United By Our Devotion To The Apostle's Doctrine #1 - Jesus' Take On Truth, Error And Eternity

And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine…

Acts 2:42a NKJV

DEVOTION TO THE APOSTLE’S DOCTRINE REQUIRES KNOWING WHAT THEY ARE.

• They are the teachings of Christ.

“I still have many things to tell you, but you can’t bear them now. When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth. For he will not speak on his own, but he will speak whatever he hears... He will glorify me, because he will take from what is mine and declare it to you. Everything the Father has is mine...”

John 16:12-15 CSB

• They are the inspired scriptures.

All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right.

2 Timothy 3:16 NLT

• They are “the Faith.”

…now I find that I must write about something else, urging you to defend the faith that God has entrusted once for all time to his holy people. I say this because some ungodly people have wormed their way into your churches, saying that God’s marvelous grace allows us to live immoral lives. The condemnation of such people was recorded long ago..

Jude 3b, 4a NLT

• They are “the Truth.”

I will send you the ·Helper [Counselor; Advocate; C the Holy Spirit] from the Father; he is the Spirit of truth who comes from the Father. When he comes, he will ·tell [testify; witness] about me, and you also must ·tell people about me, because you have been with me from the beginning.

John 15:26, 27 EXB

WHEN IT COMES TO DEVOTION TO TRUTH JESUS WANT ME TO…

1. KNOW THAT THERE ARE TWO ROADS THAT LEAD TO ETERNITY.

“Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that

leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.

Matthew 7:13–14 NIV

One road is wide, heavily traveled, and leads to destruction.

One road is narrow, lightly traveled, and leads to life

I cannot arrive at the right destination if I am on the wrong road.

2. TEST EVERY TEACHER BY CHRIST’S TEACHINGS

“Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.

Matthew 7:15–20 NIV

There are true prophets who present Jesus’ teachings accurately.

There are false prophets who claim to present Jesus’ teaching, but don’t

I cannot forget that Satan’s strategy to destroy me involves deception.

3. REALIZE THAT CLAIMING TO BE A CHRISTIAN DOES NOT MAKE ME ONE.

“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’

Matthew 7:21–23 NIV

There are people who sensationally but falsely claim Jesus as Lord.

There is a “plain” refutation of their salvation by Jesus.

I cannot be right with God when embracing wrong teachings.

4. SALVATION REQUIRES THAT I HAVE AN OBEDIENT FAITH IN JESUS.

“Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.”

Matthew 7:24–27 NIV

The greatest error is to hear accurate teaching and disregard it.