What The Bible Says

“What The Bible Says - Vol. 1 / No. 4”

Sunday, July 15, 2018

What The Bible Says

Vol. I - No. 4 / July 15, 2018

“IT’S NOT DOCTRINE, BUT THE WAY ONE LIVES THAT COUNTS!”

Often the above statement is made by individuals. Sometimes they are heard to say, "It matters not what one believes so long as he is sincere!" I've often wondered if people who make such statements have really thought about what it is they are saying. Indeed, Satan has done quite an effective job of leading people to believe that the doctrine one believes and teaches has nothing to do with his eternal salvation.

The Bible clearly teaches that it does make a difference what one believes and teaches. The wrong doctrine can make worship vain (empty, meaningless). "But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men." (Matthew 15:9). We have a charge to teach the right doctrine (truth). "As I besought thee to abide still at Ephesus, when I went into Macedonia, that thou mightest charge some that they teach no other doctrine, Neither give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which minister questions, rather than godly edifying which is in faith: so do." (1 Timothy 1:3,4). We are to attain unto good doctrine. "If thou put the brethren in remembrance of these things, thou shalt be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished up in the words of faith and of good doctrine, whereunto thou hast attained." (1 Timothy 4:6). We have a responsibility to withdraw from anyone who does not teach doctrine which is according to holiness. "If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness; He is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings, Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself." (1 Timothy 6:3-5).

Not all doctrine is sound (true). In fact, many turn their ears away from the truth. "Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables." (2 Timothy 4:2-4). Those who teach such things, as commandments that are of man's origin, are to be rebuked. "This witness is true. Wherefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith; Not giving heed to Jewish fables, and commandments of men, that turn from the truth." (Titus 1:13,14). To not remain within the confines of the gospel of Christ is to be without God. "Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son. If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed: For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds." (2 John 9-11).

Error (false doctrine) will eat our souls like canker or gangrene eats our flesh. "And their word will eat as doth a canker: of whom is Hymenaeus and Philetus; Who concerning the truth have erred, saying that the resurrection is past already; and overthrow the faith of some." (2 Timothy 2:17,18). Yes, false doctrine grows worse and worse. Those who put the emphasis on moral living and none on true doctrine would like to believe that these men in this passage were guilty of some gross immoral conduct. However, in these verses the reference is to what these two men were teaching; in other words, their doctrine. They were teaching that “the resurrection is past already".

Those who say it matters not what one believes as long as he lives right are absolutely mistaken. It makes a difference whether a person believes and teaches something that is Scriptural or not! Error condemns!

Let us not overlook one other thing in this passage of 2 Timothy 2:17,18. Notice that BOTH THE TEACHER AND THE FOLLOWERS ARE REJECTED! What these two men were teaching was overthrowing (destroying) the faith of those who believed the teaching. Hymenaeus and Philetus were condemned and so were all who believed their doctrine. Jesus said it like this, "Let them alone: they be blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch." (Matthew 15:14). Both the blind leaders and the blind followers would suffer the same fate. In Titus 1:10-11 is recorded: "For there are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers, specially they of the circumcision: Whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole houses, teaching things which they ought not, for filthy lucre's sake."Also in 2 Peter 2:3, we read, "And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not." Can we not see from these passages that any who are believing and practicing error are condemned whether they are teaching the error, believing the error, or following (practicing) the error?

For this reason we need to realize the responsibility and necessity of doing what is commanded in 1 John 4:1."Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world." Let us "try" (put to the test) everything we hear, believe, and are following. God's word, the Scriptures, is the only measuring stick by which we can do such a task. It's not one man's opinion verses another person's opinion. It must be what God has said on the matter.

-E.R. Hall Jr.

IF I WERE THE DEVIL

I would gain control of the most powerful nation in the world;

I would delude their minds into thinking that they had come from man’s effort, instead of God's blessings;
I would promote an attitude of loving things and using people, instead of the other way around;
I would dupe entire states into relying on gambling for their state revenue;
I would convince people that character is not an issue when it comes to leadership;
I would make it legal to take the life of unborn babies;
I would make it socially acceptable to take one’s own life, and invent machines to make it convenient;
I would cheapen human life as much as possible so that life of animals are valued more than human beings;
I would take God out of the schools, where even the mention of His name was grounds for a lawsuit;
I would come up with drugs that sedate the mind and target the young, and I would get sports heroes to advertise them;
I would get control of the media, so that every night I could pollute the minds of every family member for my agenda;
I would attack the family, the backbone of any nation. I would make divorce acceptable and easy, even fashionable. If the family crumbles, so does the nation;
I would compel people to express their most depraved fantasies on canvas and movies screens, and I would call it art;
I would convince the world that people are born homosexuals, and that their lifestyles should be accepted and marveled;
I would convince the people that right and wrong are determined by a few who call themselves authorities and refer to their agendas as politically correct;
I would persuade people that the church is irrelevant and out of date, theBible is for the naive:
I would dull the minds of Christians, and make them believe that prayer is not important, and that faithfulness and obedience are optional;
I GUESS I WOULD LEAVE THINGS PRETTY MUCH THE WAY THEY ARE!

- Paul Harvey (1999)

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--- E.R. Hall, Jr.

SCHEDULE OF SERVICES
For The East Albertville Church Of Christ
meeting at
4777 U.S. Highway 431
Albertville, AL 35950
Sunday
Bible Classes …………..….…………… 9:30 AM
Morning Worship ……..…….….……… 10:30 AM
Evening Worship …………………........ 5:00 PM
Wednesday
Bible Classes …………..………........... 7:00 PM

Radio Program
Sunday
WBSA 93.5 FM/1300 AM ………………………….. 8:30 AM
Monday - Saturday
WBSA 93.5 FM/1300 AM ………………………….. 11:15 AM

Website: www. eastalbertville.org