Keeping Ourselves unspotted from the world (Lesson 36)
Introduction:
1. According to James 1:27, "pure and undefiled religion before God" includes "keeping ourselves unspotted from the world." 2. In order to remain unspotted from the world we must heed the Bible's instructions that relate to "following the majority." 3. To know the Lord's will on this subject we must examine passages from both the Old and New Testaments. 4. Let us first consider several . . . Discussion: I. OLD TESTAMENT PASSAGES
A. Paul showed in Romans 15:4 why we must consider the Old Testament. B. (Exodus 23:2a) Moses wrote, "Thou shalt not follow a multitude to do evil." 1. In the context, God was revealing His will to the Israelites through Moses. 2. God told His people to do certain things, and He told them not to do certain things. 3. In this verse God told His people not to follow a crowd to do "evil." 4. In other words, God wanted the Israelites to be true to Him, even if a majority of people wanted to disobey Him. C. Unfortunately, the Israelites disobeyed this command on a number of occasions. 1. (Exodus 32:1-5) Aaron gave in to the wishes of the majority and made the golden calf. a. Aaron was Moses' brother, and he had seen God demonstrate His power. b. He followed the crowd and violated the law that Moses was receiving (20:4). 2. (I Samuel 8:1-5) The Israelites demanded that Samuel make them a king so they could be "like all the nations." a. (vs.7) In wanting to be like everyone else, the Israelites rejected God. b. Even after Samuel protested, the Israelites persisted in desiring a king (vs.19-20a). c. The Israelites finally realized they had sinned (I Samuel 12:19). D. These Old Testament Scriptures show us that following the majority is a foolish practice. E. Let us turn our attention to several . . . II. NEW TESTAMENT PASSAGES
A. (Matthew 7:13-14) Jesus contrasted the eternal destinies of the "few" and the "many." 1. Jesus said that the majority will spend eternity in a place of "destruction." 2. Following the majority is not wise or safe. B. (John 6:15) Jesus refused to give in to the desires of the majority when they wanted to make Him a king. C. Understanding what Christians are will help us see why we must not follow the majority. 1. (Titus 2:14) Christians are a purified, "peculiar people, zealous of good works." 2. (I Peter 2:5) Christians are a "holy priesthood." 3. (I Peter 2:9) Christians are "a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people." D. These passages clearly teach that we cannot be like everyone else and do what everyone else does. 1. The Lord's church is not a democracy -- it is God's kingdom. 2. Christians do not determine right and wrong by what the majority might want. 3. Christians determine right and wrong by what the King says in His Word. Conclusion:
1. The entire Bible shows that God's people must remain unspotted from the world, even when the majority chooses to do the opposite. 2. Let us always strive to comply with the Lord's instructions in Matthew 7:13-14.
