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HOLD FAST TO THAT WHICH IS GOOD

#1 · October 13, 2004, 4:35 pm

Quote from Forum Archives on October 13, 2004, 4:35 pm
Posted by: henkf <henkf@...>
HOLD FAST TO THAT WHICH IS GOOD

I Thess. 5:21 (b)

The question raised is 'What Determines What Is Good'?

I.        EXAMINING THE WRONG WAYS

A. Determining what is good is not determined by FEELINGS.

1.   Proverbs 28:26 ...."He who trusts in his own heart"

a)   If this standard were accurate then Luke 18:10-11 takes on a whole new meaning.

b)   By this standard the publican would have been condemned, while the Pharisee would have been justified.

1)   The fact remains that even though the Pharisee Felt he was right it did not make him right.



2.   People of all types of religious persuasions today feel that they are right, does that mean that they are???

a)   A closer examination will disclose the fact that   there has never been anyone actively participating in a religion that he thinks is wrong, false and   condemned of God.

b)   Yet each and every denomination that you can think of have as many different things to do to be SAVED.

1)   Some say that you should baptize infants while    some do the exact opposite.

2)   Some say that they feel sprinkling is sufficient while others say pouring while others say it is   not needed at all.

3)   Some say baptism is for the remission of sins     while others say that it is "An outward expression of an inward feeling"

c)   I believe the point can be clearly seen that so    many have based their belief purely upon feeling   that they are at odds against each other yet all   saying that they FEEL THAT THEY ARE CORRECT.

3.   This confusion should tell us that we cannot determine what is good on the basis of our feelings.

B.   PARENTS are the wrong source for that which is good.

1.   Christ in Matt. 10:37 shows us that our dependency should not be upon our parents, but upon Him.

2.   Consider this fact that IF this standard is true    then the Jews who stoned Stephen would have done a good deed...Acts 7:51.

a)   The fact here been is that their religion was like their father's religion and therefore it was       wrong...cf...Matt. 15:3-9.

3.   The point here to be taken is NOT that parents are not good, but rather that they are the primary roles in which we get our religious upbringing, but as with all things they do need to be checked to    see if what they are delivering to me is the whole truth.

a)   So many have said..."well my daddy said so" or "it was good for grand dad it is good enough for me."

b)   The Question IS IT GOOD ENOUGH FOR GOD???

4.   Therefore parents are not good sources for          determining what is good.

a)   To further prove this point just ask some of the   older parents what they think is good music???

C. The MAJORITY is the wrong source.

1.   Consider what Christ has said concerning the        Majority of the crowd...Matt. 7:13-14.

2.   Numbers do not prove a thing.

a)   Consider how many Jews Hitler killed...did that make it right?

b)   Consider how many unborn babies are killed, does that make it right?

c)   Consider how many unwed mothers there are, does that make it right?

d)   The obvious answer to all these questions are NO.

3.   Consider what some try to say about their denominations.

a)   Well it must be right because there are millions, upon millions of Catholics, Baptists, Presbyterians...ect.

4.   God's people have always been the MINORITY rather   than the Majority.

a)   Gen 6....Eight souls.

b)   Gen 19...Three souls.

c)   The Twelve spies....only two said lets us go!

d)   Isa. 10:22-23 ....only a remnant shall return.

e)   Other such examples include...Micah 7:2; John     7:60-66 ; Rom. 11:5 ; II Cor. 2:17.

5.   With this knowledge we can see that Majority does   not rule in the house of determining what is Good!

D. Conscience is the wrong source for determining that which is good.

1.   Many today say ..."Let your conscience be your      guide"

a)   However we realize that our consciences act        according to how we have been raised and according to how we believe.

1)   Black South Africans are raised to steal from the whites, and they think that it is right for them to do so.

2)   They are also raised that a life is no more       important than a dogs.

3)   Would anyone dare to say ...Let their conscience be there guide???"

b)   The fact remains the same that if we are raised    wrong, and taught wrong ways then we will react    wrong.

2.   Saul of Tarsus in Scripture is a classic example    of this...Acts 23:1; 26:9.

a)   HE had a good conscience even though he was        persecuting Christians, because he thought that it was the right thing to do!

b)   Yet Paul says concerning himself....I Tim. 1:15    while he was doing such.

3.   Then it is possible that we have a defiled          conscience...Titus 1:15 or possibly a seared       conscience...I Tim. 4:1-2.

4.   Are these types of consciences to be there guide?

F.   By going to MEN is not the way to determine what is right!

1.   Some say ..."I'll go to my priest, preacher and he will tell me what is right..."

a)   This is a great tendency today...when we are stuck with something instead of sorting it out ourselves, we say let us go to the preacher.

b)   However that negates what is commanded here and in   II Tim 2:15.

2.   We cannot depend solely and entirely upon someone else's knowledge to get us through.

3.   The command here is given to you as an individual, it is your responsibility and we should never shirk it, nor should we look for the easy way out.

4.   Why this is a real danger....Col 2:8; Rom. 16:17   etc.

G. By going to the Exception to the Rule.

1.   Some go to the baptism of Christ to try and prove   that baptism is not for the remission of sins.

a)   From a study of the context one can clearly see that this was the exception to the rule...Matt.    3:13-15.

b)   The fact to note that Christ had no sins, so the exception is placed upon John the Baptist to baptize some one who had no sin.

c)   Yet what is so quickly forgotten,

1)   We have sin....Rom 3:23; I John 1:8

d)   And Peter by the guidance of the H.S. said...be    baptized for the remission of your sins...Acts     2:38.

2.   Then some go to the House of Cornelius to show that one needs to have the Baptism of the Holy Spirit in order to be saved....Acts 11:18.

a)   However they forget that they had to be baptized   in water in order to have their sins forgiven   Acts 10:46-48.

3.   Some go to the thief on the cross to show one does not need baptism to be saved.

a)   But the assumption is that he had never been baptized.

b)   Secondly that Christ's law was in effect before he died.

c)   Thirdly that I have to be on the cross, with Christ by my side in order to be saved the same way as the thief.

H. Having seen the wrong ways to determine whether something is good let us now turn our attention to showing the right way.



II.       THE RIGHT WAY TO DETERMINE WHAT IS GOOD.

A. It is once again by the Word of God.

1.   The Word of God is inspired for every good work...II Tim. 3:16-17.

a)   Point here to notice that the Word of God contain all good works, therefore if some one is doing something that is not found in the Word then they are not doing GOOD WORKS.

B.   We are to exercise our minds on the word of God so   that we can discern between good and evil..Heb. 5:11-14

1.   This is the same as the renewing of the mind found in Rom. 12:1-2

2.   If it is not the Will of the Father it is accounted as Iniquity....Matt. 7:21-23.

C. The exhortation is that if something is proven by    the Scriptures and is good according to the          Scriptures then we ought to hold to it.

1.   II Thess. 2:15 ...there are some traditions that we are to hold to.

a)   Partaking of the Lord's Supper on every first day   of the week.

b)   Attending the worship services of the saints.

2.   The same Scripture that we are to hold fast to we    are to contend for it because it is once for all given....Jude 3

3.   The fact also remains to be said that the command    is to only hold fast that which is good, which implies that all impurities should be loosed from our grip.

Conclusion:

      A. The Gospel is the Good news unto salvation...     Rom. 1:16

B.   The question is: have you held fast to the Gospel?

C. One needs to be concerned for his soul and concerned what are the consequences without Christ...Mark 16:16 ; James 5:19-20.

D. Will you not come and hold fast the Truth today?

…
  ************************************  Weekly messages of hope and comfort for those who want to learn more about Jesus and His glorious plan for our lives.  To find out more about our ministry go to : worldoutreach.ca/sotn.htm  visit our "Ultimate Bible Quiz Site"  folsom.sk.ca/k4j/BQuiz/Quiz.html  *************************************                                                                              --  To unsubscribe, send ANY message to: [email protected]  

Posted by: henkf <henkf@...>

HOLD FAST TO THAT WHICH IS GOOD

I Thess. 5:21 (b)

The question raised is 'What Determines What Is Good'?

I. EXAMINING THE WRONG WAYS

A. Determining what is good is not determined by FEELINGS.

1. Proverbs 28:26 ...."He who trusts in his own heart"

a) If this standard were accurate then Luke 18:10-11 takes on a whole new meaning.

b) By this standard the publican would have been condemned, while the Pharisee would have been justified.

1) The fact remains that even though the Pharisee Felt he was right it did not make him right.

2. People of all types of religious persuasions today feel that they are right, does that mean that they are???

a) A closer examination will disclose the fact that there has never been anyone actively participating in a religion that he thinks is wrong, false and condemned of God.

b) Yet each and every denomination that you can think of have as many different things to do to be SAVED.

1) Some say that you should baptize infants while some do the exact opposite.

2) Some say that they feel sprinkling is sufficient while others say pouring while others say it is not needed at all.

3) Some say baptism is for the remission of sins while others say that it is "An outward expression of an inward feeling"

c) I believe the point can be clearly seen that so many have based their belief purely upon feeling that they are at odds against each other yet all saying that they FEEL THAT THEY ARE CORRECT.

3. This confusion should tell us that we cannot determine what is good on the basis of our feelings.

B. PARENTS are the wrong source for that which is good.

1. Christ in Matt. 10:37 shows us that our dependency should not be upon our parents, but upon Him.

2. Consider this fact that IF this standard is true then the Jews who stoned Stephen would have done a good deed...Acts 7:51.

a) The fact here been is that their religion was like their father's religion and therefore it was wrong...cf...Matt. 15:3-9.

3. The point here to be taken is NOT that parents are not good, but rather that they are the primary roles in which we get our religious upbringing, but as with all things they do need to be checked to see if what they are delivering to me is the whole truth.

a) So many have said..."well my daddy said so" or "it was good for grand dad it is good enough for me."

b) The Question IS IT GOOD ENOUGH FOR GOD???

4. Therefore parents are not good sources for determining what is good.

a) To further prove this point just ask some of the older parents what they think is good music???

C. The MAJORITY is the wrong source.

1. Consider what Christ has said concerning the Majority of the crowd...Matt. 7:13-14.

2. Numbers do not prove a thing.

a) Consider how many Jews Hitler killed...did that make it right?

b) Consider how many unborn babies are killed, does that make it right?

c) Consider how many unwed mothers there are, does that make it right?

d) The obvious answer to all these questions are NO.

3. Consider what some try to say about their denominations.

a) Well it must be right because there are millions, upon millions of Catholics, Baptists, Presbyterians...ect.

4. God's people have always been the MINORITY rather than the Majority.

a) Gen 6....Eight souls.

b) Gen 19...Three souls.

c) The Twelve spies....only two said lets us go!

d) Isa. 10:22-23 ....only a remnant shall return.

e) Other such examples include...Micah 7:2; John 7:60-66 ; Rom. 11:5 ; II Cor. 2:17.

5. With this knowledge we can see that Majority does not rule in the house of determining what is Good!

D. Conscience is the wrong source for determining that which is good.

1. Many today say ..."Let your conscience be your guide"

a) However we realize that our consciences act according to how we have been raised and according to how we believe.

1) Black South Africans are raised to steal from the whites, and they think that it is right for them to do so.

2) They are also raised that a life is no more important than a dogs.

3) Would anyone dare to say ...Let their conscience be there guide???"

b) The fact remains the same that if we are raised wrong, and taught wrong ways then we will react wrong.

2. Saul of Tarsus in Scripture is a classic example of this...Acts 23:1; 26:9.

a) HE had a good conscience even though he was persecuting Christians, because he thought that it was the right thing to do!

b) Yet Paul says concerning himself....I Tim. 1:15 while he was doing such.

3. Then it is possible that we have a defiled conscience...Titus 1:15 or possibly a seared conscience...I Tim. 4:1-2.

4. Are these types of consciences to be there guide?

F. By going to MEN is not the way to determine what is right!

1. Some say ..."I'll go to my priest, preacher and he will tell me what is right..."

a) This is a great tendency today...when we are stuck with something instead of sorting it out ourselves, we say let us go to the preacher.

b) However that negates what is commanded here and in II Tim 2:15.

2. We cannot depend solely and entirely upon someone else's knowledge to get us through.

3. The command here is given to you as an individual, it is your responsibility and we should never shirk it, nor should we look for the easy way out.

4. Why this is a real danger....Col 2:8; Rom. 16:17 etc.

G. By going to the Exception to the Rule.

1. Some go to the baptism of Christ to try and prove that baptism is not for the remission of sins.

a) From a study of the context one can clearly see that this was the exception to the rule...Matt. 3:13-15.

b) The fact to note that Christ had no sins, so the exception is placed upon John the Baptist to baptize some one who had no sin.

c) Yet what is so quickly forgotten,

1) We have sin....Rom 3:23; I John 1:8

d) And Peter by the guidance of the H.S. said...be baptized for the remission of your sins...Acts 2:38.

2. Then some go to the House of Cornelius to show that one needs to have the Baptism of the Holy Spirit in order to be saved....Acts 11:18.

a) However they forget that they had to be baptized in water in order to have their sins forgiven Acts 10:46-48.

3. Some go to the thief on the cross to show one does not need baptism to be saved.

a) But the assumption is that he had never been baptized.

b) Secondly that Christ's law was in effect before he died.

c) Thirdly that I have to be on the cross, with Christ by my side in order to be saved the same way as the thief.

H. Having seen the wrong ways to determine whether something is good let us now turn our attention to showing the right way.

II. THE RIGHT WAY TO DETERMINE WHAT IS GOOD.

A. It is once again by the Word of God.

1. The Word of God is inspired for every good work...II Tim. 3:16-17.

a) Point here to notice that the Word of God contain all good works, therefore if some one is doing something that is not found in the Word then they are not doing GOOD WORKS.

B. We are to exercise our minds on the word of God so that we can discern between good and evil..Heb. 5:11-14

1. This is the same as the renewing of the mind found in Rom. 12:1-2

2. If it is not the Will of the Father it is accounted as Iniquity....Matt. 7:21-23.

C. The exhortation is that if something is proven by the Scriptures and is good according to the Scriptures then we ought to hold to it.

1. II Thess. 2:15 ...there are some traditions that we are to hold to.

a) Partaking of the Lord's Supper on every first day of the week.

b) Attending the worship services of the saints.

2. The same Scripture that we are to hold fast to we are to contend for it because it is once for all given....Jude 3

3. The fact also remains to be said that the command is to only hold fast that which is good, which implies that all impurities should be loosed from our grip.

Conclusion:

A. The Gospel is the Good news unto salvation... Rom. 1:16

B. The question is: have you held fast to the Gospel?

C. One needs to be concerned for his soul and concerned what are the consequences without Christ...Mark 16:16 ; James 5:19-20.

D. Will you not come and hold fast the Truth today?

…

  ************************************  Weekly messages of hope and comfort for those who want to learn more about Jesus and His glorious plan for our lives.  To find out more about our ministry go to : worldoutreach.ca/sotn.htm  visit our "Ultimate Bible Quiz Site"  folsom.sk.ca/k4j/BQuiz/Quiz.html  *************************************                                                                              --  To unsubscribe, send ANY message to: [email protected]