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Sound Doctrine in a
Prosperity Gospel World
Notice where the crowds are flocking to these days!
What is the good news they are looking for?
What is the good news of the Gospel Message?
The word gospel means "good news," which is the message of forgiveness for sin through the atoning Work of Jesus Christ. It is essentially God's rescue plan of redemption for those who will trust in His divine Son in order to be reconciled to a just and holy God.
What is the Bad News?
The doom of Hell which was not intended for human beings. God created us for fellowship with Himself, though the masses have turned their backs on Him. Hell was created for the devil and his demons, and Satan wants to take the world with him into this horrible place.
Is there a consequence for the disobedient?
Romans 6:19-23
19I am speaking in human terms because of the weakness of your nature. For just as you presented the parts of your bodies as slaves to impurity and to lawlessness for lawlessness, so now present them as slaves to righteousness for sanctification. 20For when you were slaves of sin, you were free from righteousness. 21But what profit did you get then from the things of which you are now ashamed? For the end of those things is death. 22But now that you have been freed from sin and have become slaves of God, the benefit that you have leads to sanctification, and its end is eternal life. 23For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Paul made it abundantly clear that sin has consequences: "Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows" (Galatians 6:7).
Paul then describes the end of those who indulge in sinful behavior: "The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction" (Galatians 6:8).
The phrase "sinful nature" refers to one's unregenerate, shameless self. Though the sin nature may promise fulfillment, it can result in nothing but "destruction."
Paul told the believers in Galatia that "the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature. They are in conflict with each other . . ." (Galatians 5:17).
Then he lists the sordid works of the sin nature and specifies the ultimate consequence of such behavior: "Those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God" (Galatians 5:19-21).
Those who live in debauchery and sin sow the seeds of destruction in their present-day life and forfeit any hope of eternal life.
The Bible describes those who choose to indulge in sin as being:
"Darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts. Having lost all sensitivity, they have given themselves over to sensuality so as to indulge in every kind of impurity, with a continual lust for more" (Ephesians 4:18-19).
One of the consequences of sin, therefore, is more sin. There's an insatiable "lust for more," attended by a dulling of the conscience and a blindness to spiritual truth.
1 Corinthians 2:14New International Version (NIV)
14 The person without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God but considers them foolishness, and cannot understand them because they are discerned only through the Spirit.
The consequence of suppressing the truth is that God gives the sinner over to "the sinful desires of their hearts," "shameful lusts" and "a depraved mind" (Romans 1:24, 26, 28).
This means that God may allow the sinner to serve as his own god and to reap the destruction of his body and soul. It is a fearful thing to be "given over" to our own destructive ways.
God has made it clear that "the soul who sins will die" (Ezekiel 18:4).
Those who habitually live their lives outside of Christ, yet whose hearts have been convicted by the gospel of Christ, should follow the example of the first converts of the church:
"They were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, 'Brothers, what shall we do?'" The answer was simple yet profound: "Repent!" (Acts 2:37-38).
What changes does the Spirit of God reveal that are necessary to the convicted?
1-Dedicated Service / be not conformed to this world
Romans 12:2 Authorized (King James)
2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
2-Preach the Word /for the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine
2 Timothy 4:3
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3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled,
they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires.
3-Do Not Love the World
1 John: 15-17
- 15Do not love the world nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
- 16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world.
- 17 The world is passing away, and also its lusts; but the one who does the will of God lives forever.
4-Put on the New Self
Col 3:1-3
- 1Therefore if you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth. 3For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God.
5-Treasures in Heaven
Matthew 6:20-21
- 20"But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal; 21for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
6- Only Faith Brings Peace and Joy
Romans 5:2-4
2through whom also we have obtained our introduction by faith into this grace in which we stand; and we exult in hope of the glory of God. 3And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; 4and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope;
7- Without Faith
Hebrews 11:6
6And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him.
Closing
Matthew 16:24-26
24Then Jesus said to His disciples, "If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me. 25"For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it; but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. 26"For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?
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