Welcome, friends, to another
broadcast of the Mosheus for Zion's 4. Thus we have evidence that from
the very beginning of the New Testament church that there were
various and sundry errors and falsehoods that were declared
and promoted in its midst, which were either contrary to or in
addition to the one true message which he was faithful to declare
to the exclusion of all others. He sums this up in the verse,
which is just prior to this exhortation, when he says, Jesus Christ, the
same yesterday and today and forever. There can be no sound
doctrine set forth by men which is a new revelation or a truth
which is not already summed up and revealed in him. who, being
in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with
God, but made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of
a servant, and was made in the likeness of men. And being found
in fashion as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient unto
death, even the death of the cross. Wherefore God also hath
highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every
name." A strange doctrine is any teaching, tradition, or commandment
which does not recognize the complete sufficiency and efficiency
of that which Christ came into the world to perform. Strange
doctrine is that which denies that Christ has procured and
completely obtained eternal redemption for that people for which he
undertook this work of redemption. One would have to consider that
based upon that definition, there is much strange doctrine which
is proclaimed in the earth today under the guise of gospel preaching.
I have often said that it can be more readily proven from the
scriptures that Christ died for all men and that subsequently
all men are saved than it can be shown that He died for all
men and yet some of them shall yet perish. The latter is a strange
doctrine for sure. The blood of Jesus Christ, His
Son, cleanseth us from all sin. It seems quite clear in the scriptures
that some men shall indeed perish, so we are quite sure that Christ
has not taken away their sins by His blood. Else what is the
basis upon which they would be condemned, since the wages of
sin is death? Since Christ has made a purchase
with His blood, it is readily apparent that He shall take possession
of that which He bought. One of the chief errors of the
Jews was in seeking to perpetuate the rite of circumcision, which
Paul clearly negated by saying, for in Jesus Christ neither circumcision
availeth anything, nor uncircumcision, but faith which worketh by love.
Another of these errant doctrines is the promotion of days, times,
and seasons, and commanding men to abstain from various foods
or substances. Paul does not condemn the keeping
of any day, or the abstaining from various foods. Yet he plainly
points out the total insignificance of such. One man esteemeth one
day above another, another esteemeth every day alike. Let every man
be fully persuaded in his own mind. He that regardeth the day,
regardeth it unto the Lord. And he that regardeth not the
day, to the Lord he does not regard it. He that eateth, eateth
to the Lord, for he giveth God thanks. And he that eateth not,
to the Lord he eateth not, and giveth God thanks. Even yet another
errant doctrine is the notion that the sons of God can be indifferent
to, or even enjoy, the wickedness of their flesh. Paul addressed
this aberration when he said, What shall we say then? Shall
we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid! How shall
we that are dead to sin live any longer therein? The greatest
heartache for any of those who are born again is the corruption
of their flesh which they are engaged in battle with daily.
We have not the wherewithal to delineate and define all of the
divers and strange doctrines which are constantly cast up
before the sons of God as tumbling blocks. But we can exhort those
who confess to be the followers of Christ to turn neither to
the left nor to the right, but to be constantly and solely looking
unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy
that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame,
and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. It
is by Him and unto Him that we must continually offer the sacrifice
of praise. That man who is engaged in this
sacrifice of praise by Him cannot be led astray, for his mind and
heart will be occupied in praising Him who alone has wrought salvation
in the earth.