Why do I send out this type of Bible study? The answer is found in one verse of Scripture.
1 Corinthians 15:33 ESV (33) Do not be deceived: "Bad company ruins good morals." In part one of the "Coming Out From Among Them" series I talked about Biblical discipline and how separation does not break unity but establishes Biblical unity. (See Ps.1:1-2; Prov.1:10-16; 13:19-21) In part two of the "Come Out From Among Them" series I addressed how we are to separate ourselves from Christians who are unruly, meaning they are morally disorderly. (See 2 Thess.3:5-7; Matt.18:15-17) In part three of the "Coming Out From Among Them" series I addressed how we are to separate ourselves from Christians who do not follow the Word of God given to them. (See 2 Thess.3:14-15; Rom.16:17-18) In part four of the "Coming Out From Among Them" series I addressed how we are to separate ourselves from Christians who walk in a lifestyle of sin. (See 1 Cor.5:9-12). In part five we will address those who walk in the lifestyle of sins listed in chapter 6 of 1 Timothy. It is unsure from the passage if Paul was warning young Timothy of Christians operating in these sins or if he was warning Timothy of both the saved and lost who walked in these sins. The major thrust of the teaching is those who claimed, disputed, and argued, that religion was suppose to make you rich, and your personal gain of riches was a sign of godliness. This is a major issue among a large part of the church today in what has become known as the "prosperity doctrine." I know this seems hard but remember the Scripture warning from Paul to the church at Corinth. 1 Corinthians 15:33 ESV (33) Do not be deceived: "Bad company ruins good morals." Two of the most "messed up" churches listed in the New Testament were the church at Corinth and the church at Laodicea. Well how do we think they got that way? The Scriptures tell us how this came about. The first is having bad outside influence of sin and corrupt doctrines coming into the church that corrupted the whole flock. The second was when Christians operated in sin and established their own doctrines of man. Having these freely taught within the church and not dealt with according to Biblical discipline and right Biblical doctrine caused a corruption of the people. The same is happening all across the world today in the church especially in America and Europe. Many believers within the church are living in the sin of man made doctrines that allow them to do what is right in their own eyes. Because they are not being Biblically disciplined this has corrupted the modern church. Add to this the cultural immorality and the love for riches which has been allowed to come in for the sake of numbers, false unity, and false evangelism and the church has begun to look like the world in word, deed, and thought. 4. SEPARATING FROM ANYONE WHO OPERATES IN THE TRAITS OF 1 TIM.6:3-5: 1 Timothy 6:3-5 ESV If anyone teaches a different doctrine and does not agree with the sound words of our Lord Jesus Christ and the teaching that accords with godliness, (4) he is puffed up with conceit and understands nothing. He has an unhealthy craving for controversy and for quarrels about words, which produce envy, dissension, slander, evil suspicions, (5) and constant friction among people who are depraved in mind and deprived of the truth, imagining that godliness is a means of gain. 1 Timothy 6:9-11 ESV But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. (10) For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs. (11) But as for you, O man of God, flee these things. Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness. 1 Timothy 6:20-21 ESV O Timothy, guard the deposit entrusted to you. Avoid the irreverent babble and contradictions of what is falsely called "knowledge," (21) for by professing it some have swerved from the faith. Grace be with you. The word avoid is 1 Tim.6:20 in the Greek is the word "ektrepo" and means to deflect, turn away from, or to turn aside out of the way.
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AuthorCharles Morris. Founder and Senior Pastor of RSI Ministry, RSI School of Ministry, and RSI Publishing L.L.C.. Archives
March 2021
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