Sunday, February 14, 2016 pm
WHAT ABOUT MY LOVED ONES?
Last month we addressed the question, “Why do we need a pattern?”
Tonight I want to address a question that is asked sometimes when
we show the truth of God’s word to someone who was raised in a false
religion. In studying with
someone, you show how in the Bible there is only one true church and
that God has established the pattern we are to follow in all that we do
within her. That lesson
indicts (they are pricked in the heart – Acts 2:37)
the one listening to you.
OR, you show them that the Bible DOES teach that one must be
baptized unto salvation (Acts 2:38, Mark 16:16, 1 Peter 3:20, etc.) and
they were raised believing, “all you need to do is believe and you will
be saved.” As they see this
they say something like, “If what you are saying is true, then my
parents, who have already passed, are lost.”
Or, “If I accept what you are saying, then I am condemning my
loved ones” (dead or alive).
How do we answer this question?
We will talk about it tonight.
Observations: First, the
question can be asked with one of two mindsets – 1) Those who harden
their heart to the truth and refuse to change because of family; or 2)
It is someone who has been convicted and is genuinely concerned about
the unpleasant implications of accepting the truth.
Second, the fact that one is asking such questions is not necessarily a
bad thing. One who is
struggling with his past beliefs can demonstrate a genuine desire for
the truth, but they have question that need to be answered.
NOTE: You and I, at some time, may be faced with a similar
dilemma where we learn that we might need to change the way we do
something or what we believe.
With such I caution, DON’T be hasty in changing.
VERIFY the truth of something by testing the spirits to see
whether they are from God (1 John 4:1) before you suddenly change.
In other words don’t be “tossed to and from and carried about by
every wind of doctrine” (Eph. 4:14).
Third, we will address this in two sections – 1) Some truths we need to
understand in dealing with those who ask this, and 2) Some observations
to make to the one asking the question.
(NOTE: This lesson is based heavily upon a lesson presented by Joe Price
addressing this very subject.
It can be found here:
http://bibleanswer.com/lovedones.htm
a.
This is an emotional question. With all such
questions we need to seek to step back from the emotions and be
objective in answering them.
BUT, let us remember to be compassionate and loving as we answer these
things. When Jesus answered
the rich, young ruler (Mark 10:17-22)
– He told him the truth.
But Mark 10:21 says that Jesus looked at him and loved him which
prompted Him to speak. The
answer Jesus gave both to him and after he departed seems to imply that
Jesus was grieved at the results.
b.
God’s word is truth!
i.
The Bible is the word of
God – 2 Tim. 3:16, 1 Thess.
2:13
ii.
It gives us all that we
need – 2 Timothy 3:16-17, 2 Peter 1:3
iii.
We must accept whatever
He teaches.
2 Timothy 1:13 – hold fast the pattern of sound words
iv.
It does not change!
First – God does not change
(Malachi 3:6)
Matthew 24:35 – Jesus taught that heaven and earth will pass away, but
His word is forever.
Galatians 1:8 – Paul declared there is ONE gospel (another gospel is
not).
Time does not change truth – 1 Peter 1:25 says, “But the word of the Lord endures forever.” Now this is the word which by
the gospel was preached to you.”
In the passage about the
rich man and Lazarus (Luke 16:28-31) – the rich man pleads with Abraham
to send Lazarus back to warn his brothers.
He is told, they have Moses and the prophets – it was all they
needed (it hadn’t changed).
NOTE: In many of these passages there is an appeal to the Old Law which
has been nailed to the cross (Col. 2:14) – but it stands as an example
of God’s word meaning what it says – even in its completion.
v.
Emotions do not change this!
2 Corinthians 2:1-5
c.
The Bible teaches that the majority will be lost
i.
Matthew 7:13-14 – the
two ways – one to destruction and the other to life.
ii.
This is NOT because God
wants it that way – 2 Peter 3:9, 1 Tim. 2:3-4
iii.
BUT, most will not obey
His will – Matthew 7:21-23.
Note that this number will include many who are sincere and even know OF
Him and think they are doing the right thing.
But they are lost! 1 Corinthians 1:26 – not many mighty or noble
are called.
1 Peter 4:18, if the righteous are scarcely saved, where will the
ungodly and the sinner appear?
d.
When one dies their
eternal destiny is sealed
i.
Hebrews 9:27 – it is
appointed to die, then after this the judgment.
ii.
You can see this
illustrated in the rich man and Lazarus – Luke 16:22-26
iii.
There are no second
chances after death!
a.
The condition of your loved ones doesn’t change what the Bible teaches
i.
Since all of the above
points are true, then the condition of your loved one doesn’t change the
Bible. NOTE: Many today are
seeking to change what the Bible teaches because it conflicts with what
they want to do and how they want to live.
But we CANNOT do that. If we
can change the parts of the Bible that we don’t like, we are rejecting
the whole thing! Isn’t that
what Galatians 1:6-9 was about?
They were considering “a different gospel which is not another”!
1 Corinthians 1:18-21 notes that the wisdom of God is foolishness to the
world. 1 Cor. 2:1-4 – Paul
determined to only preach the gospel of Christ and not the wisdom of
men.
ii.
God’s plan of salvation
remains the same – Acts 2:38, Mark 16:16
iii.
What the Bible teaches
has not changed whether it be:
1.
Morality - 1 Cor. 6:9-11
2.
Obedience – Hebrews
5:8-9, 2 Thess. 1:8-9 – vengeance against those who do not obey the
gospel
3.
Worship
- John 4:24, Matthew 15:7-9
4.
Remaining faithful -
Colossians 1:23, Luke 9:62, Rev. 2:10, 14:13
iv.
NOTHING we can say will
change the condition of those who have gone on!
b.
We will all stand before
Him in judgment and give an accounting for ourselves
–
i.
A day of judgment is
coming! Acts 17:30-31, Romans 14:10 – we shall all stand before the
judgment seat of Christ.
ii.
Our judgment will not be
based upon what others believed or did, etc.
Your eternal destiny is up to you. Romans 14:11-12 – we shall
each give an account of ourselves to God.
2 Cor. 5:10 also bears this out!
Even in Matthew 25:30-46 – each individual answered for his own actions!
NOWHERE does the Bible teach salvation by proxy among men (other than
what Jesus did to make salvation available to us).
c.
If our loved ones are still alive,
i.
We must still obey God.
Acts 5:29 – we ought to obey God rather than men.
ii.
We must choose Him first
– Matthew 10:34-37 is clear about this.
This is NOT an easy thing to do, but again, we must separate emotional
responses that conflict with truth!
Jesus taught in Luke 18:29-30 that we might have to leave things
and relationships in this life, but in the end we will receive eternal
life (and a support system of brethren here).
iii.
Perhaps we, in time,
will change them. We should
always live with that hope.
But if not, we must still do what is right.
d.
If our loved ones have
passed on
i.
They are in God’s hands
– leave it there!
Ultimately, He is the judge, He is God and He is sovereign!
We know that He is just and righteous.
1 Corinthians 4:3-5. Even
Paul noted that the Lord will judge us.
He knows the counsels of the heart.
Just leave it to Him.
NOTE: Do NOT read anything
into this! Our job
is warn others what the scriptures teach (cf. 2 Corinthians 5:10-11).
ii.
What would they want you
to do? Suppose they are
lost! Consider Luke 16 – the
rich man and Lazarus. More
than anything, the rich man in torments did not want his brothers to be
there! Luke 16:27-28.
If they love you, they want you to do what is right!
Any time I preach a funeral, (whether I believe they are saved or not) I
conclude with this observation!
iii.
HOW will the failure of
loved ones to know and obey the gospel help you if you REFUSE to obey
what you have learned?
Conclusion: Whenever
emotional arguments are made, they are typically “loaded questions”.
They are often an acknowledgment that truth has been revealed and
error has been exposed. An
appeal to the state of another (whether it be one who has passed on or
the numerous “what if” scenarios) is no longer valid when a truthful
answer has been given. THEN
it becomes a matter of whether you will do what you know to be right or
not. Will you be able to
stand before God in judgment having dismissed His truth because of the
emotional consequences?
Think about it!