Dangers For Every Generation

Introduction

I appreciate so much the opportunity to be with you in this evening in our study together. I’m honored, privileged, thankful to the elders for the opportunity to participate with you in this study. Thankful to Tony, or Steve, Terry, or Eve and Dave for the friendships that we share. It’s interesting to note John leading to singing, doing such an outstanding job. Real proud of John and his family and the work that they’re doing. I remember too far back. Appreciate so much your presence. If you would please open your Bibles to 1 Peter chapter 5. 1 Peter chapter 5. Several years ago I knew of a fella who owned a sawman. There was a great big cutoff saw that he used to saw the slabs off of the logs.

It didn’t have any kind of dart on it. And a friend of his came and was observing the work that he was doing. And he asked him, he said, Aren’t you afraid of that saw? He said, Yes, sir. He said, if I was not afraid of it would hurt me. I believe that. I’m persuaded that there are many dangers that face us, and if we’re not aware of what they are, they will hurt us. We need to know what they are because as we read in 1 Peter chapter 5, verse 8 tells us, be sober, be watchful. Your adversary, the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about seeking whom he may devour. Satan is a formidable foe. He takes no rest. He doesn’t cut you any slack.

He’s around every corner waiting in your weakness to try to capture you and cause you to do things that are wrong. Indeed, he is a formidable foe. But you know, as the world changes, it seems that God’s people have always had their thinking affected by the word. Danger, sometimes we are so exposed to that it becomes commonplace. We don’t realize the danger, as it were. We become so conditioned that we accept it and we think it’s not harmful, that it’s just a part of everyday life. You’ve been there. Sometimes we falter to those very things. In Exodus chapter 32, we read of the people as they had missed Moses for about 40 days while he was upon the mountain. And they called upon Aaron, make us gods, for we don’t know what’s happened to this Moses.

You see, idolatrous practice was that which had existed in Egypt from which they came. Idolatrous practice had become commonplace to these people. And so when Moses was gone, they said, Up and make us gods, that we might worship them. We talked this morning from Joshua chapter 2, 3, 4. And we talked about how that Joshua was to lead the people into the promised land. But he warned them. He warned them about teaching their children. That there was to be a memorial set up. In fact, a number of memorials that were to remind them of the great things that God had done for them. But after Joshua dies, if you would turn in your Bibles to, excuse me, the book of Judges, chapter 2. Judges chapter 2.

The text tells us, beginning in verse 6. Now, when Joshua had sent the people away, the children of Israel went every man into his inheritance to possess the land. And the people served Jehovah all the days of Joshua and all the days of the elders that outlived Joshua, who had seen all the great work of Jehovah that he had wrought for Israel. And Joshua, the son of Nun, the servant of Jehovah died, being a hundred and ten years old. And they buried him in the border of his inheritance in Timnahier, in the hill country of Ephraim, on the north of the mountain of Gash. And also all that generation were gathered unto their fathers, and there arose another generation after them that knew not Jehovah, nor yet the word which he had wrought for Israel.

But didn’t Joshua erect a pillar at Gilgal? Wasn’t they commanded or weren’t they commanded to remember the observance of the Passover year by year? What happened? Here we find a generation that knew not God, or the mighty works that he had wrought for Israel. I want to suggest to you, beloved, that when we turn through the remaining pages of the book of Judges, we learn that there was a problem among God’s people. For example, in verse 11, it tells us, and the children of Israel did that which was evil in the sight of Jehovah, and they served the Balaam. You just turn the page after page after page after page, throughout the book of Judges, and you see that repeatedly, do you not? And as you come to the end of the book of Judges, in chapter 25 of this great book, 21 of this, verse 25.

In those days there was no king in Israel. Every man had that which was right in his own eyes. What’s happened, beloved? We have a generation on the scene that doesn’t know God. They had all of these memorials, but they don’t remember God. They didn’t see those things. And somebody has not told them. Someone has dropped the ball. Were these things that characterize their lives throughout the book of Judges? Were these things strange to the practices of the people in whose land they dwelt? No. No, that was not. But evidently they did not see the dangers. In 1 Samuel chapter 8, the people asked for a king that they might be like the nations round about them. You see, they didn’t see the danger. They saw the nations round about them ruled by men, and they thought that this would be desirable, for after all, we’ll have a king to go before us in battle.

They didn’t see the danger. I have a friend that it’s his responsibility to investigate various places of businesses and put up signs like this. So that the people that work in those places will know that there is danger. When you see a sign like this, you know to beware. Often God’s people don’t see the dangers. We don’t have a sign blinking like this, and certainly Satan doesn’t tempt us in a red suit with horns carrying a pitchfork. Sometimes temptation is subtle. Sometimes we find it in an environment that we are comfortable in. And so consequently, many times we are overcome by such temptations. Someone may describe the lesson tonight as somewhat of a scatter gun lesson. You ever preach one like that? Sometimes we preach lessons that are dealing with a particular context.

1. The Loss of a Godly Home

Sometimes we deal with a particular topic. In our study tonight, we’re talking about dangers that confront God’s people, and I’m very concerned, as I see some of the things that are characteristic of the world. And then sometimes that becomes so commonplace in our environment that we don’t see them as dangers. One of the gravest dangers, I believe, that exist among God’s people is the loss of a godly home. I addressed some of the remarks that I made this morning specifically to the young people, and I want to direct some of our comments even this evening to the young people in this audience. As you’ll turn in your Bibles to the beginning in Genesis chapter 2. In Genesis chapter 2, we read concerning the beginning of the marriage relationship.

As God had created man and placed him in the garden of Eden. We learned beginning in verse 18 that Jehovah God said unto, that Jehovah God said, It is not good that the man should be alone. I will make him a help meet for him. And out of the ground, Jehovah God formed every beast of the field, and every bird of the heavens, and brought them unto the man to see what he would call them. And whatsoever the man called every living creature, that was the name thereof. And the man gave names to all cattle and to the birds of the heavens and to every beast of the field. But for man there was not found a help meet for him. And Jehovah God caused a deep sleep to fall upon the man, and he slept, and he took one of his ribs and closed up the flesh instead thereof.

And the rib which Jehovah God had taken from the man made he a woman and brought her unto the man, and the man said, This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh, and she shall be called woman because she was taken out of man. Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother and shall cleave unto his wife, and they shall be one flesh. And they were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed. Let me ask you, my friends, do you suppose the society in which we live believes that? Do they believe that? The question was asked of the Lord regarding this very passage. In Matthew chapter 19, you’re well familiar with it. Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for every cause?

What would be the attitude that the world has, and how would the world answer that question? The world would say, Well, that’s fine. Every cause is fine, after all, you have the right to be happy. You ever heard that? Jesus answered the question. He answered the question. He said, Have you not read that he who made them from the beginning, made them male and female, and said, For this cause, shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave unto his wife, and the two shall be one flesh. What therefore God has joined together? He said, Let not man put asunder. How would man answer the question that they asked today? Would they answer it with the words of Jesus as he refers to God’s law from the beginning?

That’s interesting to me. Young people, if you want to get married, you need to begin with the words of the Lord from the beginning. Here’s what God wants you to do. This expression leave and cleave is very important. Someone said a long time ago, and I believe this is absolutely accurate, that if young man is not willing to leave father and mother, he’s not willing to get married and do what God says toward his wife. If you’re not willing to leave, you best not get married. Isn’t that so? This word cleave is an interesting word. It involves the concept of being glued to stick to, or to stick like glue. Some years ago I used to do a little bit of woodworking. You ever make a mistake when you’re woodworking?

Glue two pieces of wood together and discover I didn’t measure that right, so you’ve got to take them apart. And you try to take them apart. What do you do to both pieces? You destroy them. I used that illustration in the congregation where I preached. There’s a fellow there named Bruce. His business is Bruce the welder. He said, Nick, that’s not the best illustration you can offer. I said, Well, what is? He said, Well, as a welder, he said, we use certain types of welding rods that blend the two metals together. You blend them together. And he said, that’s more than just sticking two pieces together. You blend them together. And he said, when you take them apart, you’ve really destroyed both pieces. Leave and cleave.

Young people get that firmly fixed in your mind. That’s what God wants you to do. In Ephesians, the fifth chapter, you see this very text. Quoted. I want to notice with you in 1 Peter chapter 3, however, regarding the relationship that is to exist in the mind of a husband toward his wife. Now I think sometimes I pick on husbands. Because I am one. And I think that sometimes we need to direct things to ourselves. If I’m preaching at me and my family, I’ll get everybody else. But the attitude sometimes that I see that husbands have is not right. The Apostle Peter said in verse 7, ye husbands in like manner, dwell with your wives according to knowledge, giving honor unto the woman as unto the weaker vessel as being also joint heirs of the grace of life, to the end that your prayers be not hindered.

Lots of lessons in that verse, but I want to call your attention to one of them. Ye husbands and like manner dwell with your wives according to knowledge. There are things that we need to learn, husbands, about women, folks. Would you grant me that? There are things that we just don’t know. Women folks are not put together like men, folks, and I’m not simply talking about biological differences. There are differences between men and women. Often women don’t think like you do. And when you get married, young people, young men, you often find that out. And sometimes it’s a rude awakening. And then children come along. And you find out now that everything’s different. It’s not like it was when you first got married. And then children grow and you get into teenage years and you find altogether different.

It’s different. And then children grow up and go to college, and lo and behold, they get married, and you find that it’s you and your wife alone together again. And you look at her and you say, honey, what’s your name? Because now you’re married to somebody that is different from what she was before. Now, if you don’t know that, you need to learn that. That marriage is a lifetime of learning. Those of you who are older very well know that. I lost a dear friend. Not long ago, in fact, just a few days ago, that was on the verge of celebrating his 67th wedding anniversary. You seldom ever hear that anymore. He had learned a lot of things. A lot of things. He had learned what it means to dwell with her.

To dwell with means to literally be at home with. That doesn’t mean that you spend a long day at work and then you come home and bring your laptop computer and set it in your lap and continue working while you’re watching a movie or the news or a ball game on the television. Your wife comes over and speaks to you, and you don’t know she’s on the planet. That’s not dwelling with. That’s sinful. I said that one time, and a man said, You’ve been talking to my wife. I said, No, sir. Why? He said, That’s exactly what I do. I’ve got to change that. Think about it, beloved. Dwell with her. Man’s role is to provide spiritually. We mentioned that this morning. To bring up our children into nurture and the admonition of the Lord.

Now I said this was a scatter gun lesson. We don’t have time to spend a lot of time on these points. But the point I want you to see is that’s not the world’s concept of the man’s responsibility in the family. Is it? And you know it is. That’s not the way that the world thinks about such things. But what’s the woman’s role? The scriptures teach that the woman’s role is a place of subjection. We talked about that just very briefly in our study this morning from Ephesians chapter 5. I want to call your attention to that once more. In Ephesians chapter 5, wives be in subjection unto your own husbands as unto the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife, as Christ also is the head of the church, being himself the Savior of the body.

In verse 24, he says, But as the church is subject to Christ, so let the wives also be to their husbands in every thing. This is used as an analogy or an illustration of the relationship that Christ has to the church. In verse 33, he said, Nevertheless, do ye also cerebrally love each one his own wife, even as himself, and let the wife see that she fear or reverence her husband. That’s an interesting word. It simply means to venerate, to treat with deference or reverential obedience. Wives, you are to have an attitude toward your husband, to recognize their role in the family relationship. We also mentioned in our study in Titus chapter 2, in verses 4 and 5, how that the older women were to teach the younger women to love their husbands, to love their children.

A relationship that women are to have toward their husbands and toward their children. Is that the general perception that the world has about the family? Well, you know it isn’t. But the thing that I fear is that we become so accustomed to that, conditioned to that attitude does not find itself abhorrible in our mind anymore. That’s scary to me. The loss of a godly heart. Proverbs chapter 31, verses 26 through verse 29. The godly woman is described. She openeth her mouth with wisdom. And the law of kindness is on her tongue. She looketh well to the ways of her husband, and eateth not of the bread of idleness. Her children rise up and call her blessed. Her husband also, and he praiseth her. Saying, Many daughters have done worthily, but thou excellest them all.

There was something about that woman that caused that man to say that. You can read all about that in Proverbs chapter 31. But I want you to see the comment, the compliment that this husband made about his wife. Young men listen to that. Her husband praised her. He said, Many daughters have done worthy, but thou excelest them all. Out of all the women who have ever lived, all of their great accomplishments, you’re better than anyone. How many women would not just melt if their husband said that? You know, unfortunately, that’s not the concept that most have about the home. That’s not the concept that most have about the husband, and that’s not the concept that most have about the role of the wife. You know how I know that.

Because we can read of the percentages that have been polled regarding their attitudes toward these very things. I want you to look at this. A recent Pew forum surveyed said 39% of Americans believe marriage is obsolete. That’s a large percentage. Look further, if you will. The U.S. Census reports that 41% of births in America are to parents who are unmarried. Look further. Nearly 60% of American adults believe sex between an unmarried man and woman is morally acceptable. You live in an environment where such statistics exist. Do you think for a moment that the church is in no danger? Or that God’s people are in no danger? Only 40% think it’s wrong to have sex outside of marriage. And of course, recently, 58% favor same-sex marriage. And I want to ask you, beloved.

These are the times that we live in. It’s not new. God’s people have always lived in times where the world seemed to be in the overwhelming majority. But what we want to see is that we not be overwhelmed with what exists round about us. I want you to look at this. I asked somebody last week if they had heard of the King James or the Queen James Bible the week before last. The Queen James Bible. I said, Oh, you’re kidding. No, I’m not kidding. There it is. You might like to go online and just simply Google Queen James Bible. See what you find out. Here’s a quotation from what was called the editors of that particular book. They said, you can’t choose your sexuality, but you can choose Jesus.

Now you can choose the Bible, too. That’s the world that we live in, brother. It’s not new. That was released November the 27th, 2012. That’s relatively new. But you might like to observe some of the things that are found in it. I have a sermon on that. I’m not going to preach it now. But I simply want to suggest to you that the generation in which we live, we face dangers. As God’s people. There are dangers that abound, and we need not look upon them as simply commonplace. We say, well, what effect does that have upon our children? Moses instructed the people of old to teach their children when they get up, when they go to bed, to teach them when they go out and when they come in.

Why? To give them the tools that they need to confront the dangers that we face from morning till night, from day to day. You see, those during Joshua’s day, they were taught. But after Joshua died, we’ve got another generation on the scene. The text tells us that knew not God nor the mighty works that he brought in Israel. Something’s wrong with that, brother. In Ephesians chapter 6 and in verse 4, as we note that fathers are to bring up their children to nurture and the admonition of the Lord. A child who is reared in such a home has no, or in a home where the common view is, has no real example or model to follow. Unresolved differences that exist in the family. Unresolved sin creates an am through attitude.

I serve as one of the elders in the congregation where I preach. And I must say to you, that is a difficult task. It’s just a difficult task. I don’t know how many times the gentleman that works with me and I have been called upon to go into homes where there’s difficulty. And there’s attitudes that are not right. I often refer people to Ephesians chapter 4. Where the text tells us let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and railing be put away from you with all malice, and be ye kind one to another, tender hearted, forgiving each other, even as God in Christ also forgave you. You know what sometimes I hear? I’m through. I taught people in my own family. Breaks my heart.

To hear them say, I’m through. But that’s the common attitude, isn’t it? I’m through. Moral values often decline. When we look in the church in Corinth, we see that the city itself had a very negative influence upon the church. I’m told that in the city of Corinth there was the temple of Aphrodite that housed a thousand prostitutes for the worship of those who would like to worship Aphrodite. And in 1 Corinthians chapter 6, reading in verse 9, the writer says, Or know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God. Be not deceived, neither fornicators nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with men, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners shall inherit the kingdom of God.

And such were some of you. But ye were washed, but ye were sanctified, but ye were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God. Paul says, Here’s what you were. It’s what you were. That was common in the city in which you live. You think that this did not continue to plague the church in Corinth? They lived in a very wicked place. And in 1 Corinthians chapter 5, you see that this was a problem that raised its ugly head among God’s people. In verse 1, it said, It is actually reported that there is fornication among you, and such fornication as is not even among the Gentiles, that one of you hath his father’s wife. And ye are puffed up and did not rather mourn that he that hath done this deed might be taken away from among you.

2. The Loss of Hunger for Righteousness

For I verily, being absent in body, but present in spirit, have already, as though I were present, judged him that has so wrought this thing. Well, you’ve got the money. Why? It’s become commonplace. It exists in the city in which you live. Do we think that we can come out of an environment like that and be insulated from the influence of the world in which we live? No. The loss of the godly home in the society in which we live often affects God’s people. And beloved, that just breaks my heart. I could spend some time telling you why. But the loss of hunger for righteousness disturbs me greatly. The people of old. This is not new. In Isaiah chapter 30 and in verse 10, the people said, Prophesy not unto us right things, speak unto us smooth things, prophesy deceits.

We were studying in the Bible class from the book of Zachariah this morning, where we noticed the same thing existing among God’s people. They were worshiping idols even after all that God had done for them. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied, Jesus said. Peter said, Long for the sincere milk of the word, which is without God. Here is an attitude toward righteousness, the kind of life that God wants us to live. The book of Romans is a fascinating book. We’ve just finished studying that in our auditorium class at home. And we’ve noted that the gospel is God’s power to save. Everyone that believeth. The Jew first and also the Greek. For therein is revealed the righteousness of God.

You want to be righteous, beloved? You can’t be righteous apart from the gospel. Whether you be Jew or Gentile, of course, we could discuss that in our study. But to be made righteous is to be made righteous by the gospel. But yet there are those who don’t want the gospel. You see, we don’t want that. What will the next generation be? There was a generation in Israel that knew not God, nor the mighty works that He had wrought in Israel. Somebody had not taught that. Brethren, it breaks my heart. I’m very pleased to see the young people in the audience tonight. For your attitude towards spiritual things, and especially these folks over here that I look at every once in a while and see their careful attention.

To see that they’re interested in these things. They want to learn. You want to grow. You want to develop and be what God wants you to be. But you know, some don’t have the attitude that you have. Some think that they can teach their young people to be spiritual by these kind of things. And of course, that didn’t turn out quite right on the chart. But you can get the idea. This doesn’t have a laser on it, does it? Well, I can’t point out it anyway. Look at this bottom corner here. They’re advertising a series of meetings that rightly deals with evidences. This is good. But look at the bottom corner. Friday night kickoff entertainment, 7 p.m. Cowboy Chuck Wagon Barbecue and Campfire with nationally acclaimed Western storyteller, cowboy poet Joe Harris.

I don’t know him, but I love cowboy poetry. I paid money to eat beans and to have a chuck wagon barbecue and sit by a campfire. I like that. But you see, the problem is that’s not how we retain our young people, is it? That’s not how we teach them. Someone has said if they had half as much Bible in their head as they do barbecue in their stomachs, there would be a great deal more prospect of them being faithful, and I believe that’s right. I fear losing our young people. But you can’t golf and volleyball children into heaven. It just doesn’t work. But let me ask you, beloved, is that the common idea that exists in your part of the country? I find that to be true where I live.

And that’s disturbing to me. And then some of our brethren think that we can shortcut the means to be righteous. No man. No, sir. It just doesn’t happen. You see, the Bible teaches us in Titus chapter 2 and in verse 11 that grace came teaching. Look at your Bible. Titus chapter 2 in verse 11. For the grace of God hath appeared, bringing salvation to all men, instructing or teaching us to the intent that denying ungodliness and worldly lust. We should live soberly and righteously and godly in this present world. What does the Apostle Paul say to Titus? Grace came teaching. Teaching what? Teaching us to deny ungodliness. That is to deny a lack of piety in our life toward God. Deny that any place in your life.

Deny ungodliness. Deny worldly lust, the sins that have characterized the world for so long. They’re not to have any place in your life. But then he tells us that grace came teaching us that we should live soberly, righteously, and godly. This verse very simply telling us that grace came teaching us how to live. You don’t know how to live by the world’s standard. God teaches you how to live. How do you know how God wants you to live? You study the scriptures because grace came teaching. Isn’t that simple? That’s how you learn what God wants you to do. You are to hunger and thirst for righteousness. Now why? Why? Very simply because without it, we’re lost. We’re lost. I fear, brethren and beloved, that we don’t evaluate what it means to be lost as seriously as it really is.

To be lost. Turn in your Bible to the Ephesian letter. In the Ephesian letter. Very quickly, I want to review some things from chapter 1. In Ephesians chapter 1, Paul writes to them, and he identifies a number of blessings that you have in Christ, and he identifies them with relationship expressions. In whom? In him, in the beloved, and so forth. You’re familiar with that. But as you drop down through that text, I want to call your attention to the expressions us, we. The writer is identifying spiritual blessings that us and we, that is the Jews who were in Christ enjoyed. But then look, if you would please at verse 13. Where there he writes, in whom ye also having heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation.

3. The Loss of That Which Is Sacred

Now he’s talking about those who are Gentiles, who are in Christ. This is what you have. You share all spiritual blessings in the heavenly places in Christ. Why is that so important, beloved? Because in chapter 2, he says, and you did he make alive when you were dead through your trespasses and sins. To be spiritually dead is to be without God, without hope, as he describes them beginning in verse 11. When we look at our friends and neighbors and often our family members as lost, perhaps that will generate within us a greater hunger for righteousness in order that we might teach them the things that they need to know in order that they might be saved. I’m concerned that we face the danger of a loss of that which is sacred.

In 2 Timothy chapter 3, and in verse 15, Paul said, and that from a babe thou hast known the sacred writings which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith, which is in Christ Jesus. The sacred writings. I’m so pleased to know that you spend a great deal of time here, and those of you who are parents spend a great deal of time here teaching your children. Tried to focus on that this morning. Teaching our children. I know sometimes we feel that we’ve become, we’ve fallen short of that. And we can talk about that at length if you like. But teaching our children. Timothy’s mother. Timothy’s grandmother had taught him from a babe, the sacred writings. Something special about the things that Timothy had learned.

A number of years ago, there was a mother of a child. The preacher came to see her and visit for a moment. She told her son to go in there and get that big old book that we love so dear and lay it on the coffee table. Preacher coming, you see. The boy went and got the Sears and Robo Catalog. And those of you who order online don’t know anything about that. But I want to suggest to you in that illustration, there’s a powerful lesson. The sacred book had not been read to that boy. It had not been read. Dear friend of mine, many years ago said that she taught her young boy, before he could read, that there was something special about that big old book that we love so dear.

It wasn’t like his color books. It wasn’t like his regular story books. This book contained the words of God. And she taught him about God. And my friend, we’re not talking about paper and egg, aren’t we? We’re talking about the words that they’re inscribed upon those pages. And she wanted them indelibly stamped in the heart of that young man. The sacred writings. We face a society that seems to not hold anything as sacred. Under the law, they were commanded to remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy. As Moses drew near the burning bush in the wilderness, God said, Draw not nigh hither, put off thy shoes from off thy feet. For the place whereon thou standest is holy ground. Remember when Nadab and Nabihu offered a strange fire unto the Lord, which he commanded them not.

God sent fire from heaven and consumed them. And God’s words were, I will be sanctified in them that come nigh me. And before all the people I will be glorified. God demands our reverence and our respect.

I fear that we’ve lost some of that. There were certain things in the history of Israel that were to be observed as sacred. Again, we were discussing in the Bible class this morning. During the restoration period of Israel, when Nehemiah brought these people back into the land. They’re beginning to hear something that they’ve not heard in a very long time. The law is read before them. And when the book was opened, and Els with the scribe began to read, the people stood up from early morning until midday. What does that suggest to us about their reverence and respect for God’s word? You’ll notice also in Hebrews chapter 12. The writer says in verse 28, let us have grace whereby we may offer service, well pleasing to God, with reverence and awe, for our God is a consuming fire.

4. The Loss of Distinctiveness

To treat that which is holy, that which is sacred, as if what were common profanes it. I fear we’re losing that, brethren, because we live in a society that has no regard for sacred things. And we, as God’s people have to cultivate that and not be influenced by the world in which we live. I fear that there is a loss of distinctiveness. There are many distinctions that are made in the scriptures. This on one hand, this on the other. We quote from Matthew chapter 7 Enter ye in by the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the way that leadeth unto destruction, and many are they that enter in thereby. For narrow is the gate and straightened the way that leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.

We teach our little ones about the broad gate.

We want them to understand that there is a difference. We talk about the wise man and the foolish man. How many of you Bible class teachers have taught the young ones and you teach them that the wise man built his house upon the rock? And the foolish man built his house upon the sand. The wise man was the man who heard these words of mine and did them. The foolish man was the man who heard these words of mine and did not do them. And we teach our little ones that. There is distinction. Very vivid distinctions in the scriptures. We learned that the Colossians were translated out of the kingdom of darkness into the kingdom of his dear Son, the kingdom of light. Light and darkness.

We often note in 1 Peter chapter 2. The people of God who are identified as a special people. 1 Peter chapter 2, beginning in verse 5, the writer said, ye also, as living stones are built up a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, you offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. Then in verse 9, but ye are an elect race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, that ye may show forth the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous life. Who in time past were no people, but now are the people of God who had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy. Look at who you are. You were no people, but now you are the people of God.

Do we see distinction in that? You are somebody different from the folks you used to be. My mother, young people, when I was growing up, as we would often leave the house. One of the warnings that she would give us. Remember who you are. Your mother ever tell you that. Remember who you are. You have a different life to live. You live differently. You recognize a different standard than that which the world recognizes. Isn’t that what Peter is telling these people? You’re a peculiar people. This is the way you used to live. But now you are the people of God. Distinctiveness. Jesus said, I am the way, the truth, and the life. No man comes unto the Father but by me. That’s distinctive, isn’t it? Lots of distinctions in the scriptures.

The Apostle Paul, as he was writing unto the Galatians in Galatians chapter 1, doesn’t spend time with the familiar salutations that he does and many other epistles that he writes. But in verse 6 of chapter 1, he said, I marvel that you’re so quickly removing from him. That called you in the grace of Christ unto a different gospel, which is not another gospel, only there are some that trouble you and would pervert the gospel of Christ. But though we or an angel from heaven should preach unto you any gospel other than that which we preached unto you, let him be anathema, let him be accursed. Paul’s concern was that someone would preach to them something different from that which he had preached to them. Interesting in the wording of the King James translation.

Another which is not another. Another which is not another. How is that? The American standard from which I’m reading, in case you have wondered what translation I’m reading from, should have told you that earlier. Another which is not another. The American standard says a different gospel which is not another gospel. His point is it’s different because it’s another kind. There is only one gospel, beloved. No one is going to preach something that is another of the same kind. There is no other kind. There is only one. Paul’s concern was somebody would preach something different. Let me ask you, beloved, were the apostles exempt from that warning? No, they were not. Though we or an angel from heaven should preach unto you any gospel other than that which we preached unto you, let him be accursed.

What does that tell us? There’s only one gospel. There is only one. It bears distinction. What else do we learn? In the Ephesian letter in chapter 1, in verses 22 and 23, the writer says that he put all things in subjection under his feet and gave him to be head over all things to the church, which is his body, the fullness of him that filleth all in all. We often try to get people to understand the distinctiveness of the Lord’s church from this passage. He is the head of the body of the church. And then we look at Ephesians 4 and verse 4 and note that there is one body. How many churches does he have? You see, the very word church means called out. He only has one body of people called out of the world that bears the distinction of belonging to him.

One body. One baptism. One baptism. The one baptism that puts us into Christ. Forgiveness of sins through his blood. You see, we cannot blend God’s way with man’s way. There is a way that seems right.

5. The Loss of Confrontation

You see, that won’t work. When the people asked for a king, that was not God’s desire. Peter’s desire to build three tabernacles in Matthew chapter 17. One to Moses, one to Elijah, and one to thee. That would not do. You see, he was not giving due distinction unto the Lord. The Father said, This is my beloved Son in whom I’m well pleased. Hear ye him. There was a time when God spoke through Moses. There was a time when he spoke through the law. But now this is my son. You hear him. I’m concerned that we become so accustomed to the ways of the world that we don’t confront it anymore. We just don’t object. We take down our flag and surrender. There’s something wrong with that, brother.

When we become so immersed in the ways of the world that the world becomes our standard. There’s just something wrong with that. We note that the Apostle Paul, in writing to the Galatians, as he warned them concerning someone that would teach a different gospel, also addresses the subject of circumcision in order to be saved because that was what some were teaching. And he said in Galatians chapter 2 and in verse 5, to whom we gave place in the way of subjection, no, not for an hour. The truth, the gospel continue in you. Paul’s concern was somebody would teach them something different, and he said, Not even for an hour. Among the Ephesian elders, we note that he told them, I preached unto you everything you needed to hear.

The whole counsel of God. What else do we want? God despises sin. In Proverbs chapter 15 and verse 9, the way of the wicked is an abomination unto the Lord. Beloved, how can we not oppose it? In Proverbs chapter 28 and verse 9, he that turneth away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer is an abomination. How can we not oppose it? Sin is still sin. It’s called also by different names, but God still calls it sin. In Acts chapter 2, to preach the gospel, you can’t preach without confrontation, can you? Look at the Apostle Peter in Acts chapter 2 as he declares that Jesus is the Christ, and that God has raised him from the dead. Verse 36, he said that all the house of Israel therefore know assuredly that God hath made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom ye crucified.

What did that do to these people, brethren? It pricked them in their heart. He confronted them. You’ve committed sin. You need to be saved. And the third chapter, after healing a man that has been lame since first, verse 12 tells us, and when Peter saw it, he answered unto the people, Ye men of Israel, why marvel ye at this man? Or why fasten ye your eyes on us as though by our own power or godliness we had made him to walk? The God of Abraham and of Isaac and of Jacob, the God of our fathers, hath glorified his servant Jesus, whom ye delivered up and denied before the face of Pilate when he had determined to release sin. But ye denied the holy and righteous one and asked for a murderer to be granted unto you and killed the prince of life, whom God raised from the dead, whereof we are all witnesses.

Did Peter confront their error? Well, they couldn’t be saved if he didn’t. Look further in the fourth chapter, beginning in verse 8. And Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said unto them, Ye rulers of the people and elders, if we this day are examined concerning a good deed done to an impotent man by what means this man is made whole, be it known unto you all and to all the people of Israel that in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even in him doth this man stand here before you whole. Do you see how the time and time and time and time again, he challenges them? He confronts them. You see, you can’t preach the gospel without being confrontational.

When the Apostle Paul came into the city of Athens, he observed their many practices of idolatry. And he preached them to them, one true and living God, and then commanded them that all men everywhere should repent. Well, why? Because all men everywhere are accountable. And that included them. Someone says, but what about that fellow in the dark, deep jungles of Africa that bows down before a rock and calls it God? You mean he, though he doesn’t have a Bible or doesn’t know the one true God, he has to repent. That’s right. You know why? Because he’s a sinner. That’s why Jesus said, go and preach the gospel to every creature. The gospel is the saving power of God. Paul called upon churches to put to death the deeds of the body.

Conclusion

In Colossians chapter 3, beginning in verse 5. Put to death the deeds of the body. We learned this morning in Bible classes, he talked about covetousness. It is idolatry. I appreciate the good definition that we had over here. Anything that you put in priority to the Lord, that’s idolatry. Comment was made. That can be found. It can. It could be friends, it can be loveliness. That can become that what separates us from God through our practice of idolatry. Dangerous to our faith. The loss of the godly heart deserves our attention. The loss of hunger and thirst for righteousness deserves our attention. The loss of that which is sacred. The loss of distinctiveness. The loss of confrontation. I want to call your attention to the words of the Old Testament writer as we conclude in Psalm chapter 71.

O God, thou hast taught me from my youth, and hitherto have I declared thy wondrous works. Yea, even when I am old and gray-headed, O God, forsake me not until I have declared thy strength unto the next generation. Thy might to everyone that is to come. We’ve got to teach it, brother. We’ve just got to. You remember the saw a few moments ago? The man was afraid of the saw. He saw what it could do to him. He was afraid of its danger. He said, if I’m not, it’ll hurt me. We can’t bury our head in the sand to dangers. We have to realize their presence. We can’t become so accustomed to them that we’re not bothered by them anymore. You see, we can become so conditioned that we accept the world’s standard.

We can’t do it right now. We just can’t do it. You’ve listened patiently to our study this evening. I hope that something’s been beneficial and edifying to us. But perhaps I’m talking to one who needs to obey the gospel. If you’re in the audience this evening, understand what sin does to you. It’s an awful thing. It separates you from God. It’ll separate you eternally unless you do something about it. God did his part. He sent his son. He was not obligated to you in any way. But because he loves you and wants you to go to heaven, he gave his son that you might be forgiven. Do you believe that’s so? Would you then turn from your sin in repentance? You can’t continue the practice. Confess your faith.

Humbly be baptized into Christ. God has promised us that if we’ll obey, we can be united with the blood of Christ. Raised a new creature. Maybe you’ve done that and you’ve not lived the kind of life you know you must. Friend, your soul is at stake. Eternity is just too long to take such a risk. Why can’t you do something about it tonight? Would you? We’d be happy to pray with you and for you. If you make that known while together we stand and watch it. While we stand.