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Scripture Reading: Colossians 2:6-10
Plundered Treasure
(Part 2)
Intro.
1. Review Part 1: All things are yours, 1 Cor. 3:21-23 (18-20). We have great treasure in Christ.
2. It is possible for others to plunder our treasures in Christ, Col. 2:8 (2-3). Denominationalists and their errors plunder our treasure.
3. When this happens, faith falters, hope is unsure, and love is unstable (1 Cor. 13:13).
I. WE MUST NOT LET PEOPLE PLUNDER (TAKE AWAY) OUR TREASURE.
A. Do Not Let Evangelicals (Franklin Graham, et al.) and Many Others Plunder the Plan of Salvation, Acts 2:37-38; 16:30-31; 22:16.
1. By faith only, Jas. 2:24.
2. By minimizing and rejecting water baptism, Mk. 16:16.
3. By baptizing babies (original sin), Matt. 18:3.
B. Do Not Let Calvinists (Presbyterians, Reformed, Baptists, etc.) Plunder the Grace of God, 1 Pet. 5:12.
1. False views: “Grace alone” by “faith alone” in “Christ alone”; Grace and so-called “gray areas”; Conflict of grace and doctrine, etc.
2. Saved by grace (basis), through faith (means), Eph. 2:8-9; Rom. 5:1-2.
3. Grace is not a license to sin or to justify/tolerate error, Rom. 5:20-6:2; Tit. 2:11-12.
C. Do Not Let the Calvinists (Presbyterians, Reformed, Baptists, etc.) Plunder the Confidence of Our Salvation, 1 Jno. 5:13.
1. Impossibility of apostasy corrupts Christ’s teaching of our security in Him, Jno. 10:27-30; Gal. 5:4. (Security in hearing and following)
2. We become afraid to speak and live with confident faith and hope, Heb. 3:14; 6:17-19.
D. Do Not Let False Brethren Plunder the Truth on the Work and Organization of the Local Church, 1 Tim. 3:15.
1. Evangelize, edify and relieve needy saints, Acts 2:42-47; 6:2, 4.
-Not social, medical, recreational, educational, political, charitable works, etc. (Col. 3:17).
2. NT: Independent congregations, without any over-arching or interlinking organization (sponsoring churches), Acts 14:23; 1 Pet. 5:2.
3. NT: Local church is sufficient to do its work without adding human organizations to do the work of the local churches (missionary societies; church-supported colleges). Phil. 1:1
E. Do Not Let False Teachers in Churches of Christ Plunder the Truth on Marriage, Divorce and Remarriage, Matt. 19:3-6, 9; Heb. 13:4.
1. Homer Hailey, etc. – Alien not under Christ’s marriage law. (Book: The Divorce and Remarried that Would Come to God)
2. Jerry Bassett, Jim Puterbaugh, et al. – Redefine adultery (non-sexual, divorce). (Book: Rethinking Marriage, Divorce and Remarriage)
3. Lowell Williams, Sam Dawson, Darrell Beane, etc. – Jesus was teaching Deut. 24 to Jews in Matt. 5 and 19; not for all people today. (Recorded sermons)
4. Glen Lovelady, etc. – One loosed, both loosed. (Lovelady-Smith debate)
5. Larry Haverstock, etc. – “You forbid marriage and command divorce” by teaching remarriages (that violate Matt. 19:9) must end (1 Cor. 7:9; 1 Tim. 4:3). (Recorded class lecture on 1 Cor. 7)
F. Do Not Let False Teachers in Churches of Christ Plunder the Truth on Fellowship with Error on Romans 14. (cf. 2 Tim. 3:15-18)
1. Ed Harrell quotes.
2. Romans 14: How to keep unity in spite of differing consciences on matters indifferent before God, Rom. 14:3-5, 13 (14-23).
3. A broader fellowship is increasingly seen among brethren:
a. Fellowship with God: Practicing truth, 1 Jno. 1:5-7; 2 Jno. 9.
b. Fellowship with brethren: 1 Cor. 1:10; 2 Jno. 10-11; Eph. 5:11.
Conclusion
1. The perversions of the gospel by men must not deter us from boldly living by its truth, Gal. 1:6-10.
2. Denominational doctrines and false teachings among us are the “wisdom of this world” and “foolishness with God,” 1 Cor. 3:18-20.
3. “All things are yours,” 1 Cor. 3:21-23.
4. Do not let men rob you of your treasure in Christ.
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Romans 14 allows fellowship on matters of “considerable moral and doctrinal import.” (“The Bound of Christian Unity (4)”, Christianity Magazine, May 1989, 134)
“Within certain limits, God grants to Christians the right to a private conscience in matters of ‘faith.’ I believe that right is discussed in Romans 14. However, whether or not one accepts my exegesis of that passage, honest minds must acknowledge the reality of a past and present Christian world that tolerates contradictory teachings and practices on important moral and doctrinal questions.” (“The Bound of Christian Unity (16)”, Christianity Magazine, May, 1990, 134)
By: Joe R. Price
Posted: September 28, 2016