The Truth (Part 3): The Sheep – Sermon by Steven Loots

• Galatians 1:6-9

1. 1. ⁶ I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you to live in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel— ⁷ which is really no gospel at all. Evidently some people are throwing you into confusion and are trying to pervert the gospel of Christ. ⁸ But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let them be under God’s curse! ⁹ As we have already said, so now I say again: If anybody is preaching to you a gospel other than what you accepted, let them be under God’s curse!

Introduction:

We all know people that in the past have been part of our faith circle that changed. At one time their faith seemed to be on track, they held onto the core beliefs of scripture and they shared our passion for church and for the mission of the church. But then they changed. Some grew cold, but others started to exhibit new and often strange perspectives about faith, God and salvation. Perhaps they started making outrageous claims about God, or denying aspects of the Bible or even its authority. Some came out with strange interpretations of scripture or left the church or became more religious or more aware of the Law. What happened?

Many today no longer hold on to Biblical truth. Sometimes it seems as if everyone has his/her own interpretation of the Bible. In the last message we looked at the problem of false teachers – the wolves that decimate the flock. However, it is not only the wolves who are to blame. Often there are real problems with the sheep themselves.

1. SOME Sheep are led astray by others to a different Gospel that is no gospel

Look again at Galatians 1:6-9

• Here we have the savage wolves and the disguised wolves at work
  • This is where believers have been targeted with a false message
  • Here we see wolves who want to draw away disciples after themselves
  • This is where we see wolves decimating the flock for monetary gain
    But, why did the Galatians not stand up for the true gospel?
    • THEY DID NOT FULLY COMPREHEND THE GOSPEL OF GRACE
  • Do you actually know and understand the true Gospel?
    • In 1 Corinthians 15: 1-5 Paul says this:
      • ¹Now, brothers and sisters, I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you, which you received and on which you have taken your stand.² By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain.³ For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance^[a]: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, ⁴ that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, 
    • Paul says:
      • This is the Gospel he preached.
      • This is the Gospel they received.
      • This is the Gospel on which the church took their stand.
      • This is the Gospel by which they were saved.
      • Any other gospel would mean that their faith is worthless.
      • What was this TRUE Gospel?
        • Jesus died for our sins.
        • Jesus was buried.
        • Jesus rose from the dead.
        • Jesus appeared to many.
      • In Ephesians he tells us how we receive this Gospel:
        • ⁸ For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—⁹ not by works, so that no one can boast. 

READ GALATIANS 1:6-9 AGAIN

• There is NEVER going to be NEW revelation about Salvation!
• Any gospel other than the Gospel of GRACE is a lie! Whether it be drawing people back to the Law, or Prosperity, or Identity, or Social Justice or Progressive Christianity. None of that is the truth.
• Don’t be fooled by any teacher who teaches anything other than the basic biblical Gospel.
• Not understanding the Gospel opens us up to false teaching.

2. Some sheep wander from the truth for many other reasons.

• Why do people wander from the truth?

• Laziness to study God’s Word
  • Hebrews 5:12
    • In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God’s word all over again. You need milk, not solid food!

• • • You cannot just blame others for being misled and drifting into error!
    • Take responsibility for your own spiritual growth!
    • Need to exercise the basic disciplines of a disciple.
  • The Grass is greener…

• Not rooted in the faith.
• Always experimenting, always following the latest trend, always wanting the newest experience, always joining the popular…
• They follow celebrity rather than stability.
• Easily distracted and easily influenced because they have not built a solid foundation.
• Love to be entertained:
  • Brighter lights, louder music, more smoke, more miracles – the best show in town.
  • No inner peace!
• They believe they are at the cutting edge of Christianity, not realizing that they are in danger of being cut off.

• • Not having their needs met…

• Misunderstanding what the church is about.
• Misunderstanding what God desires.
• Meeting their own needs is the main thing.
• Seeking a Genie and not a Father:
  • Many have come to the church through the advertising of false promises about the gospel – only to be disappointed and then to continue seeking someone to meet their perceived needs (material and physical) rather than the true needs (Spiritual).
• More interested in the benefits than the relationship.
• Never been fully convicted of SIN!
• We make it all about ME.

• • Grace is not enough – they need to earn their salvation.

• Religion rather than relationship.
• Always feeling that I need to contribute to my salvation.
• Transactional faith.
• I have to buy absolution / forgiveness and even blessing.

• • Influenced by culture
  • Worship the idols of society
  • Take their teaching from poisonous fountains
    • YouTube is a poor substitute for the Word of God, for solid biblical teaching and for sound doctrine

• Rather believe in myths than in the simplicity of the Gospel.
• 2 Timothy 4:1-4

They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.

2 Timothy 4 

1In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I give you this charge: ² Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction. ³ For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. ⁴ They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths. 

• Perhaps you are saying – it doesn’t matter what doctrines people hold onto. All they need is Jesus.
  • However, there are Consequences for wandering from the truth
    • Romans 2:7-9

⁷ To those who by persistence in doing good seek glory, honor and immortality, he will give eternal life. ⁸ But for those who are self-seeking and who reject the truth and follow evil, there will be wrath and anger. ⁹ There will be trouble and distress for every human being who does evil: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile;

• James 5:18-20

¹⁹ My brothers and sisters, if one of you should wander from the truth and someone should bring that person back, ²⁰ remember this: Whoever turns a sinner from the error of their way will save them from death and cover over a multitude of sins.

Not only should we hold firm to the truth, we must also warn those who drift away from it!