#2 WHY THE DIVISION? By Robert C. Archer

Transcription

1 #2 WHY THE DIVISION? By Robert C. Archer

2 The common attitude is: We are all on different roads going to the same place. We have emotional churches for emotional people and more conservative churches for the more conservative!

3 We are not on different roads leading to the same place! Matthew 7:13 14 (NKJV) 13 Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. 14 Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.

4 We are not on different roads leading to the same place! Matthew 7:21 23 (NKJV) 21 Not everyone who says to Me, Lord, Lord, shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. 22 Many will say to Me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name? 23 And then I will declare to them, I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!

5 Why is the religious world so divided?

6 Because of the rejection of Bible authority Examples The Rationalists tell us to accept only that which is reasonable. The RC church tells us that the church determines the truth. Neo-orthodoxy tells us that the Bible is not the word of God; it only contains it so we determine what God s word is.

7 Because of the rejection of Bible authority Examples Cults tell us that the Bible is NOT enough we must have their book. Protestants do well in accepting the Bible as God s word, but then spoil it by adding creeds to tell us what we must believe.

8 What does the Bible teach?

9 What does the Bible teach? 2 John 9 (NKJV) 9 Whoever transgresses and does not abide in the doctrine of Christ does not have God. He who abides in the doctrine of Christ has both the Father and the Son.

10 What does the Bible teach? Revelation 22:18 19 (NKJV) 18 For I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: If anyone adds to these things, God will add to him the plagues that are written in this book; 19 and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part from the Book of Life, from the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.

11 What does the Bible teach? Colossians 3:17 (NKJV) 17 And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.

12 What does the Bible teach? 1 Timothy 4:16 (NKJV) 16 Take heed to yourself and to the doctrine. Continue in them, for in doing this you will save both yourself and those who hear you.

13 Examples

14 Hebrews 11:4 (NKJV) 4 By faith Abel offered to God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, through which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts; and through it he being dead still speaks. Gen. 4:1-8 Example Cain and Abel

15 Disobedience brought Jealousy MURDER! Example - Cain and Abel

16 Leviticus 10:1 2 (NKJV) 1 Then Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, each took his censer and put fire in it, put incense on it, and offered profane fire before the LORD, which He had not commanded them. 2 So fire went out from the LORD and devoured them, and they died before the LORD. Example - Nadab & Abihu

17 Numbers 20:7 8 (NKJV) 7 Then the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, 8 Take the rod; you and your brother Aaron gather the congregation together. Speak to the rock before their eyes, and it will yield its water; thus you shall bring water for them out of the rock, and give drink to the congregation and their animals. Example - Moses

18 Numbers 20:9 11 (NKJV) 9 So Moses took the rod from before the LORD as He commanded him. 10 And Moses and Aaron gathered the assembly together before the rock; and he said to them, Hear now, you rebels! Must we bring water for you out of this rock? 11 Then Moses lifted his hand and struck the rock twice with his rod; and water came out abundantly, and the congregation and their animals drank. Example - Moses

19 Numbers 20:9 11 (NKJV) 9 So Moses took the rod from before the LORD as He commanded him. 10 And Moses and Aaron gathered the assembly together before the rock; and he said to them, Hear now, you rebels! Must we bring water for you out of this rock? 11 Then Moses lifted his hand and struck the rock twice with his rod; and water came out abundantly, and the congregation and their animals drank. Example - Moses

20 Numbers 20:9 11 (NKJV) 9 So Moses took the rod from before the LORD as He commanded him. 10 And Moses and Aaron gathered the assembly together before the rock; and he said to them, Hear now, you rebels! Must we bring water for you out of this rock? 11 Then Moses lifted his hand and struck the rock twice with his rod; and water came out abundantly, and the congregation and their animals drank. Example - Moses

21 Numbers 20:12 (NKJV) 12 Then the LORD spoke to Moses and Aaron, Because you did not believe Me, to hallow Me in the eyes of the children of Israel, therefore you shall not bring this assembly into the land which I have given them. Example - Moses

22 1 Samuel 15:9 (NKJV) 9 But Saul and the people spared Agag and the best of the sheep, the oxen, the fatlings, the lambs, and all that was good, and were unwilling to utterly destroy them Example King Saul

23 Matthew 15:9 (NKJV) 9 And in vain they worship Me, Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men. Example - Pharisees

24 Matthew 23:23 (NKJV) 23 Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faith. These you ought to have done, without leaving the others undone. Example - Pharisees

25 Matthew 23:23 (NKJV) 23 Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faith. These you ought to have done, without leaving the others undone. < Example - Pharisees

26 Another reason that the religious world is so divided new week