REVIEW
FLIP CHART: SOM’S KEY VERSE, GOAL, MOTTO
“But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness ….” (Mt. 6:33a).
The law sends us to Christ for justification; Christ sends us back to the law for sanctification.
FLIP CHART: Show new “Perfect Righteousness” chart explaining steps to coming to Christ (As a worm, mourning, meek, spiritual hunger/thirst with the result of legal righteousness). Explain: moral righteousness, immediate moral change at conversion, gradual change through life’s challenges and speeding up moral change via CCRC (Concentration, Choice, Reflection and Confession/Thanksgiving). Key verse, “By one sacrifice He has made perfect forever those who are being made holy” (Heb. 10:14).
TEACHING GOAL: To show why many evangelicals are self-deluded concerning their personal salvation.
REVIEW: Some key ”SO WHATS?” from previous lessons.
1. Mt. 7:15-20 warns us against false prophets. We can easily spot false teaching on major doctrines; it is much more difficult to spot gaps in teaching and yet we must make sure the whole counsel of God is taught.
2. To avoid the “Gospel of Gaps” churches need to preach “The Five Solas”: The Gospel of Salvation is based exclusively on Scripture, experienced only in Christ, given solely of God’s grace and appropriated by faith alone with the single purpose of God’s glory.
3. If the Father tells “This is my Son, hear him!” then we need to listen to what the Son is saying in the Sermon on the Mount. The SOM is a concise statement of how Christ wants us to live in this world. Listening to and obeying what Christ is saying in the SOM is truly doing the will of the Father.
INTRODUCTION:
The devil is referred to both as an “angel of light” (II Cor. 11:14) and a “roaring lion” (I Peter 5:8) in the Bible. As an “angel of light” he deceives so that he might, as a “roaring lion” devour.
The activity of Satan is so real and so productive that our Savior once asked, “When the Son of Man comes will he find faith on the earth?” (Luke 18:8)
The wolf in sheep’s clothing (7:15) and the good/bad fruit trees (7:17) are examples of satanic deception. By such means he keeps people from going through the narrow gate (7:13).
Another reason people miss the “narrow gate” is self-deception, or self-delusion. These people in 7:21-23 have a strong verbal profession and are depending on that and their good works to get through the gate.
These people are sadly self-deceived. They have given their whole lives to service, strongly professing their case based on their service for Him and yet they are rejected because Christ declares that He does not know them in a personal way.
“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’ (Mt. 7:21-23)
OUTLINE:
SALVATION OR SELF-DELUSION?
1. Unsaved Believers in the Church Today
2. Defining “Self-Delusion”
3. Contributors to Self-Delusion
3.1. Salvation without Repentance
3.2. A False Doctrine of Assurance
3.3. Faith that is not Linked to Obedience
3.4. Focused Concentration on Religious Activity
3.5. Trusting the “Fair Exchange” or “Balanced Approach” for Assurance.
3.6 The Failure to Self-Examine re our Spiritual State
SALVATION OR SELF-DELUSION?
I. UNSAVED BELIEVERS IN THE CHURCH TODAY
“The human race has an incredible capacity for self-delusion, and no where is that more perfectly demonstrated than in the lives of thousands of evangelicals who are not born again.” (Hughes, 254)
“That our main mission field today as far as America is concerned is within the church membership itself.” (Elton Trueblood – Quaker author and theologian, chaplain at Harvard and Stanford)
A plague more serious than the Black Plague of the 13th century has swept through the evangelical churches in the last 50 years.
There is such a thing as “unsaved believers” and “temporary believers.”
“They knew Christ’s name, but they had not his nature. They quoted his name, but they never copied his example. They had never come to him, and trusted and loved him. They knew his name but they did not know him; and he knew their names, but he did not know them. There was no communion, no intimate intercourse between them.” (The Web)
“Never were there so many millions of nominal Christians on earth as there are today, and never was there such a small percentage of real ones . . . We seriously doubt whether there has ever been a time in the history of this Christian era when there were such multitudes of deceived souls within the churches, who verily believe that all is well with their souls when in fact the wrath of God abideth on them” (Pink as quoted by Boice, 259)
ILL: Question in August 2005 on BeliefNet as reported in Newsweek: Can a person who isn’t of your religious faith go to heaven or attain salvation, or not? Evangelical Protestants – Yes – 68%, no 22% and don’t know 10%.
J. Vernon McGee, former pastor of the Church of the Open Door in LA and a well-known commentator in the Bible felt that if only 1 out of 10 responding to an invitation receive Christ was genuine, he would feel pleased. Other evangelists claimed 3% would be a good batting average.
They are saying then that only 3% of those who pray to accept Christ as Savior are genuine.
George Barna, the poll taker found that 38% of Americans claimed to be evangelicals only 8% met the doctrinal criteria of an evangelical. (The Courage to be Protestant, Wells, pg. 42)
ILL: D.L. Moody was once approached by a stumbling drunk on the street who slurred, “Mr. Moody, I’m one of your converts.” To which Moody replied, “You must be, because you’re certainly not one of the Lord’s!”
II. DEFINING SELF-DELUSION
A simple dictionary definition: Deceiving self with false beliefs. For example believing that the world is flat, that aliens are in the kitchen, that a witch is under the bed.
QUESTION: What are the false beliefs in our text?
Belief that their activity in His name was for God and pleasing to God; Belief that they were his.
Belief that productive religious activity was more pleasing to God than doing the Father’s will.
Believing that religious activity superseded God’s will of character development, listening to the voice of Jesus.
Believing that productive religious activity was pleasing to God even though avoiding character development, being conformed to the image of Christ.
QUESTION / TABLE ACTIVITY: What are some of the contributors to self-delusion concerning salvation in our Christian / Church culture?
III. CONTRIBUTORS TO SELF-DELUSION CONCERNING SALVATION
SALVATION WITHOUT REPENTANCE
“Cheap grace is the preaching of forgiveness without requiring repentance, baptism without church discipline, communion without confession, absolution without personal confession. Cheap grace is grace without discipleship, grace without the cross, grace without Jesus Christ, living and incarnate.” (As quoted in J. Boice, 259)
“I have . . . come to call . . . sinners to repentance.” (Lk. 5:31)
“There will be . . . rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents . . .” (Lk. 15:7).
“. . . repentance and forgiveness of sins will be preached in His name to all nations . . . “ (Luke 24:47)
“. . . God has granted even the Gentiles repentance unto life.” (Acts 11:18)
“I have declared to both Jews and Gentiles (Greeks) that they must turn to God in repentance and have faith in the Lord Jesus.” (Acts 20:21)
“. . . God’s kindness leads you towards repentance.” (Romans 2:4)
“. . . . in hope that God will grant them repentance.” (II Tim. 2:25)
“The Lord . . . . not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.” (II Pet. 3:9)
FALSE DOCTRINE OF ASSURANCE
QUESTION: What is the proof of salvation, of truly entering the kingdom of heaven?
We often say that “believing” is to sole key.
You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder. (James 2:19)
Yet at the same time many even among the leaders believed in him. But because of the Pharisees they would not confess their faith for fear they would be put out of the synagogue; for they loved praise from men more than praise from God. (John 12:42-43)
Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a member of the Jewish ruling council. He came to Jesus at night and said, “Rabbi, we know you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the miraculous signs you are doing if God were not with him.” In reply Jesus declared, “I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again.” “How can a man be born when he is old?” Nicodemus asked. “Surely he cannot enter a second time into his mother’s womb to be born!” Jesus answered, “I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit. (John 3:1-5)
It is clear that intellectual assent and religious faith are inadequate.
In the stars his handiwork I see.
On the wind he speaks with majesty.
Though he ruleth over land and sea
What is that to me?
I will celebrate nativity
For it has a place in history.
Sure he came to set his people free
What is that to me?
‘Til by faith I met him face to face
And I felt the wonder of His grace.
Then I knew that we was more
Than just a God who didn’t care
Who lived a way out there.
And now He walks beside me day by day,
Ever watching oe’r me lest I stray,
Helping me to find that narrow way,
He is everything to me.
We encourage people to invite Christ into their lives using Rev. 3:20 and then based on their simple prayer seek to convince them that Christ is in their life.
Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me. (Revelation 3:20)
Saving faith depends on knowledge, emotions and will. Faith starts with knowledge, moves to conviction (emotion) and ends with commitment (will).
How easy is it for a person with a health mind to be deceived?
ILL: A Muslim contact informed me that the devasting earthquake in Padang is a direct result of the expenditure of 6 million dollars for the inauguration of the new legislature. – – Pertama, tanggal 1 Oktober merupakan hari pelantikan anggota DPR dan DPD periode 2009-2014 yang menuai kontroversi. Acara seremonial yang sebenarnya bisa dilaksanakan dengan amat sederhana itu ternyata memboroskan uang rakyat lebih dari 70 miliar rupiah. Hal ini dilakukan di tengah berbagai musibah yang mengguncang bangsa ini. Dan kenyataan ini membuktikan jika para pejabat itu tidak memiliki empati sama sekali terhadap nasib rakyat yang kian hari kian susah. (EraIslam on the web)
Other Key historical happening on Oct. 30
1989 – Smith Dairy at Orrville, Ohio makes the largest milk shake (1,575.2 gallons).
1991 – Mark Sauer becomes CEO of Pittsburg Pirates
1994 – Tomas Nicely reports bug in Intel’s Pentium-processor on Internet.
READING: And I think a lot of times in our evangelism as long as somebody says the prayer and prays the little thing and signs on the line and has the card stuck in their Bible we give them this little psychological game that they don’t ever have to worry about whether they’re saved or not, when the Spirit of God never did that in the beginning because they never were really right. I can’t ever say to someone, well now boy, I know you’re saved and don’t you ever doubt it and don’t you ever ask again, it’s all settled and it’s done because you said the little formula. If I do that I give them a psychological assurance of something I don’t even know is true. When Jesus said, “The seed of the word is cast on four soils,” only one out of four turned out to be true. Don’t go around certifying people’s salvation. You give them a false assurance. Let God give them assurance through His Spirit witnessing with their spirits, that they are the children of God and crying Abba Father. Let God give them assurance when they add to their faith virtue, and as they add to their faith virtue and patience and godliness and love, then shall their election be sure, then shall they know they’ve been forgiven of their sin, they shall not be blind to the reality of salvation. That’s God’s work not some certification by some human being. But I think a lot of people have been told they’re saved so they believe it. (I think this quote is from John MacArthur)
READING: “What lulls people into such deception? First of all, many professed Christians – – and even many true Christians – – hold a false doctrine of assurance. Often it is because the person who witnessed to them told them that all they had to do was make a profession of faith, walk an aisle, raise a hand, say a prayer, and never doubt what the Lord had done in their lives. Perhaps they have been taught that to ever doubt their salvation is to doubt God’s Word and integrity. Unfortunately, many evangelists, pastors, and personal workers attempt to certify a person’s salvation apart from the convicting work of the Holy Spirit and the evidence of fruit with continuance in obedience to the Word (John 8:31). But we have no right to assure a person of something we cannot be certain is true. God’s own Holy Spirit will witness His reality to those who truly belong to Him (Rom. 8:14-16) (John MacArthur, 474-475)
FAITH THAT IS NOT LINKED TO OBEDIENCE
We know that salvation is by grace.
Come ye sinners, poor and needy
Weak and wounded sick and sore
Jesus ready, stands to save you
Full of pity, love and power
I will arise and go to Jesus,
He will embrace me in his arms
In the arms of my dear Savior
Oh, there are ten thousands charms
Come ye weary, heavy laden
Lost and ruined by the fall
If you tarry ‘til you’re better
You will never come at all
Let not conscience make you linger
Not of fitness fondly dream
All the fitness he requireth
Is to feel your need of him
When we teach that since a person is saved by grace he does not have to obey God’s Word or that obedience to God’s Word has nothing to do with salvation, we are teaching antinomianism.
Antinomianism (from the Greek ἀντί, “against” + νόμος, “law”), or lawlessness (in the Greek Bible: ἀνομία, [1], “unlawful”), in theology, is the idea that members of a particular religious group are under no obligation to obey the laws of ethics or morality, and that “ Salvation” is by predestination only. [2] Antinomianism is the polar opposite of so-called “Legalism”, the notion that obedience to a code of religious law earns “Salvation”. (Wikipedia)
READING: Submission to Christ as Lord is considered an option not a necessity. That is antinomianism – lawlessness, and has nothing to do with the biblical teaching of grace. “This is not salvation by works: the contrast is not between merit and grace, but between profession and way of life. If people really trust Christ for salvation, their lives will no longer be self-centered; that they belong to the good tree will be made manifest by the fruit they bear” [Leon Morris, The Gospel of Matthew, 179].
Who do the will of the Father – the key is not believing, not saying and not hearing but doing.
Our verse is a promise: If you do the will of the Father, e.g. live according to the teachings of Jesus, you will enter the Kingdom of Heaven.
ILL: I mean it’s amazing to me how many people are deceived. I, I can’t believe how many times I’ve entered into a situation of, of talking to people in the homosexual movement who say to me, well we’re Christians, we’re born again and they can recite the, the creed and they can tell you the day they were saved and they can show you the card where they wrote the line and they can say, we believe in Jesus and so forth and so on. (John MacArthur)
The “good fruit” of verse 17 is doing the Father’s will in vs. 21.
“. . . his chief characteristic is obedience. True believers perform the will of their Father, consistent with their prayer, ‘Your will be done on earth as heaven’” (The Sermon on the Mount, 130 – Don Carson)
The driving passion of the true believer is to do the will of the Father.
FOCUSED CONCENTRATION ON RELIGIOUS ACTIVITY
Busy prophesying, casting out demons, doing miracles.
We use evangelical vocabulary … God’s will, we will pray about it, born-again etc; we emulate social conventions … avoid drinking, smoking, drugs, pornography; have the right heritage … my parents were faithful church goers; follow some civilities that reflect a godly heritage, e.g. go to prayer meetings, attend evening services.
Show an intellectual interest in the Bible, apologetics, prophecy, church history, hearing sermons, read Daily Bread etc.
Oppose abortion and oppose gay marriage, social injustice, racism, socialism, evolution.
John Stott says that intellectual knowledge is a camouflage for disobedience.
We can be involved in study, activities, protests, spiritual retreats, church attendance and service etc and all of this can hide the fact that we have no personal relationship with the Savior.
FAIR EXCHANGE OR BALANCING APPROACH
Muslims believe that there are angels (Noble Writers) on each shoulder recording good and evil deeds. On judgment day the good deeds and bad deeds will be weighed and will determine heaven or hell. Oge, one of my contacts recently wrote me reminding me of these angels.
This idea of scales, balancing approach, is common to all religions and the basic premise of religion for the whole human race. How often do people say, “Well, I am not like that.” Or, “Well, I have done a lot of good things.” Etc.
All mankind has a low opinion of God and all think that he is mostly influenced by the external, by the things we do. Also none of us have a clear idea of the holiness of God.
To the Israelites the glory of the LORD looked like a consuming fire on top of the mountain. (Exodus 24:17)
Now the people complained about their hardships in the hearing of the LORD, and when he heard them his anger was aroused. Then fire from the LORD burned among them and consumed some of the outskirts of the camp. (Numbers 11:1)
For our “God is a consuming fire.” (Heb. 12:29)
FAILURE TO SELF-EXAMINE
“. . . those who are pure in their own eyes yet are not cleansed from their filth.” (Prov. 30:12)
Examine (continually examine) yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you—unless, of course, you fail the test? (II Cor. 13:5)
Therefore, my brothers, be all the more eager to make your calling and election sure. For if you do these things, you will never fall (II Pet. 1:10)
A man ought to examine himself before he eats of the bread and drinks of the cup. For anyone who eats and drinks without recognizing the body of the Lord eats and drinks judgment on himself. That is why many among you are weak and sick, and a number of you have fallen asleep. But if we judged ourselves, we would not come under judgment. (I Cor. 11:28-31)
READING: Through a faulty and presumptuous view of God’s grace, some professed believers blithely go through life oblivious ot an unconcerned about their sins. . . . Such examination looks at the heart and the inner motives and desires to see if they are set toward God’s holiness and righteousness – – even though he lets his flesh hinder their fulfillment.” (John MacArthur, 475)
QUESTION: If you challenged a professed Christian concerning the fact that he may not be a believer because of his lifestyle and encouraged him to examine his heart, what kind of response would you, in general, receive.
SO WHAT???
1. Satan’s seeks to deceive us and keep us from the narrow way but we also need to be aware of self-deception, self-delusion.
2. Research indicates that there are millions of deluded “evangelicals” within the evangelical church in America today.
3. Evangelical salvation always includes repentance and produces the fruit of obedience.
4. We must avoid giving people false assurance of salvation.
5. We can deal self-delusion by rigorous self-examination as to our spiritual state.