September 18 | Week 3: Character and Growth
Jesus Said “If” You Hold…
John 8:31-32
31 To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. 32 Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
1. What does Jesus say marks a real disciple (v. 31)? Jesus says holding to his teaching makes me a real disciple.
2. What does holding to his teaching lead to? I love this teaching from Jesus and considering the causality of it. First, If I obey Jesus’ teachings then I am really his disciple. Secondly, as a real disciple, I will know the truth. Lastly, knowing that truth sets me free. It all hinges on the “IF” Jesus starts with!
Correct, Rebuke, And Encourage With Truth
2 Timothy 4:2-5
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. 5 But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry.
They Will Turn Their Ears Away From The Truth
1. What does Paul warn will happen to people’s appetite for truth?
Paul warns that people will not put up with correct doctrine and instead gather a majority that endorses what they want to hear. We are so vulnerable to this today in the USA as a republic – where we believe the majority rules by vote. Therefore, we tend to believe what is true (or best) can be discerned from a “popular” vote. Sadly, the majority is on the “wide road” that leads to destruction – not to the truth! (Matthew 7:13-14)
Itching Ears Want Their Own Truth
2. What are itching ears? Where do you see people, or yourself, only wanting to hear what feels good? Most of “Western Society” has drifted significantly from what would be considered “conservative morality.” Therefore, I often see the sentiments of “If it feels good, do it” and “I can do whatever I want, as long as I am not hurting anyone!” Before I became a disciple of Jesus, this thinking was absolutely my spiritual “opium” of choice. Honestly, my itching ears led to be finding rhyme and reason to justify my immorality, masturbation, and selfishness.
I became a disciple in 1992 and throughout my spiritual journey there have been times where I have had “itching ears.” Thankfully, God has patiently used the brothers and sisters in Christ’s body to “correct, rebuke and encourage” me “with great patience and careful instruction.” I have found that the most necessary truth is the one hardest to hear. Therefore, this needed truth is more likely to anger me and make me critical of the messenger (or “the church”).
Hold To The Truth & Keep Your Head
3. What is Paul’s charge in the middle of all this?
Paul charges me to “keep [my] head in all situations” and to “endure hardship” as well as to “do the work!” We must swim against the majority because the popular vote is not getting people to heaven. However, you will be punished by a majority when you take a stand against the prolificly justified and endorsed sins like homosexuality (1 Corinthians 6:9-10), impurity/immorality (masturbation/pornography, Ephesians 5:3-7), and lust in general (Matthew 5:27-30). God’s Word promises this in 2 Timothy 3:12, “In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted…”
“IF” You Do…
1 Timothy 4:16
16 Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers.
1. What two things are we told to watch closely?
The scripture commands that we watch both our life (how we live, what we do, our habits) and doctrine (what we honestly believe, represent, and teach).
2. Why does it matter to watch your doctrine, and not just your behavior?
Firstly, I must watch what I believe because anything not done in faith is sin! If I do not believe that Jesus Is Lord, Christ, Messiah, and my savior – then things that are acts of faith become meaningless tradition or ritual. For example, the bible teaches that I am raised to life in Christ at my baptism through my faith in Jesus – “…having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through your faith in the working of God, who raised him from the dead.” (Colossians 2:12)
Hold To Truth – Sound Doctrine
Interestingly, the disciples (of John the Baptist) in Acts 19:1-4 were baptized “again” because the baptism they already received was not done with this same faith. I was baptized “again” despite having been baptized as a child for this very same reason! Additonally, the scriptures teach that a good/moral life does not save me. (cf Romans 3:23) Lastly, without faithful obedience, we do not have the means neither for loving each other nor God! (1 John 5:2-3, Hebrews 11:6)
Jesus Is…The Truth (John 14:6)
APPLICATION: Truth does not bend with the culture or with our feelings. Is there an area where you have started letting the world, or your own preferences, edit what God has clearly said? Name it, and get back in line with the truth today.
Personally, I look at too much political social media. Honestly, some content creators are very vulgar, cynical, and/or mocking in their content. I cannot see Jesus Christ creating or watching some of the political content and related cynical/comedic content I’ve been into lately. I must repent and clean up what I am consuming with my eyes!
