The Communication of the Remnant (Part 2)

Home Bible Study- Lutz, Florida

Rightly Dividing the Word of Truth

(2 Timothy 2:15)

This is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. 1Timothy 2:3-4

 The Communication of the Remnant (Part 2)

I left you with this message:  from the dawn of time the majority has always gotten it wrong when it comes to putting their faith in God’s Word. 

More simply put the majority doesn’t believe God.

Therefore, I’d be careful about following “the crowd.”

So, we’ll start from there and work forward.

Let’s review what Jesus said about the majority and their lack of faith.

Matthew 7

13: “Enter through the narrow gate: for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to (what) destruction, and there are (what’s the next word folks) many who enter through it.

14: “For the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are (how many) few who find it.” 

I’ve heard people say, “There’s safety in numbers.” 

If you’re being chased by a pack of lions, I’d say that’s probably true.

But in the sphere of the spiritual following the crowd is not always a safe bet, my friends, and here’s why.

In the last lesson, I cited the example of the Noahic Flood.

Only eight people believed the LORD and lived.

The majority ignored the LORD’s warning and perished. 

Then there is the Biblical example of Sodom and Gomorrah (Genesis 19).

Abraham bargained and the LORD said if ten righteous people could be found living in the cities, each would be spared.  But it was not to be.  There was that much sleaze.

Lot and his two daughters (Palatith and Thamma) believed the LORD and survived.

What happened to Lot’s wife Adoe?  She left the city with her family.

Adoe is an example of what I call a faith “fence-sitter.”

She presents an everlasting testimony to all of not obeying the Word of the LORD; the sheer folly of hugging the “middle path,” when God’s Word has declared what will be.

The angels warned Lot before they left the city not to look back upon the destruction.

(v17) and you may be certain Lot shared this important information with his family.

Adoe wanted to be saved; she left the city.  She made a “show” of it.”

She started down the road.  But she did not reach the point of safety. 

She did not complete her journey.

Adoe did not make the most important choice of her life.

She did not make a decision to “trust” the LORD.

Adoe looked back…

Bible students there are 2 points you need to pick up on.

Lot’s wife was unbelieving and disobedient.  She was a fraud.

She “appeared” to be fleeing toward the mountain but her heart was in the city.

“Do not love not the world or anything in the world…” (1 John 2:15)

Adoe looked back…  

Instead of demonstrating true faith she was rebellious. 

She had to see if the angels told the truth - meaning she did not believe the “judgment” was coming.  Ergo she did not believe the LORD.

Because of her unbelief she was turned into a pillar of salt.

She is the Biblical example, in my opinion, for all the “pretenders” and “fence-sitters” in the world who continue to go on doubting the Word of the Creator God. 

For whatever reason, these folks haven’t made a decision for the Lord Jesus Christ.

This means they submit to the “world instead;” their master and commander.

Pertaining to the last days, Jesus told His disciples,

Luke 17

31: “On that day, the one who is on the housetop and whose goods are in the house must not go down to take them out; and likewise the one who is in the field must not (do what) turn back.

32: “Remember Lot’s wife. 

*****

I’m going to take the time to respond to a question I received from my friend Bob who attends our HBS in Lutz. 

The question concerns same-sex marriages being performed in a Christian Church. 

*The Reverend Hall of Washington, D.C., Episcopal Church,  National Cathedral, to host same-sex ceremonies. 

The Rev. said, “I think it’s being faithful to the kind of community that Jesus would have us be.”  

Bob asked, Why, would this man think this?

Answer:  I won’t pretend to try and explain what another man or organization’s thoughts are.

I will share my view from a Biblical perspective, and pray this will suffice.

First some background info:  

A majority of bishops and dioceses of the Episcopal Church have approved the election of the church’s second openly gay bishop.   (March 2010)

The Church of England said Friday (Jan. 4) that it will allow gay men to become bishops, putting it closer to its sister Episcopal Church in the United States but at odds with many conservatives in the worldwide Anglican Communion.  (January 2013)

Concerning the Rev. Hall’s statement above, on the surface it appears to be a safe comment from a Biblical standpoint.  The Church is a place for sinners. 

But when you explore the history and policies of this particular denomination there is definitely a “conforming” to the “world” trend (Romans 12:1-2). 

And, in my opinion, there is some “manipulation” of the Scriptures being practiced. 

To be certain Reverend Hall is “suppressing” the Truth of God’s Word.

(Suppress = to prevent something from happening, operating, or becoming apparent, or restrain something and limit its effects.)

The Lord Jesus Christ addresses this very issue through the Apostle Paul in his letter to the Romans, chapter 1.

Romans 1

18: For the (what) wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who (do what) suppress the truth in righteousness.

·         God’s wrath is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness – ungodliness is a complete disregard of God; God’s wrath is God’s just response to man’s defiant sin. 

·         It must be said that in order to live an unrighteous life, ungodly men and women must “hold down the truth” or “restrain the truth;” truth they well know, from themselves and from others.  Read the next verse.

19:because that which is known about God is (read carefully) evident within them

(The knowledge of God is within each and every person at birth); for God made it evident to them (they were created in this manner – it’s innate.  Some would say this part of our conscious).

20:  For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse.

The atheist can deny the existence of God’s all day long, and the fence-sitter fritter away the hours, but at the end of the day and much later at the Great White Throne Judgment they will be without an excuse. 

21: For even though they knew God, they did not honor Him as God or give thanks,

But they became futile in their speculations and their foolish heart was darkened.

22: Professing to be (what) wise, they became fools.

23: and exchanged the glory of the incorruptible God for an image in the form of a corruptible man and of birds and four-footed animals and crawling creatures.

24: Therefore, God gave them over in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, so that their bodies would be dishonored among them.

25: For they exchanged the (what) truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever.  Amen.

26: For this reason God gave them over to degrading passions; for their women exchanged the natural function for that which is unnatural,

27: and in the same way also the men abandoned the natural function of the woman and burned in their desire toward one another, men with men committing indecent acts and receiving in their own persons the due penalty of their error.

28: And just as they did not see fit to acknowledge God any longer, God gave them over to a depraved mind, to do those things which are not proper,

29: being filled with all unrighteousness, wickedness, greed, evil; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, malice; they are gossips,

30: slanderers, haters of God, insolent, arrogant, boastful, inventers of evil, disobedient to parents,

31: without understanding, untrustworthy, unloving, unmerciful;

32: and although they know the ordinance of God, that those who practice such things are worthy of death, they not only do the same, but also give hearty approval to those who practice them.

In my opinion, Reverend Hall is not being honest with himself or with his congregation about what God has said concerning homosexuality.   

Makes me wonder what else he’s not being honest about.

Those folks who attend our Bible students know this Truth, I’ve repeated it often enough, but for those of you who may be visiting,

Hebrews 11

6: And without (what’s the next word) faith it is impossible to please Him (God), for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him.

Faith is taking God at His Word.  That’s the best definition I can think of.

Rev. Hall is one more example of someone choosing to ignore what God has said!

The Lord Jesus Christ warns us Believers about this activity.  It’s on the increase.

Matthew 7

15: “Beware of the false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves.

16: “You will know them by their fruits.  Grapes are not gathered from thorn bushes. Nor figs from thistles are they?

And:

Difficult Times Will Come

2 Timothy 3

1: But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come.

2: For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy,

3: unloving, irreconcilable, malicious, gossips, without self-control, brutal, haters good,

4: treacherous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God,

5: holding to a form of godliness, although they have denied its power; avoid such men as these.  (This verse describes Reverend Hall and those like him who choose not to believe what God has said.  And then practice their own form of religion leading many astray.)

Concerning the end times, when His disciples asked Him what will be a sign of Your coming the very first thing Jesus said was,

Matthew 24

4b: “See to it that no one misleads you.”

(To be continued)

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GJ Heitzman’s Ministry

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