Introduction: A plumb line is a cord with a weight tied to one end. Bricklayers use it to ensure that the wall they are building is straight. It can also be hung alongside an existing wall to reveal if it is true to the way it was built, or if it is leaning. A plumb line guides in building, but it also gives reason to correct what might be out of line(O.D.B. 14 Oct 92).
Today, we are confronted by a wide variety of religious beliefs, all claiming to be right. How can we know the truth? We need to use God’s Plumb Line — the Bible. Doctrinal error deceives those who do not know the Bible. Read Acts 17:10-12.
As the Apostle Paul was preaching the Gospel in Berea, the people there wisely used God’s Plumb Line to evaluate his preaching. Likewise, God holds every one of us responsible to use His Plumb Line to evaluate religious teachings.
Transition: This morning, I want us to identify several of the Berean’s actions which made them more open to seeking the truth than the Thessalonians.
The first action of the Bereans was that
1. They eagerly received the Word.
A. What was the word that Paul preached?
(1) It was the Gospel message that he preached everywhere he went. He outlines this message in Acts 17:3. “Opening and alleging, that Christ must needs have suffered, and risen again from the dead; and that this Jesus, whom I preach unto you, is Christ.” He preached that Jesus is the suffering Christ or Messiah.
(2) Why did Christ have to die and rise to life again?
(a) It was necessary for him to pay for our sin. We are all sinners. Sin separates us from God. If you believe that anything other thanrepentance and accepting Christ’s payment on the cross for your sin can get you to heaven, then you must believe that Christ died and rose for NO reason.
(b) Christ had to die and rise again because there is no other way to God. (John 14:6) “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” (Acts 4:12) “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.“
(3) Jesus is the Christ, the Messiah, Jehovah in the flesh, the Saviour of mankind. This is the Gospel message.
B. How did the Bereans receive the word?
(1) When they received it, they literally took hold of it, and did not let it slip away. They listened to the Gospel attentively and respectfully.
(2) This is opposite to the response of many of those in Thessalonica. Read Acts 17:4-5. As you seek to share the Gospel with others, you will find that people are no different today. Some will believe, while others will reject.
(3) The Bereans received it. They did so with all readiness of mind, or with great zeal.
(4) They could see that the Gospel offers hope and eternal life. Nothing is more important.
The second action of the Bereans was that
2. They searched the Scriptures daily.
A. They did not just casually look at the scriptures.
(1) They carefully searched God’s Word. This was an ongoing activity, not just a onetime event. What did this involve? The word “search” implies several things:
(a) Investigation: digging for information.
(b) Examination: looking closely at the information found.
(c) Interrogation: questioning the validity of the information found.
(2) Why did they do this? They sought to find the truth.
(3) In 2020, according to findings from Dr. George Barna, Director of Research at the Cultural Research Center at Arizona Christian University, belief in absolute moral truth rooted in God’s word is rapidly eroding among all American adults, whether churched or unchurched… Perhaps most stunning, this latest research shows a rejection of God’s truth and absolute moral standards by American Christians, those seen as most likely to hold traditional standards of morality. Evangelicals, defined as believing the Bible to be the true, reliable word of God, are just as likely to reject absolute moral truth (46%) as to accept its existence (48%). And only a minority of born-again Christians — 43% — still embrace absolute truth. Emphasis mine. chrome-extension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj https://www.arizonachristian.edu/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/AWVI-2020-Release-05-Perceptions-of-Truth.pdf
(4) This Book is absolute truth. Amen! It is our standard. It thus must be our ultimate and final rule for faith and practice.
B. The Bereans daily searched the Scriptures.
(1) This was a wise practice.
(2) The seriousness of the Gospel demands regular study.
(3) The consequences of following error because we have not searched the Scriptures are eternal. (John 5:39) “Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.“
(4) We have no excuse: The Bible is readily available, and we can read and study it freely.
C. The Bereans sought to know the truth.
(1) They wanted to know “whether those things were so.”
(2) They wanted to believe, but they needed biblical proof first. That is commendable.
(3) If it is not your daily practice to study the Bible to find biblical truth to guide your life, your habit is more like that of the Thessalonians and needs adjusted.
The third action of the Bereans was that
3. They believed the Gospel.
A. Therefore many believed (v.12).
(1) The emphasis here is on the “therefore.” As a result of receiving the Gospel and researching the Scriptures, the conclusion was to respond favorably and believe.
(2) Do you regularly compare what you here in church with the Bible? I hope you do! It is important!
(3) Is what you believe and practice based on the Bible?
(4) Is your faith based on Bible fact or church teaching?
(5) On judgment day, the Bible will be the basis of judgment; therefore, we better be sure our beliefs are rooted in its truths. (John 12:48) “He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day.“
B. Many believed the Gospel and were saved.
(1) The most important decision in life we can make is to believe the Gospel by repenting and trusting Christ.
(2) When we do, our sins will be forgiven, our lives will be changed, and a home will be secured in heaven for us.
Conclusion: Sadly, many are unwilling to examine the Gospel. They scorn it as unworthy of serious thought, and condemn it without a hearing. Nevertheless, God still holds every one of us responsible to use His Plumb Line to evaluate religious teachings.
I wonder this morning, are you positive your faith is rooted in Bible fact? Have you ever checked? If you are not positive, I would invite you to talk to me and I would be happy to show you from the Bible how you can know for positive that your sins are forgiven, and you are on your way to heaven.
Christian friend, are the doctrinal beliefs that you live by in line with the Word of God? Have you ever searched the Scriptures to make sure? If not, I challenge you to begin doing so today. Begin today to study the Bible every day!
