stick to the gospel and positive teaching?
So we began out outline.

The condemnation of false teachers in the early church

In the Christian realm you can seethe rise and the condemnation of false teachers in the early church.

Paul urges his readers to avoid false teachers

1 Ti 6:3–6
1 Timothy 6:3–6 NKJV
3 If anyone teaches otherwise and does not consent to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which accords with godliness, 4 he is proud, knowing nothing, but is obsessed with disputes and arguments over words, from which come envy, strife, reviling, evil suspicions, 5 useless wranglings of men of corrupt minds and destitute of the truth, who suppose that godliness is a means of gain. From such withdraw yourself. 6 Now godliness with contentment is great gain.
See also Ac 20:29–31; Ro 16:17–18; 2 Co 11:3–4
Eph 4:14
Acts 20:29–31 NKJV
29 For I know this, that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock. 30 Also from among yourselves men will rise up, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after themselves. 31 Therefore watch, and remember that for three years I did not cease to warn everyone night and day with tears.
Romans 16:17–18 NKJV
17 Now I urge you, brethren, note those who cause divisions and offenses, contrary to the doctrine which you learned, and avoid them. 18 For those who are such do not serve our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly, and by smooth words and flattering speech deceive the hearts of the simple.
The Corinthian church had been undiscerningly tolerant of Jewish deceivers in their midst;
2 Corinthians 11:3–4 NKJV
3 But I fear, lest somehow, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, so your minds may be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. 4 For if he who comes preaches another Jesus whom we have not preached, or if you receive a different spirit which you have not received, or a different gospel which you have not accepted—you may well put up with it!
Ephesians 4:14 NKJV
14 that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting,
The Colossian Heresy.
The Colossian heresy taught that the combination of faith in Jesus Christ with man-made philosophy and regulations was necessary for salvation
Colossians Chapter 2 shows us the Colossian heresy. But the passage is so rich that I want the full context.
Colossians 2:1–10 NKJV
1 For I want you to know what a great conflict I have for you and those in Laodicea, and for as many as have not seen my face in the flesh, 2 that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, and attaining to all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the knowledge of the mystery of God, both of the Father and of Christ, 3 in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. 4 Now this I say lest anyone should deceive you with persuasive words. 5 For though I am absent in the flesh, yet I am with you in spirit, rejoicing to see your good order and the steadfastness of your faith in Christ. 6 As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, 7 rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving. 8 Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ. 9 For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily; 10 and you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power.
Paul warns of heretical teachers in Ephesus and the planted churches
We are starting to get familiar with 1 Timothy chpater 1.
1 Timothy 1:3–7 NKJV
3 As I urged you when I went into Macedonia—remain in Ephesus that you may charge some that they teach no other doctrine, 4 nor give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which cause disputes rather than godly edification which is in faith. 5 Now the purpose of the commandment is love from a pure heart, from a good conscience, and from sincere faith, 6 from which some, having strayed, have turned aside to idle talk, 7 desiring to be teachers of the law, understanding neither what they say nor the things which they affirm.
1 Timothy 4:1–3 NKJV
1 Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons, 2 speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their own conscience seared with a hot iron, 3 forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from foods which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth.

End of Second Service

Sunday December 11, 2022

We are in James 3:1
James 3:1 NKJV
1 My brethren, let not many of you become teachers, knowing that we shall receive a stricter judgment.
We recently reviewed the history and timeline of the book of James, and engaged in an immersive history from the texts of the New Testament about what was happening at the time the book of James was recorded. Conservative, non-liberal scholarship is in agreement that James penned this important epistle — the first written document to and for the Church — prior to the Jerusalem Counsel that is recorded in Acts 15.
Our passage in James 3:1 is at the beginning of the 2nd of 3 organizational sections, and corresponds to the Slow-to-Speak portion of the outline of the epistle that we see in James 1:19
James 1:19 NKJV
19 So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath;
Here in this section about being slow-to-speak James begins the discussion about speech with comments about teaching and teachers. His end conclusion? Less are called than think they are.
Those who rise to the office of teaching without calling, or who do not teach the teachings of God and of Christ will call down upon themselves AND their hearers cursing and judgement.
Our investigation of the history showed us that there were many false teachers at the time. And through the early church there seemed to be waves of incoming false teachers that continually broke over the young church.
So, we moved from the history of the church to a review of refutations of false teachers through Scriptures.
We reviewed:
OT Prophet warnings aginst false teachers who lead astray
Jesus Christ warned against and condemned false teachers
He opposed legalism and hypocrisy
He identified false teachers
He warned His followers against
The early Church condemned false teaching
Paul Urges avoiding false teachers
Paul condemns false teachers
Paul urges protection from false teachers
Paul warns of Heretical Teachers in the churches of Ephesus, Crete, etc..

Continued: Paul’s warning passages

(Paul warns of heretical teachers in Ephesus and the planted churches)
Timothy 6:
1 Timothy 6:20–21 NKJV
20 O Timothy! Guard what was committed to your trust, avoiding the profane and idle babblings and contradictions of what is falsely called knowledge— 21 by professing it some have strayed concerning the faith. Grace be with you. Amen.
Guard Your Deposit
Paul tells Timothy to literally “guard your deposit”.
The original word, παραθήκη (parathēkē) is a common reference to a bank deposit. The deposit goes into a παραθήκη (parathēkē)
But Paul intends it as a reference to what was on deposit with Timothy. in essence Timothy was entrusted with sound teaching, grace spirituality, and the flock of God at Ephesus.
What is the imperative here? What is Timothy commanded to do?
The imperative here is to Guard
Guard is φυλάσσω (phylassō) which means to closely guard - to put under close supervision. To be attentive to.
It is translated beware in Luke 12:15
Luke 12:15 NKJV
15 And He said to them, “Take heed and beware of covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses.”
it is keep in Acts 21:25
Acts 21:25 NKJV
25 But concerning the Gentiles who believe, we have written and decided that they should observe no such thing, except that they should keep themselves from things offered to idols, from blood, from things strangled, and from sexual immorality.”
It is guard closely in Acts 12:4
Acts 12:4 NKJV
4 So when he had arrested him, he put him in prison, and delivered him to four squads of soldiers to keep him, intending to bring him before the people after Passover.
This gives us the strong sense that a Pastor-Teacher as a shepherd is to guard against the false teaching, the vain babblings, the contradictions from the word antithesis, and the lying or pseudo knowledge.
Titus 1
Paul continues the same theme with Titus who is pastoring in Crete, and establishing Pastor-Teachers with each congregation. Titus 1:10-16 .
Titus 1:10–16 NKJV
10 For there are many insubordinate, both idle talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision, 11 whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole households, teaching things which they ought not, for the sake of dishonest gain. 12 One of them, a prophet of their own, said, “Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons.” 13 This testimony is true. Therefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith, 14 not giving heed to Jewish fables and commandments of men who turn from the truth. 15 To the pure all things are pure, but to those who are defiled and unbelieving nothing is pure; but even their mind and conscience are defiled. 16 They profess to know God, but in works they deny Him, being abominable, disobedient, and disqualified for every good work.
This is such a dramatic passage. The language that Paul uses here is beyond colorful. It speaks of anti-authoritarian individuals who subvert and argue against good teaching. It speaks of the morally corrupt who believe nothing with a mind and conscience that is defiled.
Defiled
Defiled - μιαίνω (miainō) essentially meaning the same as our common words pollute or corrupt.
Paul uses the same word in Hebrews 12:15. Let’s read the passage in context: Hebrews 12:12-17
Hebrews 12:12–17 NKJV
12 Therefore strengthen the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees, 13 and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be dislocated, but rather be healed. 14 Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord: 15 looking carefully lest anyone fall short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up cause trouble, and by this many become defiled; 16 lest there be any fornicator or profane person like Esau, who for one morsel of food sold his birthright. 17 For you know that afterward, when he wanted to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no place for repentance, though he sought it diligently with tears.
We see the term used in the same way in Jude 8
Jude 8 NKJV
8 Likewise also these dreamers defile the flesh, reject authority, and speak evil of dignitaries.
Let’s read the context again: Jude 5-11
Jude 5–11 NKJV
5 But I want to remind you, though you once knew this, that the Lord, having saved the people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed those who did not believe. 6 And the angels who did not keep their proper domain, but left their own abode, He has reserved in everlasting chains under darkness for the judgment of the great day; 7 as Sodom and Gomorrah, and the cities around them in a similar manner to these, having given themselves over to sexual immorality and gone after strange flesh, are set forth as an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire. 8 Likewise also these dreamers defile the flesh, reject authority, and speak evil of dignitaries. 9 Yet Michael the archangel, in contending with the devil, when he disputed about the body of Moses, dared not bring against him a reviling accusation, but said, “The Lord rebuke you!” 10 But these speak evil of whatever they do not know; and whatever they know naturally, like brute beasts, in these things they corrupt themselves. 11 Woe to them! For they have gone in the way of Cain, have run greedily in the error of Balaam for profit, and perished in the rebellion of Korah.
Moving on,
In Hebrews 13:9 the recipients, wherever Jews have located, including Ephesus, are not to be captured or kidnapped by various strange doctrine.
Again, I want to read the passage in context, because there is a surprise at the end that takes us back to James 3:
Hebrews 13:7–16 NKJV
7 Remember those who rule over you, who have spoken the word of God to you, whose faith follow, considering the outcome of their conduct. 8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. 9 Do not be carried about with various and strange doctrines. For it is good that the heart be established by grace, not with foods which have not profited those who have been occupied with them. 10 We have an altar from which those who serve the tabernacle have no right to eat. 11 For the bodies of those animals, whose blood is brought into the sanctuary by the high priest for sin, are burned outside the camp. 12 Therefore Jesus also, that He might sanctify the people with His own blood, suffered outside the gate. 13 Therefore let us go forth to Him, outside the camp, bearing His reproach. 14 For here we have no continuing city, but we seek the one to come. 15 Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name. 16 But do not forget to do good and to share, for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.
In 2 John we see that the test of teachers is doctrine.
2 John 9–10 NKJV
9 Whoever transgresses and does not abide in the doctrine of Christ does not have God. He who abides in the doctrine of Christ has both the Father and the Son. 10 If anyone comes to you and does not bring this doctrine, do not receive him into your house nor greet him;
The Nicolaitans
We have the doctrinal defection of the Nicolaitans which is impacting some of the churches in Revelation 2-3, which are addressed by Christ.
Revelation 2:6 NKJV
6 But this you have, that you hate the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.
I want to read here a quote from Dr. Robert Dean:
When it says that they hate the “deeds,” [it is] the Greek word ἔργον érgon which is a general word for production, and it is a general word for the outworking in the life of these Nicolaitanes. It is the idea of rejection in total of the production of the Nicolaitanes. They [The Ephesians] have a frame of reference that they are utilizing to have discernment. It isn’t a fact that they don’t like these people, that somehow they are following another pastor who is not our pastor and so we don’t like them. It is that we [the Ephesians] understand the production in your [the Nicolaitans] system. It is not just the outworking of the system, it is the under girding doctrine that is the foundation for their production. All production in life, whether it is mental production or overt production, has a foundation in some sort of philosophical or theological view of life. In the situation with the Nicolaitanes they had a particular theology that produced a certain lifestyle, and so it is the entire package that is being rejected by the Ephesians because they have a frame of reference.
Next we have those who embrace the Nicolaitan doctrines in Pergamos.
Revelation 2:15 NKJV
15 Thus you also have those who hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate.
Also Pergamos has received the doctrine of Balaam.
Revelation 2:14 NKJV
14 But I have a few things against you, because you have there those who hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols, and to commit sexual immorality.
This would seem to mean that the church at Pergamos has neglected the edict of the council of Jerusalem that we have covered over the last two weeks. That is the curse of Balaam - causing Israel to curse herself by breaking the Mosaic Covenant with YHWH. This was seen in Acts 15:20-21.
Acts 15:20–21 NKJV
20 but that we write to them to abstain from things polluted by idols, from sexual immorality, from things strangled, and from blood. 21 For Moses has had throughout many generations those who preach him in every city, being read in the synagogues every Sabbath.”
Then we have someone named Jezebel , in Revelation 2:20 who claims the office of prophetess so that she can teach more, this time at the church in Thyatira, to turn from the Jerusalem Counsel’s edict:
Revelation 2:20 NKJV
20 Nevertheless I have a few things against you, because you allow that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess, to teach and seduce My servants to commit sexual immorality and eat things sacrificed to idols.

Hymenaeus and Philetus cited as examples

2 Timothy 2:17–18 NKJV
17 And their message will spread like cancer. Hymenaeus and Philetus are of this sort, 18 who have strayed concerning the truth, saying that the resurrection is already past; and they overthrow the faith of some.

Those who teach will be judged particularly strictly

Jas 3:1
James 3:1 NKJV
1 My brethren, let not many of you become teachers, knowing that we shall receive a stricter judgment.
See also 2 Co 11:13–15; Ga 1:6–9; Ga 5:10
2 Corinthians 11:13–15 NKJV
13 For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into apostles of Christ. 14 And no wonder! For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light. 15 Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also transform themselves into ministers of righteousness, whose end will be according to their works.
Galatians 1:6-9.
Galatians 1:6–9 NKJV
6 I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel, 7 which is not another; but there are some who trouble you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ. 8 But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed. 9 As we have said before, so now I say again, if anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have received, let him be accursed.
Galatians 5:10 NKJV
10 I have confidence in you, in the Lord, that you will have no other mind; but he who troubles you shall bear his judgment, whoever he is.
Related Media
See more
Related Sermons
See more