If it is of God

Intro

In 1521, a German monk named Martin Luther was summoned before the most powerful leaders in Europe. He had been writing and preaching that salvation is by faith alone in Christ, not by works or church traditions. His words had spread quickly, shaking the foundations of the church of his day.

At the Diet of Worms, Luther stood before the emperor, princes, and church officials who demanded that he recant his writings. To deny them would mean his life could be spared. To stand firm would likely mean death.

After a night of wrestling in prayer, Luther gave his famous reply:

“Unless I am convinced by the testimony of the Scriptures or by clear reason… I am bound by the Scriptures I have quoted and my conscience is captive to the Word of God. I cannot and I will not recant anything. Here I stand. I can do no other. God help me. Amen.”

Luther’s stand was not based on emotion, popular opinion, or the pressure of powerful men—it was rooted in the unshakable truth of God’s Word. And like witht he disciples Luther was spared through God orchestrating events that allowed him to escape

Today we are going to be looking at some scripture that help us stand bold in the word of God

How do we Know it is of God?

Gamaliel in todays text gives the council wise advice, even though not a believer in Jesus himself he recognized some truths about God, by simply reflecting on the past

He talks of men who claimed to be of God, but when left to their own devices in their false teachings eventually are exposed

The Theudas mentioned here we know nothing about, besides this reference to him making a messianic claim

What he done was not of God and his works add up to nothing more than a passing comment by Gamaliel

Judas the Galilean would have his followers scatter after his death, while his ideas would continue to influence the zealots

As we see Jesus teachings did not line up with the zealots, but he did redeem a zealot, Simon the Zealot (Matthew 10:4)

The zealots wanted to see an overthrow of the government and wanted the messiah to come and bring war

We know it is of God:

First and foremost in how it lines up to the word of God

1 John 4:1–6 ESV

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. By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you heard was coming and now is in the world already. Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world. They are from the world; therefore they speak from the world, and the world listens to them. We are from God. Whoever knows God listens to us; whoever is not from God does not listen to us. By this we know the Spirit of truth and the spirit of error.

Distinguishing what we think is true is not about we feel or how we think God should behave, but rather about what His word says

Like the Zealots we often think God should come in going Chuck Norris on some bad guys putting them in their place

God though in is divine infinite wisdom says not yet, Revelation 19:11-16 shows that day is coming

Revelation 19:11–16 ESV

Then I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse! The one sitting on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he judges and makes war. His eyes are like a flame of fire, and on his head are many diadems, and he has a name written that no one knows but himself. He is clothed in a robe dipped in blood, and the name by which he is called is The Word of God. And the armies of heaven, arrayed in fine linen, white and pure, were following him on white horses. From his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations, and he will rule them with a rod of iron. He will tread the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty. On his robe and on his thigh he has a name written, King of kings and Lord of lords.

If God has not allowed this time of mercy and grace how many of us would have a different eternal destination

2 Corinthians 6:2 ESV

For he says, “In a favorable time I listened to you, and in a day of salvation I have helped you.” Behold, now is the favorable time; behold, now is the day of salvation.

When we do start with the word, remember when we do not like things we must remember the problem is not with the word of God, but with us

Going back to the Zealots

Their anger against injustice in the world was not wrong, but their application of that anger was wrong

Anger should drive us to action, but God honoring action

Ephesians 4:26–27 ESV

Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and give no opportunity to the devil.

Let anger give you a sense of urgency

Romans 12:19–21 ESV

Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” To the contrary, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

Let the actions not be about vengeance but grace

Remember how the word refers to itself being sharper than a double edge sword (Hebrews 4:12), so do not come to the word expecting it to be a pleasant experience every time, now coming to it will increase your joy, but their is some pain on the way. Their is some hard conversations on the way (John 21:15-19)

Secondly we know it is of God by reflecting on history (really more confrimation):

In the case of the two we read in Acts, it shows these two died and their claims to be messiahs died with them

Proverbs 11:14 ESV

Where there is no guidance, a people falls, but in an abundance of counselors there is safety.

We seek wisdom in those we trust, but again we can reflect on history

The heresies we face today are nothing new to the church, the church has faced them since the beginning and it can be helpful to look at how churches handled heresies with scripture throughout the years

Council of Nicaea (325 AD)

Heresy: Arianism – Jesus was a created being, not eternal God.

Correction: Jesus is homoousios (of the same essence) with the Father—fully God.

Key Verse: John 1:1; Colossians 2:9

Council of Constantinople (381 AD)

Heresy: Arian offshoots & Pneumatomachianism – Denying the divinity of the Holy Spirit.

Correction: Full deity of the Holy Spirit; completed Nicene Creed.

Key Verse: Acts 5:3–4; Matthew 28:19

Council of Ephesus (431 AD)

Heresy: Nestorianism – Christ’s divine and human natures were so separate He was “two persons.”

Correction: Christ is one Person with two natures; Mary called Theotokos (God-bearer) to protect the unity of Christ.

Key Verse: John 1:14; Philippians 2:6–7

Council of Chalcedon (451 AD)

Heresy: Eutychianism/Monophysitism – Christ had only one fused nature after the incarnation.

Correction: Chalcedonian Definition—Christ is fully God and fully man, one Person in two natures, “without confusion, change, division, or separation.”

Key Verse: Hebrews 2:14; Colossians 1:19

The good thing about looking at especially the early years of the church is they have had plenty of years for them to be criticized so if they did not offer solid advice, by now it would be a general consensus to toss these councils and their documents

Councils are valued insofar as they align with Scripture, not as infallible sources of truth.

Opposition

If it is of God, it is made clear here and elsewhere that you will face opposition for the sake of the Gospel

If you want solid faith, if you want a thriving church you must be willing to face opposition

Noticed what the disciples said, they were counted worthy to suffer

If their is no pushback, something is not right with your walk

That is why we strive to stand on truth, to be well armed in the truth so that we may have a solid foundation to stand upon in the face of opposition

How does opposition look?

Unbiblical, frivolous arguments over things that do not matter

Sometimes as church folks we can let the dumbest things derail us

Slander

Why we must stay above reproach

Physical

People may get physical with you

Health

Job’s health was hit

Demonic

Spiritual warfare

Outro

Start with the Word

Everything must be tested by Scripture (1 John 4:1–6).

Feelings, culture, or majority opinion cannot be the standard.

If something doesn’t align with God’s Word, it is not of God.

Reflect on history

False teachers and movements rise and fall, but God’s truth endures.

Councils, creeds, and faithful believers of the past remind us: what is truly of God stands the test of time.

We are not the first generation to face deception; learn from the past.

Expect opposition

If it is truly of God, there will be resistance.

The apostles rejoiced in being counted worthy to suffer for the Name.

A faith untested by opposition is a faith that is not yet proven.

Personal call to action

Test everything in your own life by the Word.

Anchor yourself in what is true and eternal, not what is popular or easy.

Be willing to stand, even suffer, for the truth—knowing that if it is of God, it will last forever.

“If it is of God, it cannot be stopped. If it is not of God, it will crumble. The question for us is simple: Are we standing with what is passing away, or are we standing with what will last for eternity?”