Criticisms Against Absolute Truth Part 2. Stored up in Christ, Col 2:2-3 ◦ Human philosophy plunders your treasure, Col 2:8 (20-23) In contrast to.

Criticisms Against Absolute TruthCriticisms Against Absolute Truth

Part 2Part 2

Stored up in Christ, Col 2:2-3◦Human philosophy plunders your treasure, Col 2:8 (20-23)

In contrast to the studied opinions of agnostic academia, the doctrine of Christ is of divine source, Jno 7:15-17; 12:49-50

Do not refuse Him who speaks! Jno 12:48 (Heb 12:25)

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John 15:18-21Jude 32 Tim 4:2-51 Cor 4:12-13Luke 6:26-28

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““You say we cannot disagree on any point of You say we cannot disagree on any point of doctrinedoctrine. You affirm this throughout this . You affirm this throughout this very website study. You and those you very website study. You and those you associate with call others “false teachers” if associate with call others “false teachers” if they disagree with you on points of doctrine they disagree with you on points of doctrine (though you seem to arbitrarily pick and (though you seem to arbitrarily pick and choose which points of doctrine). Your words choose which points of doctrine). Your words and your actions imply that you believe and your actions imply that you believe anyone who disagrees with your positionsanyone who disagrees with your positions to to be be wrongwrong and you equate being and you equate being wrong with being in wrong with being in sinsin.” .” (emp. mine)(emp. mine)

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Unity is based on truth, John 17:20-21Unity is based on truth, John 17:20-21 False teachers teach what is false, False teachers teach what is false,

2 Peter 2:1-22 Peter 2:1-2 Not arbitrary re. doctrine, 2 John 9-11Not arbitrary re. doctrine, 2 John 9-11 Agreeing with me is not the issue; Agreeing with me is not the issue;

Agreeing with the word of Christ is the Agreeing with the word of Christ is the issue! John 12:48issue! John 12:48

To go beyond what is written is wrong To go beyond what is written is wrong (sin), 1 Cor 4:6(sin), 1 Cor 4:6

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““It is not the claim that we can understand It is not the claim that we can understand God’s word that I have in the past God’s word that I have in the past characterized as arrogant. Rather, what is characterized as arrogant. Rather, what is arrogantarrogant is the is the attitudeattitude that that impliesimplies that that my understanding is my understanding is always correctalways correct and and that everyone who that everyone who disagrees with medisagrees with me must be must be wrongwrong. . When I leave absolutely When I leave absolutely no room for disagreementno room for disagreement, and call , and call everyone a false teacher who disagrees everyone a false teacher who disagrees with me, then I am arrogant.” with me, then I am arrogant.”

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This is a straw man!This is a straw man! God’s word is always correctGod’s word is always correct

◦We can know God’s word, Eph 3:3-4We can know God’s word, Eph 3:3-4◦Therefore, we can know and stand in Therefore, we can know and stand in

the truth of God, Jno 8:31-32; 17:17the truth of God, Jno 8:31-32; 17:17 Thus, we can identify one who does Thus, we can identify one who does

not agree with truth, 1 Jno 4:1, 6not agree with truth, 1 Jno 4:1, 6

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““Of course it is Of course it is not arrogantnot arrogant to to claimclaim we can we can understand the scripturesunderstand the scriptures, or even to claim , or even to claim that we can understand them that we can understand them alikealike. I affirm . I affirm both confidently. It is not the affirming of this both confidently. It is not the affirming of this that I consider arrogant. What is arrogant is that I consider arrogant. What is arrogant is the calling of anyone who disagrees with me the calling of anyone who disagrees with me a “false teacher” and “enemy of the cross” a “false teacher” and “enemy of the cross” simply because they disagree with me on one simply because they disagree with me on one issue. What is arrogant is the fact there is no issue. What is arrogant is the fact there is no room for disagreement among reasonable, room for disagreement among reasonable, honest men. What is arrogant is your refusal honest men. What is arrogant is your refusal to fellowship anyone who disagrees with to fellowship anyone who disagrees withyou on any matter of faith.”you on any matter of faith.”

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False teachers and enemies of the cross:False teachers and enemies of the cross:◦Disagree with the apostles, 2 Pet 2:1; 3:1-4; Disagree with the apostles, 2 Pet 2:1; 3:1-4;

Phil 3:17-19Phil 3:17-19 No room for disagreement:No room for disagreement:

◦Reason and honesty not the basis of truth and Reason and honesty not the basis of truth and fellowship, Phil 3:6; Acts 26:9 (Prov 14:12)fellowship, Phil 3:6; Acts 26:9 (Prov 14:12)

Refuse to have fellowship when there is Refuse to have fellowship when there is disagreement over “any matter of faith”:disagreement over “any matter of faith”:◦Personal faith…Liberties…Differences, Rom 14Personal faith…Liberties…Differences, Rom 14◦Revealed faith…Truth…No differences, Revealed faith…Truth…No differences,

1 Cor 1:10; Jude 3, 2 Jno 9-11 1 Cor 1:10; Jude 3, 2 Jno 9-1110

““Joe, my impression of ____ at the meeting Joe, my impression of ____ at the meeting in ____ was that he was one of the most in ____ was that he was one of the most arrogant men I have ever met. The way arrogant men I have ever met. The way he treated people, the way he went down he treated people, the way he went down the list of issues that ____ had and told us the list of issues that ____ had and told us what he believed on each and every issue what he believed on each and every issue (thus missing the whole point while (thus missing the whole point while setting himself up as one man to tell us setting himself up as one man to tell us what the truth is on each issue), the way what the truth is on each issue), the way

he made his presentation.he made his presentation.11

““I’ve seen this kind of self-righteous, I’ve seen this kind of self-righteous, “I-have-all-the-truth”, attitude in a few “I-have-all-the-truth”, attitude in a few other preachers as well. You didn’t other preachers as well. You didn’t come across this way. You came come across this way. You came across as very humble. But your across as very humble. But your position on position on fellowshipfellowship and and gracegrace boils boils down to the same thing. down to the same thing. It is a It is a doctrinal arrogance doctrinal arrogance that leaves that leaves absolutely no room for disagreement.”absolutely no room for disagreement.”

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Fellowship and GraceFellowship and Grace: Is there room for : Is there room for disagreement?disagreement?

Not on revealed truth! (1 Cor 1:10)Not on revealed truth! (1 Cor 1:10)◦Fellowship with God and His people is Fellowship with God and His people is

based on based on NT truthNT truth and and practicing itpracticing it, 1 Jno , 1 Jno 1:1-71:1-7

◦Going Going beyond the doctrine of Christbeyond the doctrine of Christ forfeits forfeits fellowship with God, 1 Jno 2:3-6 (2 Jno 9)fellowship with God, 1 Jno 2:3-6 (2 Jno 9)

◦Do not have fellowship with those who go Do not have fellowship with those who go beyond beyond the doctrine of Christthe doctrine of Christ, 2 Jno 10-11, 2 Jno 10-11

Grace does not ignore sin, Rom 6:1-2Grace does not ignore sin, Rom 6:1-2 13

Doctrinal arroganceDoctrinal arrogance?? The arrogance is in judging oneself The arrogance is in judging oneself

above the stated will of God! Jas 4:11above the stated will of God! Jas 4:11 The judgments of God’s word are not The judgments of God’s word are not

arrogant – they are true and arrogant – they are true and altogether righteous, Psa 19:9altogether righteous, Psa 19:9

The purpose of the commandment: The purpose of the commandment: Love from a pure heart, a good Love from a pure heart, a good conscience and sincere faith, 1 Tim conscience and sincere faith, 1 Tim 1:51:5

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““I would not want to be in your shoes I would not want to be in your shoes on judgment day, even if you do on judgment day, even if you do understand MDR perfectly. I am much understand MDR perfectly. I am much less concerned about your mistaken less concerned about your mistaken notions of MDR than I am about notions of MDR than I am about youryour self-righteous, legalistic system of self-righteous, legalistic system of works.”works.”

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Self-righteous, legalistic system of Self-righteous, legalistic system of works?works?◦Careful obeying the apostolic doctrine is Careful obeying the apostolic doctrine is

not self-righteousness, 2 Tim 3:10not self-righteousness, 2 Tim 3:10◦Obeying Jesus is not a legalistic system Obeying Jesus is not a legalistic system

of works, Luke 17:5-10of works, Luke 17:5-10◦Doing all He commands is living by faith!Doing all He commands is living by faith!◦Doing all He commands earns us Doing all He commands earns us

nothing!nothing!

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““I assume you believe that since I assume you believe that since we have not come to an we have not come to an agreement on your arbitrarily agreement on your arbitrarily chosen issues (e.g. MDR), then it chosen issues (e.g. MDR), then it is we (and not you) who have is we (and not you) who have failed to give all diligence. failed to give all diligence. Have Have you become the judge of men’s you become the judge of men’s hearts?” hearts?”

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Was Paul judging the hearts of the Was Paul judging the hearts of the Cretans? Titus 1:10-13Cretans? Titus 1:10-13

By their fruits you will know them, By their fruits you will know them, Matt 7:20 (15-16)Matt 7:20 (15-16)

Paul judged the Paul judged the fruitfruit of their lives as of their lives as contrary to “the faithful word” (1:9)contrary to “the faithful word” (1:9)

Exhorted Titus to rebuke them Exhorted Titus to rebuke them sharply so that they may be “sharply so that they may be “sound sound in the in the faithfaith”!”!

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“…“…your notions on fellowship and your notions on fellowship and salvation is salvation is (sic) (sic) separating brethrenseparating brethren for for sure – and more than just a few. And all sure – and more than just a few. And all in the name of “unity”. You have “put in the name of “unity”. You have “put God to the test by placing on the yoke of God to the test by placing on the yoke of the disciples a burden which…we have the disciples a burden which…we have been unable to bear” (Acts 15.10). That been unable to bear” (Acts 15.10). That indeed is indeed is a sina sin. . I hope you will I hope you will repentrepent of of it and work to restore the brethren you it and work to restore the brethren you have worked to have worked to separate.”separate.”

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Was Jesus working to Was Jesus working to separate brethrenseparate brethren when He spoke the truth? Lk 12:51-53when He spoke the truth? Lk 12:51-53

Was Paul working to Was Paul working to separate brethrenseparate brethren when he said “that you all speak the when he said “that you all speak the same thing”? 1 Cor 1:10same thing”? 1 Cor 1:10

When When truthtruth is preached we are is preached we are presented with a choice, Jno 8:45-47presented with a choice, Jno 8:45-47◦Believe it, obey it and be blessedBelieve it, obey it and be blessed◦Reject it, disobey it and be lostReject it, disobey it and be lost

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What can What can the righteous do? the righteous do? Psalm 11:3Psalm 11:3

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Trust in the Lord, Psalm 11Trust in the Lord, Psalm 11 Buy the truth and do not sell it, Prov 23: Buy the truth and do not sell it, Prov 23:

23; Psa 19:1023; Psa 19:10 Be assured by and confident in God’s Be assured by and confident in God’s

word, Psa 119:97-104 (Col 2:2-3)word, Psa 119:97-104 (Col 2:2-3) Practice the truth, 1 Jno 1:6-7; 2:3-6Practice the truth, 1 Jno 1:6-7; 2:3-6 Honor Christ as Lord and keep giving Honor Christ as Lord and keep giving

Bible reasons for hope, 1 Pet 3:13-17Bible reasons for hope, 1 Pet 3:13-17

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Rom 3:4: “Rom 3:4: “Indeed, let God be true but every man a liar. As it is written: ‘That You may be justified in Your words, And may overcome when You are judged.’”

Eph 5:17: “Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is.”

Abide in word of Christ, know the truth and be freed from sin, Jno 8:31-32

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