Is Your Sword Sharp or Dull?

Galatians 1:6–12 ESV

I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting him who called you in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel— not that there is another one, but there are some who trouble you and want to distort the gospel of Christ. But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed. As we have said before, so now I say again: If anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to the one you received, let him be accursed. For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ. For I would have you know, brothers, that the gospel that was preached by me is not man’s gospel. For I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it, but I received it through a revelation of Jesus Christ.

Introduction:

The Word of God is precious. It is sharper than any 2-edged sword. It should be revered. It should also be studied. How can you keep your sword sharp if it has been neglected?

There is so much in this precious Book which gives us a glimpse into the heart and mind of God. There are many things which may take us a lifetime to try to understand. Some things we think we may understand and as we keep reading and studying, the Holy Spirit pulls back another layer to give us new insight.

#1 - Beware of other gospels.

What seems to be a new idea or a new revelation is not a new idea.

Ecclesiastes 1:9 ESV

What has been is what will be, and what has been done is what will be done, and there is nothing new under the sun.

Something that may appear new, is a modified old. Shortly after the resurrection and accession of Jesus Christ, there were a lot of ideas coming out by different people as a way to pervert the gospel with the 1st century church and even today.

Hosea 4:6 ESV

My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge; because you have rejected knowledge, I reject you from being a priest to me. And since you have forgotten the law of your God, I also will forget your children.

#2 - Beware of the person giving the gospel.

Are we looking at people or listening to the words? Does it line up with the Bible? Muhammad thought he saw the archangel Gabriel in a cave and give him a new gospel.

“He is God, The One and Only; God, the Eternal, Absolute; He begetteth not, Nor is He begotten; And there is not Like unto Him” (Sura 112:1-4)

2 Corinthians 11:13–14 ESV

For such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light.

The real archangel Gabriel came to Mary and told her she would have the Son of God.

Luke 1:31–33 ESV

And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.”

#3 - Know the Bible

If people read their Bible consistently, they would not be deceived.

2 Timothy 2:15 ESV

Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.

Psalm 119:105 ESV

Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.

Hebrews 4:12 ESV

For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.

Conclusion:

We need to be aware of different messages out there. As we watch the world around us, there may be different ideas. These ideas may be based on an anti-God philosophy or scripture taken out of context. This is then perverting the Word of God.

We need to know the Bible. We need to know where we stand with our God and our Lord Jesus Christ. We need to understand the ultimate sacrifice of the cross and the unfathomable love that was extended to all of humanity.

We need the leading and the power of the Holy Spirit to say the word that need to be said when they need to be said.

We are to be a lighthouse to show the world there is a love and a grace that defies all logic.

There is a God who:

heals and restores

does the impossible

gives peace that passes all understanding

shows us how to guard our heart and our mind

gives us a sound mind

gives us a prosperous life

who most importantly sent Jesus Christ to be our payment so we could live with Him forever.

Jesus has already done the hard part and He makes it as easy as knowing your A, B, C’s. A - Acknowledge

Romans 3:23 ESV

for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

B - Believe

Acts 16:31 (ESV)

And they said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved.”

C - Confess

Romans 10:9–10 ESV

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. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.