I. Introduction
A. The Biblical Warning of World-Wide Deception
B. The World Religion
C. The Counterfeit Christ
D. The New World Order
E. Christians are being Deceived
II. False Hopes, False Gospels, and Works of the Flesh
A. Those who cause division
“Now I urge you, brethren, note those who cause divisions and offenses, contrary to the doctrine which you learned, and avoid them.”
Romans 16:17
B. Questions to Ask Ourselves
Do we really belong to Jesus? Do we really believe his death and resurrection is sufficient? That his grace is sufficient? That the “fruit of the Spirit” can come only by the work of the Holy Spirit? That only Jesus can change the evil human heart? That only Jesus will bring peace to the earth? Do we really believe that God is sovereign?
C. Idolatry and Serving Baal vs. a pure devotion to Jesus Christ
D. Morality is not our hope!
1. Another Pagan Religion
a. Pharisees and whitewashed tombs
b. Filthy Rags
3. Bible Accountability Groups
a. Pharisees policing each other’s behavior
b. Relationships in the Body of Christ involve encouraging, correcting, and teaching, but in the context of freedom and a personal relationship with the Lord Jesus.
E. Techniques… unity …Psychology…12 steps…Pharisee Groups…Masonic Morality…World Peace
Attempting to do in the flesh what only the Spirit of God can do.
F. Techniques… Turning a relationship with Jesus into techniques from the wisdom of man.
G. The New World Order – Tolerance is the alpha and omega… Acceptance
“Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword. “For I have come to `set a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law’; “and `a man’s enemies will be those of his own household.’ ”
Matthew 10:34-36
III. The Sovereignty of God
A. Romans 13:1-5
“Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God. Therefore whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will bring judgment on themselves. For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to evil. Do you want to be unafraid of the authority? Do what is good, and you will have praise from the same. For he is God’s minister to you for good. But if you do evil, be afraid; for he does not bear the sword in vain; for he is God’s minister, an avenger to execute wrath on him who practices evil. Therefore you must be subject, not only because of wrath but also for conscience’ sake.”
B. Psalm 2
“Why do the nations rage, and the people plot a vain thing? The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD and against His Anointed, saying, “Let us break Their bonds in pieces and cast away Their cords from us.” He who sits in the heavens shall laugh; the LORD shall hold them in derision.”
IV. The Priorities of Noah
A. The Coming of the Son of Man
“But as the days of Noah were, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. For as in the days before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and did not know until the flood came and took them all away, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be.”
Matthew 24:37-39
B. The Time of Noah
1. The nature of the Political, Economic, and Religious system in Noah s time – Genesis 6:5
2. Built an Ark to save his family – Hebrews 11:7
3. Preacher of Righteousness – 2 Peter 2:5
Not morality… but a right relationship
C. Good Guys – Bad Guys Thinking
1. Our side or their side? – Joshua 5:13-15
2. There is only one that is good – Matthew 19:16-17
3. There is no one righteous – Psalm 14:2,3
D. Politics, Economics, and Religion
1. The Nations Rage and the Peoples Plot in Vain – Psalm 2
2. World System of Anti-Christ – Revelation 13
3. The Coming of the Lawless One – 2 Thessalonians 2:9
a. Delusion
b. Straining at gnats and swallowing camels (Matthew 23:24)
4. The god of this world/age – 2 Corinthians 4:4
5. Friendship with the World is hatred towards God – James 4:4
E. What Kind of People Ought We to Be? – 2 Peter 3:3-18
“…knowing this first: that scoffers will come in the last days, walking according to their own lusts, and saying, “Where is the promise of His coming? For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of creation. For this they willfully forget: that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of water and in the water, by which the world that then existed perished, being flooded with water. But the heavens and the earth which are now preserved by the same word, are reserved for fire until the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.
But, beloved, do not forget this one thing, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up.
Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be dissolved, being on fire, and the elements will melt with fervent heat? Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.
Therefore, beloved, looking forward to these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, without spot and blameless; and account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation– as also our beloved brother Paul, according to the wisdom given to him, has written to you, as also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things, in which are some things hard to understand, which untaught and unstable people twist to their own destruction, as they do also the rest of the Scriptures. You therefore, beloved, since you know this beforehand, beware lest you also fall from your own steadfastness, being led away with the error of the wicked; but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and forever.
Amen.”
F. Like in the Time of Noah
1. Destruction is Coming – Revelation 19:20,21
2. Follow Jesus – Matthew 16:24-26
3. Ambassadors for Christ – 2 Corinthians 5:20
What does an ambassador do and what does he not do in representing his Sovereign Lord in a foreign land?
4. Warn Others – Ezekiel 3:17
a. Proclaim the truth to whoever will listen and leave the results in God s hands.
b. Proclaiming the truth can be like lancing a boil.
5. You will have tribulation – John 16:33
We are called to suffer with Jesus, we are called to lose , i.e., to lose our lives and thereby gain our lives. (Matthew 10:39)
6. The Ark is Jesus – 1 Thessalonians 1:10
…Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come.
7. The Blessed Hope – Titus 2:12-14
“…teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works.”
V. Closing
A. Our Calling
1. Dead to the Flesh.
2. Dead to the World.
3. Alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 6:11)
B. The next and last session: Summary and Questions and Answers