Does It Matter What One Believes?
Questions Of Eternal Consequence • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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Introduction
Introduction
Greetings…
Last week, we started a new series on the theme of “Questions Of Eternal Consequences.”
We studied “Does God Exists” and concluded that he most certainly does.
We noticed we “can know he exists” because of the proof found in areas such as…
Religious History
Cause & Effect
Inherent Morality
Many of the different Scientific Discoveries.
Today, we are going to turn our attention to another “Question of Eternal Consequence” which is…
Does It Matter What One Believes?
We live in a time and in a culture that sees our brotherhood congregations falling into spiritual disarray at an alarming rate.
In many of these cases, if not all of them, we find the leadership of these congregations lead them from being a church that set out to change culture to one that was changed by culture.
Obviously, this is not what God had in mind when Jesus stated…
13 You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people’s feet. 14 You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden.
This morning, I want us to answer the question of “Does It Matter What One Believes” by first looking at…
False Cultural Concepts
False Cultural Concepts
Pluralism
Pluralism
Webster’s defines Pluralism as…
“a theory that there are more than one or more than two kinds of ultimate realities.”
In philosophy and theology this is “believing that there are many true religions and beliefs.
Its very nature supports compromise and acceptance of any persons beliefs and religion no matter how far it moves away from biblical truth.
Another false cultural concept that has crept into our churches is that of…
Nonjudgmentalism
Nonjudgmentalism
The natural outgrowth of pluralism is multiculturalism which bows at the altar of total acceptance.
We have witnessed this in our current society over and over again over the last several years wherein it goes by a different name than “nonjudgmentalism,” it goes by tolerance.
The only accepted judgment is that of judging those that would be against total acceptance of any belief and every lifestyle.
This of course leads to the idea first promoted by pluralism and then magnified by nonjudgmentalism which is that of relativism.
Or the idea that there is no absolute truth and therefore there is nothing one can judge, but who does judge.
Thirdly, we find another growing false cultural concept in…
Humanism
Humanism
When pluralism and nonjudgmentalism are allowed to flourish you end up with a total and complete focus on “oneself” and no one else.
Here in lies humanism which is the philosophy that “the whole of life should centered in human existence and earthly fulfillment.”
Thus, we have the rejection of religion and especially Christianity.
Lastly, we have…
Existentialism
Existentialism
When humanism arrives existentialism begins to thrive.l
This is the philosophy or belief that we are each responsible for creating purpose and meaning in our own lives.
That our individual purpose and meaning are not given by God, government, teachers, or any authorities but our own authority.
In other words, there is no definitive right or wrong other than what we personally deem to be so.
Summary
Summary
Obviously, each of these beliefs are false and contrary to truth in every form.
However, because so many have believed such is the case we find different and various concepts of these trickling into the church.
How else does one explain our own brethren “believing” it is ok by God for them to have…
Worship that is not authorized by God in scripture.
False teachers leading their bible classes and false preachers teaching in their pulpits.
Fellowship with denominations.
Thus, it is important when asking “does it matter what one believes” that we also ask…
Why Do Beliefs Matter?
Why Do Beliefs Matter?
They Matter To God
They Matter To God
It is God not man that is the judge in matters of religion.
It is God through the apostle Paul that commanded Timothy in 2 Timothy 4:2…
2 preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching.
But before writing this to Timothy Paul offered this admonition first, in the previous verse…
1 I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom:
Notice here, Paul tells Timothy he would be judged by God concerning what he preached and taught.
God would judge Timothy and all other teachers of God’s word on their faithfulness to the accuracy of his word.
1 Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness.
So, why do beliefs matter, because what we believe matters to God.
Not only that, but what we believe matters because…
Salvation & Damnation Are Real
Salvation & Damnation Are Real
Paul would write in Romans 5:1…
1 Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Paul would later affirm that faith only comes from one source, God’s word.
17 So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.
So to be found justified in the sight of God we have to have faith which comes from studying God’s word.
We also see that the Hebrew writer makes clear that both faith and faithfulness are required for salvation when he wrote in Hebrews 11:6…
6 And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.
Therefore, having faith is vital to whether or not we spend an eternity in heaven or an eternity in hell.
Now tying all this together it is clear “why beliefs matter.”
They matter because salvation and damnation are real, which is why what we believe matters because we all know that false teachers exits to lead us away from what we should believe.
15 Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves.
Summary
Summary
The conclusion is simple on “why do beliefs matter.”
Mine and your acceptance by God is determined greatly by what we believe and don’t believe.
And this is why we must ask…
Which Beliefs Matter?
Which Beliefs Matter?
The Belief Of Obeying All Of God’s Word
The Belief Of Obeying All Of God’s Word
There is not one point in history or any of God’s covenants that one does not find that belief in “all of God’s word” is not vital to one’s eternity.
God, through Moses, would say in Deuteronomy 4:2…
2 You shall not add to the word that I command you, nor take from it, that you may keep the commandments of the Lord your God that I command you.
6 Keep them and do them, for that will be your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the peoples, who, when they hear all these statutes, will say, ‘Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people.’
Though the some particulars of the New Covenant differ from that of the Old Covenant we find this is unchanged.
20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.
16 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.
Which beliefs matter, believing in all of God’s word and not just the parts one’s like and obeying that word.
21 Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ 23 And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’
We also find vitally important concerning which beliefs matter for us is that of…
The Belief Of Unity In The Lord
The Belief Of Unity In The Lord
There is no salvation for mankind if he does not believe in all of God’s word and in the fellowship of others who believe the same.
7 Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. 8 Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love.
20 If anyone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen. 21 And this commandment we have from him: whoever loves God must also love his brother.
We must love one another and rely on each other to help each other “work out our own salvation” (Philippians 2:12).
The belief of unity is vital to our salvation but our belief in fellowship and unity must have its foundation “in the Lord.”
7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.
Summary
Summary
Which beliefs matter?
Our belief in the necessity of obey all of God’s word and the fellowship with others that are like minded are the two keys to an eternity with God.
Conclusion
Conclusion
So, does it matter what one believes?
The resounding answer is yes it matters what we believe because if we believe the false teachers and doctrines that are out there they will have an impact on our salvation for the worse.
Invitation
1 Behold, the Lord’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save, or his ear dull, that it cannot hear; 2 but your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, and your sins have hidden his face from you so that he does not hear.
6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.
17 So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.
6 And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.
30 The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent
33 So therefore, any one of you who does not renounce all that he has cannot be my disciple.
32 Therefore whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven. 33 But whoever denies Me before men, him I will also deny before My Father who is in heaven.
8 in flaming fire, inflicting vengeance on those who do not know God and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus.
1 Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, 2 and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you—unless you believed in vain. 3 For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, 4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures
3 Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4 We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life. 5 For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his.
7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.
1 Kings 18:21
1 Kings 18:21
Summary:
In this pivotal moment, the prophet Elijah challenges the Israelites to abandon their indecision between worshiping the one true God and following Baal.
Application:
This passage speaks to today's believers about the importance of making a definitive choice in faith. Many struggle with competing influences and beliefs, and this sermon can encourage them to commit wholeheartedly to God, reflecting on the consequences of choice and the call to faithfulness.
Teaching:
The sermon would teach the significance of not being lukewarm in our faith, emphasizing the necessity of choosing God over worldly distractions and false deities, akin to Israel's struggle with Baal.
How this passage could point to Christ:
Through Elijah’s confrontation with the prophets of Baal, we see a foreshadowing of Christ who ultimately confronts the idols of this world and calls us to a deeper, single-minded devotion to God, culminating in His sacrificial love that frees us from our indecision.
Big Idea:
True devotion to God requires a conscious and decisive commitment to serve Him above all else, as depicted through Elijah's bold challenge.
Recommended Study:
As you prepare this sermon, consider delving into Logos for insights on the historical context of Baal worship in Israel and its relevance to the divided heart of the audience. Look into commentaries focusing on Elijah's role in the prophetic tradition, and explore the sociocultural implications of Israel's choices. Additionally, examine the Hebrew terms used in
1 Kings 18:21
to grasp the nuances of 'halting between two opinions.'
1. Confronting Indecision with Courage
1. Confronting Indecision with Courage
1 Kings 18:21
a
Perhaps you can set the stage by describing Israel's indecision as they wavered between worshiping God and Baal. Highlight the gravity of Elijah's question, "How long will you limp between two opinions?" Suggest that this mirrors our modern spiritual hesitations and the dangers of living with divided loyalties. Encourage reflection on personal and cultural influences that cause double-mindedness.
2. Choosing Commitment Over Comfort
2. Choosing Commitment Over Comfort
1 Kings 18:21
b
You could challenge the congregation to consider the choice laid before them, as Elijah demanded a decision from Israel. Emphasize that every believer faces moments to choose whom they will ultimately serve. This call to decision requires recognizing Christ as the ultimate fulfillment of God's promises and rejecting modern-day idols. Encourage decisive commitment to God's truth.
3. Courageously Commit to Christ
3. Courageously Commit to Christ
1 Kings 18:21
c
Maybe you can conclude by proposing that true freedom and purpose come through committing to God wholeheartedly. Elijah’s challenge urged Israel to witness God's power and faithfulness. Through Christ, the confrontation with idols is addressed permanently, freeing us for sincere devotion. Invite the community to experience life change by embracing God's sovereignty.
