DOCTRINE MATTERS

In the last book of the Old Testament, Malachi, in chapter 2, addresses God's displeasure with the priests. One of the responsibilities of these priests, was to teach the Law of Moses to the people.

God chose the tribe of Levi to be the tribe from which future priests would serve Him and the people of Israel. This choosing came as a result of their zeal for God years earlier at Mt. Sinai, when the idol of a golden calf was worshipped, while Moses was upon the mountain receiving the Law. 

In Exod. 32:25-29, we take up the story: Now when Moses saw that the people were out of control—for Aaron had let them get out of control to be a derision among their enemies then Moses stood in the gate of the camp, and said, “Whoever is for the Lord, come to me!” And all the sons of Levi gathered together to him. He said to them, “Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, ‘Every man of you put his sword upon his thigh, and go back and forth from gate to gate in the camp, and kill every man his brother, and every man his friend, and every man his neighbor.’” So the sons of Levi did as Moses instructed, and about three thousand men of the people fell that day. Then Moses said, “Dedicate yourselves today to the Lord—for every man has been against his son and against his brother—in order that He may bestow a blessing upon you today.”

We see that this choosing of them was a blessing and a reward for their zeal in punishing the guilty among their brethren. This act of zeal and obedience is later described in Deut. 33:8-9 as follows: “Of Levi he said, “Let Your Thummim and Your Urim belong to Your godly man, whom You proved at Massah, with whom You contended at the waters of Meribah; who said of his father and his mother, ‘I did not consider them’; and he did not acknowledge his brothers, nor did he regard his own sons, for they observed Your word, and kept Your covenant.”

While many lessons can be taken from this, one lesson is obvious: the sons of Levi chose to side with God rather than family and friends. [Remember Jesus’ words in Matt. 10:37 about loving family more than Him?] Does their behavior here show who they loved ‘more’?

Malachi 2:5 says of Levi, “My covenant with him was one of life.”

However, another important truth that must not be forgotten is that the priesthood was given to the tribe of Levi, no other tribe! As time would go on, within this nation, priests were “allowed” to come from other tribes, although God never authorized such a decision. One of the more notable examples of this being done was when Jeroboam did so, being motivated to secure his rule over the people. He was condemned for such and this practice continued until the Assyrian captivity.

Another thing that happened with many priests, can be seen from the prophet Micah. Micah records the bribery among the heads of the people, the priests, and the prophets. Micah 3:11 states, “The heads thereof judge for reward, and the priests thereof teach for hire, and the prophets thereof divine for money...”

This too continued to Malachi’s day and brings us up to Malachi’s words in chapter 2:1-9, where God’s anger with the priests is described:

“And now this commandment is for you, O priests. If you do not listen, and if you do not take it to heart to give honor to My name,” says the Lord of hosts, “then I will send the curse upon you and I will curse your blessings; and indeed, I have cursed them already, because you are not taking it to heart. Behold, I am going to rebuke your offspring, and I will spread refuse on your faces, the refuse of your feasts; and you will be taken away with it. Then you will know that I have sent this commandment to you, that My covenant may continue with Levi,” says the Lord of hosts. “My covenant with him was one of life and peace, and I gave them to him as an object of reverence; so he revered Me and stood in awe of My name. True instruction was in his mouth and unrighteousness was not found on his lips; he walked with Me in peace and uprightness, and he turned many back from iniquity. For the lips of a priest should preserve knowledge, and men should seek instruction from his mouth; for he is the messenger of the Lord of hosts. But as for you, you have turned aside from the way; you have caused many to stumble by the instruction; you have corrupted the covenant of Levi,” says the Lord of hosts. “So I also have made you despised and abased before all the people, just as you are not keeping My ways but are showing partiality in the instruction.

Among their sins, was that of “corrupting the covenant of Levi”. How was the covenant ‘corrupted’? By teaching error! Notice again the phrase, “…you have turned aside from the way; you have caused many to stumble by the instruction…”. Malachi also said that, “..the lips of a priest should preserve knowledge, and men should seek instruction from his mouth; for he is the messenger of the Lord of hosts.”

But this didn’t happen…

Such instructions bear upon all who preach today. As was true in the Old Testament, so today, there is truth being preached and there is error! How can one know truth from error in the preaching?

Simple. In the Old Testament, there was a standard; the Law that Moses received from God on Mt. Sinai. Compare every message to that. This was seen from Deut. 13:1-10, where Moses said that if ANY prophet taught differently from what He had taught, that prophet was to be put to death (much as was done with the guilty in Exod. 32 by the sons of Levi years earlier). Error could be distinguished from truth in this way.

An example of error being taught is seen from Jeroboam’s errors.

1 Kings 12:27-29 – Jeroboam changed the place of worship from Jerusalem to Dan and Bethel…did it matter? Yes, for God specified Jerusalem as the place of worship (Deut. 12:5-7; Exod. 20:24; Deut. 12:11, 13; 2 Chron. 7:12)

1 Kings 12:31, 33 – Jeroboam made priests from tribes other than the tribe of Levi…did it matter? Yes, for God commanded Moses to give the priesthood to the tribe of Levi. (1 Kings 13:33; 2 Kings 17:32; 2 Chron. 11:15; 13:9)

1 Kings 12:32 – Jeroboam changed the day of worship from the 7^th month to the 8^th month. Did it matter? Yes, for God had commanded Moses to do so on the 7^th month (Lev. 23:33-34).

Why did Jeroboam do this? We are told in 1 Kings 12:27, 33.

Today, how can one know truth from error in preaching? In the same way as was done in the Old Testament with the Law of Moses.

As then, there is a standard today also. The standard is the teachings of Jesus; the teachings of the apostles…they’re one and the same. It is the gospel; God’s power to save (Rom. 1:16). But, as Moses said in Deut. 13, there are those who teach differently from what Jesus and the apostles taught. Those who do so, are accursed (Gal. 1:6-9).

While we know of Jeroboam’s motives, we also know that the same motives are found today in preachers who teach a different gospel. 2 Peter 2:10-19 details their motives. Peter had earlier said of them that, “…because of them the way of the truth will be maligned; and in their greed they will exploit you with false words…” (2 Peter 2:2-3).

Timothy said they were, “…men of depraved mind and deprived of the truth, who suppose that godliness is a means of gain.” (1 Tim. 6:5).

Jude said they were, “…are grumblers, finding fault, following after their own lusts; they speak arrogantly, flattering people for the sake of gaining an advantage (Jude 1:16).

Jeroboam’s motives were not known by those he deceived at the time; but by those who knew what God had commanded Moses, it mattered, and they could not support Jeroboam. He was a false teacher, with evil motives!

So, today, motives are seldom known at the outset. Peter revealed their covert ways in 2 Peter 2:1, saying that they “…secretly introduce destructive heresies...”.

Gal. 2:4 says that the innocent are brought into bondage by “…false brethren secretly brought in...”.

Jude said they creep in “...unnoticed...ungodly persons who turn the grace of our God into licentiousness...” (Jude 1:4).

It is sad to say, but the reality is, that some preach lies and distort the gospel. Read again Peter’s words of this occurring under the Old Testament and the New Testament (2 Peter 2:1 – “…false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will also be false teachers among you...”).

This is why doctrine matters. Friends and families are segregated because of different messages being proclaimed. Preachers need to be held responsible for what they preach. If they are preaching the same thing as Jesus and the apostles preached, then any investigation will vindicate them and prove them to be proclaimers of truth. The standard is the gospel. Compare the messages. Truth will stand out.

As this relates to salvation, the question “What must I do to be saved?”, is foremost of all matters. If error is preached on this, people have been deceived as to their own status with God. If error was preached and error was believed and error was obeyed, IS ONE SAVED?

Is it possible to preach error on “How To Be Saved”?

What did Jesus command His apostles to preach on this? Does it matter what answer is given? Remember, did the changes that Jeroboam made, matter?

Does it matter whether baptism is taught as necessary BEFORE salvation, or AFTERWARDS (as an outward sign of an inward grace)?

All other matters are moot if error on “How To Be Saved” is embraced. There is a ‘form of doctrine’ to be DELIVERED and to be OBEYED! (Rom. 6:17-18)

If not, then where does that leave us? Is it impossible to teach what the Lord’s apostles taught? Is it impossible to agree on what they taught? What was taught to people in the book of Acts who asked “what must I do to be saved”?

Whatever the answer THE APOSTLES gave, should be the answer given by all who preach today. If not, why not?

Did the apostles EVER tell anyone to pray a prayer for salvation? If so, where is the passage? Does it matter?  Did it matter that Jeroboam changed the things he did?

There is such a thing as “another gospel”; then there is THE gospel (re-read Gal. 1:6-9).

DOCTRINE MATTERS!

It is why the Lord warned:

"Take heed WHAT ye hear" ~ Mark 4:24

"Take heed HOW ye hear" ~ Luke 6:38

1/29/2018
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The Consequences of Stolen Words

The Bible speaks often of stealing. In its various forms the word "steal" appears 44 times in the Bible (not to mention other similar words such as rob, covet, etc.). Regardless of the object, stealing is seen to be wrong. It takes from another by stealth, cunning or force what is rightfully his. Obviously, God disapproves of stealing.

There is an interesting passage in Jeremiah involving this idea of stealing. As with other such thoughts, this one condemns the thief. However, what makes the passage so interesting is the object said to be stolen and the one who did the stealing. The object was God's words, and the thieves were those who claimed to be prophets. The passage reads: "Therefore, behold, I am against the prophets, saith the LORD, that steal my words every one from his neighbor" (Jeremiah 23:30).

When considered in our modern setting there are still those claiming to be "prophets" who "steal my words." They can be seen on television, heard on the radio and read from in print media. they claim to be spokesmen for God, yet their teachings are foreign to His Word. Since they substitute their own words they, in essence, steal God's. The results of such actions are devastating. Not only are they themselves either ignorant, deceived, or dishonest, they endanger the souls of those who would hear and follow their teachings.

Those "prophets" of Jeremiah's day were false prophets and spoke erroneously. they convinced the ignorant, gullible and hard-hearted of the truthfulness of their words to the detriment of their lives. Numerous are the "false prophets" of our day who likewise speak falsely. Sadly, they convince many to follow them, to the detriment of of their souls. Perhaps Peter said it best: "But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. and many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of" (2 Peter 2:1-2).

To be certain, the condemnation of God rests upon those who "steal his words."

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Two ways to be OVERTAKEN

Ezekiel was told by God of those who preached error, prophesying "from their own inspiration"; "following their own spirit"; "false visions", and "lying divinations" rather than LISTENING "to the word of the Lord". The devastating effect upon those who heard such false doctrine was seen from the words of another prophet, Zechariah. He opened his message by reminding the people of what had happened to their ancestors when THEY refused to LISTEN to the "word of the Lord" by the prophets:

Chapter 1:2-6
“The Lord was very angry with your fathers. Therefore say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord of hosts, “Return to Me,” declares the Lord of hosts, “that I may return to you,” says the Lord of hosts. “Do not be like your fathers, to whom the former prophets proclaimed, saying, ‘Thus says the Lord of hosts, “Return now from your evil ways and from your evil deeds.”’ But they did not listen or give heed to Me,” declares the Lord. “Your fathers, where are they? And the prophets, do they live forever? But did not My words and My statutes, which I commanded My servants the prophets, overtake your fathers? THEN THEY REPENTED and said, ‘As the Lord of hosts purposed to do to us in accordance with our ways and our deeds, so He has dealt with us."

Their ancestors refused to repent; however, THEY REPENTED!
God's words will still "overtake" all who refuse to "give heed".

As there was a message of truth and a message of error THEN, so likewise today, both truth and error are being proclaimed.

Who is proclaiming the correct message? How important is it that we "take heed 'WHAT' and 'HOW' we hear? (Mark 4:24; Luke 8:18)
There is the gospel that is the apostles' doctrine (Acts 2:42); it was given to them by Christ, which He was given by His Father (John 17:8).
It is the standard by which ALL messages are to be compared to, to determine whether the message is "of heaven or of men".

Audiences are responsible to hold preachers to this standard, as is seen from the words of the apostle John:
1 John 4:1 - "Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world."

The condemnation of God still stands upon all who preach AND accept error:
Gal. 1:6-9 - "I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed."

Clearly, as in Ezekiel's day, they who questioned NOT the error, along with those who preached "falsehood" and a "lie", will perish together.

Ezekiel was told expose them AND their false doctrine! Such would be done by teaching accurately, the "word of the Lord". It was not a popular message.

Here is an excerpt from Chapter 13:
1 Then the word of the Lord came to me saying, 2 “Son of man, prophesy against the prophets of Israel who prophesy, and say to those who prophesy from their own inspiration, ‘Listen to the word of the Lord! 3 Thus says the Lord God, “Woe to the foolish prophets who are following their own spirit and have seen nothing. 4 O Israel, your prophets have been like foxes among ruins. 5 You have not gone up into the breaches, nor did you build the wall around the house of Israel to stand in the battle on the day of the Lord. 6 They see falsehood and lying divination who are saying, ‘The Lord declares,’ when the Lord has not sent them; yet they hope for the fulfillment of their word. 7 Did you not see a false vision and speak a lying divination when you said, ‘The Lord declares,’ but it is not I who have spoken?”’” 8 Therefore, thus says the Lord God, “Because you have spoken falsehood and seen a lie, therefore behold, I am against you,” declares the Lord God.

Such is still needed and true today. There IS such a thing as false doctrine that is being proclaimed. Those who proclaim "from their own inspiration"; who follow "their own spirit"; along with those who refuse to reject it and demand a "thus saith the Lord" will perish on the Day of Judgment.

Truth is no more popular today than it was in Ezekiel's day. There is no place for cowards in the pulpit. Truth calls upon those in sin to cease from their sinning and crucify self in baptism, arising a new creation, purposing to serve a new Master--Christ, who gave them a hope of eternity in heaven for doing so. As Paul said in Acts 26:20: "repent and turn to God, and do works meet for repentance."

The servant of God who would proclaim God's message must be prepared to preach an unpopular, yet unchanging message, to bring people to repentance.

As Paul told Timothy, the servant of God is to, "Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee."

As God told the prophet Jeremiah, only a message of truth will open one's understanding, giving a "heart to know me, that I am the LORD..."; so that wayward people will "return" to God, "...with their whole heart." (Jer. 24:7)

The blessing of God upon the preacher is only as was told to Jeremiah:
If you utter what is precious,
and not what is worthless,
you shall be as my mouth.
They shall turn to you,
but you shall not turn to them.
- chapter 15:19

If you allow God's words to 'overtake' you NOW, in repentance and fruit unto righteousness; THAT DAY, i.e., the day of the Lord will not overtake you as a thief.

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PERVERTED JUSTICE

Can religious people become corrupt? How so?

The prophet Micah described the people of Israel, the nation thru whom Jesus would later be born. They were about to be punished for their hypocrisy and evil living. From Micah chapters 2 and 3, we read:

"Woe to those who scheme iniquity, who work out evil on their beds! When morning comes, they do it, for it is in the power of their hands. They covet fields and then seize them, and houses, and take them away. They rob a man and his house, a man and his inheritance." ~ 2:1-2

"Therefore thus says the Lord, “Behold, I am planning against this family a calamity from which you cannot remove your necks; and you will not walk haughtily, for it will be an evil time." ~ 2:3

"Recently My people have arisen as an enemy—you strip the robe off the garment from unsuspecting passers-by, from those returned from war. “The women of My people you evict, each one from her pleasant house. From her children you take My splendor forever." ~ 2:8-9

"If a man walking after wind and falsehood had told lies and said, ‘I will speak out to you concerning wine and liquor,’ he would be spokesman to this people." ~ 2:11

"Is it not for you to know justice?" ~ 3:1

"Thus says the Lord concerning the prophets who lead my people astray; 'when they have something to bite with their teeth, they cry, 'peace', but against him who puts nothing in their mouths they declare holy war'." ~ 3:5

"Her leaders pronounce judgment for a bribe, her priests instruct for a price and her prophets divine for money. Yet they lean on the Lord saying, “Is not the Lord in our midst? Calamity will not come upon us." ~ 3:11

How does this happen? Did you notice the false messages that were proclaimed to the people? This is the reason that justice becomes perverted.

Obedience to a TRUE message, will result in an "upright" life...morally and ethically pure. (chapter 2:7 ~ "Do not my words do good to him who walks uprightly?") Justice will permeate in society.

When society perverts justice, rest assured, the perversion of justice can be traced to perversion in the message...not sometime........ALWAYS.

As Micah said, "everything that is straight will become twisted" (3:8)

This is why DOCTRINE MATTERS!

It is why the Lord warned:

"Take heed WHAT ye hear" ~ Mark 4:24

"Take heed HOW ye hear" ~ Luke 6:38

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