IDENTIFYING SIN (continued)

It is sin if ... it is obedience to Bible-contradicting rituals, rules, or traditions. Traditions and rituals can be fine ... but they are neither equal to nor greater than the Bible. Jesus said, "But in vain do they worship Me, teaching as doctrines the precepts of men." Matthew 15:9. Some leaders defraud believers by teaching man-made doctrines as equivalent to the Bible, Colossians 2:18-23,  1 Timothy 4:1-5. Following a false teacher or false teaching, does not excuse a believer from responsibility and accountability for sin, Colossians 2:8.

Obedience is unacceptable if ... it is not done from the heart. Perfunctory prayers and worship are meaningless. "And when you are praying, do not use meaningless repetition as the Gentiles do, for they suppose that they will be heard for their many words." Matthew 6:7. Jesus said, "You hypocrites, rightly did Isaiah prophesy of you: 'This people honors Me with their lips, but their heart is far away from Me.'" Matthew 15:7-8. When you frequently say the Lord's Prayer, do you mean every word? Do you pray it from your heart? There are many great hymns and praise songs. Do you really mean the words that you sing? Do you sing from your heart?

Obedience is unacceptable if ... it is done to impress others. An audience can tempt us to try to impress them. "Beware of practicing your righteousness before men to be noticed by them; otherwise you have no reward with your Father who is in heaven." Matthew 6:1. Applause may be your only reward, Matthew 6:2, 5, and 16. Do not seek the recognition of others when you give, Matthew 6:2-4. Do not pray to impress the others with whom you pray, Matthew 6:5-6. Fast … but do not try to impress others by your fasting, Matthew 6:2-6. Practicing your righteousness to be noticed by others is not really practicing your righteousness at all.

Obedience is unacceptable if … it attempts to cover disobedience. Ananias and Sapphira gave a significant gift … but it was unacceptable because of  their sin, Acts 5:1-11.  Disobedience negates the value of religious activity, Isaiah 1:11-16, Amos 5:21-24. The Pharisees covered their more serious sins with an outer veneer of obedience to smaller things, Matthew 23:23-28. Christians often have their lists of sins to avoid … the nasty nine, the evil eight, or the terrible twelve. Often the things on those lists are sins. But what about some of the more serious sins? What about not witnessing? What about not making disciples? Are those on many of those lists? Jesus criticized the Pharisees by calling them blind guides who strain out the gnat (a tiny unclean insect) while swallowing a camel (a very big unclean animal). In our obedience, do we do strain out gnats and swallow camels?

...................................................................................................................................................................
IN THE WAR 12    PAGES: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15    
<< PREVIOUS PAGE | NEXT  >>    << PREVIOUS CHAPTER | NEXT  >>
..................................................................................................................................................................
 

Disciplemaking 1, copyright 2003, is available free from www.MyDisciplemaker.org where you can study online or print free copies. You may copy this course, any any part of it, for free or at-cost distribution ... without change to the content ... and with this copyright policy attached. Published by www.ActsOneEight.org. Bible Quotations are from the NASB unless noted.