Sermons

PREACHED BY JOHN GAINES
AT LEONARD STREET CHURCH OF CHRIST

THE WORD OF GOD AND
THE DOCTRINES OF MEN

PART ONE

Introduction

1. Jesus recognized a clear distinction between the word of God and the teachings of men. For instance, He said in Matthew 15:9 (NKJV), "And in vain they worship Me, Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.'"

2. There once was a time when contentiousness reigned among religious people who loved to debate their differences.

a. Wrangling and quarreling are wrong [2 Timothy 2:24 (NKJV) And a servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to all, able to teach, patient].

b. However, public discussion of differences did allow unbiased minds to examine positions, compare them with the Bible, and come to an understanding of the truth [Acts 17:11].

3. Today we live in a "postmodern age" when differences are ignored or papered over. In the views of some, nothing is seen as a matter of absolute faith or a barrier to fellowship. Each person is entitled to his or her own feelings and opinions and no one should judge any other person's views as being wrong.

4. Honest and intelligent people still know that truth cannot contradict itself. A well-stated idea cannot be both true and false at the same time. Many prominent religious philosophies are in conflict with the Bible. If the Bible is God's inspired word, those doctrines and philosophies must be false. If they are false, they should be rejected and those who have been taught such ideas have the same need as Apollos. Acts 18:26 (NKJV) says "So he began to speak boldly in the synagogue. When Aquila and Priscilla heard him, they took him aside and explained to him the way of God more accurately."

5. Perhaps the best known verse in the Bible is John 3:16. In this study, we shall consider various philosophies which are contradicted by the simple teaching of John 3:16. Jesus said "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life."

I. ATHEISM IS CONTRADICTED BY JOHN 3:16.

A. John 3:16 declares the existence of God -- "God so loved the world."

B. God is the Builder of all things [Hebrews 3:4 (NKJV) For every house is built by someone, but He who built all things is God.]

1. It is obviously true that every house has a builder. A collection of building materials, bricks, concrete, electrical wire, nails, drywall, and paint does not simply come together through some cosmic coincidence. A plan (i.e., an architect's blueprint) is followed and the house is made.

2. God is the maker of the world.

a. Genesis 1:1 (NKJV) In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.

b. John 1:1-3 (NKJV) In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made.

C. Atheism is nothing new [Psalms 14:1; 53:1 (NKJV) The fool has said in his heart, "There is no God." They are corrupt, They have done abominable works, There is none who does good.]

D. Atheism is growing in the world today. Bob Spurlin has observed that "Atheism has grown more in the last forty years or so than it did the first nineteen hundred years following the death of Christ."

II. DEISM IS CONTRADICTED BY JOHN 3:16.

A. Deism is belief in a God who simply went away. They compare God's dealings with mankind as like a person who winds up an old-fashioned alarm clock, then goes away leaving the clock to wind down and stop on its own. The God of Deism is indifferent to what happens in our lives.

B. John 3:16 declares the love of God for the human race -- God so loved the world! God cares [1 Peter 5:7 (NKJV) casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.]

C. The Bible teaches that God is NOT dead. He has not "gone away" leaving us to our own devices. Our God knows all, sees all, and is all-powerful. [Hebrews 4:13 (NKJV) And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account.]

III. PREMILLENNIALISM IS CONTRADICTED BY JOHN 3:16.

A. A central tenet of the doctrine called premillennialism is that Christ came to the world to set up an earthly kingdom and reign from the throne of David in Jerusalem. However, the Jews rejected Him and put Him to death on the cross. Thus, premillennialists say that Jesus will come again at some future time, establish an earthly reign and remain on earth for 1,000 years.

B. John 3:16 declares that God gave His only begotten Son.

1. The death of Christ was not an accident. God's plan was not thwarted by unbelieving Jews and Romans who put Jesus to death. They did exactly what an omniscient God knew they would do. Look at 1 Peter 1:19-20 (NKJV) but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot. 20 He indeed was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you.

2. The death of Christ was the fulfillment of numerous Old Testament prophecies.

a. Isaiah 53:5 (NKJV) But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed.

b. John 19:36 (KJV) For these things were done, that the scripture should be fulfilled, A bone of him shall not be broken.

3. Jesus' kingdom was not a literal earthly nation.

a. John 18:36 (NASB) Jesus answered, "My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, then My servants would be fighting, that I might not be delivered up to the Jews; but as it is, My kingdom is not of this realm."

b. Earlier in His ministry, Jesus stopped an effort to take Him and make Him a king [John 6:15 (NKJV) Therefore when Jesus perceived that they were about to come and take Him by force to make Him king, He departed again to the mountain by Himself alone.]

IV. UNITARIANISM IS CONTRADICTED BY JOHN 3:16.

A. Unitarians believe that there is only one Person in the Godhead. They deny the existence of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit as three distinct persons.

B. However, John 3:16 clearly shows the existence of two different Beings.

1. God, the Father, is the giver of the Gift, His only-begotten Son, Jesus Christ.

2. Christ, the Son, is the gift given by God, the Father.

C. Other verses elaborate on the idea of three Persons -- Father, Son, and Holy Spirit sharing the nature of God.

1. Matthew 28:19 (NKJV) "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,

2. 2 Corinthians 13:14 (NKJV) The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all. Amen.

3. Ephesians 4:4-6 (NKJV) There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling; 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism; 6 one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.

V. MODERNISM IS CONTRADICTED BY JOHN 3:16.

A. Modernism (sometimes called liberalism) denies the existence of the supernatural in the world. Regarding Jesus of Nazareth, modernists say He was just a man.

1. They acknowledge that He existed and that He was a superior teacher. A group of modernistic scholars formed a group called the Jesus Seminar to discuss and vote on which statements attributed to Jesus in the Bible were actually spoken by Him.

2. Modernists deny the virgin birth of Jesus.

3. Modernists deny that Jesus worked any miracles.

4. Modernists deny the resurrection of Jesus.

5. In short, modernists deny the deity of Jesus. According to them, He was NOT the Son of God.

B. John 3:16 says clearly that Jesus is the Son of God.

1. John 3:16 (NKJV) "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son"

2. John 3:16 (NIV) "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son,"

3. All Christians are sons of God [Galatians 3:26], but Jesus is unique. The Greek word monogenes literally means "one of a kind"

CONCLUSION

HOME	SERMONS	EVENTS	CARE LIST	LEADERS	LINKS
LEONARD STREET CHURCH OF CHRIST

Hosted by www.Geocities.ws