Bible Study
December 10, 2021
Doctrine
Proof & Reproof
We have a very important Bible Study today, it concerns our High Calling, and the “doctrines” or “teachings” that we believe in, and follow. Doctrine is defined as: “a belief or set of beliefs held and taught by a church, political party, or other group”.
Today’s study can help us know if the doctrines or teaching in which we follow and believe, are correct, or incorrect. This is a very important study, because according to the Word of God, many (not some, not a few, but many) are following false doctrines, incorrect teachings that are mixed with fables and errors. And, according to the Word of God, ones salvation is at stake here.
Now please, hear me out, let us not fear this study, because it’s Truth that we are in search of. Remember, the True church of God is defined as: “The church of the Living God, the Pillar and Ground of the Truth”.
(1Timothy 3:15)
Truth is so important, it’s what sanctifies us, or sets us apart. It’s what makes us free, and it’s also the way that our Heavenly Father wants us to worship Him.
(John 17:17) (John 8:32) (John 4:23-24)
Now we all know the Scripture tells us to: “Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”
(2Timothy 2:15)
But there is another Scripture that I want to bring to our attention today that elaborates on just how to properly do that studying, and properly divide the Word of truth. It’s an important step that many in God’s church fail to do.
The Scripture I’m speaking of tells us how we can be “sure” even “positive” whether the teachings, yes the doctrines that are being taught from the pulpit where we attend services, are correct, and in accordance with the Word of God.
Many in God’s church neglect to take advantage of this advantageous (and crucial) instruction that I’m referring to. Yet this instruction will not only verify all teachings on all subjects, whether they are correct or not, but would also put us in accord with one another, and most importantly, with our Heavenly Father, and our Lord.
Before we go to that important Scripture, I’d like to go to the book of 2nd Peter, because many (too many) in God’s church today are a bit too content, thinking they have all the truth and proper doctrines and beliefs.
Now the book of 1st Peter deals with problems from the outside, but 2nd Peter deals with problems inside the church of God, and inside the church of God today. And let us realize, Peter wrote this warning to us a long time ago, and he wrote it in the “future” tense. But to drive home the point that I’m trying to make, and for us to better comprehend the Truth in Peter’s warning to us, and the sobriety of it, we need to read Peters words today in their proper “present” tense, because what Peter is warning us about is not a future event, on the contrary, it’s all ready history, and has been for a long time now.
But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there are false teachers among you, who privily have brought in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. And many (not a few, not some, but many) are following their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth is evil spoken of.
(2Peter 2:1-2)
That word “pernicious” means = ruin or loss, destruction, die, perdition.
Brethren, what Peter is addressing here, pertains to ones salvation.
Now this warning about being led astray by men, not only comes from Peter, but others too. Like our Lord who made the following statement after being questioned by His disciples concerning the end of the age and His return: “And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you. For many men shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many”.
(Matthew 24:4)
And how about Jude, the one who gives the most stern and forceful warning and admonition for us concerning our beliefs. Jude tells us to: “Get Back to the Faith once delivered to the Saints”. Brethren, let us not be deceived by men, the pulpits in the church of God have been “incorrectly” teaching for years, that we have already gotten back to that Faith that was once delivered, that we have already returned to the correct doctrines, that the truth has already been restored. But, nothing could be further from the Truth. We need to return to that Faith, that level of Belief where the church is alive, and those powerful gifts from the Father abound once again.
Let’s ask a question here, why did the church of God loose that faith that was once delivered in the first place? Well we don’t have to go far to find the answer, it’s in the very next verse: “Because there are certain men crept in, unawares, ungodly men”.
Brethren, our biggest culprit, our biggest obstacle, to having proper beliefs, and to be learning and walking in Truth, is men. How many warnings does it take for us to comprehend that? Listening to men preach and teach is okay, but one has to chew first before they swallow, and only swallow the meat, spit out the bones. Like Scripture says: “Prove (examine) all things, hold fast that which is good”.
(1Thessalonians 5:21)
Now Faith and Belief go hand in hand. And Faith and Belief are quite lacking in these end times in which we are living, just as our Lord anticipated when He questioned if He would even find faint at His return.
(Luke 18:8)
Now if you don’t think our faith is lacking and that there is a “Belief” problem in the church of God today, just go to chapter 16 in the book of Mark where it says: “These signs shall follow those who Believe”. The casting out devils, the new tongues, the picking up snakes and not being hurt drinking anything piousness, and the recovering of the sick after laying on of hands. These “sign follow” are lacking in God’s church today, why? Because there is a belief problem in the church of God today Brethren. We are the Church of God, But these signs will only manifest if we know, and teach, and walk in Truth.
Yes, it takes teaching and believing Truth, (not truth mixed with fables) for these “signs follow” to be there. Look at what it says in the last two verses:“So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, He was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God (That’s where He still is today) (And look at what it says in the next verse: “And they went forth, and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them, and confirming the Word with “signs following”. (Notice, they weren’t helping our Lord in their preaching, He was helping them, and He was “confirming” the “Word” (The Truth) that they were preaching, with “signs following”.
Aramaic Bible in Plain English says it like this: “But they went forth and they preached in every place, and our Lord was helping them and confirming their words with the signs that they were doing.”
Good News Translation put it like this: “The disciples went and preached everywhere, and the Lord worked with them and proved that their preaching was true by the miracles that were performed.”
Our Lord is Not going to confirm the preaching, unless the preaching consists of Truth. He will only confirm the “Word” that is being preached if it is “Truth” (Correct Doctrine.)
Now many of our beliefs are correct, but there are also many that are false (clearly false) and not Scriptural. And what I’m trying to push in this message is the importance of studying, like the Nobel Berean’s who wouldn’t swallow Paul’s words until they checked the Scriptures for proof.
Now when we were called into God’s church, many of our false beliefs were corrected as we began to read the Bibles and look into the Scriptures for correct doctrines. But in order to verify that what we believe is totally correct, there is another step that many in God’s church neglect to take. It’s found in that Scripture that I have been referring to.
“All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for “Reproof”, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thought furnished, unto all good works”.
(2Timothy 3:16)
When it comes to correct doctrines, and correct beliefs, the word “reproof” here is extremely important. The Greek is Strong’s # G1650 proof, conviction:- evidence, reproof. When it comes to finding the Truth in a matter, we are told to look for evidence.
Evidence is defined as: “the available body of facts of information indicating whether a belief is true or valid”. And finding evidence, finding Truth is quite rewarding for some, it ignites a fire in them, as it should. But to obtain evidence in searching for Truth, one has to investigate, and that takes time, that takes effort on our part. We have to individually search out Truth. But for many, searching for truth is not on their priority list. Some are content with what they think they already know, but in reality, they need to anoint their eyes with that Laodicean eye salve, because our Lord is at the Door, and He detests the lukewarm.
The problem with the “many” (Yes, the “many” in God’s church) as 2nd Peter 2:2, and Matthew 24:5, and numerous other places states, is that the majority of the brethren in God’s church don’t study, don’t search the Scriptures for Truth, don’t look for proof or reproof. Apparently don’t have a love for the Truth, but instead, many are busy taking their pleasure in unrighteousness. We could add to the excuses made in (Luke 14:18-20) because many in the church of God today are saying (present tense again) “I’m too busy with this present world, and actually quite content with it, please have ne excused”.
Now I’m not here today to make a list of which church doctrines I believe are fables. But I do encourage you not to turn your ear away, as many “leaders” (men in pulpits) try to enforce you to do concerning controversial issues. But rather when you hear someone preaching or teaching something different (it’s called heresy.) don’t turn away, but do check it out. Truth stands on its own two feet, and remember, (Iron still sharpened Iron).
And please understand, heresy is a good thing, even Paul was a preacher of heresy, and he was proud of it.
(Acts 24:14)
Its “damnable heresy” we want to stay clear of. But Be Careful Here, because it’s damnable heresy that the many in God’s church today are following according to the verses we have already read, including (2Peter 2:1-2)
Brethren the only True teacher, the one we need to learn from, is our Lord and Savior, and our Father above.
(1John 2:27)
But to learn from them, we have to be obedient to them, we need to walk upright, and we need to Believe what they say, because we have a God who says what He means, and means what He says.
So let us prove “reprove” all things, and search the Scriptures for Truth, the whole Truth, and nothing but the Truth.