Sunday, February 23, 2014
pm
Would You Talk to
Apollos?
Acts 18:24-28
In Acts 18:24-28 we read of Apollos.
Recall the account. But I wonder how many today, if they heard
Apollos teaching the error he taught would take the time to correct him.
Based on current attitudes, some would have excused the
confrontation.
Some of the excuses they might have said include:
a.
Vs. 24 describes him as
eloquent and mighty in scripture.
b.
There are some who look
at the intelligence of a man, especially in scripture and assume he must
be right. Sometimes,
people are afraid to question and/or correct the preacher or an elder
because of their Biblical knowledge.
c.
Just because one is
eloquent does NOT mean they are right.
There are many who are very convincing in espousing error.
Their arguments may be well organized and seem logical.
Often times they appeal to portions of scripture that are hard to
understand and with confidence profess to have THE answer.
d.
We are warned about the
wisdom of man – 1 Cor. 2:1-5.
Timothy was told to simply preach the word – 2 Tim. 4:2
a.
Vs. 25 tells us he
taught accurately the way of the Lord, “though he knew only the baptism
of John.”
b.
How many today when they
consider what one is teaching will dismiss that one thing? They reason
that he is right on virtually everything else.
c.
While we certainly
realize that there are things about which we can differ (matters of
liberty) we must also realize that it only takes ONE thing to be totally
wrong.
Gal. 1:6-7 – Paul called what the brethren of Galatia were considering
“a different gospel.”
When one is teaching error, it needs to be addressed.
To ignore error is dangerous – 1 Cor. 5:6 – a little leaven
d.
Jesus told the rich, you
ruler, “You still lack one thing.” (Luke 18:22)
James warned us, “For whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet
stumble in one point, he is guilty of all.” (James 2:10)
a.
In vs. 25 Apollos was
described as being “fervent in spirit”.
There is no doubt he was zealous in his teaching.
And zeal is a quality we all need (and most of us need a little
more of it). Rom. 12:11
tells us to be ““not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving
the Lord;”
b.
BUT zeal does not always
mean one is right. Rom.
10:1-3 – the zeal of the Jews was not according to righteousness.
Paul zealously persecuted Christians! (Acts 26:11, Phil. 3:6)
It simply demonstrates how passionate one is for a cause.
c.
Yet some out of fear of
extinguishing one’s zeal are willing to ignore the error being taught.
We cannot do that! If one is
in error, our responsibility is to seek to turn him back.
d.
Consider this: imagine
what can be accomplished if that zeal is directed toward the truth.
Acts 18:27-28 tells us that after Apollos was corrected he vigorously
refuted the Jews publicly.
Paul was able to speak of how Apollos helped him in teaching the
Corinthians (1 Cor. 3:6) after this.
Prov. 9:8 says, ““Do not correct a scoffer, lest he hate you; Rebuke
a wise man, and he will love you.”
a.
To think this way is a
big mistake. You do not know
what damage one who is teaching something false (even though everything
else is the truth) will do.
Consider Acts 19:1-5 where we find Paul coming to Ephesus.
Apollos has left for Corinth (having been corrected and now
teaching the truth). But we
find disciples who had been baptized with John’s baptism?
Where were they taught that error?
Could it have been Apollos before he was converted?
While we are not told that is a possibility.
Regardless it was error that needed to be corrected.
b.
There are far too many
today who want to sweep error under the carpet, especially that which
they consider to be miniscule.
Both the church at Pergamos – that tolerated those teaching the error of
Balaam and others (Rev. 2:14-15) and the church at Thyatira – that
permitted “that woman Jezebel” to teach (Rev. 2:20-23) to teach and
seduce His servants.
“There is a way that seems right to a man, But its end is the way of
death.” (Proverbs 14:12)
c.
Error often creeps into
a church. By that I mean it
makes its way in gradually.
It is rare that apostasy happens overnight.
We have to take steps to not let it happen.
That is why we must continually study, be alert and confront
error before it has a chance to take root (cf. Titus 1:9-11).
Eph. 5:6-7 tells us not to be partakers with those who live and teach
error. In fact in vs. 11 we
read, “And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness,
but rather expose them.” (Eph. 5:11)
a.
The sincerity of Apollos
is something that is never in question.
And such is true with so many who believe they are doing the
right thing. BUT just like
zeal, sincerity is not enough.
b.
Sincerity is important
(Phil. 1:9-10, 1 Pet. 1:22).
c.
BUT we cannot use it as
an excuse to dismiss false teaching. Paul, along with being zealous was
very sincere. Acts 23:1 – he
had lived in all good conscience; Acts 26:9, “Indeed, I myself
thought I must do many things contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth.”
d.
Yet is that not what
many are doing today? Some
even use sincerity as the litmus test for fellowship.
We find in the example of Apollos that such is not enough.
a.
How many today would
choose to not say anything to Apollos because they are not sure how he
would respond? They value
their friendship with such a good and sincere person.
After all, he is right on virtually everything else.
And they don’t want to jeopardize that friendship so they just
let the error go.
b.
The problem is that no
matter how good one is, if they are living in and teaching error they
will be lost unless they change.
Heb. 10:31 tells us it is a fearful thing to fall into the hands
of the living God. Paul in 2
Cor. 5:11 noted that because of “the
terror of the Lord, we persuade men.”
c.
The Bible is pretty
clear that if you cherish someone, you will be concerned about their
soul. Consider Aquila and
Priscilla who took Apollos aside and corrected him in his error (vs.
26).
Proverbs 27:5–6, “Open rebuke is better Than love carefully
concealed. Faithful are the wounds of a friend, But the kisses of an
enemy are deceitful.”
d.
We are given specific
instructions about dealing with brethren in error (Jas.5:19-20, Gal.
6:1-2). Jesus taught that
the first step in dealing with a brother who sins against you is to go
to him. Note the results!
“Moreover if your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault
between you and him alone. If he hears you, you have gained your
brother.” (Matthew 18:15)
e.
You are not doing your brother
any favors by ignoring his sin because of a friendship.
Just as a parent is not doing a child a favor by ignoring their
bad behavior (Prov. 13:24, “He who spares his rod hates his son, But
he who loves him disciplines him promptly.”).
The point of this lesson is to remind us of our need to care
about others, especially the lost.
We need to take advantage of opportunities to teach, and if need
be, to correct. We are
dealing with souls that will one day give an accounting for the way they
have lived. Do we want to
stand before God letting excuses keep us from trying to reach them?
Aquila and Priscilla didn’t use excuses.
They loved Apollos enough to help him see the truth.
Will we do the same?
Think about it.