“THREE CHOICES” (2 JN.9)

 

1.  When 2nd JN 9 was READ we heard the expression. “Doctrine of Christ”.

2.  “Doctrine of Christ” means”the information which is from Christ.”

3.  The “doctrine of Christ” is the information which God has authored. (Bible)

 

I.   2ND JN. 9 TELL US THAT GOD DESIRES FOR PEOPLE TO STICK WITH THE BIBLE.  GOD WANTS US TO FOLLOW THE INFORMATION THAT IS IN HIS WORD.  ALTHOUGH THIS IS GOD’S DESIRE, NOT EVERYONE CHOOSES THIS COURSE.

 

     A.  John said that it is possible to “go beyond” the doctrine of Christ.

     B.     According to Thayer, “Go beyond” means “in a bad sense, to go further than it is right or proper.”

     C.  He also adds, “To transgress the limits of true doctrine.”  We can put this into picture form;

     D.  A simple chart Project on:

           (1)     Here are the three choices that we have in regard to the doctrine.

           (2)  We can “go beyond” what the Bibles says.

           (3)  We can go further than the doctrine of Christ goes.

           (4)     Another choice is to come short of what God says.

           (5)     This option causes men to exclude some of the things found.

           (6)     Part of Christ’s doctrine is “left out.” Option # 3 is to “abide” in the doctrine

     .     (7)     This option says that we stick with what God has said not more or less.         

     E.   We are going to look at all three of these choices.

     F.   We will start with the one on the left side of the chart.

     G.  it is possible to come short of the doctrine of Christ.

     H.  I will only offer a couple of examples since this is less common.

           (1)     When a Sunday comes, certain events occur in most religious groups.

           (2)     There is singing, praying, giving, and teaching.

           (3)     Most anyone would object if one of these were omitted.

           (4)  If a group of worshippers offered no prayers, most will want to leave.

           (5)     There are groups which eliminate the Lord’s Supper from many services.

           (6)  The removal of the supper from every first day of the week is done and for the most part no                        one objects.

     I.    Last month we studied the Lord’s Supper we noted:

           (1)     How when the first day of the week came (20-7), the Lords Supper.

           (2)  The Lord’s Supper was practiced steadfastly, Acts 2:42.

           (3)  It was shown that the Corinthians partook of this every Sunday.

           (4)     And that Paul commanded all churches to have in every week.

     K.  What if a group does not have the Lord’s Supper every Sunday?

     L.   What if a church offers the Lord’s Supper monthly; once/twice a month.

     M. I’ll answer this question if you will answer one for me.

     N.  If the doctrine of Christ teaches every Sunday communion.

     O.  Are these groups abiding in the doctrine of Christ?

     P.   Are they doing what scriptures teaches? With an answer in your mind, listen again to 2nd John 9.

           (1)  If we are abiding in the teaching, we have fellowship w/deity.

           (2)  If we are not abiding in that teaching, fellowship is not w/deity.

     Q.  How else may a church come short of Christ’s doctrine?

     R.   In some places today a preacher will say something like this:

     S.   “If you have never received Christ, raise your hand.  Sinner’s please,

     T.   “Invite Jesus into your heart today.”

     U.     Unfortunately, this invitation is not part of Christ’s doctrine.  Christ’s doctrine says,

           (1) QUOTE Mk16:16. Belief comes before salvation.

           (2)  The belief that people have leads to a change of life (repentance).

           (3)  The final step we take to salvation in baptism.  Baptism before salvation is part of Christ’s                 doctrine.  There are many groups which stop short of Christ’s doctrine.

           (4)     Groups which are not abiding in the Lord’s doctrine will have MK. 16:16.

           (5)  “He that believes and is not baptized” shall be saved.

           (6)     Others would have the verse read, “He who believes is saved, and should be baptized.”

     V.  These are prevalent ideas, but they are not Christ’s doctrine.

     W. These teachings fall short of Christ’s doctrine.

     X.  When Christ’s doctrine is not followed, fellowship with god ends.

     Z.   Not abiding in what God has said is serious.

 

II WHILE SOME SHORT OF CHRIST’S DOCTRINE, THERE ARE PLEANTY OF OTHERS WHO GO BEYOND WHAT GOD HAS SAID.  THIS IS ILLUSTRATED BY THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE CHART.  HERE ARE SOME EXAMPLES.

 

     A.  This facility would have a hard time accommodating a band.

     B.   Making room for an organ in here would be difficult.

     C.  There is a reason why space was not allotted for these things.

     D.  In God’s word worshippers are commanded to sing.

     E.   God has specified the type of music that He wants in worship.

           (1)  In NT times, man made instruments existed.

           (2)     These instruments existed and were used during the OT era.

           (3)  In the NT God says “sing; melody is to be made by the heart.”

           (4)     This is part of Christ’s doctrine (information from Him).

           (5)  A majority of churches have not been content with God’s doctrine.

           (6)     Man made instruments have been added.

           (7)     Instead of abiding in a doctrine, men have one beyond the doctrine.

     F.   Let’s go back to the definition I earlier offered from Thayer:

     G.  “In a bad sense, to go further than is right or proper.”

     H.  “To transgress the limits of true doctrine.”

     I.    This is exactly what instrumental music does.

           (1)     When God says sing and men sing and play, men have moved beyond the doctrine of Christ;

     J.    2nd John 9 says we have two choices: stay with the doctrine of Christ.

     K.  If we stick with the plan, we have fellowship with God.  If we do not,

     L.   Careful and exact attention needs to be paid to God’s word.

     M.  The Bible must be our pattern; our absolute guide.

     O.  How else can churches go beyond to the doctrine of Christ?

           (1)     They can go beyond the limits when they need money.

           (2)  The system of Christianity has been used as a money making

           (3)     People are told to “sow seeds of faith, and reap a harvest.”

           (4)     Churches have opened up their buildings for bingo games.

           (5)     Churches advertise church sponsored car washes, bake sales,

           (6)  I am not going to call names, but if you head towards Goshen.

     P.   It does not take too long to read the NT passages about Christian giving.

           (1)     What these passages say is intriguing.

           (2)  A variety of verses tell us that we are not bound to give a gift.

           (3)     When people are told to give a certain amount, this is beyond his doctrine.

           (4)  The NT shows that Christians did not ask the world for money.

           (5)  We do not find money being raised by bake sales, etc. in NT.

           (6)     When money was needed, brethren footed the bill.

           (7)     Property was sold.  Personal possessions were sold.

           (8)     Christians dug deep.  This is the doctrine of Christ.

           (9)     This is how the Lord’s church receives funding.

     Q.  When we bring these facts to our day and time:

           (1)     Savings accounts can be tapped into to pay for a church need.

           (2)     Brethren may work overtime, 2nd job and take that extra to help with a need.

           (3)  We may sell possessions to help with a need.

                 a.     Jewelry, and automobile, land, we could even sell a house and buy a less expensive one.

     R.   The doctrine of Christ teaches us to raise money from among ourselves.

     S.   Most church groups would think that we are odd if we object to a bingo game.

     T.   This is going beyond the doctrine of Christ.  It’s wrong.

     U.  it is not only wrong, it has serious spiritual consequences.

     V.  There are additional ways to go beyond the doctrine of Christ...

           (1)  In the Bible congregations are autonomous (Acts 14:23).

           (2)  A high percentage of religious groups have a headquarters.

           (3)  In the business world having a headquarters is a good practice.

           (4)  The doctrine of Christ has no earthly headquarters for the Church.

           (5)     When men provide some kind of headquarters on earth, it’s wrong.

           (6)     This goes beyond the doctrine of Christ.

     W. Aside from the addition of headquarters, creeds, statement of faith and religious titles.

     X.  The doctrine of Christ is information which comes from God’

     Y.  Though this is all the information we need, men have written creeds.  There are no creeds,

     Z.   In Christ‘s doctrine.  To have a creed of some type, no matter how well it is worded,

     A.  The final way I wish to illustrate 2nd John 9 is by appealing to religious titles.

           (1)     “Father, reverend, your holiness, your eminence.

           (2)     Lofty titles are given to so-called religious men.

     B.   Jesus said, “Ye are all brethren”:  He said this in Matt. 23:8, and the context of this stmt. is real.

 

CONCLUSION:

1.  We have a world full of churches. I am of the persuasion that these churches are filled,

2.  with many good people.  In 2nd Jon. 9 the issue is not goodness.  It is not morality.

3.  The issue is abiding the doctrine of Christ.  If we have gone further than Christ’s doctrine.

4.  We have no fellowship with Him.  We need to abide in the doctrine.  First century Christians.

5.  Were able to do this.  We can too.  We initially abide in the doctrine of Jesus Christ by obeying the

6.  Right plan of Christianity.  Then we worship as the doctrine of Christ teaches.  We live as His

7. Doctrine describes.  Then when we die, we inherit what His doctrine promises. 

8.  Are you abiding in the doctrine of Jesus?  Have you obeyed the right plan of salvation?

9.  Are you worshipping as the doctrine of Christ prescribes?  Perhaps you do not know.