24-0428p Transcript

Preacher: Mike Mathis

(0:48) Good evening. (0:53) It’s my turn to, once again, deliver a message from God’s Word. (1:05) Tonight I will be a little easy as far as scriptures are concerned. (1:15) But yet the lesson is going to deal with a heavy topic, and it’s called doctrine.

(1:33) And the reason that I finally decided upon this, (1:40) a few days ago I was listening to one of the videos, (1:49) sermons that I watch generally on YouTube. (2:03) And it is to my amazement that in this video, (2:12) it’s the one that was giving the lesson, or was talking, (2:26) mentioned something about doctrine. (2:33) And it’s one of those programs where someone would respond to what was going on, (2:47) but I don’t believe it was on the phone.

(2:50) It was in a clip that was shown. (2:58) The woman, upon hearing mentioned doctrine, (3:07) she said, I have never heard of doctrine. (3:15) That amazed me.

(3:18) And I was wondering, where have you been that you haven’t heard of the word doctrine? (3:29) She may not have known about the word doctrine as such, (3:40) but she may have very well heard someone preach, (3:47) or heard a group of preachers preach on doctrine, (3:54) or doctrines, or preaching their doctrines. (4:01) Now what is doctrine? (4:07) Doctrine, defined according to Webster’s Third New International Dictionary, (4:15) unabridged, is something that is taught. (4:25) Teaching, instruction, dogma.

(4:30) So if someone is preaching, or teaching something, (4:35) he is preaching or teaching a doctrine. (4:42) Now, somebody may not realize that that’s what it is, (4:47) but that’s what it is. (4:51) It’s teaching.

(4:54) Now, in 2 John, verse 9 through 11, (5:05) I want to look at verse 9. (5:10) It says, (5:12) Whoever transgresses and does not abide in the doctrine singular of Christ does not have God. (5:27) He who abides in the doctrine of Christ hath both the Father and the Son. (5:37) Now, in these videos that I’ve been watching, (5:46) there is a discussion with a certain man (5:53) that is making out as if he is an apostle, (6:02) and he believes in Jesus only, (6:11) that Jesus is only one.

(6:17) We’ve got people who believe that there’s only one being, (6:29) that is God. (6:30) Because it says there is one God, (6:36) and He is one. (6:40) Not really realizing that in the language in the Bible, (6:51) Elohim is on the borough, (6:55) referring to God.

(6:59) And we have the Godhead. (7:02) Now, let’s look at this verse 9. (7:09) He who abides in the doctrine of Christ hath both the Father and the Son. (7:21) Well, if we have both Father and Son, (7:27) there’s two beings at least, isn’t there? (7:32) There is two in the Godhead at least.

(7:39) We can go back in the first chapter of Genesis, (7:46) where it says, (7:47) Let us make man in our image. (7:54) So that is plural. (7:58) And I once received in my hometown in West Virginia, (8:09) this paper someone had written to the church (8:16) trying to make arguments for God being one, (8:26) and such.

(8:30) And then when he got to the last page, (8:35) he suggested that the Holy Spirit was an angel. (8:43) And when I read that, I said, (8:46) This man is off his rocker, (8:50) because I’ve never heard of an angel (8:55) or anyone being filled with an angel. (9:00) We can be filled with the Holy Spirit.

(9:03) But in our teaching and in looking at this, (9:12) we can know that there is both Father and Son. (9:18) And if we abide in the doctrine of Christ, (9:25) we will have both the Father and the Son. (9:31) If anyone comes to you and does not bring this doctrine, (9:38) do not receive him into your house, nor greet him.

(9:44) For he who greets him shows in his evil deeds. (9:49) So we’ve already seen that there are those (9:58) who will try to make God into one being, (10:08) or as this man is teaching in his sect, (10:17) that Jesus is one, Jesus only. (10:24) Jesus is one, and he is the only one.

(10:32) And he was trying to make an argument about that, (10:39) and was saying that because of his statement, (10:46) he was trying to deal with that when he was saying, (10:54) you know, talking about himself, (10:59) that he was born and he was a man. (11:09) He said, but I have a name. (11:12) He said, I am a husband, but I have a name.

(11:18) And I have something else. (11:23) He says, but I have a name. (11:26) But there’s something that, (11:29) and I believe that he mentioned about his father, (11:35) but this man that is conducting and bringing these videos said, (11:46) but there’s one thing that he is missing.

(11:52) He is not his own father. (11:57) And Jesus is not his own father, (12:00) but he spoke to his father. (12:03) And especially did he do that in John 17.

(12:11) And even if people just looked there at John 17, (12:19) there was one point where Jesus said, us. (12:24) He said, us, within that prayer. (12:29) So that means that Jesus has a father.

(12:36) We are not our own father. (12:40) Yes, we can be many things. (12:43) We can be, you know, a human first.

(12:49) We can have a job and be working at that. (12:55) We can be a fireman or such. (12:57) We can be an elder in the church.

(13:01) We can be a deacon in the church. (13:04) We can be, this man could be a husband, (13:13) a father of his children, (13:19) and be talking about one man. (13:24) But there’s one thing that we have to admit, (13:30) that at least this man, and it was brought out, (13:34) that he wasn’t his own father.

(13:38) Now, we’re going to turn to Matthew 15, (13:45) and we’re going to look at some things (13:52) that Jesus had to deal with in his day, (13:56) when he was on earth. (13:59) In Matthew 15, verse 1, it says, (14:06) Then the scribes and Pharisees, who were from Jerusalem, (14:11) came to Jesus, saying, (14:15) Why do your disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? (14:25) For they do not wash their hands when they eat. (14:33) Now, these Pharisees and these scribes (14:36) went through a ritual in hand washing.

(14:42) They did this, and we’ll deal with this in a little while, (14:50) but they had this tradition of this hand washing, (14:57) and the way they went through it. (15:01) But they noticed that Jesus' disciples didn’t do that, (15:07) and they wondered why they didn’t do it. (15:10) But then he answered and said to them, (15:15) Why do you also transgress the commandment of God (15:22) because of your tradition? (15:26) For God commanded, saying, (15:29) Honor your father and your mother, (15:33) and he who curses father or mother, (15:37) let him be put to death.

(15:39) But you say, (15:42) Whoever says to his father or mother, (15:46) Whatever profit you may have received from me (15:49) is a gift to God, (15:54) and he need not honor his father or mother. (15:59) Thus you have made the commandment of God of no effect (16:03) by your tradition. (16:09) You see, they had this tradition of washing their hands (16:16) and going through this ritual, (16:19) and then turn around, (16:23) and where God had given the commandment to the children, (16:30) that they honor father and mother, (16:33) and if they did not, and they cursed father or mother, (16:41) they were to be put to death.

(16:46) But then these religious leaders seemed to think (16:51) that they had gotten around that. (17:00) What you may have given to your father or mother, (17:04) that is, taking care of them, (17:10) you say that you give it to God, (17:15) and that way they seem to have satisfied their parents (17:24) or given satisfaction and gotten away (17:28) with keeping the commandment of God (17:30) to honor father or mother. (17:33) And so he tells them then (17:42) that they had made the commandment of God of no effect (17:49) by your tradition.

(17:52) Hypocrites. (17:54) Well, then Isaiah prophesied about you saying, (17:58) These people draw near to me with their mouth (18:02) and honor me with their lips, (18:07) but their heart is far from me, (18:11) and in vain they worship me, (18:15) teaching as doctrines the commandments of men. (18:22) You know, not only did the Pharisees (18:26) have this tradition of washing their hands (18:32) the way they did, (18:37) the Pharisees had in their teaching (18:41) that there was no resurrection or no angels, (18:47) and therefore they were teaching falsely.

(18:58) And we know that because Jesus himself (19:01) said that he was the resurrection and the life, (19:06) and he brought people to life from the dead. (19:11) And he himself came forth from the dead, (19:15) being resurrected from the dead. (19:19) And so we see that if we, (19:23) that Jesus, when he taught, (19:28) he taught one way.

(19:31) So when he had called the multitude to himself, (19:35) he said to them, (19:38) Hear and understand, (19:40) not what goes into the mouth defiles a man, (19:46) but what comes out of the mouth, (19:50) this defiles a man. (19:53) So evidently, this hand washing (19:58) and the ritual that they would go through (20:03) was a direct belief that (20:08) if you don’t really get yourself clean (20:13) and then you eat after that, (20:19) then you defile yourself. (20:22) They had that thought.

(20:25) But he is saying to them, (20:30) it’s not what goes into the mouth, (20:34) it’s what comes out of the mouth (20:36) that defiles a man. (20:39) Then his disciples came and said to him (20:46) in verse 12 of this chapter, (20:51) Do you know that the Pharisees were offended (20:56) when they heard this saying? (21:00) But he answered and said, (21:04) Every plant which my heavenly father has not planted (21:08) will be uprooted. (21:10) Let them alone.

(21:12) They are blind leaders of the blind. (21:15) And if the blind leads the blind, (21:19) both will fall into the ditch. (21:24) Yes, whenever we teach the truth (21:29) and the truth is taught, (21:32) there’s going to be those who disagree.

(21:38) And it’s not because Jesus was trying to be offensive. (21:48) It was just what he was saying offended these Pharisees. (21:57) But Jesus met controversy, (22:01) but it didn’t matter.

(22:03) He always met controversy head on. (22:09) And you know, in these videos that I was watching, (22:14) this brother, Johnny Robertson, (22:20) and his son, Caleb Robertson, (22:23) were teaching. (22:25) But there was one of the videos (22:30) some years back (22:33) that Johnny Robertson on his own (22:39) in giving credit to different churches of Christ (22:47) in that area, (22:50) noticed he advertised this particular congregation.

(22:58) But then this congregation called the radio station (23:02) and said they did not want to be advertised on his program. (23:13) Well, later this preacher of this congregation (23:18) was being questioned about this. (23:27) His reply about Johnny Robertson, (23:31) oh, he’s controversial.

(23:35) Well, so was Jesus. (23:40) But Jesus didn’t mean, (23:42) he wasn’t intending to be controversial. (23:47) He was controversial to those that wanted to be controversial.

(23:54) Would this preacher write Jesus off (23:57) because Jesus was controversial? (24:01) Or maybe another question ought to be asked. (24:07) Is this preacher willing to meet (24:12) those that disagreed with him (24:16) and would deal with them (24:19) over matters of truth, of faith? (24:26) We don’t want to be different just to be different. (24:30) But Jesus taught the truth.

(24:38) But then in reference to what he said in verses 10 and 11 (24:49) about that which goes into the mouth (24:54) does not defile a man from what comes out of the mouth. (25:02) This defiles a man. (25:03) Peter answered and said to him, (25:09) explain this parable to us.

(25:13) So Jesus said, (25:17) are you still without understanding? (25:21) Do you not yet understand that whatever enters the mouth (25:26) goes into the stomach and is eliminated? (25:31) But those things which proceed out of the mouth (25:36) come from the heart (25:39) and they defile a man. (25:43) For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, (25:47) murders, adulteries, fornications, (25:50) thefts, false witnesses, (25:55) false witness, blasphemies. (25:58) These are the things which defile a man.

(26:02) But to eat with unwashed hands does not defile a man. (26:08) That is, to eat without going through (26:13) this ritual that they go through. (26:17) I don’t believe that they went to the table with dirty hands.

(26:23) They cleaned their hands. (26:25) But they didn’t do what the Pharisees and the scribes (26:29) and these people did. (26:32) Because these people were believing (26:36) that what would go into the mouth, (26:42) what they would eat, (26:43) if they ate with dirty hands, (26:47) they would be defiled.

(26:51) So Jesus, then, in Matthew 15, 7-9, (27:02) he quoted Isaiah 29, verse 13, (27:07) when he said that these people draw near to me with their mouth, (27:13) but honor me with their lips, (27:16) but their heart is far from me. (27:18) And in vain they worship me, (27:20) teaching as doctrines the commandments of men. (27:26) So he states clearly that we can teach doctrines, (27:36) and these doctrines can be of men.

(27:42) And we’ve got plenty of them. (27:46) They are commandments of men. (27:48) They are things that they tell us that are to be done.

(27:57) And they go against what the Word says. (28:03) Now, in conclusion, (28:05) I want to say that in our reading, (28:10) we will read that in Acts 2-42, (28:18) that the people contained in the apostles' doctrines. (28:29) And then in Romans 2-19, (28:33) Paul referred to my gospel.

(28:41) But in Romans 1-16, he said, (28:46) For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, (28:50) for it is the power of God unto salvation. (28:57) Then in Galatians 1, 8-9, (29:04) Paul says that though we or an angel from heaven (29:10) preach any other gospel than that which was delivered to you, (29:17) let him be accursed. (29:21) He also said that common with another gospel (29:26) really isn’t the gospel.

(29:31) It’s really not another gospel. (29:38) And then the doctrine of Christ (29:41) that was mentioned and that we dealt with in 2 John 9-11, (29:51) they’re all the same. (29:54) If we teach, we abide in the apostles' doctrine, (30:00) the doctrine that those men taught.

(30:05) We abide in that. (30:06) We’re abiding in the gospel of Christ. (30:09) We’re abiding in the doctrine of Christ.

(30:13) And it’s all the same. (30:18) But you know, I don’t want to pass aspersions on the woman (30:25) that said, I have never heard of doctrine. (30:35) You know, if she would get in the Bible and she would read, (30:41) she would find out what doctrine is and what doctrines are.

(30:50) She would know the difference. (30:54) And it’s amazing how we’ve got people that biblically are ignorant. (31:03) They don’t know what it says.

(31:06) And then they get amazed at, I’ve never heard that before. (31:17) That’s because they haven’t been reading the Bible. (31:23) They haven’t been reading it.

(31:26) They may be listening to a lot of different things. (31:32) But the one thing that we need to do (31:36) is we need to abide in the doctrine of Christ. (31:42) It’s one.

(31:44) It’s not many different doctrines that are spread around. (31:49) His doctrine is one. (31:52) As he is one, the gospel is one.

(31:56) The doctrine is. (31:57) So if anybody wants to be and have fellowship with the Father and the Son, (32:10) let us abide in the doctrine of Christ. (32:14) And we’ll get the doctrine of Christ right from this, (32:20) from the New Testament especially.

(32:23) So we need to abide in it. (32:28) So may we abide in his doctrine. (32:32) May we obey the gospel if anyone needs to in any way.

(32:39) Let him do so. (32:41) Now let Jim or Scott know if you’re on the phone. (32:48) And anyone here have anything on their minds, (32:53) let it be known now while we stand and while we sing.