I was thinking of the first verse
of that song, and that is so overwhelming to think that the
Lord died before the foundation of the world. That's just overwhelming,
isn't it? Gospel is mysterious. We believe
it. We don't understand it. But we believe it. Christ died
before time began and accomplished the salvation of all of his people
before there was ever a world. Isn't that wonderful? I love
it that way. I've entitled this message consent, which means agreement, consent. The text is first Timothy chapter
six. Beginning in verse three, if any man teach otherwise and
consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus
Christ and to the doctrine, which is according to godliness. He's
proud knowing nothing. But doting about questions and
strifes of words, where have cometh envy, strife, railings,
evil surmisings, perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds and destitute
of the truth. Supposing that gain is godliness
from such withdraw thyself. If any man teach otherwise, I
don't care who they are or what their status is. If they teach
something different. Do you remember how this epistle
was, was introduced with these words of Paul to Timothy, I sought
you to abide at Ephesus, that you might charge them that they
teach no other doctrine. If somebody teaches something
contrary to the doctrine of God, the doctrine of Christ, the doctrine
of the gospel, let's look at a couple of passages of scripture
turned to Galatians one. Galatians one beginning in verse
six, Paul says to the church at Galatia, I marvel that you're
so soon removed. From him that called you into
the grace of Christ unto another gospel, which is not another,
but there'd be some that trouble you and would pervert or change
the gospel of Christ. But the way or an angel from
heaven preach any other gospel unto you than that, which we've
preached unto you, let him be accursed. Now, when Paul says that, he
says, let that one be damned. Verse eight or verse nine, as
we said before, so say I now again, just in case no one heard
me. If any man preach any other gospel
unto you than that which you have received, that which was
gospel to you, let him be accursed. And that's strong language, isn't
it? Look in second, John. Second, John. Beginning in verse
seven, John says for many deceivers are entered into the world who
confess not that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh. This is
a deceiver and an antichrist. Look to yourselves that we lose
not those things which we've wrought, but that we receive
a full reward. Whosoever transgresseth and abideth not in the doctrine
of Christ is mistaken. Well, yes, but more than that,
he hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine
of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son. If there come any
unto you and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house,
neither bid him Godspeed for he that bid him Godspeed is a
partaker of his evil deeds. He's just as guilty. Now go back
to our text in verse Timothy chapter six. If any man teach otherwise and
consent, agree not to wholesome words. even the words of our
Lord Jesus Christ. Now, this word wholesome quite
often is translated sound, and it's where we get the English
word hygiene from, clean, to be in health, to be sound, to
be whole. If someone does not consent to
these wholesome, healthy words. You know, when I think of sound,
quite often I think of someone who's accurate in their doctrine
and what they believe, but it means more than that. It means
healthy, spiritually healthy. False doctrine is disease. Remember the way Paul talked
about how Menaeus and Philetus, how their word will eat. as doth
a canker or a cancer. It's like a disease spreading.
But the words of the Lord Jesus Christ are wholesome, healthy
words. He says, now, if any man does
teach otherwise and consent not to wholesome words, even the
words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine, which is
according to godliness, only the doctrine of Christ ends in
true and genuine godliness, devotion to God. Now, if somebody doesn't
consent, here's why. Verse four, he's proud, puffed
up, filled with hot air, knowing nothing. A proud man is invariably
an ignorant man, isn't he? He doesn't see things as they
really are. In all of his supposed knowledge,
he knows nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of
words, he dotes, he has a sick, Morbid fascination is actually
what the word means with questions that render doubts and strifes
of words, disputes over trivial things. And here's what comes
out of that. He's proud, knowing nothing but
doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy. That feeling of discomfort and
agitation at the prosperity of others. What a perverse feeling. Strife, fights, contention, enmity,
railings, blasphemy, evil surmising, suspicions. You see, as a man
is, so he thinks others to be. And he is suspicious of others
of being the way he would be. Verse five, perverse disputings
of men of corrupt minds and destitute of the truth. Supposing that
gain is godliness. From such withdrawal thyself."
Now, these men make this wicked supposition that gain is godliness. If you're profit, if you benefit
in something, it must be that God's grace is upon you. And
I think it's interesting the way Paul vilifies these people. I mean, you don't have a more
horrible description of anybody in all the word of God than right
here when he talks about these people who teach something else
and suppose that gain is godliness and you serve God for gain and
profit rather than because of who he is now to teach error. Now listen carefully. I want
to, I want to say this the way it ought to be said to teach
error exposes wickedness of character. Let me show you that in scripture.
I want you to stay with me for a moment. Romans chapter one.
Romans chapter 16. Verse 17. Now I beseech you,
brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offenses contrary
to the doctrine which you have learned and avoid them for they
that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly. And by good words and fair speeches,
plausible arguments and good scriptural words, they deceive,
they deceive the hearts of the simple. The reception of false doctrine
is not merely an intellectual problem. It's not merely a failure
to be able to grasp what is being said. Sin is the reason behind
the reception of false doctrine. Now, you know what, I've been
thinking about this and somehow there's something that didn't
feel totally comfortable with me, the way I thought about this,
because it's true. Sin is the cause of the reception
of false doctrine. It's not only intellectual problems,
it's a sin problem. Now, if you believe the truth,
that's not because you're good. You believe the truth because
it's true, don't you? You believe the truth because
God revealed it to you. And you believe it because it's true.
You can't take any moral superiority to yourself over that one who
doesn't believe. But still, that one who doesn't believe, the
reason he doesn't believe is sin. That's why. You know, the
term heresy, you know what that term means? Heresy means a choosing. a choosing. You have to choose
to believe that which is false. You believe something that's
true not because you choose to but you believe it because it's
true. I mean you just you hear the truth and you said that's
the truth and you believe it but you have to choose to believe
that which is false and that's why it is so evil and that's
why Paul talked about those who consent not with wholesome healthy,
spiritually healthy words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ
and the doctrine, which is according to godliness. You know, the Lord said, if any man loved me and didn't
love to Christ the issue, Isn't love to the Lord Jesus
Christ the issue? He said, if any man loved me,
he will keep my words. What I think of the person of
the Lord Jesus Christ is seen in how I view and keep and hold
on to and revere and bow to and obey His words. Anything else is just talk, isn't
it? If a man love me, he will keep
my words." Now, I couldn't help but think of John chapter six.
And I, you know, I refer to this passage of scripture so often,
and I thought, well, I wonder if anybody ever gets tired of
me referring to this passage of scripture. And I thought,
I don't think so because I never get tired of it. I really don't.
I mean, this is just as thrilling and glorious to me. I could read
John chapter six every day. And it, as long as it takes the
Lord to cause us to hear that way, but it's, it's always new.
It's always fresh. It's always powerful. Now, when
you hear the gospel, you hear it as fresh. If you hear it as
old news, not hearing it in the power of God the Holy Spirit.
But I tell you, this John chapter 6, I could just read this. I
believe I could be happy to preach from it every time I preached.
But look here in verse 59. Remember, we're talking about
his words, the wholesome words, the healthy words of the Lord
Jesus Christ. These things said he, these words
said he, In the synagogue, as he taught in Capernaum, many
therefore of his disciples, when they had heard this, said, this
is an hard saying. Who can hear it? Who can be expected
to listen to such things as this? It's hard. It's harsh. It's inhumane. It's not sympathetic toward humanity.
That's what's included in the word. They heard what he said
and they said, this is harsh. We don't like hard sayings. Well, what did he say that caused
this reaction? We'll look back in verse 26 of
the same chapter. Then Jesus answered them and
said, verily, verily, I say unto you, you seek me not because
you saw the miracles, but because you did eat of the loaves and
were filled. You were following me for gain. That's the same thing as godliness
is gain. You were following me for what
you thought you could benefit from it. Now he says to these
people, and I think this is interesting, he knows these people are going
to leave him. He already knows that. If you
go on looking at the end of this chapter, there's a whole bunch
left, all 5,000 of them. And he knew they were going to
leave, but look at the way he spoke with them. He said to these
same people, labor not for the meat which perisheth, but for
that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son
of Man shall give unto you, for him Hath God the Father sealed? Then said they unto him, What
shall we do that we might work the works of God? Jesus answered
and said unto them, This is the work of God, that you believe
on him whom he hath sent. And it's almost like they said,
well, we know that, but what else? They said, therefore, in him,
what sign showest thou then that we may see and believe? What
does thou work? Give us some proof. They couldn't
just believe his naked word. They, we need some signs and
some evidence of what you're saying is so. And so what they're
saying is we don't believe this. That's all the desire for a sign
is. We do not believe. Give us some proof. Our fathers
did eat man in the desert as it's written. He gave them bread
from heaven to eat. Jesus said unto them, verily,
verily, I say unto you, Moses gave you not that bread from
heaven, but my father giveth you the true bread from heaven.
For the bread of God is he which cometh down from heaven and giveth
life unto the world. Well, they had no idea what he
was talking about. They just thought of physical
bread. Then said they unto him, Lord evermore, give us this bread.
And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life. He that cometh to me shall never
hunger. And he that believeth on me shall
never thirst. But I said unto you that you've
also seen me and believe not. Now he looks at these people
and says, you fellas don't believe. You don't believe. But it's almost
as if he says, that's no discouragement to me. Verse 37. Oh, that the father giveth me.
shall come to me. And him that cometh to me, I
will in no wise cast out." Isn't that healthy? Those are healthy
words, aren't they? Those are good words. Those are
wholesome words. And he goes on to tell what God's will is.
Look in verse 38. For I came down from heaven,
not to do my own will, but the will of him that sent me. And
this is the Father's will, which has sent me, that of all which
he has given me, I should lose nothing. but should raise it
up again at the last day. Everybody I'm gonna die for,
they're gonna be saved. That's wholesome, isn't it? That's good
news, isn't it? But he goes on to say in verse
40, and this is the will of him that sent me, that everyone which
seeth the Son and believeth on him may have everlasting life
and I'll raise him up at the last day. Oh, how wholesome those
words are. Everyone who sees and believes,
they'll be raised up. The Jews then murmured at him,
because he said, I'm the bread which came down from heaven.
They said, is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father
and mother we know? How is it then he saith, I came
down from heaven? I mean, he's no different than
us. Jesus therefore answered and said unto them, murmur not
among yourselves. No man can come to me. The reason you don't
come to me is because you can't, except the father which has sent
me draw him, and I'll raise him up at the last day. You know,
those were wholesome words. That's good for me and you to hear this.
I need to know that I can't come unless he draws me. You know
what it makes me do? It makes me say, Lord, draw me. Draw me. It doesn't make me say, well,
how could it? No, draw me. Draw me. If you said, draw us,
and we'll run after thee. It's written, verse 45, in the
Prophets, and they shall be all taught of God. Every man, therefore,
that hath heard and hath learned of the Father cometh to me. Not
that any man seen the Father, save he which is of God, he has
seen the Father. Verily I say unto you, he that
believeth on me hath everlasting life. Now, in that passage of
scripture, you have what are known as the doctrine of grace. You have total depravity, unconditional
election, limited atonement, Irresistible grace, perseverance
of the saints, in those verses I just read without using those
terms. That is the teaching. Now, what was their response
to all this? They said, these things said he, verse 59, in
the synagogue as he taught in Capernaum, many therefore of
his disciples, when they'd heard this, said, this is a hard saying.
Who can hear it? When Jesus knew in himself that
his disciples murmured at it, he said unto them, does this
offend you? offended when you believe me
to be nothing more than a man speaking this and you're offended
what and if you shall see the son of man ascend up where he
was before you'll really be offended then when you see me seated at
the right hand of the father speaking these same words as
the ruling reigning lord you'll really be offended then it is
the spirit verse six that quickeneth the flesh Prophets, nothing. The words that I speak unto you,
their spirit and their life. Now these words that they considered
hard sayings, Lord says their spirit and their life. Life, spiritual life is in these
words. But verse 64, there are some
of you that believe not for Jesus knew from the beginning who they
were that believed not and who should betray him. And he said,
therefore said I unto you that no man can come to me. except
it were given unto him of my father. From that time, many
of his disciples went back and walked no more with him." Now here's godliness. Remember
the wholesome words of the Lord Jesus Christ, which are according
to godliness. Here is godliness. Then said
unto Jesus unto the twelve, will you also go away? You fellas
want to leave as well? You're watching these people
leave, the door's open if that's what you want to do. Then Simon
Peter, verse 68, answered Him, Lord, to whom shall we go? Thou hast the words of eternal
life, and we believe and are sure that Thou art that Christ,
the Son of the living God. Wholesome words. Now I began this message, uh,
began the service reading Amos chapter three, verse three. Remember
the word, the name of this message is consent. If any man consent,
not Amos chapter three, verse three says, how can two walk
together except they be agreed. Now in walking together, a wonderful
thing. to be able to walk together in
fellowship. in communion, in unity, going
in the same direction, believing the same things. I love walking
together. You know, you walk together,
not when you overlook differences and just kind of put up with
one another, but you actually believe the same things. I mean,
there's, there's, there's a fellowship in this thing of walking together.
Oh, what a blessed thing it is to be enabled to walk together. Now, It implies unity, sameness
of purpose, and how joyful it is. Now the living God will not
walk with someone who is not 100% in complete agreement with
him. Now I want you to think about
that. The Lord God will not walk with someone who is not in complete
agreement with Him. Are you in agreement with the
Lord? How can two walk together except
they be agreed? Now, the first thing I thought
about was His law. Are you in agreement with His
law? The Ten Commandments, aren't they beautiful? Aren't they glorious? You agree with the Ten Commandments,
don't you? Paul said, I consent unto the law that it's good. I agree with God's holy law.
I love God's holy law. I agree with the punishments
of God's law. I believe the law breaker ought
to be punished. God would cease to be God if
he could let the law breaker go free. I agree with what the
law says about me. Now we know that whatsoever things
the law saith, it saith to them that are under the law, that
every mouth may be stopped. No excuses. And all the world
stand guilty before God. I agree. I agree with God's holy
law. I agree with what God says about
himself in his word. When he says, be ye holy for
I am holy. I agree. He is holy. When we read the Lord reigneth,
that means he controls everything. You know what? I agree. I agree. I like it that way, but I agree. I agree that the Lord reigns.
He's the first cause behind everything and everybody. He's the cause
of causes. I agree. When we hear justice
and judgment is the habitation of thy throne, everything he
does is absolutely inflexibly just. I agree. You know, I really couldn't worship
him if it wasn't that way. I agree with his absolute justice. Justice and judgment are the
habitation of his throne. When I hear there's none good,
but God only, I agree. Don't you? I agree. When the Lord says there's none
beside me, a just God and a savior, I agree. There's none that can
be even compared to him, the just God and a savior. When he
says, before Abraham was, I am. I agree. I love it being that
way. When he says, I am the Lord,
I change not. Therefore ye sons of Jacob are
not consumed. I agree. And you know, I'm in
complete agreement with what he says about me. You know, when
the Lord Jesus says to his disciples, if you then being evil, know
how to give good gifts to your children, you know, I agree with
that completely. I know he's talking about me when he says
that, if you then being evil. And yet when he says, holy brethren,
partakers of the heavenly calling, I agree. I am holy in Christ. I am holy. I agree with all he
says. And I agree with how he saves
sinners. I love the way he saves. I'm proud of the way he saves.
I agree with it. You know, the fact that God chose who'd be
saved? You know, I agree with that. I want it to be up to God's
choice, don't you? And the fact that Christ actually redeemed
everybody God the Father gave him? I agree with that. That's
the way it ought to be. I love it that way. I agree.
And I agree with God the Holy Spirit giving life, regeneration
being of the Lord. I agree with God's way of saving
sinners. And I agree with what he says
about his word. 2 Timothy 3, 16 says, all scripture
is given by inspiration of God. And I agree. Now my agreement
doesn't make it so, but I agree. I agree with what he says about
his son. He said, this is my beloved son in whom I'm well
pleased. He said in him dwells all the
fullness of the Godhead bodily. Do you know, I agree with that
all the full doesn't matter whether I do or not. I realized that,
but I can't walk with God bless. I do agree with him. And he says
all my fullness, all everything that I am dwells in the body
of the Lord Jesus Christ. I agree with God's purpose. He said, my glory, I will not
share with another. He gets all the glory. And I
agree with that. I, I most especially like to
think about this. I agree with the satisfaction
of God, the father with God, the son, he is so satisfied with
him. And I am too. I am too. He's so satisfied with the atonement
that he wrought. He proved that by raising him
from the dead. He said, I'm satisfied with him. Can't be any more satisfied. Perfectly content. and I am completely content and
satisfied with him as my substitute and as my righteousness before
God. I'm completely satisfied with his atonement. I'm not looking
for anything else. I agree. Are you in agreement
with the Lord? Then we are at agreement with
each other, aren't we? If you're in agreement with the
Lord, and I'm in agreement with the Lord, we are in agreement
with each other. And what a blessed thing it is
to walk together in agreement, to consent together with his
wholesome, healthy words. Now here is a test for us. Turn to second Timothy chapter
one. In verse 13, Paul says, hold fast the form,
the outline of sound words. Now that sound words, the word
sound is the same word translated wholesome in our text. As a matter
of fact, remember what John says, I pray that you may be in health
and prosper even as your soul prospers. Same word, in health.
These are healthy words. Hold fast the form of healthy
sound wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Now, what is the form of sound words? Well, it's the testimony
of Christ. Look in verse eight, be not thou
therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord. And you know what? I'm not ashamed
of the gospel. I know it's only by the grace
of God, but I'm not ashamed of the gospel. Just like Paul said,
I'm not ashamed of the gospel for it's the power of God and
the salvation to everyone that believes. I'm not ashamed of
it either. I'm proud of this gospel. I'm believing that I'm
preaching. It's worthy of God. The gospel
he's given us is worthy of his glory. He said, be not thou therefore
ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me, his prisoner,
but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel. according to the
power of God who hath saved us. You agree with that? He saved us. Isn't that everything we believed? He saved us. I agree with that. Look what it says next. And called
us with an holy calling. He called us. I agree with that. It's a holy calling. I agree with that. It's a call
to holiness. I agree with that. This is, these are those wholesome
words. What he says next in verse nine,
not our works. You know, I agree
with that, don't you? I know it so. I know his calling
and salvation of me has absolutely nothing to do with my works.
Thank God for that. I agree with that. But according
to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ
Jesus before the world began, that means all I have, I had
before I was born. And you know what? I agree with
that. I agree with it because it's taught in the word of God
and I love it. I love it being that way. That lets me know just
how much of salvation is by grace. I wasn't even around when I got
everything I have. So it had to be by grace. I love
what one lady said to Spurgeon. She said, I know he must have
chose me before I was born because if he were waiting to die afterwards,
he couldn't have done it. And I can certainly see that.
I can certainly see that. Thank God for the freeness of
his sovereign grace. Where into verse 11 or verse
10, but now is made manifest by the appearing of our savior,
Jesus Christ. Now I, I agree with this. Everything is only manifest in
the person, the appearing of Christ. It's all meaningless
without this. It's now made manifest by the
appearing of Christ who has abolished death. That's what he did. I agree with that. Don't you?
That's what he did. He abolished death. He put away death and
he brought life and immortality to light through the gospel.
I agree with that for the witch cause. I also suffer these things.
Nevertheless, I'm not ashamed for I know whom I have believed.
and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I've committed
unto him against that day. And you know what, Paul? I'm
persuaded of that too. I am persuaded. I'm convinced
that he is able to keep what I've committed to him. What have
you committed to him? The salvation of my soul. My hands are off.
My hands are off, it's up to him. If he doesn't save me, I
won't be saved. I'm persuaded though, that he's able to keep
that which I've committed to him against that day, hold fast
the form of sound words. Healthy words. How can two walk
together? Would you turn with me in closing
to Daniel chapter three? This is a passage of scripture
about walking. How can two walk together except they be agreed
Daniel's right after the book of Ezekiel. You're familiar with this story. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego
had refused to bow before the man-made God. And Nebuchadnezzar
is furious. And he says at the end of verse
15, who is that God that shall deliver you out of my hands?
Verse 16, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego answered and said
to the king, O Nebuchadnezzar, we're not careful to answer thee
in this matter. If it be so, our God, whom we serve is able
to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver
us out of thine hand, O king. But if not, if he lets us burn
alive in the fiery furnace, Be it known unto thee, O King, that
we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which
thou hast set up.' Then was Nebuchadnezzar full of fury, and the form of
his visage was changed against Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego.
And therefore he spake and commanded that they should heat the furnace
one seven times more than it was wont to be heated. And he
commanded the most mighty men that were in his army to bind
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, and to cast them into the burning,
fiery furnace. Then these men were bound in
their coats, their hoes, and their hats, and their other garments,
and were cast into the midst of the burning, fiery furnace.
Therefore, because the king's commandment was urgent and the
furnace exceeding hot, the flame of the fire slew those men that
took up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. And these three men,
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, fell down bound into the midst
of the burning, fiery furnace. Then Nebuchadnezzar the king
was astonished and rose up in haste and spake and said unto
his counselors, did not we cast three men bound into the midst
of the fire? They answered and said unto the
king, true, O king. He answered and said, lo, I see four men,
loose, walking, walking together, walking in fellowship and sweet
harmony. in the midst of the fire and
they have no hurt. And the form of the fourth is
like the son of God. Now that's walking together. That's walking together. I love
the way Nebuchadnezzar. Says in verse 28, then Nebuchadnezzar
spake and said, blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and
Abednego, who hath sent his angel and delivered his servants that
trusted in him, and have not changed the king's word, and
have changed, or rather, and have changed the king's word
and yielded their bodies that they might not serve nor worship
any God except their own God. Therefore, I make a decree that
every people, nation, language will speak anything amiss against
the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego shall be cut in
pieces and their houses shall be made a dunghill because there's
no other God that can deliver after this sort." Then the king
promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in the province of Babylon. May the Lord enable us to consent
to agree with the wholesome words of the Lord Jesus Christ and
to reject anything else. Let's pray.