1 00:00:10,516 --> 00:00:13,621 This comes from Michael Kennedy. 2 00:00:13,621 --> 00:00:16,341 He says, "I've been studying theology 3 00:00:16,341 --> 00:00:18,290 an extensive amount lately. 4 00:00:18,290 --> 00:00:20,277 I believe in reformed theology. 5 00:00:20,277 --> 00:00:24,956 I believe repentance is essential to a Christian life. 6 00:00:24,956 --> 00:00:25,890 My question is, 7 00:00:25,890 --> 00:00:28,341 is it possible for theology, 8 00:00:28,341 --> 00:00:31,785 even if it's biblically accurate and true 9 00:00:31,785 --> 00:00:34,166 to become an idol 10 00:00:34,166 --> 00:00:37,997 or an addiction?" 11 00:00:37,997 --> 00:00:42,506 Now, the Bible in one place, 12 00:00:42,506 --> 00:00:44,941 namely 1 Corinthians 8:1 13 00:00:44,941 --> 00:00:48,763 talks about knowledge that puffs up. 14 00:00:48,763 --> 00:00:50,849 Have you guys ever read about that? 15 00:00:50,849 --> 00:00:53,158 And yet if you go somewhere else - 16 00:00:53,158 --> 00:00:55,014 I've already mentioned Phillipians 1:9 17 00:00:55,014 --> 00:00:57,133 a couple times, so let's mention it again. 18 00:00:57,133 --> 00:00:59,781 "My prayer is that your love may abound more and more 19 00:00:59,781 --> 00:01:02,663 with knowledge and all discernment." 20 00:01:02,663 --> 00:01:06,212 Is all knowledge bad? 21 00:01:06,212 --> 00:01:08,951 Paul's praying that people would have 22 00:01:08,951 --> 00:01:11,156 knowledge and discernment. 23 00:01:11,156 --> 00:01:14,218 So, there is a knowledge that puffs up. 24 00:01:14,218 --> 00:01:18,616 There is a knowledge that increases our discernment. 25 00:01:18,616 --> 00:01:20,292 There is a knowledge that puffs up. 26 00:01:20,292 --> 00:01:23,628 There is a knowledge also that humbles, is there not? 27 00:01:23,628 --> 00:01:25,723 I mean, can't we learn some things 28 00:01:25,723 --> 00:01:28,681 that really humble us 29 00:01:28,681 --> 00:01:31,556 and make God greater in our estimation? 30 00:01:31,556 --> 00:01:33,533 Haven't you learned some things before 31 00:01:33,533 --> 00:01:36,652 that you found very humbling? 32 00:01:36,652 --> 00:01:38,156 That have made you just feel 33 00:01:38,156 --> 00:01:43,855 awful small before the great God? 34 00:01:43,855 --> 00:01:45,818 Not all knowledge is bad. 35 00:01:45,818 --> 00:01:47,385 But not all knowledge is good. 36 00:01:47,385 --> 00:01:50,204 There is a knowledge that puffs up. 37 00:01:50,204 --> 00:01:53,372 And I would say this, 38 00:01:53,372 --> 00:01:58,562 theology can be a whole lot like Bible translations, right? 39 00:01:58,562 --> 00:02:02,017 I mean is the King James Bible good? 40 00:02:02,017 --> 00:02:05,321 Folks, it was an excellent translation. 41 00:02:05,321 --> 00:02:10,037 It stood the test for 400 years. 42 00:02:10,037 --> 00:02:11,010 Tremendous. 43 00:02:11,010 --> 00:02:15,220 God used that translation in mighty and tremendous ways. 44 00:02:15,220 --> 00:02:17,853 Are the doctrines of grace good? 45 00:02:17,853 --> 00:02:19,216 Well, certainly they are. 46 00:02:19,216 --> 00:02:20,557 But I'll tell you this, 47 00:02:20,557 --> 00:02:23,491 there are Calvinists in hell. 48 00:02:23,491 --> 00:02:28,356 And there are KJV only people in hell. 49 00:02:28,356 --> 00:02:29,303 And you know what? 50 00:02:29,303 --> 00:02:30,823 In my own estimation, 51 00:02:30,823 --> 00:02:33,694 I have found some professing Christian Calvinists, 52 00:02:33,694 --> 00:02:36,155 professing Christian King James only people... 53 00:02:36,155 --> 00:02:39,202 Look, I don't want to stereotype, 54 00:02:39,202 --> 00:02:42,864 and obviously there's a bazillion exceptions to this, 55 00:02:42,864 --> 00:02:45,022 but some of the most 56 00:02:45,022 --> 00:02:50,164 cantankerous professing Christian people 57 00:02:50,164 --> 00:02:57,426 can just be people that aren't 58 00:02:57,426 --> 00:03:01,896 so nice to be around sometimes. 59 00:03:01,896 --> 00:03:09,245 Look, whatever Bible you have, 60 00:03:09,245 --> 00:03:11,044 it ought to be teaching you 61 00:03:11,044 --> 00:03:15,856 how to love Christians more and more. 62 00:03:15,856 --> 00:03:20,093 Whatever doctrine you have, 63 00:03:20,093 --> 00:03:22,528 whatever theology you have, 64 00:03:22,528 --> 00:03:27,824 it ought to be revealing Christ to you more and more, 65 00:03:27,824 --> 00:03:29,952 that you might adore Him more and more. 66 00:03:29,952 --> 00:03:31,782 So many want to learn these doctrines 67 00:03:31,782 --> 00:03:33,177 so that they can argue. 68 00:03:33,177 --> 00:03:35,509 So that they can debate. 69 00:03:35,509 --> 00:03:39,188 Have you guys ever heard of Charles Simeon? 70 00:03:39,188 --> 00:03:45,590 Simeon was an evangelical Calvinist. 71 00:03:45,590 --> 00:03:51,313 He lived back in the 1700's. 72 00:03:51,313 --> 00:03:54,509 Let me tell you about him. 73 00:03:54,509 --> 00:03:57,858 He had little sympathy for uncharitable Calvinists. 74 00:03:57,858 --> 00:04:00,714 In his sermon on Romans 9:16 75 00:04:00,714 --> 00:04:03,342 Romans 9 76 00:04:03,342 --> 00:04:07,250 He said, "many there are who cannot see these truths." 77 00:04:07,250 --> 00:04:10,076 The doctrines of God's sovereignty. 78 00:04:10,076 --> 00:04:15,217 He's acknowledging, there are many who can't see them 79 00:04:15,217 --> 00:04:19,058 the way he does and the way many in his church did. 80 00:04:19,058 --> 00:04:21,591 "...who are yet in a state 81 00:04:21,591 --> 00:04:25,110 truly pleasing to God. 82 00:04:25,110 --> 00:04:27,563 Yea, many, at whose feet 83 00:04:27,563 --> 00:04:31,497 the best of us may be glad to be found in heaven." 84 00:04:31,497 --> 00:04:32,690 And he's right. 85 00:04:32,690 --> 00:04:34,523 There are Arminians you would be glad 86 00:04:34,523 --> 00:04:37,679 just to be close to in Heaven. 87 00:04:37,679 --> 00:04:40,153 He says it's a great evil when these 88 00:04:40,153 --> 00:04:44,416 doctrines are made a ground of separation from one another. 89 00:04:44,416 --> 00:04:47,104 And basically, I'm getting right at the heart of this. 90 00:04:47,104 --> 00:04:49,217 You can tell when your theology 91 00:04:49,217 --> 00:04:51,103 is becoming an idol. 92 00:04:51,103 --> 00:04:52,487 What's an idol? 93 00:04:52,487 --> 00:04:54,177 An idol is something that you give 94 00:04:54,177 --> 00:04:56,429 your affection to more than Christ. 95 00:04:56,429 --> 00:04:58,046 An idol is something that you 96 00:04:58,046 --> 00:05:00,748 give attention to more than Christ. 97 00:05:00,748 --> 00:05:02,738 An idol is something that you 98 00:05:02,738 --> 00:05:04,915 become consumed with more than Christ. 99 00:05:04,915 --> 00:05:06,515 More than the commands of Christ. 100 00:05:06,515 --> 00:05:08,036 More than obedience to Christ. 101 00:05:08,036 --> 00:05:09,761 And one of the chief things that He 102 00:05:09,761 --> 00:05:11,747 would have us to do is love one another. 103 00:05:11,747 --> 00:05:13,120 And folks, if your doctrine 104 00:05:13,120 --> 00:05:15,825 makes you all the more a 105 00:05:15,825 --> 00:05:18,351 hard person to get along with, 106 00:05:18,351 --> 00:05:20,424 if it makes you difficult, 107 00:05:20,424 --> 00:05:23,023 if it makes you unbearable, 108 00:05:23,023 --> 00:05:25,565 if it makes you ungracious, 109 00:05:25,565 --> 00:05:27,233 if it makes you unloving, 110 00:05:27,233 --> 00:05:28,784 then you know what? 111 00:05:28,784 --> 00:05:30,251 You're doing wrong things. 112 00:05:30,251 --> 00:05:32,111 You're creating an idol out of it. 113 00:05:32,111 --> 00:05:33,456 And I'll say the same thing 114 00:05:33,456 --> 00:05:35,641 about Bible translations, about denominations, 115 00:05:35,641 --> 00:05:38,517 if your denomination or being a Baptist 116 00:05:38,517 --> 00:05:40,924 or clinging to a certain Bible translation 117 00:05:40,924 --> 00:05:44,280 makes you ugly towards other people, 118 00:05:44,280 --> 00:05:46,513 makes you bitter towards other people, 119 00:05:46,513 --> 00:05:49,539 you've made an idol out of it. 120 00:05:49,539 --> 00:05:50,962 I'll tell you what, 121 00:05:50,962 --> 00:05:54,415 Charles Simeon is a guy we can learn from. 122 00:05:54,415 --> 00:05:59,119 Here he is, Charles Simeon, Calvinist. 123 00:05:59,119 --> 00:06:04,529 Comes face to face with John Wesley, Arminian. 124 00:06:04,529 --> 00:06:10,363 Can I read to you? 125 00:06:10,363 --> 00:06:11,633 Here's Simeon, 126 00:06:11,633 --> 00:06:16,057 "'Sir, I understand that you are called an Arminian, 127 00:06:16,057 --> 00:06:18,172 and I have been sometimes called a Calvinist, 128 00:06:18,172 --> 00:06:21,279 and therefore I suppose we are to draw daggers. 129 00:06:21,279 --> 00:06:25,183 But, before I consent to begin the combat, 130 00:06:25,183 --> 00:06:27,636 with your permission, I'll ask you a few questions. 131 00:06:27,636 --> 00:06:31,463 Pray sir, do you feel yourself a depraved creature? 132 00:06:31,463 --> 00:06:34,553 So depraved that you would never have thought of turning to God 133 00:06:34,553 --> 00:06:37,688 if God had not first put it into your heart?' 134 00:06:37,688 --> 00:06:39,516 Wesley answered him, 135 00:06:39,516 --> 00:06:41,450 'Yes, I do indeed.' 136 00:06:41,450 --> 00:06:44,208 'And do you utterly despair of recommending yourself to God 137 00:06:44,208 --> 00:06:46,527 by anything you can do? 138 00:06:46,527 --> 00:06:47,961 And look for salvation solely 139 00:06:47,961 --> 00:06:50,192 through the blood and righteousness of Christ?' 140 00:06:50,192 --> 00:06:52,037 'Yes,' he answered. 141 00:06:52,037 --> 00:06:53,919 'Solely through Christ.' 142 00:06:53,919 --> 00:06:56,395 'But sir,' Simeon says, 143 00:06:56,395 --> 00:07:00,694 'Supposing you were first saved by Christ, 144 00:07:00,694 --> 00:07:03,579 are you not somehow or other to save yourself afterwards 145 00:07:03,579 --> 00:07:05,558 by your own works?' 146 00:07:05,558 --> 00:07:10,112 'Nope. I must be saved by Christ from first to last.' 147 00:07:10,112 --> 00:07:14,235 Simeon says, 'allowing then that you were first turned by the grace of God, 148 00:07:14,235 --> 00:07:18,670 are you not in some way or other to keep yourself by your own power?' 149 00:07:18,670 --> 00:07:19,957 'No.' 150 00:07:19,957 --> 00:07:23,849 'What then? Are you to be upheld every hour and every moment 151 00:07:23,849 --> 00:07:26,924 by God as much as an infant in its mother's arms?' 152 00:07:26,924 --> 00:07:30,763 Wesley, 'Yes. Altogether.' 153 00:07:30,763 --> 00:07:33,270 'And is all your hope in the grace and mercy of God 154 00:07:33,270 --> 00:07:36,467 to preserve you until His heavenly kingdom?' 155 00:07:36,467 --> 00:07:39,987 'Yes. I have no hope but in Him.' 156 00:07:39,987 --> 00:07:44,129 'Then, sir, with your leave, I will put up my dagger again. 157 00:07:44,129 --> 00:07:45,884 For this is all my Calvinism. 158 00:07:45,884 --> 00:07:48,276 This is my election, my justification by faith, 159 00:07:48,276 --> 00:07:50,521 my final perseverence. 160 00:07:50,521 --> 00:07:52,437 It is in substance all that I hold. 161 00:07:52,437 --> 00:07:54,323 And as I hold it, 162 00:07:54,323 --> 00:07:55,802 and therefore if you please, 163 00:07:55,802 --> 00:07:59,656 instead of searching out terms 164 00:07:59,656 --> 00:08:02,104 and phrases to be a ground of contention 165 00:08:02,104 --> 00:08:03,659 between us, 166 00:08:03,659 --> 00:08:09,199 we will cordially unite in those things wherein we agree.'" 167 00:08:09,199 --> 00:08:10,844 And may God help us, 168 00:08:10,844 --> 00:08:14,848 because when that's not what's true, 169 00:08:14,848 --> 00:08:18,455 you have made your theology, 170 00:08:18,455 --> 00:08:22,039 you have made your doctrinal position 171 00:08:22,039 --> 00:08:27,161 into an idol. 172 00:08:27,161 --> 00:08:30,931 The doctrines of grace ought to humble us, 173 00:08:30,931 --> 00:08:33,925 not puff us up. 174 00:08:33,925 --> 00:08:35,962 And if it's puffing you up, 175 00:08:35,962 --> 00:08:37,565 you've made it into something 176 00:08:37,565 --> 00:08:40,556 God never intended it to be. 177 00:08:40,556 --> 00:08:42,312 The sovereignty of God ought to 178 00:08:42,312 --> 00:08:43,935 make us the humblest people 179 00:08:43,935 --> 00:08:45,458 on the face of the earth, 180 00:08:45,458 --> 00:08:47,877 if we really understand these things right. 181 00:08:47,877 --> 00:08:52,938 God help us be like Charles Simeon. 182 00:08:52,938 --> 00:08:55,622 Father, we pray that You would, 183 00:08:55,622 --> 00:08:56,971 may You work that in us. 184 00:08:56,971 --> 00:08:58,402 We pray it for Christ's sake. 185 00:08:58,402 --> 00:09:01,910 May You work just such an attitude, 186 00:09:01,910 --> 00:09:03,110 just such a heart, 187 00:09:03,110 --> 00:09:04,552 just such a graciousness 188 00:09:04,552 --> 00:09:08,505 as our brother Charles Simeon possessed, 189 00:09:08,505 --> 00:09:14,286 and as also our brother John Wesley. 190 00:09:14,286 --> 00:09:16,453 We thank You for the truth of Your Word, 191 00:09:16,453 --> 00:09:18,845 for the doctrines You've revealed to us. 192 00:09:18,845 --> 00:09:20,356 We thank You in Christ's name, 193 00:09:20,356 --> 00:09:22,371 Amen.