Opening Prayer - Heavenly Father, we thank you for the oppertunity to worship your Son this morning. We know that if He hadn't died on the cross for our sins and arose from the dead, we would have no way to have a future home in Heaven or the privilage of worshiping Him this morning. Please bless us indeed and give us the strength and wisdom to live the way the Bible says we should live. We pray that everyone who reads this sermon who are not saved will become saved before it is too late. For this second sermon in this Sunday morning series, we pray that You will help us to not be misled by popular but incorrect theology. In Jesus' Name, Amen.
Worship music - Please click the links and sing along if you know the words (You can also click skip ad to go straight to the songs) -
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kIEEz9yaukA
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x6_F-NaryUY
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q5740m6F6kg
Popular But Very Wrong
This is a continuation of last Sunday morning's service
Mega churches seems like a great idea, but from my experience, a Big change needs to happen in them.
When pastors conclude that everyone who prays or makes a decision to become a Christian will go to Heaven, the Bible becomes confusing.
If someone prays or makes a decision to become a Christian, but they refuse to quit getting drunk or practicing homosexuality for example, they aren't really a Christian. These pastors are probably afraid to say that because they're worried that these people will become angry and quit coming to their church.
These pastors probably wouldn't mention Galatians 5:19-21 which says, "Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness. Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God."
Notice that drunkenness is in this list, and notice "they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God." Someone can believe that Jesus died on the cross for their sins, but if they refuse to repent of their sins (drunkenness is a sin), they aren't really a Christian. John 3:16 means that someone can become a Christian if they believe in Jesus, but after that, John 3:17-21 says, "For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. (So the condemnation, or punishment, for someone who refuses to believe in Jesus is directly related to someone who refuses to quit sinning.) For every one that doeth evil (which means continually sins on purpose and doesn’t want to stop) hateth the light, neither cometh to the light (will not receive Jesus and become a Christian), lest his deeds should be reproved. But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God."
Also, these pastors probably wouldn't mention Romans 1:24–32 which says, “Wherefore God also gave them up (These people had refused to turn from their sins and receive Christ as their Lord and Savior so many times, that God lost His patience and quit giving them opportunities to receive salvation. A similar verse is Proverbs 29:1, and it says, “He, that being often reproved hardeneth his neck, shall suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy.” Someone can refuse or put off their decision to become a Christian a certain number of times, and their heart can become too hard to receive salvation because each time they say no to Christ, their heart gets harder than it was before.) to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves: Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen. For this cause God gave them up (See note at the beginning of this paragraph (Romans 1:24).) unto vile affections (women having sex with other women and men having sex with other men): for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly (Clearly after reading this, practicing homosexuality is sinful, and those who are guilty of it need to repent and refuse to live that lifestyle anymore.), and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet. And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge (They refused to listen to God.), God gave them over to a reprobate mind (This is referring to people who have said no to the Holy Spirit urging them to repent of their ways and get saved a certain number of times, and their hearts have become too hard. As a result, they are unable to get saved.), to do those things which are not convenient; Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them (If you enjoy when other people do these types of sins, you are just as guilty as people who do them.)."
These pastors don't mention James 2:26 which says, "For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also." A similar verse is Titus 1:16 which says, "They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate." Instead, they use 1 Corinthians 3:5-15.
1 Corinthians 3:5-15 says, "Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers by whom ye believed, even as the Lord gave to every man? I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase. So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase. Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour. For we are labourers together with God: ye are God's husbandry, ye are God's building. According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon. For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is. If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire."
These verses are referring to Christians who are pastors, teachers, people with the gift of evangelism, and people who are called to build the church through faithful ministry. The gold, silver, and precious stones are referring to Christians who are pastors, teachers, people with the gift of evangelism, and people who are called to build the church through faithful ministry who are dedicated and really search the Bible to learn how to help others. The wood, hay, and stubble represent Christians who are pastors, teachers, people with the gift of evangelism, and people who are called to build the church through faithful ministry who, on certain occasions, are lazy and don't try hard to search the Bible to learn how to help others. These Christians who are pastors, teachers, people with the gift of evangelism, and people who are called to build the church through faithful ministry who perform lazy attempts of good works will have those lazy attempts of good works burnt up, but they will enter Heaven. They will not be rewarded for those lazy attempts of good works at the judgment seat of Christ. Besides, the Bible would contradict itself because of James 2:26 and Titus 1:16.
Instead of these pastors trying to keep everyone happy, they need to stop leaving out these important topics.
If you have never prayed or made a decision to trust Jesus' death on the cross and His shed blood to erase your sins and let you into Heaven, you must be willing to follow Jesus from this moment on and for the rest of your life. This website will tell you how - http://chriswaug5.wix.com/howtogotoheaven
If you have prayed or made a decision to trust Jesus' death on the cross and His shed blood to erase your sins and let you into Heaven, but you haven't been doing good works and/or you still sin on purpose (For a list of many sins, see these websites - http://chriswaug5.wix.com/chap18 and http://chriswaug5.wix.com/howtodefeatsatan), please follow this website - http://chriswaug5.wix.com/makingsure
If you have prayed or made a decision to become a Christian, but you are not sure that you are really a Christian (Hebrews 11:6, Matthew 21:18-22, 1 John 5:14, and Hebrews 11:1), you need to be sure - please follow this website - http://chriswaug5.wix.com/howtogotoheaven