Biblical Teaching · Personal Bible Study

Is truth preached where we worship?

9 min read, approximately

“But thanks be unto God, who always leadeth us in triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest through us the savor of his knowledge in every place. For we are a sweet savor of Christ unto God, in them that are saved, and in them that perish; to the one a savor from death unto death; to the other a savor from life unto life. And who is sufficient for these things? For we are not as the many, corrupting the word of God: but as of sincerity, but as of God, in the sight of God, speak we in Christ.” (2 Corinthians 2:14-17)

Questions to consider

The question in the title may seem pointless, but it gains significance when the following questions are answered with a “No”:

Where we worship…

\1. do the sermons we hear contain any Scripture verse_?_

“For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that through patience and through comfort of the scriptures we might have hope.” (Romans 15:4)

“But speak thou the things which befit the sound doctrine:” (Titus 2:1)

“For the word of God is living, and active, and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing even to the dividing of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and quick to discern the thoughts and intents of the heart.” (Hebrews 4:12)

“and ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” (John 8:32)

\2. is the Bible read, and is reading it encouraged?

“Every word of God is tried: He is a shield unto them that take refuge in him. Add thou not unto his words, Lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar.” (Proverbs 30:5-6)

“Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, And light unto my path.” (Psalms 119:105)

“This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth, but thou shalt meditate thereon day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.” (Joshua 1:8)

\3. is the Gospel preached, are disciples made, and are people baptized when they have the understanding to decide to follow Christ?

“And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to the whole creation. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that disbelieveth shall be condemned.” (Mark 16:15-16)

\4. are repentance and forgiveness of sins preached?

“From that time began Jesus to preach, and to say, Repent ye; for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” (Matthew 4:17)

“Be it known unto you therefore, brethren, that through this man is proclaimed unto you remission of sins: and by him every one that believeth is justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses.” (Acts 13:38-39)

“Repent ye therefore, and turn again, that your sins may be blotted out, that so there may come seasons of refreshing from the presence of the Lord;” (Acts 3:19)

\5. are the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit spoken of?

“Go ye therefore, and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them into the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit: teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I commanded you: and lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world.” (Matthew 28:19-20)

\6. do we hear songs that exalt the Father’s greatness, the salvation granted through Jesus’ sacrifice, and the essence of the Holy Spirit?

“Through him then let us offer up a sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of lips which make confession to his name.” (Hebrews 13:15)

\7. do the ministers… minister?

“The good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and the evil [man] out of the evil [treasure] bringeth forth that which is evil: for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh.” (Luke 6:45)

“But it is not so among you: but whosoever would become great among you, shall be your minister; and whosoever would be first among you, shall be servant of all.” (Mark 10:43-44)

\8. has our place of praise and worship become a “show” to attract the congregation’s attention?

“But I have [this] against thee, that thou didst leave thy first love. Remember therefore whence thou art fallen, and repent and do the first works; or else I come to thee, and will move thy candlestick out of its place, except thou repent.” (Revelation 2:4-5)

“Therefore thus saith Jehovah, If thou return, then will I bring thee again, that thou mayest stand before me; and if thou take forth the precious from the vile, thou shalt be as my mouth: they shall return unto thee, but thou shalt not return unto them.” (Jeremiah 15:19)

\9. are we called together to fast, study the Word, and pray?

“But as for me, when they were sick, my clothing was sackcloth: I afflicted my soul with fasting; And my prayer returned into mine own bosom. I behaved myself as though it had been my friend or my brother: I bowed down mourning, as one that bewaileth his mother.” (Psalms 35:13-14)

\10. are testimonies heard?

“I have therefore my glorying in Christ Jesus in things pertaining to God. For I will not dare to speak of any things save those which Christ wrought through me, for the obedience of the Gentiles, by word and deed, in the power of signs and wonders, in the power of the Holy Spirit; so that from Jerusalem, and round about even unto Illyricum, I have fully preached the gospel of Christ;” (Romans 15:17-19)

“Faithful is the saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief: howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me as chief might Jesus Christ show forth all his longsuffering, for an ensample of them that should thereafter believe on him unto eternal life.” (1 Timothy 1:15-16)

\11. are the consequences of sin taught, including that even salvation can be lost?

“For as touching those who were once enlightened and tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Spirit, and tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the age to come, and [then] fell away, it is impossible to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame.” (Hebrews 6:4-6)

“So then, my beloved, even as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling;” (Philippians 2:12)

“But he that endureth to the end, the same shall be saved.” (Matthew 24:13)

\12. is God’s Word taught with respect?

“But we know that the law is good, if a man use it lawfully, as knowing this, that law is not made for a righteous man, but for the lawless and unruly, for the ungodly and sinners, for the unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers, for fornicators, for abusers of themselves with men, for menstealers, for liars, for false swearers, and if there be any other thing contrary to the sound doctrine; according to the gospel of the glory of the blessed God, which was committed to my trust.” (1 Timothy 1:8-11)

“Take heed to thyself, and to thy teaching. Continue in these things; for in doing this thou shalt save both thyself and them that hear thee.” (1 Timothy 4:16)

We must understand that God’s Word clearly warns us to be alert to these things

\1. Deceivers?

“But the Spirit saith expressly, that in later times some shall fall away from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of demons, through the hypocrisy of men that speak lies, branded in their own conscience as with a hot iron; forbidding to marry, [and commanding] to abstain from meats, which God created to be received with thanksgiving by them that believe and know the truth.” (1 Timothy 4:1-3)

\2. Human commandments and rules substituted for God’s?

“Ye hypocrites, well did Isaiah prophesy of you, saying, This people honoreth me with their lips; But their heart is far from me. But in vain do they worship me, Teaching [as their] doctrines the precepts of men.” (Matthew 15:7-9)

\3. Hypocrisy?

“Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which outwardly appear beautiful, but inwardly are full of dead men’s bones, and of all uncleanness. Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but inwardly ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.” (Matthew 23:27-28)

\4. Do they urge people to turn away from the truth?

“This testimony is true. For which cause reprove them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith, not giving heed to Jewish fables, and commandments of men who turn away from the truth. To the pure all things are pure: but to them that are defiled and unbelieving nothing is pure; but both their mind and their conscience are defiled. They profess that they know God; but by their works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.” (Titus 1:13-16)

\5. Do they fail to do what God says?

“And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?” (Luke 6:46)

We would be surprised by the number of places today where the exact opposite of what God’s Word requires is practiced…
Yet is God’s Word preached where we worship? Let us value this! If not, what are we doing there?

_**Remember to stop by the Songbook

May God continue to bless you, and may you continue to have an excellent day in Christ Jesus!