By Alexander Caldwell
Introduction
A. This is a statement that is used by many people to justify their religious beliefs: “Well, it seems right to me, and that is all that’s important.”
B. But can you truthfully say that your religious practices are scriptural? (Prov. 14:12; Isa. 55:8; Jer. 10:23).
C. We cannot guide ourselves, we must look to God for direction in our lives.
D. God’s way is the right way and the only way that brings salvation (1 Cor. 1:18; John 14:6).
Examples
A. To Eve — it “seemed right” that the fruit was good to eat (Gen. 3).
B. To Cain — it “seemed right” that his vegetable sacrifice was just as good as the animal sacrifice Abel brought (Gen. 4).
C. To Nadab and Abihu — it “seemed right” to offer that strange fire before God (Lev. 10:1-2).
D. To King Saul — it “seemed right” to spare the best of the animals to bring back sacrifices to God (1 Sam. 15:22).
E. To Naaman — it “seemed right” that other rivers were just as good as the Jordan (2 Kings 5:1-13).
Point: What seemed right in most of these cases brought nothing but tragedy. Why? Because (they) it opposed God’s will (Rom. 10:1-3). In the world today, there are many things that “seem right” to good and honest, religious people, but they are not.
I. “The Good Moral Man” Will Be Saved.
A. No one in their right mind would argue that the immoral man will be saved.
1. 1 Corinthians 6:9-19.
2. Homosexuals, liars, stealers, fornicators . . .
3. Morality is good, but it will not save!
4. There are a lot of good people in the world.
B. That is why Christ came. He died on the cross and shed his blood so that we might be forgiven.
1. Our morality, no matter how good, could never gain forgiveness (Matt. 26:28; Heb. 9:22).
2. If morality was enough, there would have been no need for God to send his Son to this world!
3. John 3:16; 14:6; Acts 4:12.
4. All spiritual blessings are in Christ (Eph. 1:3).
5. Morality without Christ can never offer any spiritual blessing.
6. Cornelius was a good man, but in order to be saved, he had to hear and obey the Gospel (Acts 10:33; 15; 11:14).
II. “One Church is as Good as Another.”
A. Most religious people believe this statement because it “seems right.”
1. When you look around and see all the different denominations and sincere people in them, you might be tempted to think this too.
2. But that idea ignores what the Bible says (Matt. 16:18).
3. The Lord adds the saved to his church (Acts 2:47).
4. The Lord purchased the church with his own blood (Acts 20:28; Heb. 9:22; Eph. 5:25).
5. That church is his bride (Eph. 5:22-32).
6. His body (Eph. 1:22-23; Col. 1:18).
7. His kingdom (Col. 1:13-14).
Point: All of these Scriptures show the value of the Lord’s church.
B. If one compares churches which were built by men, he may be right to assume that one is as good as another.
1. But no church built by man can compare with the church which Jesus built.
2. Denominationalism assumes that Christ’s church is not important.
3. Division is sinful (John 17:20-21; 1 Cor. 1:10-13; Eph. 4:3-6).
4. One church is as good as another is nothing but false teaching.
III. “We Are Saved by Faith Only.”
A. A favorite text a lot of people use is Eph. 2:8-9.
1. If we are saved, it will be by God’s grace: we do not deserve it, but God offers us complete forgiveness in Christ.
2. Now that is grace (Heb. 2:9).
B. This must be a working faith (Jas. 2:24-26; Luke 6:46; Rom. 5:1-2; Gal. 5:6; 1 Pet. 1:22; Phil. 2:12; Acts 6:7; Rom. 2:8; 1 Pet. 4:17).
IV. “Women can be preachers.” (Women can teach children and other women but they can’t preach over men, Tit. 2:4).
A. Women evangelists? (Acts 21:8; Eph. 4:11; 2 Tim. 4:5).
B. A woman’s place is not in the pulpit (1 Tim. 2:9-11).
V. “You Don’t Have to be Baptized to be Saved.”
A. Many say, “There is no power in water to save any one. So, baptism has nothing to do with being saved.”
1. Friends, this is not true. Listen to Jesus (Mark 16:15-16).
2. Now, where did God put salvation? (1 Pet. 3:21).Water!
3. Before or after baptism?
4. Compare the accounts of the cleansing of Naaman and the healing of the blind man. B. On Pentecost (Acts 2:38).
C. Some claim that we are saved by the blood of Christ and they think that nullifies baptism. Don’t need it.
1. But Paul tied the two together (Rom. 5:8-10; 6:13; Matt. 26:28).
2. Search the Scriptures for yourself (John 5:39).
D. The apostles forcefully preached that it is only in Christ that anyone can be saved (Acts 4:12; Eph. 1:3).
1. Every spiritual blessing is found only “in” Christ.
2. Salvation is found “in” Christ (2 Tim. 2:10).
3. All promises of God are “in” Christ (2 Cor. 1:20).
4. Forgiveness is “in” Christ (Eph. 1:7).
5. We are children of God “in” Christ (Gal. 3:26-28).
E. But, what does being “in Christ” have to do with baptism? Answer: Romans 6:3; Galatians 3:26-27.
1. Baptism puts us into Christ.
2. Unless, one is baptized in Christ, he is not in Christ.
3. God reveals no other way to enter into Christ. No other way.
4. It does not matter what “seems right” to man, we need to do what God says.
VI. “We Don’t Have to Study Daily.”
A. Matthew 22:39; John 5:39; Acts 17:11; Ephesians 5:17; 1 Timothy 4:13; 2 Timothy 2:15; 1 Peter 3:15; Jude 3; 1 Thessalonians 5:21.
VII. “We Should be Able to Dress Like we Want to Regardless of What People Say.”
A. What does the Bible say? (Matt. 5:16; Phil. 2:15; 1 Tim. 2:9-11; 1 Pet. 3:16).
VIII. “Church Attendance is Not That Important.” A. Hebrew 10:25.
1. Bible classes.
2. Worship.
B. Where does the Bible authorize the church to arrange assembling for the following:
1. Fellowship meals?
2. Group singing?
IX. “Where Does the Bible Say ‘Not To’?”
A. It seems right to some brethren to have the following without any Scripture:
1. Social meals, birthday socials, recreation activities, entertainment, Preacher’s Day, ball teams.
2. Supporting orphan homes and colleges out of the Lord’s treasury.
3. This is not the work of the church (Eph. 4:11-14; 3:10).
B. Book, chapter, and verse please? We must know where the Bible says to do something, not just where it says “not to.”
Conclusion
There are many things which seem right to man that are not revealed in the word of God. Please do not assume that something is right because someone tells you or because “it seems right.” Go to the word of God for the answer. Search the Scriptures for yourself!
(Note: Some good ideas for this outline were borrowed from Clem Thurman in Gospel Minutes, but sad to say he approves of the unauthorized things covered in the last part of this outline.)