Criticisms Against Absolute Truth Part 2

 Stored up in Christ, Col 2:2-3 ◦ Human philosophy plunders your treasure, Col 2:8 (20-23)  In contrast to the studied opinions of agnostic academia, the doctrine of Christ is of divine source, Jno 7:15-17; 12:49-50  Do not refuse Him who speaks! Jno 12:48 (Heb 12:25) 2

John 15:18-21 Jude 3 2 Tim 4:2-5 1 Cor 4:12-13 Luke 6:

“You are intolerant” “You are arrogant” “You are self-righteous” “You are judgmental” “You are evil” 4

“You say we cannot disagree on any point of doctrine. You affirm this throughout this very website study. You and those you associate with call others “false teachers” if they disagree with you on points of doctrine (though you seem to arbitrarily pick and choose which points of doctrine). Your words and your actions imply that you believe anyone who disagrees with your positions to be wrong and you equate being wrong with being in sin.” (emp. mine) 5

 Unity is based on truth, John 17:20-21  False teachers teach what is false, 2 Peter 2:1-2  Not arbitrary re. doctrine, 2 John 9-11  Agreeing with me is not the issue; Agreeing with the word of Christ is the issue! John 12:48  To go beyond what is written is wrong (sin), 1 Cor 4:6 6

“It is not the claim that we can understand God’s word that I have in the past characterized as arrogant. Rather, what is arrogant is the attitude that implies that my understanding is always correct and that everyone who disagrees with me must be wrong. When I leave absolutely no room for disagreement, and call everyone a false teacher who disagrees with me, then I am arrogant.” 7

 This is a straw man!  God’s word is always correct ◦ We can know God’s word, Eph 3:3-4 ◦ Therefore, we can know and stand in the truth of God, Jno 8:31-32; 17:17  Thus, we can identify one who does not agree with truth, 1 Jno 4:1, 6 8

“Of course it is not arrogant to claim we can understand the scriptures, or even to claim that we can understand them alike. I affirm both confidently. It is not the affirming of this that I consider arrogant. What is arrogant is the calling of anyone who disagrees with me a “false teacher” and “enemy of the cross” simply because they disagree with me on one issue. What is arrogant is the fact there is no room for disagreement among reasonable, honest men. What is arrogant is your refusal to fellowship anyone who disagrees with you on any matter of faith.” 9

 False teachers and enemies of the cross: ◦ Disagree with the apostles, 2 Pet 2:1; 3:1-4; Phil 3:17-19  No room for disagreement: ◦ Reason and honesty not the basis of truth and fellowship, Phil 3:6; Acts 26:9 (Prov 14:12)  Refuse to have fellowship when there is disagreement over “any matter of faith”: ◦ Personal faith…Liberties…Differences, Rom 14 ◦ Revealed faith…Truth…No differences, 1 Cor 1:10; Jude 3, 2 Jno

“Joe, my impression of ____ at the meeting in ____ was that he was one of the most arrogant men I have ever met. The way he treated people, the way he went down the list of issues that ____ had and told us what he believed on each and every issue (thus missing the whole point while setting himself up as one man to tell us what the truth is on each issue), the way he made his presentation. 11

“I’ve seen this kind of self-righteous, “I-have-all-the-truth”, attitude in a few other preachers as well. You didn’t come across this way. You came across as very humble. But your position on fellowship and grace boils down to the same thing. It is a doctrinal arrogance that leaves absolutely no room for disagreement.” 12

 Fellowship and Grace: Is there room for disagreement?  Not on revealed truth! (1 Cor 1:10) ◦ Fellowship with God and His people is based on NT truth and practicing it, 1 Jno 1:1-7 ◦ Going beyond the doctrine of Christ forfeits fellowship with God, 1 Jno 2:3-6 (2 Jno 9) ◦ Do not have fellowship with those who go beyond the doctrine of Christ, 2 Jno  Grace does not ignore sin, Rom 6:1-2 13

 Doctrinal arrogance?  The arrogance is in judging oneself above the stated will of God! Jas 4:11  The judgments of God’s word are not arrogant – they are true and altogether righteous, Psa 19:9  The purpose of the commandment: Love from a pure heart, a good conscience and sincere faith, 1 Tim 1:5 14

“I would not want to be in your shoes on judgment day, even if you do understand MDR perfectly. I am much less concerned about your mistaken notions of MDR than I am about your self-righteous, legalistic system of works.” 15

 Self-righteous, legalistic system of works? ◦ Careful obeying the apostolic doctrine is not self-righteousness, 2 Tim 3:10 ◦ Obeying Jesus is not a legalistic system of works, Luke 17:5-10 ◦ Doing all He commands is living by faith! ◦ Doing all He commands earns us nothing! 16

“I assume you believe that since we have not come to an agreement on your arbitrarily chosen issues (e.g. MDR), then it is we (and not you) who have failed to give all diligence. Have you become the judge of men’s hearts?” 17

 Was Paul judging the hearts of the Cretans? Titus 1:10-13  By their fruits you will know them, Matt 7:20 (15-16)  Paul judged the fruit of their lives as contrary to “the faithful word” (1:9)  Exhorted Titus to rebuke them sharply so that they may be “sound in the faith”! 18

“…your notions on fellowship and salvation is (sic) separating brethren for sure – and more than just a few. And all in the name of “unity”. You have “put God to the test by placing on the yoke of the disciples a burden which…we have been unable to bear” (Acts 15.10). That indeed is a sin. I hope you will repent of it and work to restore the brethren you have worked to separate.” 19

 Was Jesus working to separate brethren when He spoke the truth? Lk 12:51-53  Was Paul working to separate brethren when he said “that you all speak the same thing”? 1 Cor 1:10  When truth is preached we are presented with a choice, Jno 8:45-47 ◦ Believe it, obey it and be blessed ◦ Reject it, disobey it and be lost 20

What can the righteous do? Psalm 11:3 21

 Trust in the Lord, Psalm 11  Buy the truth and do not sell it, Prov 23: 23; Psa 19:10  Be assured by and confident in God’s word, Psa 119: (Col 2:2-3)  Practice the truth, 1 Jno 1:6-7; 2:3-6  Honor Christ as Lord and keep giving Bible reasons for hope, 1 Pet 3:

 Rom 3:4: “  Rom 3:4: “Indeed, let God be true but every man a liar. As it is written: ‘That You may be justified in Your words, And may overcome when You are judged.’”  Eph 5:17: “Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is.”  Abide in word of Christ, know the truth and be freed from sin, Jno 8: