I Believe in Doctrine

INTRO

2 Timothy 4:3 ESV

3 For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions,

What does the Bible teach about...

Racism / Sexism

Abortion

Transgenderism

Marijuana or Mushroom use

How you are to respond to these things

PRAYER

A - God our father in Heaven we give you glory and praise for you are worthy. We recognize the authority of your word and we purpose our hearts to agree with it and stand upon it for our doctrine and practice of christlikeness in this life and cling to the hope of christ for the world ot come.

C - LORD we confess that we are often afraid of man, either to stand for you or to make a defense of you.

T - Thank you father for being patient and long suffering with us

S - Lord we pray that you would grant us wisdom to work out our faith by wisdom and discernment. That we would apply your word to our lives and to each and every situation that you bring us into. Help us we pray to stand firm during times of adversity and in the face of falsity.

MESSAGE

What Does the Bible Teach about Racism, Sexism and Abortion?

We are made in the image of God.

Genesis 1:27 ESV

27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.

as image bearers both men and women are of value

as image bearers both young and old are of value

as image bearers all nations and races are of value

All nations will one day be in heaven.

Revelation 7:9 ESV

9 After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands,

God caused diversity in humanity… tower of babble

God is in the process of redeeming all people-groups

I believe that in the new heaven and new earth we will retain and celebrate our diversity

God loves His sons and His daughters.

Romans 8:14–16 ESV

14 For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. 15 For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” 16 The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God,

Galatians 3:28 ESV

28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.

The OT is filled with stories about caring for women

Jesus called both men and women to be his disciples

God sees racism and sexism as contrary to His design and the gospel

Therefore what the Bible teaches is clear… Racism, sexism, and abortion are all sins as they disrespect the image of God.

What Does the Bible Teach about Gender and Sexuality?

The Bible is clear that we are formed according to Gods plans.

Psalm 139:13 ESV

13 For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother’s womb.

Genesis 1:27 ESV

27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.

Matt 19.4 “4 He answered, “Have you not read that he who created them from the beginning made them male and female,”

While there are stereotypical masculin and femine proclivities there are only two sexes/genders

You are divinely designed by God to be exactly as you are

The Bible is clear about the appropriate use of our bodies sexually.

1 Corinthians 6:18 ESV

18 Flee from sexual immorality. Every other sin a person commits is outside the body, but the sexually immoral person sins against his own body.

Hebrews 13:4 ESV

4 Let marriage be held in honor among all, and let the marriage bed be undefiled, for God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterous.

even if society tries to normalize all sorts of sexual behaviour there is only one avenue that God has sanctioned

The Bible is clear with the consequences of this kind of sin.

Revelation 21:8 ESV

8 But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.”

ALL who persist in sexual sin, as in any other conscience overt sin will be condemned to hell

Not only are there spiritual consequences there are physical, emotional, and societal consequences also

Therefore what the Bible teaches is clear… We are not able to change our gender for God has created us as male of female. The only acceptable form of sexual activity is that between a biologically heterosexual couple within the covenant of marriage.

What does the Bible teach about substance use?

All things that God made are good and have a use for us.

Genesis 1:29 ESV

29 And God said, “Behold, I have given you every plant yielding seed that is on the face of all the earth, and every tree with seed in its fruit. You shall have them for food.

in the beginning since humans were without sin there would have been no mis-use of Gods creation

When we miss-use the things God gave that is sinful.

Genesis 2:15–17 ESV

15 The Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to work it and keep it. 16 And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, “You may surely eat of every tree of the garden, 17 but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.”

Ephesians 5:18 ESV

18 And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit,

Because of our sin nature we are bent toward improper use of Gods creation

How can we know the difference?

1 Corinthians 6:12 ESV

12 “All things are lawful for me,” but not all things are helpful. “All things are lawful for me,” but I will not be dominated by anything.

1 Cor 10.23 “23 “All things are lawful,” but not all things are helpful. “All things are lawful,” but not all things build up.”

1 John 4:1 ESV

1 Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world.

Read the word - Pray for the Holy Spirit leading

Research what other trusted theologians have said!!

Therefore the Bible is clear… When we miss-use the things God has given to us is is dishonoring to God and sinful.

How does the Bible teach us to respond to the world in these areas?

Expect for others to sin against you and God.

John 15:18 ESV

18 “If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you.

Luke 21:17 ESV

17 You will be hated by all for my name’s sake.

Ephesians 5:8 ESV

8 for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light

You should never be surprised when people sin

are you surprised when… dogs bark, cats meow, chickens cluck… its what they do

Expect for people to disagree with God’s Word

Speak the truth in love knowing whom you serve.

Zechariah 8:16–17 ESV

16 These are the things that you shall do: Speak the truth to one another; render in your gates judgments that are true and make for peace; 17 do not devise evil in your hearts against one another, and love no false oath, for all these things I hate, declares the Lord.”

Ephesians 4:14–15 ESV

14 so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. 15 Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ,

Proverbs 24:11 ESV

11 Rescue those who are being taken away to death; hold back those who are stumbling to the slaughter.

You must not bend the truth for anyone or anything

Remember that you are not the Holy Spirit you are an ambassador of the king

Give grace and mercy NOT celebration and encouragement.

1 Corinthians 5:12–13 ESV

12 For what have I to do with judging outsiders? Is it not those inside the church whom you are to judge? 13 God judges those outside. “Purge the evil person from among you.”

2 Corinthians 13:2 ESV

2 I warned those who sinned before and all the others, and I warn them now while absent, as I did when present on my second visit, that if I come again I will not spare them—

We must have clear convictions on how far is far enough when it comes to “inclusion” and “acceptance”

Always be ready to bring them to the cross of Christ to whom you also owe your souls

CLOSE

Group Questions

What is something that stood out to you from this message? Why?

How can or should Christians fight against racism in our culture biblically?

How can Christians celebrate cultural differences while still holding onto our identities in Christ first.

How can or should Christians stand against abortion in our culture biblically?

How can or should Christians fight against sexual misconduct in our culture biblically?

Why do you think sexuality is such an issue in our culture today?

How might someone argue for the use of mushrooms and or marijuana or another “natural” substance from the bible?

Why is this argument flawed?

How could we point this out biblically?

As christians how are we to balance between the teaching of sound biblical doctrine and grace and mercy toward the lost?

what might that look like practically in your life?