Dakota Community Church
July 17, 2011
High Seas 3 - Hymenaeus
Luke 6:46-49
46 “Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say? 47 I will show you what he is like who comes to me and hears my words and puts them into practice. 48 He is like a man building a house, who dug down deep and laid the foundation on rock. When a flood came, the torrent struck that house but could not shake it, because it was well built. 49 But the one who hears my words and does not put them into practice is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. The moment the torrent struck that house, it collapsed and its destruction was complete.”
What is the foundation? - Why is the foundation important? - How is the foundation established?
1 Timothy 1:18-20
18 Timothy, my son, I give you this instruction in keeping with the prophecies once made about you, so that by following them you may fight the good fight, 19 holding on to faith and a good conscience. Some have rejected these and so have shipwrecked their faith. 20 Among them are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I have handed over to Satan to be taught not to blaspheme.
2 Timothy 2:16-18
16 Avoid godless chatter, because those who indulge in it will become more and more ungodly. 17 Their teaching will spread like gangrene. Among them are Hymenaeus and Philetus, 18 who have wandered away from the truth. They say that the resurrection has already taken place, and they destroy the faith of some.
1. Deceptions destructive storms
We do not like to acknowledge much of what the Bible speaks of in casual fact.
There is a God and creator who acts outside of the laws of nature.
The world was judged and destroyed by the flood
The Israelites crossed the Red Sea on dry ground
Fire fell from heaven and consumed Elijah’s sacrifice
Jesus died – fully died – and was resurrected to eternal life! AND….
The Devil exists!
Jesus talked to him and about him:
Matthew 4:1-4
Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil. 2 After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. 3 The tempter came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.”
4 Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’
John 8:42-44
Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love me, for I came from God and now am here. I have not come on my own; but he sent me. 43 Why is my language not clear to you? Because you are unable to hear what I say. 44 You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desire. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies.
James said to resist him and he would flee!
Paul said to deal with him as though you were preparing for war:
Ephesians 6:10-12
Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.
Peter warned believers against his devouring plans:
1 Peter 5:8-9
Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. 9 Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings.
2. Making a shipwreck of faith
This brings us to another theological hot topic. What the Calvinists refer to as perseverance of the saints or more commonly known as “Once saved always saved”.
The question is – is it possible for a Christian to lose their salvation?
Romans 11:17-23
If some of the branches have been broken off, and you, though a wild olive shoot, have been grafted in among the others and now share in the nourishing sap from the olive root, 18 do not boast over those branches. If you do, consider this: You do not support the root, but the root supports you. 19 You will say then, “Branches were broken off so that I could be grafted in.” 20 Granted. But they were broken off because of unbelief, and you stand by faith. Do not be arrogant, but be afraid. 21 For if God did not spare the natural branches, he will not spare you either.
22 Consider therefore the kindness and sternness of God: sternness to those who fell, but kindness to you, provided that you continue in his kindness. Otherwise, you also will be cut off. 23 And if they do not persist in unbelief, they will be grafted in, for God is able to graft them in again.
We must continue to believe, or we will depart from God through unbelief. Paul warned the Roman believers of the potential for Christians being cut off, and used the example of the unbelieving Jews who were actually cut off.
Colossians 1:21-23
Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of[f] your evil behavior. 22 But now he has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation— 23 if you continue in your faith, established and firm, not moved from the hope held out in the gospel.
1 Corinthians 15:1-2
Now, brothers, 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.
Parents do ever warn your children to hold firmly to their fingers?
No because their fingers are attached and cannot be lost.
What is the one condition that is absolutely essential in order to have “believed in vain”?
Answer: belief
Paul made it clear that perseverance in our faith in the Gospel message preached is necessary to our remaining within the sphere of salvation. In both passages his warning is that we not be moved away from our faith in the Gospel. That is, being seduced from the true Christian Faith to "another gospel" that cannot save. By renouncing the true Gospel and embracing a false Gospel, one can have "believed in vain," and no longer be saved.
Hebrews 3:12-14
See to it, brothers, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God. 13 But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness. 14 We have come to share in Christ if we hold firmly till the end the confidence we had at first.
Notice that all of these passages involve turning from the true gospel.
Salvation is not lost by committing various sins, by giving into the desires of the flesh, or by ceasing to attend church.
Salvation is lost by turning away from Jesus.
In Matthew 24 Jesus is describing how things will be at the end of the age and he warns against false teachers who will do the work of the enemy:
Matthew 24:3-5, 10-14
As Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately. “Tell us,” they said, “when will this happen, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?”
4 Jesus answered: “Watch out that no one deceives you. 5 For many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many.
At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, 11 and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. 12 Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, 13 but he who stands firm to the end will be saved. 14 And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.
3. The gospel solution
This sin is also paid for at Calvary.
If you have been seduced by false teachers – stop listening to them.
Stop looking at the counterfeits and know the truth.
Romans 11:23
And if they do not persist in unbelief, they will be grafted in, for God is able to graft them in again.
We never move on from the gospel to deeper things; we move on to deeper and deeper revelations of the Gospel!
PowerPoint available (Free of charge) on request dcormie@mts.net
