Are There Any Absolutes Anymore?

M. Allen

 

FILING INFORMATION:

2000067

Subject: morality; spiritual attitudes; etc.

Preached Originally: 12/17/2000 – Rapid City, SD

 

Introduction:

A.       Must confess – idea for this lesson came several wks ago during national election nightmare.

1.       In this age of trial lawyers & win @ any cost politics – law viewed as your friend – until it prohibits you from doing what you want to do or getting what you want.

2.       when law a/g person/group – we see great efforts being made to subvert; throw out; ignore the law altogether.

3.       greatly disturbing.

B.      Sure that politics & religion have been compared before in that they are similar as far as what we might call liberal/conservative issues.

1.       Dave Miller’s observations in Piloting the Strait are accurate in this regard. 

a)         younger generations believe that truth is relative.  Openness has become the ultimate virtue – openness to all lifestyles and ideologies.  There is no enemy other than the man who is not open to everything.

b)         Religion is assigned to the realm of opinion as opposed to knowledge.  There are no absolutes; freedom is absolute. So indiscriminateness is a moral imperative because its opposite is discrimination. (p. 21)

2.       trend in many religious circles – seems to advocate “change for the sake of change.”

a)         morals laxed; religious practices & beliefs compromised.

3.       Make no doubt – there are some things that CAN be changed – in the realm of expedients/judgments:

a)         methods of evangelism

b)         order of worship

c)          # of meeting times during week, etc.

C.      But… we must understand that there are some things that we CANNOT change!

1.       Doctrinal things – things where the standard – God’s standard – are involved. 

2.       These are things that we must all come to an agreement on - & stand unified in Christ!

3.       These are what we might refer to as an absolute.  Are there any absolutes anymore?

D.      Definition of absolute:

1.       that which is perfect; complete; not mixed; pure; not limited; positive; not doubted; real; not relative

2.       in other words:  fixated; immovable.

E.      For remainder of this AM’s lesson – we will discuss some Bible absolutes.

 

I.  Mt. 24:35 – the Bible is an absolute.

A.    words; teachings; conclusions found w/in Scripture are eternal in nature.

1.       applicable in EVERY generation!

2.       contrary to popular thinking – the Bible IS relevant!  Even though written centuries ago – we face SAME underlying problems today.

3.       Psa. 119:105

B.    Friends – we just can’t delete/change things in the Bible just because we don’t like them – or b/c they don’t fit our agenda!

1.    homosexuality – spoken loud/clearly against 1 Cor. 6:9

2.    MDR – divorce on demand; remarry for any reason.  See also 1 Cor. 6:9

3.    God’s plan of salvation vs. denominational.  Faith + obedience = salvation!  Mk. 16:16; Heb. 5:8-9

C.   Words in Bible point way to eternal life.  We have responsibility to hear/apply these words.  Jhn. 6:68

D.   Bible = absolute & is relevant to EVERY generation b/c we will all be judged by the word of God – Jhn. 12:47-48.

 

II.  The Gospel is an Absolute.

A.    One standard in religion.  One gospel.  One way to go to heaven – through Jesus Christ.

1.    Heb. 5:8-9

2.    Acts 4:12 – salvation in no other name.

3.    this rules out all man made religions; practices.

4.    Also rules out other “Christian” religions who refuse to conform to patter w/in Scripture.

B.    Predominant idea today:  doesn’t matter what one believes – we’re all OK.

1.    Max Lucado: Doesn’t Christ accept us w/all of our doctrinal misinterpretations and curiosities and peculiarities and in unevenness?  Can’t we do the same for others? ….that’s the reason why we must accept one another.  Not because they are right, not because we are right; but because He (Christ) is right.

2.    Reconcile this w/Gal. 1:6-9; Rev. 22:18-19.

C.   Idea of Bible:  unite upon 1 gospel; 1 doctrine; 1 faith.  That’s all the Bible knows!

1.    1 Cor. 1:10-12 – all speak the same thing.

2.    Eph. 4:4 – one body; one spirit; one baptism.

a)         see also Eph. 5:17 – if we understand gospel we will understand it alike.

b)         Through our understanding/application of the Scriptures we can be made complete for every good work!

4.       See 2 Tim. 3:16-17

 

III.  Our Worship is an Absolute!

A.     Worship = way of serving God .  It a way of growing in knowledge of God.

1.    NOT an object that can be changed & still be pleasing to God.

2.    trends today:  church music; lifting up hands; handclapping; drama; female leadership; preaching style; worship environment.

3.    Friends:  worship is either right/wrong depending upon God’s will!  The only RIGHT worship is that which is authorized by God!

B.     Jesus emphasized the necessity of uniformity/conformity for ALL worshippers! – Jhn. 4:23-24

C.    Attitude plays a role in our worship – one must be mentally/emotionally involved.  Note in spirit (4:24).  Must have humble/attentive mindset.

1.    Col. 3:16 – singing must be done “from the heart.”

2.    1 Cor. 14:15 – singing w/understanding

3.    Psa. 122:1 – be glad to worship God.

4.    Heb. 12:28 – acceptably w/reverence & godly fear (awe)

D.    Actions must be pleasing in worship.

1.    must be done in truth.  (Jhn. 4:24)

2.    1 Cor. 14:40 – done decently & in order.

3.    Heb. 12:28 – acceptably!

4.    spelled out through NT pattern – prayer; preaching; singing; LS; giving

E.     Our worship cannot/must not be changed.  It is an absolute!

 

IV.  God’s Standard of Morality = an Absolute!

A.    Moral issues/stands are being thrown out the window in America.

1.    it’s only your opinion used on all sorts of moral issues:

a)         homosexuality; abortion

b)         lying/cheating; insignificant laws; issues of honor & integrity.

c)          Drinking/lewdness/illicit sex

2.    It’s not opinion – it’s about what is right/wrong!

a)    Gal. 5:19-21; 1 Cor. 6:9-11; Rev. 21:8

b)    The Bible IS the STANDARD of right/wrong!

c)    Psa. 19:7-9; Prov. 28:4-5; 1 Tim. 1:8-10

B.    One reason we headed away from absolute standard = b/c we afraid of speaking truth for fear of offending someone.

1.    Miller: the removal of moral absolutes naturally leads to the insistence that no one take issue w/anyone else’s behavior.  Opposition that that which is wrong is stopped dead in its tracks by a simple appeal to “you’re being judgmental.”  Being judgmental (i.e., insisting that moral absolutes exist) is about the only objective wrong that exists for many Americans.

2.    Brethren:  we must present the truth in a straightforward manner.

3.    God’s solution to this problem is to preach the truth to people – call them to repentance, while warning of future judgment.

4.    most people today do not want to hear about their propensity to murmur, complain, & resist God’s restrictions.

C.   Are we willing to stand up for God’s standard of morality?

 

V.  The Love of God is an Absolute.

A.    1 Jhn. 4:8; Rom. 5:8; Eph. 2:4

B.    In sending His Son – God demonstrated the best possible example of love.  There is simply no greater love that has been demonstrated.

1.    His gift of grace to the obedient b/c of Jesus sacrifice – is forgiveness of sin.

2.    God’s gift of love is unchanging.  It is available to all men.  Only men can discard/treat w/disdain the love of God.

3.    Have you taken advantage of it?

 

Conclusion:

A.    There are some absolutes.  There are some things that cannot be changed and that will always be true.  We, as mere human beings, must be willing to accept these.

B.    Have you taken advantage of the love of God?  Are you a Christian?

1.    Are you willing to accept a commitment of living in obedience to the Lord’s will?

2.    Do you want to be relieved of the burden of sin?

3.    There is hope!  You can b/c a Christian by H, B, R, C, B.

C.   Already a Christian?  Make necessary corrections.

D.   I N V I T A T I O N