Good morning and welcome in today today we are going to take a look at some scripture from Romans chapter 16 but before we do that I wanted to to tell you a little story that happened to me and my family a few years back.
Many years ago I used to have a paddle boat. We used to take the family out on the lake all the time. There was one time when we got halfway across a small lake and the wind was kicking up something furious, and we had to turn around and try to come back home.
We got halfway back and the paddle boat was struggling so bad against the wind we couldn’t even move forward no matter how hard we paddled.
What I did is that I had the family try to get the boat close to shore and I jumped out of the paddle boat. I got behind it and I pushed them all the way back to the boat landing on the side of Lake.
That’s a true story. I was muddy from my armpits all the way down to my ankles but we eventually got all the way back to the landing. The wind was contrary to us on that day.
Contrary means opposite in nature, direction or perversely inclined to disagree or to do the opposite of what is expected or desired.
That is a pretty good definition for what we will be discussing here today.
When we talk about Christianity, contrary means to desire to go against the things that you have been taught in the church.
Now, for people who are ignorant or really don’t understand the teachings of Jesus out in the world, that’s one thing for them to go against it. They don’t know any better. It’s a whole different issue for people who profess to be Christians who wholeheartedly reject the teachings of scripture and in their own disobedience try to get other people to separate with them.
The Lord Jesus Christ gives us direction and admonishments in the Holy scriptures so that we will take the right path in our lives. Obviously we might make a mistake along the way and can come boldly to the throne of grace in time of need. We have forgiveness with God in the church.
What we are talking about here today, are people who completely and willfully go against the teachings of Jesus Christ and decide to take a few people with them when they go.
A Christian can never reject the things that Jesus taught. One of the definitions for contrary means perversely inclined to disagree or to do the exact opposite of what is expected of them.
God expects us to follow his Son and the things that he taught.
The word contrary means a fact or condition that is incompatible with the other. It means the opposite.
In the church we are united under the teachings of our Lord Jesus Christ and his Doctrine. When we are united that means that we are joined together.
The apostle teaches, I beseech you Brethren mark them which cause divisions and offenses contrary to the doctrine that you have learned and avoid them.
This is about people who have been educated in scripture but then they turn away from it. If they really don’t believe in scripture anymore it’s a good thing to keep away from them.
Those who reject scriptures and cause divisions and offenses are in a very bad place with God. It’s s best to come out from among them and be separate from them.
Remember we are supposed to gather with others who call on the Lord out of pure heart. (2 tim 2:22)
We can get forgiven for our sins, but to cause divisions and offenses because of a refusal to accept scriptural teaching is not a good place to be. It’s one thing for a person to sin, but that sin is multiplied when they take a bunch of people with them.
You’re supposed to avoid people who really don’t believe in the teachings of the Bible anymore.
When my son and I go sailing out on our lake there are a few spots that we really have to watch out for. Underneath the water there’s a few deadheads. If we have the dagger boards down on our catamaran and we hit one of these deadheads they will bust up one of our Hulls. I’m very very thankful that we’ve never hit one. But there is areas on the lake that we try to avoid and stay away from.
As I’ve already said, in the church, sometimes you have people who sadly turn away from Biblical truth.
In that state, because they are deceived in their own heart and mind, many times they will try to deceive and lie to others in order to get people to leave with them.
Again the thing that keeps the church together is our faith and belief in the teachings of scripture We are united in Christ and in his Doctrine. We have mercy Grace and forgiveness. Offenses can be forgiven. That’s why Jesus died on the cross for us. The people we are discussing here today cause division because they don’t believe the truth anymore. That my friends is a completely separate issue.
When they divide in such a manner they’re separating you from their company which is exactly what the Lord Jesus taught. (Luke 6:22)
They separate and then in their disobedient and rebellious heart they take other people with them. This separation happens because they don’t believe in scripture anymore. You are commanded to avoid those people. God really hates this sin.
Leviticus 26:21 and if you walk contrary unto me, and will not hearken unto me; I will bring seven times more plagues upon you according to your sins.
Leviticus 26:23
And if you will not be reformed by me by these things but will walk contrary unto me, then will I also walk contrary unto you and will punish you yet seven times for your sins.
I always feel it’s better to obey God and to do what’s good and right then being punished by Him.
Look at what happened to the Pharaoh in the days of Moses. He was fighting against God and God punished him.
Punishment happens to those who walk contrary to the things that the Lord Jesus taught. It happens here upon the Earth, any eventually it happens in eternity. God is Not mocked. God will punish sin. Disobedience is not rewarded.
Our scripture teaches today that you are supposed to mark out people and keep separate from certain ones, not because you don’t care about them, it’s not because you don’t love them, it’s not that you don’t want them to be saved either. You mark them out because they are causing a division. The division is because they don’t want to listen to the teachings of Jesus anymore.
The Bible teaches a woman is supposed to obey her husband in everything. These people say it’s okay to disobey.
You explain to them that women are not supposed to be teaching and preaching in the church. They call you crazy and they take a bunch of people with them and leave.
You teach them that God calls us to come out and be separate from the world, but in complete rejection to scripture they go back into the world from which they came out. The passage way to heaven is extremely narrow and few there be that find it.
I beseech you Brethren mark them which cause divisions and offenses contrary to the doctrine which you have learned and avoid them.
For many years the Apostle Paul taught the church the doctrines and teachings of Jesus Christ. Sadly, not everyone is going to last in the Christian faith. Ultimately it comes down to an obedient heart.
Matthew 13:3 Behold a sower went forth to sow and when he sowed some seeds fell by the wayside and the fowls came and devoured them up. Some fell upon stony places where they had not much Earth and forthwith they sprung up because they had no deepness of Earth and when the sun was up they were scorched and because they had no root they withered away and some fell among thorns and the thorns sprung up and choked them but other fell into good ground and brought forth fruit some a hundredfold some 60 some 30.
Sadly in the church you’re going to have people like this who reject biblical truth. They will turn away from the things that they’ve been taught.
Mark them means to really take notice of them. Because of their lack of belief in biblical truth they cause separation and division in the church.
Because they don’t believe what the Bible says anymore they try to take as many people with them as they can. Maybe they are close friends that they have in the church or even relatives, sons and daughters.
The devil resists the truth. He tried to convince Eve to go against God in the Garden of Eden.
The devil doesn’t want people to believe in the scriptures because if they did, he would be exposed for what he really is, a liar and the father of it .
Because of their refusal to accept the bible as their authority they cause others to separate with them. That is a HUGE sin because the sin is not only on them personally, but on the people that they have led astray.
The people that you want to take notice are those who cause divisions or split up a church. Causing a division means that you are responsible for that division or seperation.
We’re supposed to be united in the teachings of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. In the church were supposed to be merciful, forgiving and tenderhearted. We are supposed to have those attributes and qualities. We’re supposed to love one another and to help each other out day by day as we walk in a relationship with Christ.
The devil splits up the church. He’s been doing that for centuries. He doesn’t want you to follow Jesus. Remember for many years the prophets and apostles pointed people to Jesus and His Word. It is through his word that we are united.
Sin can be forgiven in the church but you can never turn your back on the truth of the teachings of scripture. When a person does that how could they ever be forgiven? What they are doing is believing a lie. Accepting the truth makes us realize that we are in error so we can repent or apologize.
Division is an act of separating. For example a Christian wife is not to separate from her husband. That is completely wrong. Remember in a marriage the man represents the Lord Jesus and the woman represents the church. But we’re not supposed to be divided or separated in the church either. The Apostle Paul felt divisions were wrong.
1st Corinthians 1:10 says now I beseech you brethren by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ that you all speak the same thing and that there be no divisions among you but that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.
Division is a difference between two or more groups. There is not supposed to be division in the church. We are united in the doctrines of Christ and if the Bible says it we all say Amen! That is how we are joined.
Division is an instance of separation. Separation is the act or state of moving or being moved apart from each other. Being separated means to keep apart or to divide.
The scriptures teaches clearly today that you are supposed to take notice of the people that are responsible for that division.
Mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which you have learned.
Paul had instructed the church. He had taught the church. He had preach God’s words to them but yet he was warning them to take notice of the people who were causing division. He wanted them to mark out those who were causing separation. The apostle teaches to avoid them.
If they reject Biblical teaching you must remember, a little leaven is going to leaven the entire lump! They come into the church and then they try to take other people away with them. You’re not supposed to have anything to do with them.
You might tell them what the Bible teaches on a certain issue but they won’t accept it or listen to it.
For example you might tell wives in the church to obey their husbands in everything. You might explain that women are not supposed to preach or teach at all. You might explain to them that you’re not supposed to usurp authority over a man. Instead of accepting those simple truths, they turn away from the teachings of the church.
I’m using an example of women here but it also happens with the men. It’s basically a refusal to accept what you’ve been taught for many years in the Christian church.
Like I already said, you build up relationships with each other in the church for many years so when a person turns away from Christ and what he taught they’re going to try to take other people with them. Make sure you take notice of them because they are in a state of rebellion.
So you see, this is rejection of Biblical teaching. Not only that, but in their own sin, they pull people out of the church at the same time.
They are the cause for that division and the offenses that are being committed against God.
They are pointing people away from Christ and taking others with them.
Matthew 18:6 says but whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck and then he were drowned in the depth of the sea.
The word offend in the archaic definition means to cause someone else to sin or to fall. This is why the scriptures teach that you’re not supposed to be a stumbling block to somebody else . It’s one thing to sin, it’s another thing to sin and to take other people with you and your sin. I refer to that as compounded sin.
You don’t want to lead others into sin or to go directly against the teachings of Christ.
The more of the Holy scriptures that you’ve been taught and educated in the more that you will be held accountable for. To lead other people astray because of your unbelief will be even worse. Paul did not want division in the church.
Offend means to cause somebody else to violate a moral requirement. For example if somebody out there was to tell their children to go out and rob a bank you’ll be causing one of these little ones to offend. You are causing them to sin. Like I said it’s one thing to sin or make a mistake yourself, it’s another issue to cause others to sin.
This verse is meant for people who are teaching children to go against the teachings of Jesus Christ.
This is why you want to mark all these people were caught up in contrary Doctrine. Not only do they lead a child away from Christ and his teachings but they lead other people in the church away who are adults.
The things that join us together in the church are the teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ. That’s why it’s referred as the family of God. The Lord Jesus is a Father unto us. He gives us instruction and commands that we need to obey and follow, just like you would obey the instructions of an earthly dad. If we truly love him with all of our hearts and our minds and souls we will obey him.
The true Christian points people to Jesus. The devil doesn’t want people in the church controlled by the things that Jesus taught. The devil hates control. The reason why he hates control is because he’s a rebellious impenitent sinner.
Without control to others who are in authority in the church, the only thing that’s left is is anarchy. ( not only in the church but in the world as well) Love and obey, love and obey we all do so much better when we love and obey.
That’s it for right now and Lord willing we’ll talk to you some more tomorrow. Love you all. E.
Teufer Lake King James Bible Church 