Sermon Central
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Scoffers, Cults, And Us Series
Contributed by Troy Borst on Nov 28, 2017 (message contributor)
Summary: This word “ignorant” occurs 13 times in the Bible and is connected with some important spiritual facts we should all know. That is why today we cover the spiritual Truth that false teachings about Christ are alive and abound in our world.
(1) God the Father is married and there is a Mother God (Answers to Gospel Questions, Joseph Fielding
Smith, Vol. 3, pp. 143-144).
2) All men and women who have ever lived on Earth are the spirit offspring of Heavenly Father and
Heavenly Mother. Every person was conceived and born in a pre-existent spiritual realm (Mormon
Doctrine, p. 589).
3) Black people are black because of their misdeeds in the pre-existence (Three Degrees of Glory, LDS
Apostle Melvin J. Ballard, p. 21).
4) Temple ceremonies include Baptism for the Dead, Washing and Anointing for the living and the dead
(Mormon Doctrine, McConkie, pp. 72-74, 226-228).
5) Salvation or exaltation, whereby men become gods, is based on one’s own good works or merit
(Church News, October 8, 1988, p. 23 and The Religion of the Latter-day Saints, Lowell Bennion, LDS
Institute of Religion Director, p. 160).
6) The Bible is considered usable, but suspect due to its many errors and missing parts (Articles of Faith
No. 8, Ensign January 1989, pp. 25, 27).
C. Jehovah’s Witnesses: Satan is the originator of the idea of the Trinity. The Father is the supreme God whose real name is Jehovah. Jesus is a created being known originally as Michael the Archangel; he is “a god,” not Jehovah. Jesus only rose spiritually, not bodily, from the dead. The Holy Spirit is the impersonal active force of God. Only the anointed class (or little flock) numbering 144,000 will go to heaven, while faithful “other sheep” will live eternally on a paradise earth; the lost will cease to exist. Publishes the Watchtower and Awake! Magazines, the New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures (their own version of the Bible), as well as numerous books. Originally called International Bible Students, followers today are called Jehovah’s Witnesses. There are 94,600 congregations of Jehovah’s Witnesses.
III. THE OUTLOOK AND CHARGE TO THE BELIEVERS
What is to be our response to this world that is full of scoffers and false teachers and strange ideas about our God and Savior? Peter gives us advice, commands, and directives throughout this passage in dealing with these challenges to our faith.
A. Wholesome thinking (verse 1)
1) Colossians 2:1-2: “Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things
above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on
earthly things.”
2) Philippians 4:8-9: “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right,
whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable--if anything is excellent or
praiseworthy--think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from
me, or seen in me--put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.”
B. Be patient (verses 8-10)
1) Hebrews 10:36: “You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will
receive what he has promised.”
2) James 1:4: “Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not
lacking anything.”
C. Efforts to be blameless and spotless (verse 14-15)
