Jesus, The Way Out Of Religious Confusion
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I appeal to you, brothers, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment.
INTRODUCTION
1. Many people who wish to follow Jesus are repelled by the multitude of denominations and conflicting doctrines and practices taught by those professing to be Christians
2. Such distaste for denominational division is in keeping with the spirit of the New Testament...
a. Jesus prayed fervently for unity
that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me.
Jn 17
b. Paul condemned religious division
I appeal to you, brothers, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment. For it has been reported to me by Chloe’s people that there is quarreling among you, my brothers. What I mean is that each one of you says, “I follow Paul,” or “I follow Apollos,” or “I follow Cephas,” or “I follow Christ.” Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul?
1 Cor 1:
3. While some denominational leaders like to justify their existence, we know that religious confusion does not come from God...!
a. God is the author of peace, not confusion
b. Paul condemned religious division :
For God is not a God of confusion but of peace. As in all the churches of the saints,
1 Cor
b. Religious strife is indicative of carnality, and a work of the flesh -
for you are still of the flesh. For while there is jealousy and strife among you, are you not of the flesh and behaving only in a human way? For when one says, “I follow Paul,” and another, “I follow Apollos,” are you not being merely human?
for you are still of the flesh. For while there is jealousy and strife among you, are you not of the flesh and behaving only in a human way? For when one says, “I follow Paul,” and another, “I follow Apollos,” are you not being merely human?
Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.
Gal 5:
4. Despite all of this confusion, it is still possible for people today to simply be a Christian
;
1. The Example of Jesus
1. The Example of Jesus
. Paul condemned religious division -
. Paul condemned religious division -
A. NOTE THE RELIGIOUS CLIMATE OF HIS DAY...
When Jesus came to this earth, the Israelites were living under God's law given by Moses
In that law, God had not made any provision for the division of His people into religious sects or parties
Yet, by the time of Jesus, the Jews had formed several distinct religious parties:
Pharisees (somewhat conservative)
Sadducees (very liberal, the "modernists" of their day)
Essenes (radical isolationists)
Herodians, Zealots (political religionists)
It was assumed that all who were serious about religion would be associated with one of these groups
B. HE MAINTAINED A NONSECTARIAN RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD...
1. Jesus belonged to none of these groups!
2. Instead, He maintained a "nonsectarian" relationship with God.
3. He was simply
“Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. For truly, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law until all is accomplished. Therefore whoever relaxes one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.
Mt
2. THE LORD’S CHURCH
2. THE LORD’S CHURCH
And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
mATT
A. ESTABLISHED THROUGH THE PREACHING OF THE GOSPEL
And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself.” And with many other words he bore witness and continued to exhort them, saying, “Save yourselves from this crooked generation.” So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls.
Acts 2:
B. EXPANDED THROUGH THE PREACHING OF THE GOSPEL
But Saul was ravaging the church, and entering house after house, he dragged off men and women and committed them to prison. Now those who were scattered went about preaching the word.
If anyone thinks that he is a prophet, or spiritual, he should acknowledge that the things I am writing to you are a command of the Lord.
And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.
THE WAY OUT OF RELIGIOUS CONFUSION
THE WAY OUT OF RELIGIOUS CONFUSION
Follow the example of the early Christians
Follow the example of the early Christians
1. The early Christians continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine - . They joined no other religious organization, and neither should we! b. In Christ, we are automatically united with all others who are in Him! 2. As members of the Lord's church, we should study carefully the New Testament description of the church that continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine a. This description is found in the Book of Acts and in the Epistles which follow it b. It is here that we will find instruction from the Lord's apostles on how: 1) To worship the Lord acceptably 2) To be scripturally organized as local congregations 3) To live and work together as Christians, spreading the gospel of Christ through word and example 3. Since the apostles were guided by the Holy Spirit, we may be sure their instructions were exactly what Jesus wanted them to be! a. If we duplicate the early churches by following the apostles' instructions, we will simply be "Christians", and we can be certain the Lord is pleased with us b. As Jesus said to His apostles about those who would receive or reject their instructions: "He who hears you hears Me, he who rejects you rejects Me, and he who rejects Me rejects Him who sent Me." -
1. The early Christians continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine
And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.
a. They joined no other religious organization, and neither should we!
- . They joined no other religious organization, and neither should we! b. In Christ, we are automatically united with all others who are in Him! 2. As members of the Lord's church, we should study carefully the New Testament description of the church that continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine a. This description is found in the Book of Acts and in the Epistles which follow it b. It is here that we will find instruction from the Lord's apostles on how: 1) To worship the Lord acceptably 2) To be scripturally organized as local congregations 3) To live and work together as Christians, spreading the gospel of Christ through word and example 3. Since the apostles were guided by the Holy Spirit, we may be sure their instructions were exactly what Jesus wanted them to be! a. If we duplicate the early churches by following the apostles' instructions, we will simply be "Christians", and we can be certain the Lord is pleased with us b. As Jesus said to His apostles about those who would receive or reject their instructions: "He who hears you hears Me, he who rejects you rejects Me, and he who rejects Me rejects Him who sent Me." -
b. In Christ, we are automatically united with all others who are in Him!
2. As members of the Lord's church, we should study carefully the New Testament description of the church that continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine
As long as you believe in the essentials...
As long as you believe in the essentials...
For many Baptism is NOT an essential
For many Baptism is NOT an essential
WHAT ARE THE ESSENTIALS?
WHAT ARE THE ESSENTIALS?
For many denominations, Baptism is NOT an essential
For many denominations, Baptism is NOT an essential
I thank God that I baptized none of you except Crispus and Gaius, so that no one may say that you were baptized in my name. (I did baptize also the household of Stephanas. Beyond that, I do not know whether I baptized anyone else.) For Christ did not send me to baptize but to preach the gospel, and not with words of eloquent wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power.
was a continuation of John’s Baptism for the Jews
was a continuation of John’s Baptism for the Jews
Paul administered a different Gospel to the gentiles - without baptism being essential
And as they were going along the road they came to some water, and the eunuch said, “See, here is water! What prevents me from being baptized?” And he commanded the chariot to stop, and they both went down into the water, Philip and the eunuch, and he baptized him.
“Can anyone withhold water for baptizing these people, who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?” And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked him to remain for some days.
Acts 10
For it has been reported to me by Chloe’s people that there is quarreling among you, my brothers.
One who heard us was a woman named Lydia, from the city of Thyatira, a seller of purple goods, who was a worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart to pay attention to what was said by Paul. And after she was baptized, and her household as well, she urged us, saying, “If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come to my house and stay.” And she prevailed upon us.
And they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all who were in his house. And he took them the same hour of the night and washed their wounds; and he was baptized at once, he and all his family.
I thank God that I baptized none of you except Crispus and Gaius, so that no one may say that you were baptized in my name. (I did baptize also the household of Stephanas. Beyond that, I do not know whether I baptized anyone else.) For Christ did not send me to baptize but to preach the gospel, and not with words of eloquent wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power.
1 cor 1
They feel that you’re adding a human work to the complete work of Christ done on the cross
even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved—
because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.
Baptism, which corresponds to this, now saves you, not as a removal of dirt from the body but as an appeal to God for a good conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ,
For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees?
Roman
because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.
Romans 10:
Eph 2:8
For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God,
even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved—
Eph
Baptism, which corresponds to this, now saves you, not as a removal of dirt from the body but as an appeal to God for a good conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ,
:21 pet 3
Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.
1 cor 1: