Lesson 1.5
At one point in the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus spoke about false prophets. He pointed out also the folly of profession unless the life measures up to the profession. He concluded his sermon by comparing those who heard His Word and did it to a wise man who built his house on a rock. His house withstood the rain, the floods, and the winds. On the other hand a man who built onto the sand He likened to a person heard His Word but was unwilling to obey. That house did not stand. The moral – both hear and do Christ’s Word.
What was the reaction of the people to Jesus’ doctrine?
“And it came to pass, when Jesus had ended these sayings, the people were astonished at his doctrine: For he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.” Mathew 7:28, 29.
What does Paul declare to be the true foundation upon which we are to build?
“For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.”
Can a person be saved without believing truth?
“But we are bound to give thanks always to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth.”
According to Paul’s counsel to Titus what kind of doctrine should preachers proclaim?
“But speak thou the things which become sound doctrine… In all things shewing thyself a pattern of good works: in doctrine shewing uncorruptness, gravity, sincerity.”
If a person should reject the truth what would be the result?
“And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.”
(Proverbs 28:9) Paul instructed Timothy that obeying doctrine is important.
Read 1 Timothy 4:16
We should never close our eyes to truth. Read John 12:35, 36. Jesus showed the folly of this (Mathew 15:14) False doctrine overthrows the faith of some (2 Timothy 2:18) Therefore we ought to determine to test what we believe by the law (the books of Moses) and the testimony of all the prophets as we are instructed in Isaiah 8:20. Let us turn down traditions of men as a foundation of truth. Jesus points out that all worship is in vain while teaching man’s commandments as God’s doctrines (Mathew 15:3-9)
Next Lesson [[2. Fall And Restoration]]