Bible Doctrine

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[0:31] On the grass, just the smell of the rain. Something beautiful, isn't it? God says that his doctrine is so like the dew.

[0:45] The D-E-W. It's like that rain that falls on the tender herd. It's like the showers upon the grass. His teaching, his doctrine. My message tonight is about the doctrine of doctrine.

[0:57] The doctrine of doctrine. The doctrine of the importance of Bible doctrine. Doctrine. It means teaching. It means instruction. It means what is taught.

[1:08] And Bible doctrine means what is taught as revealed through the Bible. Bible teaching. Bible teaching, it's important. It's something that is like the dew.

[1:19] It's like the rain. It's like the showers upon the grass. Doctrine. The teaching of God's Word. It's something that's very precious. The teaching of divine truths from God's Word.

[1:33] Some people these days have got a view that somehow doctrine is not important. They would say things like, oh, love is more important. Or love. Let's all have love.

[1:45] Let's have unity. It's being sincere that matters. It's being sincere that counts. God looks on the heart. It doesn't matter what you're thinking in your head. That's what some people say.

[1:56] Now that's dangerous talk, really. Because God says in Isaiah 1, verse 18, Come now and let us reason together. The Bible is an appeal to the mind of man as well as the heart.

[2:10] The will of man. The truth. Doctrine. Doctrine. Teaching. It's important. It's very important. The Bible doctrine is something we shouldn't just kind of have a carefree view about.

[2:23] Bible doctrine. It means that which is founded upon the canon of Scripture, upon these 66 books. From Genesis through Revelation. Bible doctrine.

[2:33] It's based on the Bible. As it's faithfully interpreted and declared. Sound doctrine is the teaching of the Bible. Of the instruction of the Bible.

[2:46] And we need that. We need that. Desperately need that today. We need biblical truth. Biblical truth. Bible truth. Not so much the writings of some supposed Latter-day prophets.

[2:59] Or prophetesses, so called. Not some supposed teachers with extra-biblical revelations. That gives some special addition to the Bible.

[3:11] We need to be very, very guarded people today about such teachers and such claims. What we need is Bible truth. Biblical truth. That we can stand square on.

[3:23] And sure of. Why is doctrine so important? Why do we need Bible truth? Biblical truth? Why? Because without correct doctrine, it's impossible to have right conduct.

[3:39] If it's all about our feelings and what we might imagine or think, we could get completely off track. Completely out of order. God says, this is the way.

[3:52] Walk ye in it. Our spiritual health and welfare depend on hearing His voice and following His way. Psalm 51 verse 6. The psalmist cried, Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward paths.

[4:09] Our holy God desires truth in the inward paths. In the very inward core. In the very inner core of what makes up you and me. Having biblical doctrine is fundamental.

[4:23] It's critical. It's vital. Sincerity is no substitute for truth. I know I've heard it said that a careless parent might leave some poison in a cordial bottle or in a lemonade bottle.

[4:40] Unmarked and at the reach of little ones. And someone might sincerely believe it's cordial. And we know the danger of that.

[4:51] There is no substitute of sincerity for truth. It must be the truth that we hang on to. In Matthew 16, our Lord says that He will build His church, His assembly, His gathering together of His own people.

[5:08] He will build His church upon Bible doctrine. In effect, because it was the profession of faith of Peter. Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.

[5:19] That was doctrine. That was truth. And Jesus said, I will build my church on such as that. I will build my church on this rock of truth, of doctrine.

[5:32] And the Bible is God's instrument for us. It's God's means of communication to us today. By which He reaches down through all the interference, through all the noise of the world that we live in.

[5:48] And reaches down through time to manifest His eternal plan to man. It's the Word of God, the Bible. We need what the Bible teaches to hold it firmly and to follow it.

[6:04] This is God's Word. God's Word. This is not some man-invented construction. This is God's love letter to humanity.

[6:18] And we know we must believe it in its entirety and live according to its message. Here's what someone said. How we can enjoy life as God intends.

[6:29] It says, I quote, The life of God is in His Word. The Word is quick and living. The Word of God is a mirror.

[6:41] It reveals to us our true selves. The Word of God is a scene. It contains life and vitality. The Word of God is a sword.

[6:55] It lays bare. It pierces the soul. To Him who only is the source of life.

[7:07] It is a life-giving sword. A life-giving Word. It's the vehicle for imparting to us the life of Christ. The incarnate Word. Incarnate.

[7:18] In other words, in flesh. That flesh-made Word. The Lord Jesus Christ. The Word became flesh and dwelt amongst us. Eternal life for the individual begins by believing the testimony of God.

[7:34] The Bible. The Bible is what we need. I want to urge you tonight to take heed of the Bible. Take heed of the Bible.

[7:45] And I read this thing. It gave us five simple things to help you get a grip on your Bible. Five things. People might have heard of this before. Five things.

[7:56] You can think of it as the five fingers of your hand. Five ways to get a grip on your Bible. Number one. The first finger. Hearing.

[8:07] Hearing. Attend church where you can hear the Word of God. Attend fellowship where you can hear the Word of God. Taught and preached. It includes the public reading of the Scriptures.

[8:19] And the explanation of them. The Word says in Romans 10. So that faith cometh by hearing. Hearing. The Word of God. Hearing the Word of God.

[8:29] The second finger. Read. Read. Read the Scriptures for yourself. As well as the public reading. Read it privately.

[8:41] Paul told Timothy. Till I come give attendance to reading. To exhortation. To doctrine. 1 Timothy 4.13. In Revelation we read.

[8:52] Blessed is he that readeth. Revelation 1.3. There's a blessing from reading the Word of God. Hearing. Reading. Thirdly.

[9:03] Study. Study. Diligently investigate the Bible for yourself. Study the Bible. Paul lets Timothy. Study. To show yourself approved unto God.

[9:15] A worker that needeth not be ashamed. Rightly dividing. The Word of truth. 2 Timothy 2.15. As you study the Bible. You can mark it. Get your own Bible.

[9:27] And mark it. Invest in a study Bible. Get a good Bible. A good King James Bible. Where you can read it. And study it. Mark it. Underline it. Highlight it.

[9:39] Write notes in the margin. Write what speaks to you. The real value of Bible study. Is not the marks you make in your Bible. But rather the marks the Scriptures make. In your life.

[9:51] Study the Bible. The fourth finger. Is memory. Memorise the Bible. It's important to commit the Bible to your memory. God helping you. Make a deliberate effort.

[10:02] Make a determined effort. It takes time. It takes repetition. It takes concentration. Memorise the Word of God. The psalmist cried. Thy word have I hid in my heart.

[10:13] That I might not sin against thee. Psalm 119 verse 11. Hide His Word in your heart. That's the fourth one. And the fifth one is meditate.

[10:24] Meditate. Meditate. Take time to meditate on the Scriptures. To internalise the truth of the Scriptures. To chew it over. And turn it over in your mind.

[10:42] That it might internalise. Meditate on the truth of God's Word. Meditate on the biblical principles that you read. So that it becomes so much a part of you.

[10:55] That it becomes a part of your thought patterns. Meditate on the Word of God. Psalm 1 verse 2 it says. The man of God. His delight is in the law of the Lord.

[11:06] And in his law doth he meditate day and night. Psalm 1 verse 2. Meditate in the Word of God. So what were those four or five things?

[11:17] Have you forgotten them already? What was number one? Hear. Second one? Read. Third one? Study. Fourth one? Memorise.

[11:28] And the fifth one? Meditate. Get a grip on the Word of God with those five things. Bible doctrine. Bible doctrine. That's what we're on about tonight. Because Bible matters. Bible matters.

[11:39] Bible is God's truth for us. So Bible doctrine is very important for our soul. And we ran through the Word of God about Bible doctrine. Bible doctrine caused a division.

[11:52] Often times it still does. Bible doctrine causes a division. It divides between those who will believe it and those who will reject it. It was the case in our Lord's earthly ministry.

[12:04] When the theological religious leaders of his day came along and they heard the Lord Jesus as he was delivering doctrine, as he was teaching, as he was instructing. The religious leaders saw that his teachings contradicted the theological system that they had developed for themselves.

[12:22] The man-made rules that they had developed, that they had constructed around the Bible. It was really man-made. And so they rejected the teaching of our Lord.

[12:36] Because their system, where they modified the Bible and added all their rules and regulations, how they watered it down and brought in man's thoughts, was contradictory to the words that were coming out of the Word.

[12:50] The Word. The Lord Jesus Christ. We often read that when the Lord Jesus spoke, when he delivered doctrine, it was something that brought a division. People were astonished at his doctrine, it says.

[13:03] People marveled at his doctrine. For example, Mark 1, verse 27. The Lord Jesus thought much and taught much about teaching the Bible, about doctrine.

[13:14] We read in Matthew 28, verse 18, as he left in his ascension, he said, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye, therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost, teaching them, teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you.

[13:40] And lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the world. Amen. The Lord Jesus said, I'm sending you to teach all nations, teaching them to observe doctrine.

[13:54] We need it. We need it so much today. It's a critical need of this hour where we see an abandonment of Bible doctrine for doctrines that really aren't Bible doctrine.

[14:04] It's really not. Now, I urge you tonight, we need the teaching of sound doctrine. Now, sound doctrine, the word sound, it means healthy.

[14:15] Sound, you know, the Lord Jesus told a man to extend his arm and it was made sound. In other words, it was made healthy. It's the same word of doctrine. It's healthy.

[14:26] It's full of health. It's alive. It's well. Sound doctrine means healthy doctrine. It means doctrine that will make our soul healthy, that will nurture our soul health.

[14:37] In 1 Timothy 4 verse 6, it tells of being nourished up in the words of faith and of good doctrine. Nourished up. Who likes to be nourished? You know, some of you are looking more well nourished than others.

[14:51] You know, that's our tea at your house. But, you know, we want to be nourished. Nourished up. We want to be healthy and fit and strong and have some meat on those bones. That's what it's saying here.

[15:02] Nourished up in the words of faith and of good doctrine. Good doctrine. Nourished by the doctrine. Paul counted doctrine important. He says, hold it fast.

[15:14] Don't let it go. In 2 Timothy 1 verse 13, he says, hold fast the form of sound words which have heard of me in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.

[15:24] He says, hold it fast. Don't let it go. Hold it dear. Hold it forth. Hold it fast. Having a knowledge of doctrine will help us to discern when we know the Bible.

[15:35] When we know Bible truth. When we know what the Bible says on different issues and subjects. It will give us a basis for discernment. For decision making. For discerning between what is right and what is wrong.

[15:47] Between that separation from right and evil. In Isaiah 8 verse 20, the prophet says, to the law and to the testimony. If they speak not according to this word.

[15:58] It is because there is no light in them. We need to speak according to the word. If we don't, it means there's no light in us. And friends, we can all be guilty.

[16:10] I can be guilty. Any Bible teacher can be guilty of going off on a tangent. We need to get back to the Bible. Back to the Bible. If it's not according to the law and to the testimony, there's no light in them.

[16:26] So doctrine must be founded upon the Bible. What does 2 Timothy 3 verse 16 say? All scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable for doctrine.

[16:39] For doctrine. It's profitable for doctrine. For reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness. When we apply it, it goes on to say that the man of God can be made complete.

[16:52] Fully equipped for every good work. Doctrine. The Bible is the final authority on doctrine. If in doubt, go to the Bible.

[17:05] If in doubt, go to the Bible. Don't even mess with it. The Bible is the final authority on doctrine. If there's any doctrinal issue that you're grappling with, go to the Bible.

[17:16] Go to the word of God as your source. It is the perfect source and it has the perfect sufficiency as to what Christians should believe. The Bible tells us everything that we need to know about life, death, heaven, hell, salvation, righteousness, sin, faith, holiness and God.

[17:38] Everything we need to know is between the pages of this book in terms of such things. How to worship God. How to live for God.

[17:49] How to obey God. Read your Bible. Read it. The Lord Jesus says in John 8, If you continue in my word, then are you my disciples indeed.

[18:02] And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. There's freedom in knowing the word as we follow, as we obey. Study to show yourself approved unto God.

[18:12] Now, not all doctrine is Bible doctrine. This is the danger that we're in today. We've always got to be aware. Because the devil writes doctrine too.

[18:25] He writes it. He's got Bible schools preaching it. He's got ministers of righteousness, they're called, expounding it. Deception happens when we get away from the Bible.

[18:37] When we get away from it, when we lose a sense of the Bible as the rightful place of sole authority. That's when we get into trouble. That's when churches get into trouble.

[18:49] When they choose some other authority. Whether it's someone's experience. Whether it's someone's interpretation. Whether it's someone's idea. That that becomes the source.

[19:00] That that becomes the authority. And that everything is kind of construed to suit that person's experience. And some teaching is false.

[19:11] There is false teaching. Unbiblical teaching. We're warned against it throughout the word of God. Repeatedly warned against false doctrine. In Matthew 15 verse 9.

[19:22] The Lord Jesus talks of man's commandments. Being taught as doctrines. In Colossians 2 verse 22. He talks about the doctrines of man. In 1 Timothy 4 verse 1.

[19:33] This is a shocker. Doctrines of devils. I don't want any of those in this church. God helping us. In Hebrews 13 verse 9. It says. Be not carried about with diverse and strange doctrines.

[19:44] So there's some doctrines that are obviously not Bible doctrines. In Ephesians 4 verse 14. It talks about people being blown around with all kinds of winds of doctrine. As if they're made unstable and immature.

[19:58] Because their doctrine is not Bible doctrine. So it's vital. It's important. It's clear that Bible doctrine matters. And all cults today have a measure of Bible based truth.

[20:11] You know. You can look through some cultic materials. And I know some well meaning people have brought along magazines. That they're getting posted out. And putting them in a bookshelf here.

[20:23] And some of them actually boldly claim the truth. Or you know. The plain truth. Or such like. And yet it's the plain error really.

[20:35] So you've got to be very careful. The label doesn't always tell you the truth. As to what it is. We need to learn to discern. And 1 Timothy 6 verse 3. It says. If any man teach otherwise.

[20:46] And consent not. To wholesome words. Even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ. And to the doctrine which is according to godliness. It goes on. From such withdraw thyself.

[20:58] If it's not according to doctrine which is according to godliness. Then get out of there. Don't hang around. Romans 16 verse 17. It tells us. I beseech you therefore brethren.

[21:09] Mark them. Which cause divisions and offences. Contrary to the doctrine. Which you have learned. And avoid them. That's pretty strong words too. Isn't it? In other words.

[21:20] Don't join up in some ecumenical party. Or some. You know. Some combined convention. With such like. We can't have communion with darkness.

[21:32] Such teachings abound today. In our world today. Now. For example. These are things that I would consider. Doctrine that is contrary.

[21:44] To the bible. Comfortable Christianity. The word faith message. The prosperity gospel. Dominion theology.

[21:56] Kingdom now theology. Experiential theology. Ecumenism. Psychology. Universalism. Annihilationism. Baptismal regeneration.

[22:08] Latter day prophets. The new age movement. Now some of you might not know. What some of those things are. And you're probably better off not knowing. But. Why are people falling for these false teachings? Why are they getting.

[22:22] Drawn into that? It's because they don't have the bible doctrine. The bible foundation. For their beliefs. It's because people are not reading.

[22:32] And understanding their bibles. That is the safeguard for us. The safeguard for us. Now of course. There's many cults who've got bibles too.

[22:44] Some twisted. Some quite good bibles. The mormons who've got a good bible. Although they've added a few bits to their bible. If you actually. They've added to the end of genesis.

[22:55] There. But they've added extra books. That they somehow. They've got the new improved version. The new. The new. What do they call it? The new. New testament. The new testament.

[23:06] What do they call it? And friends. We've got to be very careful. About such things as that. Because the bible must be. Our authority. We must avoid. Adding the traditions of man. Or trying to add books to the bible.

[23:18] Or adding. You know. Like some. Like the watchtower. They have their. Headquarters. Their organisation. Interpreting the bible. So you've got to study.

[23:28] Through their study books. You can't read the bible. For yourself. It's a bit like. The catholic church. Of the dark ages. Where they didn't even. Let people have the bible. It was too dangerous.

[23:39] For them to get their hands. On the real bible. In their own language. Friends. The devil wants to keep the bible. From your hands. From your minds. And just cloud it.

[23:50] With darkness. With apostasy. With doctrines of demons. And such doctrine. Can do much damage. We need to be very careful. Of that. So. Our bibles.

[24:00] Ought to be. Our sole. Source. Of doctrine. This is. The final. Authority. There is no. Improved. Extroversion. Now. We've been in churches. Where there have been.

[24:10] So called prophets. Prophesying. Watterday revelations. And. I was in a church. Where we used to write it down. And just. You know. Seeing. Oh. Someone said. Thus saith the lord.

[24:20] We better pay attention to that. And it didn't come to pass. It was extra biblical revelation. That's where you get into all kinds of trouble. Stick to the bible. Stick to the bible.

[24:31] Don't get. Caught away. You'll end up. Joining some cult. Or some description. Where you follow some. Latter day revelations.

[24:42] Extra biblical revelations. So friends. I urge you tonight. Follow that which is biblical. Many well meaning Christians.

[24:52] Carry doctrines that are not scriptural. They say things like. Have an open mind. Have an open mind. I would say to you tonight. Make sure you leave your mind open. To the word of God.

[25:04] But close your mind. To all that contradicts. Or violates the word of God. Close your mind to that. The bible is authoritative. On it's teaching of doctrine.

[25:15] On it's teachings. For us. It's authoritative. As to what to believe. As to what to practice. The Lord Jesus.

[25:29] Has given us his word. God almighty. Tells us of his word. In Psalm 138 verse 2. That he has magnified his word.

[25:40] Above his name. Now that's amazing isn't it? The name. The name. Is. All inspiring. And. Awesome.

[25:53] Our God. He says that his word. Is even more. Even more. Critical. Bible doctrine. Is absolutely essential. In Romans 6.

[26:04] 17. Paul says that. If. Obey from the heart. That form of doctrine. Which was delivered. To you. Obey the word of God. From your heart.

[26:16] Bible doctrine matters. Let me just. Relate. Some. Critical. Truths. About. What the word. Of God. Is for us.

[26:26] It's compared. To physical food. In Luke 4. Verse 4. The Lord Jesus. In. In facing.

[26:37] The attack. Of the enemy. Says. It is written. Man shall not live. By bread. Alone. But. By every word. Of God. This is life. This is nourishment.

[26:48] What we talked about. This is. Our sustenance. As food. In Ephesians 5. 26. It talks of the. Church. That he might sanctify. And cleanse it. With the washing of water.

[26:59] By the word. He cleanses. His people. He cleanses. His. Gathered people. By the washing. Of the scriptures. By the truth. Of his word.

[27:10] It's water. It's light. Thy word is a lamp. Unto my feet. A light. Unto my path. Psalm 119. Verse 105.

[27:22] Psalm 119. Verse 130. It says. The entrance. Of thy words. Giveth light. It giveth understanding. To the simple. Light.

[27:33] Don't we need light. In this world. That's so dark. And dismal. We need light. Today. We need light. The light. That comes from the entrance. Of his words.

[27:44] And it's gold. How much better is it. To get wisdom. Than gold. And to get understanding. Rather. To be chosen. Than silver. Proverbs 16. 16.

[27:55] Psalm 19. Verse 10. More to be desired. Are they than gold. Yea. Than much fine gold. Sweeter. Also than honey. And the honeycomb.

[28:06] Psalm 19. 10. More to be desired. Desire the word. You know. I love honey. I love honey. I don't know about you. It's sweet. It's something you get a taste for.

[28:18] I'm probably making you feel like going home. And putting some on your butty tonight. When you get home. Honey is sweet. It's something that you get a. Boy. I just couldn't do with a bit of honey.

[28:29] Honey on toast. Or honey on a sandwich tonight. But more to be desired than honey. More to be desired than the honeycomb. Who's ever eaten a honeycomb? Oh. It's great.

[28:40] More to be desired than honey. More to be desired than the honeycomb. More to be desired than gold. Yea. Than much fine gold. Oughtn't you to have a desire for the Bible like that?

[28:51] We ought to brothers and sisters. If we really believe it. We ought to care about it. The Bible. Is pictured right throughout the Bible.

[29:03] It tells us about the Bible. For example. Even in the feast of the unleavened bread. Some relate that week long feast in Israel. To a reflection of doctrine.

[29:15] That it's free from yeast. In other words. Free from mixture. And we know the Bible is meant to be unadulterated. Sadly it has been adulterated. We see some.

[29:26] They've got Bibles in their hands. That have got scarcely a scaric of the real Bible in them anymore. And they're preaching from them. You know. Friends. The devil delights in adulterating your Bible.

[29:41] We want to be like those. In the feast of the unleavened bread. They got rid of the yeast. They got rid of that which was a mixture. They wanted the pure bread.

[29:53] We need the word of God today. Brothers and sisters. I urge you. It says take heed to yourself and to your doctrine. In 1 Timothy 4.16. The local church should care about doctrine.

[30:05] We should care about it. In Acts 2. They continued steadfastly. In the apostles doctrine. And fellowship. Etc. Paul and Barnabas were teaching and preaching.

[30:16] The word of the Lord. In Acts 15.35. In Acts 18.11. Paul was continuing there. Teaching the word of God. Among them. We need to have teaching of the Bible.

[30:28] Make a point of doing those five things. Do those five things. We'll cover them quickly again. Shortly. And you'll help me remember them. You know.

[30:39] Bible teaching. Bible teaching is important. It helps us to build people. It builds spiritual lives. In Proverbs 24.3. It says. Through wisdom is a house built.

[30:50] And by understanding. It is established. It helps us to build our life. To build our homes. Our families. Bible doctrine.

[31:00] It means. Thinking like Christ would think. He is the word. Made flesh. It's getting the mind of Christ. We read of that. That the mind of Christ.

[31:11] Is something we should want. For who hath known the mind of the Lord. That he may instruct him. But we have. The mind of Christ. 1 Corinthians 2. Verse 16.

[31:22] How can we think more like our Lord? How can we think more like God? You know. He says. My thoughts are higher than your thoughts. My ways are higher than your ways. How can we know his ways?

[31:32] How can we understand his thoughts? By reading his message to us. That is how. By seeking Bible doctrine. Bible truth. In Acts 17.

[31:45] That familiar one. Where the preacher preached. It says they received. His word. With all readiness of mind. And searched the scriptures daily. Whether those things were so.

[31:56] And it goes on. Many of them believed. But then verse 13 of that. Acts 17. Then the. Folk came along. The Jews of Thessalonica.

[32:06] Had knowledge that. The word of God was preached. Of Paul. At Berea. And they came there. And stirred up the people. So some received it. They discerned it. They searched the scriptures. Whether the things were so.

[32:17] Some believed. And then some stirred up. A whole lot of trouble. Doctrine can divide. It can divide. But it's a healthy thing. It's a healthy division. In Acts 5.

[32:28] 28. Through 29. They were preaching. And it says that. The critics said. You filled Jerusalem. With your doctrine. Peter said.

[32:40] We ought to obey God. Rather than man. It's okay. To upset people. With Bible. Doctrine. And. Are we going to pull a crowd?

[32:50] Maybe not. In John 6. 66. It's an easy one to remember. John 6. 66. Our Lord. The context there. He told some hard truths. He said.

[33:01] You've got to eat my flesh. And drink my blood. Now. That wasn't very palatable. Kind of talk. To the crowd. That were there. And it says. That some of his disciples. Many of his disciples.

[33:11] Went back. And followed him. No more. They walked no more. With him. Now. Sometimes. When you speak. Biblical truth. God help in me.

[33:25] I pray that I am speaking the truth. It's going to offend some people. That's not my intention. But if the truth offends. It's better to be. Offended.

[33:36] And think it through. Than to just swallow. Whatever comes your way. And not think to discern. Whether it's true or not. We need to defend Bible truth.

[33:49] It says in the end. Of Jude. In the beginning of Jude. Chapter 1. Verse 3. It's a familiar one. Beloved. When I gave all diligence to you. To write unto you.

[34:00] Of the common salvation. It was needful for me. To write unto you. And exhort you. That you should earnestly. Contend. For the faith.

[34:11] Which was once. Delivered. Unto the saints. So another word for Bible doctrine. Is the faith. The faith. Not just any kind of faith. You know. There's some people who got. Faith in.

[34:22] In some dead prophet. Who. Has rewritten. The story of Christ. And. Are willing to. Lay down the lives. Of their children.

[34:33] In his honour. You can have faith. In all kinds of things today. You can have faith. In. In the TV preacher. That if you send them a hundred dollars. You're going to get a thousand dollars back.

[34:43] Oh yeah. You know. You can really believe. You can believe earnestly. And very sincerely. And friends. It's not scriptural. It's just not. It's just not. You can believe. When the latest.

[34:54] Razzmatazz show. Comes to town. And there's people. Falling like tentpins. As the preacher. Supposedly. Conjures up. Some kind of. Spirit. And. They get in some kind of trance.

[35:05] And they. Roll and writhe on the floor. You can have faith in that. You can believe that man. You can believe the words. Out of his mouth. Or you can believe. What the Bible says. On biblical doctrine.

[35:15] Bible doctrine. That's what we need. We desperately. Desperately. Need that today. We don't want to fire. The latest bandwagon. That comes to town. The latest. Showman. The latest charlatan.

[35:26] We don't want to follow such rubbish. We want the truth. We want the truth. We must have the truth. I pray that's your prayer tonight. I pray that's your desire tonight. To contend earnestly. For that faith.

[35:37] That faith. Once delivered. Unto the saints. And friends. You can excuse your sin too. Some people believe. Some people earnestly. And sincerely believe. Oh it'll all come out in the wash.

[35:47] It'll come out. I can. I can make my own way. I believe God. Yeah. I believe God. I believe God. There's no fruit there. It's just an empty profession.

[36:00] It's just lip service. You're conning yourself. You're duped. And you're going to hell. You're not saved. What a danger. What a terrible. Terrible danger that would be.

[36:11] To believe that you're saved. To believe that you're heading to heaven. And it's all a sham. It's a fraud. And it's. You know. You might have prayed a prayer. You might have.

[36:22] Gone through the motions. And yet it's not real. It's not real. It's not genuine for you. Now. Only God knows. Only God knows.

[36:33] I'd like to see. That everyone who does. Pray a prayer. Does get saved. I don't know. But if it's just a prayer. That didn't come. From. Faith.

[36:44] Genuine faith. Then. Really. It's not the real thing. It's not the real McCoy. And you're. Deceived. To think you're saved. When you're not. And the Bible says that. If. If a man believes in his heart.

[36:56] And confession. Is made with his mouth. That. Christ is. Lord. Effectively. Then. The salvation. Is the believing in the heart. That Christ has died.

[37:07] For you. That he's risen from the dead. And. It's a calling. On him. As. As Lord. As saviour. It's a conversion. It's a repenting. It's a turning. Around of your life.

[37:18] Then. There's a conversion. A conversion. Friends. Don't think you're converted. If that has not happened to you. If you're not living the life. Chances are. You're not. Really saved. Today.

[37:29] And that's a great mistake. To make. Bible doctrine. Is very important. Bible teaching. Because. The believing. Affects the behaving. If you're truly. Believing in Jesus.

[37:40] It'll affect the behaving. It'll show in your life. Not that our works. Save us. But our works. Reflect. That genuine faith. That has made a conversion.

[37:51] On the inside of us. Not that we're putting any merit. In our own doing. In any sense at all. People. But. Friends. If your. Faith. Is in.

[38:03] Empty words. In just a profession. That was not. With the possession. Of faith. Then. It's invalid. And. Woe to me.

[38:14] If I. Give you any. False. Hope. I don't want to give you. False hope. I'd rather make you. Shake in your boots. And make you feel. Am I saved? Am I saved?

[38:24] Boy. I better think about that. Was that real? I'd rather that you. I'd rather that you. Get annoyed with me. And think. What's. How dare he. Question my salvation. How dare he. I'm saved.

[38:35] I've been going to church. Since I was knee high. Friends. Don't put any claim. Don't put any weight on that. Don't put any faith in that. Your only hope. Is faith in Christ. It's only in him.

[38:46] In his shed blood. It's only in his work. It is dying for you. That you can ever be saved. And friends. I urge you today. He says. Come now. And let us reason together. Come now.

[38:57] Come to him. Let us reason together. It's reasonable. He's reasonable. He's a reasonable God. Who wants us to reason with him. He wants us to have Bible doctrine. Hear it. Read it.

[39:07] Study it. Memorise it. Meditate on it. Grab a hold of your Bible. Check me out. Check the Bible out. Check what I'm saying out. Get right with God. Trust him. Don't put it off.

[39:18] To find truth today. He says. You shall know the truth. And the truth shall make you free. He says. I am the way. The truth and the life. No man cometh unto the Father but by me.

[39:30] Let us pray. Heavenly Father. Father we thank you that you are truth. That you came in the person of your son. Lord Jesus you came to be the redemption for man.

[39:42] For our sin. We know that the Bible is a book that communicates your message to us. Help us Lord not to be swept aside by all kinds of funny ideas of preachers of come and go.

[39:55] But help us to take your word and find the truth of it. To apply it. Most of all to do it. To obey it. We pray Lord if there's any who are not saved.

[40:06] Who have got doubts about their salvation. They're not sure that they would find faith tonight. As you would grant it to each believing heart. Lord that you would be glorified. That they might cry out.

[40:17] Lord Jesus thank you for dying on the cross for my sin. And thank you for shedding your blood. So that such an unworthy one as me can be saved. That I can have heaven. Because you went through hell for me at that cross.

[40:28] Lord we thank you. That you are the almighty God. Who cares. Who has given us this communication from heaven above. Help us to put it into action in our lives below.

[40:40] For your glory we pray. In Jesus name. Amen. Amen.

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