Let Us Unite Against Error Part 10. Actions to Protect the Church We are to strengthen ourselves....

Let Us Unite Let Us Unite Against Against

ErrorErrorPart 10

Actions to Protect the ChurchActions to Protect the Church

We are to strengthen ourselves.We are to strengthen ourselves.

Let us earnestly contend for the Let us earnestly contend for the faith. faith. Jude 1:3Jude 1:3

earnestly contend - epagonizomai - signifies “to contend about a thing, as a combatant” . . . (Vine’s)



Let us earnestly contend for the Let us earnestly contend for the faith. faith. Jude 1:3Jude 1:3

Saints are to earnestly contend for the faith. The faith should not be a matter of indifference. Saints should be passionate regarding the faith once for all delivered to the saints.

Such an earnest desire and zeal will help the saints to stand firm against the attacks of the devil.



Let us build ourselves up on our Let us build ourselves up on our faith, praying, and keeping ourselves faith, praying, and keeping ourselves in the love of God. in the love of God. Jude 1:20-21Jude 1:20-21

Let us have compassion (mercy) on Let us have compassion (mercy) on some brethren. On others, let us some brethren. On others, let us “save with fear.” “save with fear.” Jude 1:22-23Jude 1:22-23 This This passage clearly addresses the passage clearly addresses the manner in which we approach our manner in which we approach our brethren.brethren.



Let us work to strengthen those who Let us work to strengthen those who are weak. are weak. Heb 12:12-13Heb 12:12-13

Let us pursue peace and holiness. Let us pursue peace and holiness. HHeb 12:14-17eb 12:14-17

We are to warn, comfort, uphold, We are to warn, comfort, uphold, and be patient. and be patient. 1 Thess 5:14-151 Thess 5:14-15



Let us seek to edify or build up our Let us seek to edify or build up our fellow brethren in Jesus Christ.fellow brethren in Jesus Christ.

Romans 14:19

Romans 15:1-2

1 Corinthians 10:23

1 Corinthians 14:12, 26

Ephesians 4:29

1 Thessalonians 5:11

Summary ChartSummary Chart

Passage Action Against Whom & Why

Jude 1:3, Jude 1:20-23

earnestly contend

build yourselves up

praying in the Holy Spirit

keep yourselves in the love of God

Have compassion on some

Others save with fear



Heb 12:12-13 strengthen the hands

that hang down and

the feeble knees

make straight paths

for your feet



Heb 12:14-17 pursue peace and

holiness

looking carefully lest anyone fall short of the grace of God . . . (and) . . . lest any root of bitterness springing up causes trouble and by this many become defiled



1 Thes 5:14-15 warn those who are unruly

comfort the fainthearted

uphold the weak

be patient with all

no one renders evil for evil to anyone

always pursue what is good both for yourselves and for all



Rom 14:19 Rom 15:1-2 1 Cor 10:23 1 Cor 14:12-26 Eph 4:29 1 Thess 5:11

seek to edify or build up your fellow brethren in Christ

Where these warnings intended to unite or divide the brotherhood?

Warnings: Unite or Divide Us?Warnings: Unite or Divide Us?

Saints must constantly be on guard Saints must constantly be on guard against false doctrines, false teachings, against false doctrines, false teachings, and factious (divisive) brethren.and factious (divisive) brethren.

As Jesus warned, we will face “false As Jesus warned, we will face “false prophets,” “ravenous wolves,” and prophets,” “ravenous wolves,” and “false christs.” “false christs.” Matt 7:15-20; 24:11; Matt 7:15-20; 24:11; 24:23-24; Mark 13:21-2224:23-24; Mark 13:21-22

We will face “savage wolves” who We will face “savage wolves” who will come in among the saints. will come in among the saints. Acts 20:28-31Acts 20:28-31


Saints must constantly be on Saints must constantly be on guard . . .guard . . .

We will face those who will try to We will face those who will try to cause “divisions and offenses, ” cause “divisions and offenses, ” preying on the “simple” of the preying on the “simple” of the congregation. congregation. Rom 16:17-18Rom 16:17-18

We will face Satan’s “ministers” We will face Satan’s “ministers” who will transform themselves into who will transform themselves into “ministers of righteousness.” “ministers of righteousness.” 2 Cor 11:12-152 Cor 11:12-15


Saints must constantly be on guard . . .Saints must constantly be on guard . . .

We will face “false apostles” and We will face “false apostles” and “deceitful workers.” “deceitful workers.” 2 Cor 11:12-152 Cor 11:12-15

We will face those who will We will face those who will “pervert” the gospel of Christ. “pervert” the gospel of Christ. Gal 1:6-9; Acts 20:30Gal 1:6-9; Acts 20:30

There will be “false brethren” who There will be “false brethren” who will secretly come in to the church in will secretly come in to the church in hopes and bringing saints into hopes and bringing saints into bondage. bondage. Gal 2:4-5Gal 2:4-5



We will face those who will try to We will face those who will try to cheat us of our salvation, using cheat us of our salvation, using “empty deceit.” “empty deceit.” Col 2:6-10Col 2:6-10

We will face those who will be like We will face those who will be like the “son of perdition” or “the lawless the “son of perdition” or “the lawless one.” one.” 2 Thess 2:1-122 Thess 2:1-12

We will face “deceiving spirits” and We will face “deceiving spirits” and those who will speak lies in those who will speak lies in hypocrisy. hypocrisy. 1 Tim 4:1-51 Tim 4:1-5



We will have to deal with “men of We will have to deal with “men of corrupt minds,” “evil men,” and corrupt minds,” “evil men,” and “imposters” who will deceive others “imposters” who will deceive others and will, themselves, be deceived. and will, themselves, be deceived. 2 Tim 3:1-172 Tim 3:1-17

We will face congregations which We will face congregations which can no longer “endure sound can no longer “endure sound doctrine.” doctrine.” 2 Tim 4:3, 42 Tim 4:3, 4



We will face “false teachers” who We will face “false teachers” who will try to divide the brethren by will try to divide the brethren by “secretly” bringing in “destructive “secretly” bringing in “destructive heresies” (sects or factions.) Being heresies” (sects or factions.) Being motivated by covetousness, these motivated by covetousness, these false teachers will try to “exploit” or false teachers will try to “exploit” or “make merchandise” of the saints “make merchandise” of the saints through various means of deceptions. through various means of deceptions. 2 Pet 2:1-3, 142 Pet 2:1-3, 14



We will have to endure those who We will have to endure those who teach that Jesus Christ did not come teach that Jesus Christ did not come in the flesh. Such are “antichrist” in the flesh. Such are “antichrist” and “false prophets.” and “false prophets.” 1 John 2:18-19; 4:1-61 John 2:18-19; 4:1-6

We will face those who do not abide We will face those who do not abide in the doctrine of Christ, but teach in the doctrine of Christ, but teach false doctrines. false doctrines. 2 John 1:7-112 John 1:7-11


Saints must constantly be on guard . . .Saints must constantly be on guard . . .According to Jude, we will face According to Jude, we will face “ungodly men,” “dreamers,” “ungodly men,” “dreamers,” “grumblers,” “complainers,” and “grumblers,” “complainers,” and “mockers.” These types of men will “mockers.” These types of men will creep in unnoticed. They will “turn grae creep in unnoticed. They will “turn grae into lewdness,” “defile the flesh,” and into lewdness,” “defile the flesh,” and “reject authority.” They will use “great “reject authority.” They will use “great swelling words” and flattering speech swelling words” and flattering speech to gain followers and to cause to gain followers and to cause divisions. divisions. Jude 1:3-19Jude 1:3-19



Some will reject faith and a good Some will reject faith and a good conscience. They will use “profane conscience. They will use “profane and idle babblings,” their message and idle babblings,” their message spreading like cancer. spreading like cancer. 1 Tim 1:18-20; 2 Tim 2:16-181 Tim 1:18-20; 2 Tim 2:16-18

Some will use foolish and ignorant Some will use foolish and ignorant disputes to generate strife. disputes to generate strife. 2 Tim 2:23-262 Tim 2:23-26



Some will use foolish disputes, Some will use foolish disputes, genealogies, contentions, and genealogies, contentions, and “strivings about the law” to cause “strivings about the law” to cause division among the brethren. division among the brethren. Titus 3:9-11Titus 3:9-11


As a result, we must unite together to As a result, we must unite together to “test the spirits” to see which message “test the spirits” to see which message is coming from the Bible and which is coming from the Bible and which message is coming from man. message is coming from man. 1 John 4:1-61 John 4:1-6


As a result, we must “test the As a result, we must “test the spirits”...spirits”...

When one person fails to expose and When one person fails to expose and warn against false doctrine, then he warn against false doctrine, then he is endangering those around him. is endangering those around him.

Our responsibility is to “mark” Our responsibility is to “mark” (note) those who are causing (note) those who are causing “division and offenses” by “division and offenses” by “secretly” bringing in “damnable “secretly” bringing in “damnable heresies” (sects or factions.) heresies” (sects or factions.)


As a result, we must “test the As a result, we must “test the spirits”...spirits”...

Satan will try to turn one brother Satan will try to turn one brother against another using any deceptive against another using any deceptive means possible. means possible.

We must stand together in the Word We must stand together in the Word of God and stand opposed to all of God and stand opposed to all false doctrine. false doctrine.

Let us unite in this effort.Let us unite in this effort.


If we fail to unite in heeding the If we fail to unite in heeding the warnings, then we will become the warnings, then we will become the prey to those who work to divide. prey to those who work to divide.

If we fail to unite, then we could If we fail to unite, then we could become the very ones about whom become the very ones about whom the apostles were warning the the apostles were warning the brethren.brethren.


As we take this stand, we must As we take this stand, we must exercise judgment in how we exercise judgment in how we approach this stand. Paul wrote, “All approach this stand. Paul wrote, “All things are lawful for me, but not all things are lawful for me, but not all things are helpful; all things are things are helpful; all things are lawful for me, but not all things lawful for me, but not all things edify.” edify.” 1 Cor 10:231 Cor 10:23


As we take this stand, . . . As we take this stand, . . .

Should we divide over disagreements Should we divide over disagreements of who is and who is not a “false of who is and who is not a “false teacher” when both are willing to teacher” when both are willing to expose one’s error and teach against it? expose one’s error and teach against it? No. No.

Should we make fellowship hinge on Should we make fellowship hinge on whom you are willing to call an whom you are willing to call an “imposters,” “evil men,” “savage “imposters,” “evil men,” “savage wolves,” “false teacher,” etc.? No. wolves,” “false teacher,” etc.? No.


When and how are we to expose the When and how are we to expose the error?error?

Teach the Truth on all Bible subjects. Teach the Truth on all Bible subjects.

There will be certain false teachings There will be certain false teachings that the elders and / or preacher that the elders and / or preacher should bring to the attention of the should bring to the attention of the congregation. congregation.

How far do we take Romans 16:17-18 How far do we take Romans 16:17-18 in reference to calling names of those in reference to calling names of those teaching error from the pulpit? teaching error from the pulpit?

Conclusion to the StudyConclusion to the Study

The whole point of this study has The whole point of this study has been to show . . . been to show . . .

that we must come together as we that we must come together as we stand opposed to error and those stand opposed to error and those who teach such error. who teach such error.

that we must also stand opposed to that we must also stand opposed to those who would attempt to divide those who would attempt to divide us over matters other than Bible us over matters other than Bible doctrine.doctrine.


There will be times when we may There will be times when we may disagree over the meaning and disagree over the meaning and application of certain Bible verses. At application of certain Bible verses. At these points of differences, both sides these points of differences, both sides must devote themselves to study. If the must devote themselves to study. If the matter is not doctrine based and will matter is not doctrine based and will not affect one's salvation, then there not affect one's salvation, then there should be no problem. If the matter is a should be no problem. If the matter is a doctrine based issue, then we must doctrine based issue, then we must stand upon the very words found in the stand upon the very words found in the word of God and never waver.word of God and never waver.


Satan is trying many ways to destroy Satan is trying many ways to destroy local congregations. Let us unite local congregations. Let us unite against Satan and his tactics, standing against Satan and his tactics, standing strong in the Lord and Savior.strong in the Lord and Savior.

Let Us Unite Against Error Part 10. Actions to Protect the Church We are to strengthen ourselves....

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