Post on 18-Jan-2018
description
What Difference What Difference Does It Make?Does It Make?
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Division in the Religious Division in the Religious WorldWorld
• Different beliefs• Different doctrines• Different practices• Different churches
Does it make a difference about any of this?
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Jesus Prayed for Unity in
Truth in John 17
Does It Make Any Does It Make Any Difference What One Difference What One
Believes?Believes?
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I. I. Popular ConceptsPopular Concepts• Faith alone - “Just
believe in the Lord”• “Sincerity is all that
matters”• “Join the church of
your choice”• Good moral people
= Christians• “It does not matter
what you believe”4
II. II. A Barrier To The GospelA Barrier To The Gospel
ItDoesNot
MakeAny
Differ-ence
The gospel can’t get through
• No need to study...• Issues are trivial...• Feel comfortable...• Have a church so...
One ofThe
Devil’s
MostEffective
Tools!
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III. III. It Makes A Difference It Makes A Difference What One BelievesWhat One Believes!!
The popular concept will not work in other areas:
InvestmentsIf you invest in a company
Believing it’s a good investment
Could easily lose all your money!
HealthIf you drink a glass of
liquidBelieving it is water
You will die if it is really poison!
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If One Must Believe If One Must Believe AnythingAnything, , Then It Makes A DifferenceThen It Makes A Difference
• God - Hebrews 11:6• Christ - John 8:21, 24• Truth - John 8:32; Gal.1:6-9
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An Objective Standard An Objective Standard A standard that is based on factual measurements, in the absence of a A standard that is based on factual measurements, in the absence of a
biased judgement or analysis.biased judgement or analysis.
Makes ADifference
What is Believed
FixedStandard
• What is written - 2 Corinthians 4:13• Oracles of God - 1 Peter 4:11• Commandments - 1 Corinthains14:37• Word of God - 1 Thessalonians 2:13• Inspired Scriptures - 2 Timothy 3:16-17• Words chosen by the Holy Spirit - 1 Cor. 2:9-13
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The Difference It The Difference It MakesMakesJohn 8:21, 24
Believes in Christ
Sins Forgiven
Heaven
Does NotBelieve in Christ
Die in Sin
Can’t go to Heaven
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2 Thessalonians 2:10-122 Thessalonians 2:10-12Lie Truth
Deceived - v. 10Not love truth - v. 10
Deluded - v. 11Believe lie - v. 11
Not believe truth - v. 12Pleasure in unright. - v. 12
Perish - v. 10Condemned - v. 12
Love truth - v. 10Believe truth - v. 12
Saved - v. 10
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Believing A LieBelieving A Lie1 Kings 13
Truth:
- Do not eat bread- Do not drink water
- Do not return by the same way
Lie:
“Bring him back to yourhouse, that he may eat bread
and drink water”
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IV. IV. It Makes A Difference It Makes A Difference What One PracticesWhat One PracticesIf Not - Can Do Anything!
Handle Snakes As Worship
Immoral Acts As Worship
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Our PracticeOur PracticeMust BeMust Be
AuthorizedAuthorizedin thein the
Word of GodWord of God
• According to the pattern - Hebrews 8:5• In the name of the Lord - Colossians 3:17• Within the doctrine of Christ - 2 John 9• By the same rule - Philippians 3:16
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The Difference It The Difference It MakesMakes
Our Practice Affects Our:
Fellowship with God2 John 9
Eternal SalvationMatthew 7:22-23
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V. V. ConclusionConclusionIf It Doesn’t
Make Any DifferenceIf It Does
Make A Difference
• Doesn’t matter whether one believes or not.
• Doesn’t make any difference whether one believes the
Bible.
• What Bible says - unimportant
• What God says - unimportant
• I need to know the truth - John 8:32• I need to study & examine
what I am taught- Acts 17:11
• I need to obey the truth- 1 Peter 1:22
• I need to watch my steps - Ephesians 5:15
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