Scripture Reading: John 6:60-66

Comfortable Lies or Uncomfortable Truth?

Intro.

1. God's truth is often uncomfortable as it convicts sin, Jno. 16:8.

-Convict: “to convict, confute, refute,” usually with the suggestion of putting the convicted person to shame".^[1]

2. Examples:

a. Herod and Herodias' adulterous remarriage, Mark 6:17-18, 27.

b. Sanhedrin council, Acts 7:51-60.

c. Felix and Drusilla, Acts 24:24-25.

3. We must be more concerned about our eternal comfort (and that of others) than we are about our (their) temporal comfort, 2 Cor. 4:16-18; 2 Tim. 4:3-5. (Matt. 16:26)

4. Some uncomfortable truths that expose the comfortable lies of our Adversary, the devil (Jno. 8:44).

I. SOME COMFORTABLE LIES.

A. "Faith Only Saves." "...very full of comfort" (Methodist Discipline)

1. Uncomfortable Truth: Not saved by faith only, Jas. 2:24; Acts 2:37-38.

2. We do not earn salvation, we obey the Master who blesses us with salvation, Eph. 2:8-9; Lk. 17:10.

B. "Good Moral People will be Saved."

1. Uncomfortable Truth: Good people are lost without the gospel, Acts 10:1-2, 22; 11:14; 15:7-11.

2. Good, moral people are commanded to obey Jesus, Acts 10:48.

C. "There are Many Ways to Heaven."

1. "Choose the church of your choice."

2. Uncomfortable Truth: Only one way (Jesus), Jno. 14:6 (Jer. 10:23)

-Only one church, Matt. 16:18; Eph. 1:22-23; 4:4; 5:23.

D. "There is no Hell (Eternal Punishment)."

-Uncomfortable Truth: Hell is real and many are headed there, Matt. 7:13-14; 25:41.

E. "All Remarriages are Acceptable."

-Uncomfortable Truth: One cause for putting away that makes remarriage acceptable to Jesus, Matt. 19:9, 3-6; 1 Cor. 7:10-11.

F. "Once Saved Always Saved."

-Uncomfortable Truth: Christians can fall away and be lost, Gal. 5:4; 1 Tim. 4:1-3; Heb. 3:12-14; 2 Pet. 1:10-11.

Conclusion

1. We must endeavor to please God, not men, Gal. 1:8-10.

2. Be cut to the heart by the gospel (convicted), repent, be baptized and be saved, Acts 2:36-38, 41.

^[1] Vine, W. E., Unger, M. F., & White, W., Jr. (1996). Vine’s Complete Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words (Vol. 2, p. 128). Nashville, TN: T. Nelson.

By: Joe R. Price

Posted: February 12, 2016