Pastoral Epistles #7

False Teachers

(1-Timothy 6)

Fred R. Coulter—February 6, 1999

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I want to read you something that is important from a document called Vatican 2000. I want to bring this out in relationship to where we are in 1-Tim. 6, and let's talk a little bit about the ecumenical movement in the world, but also there is an ecumenical movement in the various Churches of God. When I say Churches of God, I mean the different named Churches of God wherever they are. So, unless someone confuse that with the Church of God, which is the spiritual body of Christ, those who have the Holy Spirit of God regardless of which corporate church they affiliate with.

As we go back and look at the things that we did on the Parliament of Religions—the coming united religion in the world—what we need to understand is that this has been going on for nearly 100 years. The first Parliament of World Religions was in Chicago in 1897 and the other one was 100 years later in 1997.

There have been moves toward ecumenism and the whole thing is to bring everybody home to Rome. What I want you to understand is some of the things that have been done.

Taken from Vatican 2000: quoting from an The Encyclopedia Britannica concerning some of the things that was done by the Catholics and their ecumenical movement:

The World Missionary Conference of 1910, held in Edinburgh, marked the beginning of modern ecumenism.

with the Catholics opening up

From it flowed three streams of ecumenical endeavor: evangelistic, service, and doctrinal. Today, these three aspects are furthered through the World Council of Churches, constituted in 1948…

The World Council of Churches at this present time is wholly given over to the ecumenism.

…in the early 1980s it included more than 295 churches in more than 90 countries.

Below the World Council of Churches is the National Council of Churches. So, the WCC also controls the NCC. One of the ways that they have done to bring about ecumenism is to get everybody together in associations. Then we will see the goal, where it's headed to.

The evangelical concern of modern ecumenism brought about the formation, in 1921, of the International Missionary Council, comprising 17 national mission organizations. It coordinated mission strategy and aided new churches.

The service efforts made by Christians across denominational and national boundaries came to fruition in 1925, in Stockholm, when the Universal Christian Conference on Life and Work was convened to study the application of the gospel to industrial, social, political, and international affairs.

That is still going on through the Catholic organization called Opus D, to where they have Catholics who get into high positions economically, politically, religiously and what they want to do is to bring about the laws of the nations to conform to Catholic law; i.e. most particularly Sunday.

We saw an example of that when Pope John Paul II visited St. Louis. The Governor of Missouri, a Baptist, followed the lead of the pope in commuting a sentence of a vicious killer who had killed three people, and commuted his sentence to life. Most people haven't even thought of it, but what has happened is the pope's power extended to cause this man to renounce the Constitution of the United States, to renounce the Constitution of Missouri, to renounce the oath of his office that he would uphold the Constitution from all enemies foreign and domestic.

That is just one example of how the ecumenical movement is really reaching out. Remember, this started way long ago. They want to get into industrial, and of course, the unions are all in that. Social, that's all now with the social movements of 'right to life' and so forth. Political and international affairs.

This movement proceeded under the slogan "service unites but doctrine divides."

There's even one man who has a Christian educational ministry who says the same thing for the Churches of God: "service unites but doctrine divides." Doctrine does divide Truth from error.

Let's review 1-Tim. 6 just a little bit. Doctrine does make a difference. It divides Truth from error, right from wrong, good from evil. It's really true that you cannot attain to the Kingdom of God unless you have sufficiently correct doctrine. All you have to do is look at Rev. 2 & 3 and the problems with the Church of God. Every single one of them were problems that stemmed from doctrinal things that came in. Especially with doctrines that they went out into the world to see what the other 'religions have and bring those doctrines into the Church. Or allow the world come in and teach. Or in the case of Thyatira, 'let that woman who calls herself Jezebel'—which is the Catholic Church—to come in and teach Catholic doctrine.

1-Timothy 6:3: "If anyone teaches any different doctrine, and does not adhere to sound words, even those of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the doctrine that is according to Godliness." Doctrine means teaching, and "…doctrine that is according to Godliness" is teaching that will help you understand eternal life.

You have to have the Spirit of God in order to understand it. Remember what Jesus said? We are living right in the time of Matt. 24. History has cycles and repeats itself. What happened toward the close of the New Testament era of the apostles, of which Paul was writing about in 1st and 2nd Tim. They were going through the cycles of false teachers. They had false teachers beginning with those Judaizers who originally were with the circumcision party, who were originally part of the Church. Then they drifted away and separated themselves at the time of the ministerial conference in Acts 15, and the Pharisees were never heard of again.

They became the Ebionites, who rejected all the teachings of Paul on grace and justification. They kept all of the works and rituals of Judaism. Later there came in another element about the time of the Apostle John toward the end of the 90sA.D. where there were the Gnostic teachers coming in. These were Christianized pagans who were coming in and teaching.

Or, as we have seen today, many who were in attendance in different congregations and when the Church was scattered or going through the upheavals then—as it is now—different ones went out and became teachers. When someone has been in the Church of God, maybe even for years, what happens when brethren hear a person like that? They think that this person really knows and understands! He should, but…

Matthew 24:4: "Then Jesus answered and said to them, 'Be on guard, so that no one deceives you.'" The very first thing He said. We are finding that a lot of those ministers—professed teachers—are actually deceiving and misleading people, leading them astray. Some so much so that people are going out and doing things that are really incredible.

For example, many of you don't realize that we saw the apostasy happen within the Worldwide Church of God. There was minister within the WCG who preached a sermon saying that the WCG really means The Universal Church of God. The WCG is part of the 'Universal Holy Catholic Church.' That was said right from the pulpit.

On the other hand, and this was in a Dallas newspaper, there was a rabbi singer who went to Big Sandy and met with about 35 people down there, most of whom were ex-Worldwiders. He was teaching them about Judaism. He was telling them they had to renounce Christ. He was telling them they had to follow and practice the laws of Judaism, and that Christ was a charlatan, a fake and all of those things. And there are people who believe it!

One was confronted with a problem: If I embrace Judaism and my spouse doesn't, what happens? You can't sleep with a Gentile!

Verse 5[transcriber's correction]: "For many shall come in My name, saying, 'I am the Christ'; and they shall deceive many." We also have the phenomena that there will be those coming saying that Christ was not the Christ.

Here is something that is absolutely true, and we have seen time and time again, 1-Timothy 6:4: "He is proud and knows nothing. Rather, he has a morbid attraction to questions and disputes over words…" I've had umpteen dozen paper pass over my desk all during the years of my ministry.

"…from which come envy, arguments, blasphemy, wicked suspicions, vain reasonings of men who have been corrupted in their minds and are destitute of the Truth—men who believe that gain is Godliness. From such withdraw yourself" (vs 4-5). That can be:

• gain in numbers
• gain in property
• gain in money
• gain in buildings

• Isn't that what happens when people look to all the physical things?
• Didn't we, in our past experience, also equate the same thing?

If we had certain increase in income we were righteous, and God was with us. But now you look at it and know that's not true, because God is dealing with the true doctrine and the things that lead to Godliness.
Now let's look at some things that are important to know, and that is those who do those things actually reject the Word of God. This is what we're seeing over and over again. Not only in the translations that are out there. Remember The New Age Bible Versions by G. A. Riplinger. That was quite a book really exposing how bad the NIV, the New American Standard and the Catholic Bible and you can throw in the Jehovah's Witnesses' Bible in there with it. They all corrupted the Word of God.

2-Corinthians 2:17: "For we are not like the many, who for their own profit are corrupting the Word of God… [not just writing, but preaching, by misapplication, wrong doctrine] …but we speak with sincerity, as from God, and before God, and in Christ." That's what it has to be with everything that is done and true doctrine, doing it in the sight of God, before Him.

2-Corinthians 4:2—another thing that Paul was seeing: "For we have personally renounced the hidden things of dishonest gain, not walking in cunning craftiness, nor handling the Word of God deceitfully; but by manifestation of the Truth, we are commending ourselves to every man's conscience before God." There again in the sight of God handling the Word of God deceitfully. That's what they do.

One of the famous things that they do is the abbreviated thing they do with the Ten Commandments. They throw out the whole second commandment and they split the tenth commandment. That's how they have ten commandments. It goes from 'You shall have no other gods before me,' to you 'shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain.' Just take and cut it right out and throw it away if you don't like it. If it offends you get rid of it.

Well, God did not create the Bible by committee or a CNN Gallop Poll. He inspired it in His own words. Let's see what happens when people throw out parts of the Bible. They reject the Word of God! Remember, Jesus said, 'Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God shall man live.' That becomes very important.

It's really important to know and understand everything that's in the Bible to the best of our ability. I have read the biography of William Tyndale by David Daniell—William Tyndale: A Biography. He said that when Tyndale did his other writings, other than translating the New Testament, he showed an understanding of the Scriptures that was really tremendous. What he would do is layer his presentation with Scripture after Scripture and let the Scriptures tell the story. This is one of the things that's very important. It reaffirms what we do, and it also reaffirms that the Spirit of God is the 'same yesterday, today and forever,' because Christ is. Therefore, what Tyndale was inspired to do is what Christ will always inspire to do, so that the people of God will know and understand the Word of God. That was quite amazing, and when I read that I was really dumbfounded to see him write that.

1-Samuel 15:22: "And Samuel said, 'Does the LORD have as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifice…'"

Remember what Jesus said about the first commandment: You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, mind, soul and being, and your neighbor as yourself!' Then the lawyer answered back to Christ and said, 'Yea, and to love God is more than all burnt offerings.' And Jesus said, 'You're not far from the Kingdom of God.' So, we have the same teaching here, exactly!

"…'Does the LORD have as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifice as in obeying the voice of the LORD?…. [doctrine] …Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice! To hearken is better than the fat of rams" (v 22). Whenever you read the word hearken, it means listen to hear and understand. Jesus said in one place to His disciples, 'Let this saying sink deep into your ears.' That's what hearken means; let it register upon your brain.

Verse 23: "For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft… [doing the opposite of What God says] …and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because you have rejected the Word of the LORD, He has also rejected you from being king!"

Do we have examples of that in the New Testament, about those who will be rejected because they did not follow the words of Christ? Yes! Matt. 7:21-23—all those who say, 'Lord, Lord…. Didn't we prophesy in Your name? Didn't we cast out demons in Your name? Didn't we do many wonderful works in Your name?' And Jesus says, 'I profess to you, I never knew you.' So, we have the same thing.

Verse 26: "And Samuel said to Saul, 'I will not return with you, for you have rejected the Word of the LORD, and the LORD has rejected you from being king over Israel.'" We don't know if he later repented or not.

Let's see that that is a sin that has happened all the way through the history of mankind, beginning with Adam and Eve. What was it that Adam and Eve did? They rejected the Word of God and ate of the tree! Didn't God ask them, when He found them hiding in the Garden, 'Have you disobeyed My voice in saying that you should not eat of the tree? Have you eaten of that tree?'

Jeremiah 8:5: "Why has this people of Jerusalem slidden back by a never-ending backsliding?…." That's something! The people that God originally chose—the 12 tribes of Israel—always backslide on God. God even said in another place, 'If I would have gone to any of the heathen they would have kept it.

"…They hold fast to deceit; they refuse to repent. I listened and heard, but they did not speak right; no man repented of his wickedness, saying, 'What have I done?'…." (vs 5-6). I think if George Washington were resurrected today—and all of the rest of the founding fathers—and lined them up and brought them into the Congress, they would renounce it as a corrupt body.

But the reason that the people are that way is because the morals of the nation have slid down so low that they view those things as non-consequential. I think Delores had the right solution: pass a law that all people who are in Federal jails now who have committed perjury should be immediately released. Because if the President can get away with it, then everybody should be able to get away with it. Doesn't that tell you the state of the morals of the people? Certainly it does!

"…Everyone turned in their own courses, as the horse rushes into the battle" (v 6). Have you ever tried to stop a running horse galloping head on into battle or down the road? You can't turn it back. That's how people are set for it.

Verse 7: "Yea, the stork in heaven knows her appointed times; and the turtle and the crane and the swallow watch the time of their migration; but my people do not know the judgment of the LORD. How do you say, 'We are wise, and the Law of the LORD is with us'?…." (vs 7-8). That's exactly what people claim—don't they? Somewhere along the line they've always got to put God's name in it somewhere.

"…Lo, certainly the lying pen of the scribes has written falsely" (v 8). In other words, he's saying that God make the Word of God in vain, even though we have it. We have the Word of The Lord, but there's a lot in there 'we don't like; there's a lot that we don't want.'

Verse 9: "The wise men are ashamed, they are terrified, and are captured. Lo, they have turned away from the Word of the LORD; and what wisdom is in them?" When people reject the Word of the Lord, have these false doctrines, continue that way, it's really quite a thing.

Here's what eventually happens, just like history repeats itself, there are cycles in history. Cycles of wickedness repeat themselves, too. Here's the way that society is today, and this is what happens when people teach the doctrines that are not the sound doctrines and words of Jesus Christ. We have the principle in the Bible that applies: A little leaven leavens the whole lump! When you have sin come in, or false doctrine come in, if you don't correct it or change it or repent of it then that leads to more, and that leads to more to where you come to this point:

Isaiah 5:20: "Woe to those who call evil good and good evil… [that's exactly where we are] …who put darkness for light and light for darkness; who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter! Woe unto them that are wise in their own eyes, and prudent in their own sight!" (vs 20-21). Why? When you reject God, what wisdom do you have at all? None!

Verse 22: "Woe unto them that are mighty to drink wine, and men of strength to mingle strong drink: Who justify the wicked for a bribe, and take away the righteousness of the righteous from him!" (vs 22-23). That's what happens. People look upon those who want to love God, keep His laws and commandments. They despise them; they look down on them; you're crazy! You're weird! But their day is coming:

Verse 24: "Therefore, as the fire devours the stubble…" Have you ever seen stubble burnt? It almost explodes!

"…and the flame burns up the chaff… [it's going to happen] …their root shall be like rottenness, and their blossoms shall go up like dust because they have cast away the Law of the LORD of hosts, and despised the Word of the Holy One of Israel" (v 24).

That's what people do when they have this kind of conduct. That's what's happened in 'religion' more than anything else. Religion in the world is that which has laid the foundation for what the society is doing. If the society understood, the Word of God is the absolute Truth and ground of morality, how much different would this society be? Much, much different!

Psalm 50:16: "But to the wicked God says, 'What right have you to declare My statutes, and to take up My covenant in your mouth?'" This applies to all of those who preach and teach false doctrine, misuse the Word of God in a corrupt way and use it deceitfully. Why do you even take it to your mouth if you're going to change it and pervert it?

Example: One of the reasons why it's perfectly all right for people to keep Sunday, so they say, is because 'Christ did it for us: He perfectly kept the Sabbath for us, and if we enter into His rest and have our sins forgiven, therefore, we no longer have to keep the Sabbath, because Sunday is the day.'

That's a good example. People who have 'itching' ears, wanting to hear new things, that really makes them happy. God says, 'What are you doing taking My words on your mouth; and My covenant?'

Verse 17: "Yea, you hate to be taught, and you cast My words behind you. When you saw a thief, then you were pleased to be with him, and you have taken part with adulterers. You give your mouth to evil, and your tongue frames deceit. You sit; you speak against your brother; you slander your own mother's son. These things you have done, and I have kept silence; you thought that I was like yourself, but I will rebuke you, and set them in order before your eyes. Now, consider this, you who forget God, lest I tear you in pieces, and there be none to deliver" (vs 17-22).

You see, ultimately it's going to come down to the judgment of God. Let's see another warning that Jesus gave. This applies to any 'religion.' One thing that is true, all 'religions' have their rules and regulations. That's why God does not want us to be a religion. The world can view us as a religion, because they don't know how to approach God any other way.

God wants us to live in the way of the Lord. We are to walk in the way of Truth. Ours is not to be a 'religion' as the world knows it, with all of these exterior things that you do, all the rituals that you do. But as they look at us they will tell us that we are a 'religious,' but we're really not.

• We're really the people of God!
• We're really the firstfruits called of Christ!
• We're really those awaiting the first resurrection, to be part of the Church of the Firstborn!

Totally different; nevertheless, 'religion' is out there so we have to deal with it.

Matthew 16:6: "And Jesus said to them, 'Watch out and be on guard against the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees.'" He explains what it is:

Verse 12: "Then they understood that He did not say to beware of the leaven of bread, but of the doctrine of the Pharisees and Sadducees"—and any other 'religious' teacher!

Here's what we are to do. This is very important, and the key thing: Whenever anything is presented from the Scriptures, whenever there's a teacher, a minister, preacher or someone who is using the Bible, here's what Paul wrote:

2-Timothy 2:15: "Diligently study to show yourself approved unto God, a workman who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the Word of the Truth." If you rightly divide the Word of Truth, then you're going to put it together correctly. That's what's important.

Notice the verses just before this, v 14: "See that they remain mindful of these things, earnestly charging them in the sight of the Lord…" Go through and study how many times that Paul charged Timothy, and told Timothy to charge them.

"…not to argue over words that are not profitable in any way, but which lead to the subverting of those who hear…. [then we have]: …Diligently study to show yourself approved unto God, a workman who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the Word of the Truth; but avoid profane and vain babblings because they will only give rise to more ungodliness" (vs 14-16). Same thing as a little leaven leavens the whole lump!

The Word of God is so important that God exalts His Word above His name.

Jeremiah 23:21—God is talking about the false prophets: "I have not sent these prophets, yet, they ran; I have not spoken to them, yet, they prophesied."

Notice that this shows the power of God's Word, and it also shows that even though there are false prophets, as well as true prophets, it is not the man who is important. That's something to really consider here:

Verse 22: "But if they had stood in My counsel… [even though He didn't sent them] …and had caused My people to hear My words… [instead of theirs] …then they would have turned them from their evil way and from the evil of their doings." He's saying that they would have at least accomplished some good, even though God didn't send them.

Verse 23: "'Am I a God Who is near,' says the LORD, 'and not a God afar off? Can anyone hide himself in secret places so that I shall not see him?' says the LORD. 'Do I not fill the heavens and earth?' says the LORD. 'I have heard what the prophets said, who prophesy lies in My name…'" (vs 23-25). See the difference? If they would have prophesied His words, they could have made a difference. But instead they prophesied lies in God's names.

"'…saying, "I have dreamed, I have dreamed."…. [there are many who have said that] … How long shall this be in the heart of the prophets who prophesy lies and who are prophets of the deceit of their own heart? They scheme to cause My people to forget My name by their dreams which they tell, each one to his neighbor, as their fathers have forgotten My name for Baal. The prophet who has a dream, let him tell a dream. And he who has My Word, let him speak My Word faithfully….'" (vs 25-28). That's what God intends, because the Word of God is so absolutely marvelous.

"'…What is the chaff to the wheat?' says the LORD. 'Is not My Word like a fire?' says the LORD, 'and like a hammer that breaks the rock in pieces? Therefore, behold, I am against the prophets who steal My words… [use them to their own end] …each one from his neighbor. Behold, I am against the prophets who use their tongues and say, "He says," when I did not say. Behold, I am against those who prophesy false dreams and tell them, and cause My people to go astray by their lies and by their wantonness. Yet, I did not send them nor command them; therefore, they shall not profit this people at all,' says the LORD" (vs 28-32). It's quite a thing!

Verse 36: "…for you have perverted the words of the living God, of the LORD of hosts our God." That's why in writing, Paul says, 'You adhere to the sound words of Jesus Christ, not unto any of those.'

There are several things in John that we will cover. This is true, this is always true. This is John the Baptist speaking of Jesus Christ:

John 3:31: "He Who comes from above is above all. The one who is of the earth is earthly, and speaks of the earth. He Who comes from heaven is above all; and what He has seen and heard, this is what He testifies; but no one receives His testimony. The one who has received His testimony has set his seal that God is true" (vs 31-33).

This is a very important point, a very fundamental thing in our lives. If you believe the Word of God, believe the Word of Truth, you have set your seal that God is true! That's what it's all about. Living in a world so filled with lies and deceit, that's quite a thing! That's quite a contrast.

Verse 34: "For He Whom God has sent speaks the words of God…" We just read that God said that He didn't send those prophets. So therefore, they misapplied His words and didn't speak His words.

"…and God gives not the Spirit by measure unto Him [Christ]" (v 36). This is a true thing of all of those who are going to be sent of God to preach. What are they going to preach?

If anyone who is a true minister of God has not really learned that to speak your own words, to preach your own doctrines are going to get you in trouble, You have to set your heart and mind to know and to understand that you are going to speak the words of God. Those are the words of eternal life.

Verse 35: "The Father loves the Son and has given all things into His hand. The one who believes in the Son has everlasting life…" (vs 35-36). The only way you can truly believe is with the Truth and the Word of God; no other way!

"…but the one who does not obey the Son shall not see life, for the wrath of God remains on him" (v 36).

John 6:63: "It is the Spirit that gives [spiritual] life; the flesh profits nothing…." Even our human bodies come to the end.

(go to the next track)

Yet, the world glories in the flesh! "…the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you, they are Spirit and they are Life" (v 63). That's a very profound thing, because when you read the word of God, when it enters into your mind and you have understanding, there is a spiritual something that happens to you.

I've experienced that so many times in my lifetime in reading and studying the Word of God, and especially so when I go back over Scriptures and learn more out of the same Scriptures that I've already known for years and years. That is really thrilling!

This is something that happens to you when the Word of God has entrance into your heart and mind. It will give you:

• life
• hope
• love
• joy
• understanding

in spite of all the circumstances around.

That's why there is nothing that can hold us back from the Kingdom of God if we really understand it, and do things the way that God wants them done.

These Scriptures are very important to remind us and help understand the true doctrines. Here is:

• the true doctrine of Jesus Christ
• the wholesome words of Jesus Christ
• the sound words of Jesus Christ

John 14:15: "If you love Me, keep the commandments—namely, My commandments." In the Greek that is very emphatic! There is a way of writing it in the Greek that brings it out in a very emphatic way.

Verse 21: "The one who has My commandments and is keeping them…" It's one thing to say that we have the commandments of God. The Protestants say that, and even the Catholics say that. But to truly have the commandments of God, and to truly keep them:

"…that is the one who loves Me; and the one who loves Me shall be loved by My Father, and I will love him and will manifest Myself to him" (v 21). That's a profound thing. That's why I have been emphasizing that God wants us in that love relationship with Him. That's where it needs to start.

When you get into 'religion,' and your own experience has probably been the same, where was the love of God? Since the love of God is the greatest thing, and if you have people using the name of Christ and professing to be teachers and ministers of Christ, and don't know the love of God and don't teach the love of God, don't understand the love of God, no wonder God is separating and scattering.

There's one thing that you learn in distress and trouble: you have to have God!You come to learn this lesson:

Verse 23: "Jesus answered and said to him, 'If anyone loves Me, he will keep My Word… [the wholesome and sound words of Jesus Christ] …and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our abode with him." The Holy Spirit of God is consisting of the Spirit of Christ and the Spirit of the Father, both together in you!

Verse 24: "The one who does not love Me does not keep My words…" It's not just restricted to the commandments, laws, statutes, judgments or anything like that. It's whatever Jesus has said; it makes no difference. Those are the sound words of Christ.

"…and the word that you hear is not Mine, but the Father's, Who sent Me" (v 24). We're dealing with the direct words of God the Father when we truly , truly understand it. That's how important it is.

John 12:42: "But even so, many among the rulers believed in Him; but because of the Pharisees they did not confess Him, so that they wouldnot be put out of the synagogue." So, there's religious and political power, and the leaders are subject to that.

Verse 43: "For they loved the glory of men more than the glory of God." They put what other people thought about them ahead of what God thought about them.

Verse 44: "Then Jesus called out and said, 'The one who believes in Me does not believe in Me, but in Him Who sent Me…. [going right back to God the Father] …And the one who sees Me sees Him Who sent Me. I have come as a light into the world so that everyone who believes in Me may not remain in darkness. But if anyone hears My words and does not believe, I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world, but to save the world. The one who rejects Me and does not receive My words has one who judges him; the word which I have spoken, that shall judge him in the last day'" (vs 44-48). It's going to happen one way or the other!

Verse 49: "For I have not spoken from Myself; but the Father, Who sent Me, gave Me commandment Himself, what I should say and what I should speak." Again, going back to the Father.

If there's any one thing that I think we've been learning—especially with the different controversies we've been having on the way of God vs religion, that is we are not a 'religion.' God does not want us to be 'religious' people the way the world understands us to be. He wants us to be connected to Him and God the Father, and it is direct, and with the Spirit of God!

Verse 50: "And I know that His commandment is eternal life. Therefore, whatever I speak, I speak exactly as the Father has told Me."

Is it possible that those who are really true teachers of God that they would be faithful to the Word of God this way? The same way that Jesus Christ was? That's the only way that they're going to help the brethren learn the Truth! There won't be any other way!

It says that 'If they do not consent to the wholesome words, or the sound words, of Jesus Christ… Let's do a little survey concerning the Word of God:

Psalm 12:1—this is like the world today; sometimes you feel this way: "Help, O LORD, for the Godly man ceases; for the faithful disappear from among the children of men." Hasn't that happened within the Church? Many of those we thought were faithful have failed! Where are they?

Verse 2: "They speak falsehood each one with his neighbor; with flattering lips and a double heart they speak…. [they have a hidden agenda, a secret plan] …The LORD shall cut off all flattering lips, and the tongue that speaks proud things, who have said, 'With our tongue we shall prevail; our lips are our own; who is lord over us?' 'For the oppression of the poor, for the sighing of the needy, I will now arise,' says the LORD. 'I will set him in safety from him who puffs at him'" (vs 2-5). God is showing that He will deliver one way or the other.

Verse 6: "The words of the LORD are pure words, like silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times." That's why we can rely on the Word of God.

Psalm 18:30: "As for God, His way is perfect; the Word of the LORD is tried…. [we can be sure of Him] …He is a shield to all those who take refuge in Him, for who is God besides the LORD? Or, who is a Rock except our God? The God who girds me with strength and makes my way perfect" (vs 30-32). He relied on God and not on his own ways.

Psalm 138:1: "I will praise You with my whole heart; before the gods I will sing praise to You. I will worship toward Your Holy temple, and praise Your name for Your loving kindness, and for Your Truth; for You have magnified above all—Your name and Your Word" (vs 1-2). That's quite a profound verse. If you run into any sacred-namers, what you need to do is have them read this verse.

Psa. 119 is really a tremendous Psalm. We're going to do a quick survey with quite a few verses having to do with the Word of God; just the Word. It talks about:

• the Word of God
• the commandments of God
• the statutes of God
• the precepts of God
• the testimonies of God

I would suggest to anyone who is having difficulty understanding why we need to keep the words of God, go through and read and study this whole Psalm and let it sink in deep, because that will change your whole perspective. I did two sermons on Psa. 119 many years ago, actually showing that I think these are the prophetic words of Christ concerning His view toward the laws and commandments of God, because they are so profound! Not every verse, of course, but a good many of them.

Psalm 119:11: "Your Word I have laid up in my heart, so that I might not sin against You." How are you going to avoid sin? Let the Word of God rule in your heart and mind! Let the laws be written in your mind and heart!

Verse 16: "I will delight myself in Your statutes; I will not forget Your Word. Deal bountifully with Your servant, that I may live and keep Your Word" (vs 16-17). It was David's desire to keep the Word of God!

The whole thrust and attitude of this Psalm is really absolutely amazing!

Verse 25: "My soul cleaves to the dust; revive me… [give life to me] …according to Your Word." That could apply to Christ as He was dying; that could apply to David when he was sick.

Verse 28: "My soul melts away for sorrow; strengthen me according to Your Word." If you are overburdened with great problems and they are pressing in on you and just sort of crushing you down, go to the Word of God! Study the Word of God!

• let that lift you up
• let that encourage you
• let that give you hope

Verse 38: "Fulfill Your Word to Your servant, so that You may be feared." That's quite an attitude—isn't it? All of these show a tremendous converted attitude and a real love toward God's way, continuously.

Verse 41: "Let Your mercies come also unto me, O LORD, even according to Your salvation, according to Your Word, that I may have an answer for the one who reproaches me, for I trust in Your Word" (vs 41-42). That's why it's so important to really know it, really understand it, to be really grounded in it. There's going to come a time when someone is going to reproach you about it. But you're going to stand because you have the Word of God.

Verse 43: "And take not the Word of Truth utterly out of my mouth, for I have hoped in Your judgments."

Verse 50: "This is my comfort in my affliction, that Your Word has given me life." There it is!

What does it say concerning Christ in the beginning of the Gospel of John? John 1:1: "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God." When you trust His Word, you're trusting in Jesus Christ.

Psalm 119:49: "Remember the Word to Your servant upon which You have caused me to hope."
Verse 58: "I entreated Your favor with all my heart; be gracious unto me according to Your Word." That's why you can count on forgiveness from God. This is part of repentance. "I entreated Your favor…"—grace!

• you can trust in God for forgiveness
• you can trust in God to comfort you
• you can trust in God to help you
• you can trust in God uplift you
• you can trust in God to guide you with His Spirit

This is why when Paul wrote as he did, that we need to consent to the wholesome/sound words of Christ. There's a reason for it, because when he writes something in the New Testament there's this whole 'iceberg.' You know what an iceberg is like; about one-tenth of it is above water and nine-tenths below the water. You can't see the nine-tenths. When Paul writes something in the New Testament, it's equivalent to writing with the background with all that is in the Old Testament and all that is in the Gospels.

If we put it all together and examine it as if it were an iceberg and just look at the depths of it, then we will understand it and realize how great and marvelous God's Word is. Here we have the whole Bible of God! The whole Word! Just think what God has done to get it to us, and what God expects of us because we have it. Yet, isn't it so true, that though you have the whole Word of God—

• How many people have trouble studying?
• How many people have trouble praying?

—when you have every opportunity, and there is peace in the land, and all you have to do is open the Bible or go get on your knees.

• Doesn't that tell you how devastating the pull of human nature is?
• Doesn't that tell you what the law of sin in you does?

Paul said that the things he wanted to do, he couldn't; and the things he didn't want to do, he did; that there is this war going on within him. We can overcome that by realizing how great God's Word is, and to really use it, know it and apply ourselves to it.

Verse 57: "You are my portion, O LORD; I have said that I would keep Your words."

Verse 65: "You have dealt well with Your servant, O LORD, according to Your Word."

Verse 67: "Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I have kept Your Word." What brought David back? Trial! Difficulty! If you have a trial or difficulty come along, don't let it drive you away from God; let it drive you to God. You may not understand all the difficulty you're going through.

Maybe it will be so bad that you don't have a clue as to what is going on. But you still have to trust in God and have faith in God, then what will happen? One day it will dawn on you—BING!—a light goes on and you will look back on that trial and difficulty—and because you trusted in God and were faithful in His Word clear up to the point where you begin to understand it, maybe it will be years later—and you will say 'that's why I went through this.'

I've experienced that many, many times. Sometimes I go through things and I wonder why. Lot's of times we go through things because of our own stupidity. We can figure those things out, but some of the other things we can't.

This is quite a verse here, v 67: "Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I have kept Your Word"—which then brings understanding.

Verse 74: "Those who fear You will be glad when they see me because I have hoped in Your Word." I'm sure that has to do with Christ more than King David. There was even one man who was not happy to see him at all, and said, 'You miserable, wretched king, you brought all this stuff on me, on us,' and spit on the king.

Joab said, 'Let me do him in.' David said, 'No, he's speaking the truth, let him alone.' Even in his misery, David learned things.

Verse 76: "I beseech You, let Your steadfast love comfort me, according to Your promise to Your servant. Let Your tender mercies come to me so that I may live, for Your Law is my delight" (vs 76-77).

Verse 81: "My soul faints for Your salvation; I hope in Your Word. My eyes fail for Your Word, saying, 'When will You comfort me?'" (vs 81-82). Reasoning with God with the difficulties and problems that he was having there.

Verse 89: "Forever, O LORD, Your Word is settled in the heavens." If the Word of God is settled forever in heaven, who is man to modify it and change it? You really need to think about it. That's very important to realize. When you put it together with Psa. 138:2, that He magnifies His Word above His name, and His Word is settled in heaven. That's quite something!

Verse 101: "I have held back my feet from every evil way, so that I might keep Your Word." You see what the Word of God does for you? It gives you the ability, to give you character to not sin!

Verse 105: "Your Word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path." Shows you the way to go. This is one that many people like to take and put up as kind of a little mural or plaque on the wall.

Just think about how many times you've gotten up at night when it's really dark, especially somewhere where you are staying temporarily. For just an instant you forget where you are. I've had it happen even at home. I'd be sleeping so soundly, I'd wake up wondering where I am.

Just consider if it were pitched black and you had no light. What's the first thing you do? You go over and turn the switch on, so you can have light to see where you're going! The Word of God is just that way for us. It shows us how to walk the way of God by His Word! It gives us light, understanding and Truth.

Verse 107: "I am afflicted very much; O LORD, give me life according to Your Word." Notice how many times David got into that when he was in trouble and difficulty.

Verse 116: "Uphold me according to Your Word, that I may live; and let me not be ashamed of my hope. Hold me up, and I shall be safe; and I will always have respect unto Your statutes" (vs 116-117).

Verse 133: "Order my steps by Your Word…"—let me walk in Your Word. I think that if most of us would really do this, this would be a tremendous thing! We all still have enough carnality that that's something we need to come back to time and time again.

"…and do not let any iniquity have dominion over me" (v 133). What is this telling us? That you will sin, but it's not going to rule you! If you have your steps ordered according to the Word of God, then the sin is not going to rule over you.

In Rom. 6 we are talking about living within the grace of God, that is in the Word of Christ, ordering your way in the grace of God.

Romans 6:1: "What then shall we say? Shall we continue in sin, so that grace may abound? MAY IT NEVER BE! We who died to sin, how shall we live any longer therein?" (vs 1-2)—live in it! It's not saying that you won't sin, but you're not going to live in sin.

There's a difference in having your way ordered in the Word of God, walking in the Word of God, so that sin will not rule over you. You do sin, but you repent of that sin. When you are living in sin, you don't repent of that sin. That's what Paul is talking about. "…how shall we live any longer therein?"

Verse 3: "Or are you ignorant that we, as many as were baptized into Christ Jesus, were baptized into His death?" In other words, you died unto sin.

Verse 11: "In the same way also, you should indeed reckon yourselves to be dead to sin, but alive to God through Christ Jesus our Lord. Therefore, do not let sin rule… [reign or have dominion] …in your mortal body by obeying it in the lusts thereof" (vs 11-12). That is amplified in:

Psa. 119:133: "Order my steps by Your Word, and do not let any iniquity have dominion over me." That's how it's accomplished.

Verse 147: "I rose before the dawning of the morning and cried out for help; I hoped in Your Word. My eyes go before the night watches, so that I might meditate on Your Word" (vs 147-148). It was a day/night thing with David.

Verse 154: "Plead my cause and deliver me; according to Your Word give me life… [In other words, intervene 'on my behalf, God] …according to Your Word. Salvation is far from the wicked, for they do not seek Your statutes" (vs 154-155).

Let's see how that still applies today. When Paul said that we are to 'adhere to the sound words of Christ' If you wanted to look up every place where it talks about:

• the Word of God
• the Word of the Lord
• His words
• Your words
• My words
• obey My voice

Just take that as a study, I guarantee it will take you quite a while to get through it, because there are literally pages of it in the concordances. Even what we've studied here, though we went into some depth in it, if we likened the whole thing to the iceberg I talked about, we probably got down another ten percent. There's so much more to it, it's incredible.

As I've said many times, the Word of God is like a sphere, not a string. You can take a sphere, and theoretically you can put in an innumerable number of lines going through that sphere. Everywhere there's an intersection of those lines, the Word of God connects. So, you can liken that to putting the Word of God together correctly.

With an infinite number of lines, there is an infinite number of connections, which means that we're dealing with the Word of God inspired by the Spirit of God. Since God lives forever, that's why it's designed in that way.

There are so many people that claim to the Church of Philadelphia or Philadelphians, the point escapes too many people as to what it really means. I'm not saying that we are Philadelphians and others are whatever they may be. All I'm saying is let's see what this tells us concerning the Word of God.

Revelation 3:7: "And to the angel of the Church in Philadelphia, write: "These things says the Holy One, the One Who is true; the One Who has the key of David, Who opens and no one shuts, and Who shuts and no one opens. I know your works…." (vs 7-8). Let's understand something about works:

We are to have works, but those works are to be based and rooted in the love and grace of God. If we love and obey God what kind of works are we going to have? God knows them!

"…Behold, I have set before you an open door, and no one has the power to shut it because you have a little strength, and have kept My Word…" (v 8). That's how important the Word of God is.

"…and have not denied My name" (v 8). If you don't keep His Word, what are you doing? You're denying His name! The two go hand in hand.

Verse 9: "Behold, I will make those of the synagogue of Satan…" The great world establishment that runs the world, including financially, government—the whole system of the world.

"…who proclaim themselves to be Jews and are not, but do lie—behold, I will cause them to come and worship before your feet, and to know that I have loved you." (v 9). What you need to realize is that the day will come; you can count on it! That day will come!

Verse 10: "Because you have kept the Word of My patience… [or endurance] …I also will keep you from the time [hour] of temptation…" A lot of people think that this is the Great Tribulation. NO! The Great Tribulation is not an hour. The Great Tribulation is three and a half years. The temptation is the coming one-world government and the one-world religion; that you are going to be kept from being tempted to go into it.

• Why? Because you kept the Word of God!
• What does that do for you? That tells you what is true, and what is not true! That tells you what is Godly and what is not Godly!

When it comes on the scene and there are 'great signs and miracles' that take place and the whole world is falling for it, going head-over-heels in love with it, it is going to be a thing that is going to sweep this world!

"…which is about to come upon the whole world…" (v 10). With the modern communication we have today, it's going to be all the world!

"…to try those who dwell on the earth" (v 10). There are many other things that are going to have to happen with this. There will be the two witnesses who come on the scene, and they will also witness against this system.

Verse 11: "Behold, I am coming quickly; hold fast that which you have…" What is it that they have? The Word of God! With that the Spirit of God! With that the understanding of the Word of God!

so that no one may take away your crown" (v 11). Why would he put that in there unless there were a lot of people out there trying to get you to change your ways from following the Word of God; in whatever little way it can start.

I remember that we gave a pretty sound warning about some of the things that were happening, of those who were denying Jesus Christ, in going to an afternoon, 14th Passover. We said, 'Watch out! Trouble is coming!' It has landed and they are in deep trouble! Why? Because they let a man take from them the Truth concerning the Passover!

So, the warning is there; it can apply to Sabbath, Holy Days, anything rooted in the Word of God. Why would you want to give up the Word of God anyway? What are you going to get in return? The word of Satan! If they are not:

1-Timothy 6:3: "If anyone teaches any different doctrine, and does not adhere to sound words, even those of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the doctrine that is according to Godliness, he is proud and knows nothing. Rather, he has a morbid attraction to questions and disputes over words, from which come envy, arguments, blasphemy, wicked suspicions, vain reasonings of men who have been corrupted in their minds and are destitute of the Truth—…" (vs 3-5). That's what happens to those who leave the Word of God and go out and have a 'religion.'

"…men who believe that gain is Godliness. From such withdraw yourself" (v 5). Don't go out and associate with the great ecumenical thing and come along where we began: service unites and doctrine—divides—so therefore, you have your doctrine over here, there and everywhere.

What you're doing when you do that is accusing God of being double-minded. You're accusing God of being a liar, because He allows this one to have this practice over here—say a 15th Passover, and another person over here with a 14th Passover. One keeps Sabbath and another keeps Sunday. Then you can spread it out into the world. The Muslims keep Friday and the Buddhists keep no day.

See how important it is? Yes! Doctrine does divide! It should divide us from the world and separate us to God!

All Scriptures from The Holy Bible in Its Original Order, A Faithful Version by Fred R. Coulter

Scriptural References:

• 1 Timothy 6:3
• Matthew 24:4-5
• 1 Timothy 6:4-5
• 2 Corinthians 2:17
• 2 Corinthians 4:2
• 1 Samuel 15:22-23, 26
• Jeremiah 8:5-9
• Isaiah 5:20-24
• Psalm 50:16-22
• Matthew 16:6, 12
• 2 Timothy 2:15, 14, 15-16
• Jeremiah 23:21-32, 36
• John 3:31-36
• John 6:63
• John 14:15, 21, 23-24
• John 12:42-50
• Psalm 12:1-6
• Psalm 18:30-32
• Psalm 138:1-2
• Psalm 119:11, 16-17, 25, 28, 38, 41-43, 50
• John 1:1
• Psalm 119: 49, 58, 57, 65, 67, 74, 76, 77,

                     81-82, 89, 101, 105, 107, 116-117, 133

• Romans 6:1-3, 11-12
• Psalm 119: 133, 147, 154-155
• Revelation 3:7-11
• 1 Timothy 6:3-5

Scriptures referenced, not quoted:

• Revelation 2; 3
• Matthew 7:21-23
• Acts 15
• Matthew 7:21-23

Also referenced: 

Ecumenical Movement
         (klausuren.de/inhalt/kategorie/englisch-1/ecumenical-movement)
Books:
The New Age Bible Versions by G. A. Riplinger
William Tyndale: A Biography by David Daniell

FRC:bo
Transcribed: 2-23-15