1. People don't like confusion, they want certainty
2. Yet there is a seal on the Lord's solid foundation - 2 Timothy 2:19
a. Paul has reference to the Lord's church
b. Commonly pictured as a building erected on a solid foundation - Ephesians 2:20-21; 1 Corinthians 3:9-10
c. The word seal refers to an inscription, inscribed on the foundation of a building
3. Regarding the Lord's church, then, there is a twofold inscription on the foundation
a. First, a statement of comfort
b. Second, a statement of caution
A. WE LIVE IN A TIME OF RELIGIOUS CONFUSION
1. There are many religions, many churches
a. Many profess to know the Lord, most are sincere
b. Which church is the true church?
2. Who are truly saved?
a. Not the majority - Matthew 7:13-14
b. Not all who profess to know the Lord - Matthew 7:21-23
B. YET THERE CAN BE RELIGIOUS CERTAINTY
1. The Lord is building His church - Matthew 16:18; 1 Thessalonians 2:12
a. He is calling people through the gospel - 2 Thessalonians 2:13-14
b. He is adding to His church those who respond - Acts 2:41-47
2. The gospel message is clearly proclaimed in the scriptures
a. Calling for faith and baptism - Mark 16:15-16; Matthew 28:18-20
b. Calling for repentance and baptism - Acts 2:38
c. Calling for baptism immediately - Acts 8:35-38; Acts 10:47-48; Acts 22:16
1) For the remission of sins - Acts 2:38
2) For dying with Christ and rising to walk in newness of life - Romans 6:3-7
3) For putting on Christ - Galatians 3:27
3. If you desire religious certainty in a religiously confused world, the first step is to let the Lord add you to His church by responding to the gospel of Christ.
A. WE MAY CONTINUE TO EXPERIENCE RELIGIOUS CONFUSION
1. Division existed in the Lord's church in the beginning
a. In Antioch, over circumcision and keeping the Law - Acts 15:1-2
b. At Corinth, over preacher-itis - 1 Corinthians 1:10-13; 1 Corinthians 3:3-6
c. Among churches in Asia, due to the influence of false teachers - Revelation 2:14-15, 20
2. Division will always exist in the Lord's church
a. Foretold by Jesus in His parable of the tares - Matthew 13:24-30
b. Foretold by Paul in his discourse to the elders - Acts 20:29-30
c. Foretold by Peter in his warning about false teachers - 2 Peter 2:1-3
B. YET WE CAN STILL HAVE RELIGIOUS CERTAINTY
1. The solution is heeding apostolic authority
a. Which the Lord gave to His apostles - John 13:20; Matthew 28:20
b. Which characterized faithful disciples in the early church - Acts 2:42
c. Which will characterize all the faithful today - 2 Thessalonians 2:15
2. Our duty is to depart from iniquity
a. From iniquity in our own lives - 2 Corinthians 7:1; Colossians 3:5-8
b. From those who teach contrary to the apostles - 2 Timothy 3:1-5
1. Whenever you are troubled by religious confusion
a. Take comfort in knowing that the Lord knows who you are
1) Assuming that you have properly responded to the gospel
2) Have you responded to the gospel of Christ?
b. Take caution in making sure that you are departing from iniquity
1) Assuming that you let the apostles of Christ define what is iniquity
2) Are you continuing steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine?
2. With this seal we have both encouragement and warning
a. If you are saved, the Lord certainly knows it
b. If you are saved, then act like it
3. As we look forward to the coming of Christ, we know the Lord is faithful - 1 Thessalonians 5:23-24
4. But remember that we must do our part as well - 1 Thessalonians 5:21-22
-- Don Treadway, April 2011 --
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