Introduction Christians must put “first things first”: Matt. 6:33 General theme: “growing in grace and knowledge of the Lord” : 2 Pet. 3:18 It is critical to establish a foundation & not remain “babes” ! 1 Pet. 2:2; 1 Cor. 14:20; 2 Pet. 3:1; Matt. 6:33; 2 Pet. 1:5-11 Christians must put “first things first”: Matt. 6:33 Christians must diligently strive for spiritual maturity: 2 Pet. 1:3-11 Christians must reject worldliness: Jas. 1:27; 4:4 Christians must remain faithful: Rev. 2:10

Introduction General theme: “growing in grace and knowledge of the Lord” : 2 Pet. 3:18 It is critical to establish a foundation & not remain “babes” ! 1 Pet. 2:2; 1 Cor. 14:20; 2 Pet. 3:1; Matt. 6:33; 2 Pet. 1:5-11 Christians must be diligent Bible students: 2 Tim. 2:15; Hos. 4:6 Christians must fulfill their responsibilities: Rom. 14:12 Christians must fulfill their familial duties: Psa. 128:3-4

The Bible is our ONLY standard of truth! Introduction The Bible is our ONLY standard of truth! Psalm 119:105 2 Timothy 3:16-17 1 Peter 4:11 Colossians 3:17 Many religious people have the wrong impression of what the Bible teaches on many things. Jesus cited the reason for religious error: Matt. 22:29 Religious error is nothing new; even religious ‘leaders’ can be wrong! Matt. 15:7-9, 14 To recognize error we must diligently study God’s word: 2 Tim. 2:15; 1 Jn. 4:1, 6; Jn. 16:13; Gal. 1:6-9; Eph. 4:14; Acts 20:28-31 We must realize this is an important aspect of our spiritual warfare: 2 Cor. 10:3-5; Rom. 16:17-18; Judges 2:10-12; Eph. 5:11

Growing in the Grace and Knowledge of the Lord (8): Ye Do Err, Not Knowing the Scriptures: Part 1 Matthew 22:29

Ye Do Err, Not Knowing the Scriptures Children are born sinners “By his disobedience of God’s law, before man had exercised his power to bring children into the earth, not only Adam lost everything for himself, but his children were born as sinners, imperfect, and without the right to live.”   —Joseph Franklin Rutherford (aka Judge Rutherford, Jehovah’s Witness) “Original sin, therefore, appears to be a hereditary, depravity and corruption of our nature, diffused through all the parts of our soul, rendering us obnoxious to the divine…” —John Calvin (Protestant Reformationist) Many denominations believe children are born as sinners: Every parent who has their baby baptized is consenting to the false doctrine of “original sin” aka “total hereditary depravity.” This doctrine, “children are born sinners,” is not true; those who believe it “do err, not knowing the scriptures” ! Ye Do Err, Not Knowing the Scriptures

Ye Do Err, Not Knowing the Scriptures Children are born sinners “What saith the Scriptures?” Children are “safe”: Matt. 18:1-6 Children do not inherit parent’s sins: Ezek. 18:2-3, 19-20 Every person is responsible for his own conduct: Ezek. 18:30; Matt. 16:27; Col. 3:25 Baptism is for consenting persons who understand its purpose: Mk. 16:16; Acts 2:38; 8:12; 18:8; 1 Pet. 3:21 Ye Do Err, Not Knowing the Scriptures

Ye Do Err, Not Knowing the Scriptures Predestination Predestination: God has specifically predetermined who will be saved & who will be lost. Calvinism: a false doctrinal system formulated by the Swiss reformer John Calvin. Total depravity Unconditional election Limited atonement Irresistible grace Perseverance of the saints Ye Do Err, Not Knowing the Scriptures

Ye Do Err, Not Knowing the Scriptures Predestination The Calvinistic doctrine of predestination is NOT true. “What saith the scriptures?” Salvation is available to all: Jn. 3:16; Acts 2:21; 1 Tim. 2:3-4; 2 Pet. 3:9; Rev. 22:17 God is impartial: Acts 10:34-35; Col. 3:25; Rom. 2:6, 11 God chooses us when we choose Him: Rom. 10:12-17; 2 Thess. 2:13-14 The Bible DOES teach predestination: Eph. 1:4-6; 2 Tim. 2:10; Gal. 3:26-27; Acts 2:41 Ye Do Err, Not Knowing the Scriptures

Ye Do Err, Not Knowing the Scriptures Direct operation of the Holy Spirit Many misunderstand how the Holy Spirit works today. “What saith the scriptures?” God’s word is the Holy Spirit’s instrument: Eph. 6:17; Heb. 4:12; Acts 2:37 The Holy Spirit revealed God’s mind: 1 Cor. 2:4-5, 9-13; cf. Jn. 14:26; 15:26; 16:13; Gal. 1:11-12; Eph. 3:3-4; 1 Tim. 4:1 Salvation does not come through some mystical “better felt than told” experience: Rom. 10:17; 2 Thess. 2:13-14; Acts 18:8; 2 Cor. 1:22; Eph. 3:17; Gal. 2:20; Rom. 8:1, 13-14, 16 Ye Do Err, Not Knowing the Scriptures

“The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God.” The Holy Spirit says… My spirit says… (Jas. 1:25) Repent and be baptized (Mk. 16:16; Acts 2:38; etc.) Yes or No? Put to death the deeds of the flesh (Col. 3:5; Gal. 5:22-25; etc.) Remain faithful, steadfast (Col. 1:22; 1 Cor. 15:58; Rev. 2:10; etc.)

Ye Do Err, Not Knowing the Scriptures Once saved, always saved “We take the position that a Christian's sins do not damn his soul! The way a Christian lives, what he says, his character, his conduct, or his attitude toward other people have nothing whatever to do with the salvation of his soul. ... All the prayers a man may pray, all the Bibles he may read, all the churches he may belong to, all the services he may attend, all the sermons he may practice, all the debts he may pay, all the ordinances he may observe, all the laws he may keep, all the benevolent acts he may perform will not make his soul one whit safer; and all the sins he may commit from idolatry to murder will not make his soul in any more danger. ... The way a man lives has nothing whatever to do with the salvation of his soul.” (Sam Morris, A Discussion Which Involves a Subject Pertinent to All Men, pp. 1,2; via Handbook of Religious Quotations, p. 24) In Calvinism this is the “P” in T-U-L-I-P: ‘perseverance of the saints.’ “What saith the scriptures?” A Christian can be eternally lost! Gal. 5:4; Jn. 15:8; Heb. 10:35-39 It’s not a question of God’s faithfulness! Titus 1:2; Heb. 5:8-9 It’s a question of our faithfulness! Rev. 2:10; Heb. 3:12 Ye Do Err, Not Knowing the Scriptures

Ye Do Err, Not Knowing the Scriptures Instrumental music Most “churches” use musical instruments in their worship services. “What saith the scriptures?” Our worship must be “in spirit and truth” : Jn. 4:24; Heb. 10:9-10; Col. 3:17; 1 Pet. 4:11; Matt. 15:9 Only 2 “kinds” of music: vocal & instrumental: Eph. 5:19; Col. 3:16; Gen. 6:14; 1 Cor. 11:23-25 To substitute where God has specified is prohibited: 2 Jn. 9; 1 Pet. 4:11; Lev. 10:1-3 Ye Do Err, Not Knowing the Scriptures

Ye Do Err, Not Knowing the Scriptures One church as good as another Most folks believe “one church is as good as another.” “What saith the scriptures?” In NT “church” and “body of Christ” are synonyms: Col. 1:18; Eph. 4:4-6; 5:23 Jesus is the “Savior of the body” (i.e., the church): Eph. 5:23 Jesus built only one church: Matt. 1618 Ye Do Err, Not Knowing the Scriptures

Ye Do Err, Not Knowing the Scriptures No eternal punishment Amazingly some folks don’t believe in an eternal hell. “What saith the scriptures?” Matthew 18:8-9: Jesus equates “hell fire” with “everlasting fire.” Matthew 25:31-46: Jesus contrasts“everlasting punishment” with “eternal life” : same word ainios. Mark 9:43-48: Jesus says hell is a place where “Their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched.” Ye Do Err, Not Knowing the Scriptures

Ye Do Err, Not Knowing the Scriptures Conclusion We must learn not to swallow everything some preacher or church says: 1 Jn. 4:1; 1 Pet. 4:11 If we follow religious error we will be lost by disobeying God: 2 Thess. 2:10-12 Let us continually examine everyone’s teaching to make sure it agrees with God’s book: Acts 17:11 Let us be diligent Bible students so we can discern truth from error: 2 Tim. 2:15; Eph. 4:14 Ye Do Err, Not Knowing the Scriptures