THE RIGHTEOUS JUDGMENT OF GOD

Text: Romans 2:1-11.

Delivered on: February 22, 2009. Streetsboro.

INTRODUCTION.

1. In the latter half of Romans 1, Paul, through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, gives an account of the wickedness of the Gentile world in general.
   

2. The chapter concludes with these words… Who, knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things are deserving of death, not only do the same but also approve of those who practice them.
   

   1. Notice that Paul mentions the righteous judgment of God.
      

   2. All too often, the judgment of men is not righteous.
      

      1. Sometimes we are judged according to appearances which are often wrong.
         

      2. Sometimes we are judged unfairly.
         

   3. Sometimes we have people who are good at seeing the faults in others, condemning them, and then practicing the same things themselves.
      

3. In Romans 2, we have a discourse from Paul on the righteous judgment of God.
   

4. Romans 2:1-11. Therefore you are inexcusable, O man, whoever you are who judge, for in whatever you judge another you condemn yourself; for you who judge practice the same things. ² But we know that the judgment of God is according to truth against those who practice such things. ³ And do you think this, O man, you who judge those practicing such things, and doing the same, that you will escape the judgment of God? ⁴ Or do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance? ⁵ But in accordance with your hardness and your impenitent heart you are treasuring up for yourself wrath in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God, ⁶ who “will render to each one according to his deeds”: ⁷ eternal life to those who by patient continuance in doing good seek for glory, honor, and immortality; ⁸ but to those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness—indignation and wrath, ⁹ tribulation and anguish, on every soul of man who does evil, of the Jew first and also of the Greek; ¹⁰ but glory, honor, and peace to everyone who works what is good, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. ¹¹ For there is no partiality with God.
   

BODY.

1. HYPOCRITICAL JUDGMENT. Verses 1-2. Therefore you are inexcusable, O man, whoever you are who judge, for in whatever you judge another you condemn yourself; for you who judge practice the same things. ² But we know that the judgment of God is according to truth against those who practice such things.
   

   1. Paul points out how wrong it is to condemn someone for something when we are doing the same thing.
      

      1. There were undoubtedly many self righteous Jews who felt that those heathen Gentiles were going to get exactly what they deserved. (And that is true.)
         

      2. But Paul is point out that in being guilty of the very same things, they too were guilty.
         

      3. In judging others, they were condemning themselves.
         

   2. Jesus had something to say about this. Matthew 7:1-5. “Judge not, that you be not judged. ² For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you. ³ And why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye? ⁴ Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me remove the speck from your eye’; and look, a plank is in your own eye? ⁵ Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.
      

   3. Does this mean, as some suggest, that since none of us are perfect, then none of us are permitted to point out sin in another’s life?
      

      1. No!
         

      2. Jesus taught that we will know whether a person is righteous or wicked by their fruit. Matthew 7:15-16. “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. ¹⁶ You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles?
         

      3. What would be wrong is to try to correct another person who is doing something while we are doing the same thing and not correcting it.
         

      4. That is what Jesus meant when He said, “First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.”
         

      5. Galatians 6:1. Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted.
         

2. GOD’S RIGHTEOUS JUDGMENT. Verses 3,6,11. ³ And do you think this, O man, you who judge those practicing such things, and doing the same, that you will escape the judgment of God? ⁶ who “will render to each one according to his deeds”: ¹¹ For there is no partiality with God.
   

   1. God’s judgment is universal. (v.3)
      

      1. Paul rhetorically asks, Do you think that you will escape the judgment of God?
         

      2. Will anyone escape the judgment of God?
         

      3. No!
         

      4. Good and Bad. 2 Corinthians 5:10. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.
         

      5. Living or dead. 2 Timothy 4:1. I charge you therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom:
         

      6. All people! Hebrews 9:27. And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment.
         

   2. God’s judgment is uniform. (v.6)
      

      1. There is a uniform standard by which we will be judged.
         

      2. According to our deeds (v.6).
         

      3. Those deeds will be judged according to the word of God.
         

      4. John 12:48. He who rejects Me, and does not receive My words, has that which judges him—the word that I have spoken will judge him in the last day.
         

      5. Revelation 20:12. And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books.
         

   3. God’s judgment is unimpeachable. (v.11)
      

      1. Unimpeachable – irreproachable, free from stain, guilt, or fault.
         

      2. Unlike man, God judges without partiality.
         

      3. Rich or poor. Slave or free. Jew or Greek. All are judged as equals.
         

      4. Galatians 3:28. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.
         

3. GOD’S JUDGMENT ON THE WICKED. Verses 5,8,9. ⁵ But in accordance with your hardness and your impenitent heart you are treasuring up for yourself wrath in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God, ⁸ but to those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness—indignation and wrath, ⁹ tribulation and anguish, on every soul of man who does evil, of the Jew first and also of the Greek;
   

   1. What makes a person wicked?
      

      1. Unbelief. Romans 1:18-22. For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, ¹⁹ because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them. ²⁰ For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, ²¹ because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. ²² Professing to be wise, they became fools.
         

      2. Having a hard and impenitent heart (v.5).
         

      3. Being self-seeking (v.8).
         

      4. Not obeying the truth (v.8).
         

      5. Obeying unrighteousness or doing evil (vv.8,9).
         

   2. The wicked will suffer.
      

      1. They are treasuring up wrath (v.5). Storing it up. Hebrews 10:29-31. Of how much worse punishment, do you suppose, will he be thought worthy who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, counted the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified a common thing, and insulted the Spirit of grace? ³⁰ For we know Him who said, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord. And again, “The LORD will judge His people.” ³¹ It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.
         

      2. They will suffer God’s indignation (v.8). Anger provoked by man’s disobedience.
         

      3. Anguish. Matthew 25:30. And cast the unprofitable servant into the outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’
         

   3. How can a loving God cause anyone to suffer?
      

      1. Let us answer that with another question.
         

      2. How could a holy and righteous God not punish wickedness?
         

4. GOD’S JUDGMENT ON THE RIGHTEOUS. Verses 7,10. ⁷ Eternal life to those who by patient continuance in doing good seek for glory, honor, and immortality; ¹⁰ but glory, honor, and peace to everyone who works what is good, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.
   

   1. What makes a person righteous?
      

      1. V.7. Patient continuance in doing good. Galatians 6:9. And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.
         

      2. 1 John 3:7. Little children, let no one deceive you. He who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous.
         

      3. Of course, good works are just the end-product of one who is seeking to do good. Ephesians 2:8-10. For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, ⁹ not of works, lest anyone should boast. ¹⁰ For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.
         

      4. It is the grace of God that saves us through faithful obedience.
         

      5. It is our continual striving to do good (walk in the light) that keeps us in fellowship with God.
         

   2. The righteous will be rewarded.
      

      1. Eternal life (v.7).
         

      2. Glory. Romans 8:16-17. The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, ¹⁷ and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together.
         

      3. Honor. The honor that comes from God. John 5:44. How can you believe, who receive honor from one another, and do not seek the honor that comes from the only God?
         

      4. Peace. Revelation 14:13. Then I heard a voice from heaven saying to me, “Write: ‘Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.’” “Yes,” says the Spirit, “that they may rest from their labors, and their works follow them.”
         

CONCLUSION.

1. What do we learn from this passage?
   

2. Unlike man, God is a righteous judge.
   

   1. His judgment will be universal, uniform, and unimpeachable.
      

   2. Those who are obedient to His will will be rewarded with eternal life.
      

   3. Those who are disobedient will suffer the vengeance of an Almighty God.
      

3. Are you ready to face the Judgment?
   

   
   

WHAT DID THE BIRTH OF JESUS MEAN???

Text: Luke 1:26-33.

Delivered on: December 21, 2008. Streetsboro.

INTRODUCTION.

1. John 1:1. In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. ² He was in the beginning with God.  John 1:14. And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.

2. Philippians 2:5-7. Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, ⁶ who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, ⁷ but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men.

3. We have arrived at that time of year where everyone is thinking about the birth of Jesus.

4. While it should be noted that Christmas is not a Biblical holiday (we don’t read about it in the Bible), I am grateful that at least once a year, so many stop to think about Jesus.

5. Unfortunately though, I am convinced that most don’t fully appreciate the enormous importance of the birth of Jesus.

6. Even more tragic, most don’t respond to life and death of Jesus in the way that they should.

7. The birth of Jesus was a herald of many profoundly important changes that were about to take place.

8. This morning, let us answer the question, “What did the Birth of Jesus Mean?”

BODY.

1. IT MEANT THAT THE FULNESS OF TIME HAD COME. Galatians 4:4. But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law.
   

   1. “Fullness of time” is making reference to the fact that Jesus came into the world when the time was just right.

      1. God knew before He created the world that there would be a day when He would end His Son into it.  1 Peter 1:20. He indeed was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you.

      2. The Old Testament is a record of the preparations that God made for the day when the fullness of time had come.
         

   2. From the very first days in the Garden of Eden, we see preparation being made.

      1. Genesis 4:3-4. And in the process of time it came to pass that Cain brought an offering of the fruit of the ground to the LORD. ⁴ Abel also brought of the firstborn of his flock and of their fat. And the LORD respected Abel and his offering, ⁵ but He did not respect Cain and his offering. And Cain was very angry, and his countenance fell.

      2. Abel’s offering was made by faith. Hebrews 11:4. By faith Abel offered to God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, through which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts; and through it he being dead still speaks.

      3. Why were Cain and Abel even offering sacrifices?

      4. God was already teaching them the consequences of sin.

      5. He was already showing the need for a sacrifice for sin.

      6. Perhaps this is why God was not pleased with Cain’s sacrifice. God demanded a blood sacrifice for sin.
         

   3. We see this preparation being made in the Law of Moses.

      1. Hebrews 10:1-4. For the law, having a shadow of the good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with these same sacrifices, which they offer continually year by year, make those who approach perfect. ² For then would they not have ceased to be offered? For the worshipers, once purified, would have had no more consciousness of sins. ³ But in those sacrifices there is a reminder of sins every year. ⁴ For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and goats could take away sins.

      2. Galatians 3:24. Therefore the law was our tutor to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith.
         

   4. We see this preparation in the 4 great world empires.

      1. Babylon – Contributed synagogue worship which was important in the spread of the early church.

      2. Medes & Persians – Contributed a profound respect for law. Even the king could not alter the law once it was given. See the books of Daniel and Esther.

      3. Grecian – Contributed a universal language.

      4. Roman – Contributed a near global peace and system of roads for easier travel.
         

2. IT MEANT THAT THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN WAS AT HAND.
   

   1. The Kingdom was to be established by the Son of God.

      1. Daniel 7:13-14. “ I was watching in the night visions, And behold, One like the Son of Man, Coming with the clouds of heaven! He came to the Ancient of Days, And they brought Him near before Him. ¹⁴ Then to Him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, That all peoples, nations, and languages should serve Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion, Which shall not pass away, And His kingdom the one Which shall not be destroyed.

      2. 2 Samuel 7:12-13. “When your days are fulfilled and you rest with your fathers, I will set up your seed after you, who will come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom. ¹³ He shall build a house for My name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever.
         

   2. Jesus, John, the 12, and the 70 all taught that the kingdom was at hand.

      1. Jesus. Matthew 4:17. From that time Jesus began to preach and to say, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”

      2. John. Matthew 3:1-2. In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea, 2 and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!”
         

      3. The 12. Matthew 10:7. And as you go, preach, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’

      4. The 70. Luke 10:8-9. Whatever city you enter, and they receive you, eat such things as are set before you. ⁹ And heal the sick there, and say to them, ‘The kingdom of God has come near to you.’
         

   3. Jesus’ kingdom is His church. John 18:36. Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, My servants would fight, so that I should not be delivered to the Jews; but now My kingdom is not from here.”
      

   4. His kingdom was established on the first Pentecost after His resurrection.

      1. Mark 9:1. And He said to them, “Assuredly, I say to you that there are some standing here who will not taste death till they see the kingdom of God present with power.”

      2. After Pentecost, the kingdom is here. Colossians 1:13. He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love.
         

3. IT MEANT THAT THE OLD LAW WAS ABOUT TO PASS AWAY.
   

   1. Some mistakenly believed that Jesus had come to destroy the Law of Moses.

      1. Not so.

      2. He came to fulfill the law.

      3. Matthew 5:17-18. “Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill. ¹⁸ For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled.

      4. All of the law pointed to Christ.
         

   2. Jesus is the guarantee of a better covenant. Hebrews 7:18-22. For on the one hand there is an annulling of the former commandment because of its weakness and unprofitableness, ¹⁹ for the law made nothing perfect; on the other hand, there is thebringing in of a better hope, through which we draw near to God. ²⁰ And inasmuch as He was not made priest without an oath ²¹ (for they have become priests without an oath, but He with an oath by Him who said to Him: “The LORD has sworn And will not relent, ‘ You are a priest forever According to the order of Melchizedek’”),  ²² by so much more Jesus has become a surety of a better covenant.
      

   3. He is the mediator of a better covenant. Hebrews 9:11-15. But Christ came as High Priest of the good things to come, with the greater and more perfect tabernacle not made with hands, that is, not of this creation. ¹² Not with the blood of goats and calves, but with His own blood He entered the Most Holy Place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption. ¹³ For if the blood of bulls and goats and the ashes of a heifer, sprinkling the unclean, sanctifies for the purifying of the flesh, ¹⁴ how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? ¹⁵ And for this reason He is the Mediator of the new covenant, by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions under the first covenant, that those who are called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance.
      

   4. Hebrews 8:13. In that He says, “A new covenant, ” He has made the first obsolete. Now what is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to vanish away.
      

4. IT MEANT THAT THE SACRIFICE FOR SINS WOULD SOON BE OFFERED. Matthew 1:21. And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name JESUS, for He will save His people from their sins.”
   

   1. We have already noticed that the blood of bulls and goats cannot take away sin. Hebrews 10:4. For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and goats could take away sins.
      

   2. It took Christ’s blood to take away our sins.

      1. Hebrews 9:22-28. And according to the law almost all things are purified with blood, and without shedding of blood there is no remission. ²³ Therefore it was necessary that the copies of the things in the heavens should be purified with these, but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these. ²⁴ For Christ has not entered the holy places made with hands, which are copies of the true, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us; ²⁵ not that He should offer Himself often, as the high priest enters the Most Holy Place every year with blood of another— ²⁶ He then would have had to suffer often since the foundation of the world; but now, once at the end of the ages, He has appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself. ²⁷ And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment, ²⁸
         so Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many. To those who eagerly wait for Him He will appear a second time, apart from sin, for salvation.

      2. 1 Peter 1:18-19. Knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, ¹⁹ but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.
         

CONCLUSION.

1. What does Jesus birth mean to you?

2. Is it just an excuse to have a celebration once a year?

3. Or do you celebrate His birth every day of the year?

   
   

THE ANATOMY OF A FALSE TEACHER

Text: Acts 13:1-12.

Delivered on: September 7, 2008. Streetsboro.

INTRODUCTION.

1. We are warned by nearly every New Testament writer about false teachers.

   1. John. 1 John 4:1. Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world.

   2. Paul. Galatians 1:6-7. I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel, ⁷ which is not another; but there are some who trouble you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ.

   3. Jude. Jude 3-4. Beloved, while I was very diligent to write to you concerning our common salvation, I found it necessary to write to you exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints. ⁴ For certain men have crept in unnoticed, who long ago were marked out for this condemnation, ungodly men, who turn the grace of our God into lewdness and deny the only Lord God and our Lord Jesus Christ.

   4. Our Lord. Matthew 7:15. Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves.

2. Paul had an encounter with a false teacher in Acts 13:6-12. Now when they had gone through the island to Paphos, they found a certain sorcerer, a false prophet, a Jew whose name was Bar-Jesus, ⁷ who was with the proconsul, Sergius Paulus, an intelligent man. This man called for Barnabas and Saul and sought to hear the word of God. ⁸ But Elymas the sorcerer (for so his name is translated) withstood them, seeking to turn the proconsul away from the faith. ⁹ Then Saul, who also is called Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, looked intently at him ¹⁰ and said, “O full of all deceit and all fraud, you son of the devil, you enemy of all righteousness, will you not cease perverting the straight ways of the Lord? ¹¹ And now, indeed, the hand of the Lord is upon you, and you shall be blind, not seeing the sun for a time.” And immediately a dark mist fell on him, and he went around seeking someone to lead him by the hand. ¹² Then the proconsul believed, when he saw what had been done, being astonished at the teaching of the Lord.

3. From this passage and others, we learn a great deal about the anatomy of a false teacher.

BODY.

1. THE FALSE TEACHER’S MOTIVATION.

   1. Position - Status.

      1. Notice that in our passage, Elymas was with the proconsul.

      2. He was a sorcerer.

      3. This suggests to us that he had bewitched the proconsul and enjoyed a privileged position.

      4. Much like Simon. Acts 8:9-11. But there was a certain man called Simon, who previously practiced sorcery in the city and astonished the people of Samaria, claiming that he was someone great, ¹⁰ to whom they all gave heed, from the least to the greatest, saying, “This man is the great power of God.” ¹¹ And they heeded him because he had astonished them with his sorceries for a long time.

      5. Both of these men were worried about losing their privileged position.

      6. Think of all of those today who are intelligent enough to see the truth but because of their current lofty position in some religious organization, they will not obey.

      7. John 12:42-43. Nevertheless even among the rulers many believed in Him, but because of the Pharisees they did not confess Him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue; ⁴³ for they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God.

   2. Pride - Number of followers.

      1. Some teach what they teach simply to gather followers.

      2. It is a “pride” thing.

      3. As long as there are people who are looking for watered-down, spineless, weak preaching; someone will be willing to step into that role. 2 Timothy 4:3-4. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; ⁴ and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables.

      4. I have heard from a source that I trust that when confronted by members of the church for his stance on baptism, Billy Graham admitted that the only reason he taught what he did was because it was what the people wanted to hear.

   3. Pay – Money.

      1. Paul warned that some preach just for the money. Romans 16:17-18. Now I urge you, brethren, note those who cause divisions and offenses, contrary to the doctrine which you learned, and avoid them. ¹⁸ For those who are such do not serve our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly, and by smooth words and flattering speech deceive the hearts of the simple.

      2. Titus 1:10-11. For there are many insubordinate, both idle talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision, ¹¹ whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole households, teaching things which they ought not, for the sake of dishonest gain.

      3. This goes hand in hand with the number of followers. More followers = more money.

      4. The fear of losing his “job” will cause this type of preacher to preach whatever the people want to hear.

      5. His allegiance is not to Christ and His doctrine but to his own belly.

2. THE FALSE TEACHER’S TRUE NATURE.

   1. Notice how Paul described Elymas. Acts 13:10. And said, “O full of all deceit and all fraud, you son of the devil, you enemy of all righteousness, will you not cease perverting the straight ways of the Lord?

      1. He was full of deceit and fraud.

      2. Son of the devil.

      3. Enemy of all righteousness.

      4. A perverter of the truth.

   2. People such as Billy Graham and Joel Osteen who do not teach the whole truth…

      1. Put on a good show for the masses.

      2. But because of their lack of faithfulness to the word of God, they are enemies of righteousness and sons of the devil.

      3. Jesus warned us of people like this. Matthew 7:15. Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves.

3. THE FALSE TEACHER’S TACTICS.

   1. As Jesus said, they come in sheep’s clothing.

      1. They don’t announce that they are false teachers.

      2. They uses smooth words and appear harmless. Romans 16:18. For those who are such do not serve our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly, and by smooth words and flattering speech deceive the hearts of the simple.

      3. In many cases, they probably don’t even know that they are false teachers.

      4. But that does not make them any less dangerous, should we follow their error.

   2. Paul said that Elymas perverted the straight ways of the Lord.

      1. This implies then that Elymas was teaching a perverted truth.

      2. False teachers twist the scriptures.

         1. 2 Peter 3:14-16. Therefore, beloved, looking forward to these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, without spot and blameless; ¹⁵ and consider that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation—as also our beloved brother Paul, according to the wisdom given to him, has written to you, ¹⁶ as also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things, in which are some things hard to understand, which untaught and unstable people twist to their own destruction, as they do also the rest of the Scriptures.

         2. 2 Corinthians 4:2. But we have renounced the hidden things of shame, not walking in craftiness nor handling the word of God deceitfully, but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God.

      3. There is just enough truth in their lessons to make them dangerous.

      4. Remember that even the Devil quotes scripture. Matthew 4.

         1. Just because a person uses Scripture in a sermon, it does not mean that he is teaching the truth.

         2. He could be misapplying it like the devil.

         3. Or like the Pharisees. Matthew 22:29. Jesus answered and said to them, “You are mistaken, not knowing the Scriptures nor the power of God.

4. THE FALSE TEACHER’S FRUITS.

   1. In Matthew 7:15, Jesus said that we would know false teachers by their fruits.

   2. What are these fruits?

      1. Romans 16:17. Now I urge you, brethren, note those who cause divisions and offenses, contrary to the doctrine which you learned, and avoid them.

         1. Divisions.

         2. Offenses contrary to the doctrine of Christ.

      2. As with Elymas, hindering others from obeying the truth.

         1. Notice that once Elymas was dethroned, Sergius Paulus believed.

         2. When someone today preaches that all you have to do to be saved is pray a little prayer, they are deceiving people (whether knowingly or not) and hindering them from obeying the truth. Just like Elymas.

      3. Destruction. Titus 1:10-11. For there are many insubordinate, both idle talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision, ¹¹ whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole households, teaching things which they ought not, for the sake of dishonest gain.

         1. Subvert = destroy, overthrow.

         2. False teachers destroy people’s faith.

5. THE CHRISTIAN’S RESPONSE.

   1. Notice Paul’s response. Acts 13:11. And now, indeed, the hand of the Lord is upon you, and you shall be blind, not seeing the sun for a time.” And immediately a dark mist fell on him, and he went around seeking someone to lead him by the hand.

   2. We may not be able to strike people blind but we can stop their mouths. Titus 1:11.

      1. We don’t do this by physical or violent means.

      2. We do this by reasoning with them from the Scriptures.

      3. Acts 6:8-10. And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and signs among the people. ⁹ Then there arose some from what is called the Synagogue of the Freedmen (Cyrenians, Alexandrians, and those from Cilicia and Asia), disputing with Stephen. ¹⁰ And they were not able to resist the wisdom and the Spirit by which he spoke.

      4. Luke 14:6. And they could not answer Him regarding these things.

      5. Acts 18:27-28. And when he desired to cross to Achaia, the brethren wrote, exhorting the disciples to receive him; and when he arrived, he greatly helped those who had believed through grace; ²⁸ for he vigorously refuted the Jews publicly, showing from the Scriptures that Jesus is the Christ.

   3. Ephesians 5:11. And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them.