Whose Beliefs are Right?
17 March 2013 AM – 1 Peter 3:15 – Scott Childs
Introduction: One of our church members recently was asked how he knew that Christianity was right and all other religions were wrong. To answer that question, we need more than just an opinion. We need a logical and solid answer.
Transition: This morning I want to help you develop a logical solid answer for that question. We need not be scholars to be able to detect truth and defend what we believe. Read 1 Peter 3:15. We can know what beliefs are true by following three basic steps.
I. We Must Understand the Facts
A. Absolute truth does exist
I like what Matt Slick said about truth. “If truth is relative, then the statement that truth is relative is an absolute truth and would be a self-defeating statement by proving that truth is not relative.”
1. We know absolutes exist in maths and science because we can prove them. Absolute truth must exist in the spiritual realm as well.
2. Not all roads can lead to heaven. There can only be one true way to heaven. Every doctrine or belief must be either true or false. A standard must exist.
B. Religions differ, thus they cannot all be right.
1. Religions that contradict each other cannot both be right. Opinions may be wrong. We need truth!
Yellowstone National Park (USA) warns visitors of bear danger. “If you have a surprise encounter with a bear, do not run. Slowly back away. If a bear charges, stand your ground and use your bear spray. It has been highly successful at stopping aggressive behavior in bears.” Knowing and obeying truth is a matter of life or death. The same is true spiritually
2. It DOES matter what you believe, so seek truth!
Absolutes never change. They are always true. We must rest all our beliefs on absolutes not on opinions. What absolutes exist that can help us?
II. We Must Identify Absolutes
We believe the following two statements are absolutes.
A. God exists!
1. There is a universal innate belief in a higher being.
2. All creation points to an intelligent Creator (Ro 1:16)
a) Every effect must have a cause. Something caused creation, gravity, orbits, natural laws, and life itself. That could only be a higher being.
b) Every design must have a designer. Nature and the universe contain detailed design. Design is never an accident. God is that wise Designer!
Psalm 14:1 The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God.
B. The Bible is God’s true revelation to man.
1. The harmony of the Bible’s 66 books, penned by 40 men over nearly 1600 years sets it above all books.
2. It addresses otherwise unknowable topics including creation, heaven, hell, eternity, and God’s plan and purpose for humanity. This marks it as divine.
3. Its scientific and archaeological statements are accurate. The Noahic flood best explains fossils, coal and oil. It is more trustworthy than any other book.
4. Fulfilled prophecy (Christ’s birth and location, etc.) supports the Bible’s truthfulness.
God exists, and His Word, the Bible is true and is superior to all other opinions spoken or written. With the Bible, God’s Word as our absolute truth, we can evaluate beliefs and find spiritual truth.
III. We Must Evaluate Beliefs with the Bible
1 Thessalonians 5:21-22 Prove all things; hold fast that which is good. Abstain from all appearance of evil. Romans 16:17 Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.
A. Evaluate major world religions with the Bible.
1. Islam teaches
a) Allah is God not Jehovah
b) Jesus was just a prophet, not God in the flesh.
c) Muhammad is the greatest prophet
These teachings contradict the Bible.
2. Eastern religions like Hinduism, Buddhism, etc. teach
a) Reincarnation – at death the soul returns to earth in a new form of life
b) Karma – past and present actions that bring good or bad results in this life or in reincarnation.
These teachings contradict the Bible.
3. New Age Movement teaches
a) Everything is God. Human divinity.
b) Moral relativism – do as you please
c) Includes eastern religion beliefs and occult
These teachings contradict the Bible.
B. Evaluate cult religions with the Bible.
1. Jehovah’s Witnesses teach*
a) Jesus is only a god. There is no Trinity.
b) Jesus was God’s first creation.
c) The Holy Spirit is only a force
d) Only 144,000 Jehovah’s Witnesses go to heaven.
e) God did not create the world in six literal days.
f) Good works are necessary for salvation.
These teachings contradict the Bible.
2. Mormon’s teach*
a) Baptism and obeying all the commandments are a necessary part of salvation.
b) They baptise for the dead.
c) They believe the Bible to be the word of God as far as it is translated correctly.
d) The book of Mormon is more correct than the Bible.
e) Jesus and Satan are created spirit brothers
f) God used to be a man on another planet
g) There are many gods. The trinity is three gods.
h) After you become a good Mormon, you have the potential of becoming a god
These teachings contradict the Bible.
3. Seventh Day Adventists teach*
a) There is no literal eternal hell fire and the wicked are annihilated.
b) Soul sleep of dead believers
c) Jesus is Michael the Archangel.
d) Worship must be on Saturday. Those who worship on Sunday will receive the mark of the beast. Seventh-day Adventists Believe, p. 167
e) Our sins will finally be placed on Satan the scapegoat.
These teachings contradict the Bible.
C. Evaluate “Christian” churches with the Bible.
Many churches that claim to be “Christian” do not accurately follow the Bible. One false doctrine makes them wrong.
1. Do they believe the fundamentals of the faith required for salvation?
a) The Bible is the Word of God.
b) Jesus Christ is God.
c) Jesus bled and died for our sins.
d) Jesus rose bodily from the grave.
e) Only repentance and faith in Christ’s atonement can save us from eternal judgment in the Lake of Fire. (Acts 3:19) Many fail on this point!
2. Do they clearly preach this gospel?
3. Are they independent and self-governing?
4. Do they believe in soul liberty and the priesthood of all believers?
If they fail in even one of these, they contradict the Bible.
D. Evaluate gospel-preaching churches with the Bible.
1. Do they believe that Christ died for all and that God is not willing that any perish? (1John 2:2, 2Peter 3:9)
2. Do they practice only biblical baptism by immersion after salvation? (Acts 8:36-39)
3. Do they believe in only male preachers? (1Co 14:34)
4. Do they sing conservative music and separate from worldliness? (2Corinthians 6:17)
If each of these is true, the church is probably an independent Baptist church or one very similar in doctrine.
Conclusion: With the Bible as your absolute authority, you will be able to note religions, cults, and churches that are not true. Continuing your evaluation will lead to the conclusion that only gospel-preaching, believer-immersing, conservative, separated, churches with male preachers truly follow the Bible. This is the reason we are an independent, fundamental, Baptist church.
Evaluate your personal beliefs the same way. Let the Bible be your authority. If your present beliefs differs from the Bible, ask God to change your thinking.
Song: The Bible Stands, 178 (vs 3,4)
*Go to www.carm.org for documentation