Believing a Lie
One of the greatest tragedies of this age is the unwillingness of men to search the scriptures for themselves.
a. There is an attitude that sincerity is all that matters and that even if one should believe the wrong thing, he is still all right.
b. Therefore, many people will leave religious matters in the hands of preachers and theologians.
c. If this is your attitude we hope you will give careful attention to the things we have to say.
The purpose of this lesson is to get you to think for yourself in religious matters.
d. We take great pride in thinking for ourselves in other areas. We even admire a man who thinks for himself in politics, occupation, etc.
e. But in religion for some reason we allow others to do our thinking for us.
f. Our goal, is to get you to search the scriptures yourself, to investigate, to see if what you believe is backed up by scripture, not some man’s idea (Acts 17:11).
II Thess. 2:9-12
g. An unusual text, but it plainly declares the possibility of being damned by believing a lie.
h. Such to whom the strong delusion is sent are those who love not and believe not the truth,
i. Without, spending time explaining further just whom such persons are, suffice it to say that believing a lie is deadly in those things that pertain to the service of God.
j. But the matter may be understood by reference to some Bible examples. Two cases of someone believing a lie and the results thereof.
The case of the prophet from Judah (I Kings 13:1-24).
Believing the lie resulted in disobedience (vs.21).
1. What is so deadly about believing a lie or listening to false teachers? It results in disobedience!
2. Childhood example – punished by parents.
Consider, though, how nobly he resisted outright disobedience at the first (8-9; 16-17).
3. The rewards of a king could not entice him.
4. He was not a bad person, a moral reprobate. We can’t overlook or dismiss his case by saying he was no good anyway.
5. He was a dedicated, courageous man.
6. So it is with many living today.
a. Good, moral, dedicated people.
b. But still believing a lie and still disobeying God.
c. Mt. 15:14
7. You are, no doubt, thinking, "The old prophet committed the greater sin."
a. I agree, false teaching is indeed a great sin (Gal.1: 8-9).
b. But the emphasis here is the person who believes the lie, just as lost!
c. Rom. 16:17-18
The disobedience was caused simply because he listened to a stranger instead of listening to God.
8. He knew God’s original instructions.
a. They had been verified in the miracles at Bethel.
b. The old prophet had no proof.
c. What happens today!
d. I Thess. 5:21
9. But you say, "God wasn’t speaking right then. He didn’t speak to correct the lie. Why didn’t He say something?"
a. No, he didn’t have to, because He had already spoken on the subject.
b. When God says it once, that is enough!
10. Some even today, confused by various denominational doctrines, may feel, "If only God would speak to me or give me a sign I would…"
a. But He has already spoken – the Bible.
b. For example, Mark 16:16 could not be plainer.
c. Lk. 16:27-31
11. Who will you hear?
a. Religious leaders?
b. Friends?
c. Your own feelings?
d. I Jn. 4:1 – Don’t believe everything you hear but find out for yourself.
The case of Jacob (Gen. 37:31-35).
A. The brothers presented a strong case.
1. They even gave some evidence.
2. But they stilled caused him to believe a lie.
II Cor. 4:2
II Pet. 3:16
B. They were men Jacob should been able to trust – his own sons!
Not trying to be unkind, many are deceived in the religious world by trusting some person (including family) with the truth about religious matters instead of searching the scriptures for themselves
Mt. 7:15 – Who is this talking about? People we trust!
II Cor. 11:13-15
C. No matter how sincere Jacob felt, it did not alter the facts.
1. Men often "feel" they know the truth; are "saved."
2. Jacob felt he knew the truth about Joseph.
His grief was real and intense.
He could not have felt more strongly or sincere about it if it had been true.
How one "feels" proves nothing!
Prov. 14:12
Rom. 10:17
D. But, though difficult at first, Jacob did not reject the truth when he learned it (Gen. 45:25-28).
1. (Imagine) He did not say; "I have firmly believed this for years. I am not going to change now.
2. We need to do the same in the religious world.
a. No matter how many years or how many generations you or your family has believed something.
b. We must be willing to accept the truth when given book, chapter and verse.
c. Don’t try to explain it away, by saying, "That is just your interpretation." Read what it says.
You may have been satisfied in religion all your life.
You may have been led to feel as do by sincere men, but men blind to the truth (Mt. 15:14).
Merely believing a thing does not make it true; no matter how sincerely you believe it.
a. This is easily seen in the material world, believing a lie could cost you your life (gun, power off, etc.)
b. But believing a lie in the realm of religion will cost you your soul.
The members here are not perfect people. Only people trying to find scriptural authority for everything they do in faith and practice, to have a "Thus saith the Lord", to speak where the Bible speaks and be silent where the Bible is silent.
We have seen the confusion in the denominational world and what it has done to the Lord’s church. We simply want to get away from man-man creeds, doctrines and traditions, and return to the Bible and be the church God has patterned there.
Please don’t be caught on the judgment day believing a lie.
c. "But God wouldn’t do that, not fair."
d. II Thess. 2:12
For example, as regards the plan of salvation. Don’t trust what others say! Don’t trust your own feelings; trust the Word of God! The word of God says…
Jim Pharr
Lenoir, NC