Scripture Reading: John 6:60-66
Comfortable Lies or Uncomfortable Truth?
Intro.
1. God's truth is often uncomfortable as it convicts sin, Jno. 16:8.
-Convict: “to convict, confute, refute,” usually with the suggestion of putting the convicted person to shame".[1]
2. Examples:
a. Herod and Herodias' adulterous remarriage, Mark 6:17-18, 27.
b. Sanhedrin council, Acts 7:51-60.
c. Felix and Drusilla, Acts 24:24-25.
3. We must be more concerned about our eternal comfort (and that of others) than we are about our (their) temporal comfort, 2 Cor. 4:16-18; 2 Tim. 4:3-5. (Matt. 16:26)
4. Some uncomfortable truths that expose the comfortable lies of our Adversary, the devil (Jno. 8:44).
I. SOME COMFORTABLE LIES.
A. "Faith Only Saves." "...very full of comfort" (Methodist Discipline)
1. Uncomfortable Truth: Not saved by faith only, Jas. 2:24; Acts 2:37-38.
2. We do not earn salvation, we obey the Master who blesses us with salvation, Eph. 2:8-9; Lk. 17:10.
B. "Good Moral People will be Saved."
1. Uncomfortable Truth: Good people are lost without the gospel, Acts 10:1-2, 22; 11:14; 15:7-11.
2. Good, moral people are commanded to obey Jesus, Acts 10:48.
C. "There are Many Ways to Heaven."
1. "Choose the church of your choice."
2. Uncomfortable Truth: Only one way (Jesus), Jno. 14:6 (Jer. 10:23)
-Only one church, Matt. 16:18; Eph. 1:22-23; 4:4; 5:23.
D. "There is no Hell (Eternal Punishment)."
-Uncomfortable Truth: Hell is real and many are headed there, Matt. 7:13-14; 25:41.
E. "All Remarriages are Acceptable."
-Uncomfortable Truth: One cause for putting away that makes remarriage acceptable to Jesus, Matt. 19:9, 3-6; 1 Cor. 7:10-11.
F. "Once Saved Always Saved."
-Uncomfortable Truth: Christians can fall away and be lost, Gal. 5:4; 1 Tim. 4:1-3; Heb. 3:12-14; 2 Pet. 1:10-11.
Conclusion
1. We must endeavor to please God, not men, Gal. 1:8-10.
2. Be cut to the heart by the gospel (convicted), repent, be baptized and be saved, Acts 2:36-38, 41.
[1] Vine, W. E., Unger, M. F., & White, W., Jr. (1996). Vine’s Complete Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words (Vol. 2, p. 128). Nashville, TN: T. Nelson.
By: Joe R. Price
Posted: February 12, 2016